A/N: This chapter was really fun to write. It's my favorite, for some reason, despite it being shorter than other chapters. :3 I just hope you all enjoy it. ^^
It took about a week before they- the Doctor and Rose- were completely, 100% normal around each other again. A week before they could laugh and talk together without that speck of worry and doubt sparkling in their eyes. It was about one more week until they were constantly hugging and holding hands every chance they got. They'd been questioned about it quite a few times, to which they'd both simultaneously respond with a quick, "just friends!" and the Doctor would add with a grin, "the best of," and then drag her away to some activity or something- anything to get them out of truthfully answering the question.
It only took one more week until they both threw their hands up in the air with a frustrated "screw it!" and ended up snogging each other senseless, alone in the kitchen storage room. Every once in a while, when he got the change and they were well-y and truly alone, the Doctor would steal a short kiss that always left Rose breathless and a little wobbly in the knees. The Doctor would then saunter off, looking ever so wonderful in that brown suit of his.
Currently, Rose was sitting around the campfire, a cup of hot chocolate in hand and a blanket strewn across her shoulders, which was beginning to slip off. The Doctor was half asleep on her shoulder, watching Kaylee poke at the crackling fire with half closed eyes. It was a colder night than usual. The only people still up and about were the counselors and Rose. Only Kaylee, Clara, Rose and the Doctor sat around the fire. She wasn't sure where everyone else had gone off to. The Doctor suddenly twitched, jerking his head up and examining the area with unblinking eyes, as if he were trying to stay awake. Giggling, Rose ran a hand through his messed up hair. He grinned and laid his head on her shoulder again. It didn't take long before he fell asleep, deaf to any words that would be shared.
"So," Kaylee chirped when she was positive the Doctor was out cold. "What have you two been up to lately?"
Rose glanced up from the Doctor, holding her breath uncertainly. "Hm?" She croaked. Clara glanced up from the notebook in her lap, suddenly seeming interested in the topic. Rose bit the inside of her cheek, nervously rubbing her hands together.
Clara snorted, "Oh, come on! There's something going on between you two, isn't there? Ever since that lump," she gestured towards the sleeping form of the Doctor, who had moved to lay down on the log using his hands as a pillow, "broke up with Reinette, he spends every waking moment with you! Don't say there's nothing going on."
Rose tried to think of something to say in response, something other than 'we're just friends, honestly', but Kaylee spoke first. "You two are playing a dangerous game," she warned, her eyes trained on the Doctor. Rose glanced down at him again and couldn't help the affectionate grin that spread across her face. He had curled into a ball, hugging his knees to his to his chest. His breathing was slow and steady and his hair fell in front of his closed eyes. He looked different in his sleep. She mentioned this to Kaylee, who shrugged, her face carry a hint of sympathy for the Doctor.
"He's got sad history," she explained, frowning. The frown quickly faded into a grin. "Anyway, tell us if there's anything between you guys, and we won't tell Steve."
"Steve doesn't know?"
"Definitely not," Clara said. "He'd have you both kicked out of camp before either of you could say sorry."
Rose sighed. "I honestly don't know," she said, earning a surprised sniff from the two women. Kaylee raised an eyebrow.
"How can you not know?" She asked, putting down the stick she'd been using to shift the logs in the fire. Rose shrugged, a helpless expression on her face.
"I dunno', I mean, he does a lot of teasing n' stuff," Rose explained, resting her chin in her hands. Clara laughed a little, nodding.
"Sounds like him," she chuckled. Kaylee smirked, but didn't reply.
"So you're not going to say anything, yeah?" Rose confirmed. "To Steve, I mean?"
Kaylee grinned, "Guess not. After all, what fun would it be if you two left?"
"Wouldn't have anyone else to tease," Clara added, sticking out her tongue. Rose rolled her eyes and glanced once more at the Doctor before shaking him awake. He groaned and sat up. Kaylee and Clara ended up having to drag him towards the counselors cabin. Giggling, Rose said goodnight, and hurried to her own cabin to get some sleep.
XXX
"Rose?"
A cold hand rested on her shoulder, shaking her a little. She groaned, pulling the cover up and over her chin. "Rose, wake up," the Doctor hissed again. Sighing, Rose sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes. She eyed the Doctor who sat back on his heels, staring at her. He said nothing.
"What is it?"
"I can't sleep."
Rose frowned, glancing around the room. "What time is it?"
"Two-thirty," he smiled sheepishly, raking a hand through his hair. He shifted so he was sitting crisscross applesauce. Rose yawned, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Have you actually tried falling asleep?"
"Yes. Tried talkin' to Kaylee, but she waved me off. I read a book- a whole book. Then I watched a movie... Star Trek, actually, the most recent one, Into the Darkness with that one bloke... Benedict Cumberbatch. Good actor, he is. He's in Sherlock too. Sherlock! Never seen it, but he must be pretty talented if-"
Rose's giggle cut him off. He smiled, seemingly pleased he'd gotten a giggle out of her, even in her tired state. Silence descended upon them for a few moments. Rose watched the Doctor examine the cabin as if he'd never seen the inside before. "It's different," he commented suddenly. Rose looked around, confused. It looked the same to her.
"Good different or bad different?"
"Just different," he shrugged. "But it smells like you."
Rose snorted in amusement. "What do I smell like?"
He put on a thinking face and cocked his head. "Uhm... Caramel and Vanilla," he grinned as if proud of what he'd said. Rolling her eyes, Rose shifted into the position he had taken and rested her chin in her hands. He stared at her, his smile eventually fading until it was more of a sad frown.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." he said slowly, looking away. Rose hated when he did that. When he tried to edge away from certain subjects like they were fire and he'd be burnt by touching them. Scowling, Rose slipped from the bed, in front of him. She took his hand, rubbing her thumbs over his knuckles. He sighed, "I don't know, Rose. I'm just... scared," he cringed like admitting he was scared was some terrible thing.
"Of what?"
He stared at her hands, looking worn down. "Everything I guess," he admitted after a few moments. "Of Steve, mostly. I don't want to lose my job or anything... my best friends are here, and I mean, Kaylee and I and Clara, and well, everyone... we live so far apart..." he wrinkled his nose, taking his hands away from hers and laying them in his lap.
"He won't find out," Rose assured him, frowning. He nodded slowly, then yawned, his eyes half closed. "Hey, Doctor," she said slowly. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I was just wondering... I mean, Kaylee said you had a sad history... what did she mean by that?" He twitched, frowning, and stared at her for a few seconds before suddenly leaping to his feet.
"Well, thanks for that!" He chirped. "Feelin' better now. And by better, I mean tired." He frowned for a few moments before shrugging. "Anyway, night," he said, before turning around on his heels and quickly leaving the room. Rose sighed. He was certainly good at getting out of conversations he wasn't wanting to talk about in depth . Shaking her head, she climbed back into bed after turning off the light the Doctor must have turned on, and quickly fell back asleep.
XXX
"Try this."
The Doctor was lifting a fork to her mouth, a grin plastered across his face. Rose wrinkled her nose at the food. "What is it?"
"Just try it, it's good," he insisted. Kaylee snorted, from behind the Doctor. 'Don't,' she mouthed and scampered off to the opposite side of the room towards the fridge. Holding her breath and pinching shut her nose, she opened her mouth to try it. Forcing herself to swallow, she began coughing. The Doctor laughed, scooping up a bit of the food into his own mouth.
"Ick!" She gasped, putting the back of her hand to her lips. The food- whatever it was- was cold, hard, and bitter. The Doctor was eating it easily enough.
"Told you," Kaylee said from the opposite end of the room. The Doctor stuck his tongue out of her. The giggles that followed from the three of them were cut off as the back door opened, revealing a very upset looking counselor. The Doctor stiffened, his eyes narrowing.
"What's wrong, Steve?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Steve scowled and pointed to the door, his other hand clenched at his side.
"I need to speak with you, John."
Rose swallowed nervously. She knew that Steve rarely called other counselors by their first name unless he was angry or something. The Doctor seemed nervous too, because his eyes had gone wide. Nodding, he set down his plate and, without a word, followed Steve outside. Rose stared at the now-closed door, her mouth hanging open a little. Kaylee seemed just as shocked.
"Blimey, wonder what's happened?"
"I don't know," Rose whispered, but she had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.
A/N: Guys! There's only a few chapters left after this! Like, two or three, maybe? Ugh, that makes me sad... I've had such fun writing this!
