Recovery

10/Rose

Hurt/Comfort

Summary: When Rose falls ill on an alien planet it's up to the Doctor to help her recover.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or its characters. Last night I watched David Tennant in Recovery (if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. It's on youtube. It's a great story, and DT does a fantastic job. All of them do.) So this story shares its name with that, because I'm lousy with titles, and the idea behind it follows along those lines as well, though of course with a DW twist.


Previously:

"Do I? Do I know you?"

"Very well. Possibly better than anyone else. I think you know that, Rose. Because deep down, you trust me. You may not remember my name, but you trust me. Just think about what you've done in the past few minutes."

He looked at Rose. She seemed to be thinking about what he had said.

"I do. I trust you, Doctor. I always have."

With that statement they entered the kitchen.

Chapter 8

After a meal of soup and soft bread the Doctor led Rose back to the infirmary. It was obvious that her excursion out had taken its toll, but the Doctor hoped that Rose wouldn't fall back to sleep as soon as they got back. He wanted to have psychic contact with her while she was awake. He hoped that healing her mind may be easier if she was able to take part in it.

When they got back the Doctor grasped Rose about the waist and helped her back up onto the couch. She didn't go to lean back right away, which he took to be a good sign, but her eyes were showing her exhaustion.

"Rose, before you go back to sleep, I'd like to help you if I may. I know you're confused and a little scared. This won't hurt at all. I just want to touch your face with my hands. It'll help, I hope. May I, please?"

The Doctor could see the emotions running through Rose's tired face. Apprehension, fear, but trust was there too. And in the end, as he hoped it would, the trust won out. She nodded.

"Good. You won't feel a thing physically, though you'll feel me in your head soon enough. Let me know if you're uncomfortable and I'll stop. Ok?"

She nodded again and he placed his fingers on her face. He battled through the now common disarray before finding the path deeper into her mind. And as expected, it went further today than it had before. He moved quickly down it, pausing briefly to see what memories and emotions were at the forefront of today's onslaught. He wasn't surprised by any of them. Jackie's face, her room at her flat at home, her room on the TARDIS, his face, her family doctor's face, they were all there. He could feel now, nearly tangibly, her apprehension. He made sure it didn't affect him and he pushed on. Now solidly connected with her conscious mind he started to forge bridges for her to be able to follow.

Unfortunately it wasn't long before Rose wasn't able to stay awake any longer. The Doctor gasped as the connection he had had was broken. It felt like several of his bridges that he had made collapsed, but some stayed. He opened his eyes to find Rose asleep in his hands. He lowered her head to her pillow, then raised her legs up to the couch. He reinserted the catheter and reconnected her IV. He didn't know how long she would sleep now. She may sleep again for days, or she may awaken after a few hours, but better to have the IV and catheter in and remove them later. At least for now.

With his work for her done for the day the Doctor crawled into bed next to Rose and wrapped her carefully in his arms. He slept soundly for many hours, Rose peacefully at his side.

All that changed about seven hours later, though. Rose jerked awake suddenly, bringing the Doctor with her.

"I've got to get up! I'm late! Why didn't you wake me! I've told you before, if I'm late for work again the shop'll fire me. I can't afford to be out of a job, even if I am still living with my mum. C'mon, Mick! Wake up!"

Rose jumped out of bed and tripped over her wiring. Luckily this time she didn't hurt herself, and the Doctor was able to get a hand on her arm to keep her mostly upright.

"Rose, it's me, the Doctor. Mickey isn't here, you're not late. You can stay awake or come back to bed, it's your choice."

Rose looked at him in utter confusion. It was obvious she was expecting someone else. For a moment his hearts felt a pang of misplaced jealousy. Rose had never looked at him like that. She had looked at Mickey like that, back when the Doctor had first met her. But he had never expected or wanted her to look at him like that, at least not until now. He still didn't, he knew better than to get involved with his companions, but it hurt a little that Rose looked like she had never considered it. He knew that this wasn't the true her, but it still hurt to be looked at like a nobody by the person who was currently the most important person in your life.

Rose must not have really understood. She continued to make her way out of bed, as if the Doctor had never spoken.

"I have to go, I have to get ready. Sorry to bother you." Without thinking she pulled out her IV and catheter again, gave a gasp at the latter, then started stumbling out toward the door.

The Doctor followed to see where she would go and what she would do. The TARDIS was safe for her. She would help take care of Rose as best she could, and there was no worry about Rose wandering off or disappearing. So he just let her walk.

He wasn't surprised to see that her first stop was the loo again. He was pleased she remembered it. It showed that new memories were being laid down and she was able to recall them. Before last night he didn't think she'd ever walked from the infirmary to this bathroom, so that was definitely a good sign.

Her second stop was to the kitchen. Again, not a big surprise. She was retracing their steps from the night before. Rose grabbed a banana, then wandered back out, barely glancing at the Doctor as she passed him.

Rose's steps after the kitchen seemed less confident. She wandered for a while down the corridor that lead to the library, then changed directions and headed toward her room. She stopped after a while, though, and just started to open doors at random. She found the theater, then plopped down on a chair and tried to bite into the banana. Without unpeeling it.

At that point the Doctor stepped in. Without speaking he took the banana from Rose and peeled it, then handed it back.

"Ta."

He simply nodded. He sat down next to Rose while she ate the banana. When she was finished she looked at him.

"You said you can help me?"

He nodded again. Apparently whatever bridge he had built last night helped retain some of her memories. She was able to access them.

"It'll take some time, Rose. But yes, I can help you."

With that he stood up and offered her hand. She hesitated for a moment, then took it.

To be continued...