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:
"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.
Chapter 9
Over the next two weeks Rose was awake more and more often. The Doctor had moved her back to her room hoping that the normalness of it would help her recovery. Several times a day he worked with her, mind to mind, and tried to show her brain the ways around the damaged areas, or ways to cope, or what was real and what was imaginary. Most days she had were good days. But there were days when it seemed like nothing the Doctor had done had helped. She would forget him, or spend the day wandering trying to find the kitchen. The Doctor had started to work with the TARDIS to put a lighting system in place so Rose could just follow the lights to where she needed to go. That would give her more independence around the ship. The kitchen was well labeled already with locations of implements and foods. The Doctor had written lists around her room, the bathroom, and the kitchen for Rose to be able to follow to take care of herself. How to make toast and tea, how to shower properly, what to make sure she was wearing so she didn't go out inappropriately. Not that it mattered, it was just the two of them, but the Doctor knew Rose would prefer a certain level of modesty.
Two weeks after Rose had completely come out of the coma the Doctor found her wandering around in the console room. It was the first time she had found it since her incident.
"Rose?"
She jumped and turned toward his voice. The Doctor started to walk toward her, slowly, just in case she was having a bad day.
"Rose? What are you doing out here? Are you ok?"
"Where am I? What is this place?" Definitely a bad day. She had been remembering that she was on the TARDIS more and more.
"This is the TARDIS, Rose. You live here, with me. Do you remember me?"
"Doctor?" The title came out of nowhere, and yet Rose seemed to know that it was correct. "I call you 'Doctor'. Though I can't remember your name. I'm sorry, just 'Doctor'."
The Doctor gave a small grin. His eyes smiled along with his mouth. "That's because that is all you know me as, Rose. Just 'the Doctor'. It's good you remember that. What else do you remember?" All while he was speaking he was moving closer, and when he had finished he had reached Rose. His arms went to her shoulders and held her at length, just watching her.
The Doctor watched her think, watched everything dance across her face. "Rose, just anything. What do you remember, even if it seems odd or unusual. It doesn't have to be in order. Don't try to make sense of it, just tell me, please."
With that encouragement Rose started speaking. "I remember my mum, and my dad. I remember the end of the world. I remember going through a market in a city with people with green skin. You were there! You were looking for new zeus plugs. Whatever those are. I remember a red bicycle when I was twelve for Christmas. I remember looking up at a ceiling in a white room. You were in that room, too. Blimey, you get around, yeah?"
The Doctor nodded and smiled slightly. "Good, Rose. Those are all memories, and from both recent and distant times. That means that it's all there in your head somewhere. We just need to figure out ways for you to access it. I can help you, if you'll let me. I promise. I can help you set this right."
Rose nodded. Without thinking she said, "I know you can, Doctor. I trust you."
The surprise after the words came out of her face was so tangible it was like running into a wall. Rose had been walking slowly, with the Doctor, but she stopped suddenly.
"Doctor? This is the TARDIS."
"Yes, it is, Rose. Time And Relative Dimension in Space."
"I know that, Doctor. I'm just saying, I'm on the TARDIS. I don't remember getting back here. I was ... I was in a marketplace. Eating fruit." Rose stopped and looked confused for a moment. She looked down at her body.
"I'm wearing different clothes. And I'm thinner. Doctor, what's happened?"
The Doctor's eyes swelled with fluid. It was nearly too much to hope for. But it seemed like Rose had just come back. He tried to keep his voice steady as he spoke to her.
"Rose. Oh, Rose!" That was all he could get out. He swept Rose into a bone crushing hug, lifting her off the floor and spinning her around, grinning madly over her shoulder. After nearly a solid minute he put her back down on her feet.
"Before I explain, can I please just do one thing?" He held his hands on either side of her head, asking her permission. At her confused nod he placed his hands on her head and closed his eyes. He heard Rose gasp at the sudden full psychic contact. Then as soon as it started it was over and the Doctor was staring at her with the biggest grin on his face that she'd seen yet.
"Doctor, is everything ok?"
"Everything is more than ok, Rose! Everything is perfect. Just as it should be. C'mon, come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"Off to the infirmary, I just need to do a scan, then we can be off to wherever you'd like to go."
To be continued...