A/N. Day three! Fluff is not going anywhere…


Stuck: Day Three, Chapter Eleven

"Rose?" the Time Lord grabbed her by the shoulders softly. The fair-haired companion was touching the TARDIS wall, still trying to make the newly-found sensation of being a part of this new life fully sink in.

"Yes?" she responded lazily, turning at the Doctor with a satisfied smirk on her face.

He eyed her searchingly, almost afraid to tell her of his recent discovery… but hiding anything from his brilliant companion never happened to be a good idea. "The countdown has stopped."

The human shrugged doubtfully. "Has it, now?" With her familiar, almost contagious excitement Rose hurried towards the other end of the console room to see it for herself. The barely visible '0' made the human shake her fair head. Not fully convinced, she returned to the Time Lord.

"Ha! Curious," the girl breathed out, happy she was reasonable enough to have put something on this time, as the approving look on the Doctor's face was not something she'd have been ready to meet without blushing furiously otherwise. Trying to keep herself from touching him – be it mere hand-holding - was not going well. The alien looked at her apologetically. It was only natural the bonding – a very recent one even more so – was having this effect on them. Although, if he was being truthful, he loved it. As did Rose, who never bothered to hide it.

The Londoner looked at the Doctor thoughtfully. She was neither a Time Lady nor someone very good at telling time without a watch or her phone… But this felt wrong. Judging from the puzzled look on the Time Lord's face, he was having similar thoughts.

"Some kind of error, perhaps?" Rose guessed.

"No," the Time Lord shook his head. "I would know."

Okay… "What does it mean? Are we free to go, so to speak?"

"Nope. Sadly, not yet," he added after a thought. "The countdown must still be going on somehow."

"Sadly?" Rose eyed him with disbelief.

"You can't deny being stuck in one room is boring," he grimaced.

"We can always think of something," she smiled at him encouragingly, her taste buds still recalling the impromptu meal they'd had after the Doctor got the idea it was about time for them to eat something more nutritious than tea or chocolate biscuits. A very bad idea. Nutritious did not mean delicious, on the contrary. Merely seeing the greenish mass of otherworldly materials was enough for Rose. A mash of unfamiliar vegetables, he'd dared to call it…

Needless to say, trying to eat it – no matter how nutritious and healthy the messy meal was - has been an unpleasant experience.

"Remind me to never risk eating that again," the Time Lord spoke with a grimace on his face, meeting a knowing smirk on hers. "The breakfast," the Gallifreyan rolled his eyes, "should have given you enough energy for a week. Knowing the amount of it you have managed to swallow – say… a full day and night without sleep. Three for me," he gulped.

"You can't have known she'd turn off all of the kitchen equipment, eh?" They could not even be angry at the TARDIS. She hadn't closed the kitchen off… and had even left them some food to live on… however sickening. It was not even the ship's idea about them needing to eat. But being angry at her overprotective Time Lord has never crossed her mind. "We can still have something to drink, yes?"

"She can be mean, but not that evil, you know," the Doctor was thankful the kitchen was nearby. All kinds of drinks (or at least the materials required to make them, with a kettle alongside) were on their usual shelves to choose from. A way to apologise?

"Tea?" he offered, grinning.

Rose shook her head. "Coffee. Black, with no sugar. The strongest you can find aboard the TARDIS, please."

The Doctor breathed out, before looking at her in mock-horror. While he agreed about the given ration being atrocious (particularly considering his heightened senses), it was far from being one of the worst things he'd tasted…

The alien was watching her with concern, running his fingers through his hair. The blonde had no idea what she was asking for. "This bad? The smallest cup of the said coffee would mean at least three sleepless nights for you," the alien looked at his gorgeous Rose worriedly. "Having in mind we'll be meeting Jackie, and she would want you to stay with her for at least a day-"

"Don't think I'm going to allow you to leave me alone with Mum," Rose shook her head. "Not even for the night. By the way, since when not sleeping is a problem for you?"

The Doctor rolled her eyes at her. Whenever the companion was sleeping, for however short a while, the Gallifreyan had to fight with himself in order not to wake her up minutes afterwards. Particularly now, when he could not even get involved in his other favourite activity – tinkering with the TARDIS. Just when that seemed to be the only thing he could do in the console room, his beloved ship had decided to start the bloody recuperation process…

The Doctor shook his head. This was wrong. No such thoughts were allowed or welcome in his mind, not when-"

"I can spend more time without sleep than you'd think," Rose eyed him meaningfully, forcing him to remember where he was. Doing pleasant things, she added mentally.

The Time Lord smirked, not surprised about the heated memories in her mind. I know.

"I'm sorry," the fair-haired human spoke honestly. "Could not help myself-" Should try to somehow learn to stop-

"Don't ever say you're sorry for this again, my Rose," the Doctor spoke softly. Don't be.

The blonde smirked at this, not trying to fight off the wandering thoughts of his in her mind in return. If this meant more was coming- oh heavens, it sure did-

"First things first, Rose," he eyed her thoughtfully, not fully allowing the memories overtake him. "As this happens to be – I think – the last day of us being locked up in the ship – some places must be open already, yes?"

It's your ship. You know better, Doctor. Rose bit her lip in anticipation, suddenly as excited as the Time Lord. She needed to get to the library and change into something she'd been intending to wear all along. The Doctor was thinking of the media room – the unbelievable human still needed to see the most recent episode of the series they'd been watching – even if neither of them could remember what had happened in the latest one, too involved in their usual flirty banter to care. The funny thing was it took so little to take their relationship to the next level… this time, it was going to be even harder to concentrate on the plot… or perhaps they would not try to waste any time on it. He smiled smugly at the thought.

"Oi!" Rose nudged him.

Unlike you, Rose Marion Tyler, I have no intention to stop thinking about you… about us any time soon, the Doctor peered into her flushing face.

I hope not. "This is just what I needed to hear," she clarified, uncomfortable. It explained her pink cheeks, at least. "I still think Mum would not approve of this behaviour, though," the companion gulped.

The Doctor rolled his eyes at her playfully. "Do you really feel like ruining this day with continuously reminding me of Jackie, Rose?"

"I could list countless things worse than you having to face Mum. Our breakfast, for instance," she grimaced. "Let's hope I won't be sick," Rose swallowed, welcoming the sensation of his soothing embrace – it felt as if the Time Lord knew what it was she needed the most. Which he did.

You won't be. I can list things better than these.

"Show them to me?" Rose breathed out, a small smile playing on her lips.

The Doctor smirked. I intend to do them to you. At least the look in her wide hazel eyes did not give away any signs of disapproval. He cleared his throat. "No checking if the library is finally available, then?"

Rose but smirked back. The sometimes almost overly intense effects of the bonding weren't even disturbing her any more. "This is, of course, of primary importance," she shrugged, biting her lip.

"You are the one that is the most important. Not any of the rooms," the Doctor assured her of what she had known all along.

Rose awarded him with her tongue-between-teeth grin. "Yeah?" The Time Lord could not help but grinned back at her.

"Absolutely," he breathed out with a nod. That smile he always found so enticing was making the alien forget whatever he had intended to say.

The companion was smiling at him knowingly – it was very likely she knew of the effect that kind of smile had on him. He cleared his throat. "Shall we go to-"

To the library or straight to bed? The girl was not completely certain if this thought was his or hers, but a feverish blush coloured her cheeks anyway. However, Rose was quick to shake the blush away. "If the library is not there still, I win," she eyed the Doctor challengingly, a wide grin on her face.

"Ten quid? Or twenty?" the Time Lord smirked at her.

"Nope. You'd have to think of something different."

"Are you expecting for something in particular from me?"

"Only if I'm correct," she shrugged, thoughtful. It was Rose's tongue running through her teeth – again - that complicated his half-successful attempt to try and move away from her.

"And if you're wrong?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow.

"Then I'll get to change into the clothes I'd chosen in the first place."

"Which means?"

You'll see. The young woman welcomed his hand entwining with hers.

Somehow by that moment the companion already knew the library was going to be there. Not the slightest bit upset, Rose opened the library door expectantly, never letting go of the Doctor's hand.

"How did you know?"

"She might have implied it," Rose shrugged.

"Yeah? Which means you knew, and were still willing to make a pointless bet with me?"

"I like to live dangerously," she smirked. Her eyes turned first towards him, then to the now neatly folded pile of clothes on the floor. This seemed to be the only thing different about the library. Not one thing was moved or changed. Rose grimaced. It almost seemed the TARDIS had only closed the room down to tease them.

"I'm going to at least put on something else first," the bond-mate informed the Doctor, who appeared slightly disconcerted, noticing the lack of changes in the library and getting to the same conclusion.

It was open again, which meant some of the other rooms had to be reachable too… But this was not important at the moment. Not with the human watching him curiously.

"Really?" the alien gave her a searching look. "Isn't this about what I want now, considering-"

"Sure," Rose grinned at him expectantly, suddenly realising her half-hearted intention was doomed from the start. Not with him watching her with such adoration. "Anything you want, Doctor."

Anything?

"Yes."

"I suppose that does not include not visiting Jackie, though?" he knew the answer already.

At the brief shake of her head, he grimaced. I'm sorry about this. I really am.

"Just checking," the Doctor assured her with a smirk. "I'm full of ideas, actually. And more than a half of them can be fulfilled fairly easily, my Rose." He seemed to be bubbling with emotion.

"Yes?" the fair-haired human had an idea about what his primary idea might be about. Particularly with him not doing anything to hide it. On the contrary.

Is this okay with you?

Rose bit her lip. "Don't ask me. Show me."

"Very well," the Doctor muttered into her ear, before making space by throwing several decorative pillows off the sofa. "There. Changes. For a very good reason," he winked at her. "And no, the TARDIS won't mind," the alien assured her. "Undress for me?"

The blonde giggled, moving away from him. "Always the first to remove my clothes, always the last to put them on. Why is that? I wonder…" However, she did not object, taking her time in removing the little amount of clothes covering her body. Watching him looking at her lustfully was making her want to stop whatever she was doing and shag him right on the library floor.

The Doctor pretended not to have caught her wandering thought, even though it was pointless – wasting time on teaching her to dampen her feelings or emotions – for who knew when they were going to meet races with telepathic abilities? - was the last thing on their minds.

Rose… "You are beautiful. I can't stop looking at you. And you are mine. Mine and only mine. That's why."

Rose but peered at him with amusement. Oh, yes. Having finally pulled down the very last garment off her body, she could not help but feel the very familiar sensation building up in her body. The approving look in the Doctor's eyes has but increased the need within her. Nevertheless, she managed to address him huskily, a smirk on her face. "What now, Doctor?"

He placed his finger on his lips, eyeing her knowingly. Rose breathed out, but said nothing.

Show me, she reminded him.

The Doctor cleared his throat, remembering her request. "Be sure I will, my darling Rose. But right now… are you completely sure about that coffee? With you being human, and all-" he received a mental push by the TARDIS. Not a good-natured one.

All right, all right! "Are you ready to spend three sleepless nights with me? Most of it being at your mother's, very likely?" He sounded terrified.

"I'll ask of her not to slap you very hard, deal?"

He glared at her. This doesn't help.

Rose stuck her tongue at him. She likes you, you know it.

"Discussing your mother again, are we?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow. "The question was-"

"Yes. Yes. I want to spend some sleepless nights with you," the companion assured him, her eyes sparkling.

"Even if this means Jackie somewhere nearby?"

"Oh, she'll place us in separate rooms, that's for certain."

The alien rolled his eyes at her smirk. "Your flat did not seem very big the last time I was there."

It was her time to roll her eyes at him. "We do have a guest room, you know."

"Obviously." The Doctor cleared his throat, remembering that his bond-mate was standing completely naked in front of him. "Would you like me to join you?" He looked her over, uncomfortable.

"In wearing nothing? Nope," Rose pulled her favourite pink summer dress back on in seconds. "This, I will remind you," she teased. "Besides, I'm cold," the girl shrugged.

Oops? "We could still-" the Doctor took off his shirt, throwing it aside.

"We could. You have made the sofa comfortable for us and our- activities, after all," she giggled. "But I want my coffee first," Rose reminded the Time Lord.

"Right… yes," he hurried to speak, pulling her to the kitchen with him. "Are you certain? It might have some unexpected side effects on you, and-"

"I have you to take care of me, if something bad happens. Or something pleasant," Rose fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Yes, my Doctor?"

Always, my Rose. He said nothing else, but kept watching his bond-mate with awe and admiration. The Doctor was quick in preparing the drink – strong, hot and bitter… but they both knew this was the reasonable step to take.

"Ugh," the blonde pulled a face, taking a sip, her eyes widening.

"That's what you call coffee," the Doctor smirked at her, his arms ready to catch her if it happened to be too much for Rose's human physiology. Humans happened to think too well of themselves sometimes, after all.

The Londoner slapped his hand, giving the Time Lord a burning glare. He took her hand. I'm sorry!

The glare still on her face, Rose finished her coffee without a word.

"It's working already, I see," the Doctor spoke to her softly. He could see the barely noticeable changes caused by the liquid in her already. "My beautiful Rose. Rose Marion Tyler."

The fair-haired companion smirked. I love you too, my Doctor.

Wasting no time, the Time Lord began kissing her, sincere apology shining on his face. He had made her undress for him. Had made her feel cold, rather than hot… This needed fixing. As soon as possible.

"Wait a moment, Doctor." The human broke away from him unwillingly. She let out a long breath. "The TARDIS seems to be trying to tell me something. Something important."

This was both unexpected and unnerving. "More important than me snogging you breathless, Rose?" he tried to jest uncertainly.

The blonde shook her head, a small smile on her face. "Not that kind of important."

The next moment, the girl peered at him, as if looking for guidance. "She- she says-"

"If I'm not back in seven minutes-"

"What then, my love?" the Doctor felt the sudden urge to hold Rose in his arms and never let go.

The next thing he knew was her grip on his hand tightening painfully as she briefly considered the very likely possibility – this being the last few hours of them still stuck on board-

What?

"Whatever happens, don't let go of me," the Tyler girl did not care if her voice sounded panicky.

"I won't," he assured her. Whatever was the cause of her unease, the Doctor was prepared to wait for an explanation, for however long it took.

Rose knew there was no way either of them could take any sort of separation lightly. Not touching each other could have meant them appearing in different places. The unwelcome sensation of something unpleasant coming was filling her with dread more and more every passing second.

What is happening, Rose? The Doctor was watching her with concern, hoping this had nothing to do with the legendary side-effects of the coffee he had been foolish enough to-


Rose screamed.

The next thing the Time Lord knew was the sensation of her fingernails clawing at his bare back in panic.

"Calm down, my Rose. I'm here. With you. We are together." Hearing his soft voice, she removed her hands off his back. Sorry 'bout that, the young woman bit her lip, looking for forgiveness in the Doctor's attentive eyes. He chuckled. "Superior physiology. Will be as right as rain in no time- no, wait- this wording doesn't quite fit-"

Rose grinned. Her Doctor and his familiar rambling… Nothing could be wrong now. "Kicked out of the TARDIS." How romantic. The fair-haired human giggled, recognising the place they found themselves in at once.

"We're lucky the TARDIS didn't leave us in an open place. In the street, for example." The Doctor was visibly trying to justify his ship.

"Yeah. In the shade of several trees. This protects us from being seen well enough, I suppose," Rose rolled her eyes, not really upset. "I think we should stay here, though. At least until the dusk falls, yeah? I don't much fancy being seen with anyone where everybody recognises me."

Anyone? The Doctor's eyebrows shot up.

She eyed him searchingly. With a bloke who, no matter the temperature, is bold enough to stroll around shirtless! How dare he!

"Oh, Rose." The Gallifreyan breathed into her ear. This bloke can be much bolder than that, you know.

I know. "But you must remember we are approximately three hundred metres away from-"

From the Powell Estate. From Jackie. He knew, but it did not matter.

"Should this worry me, Rose Tyler?"

"Naah," she run her tongue through her teeth.

"Feel like feeling what a bold Time Lord can do?" he spoke huskily.

"D'uh."

She might have expected the kiss. Might have expected the mind-blowing snog. Might have expected his hands on her. Or more. Much more. But, as usual, there were things she might have missed...


A/N. You know reviews make me happy, yes?:)