Okay people, there are only a few chapters left now. Around three or four. I hope you like, and thanks to all my reviewers! Love you guys loads. x
River shifted uncomfortably in her chair, unsure of what to say.
"You alright then?" She said softly, eyeing the bandages that were showing through the gap in her shirt. Rose looked down at her body, sighing.
"Yeah…it's just a scratch." She joked feebly, and an awkward silence settled over them once more.
"How are you feeling?"
"Good. I'm good." She played silently wth the blanket.
"Rose…Are you…are you coming back to the TARDIS." River moved her chair closer to Rose, and she looked up nodding happily.
"Yeah…me and the Doctor have got some things to sort out, but we'll manage." She smiled to herself. River but her lip and nodded, the pinprick of tears threatening to overcome her. Rose turned to her, shocked.
"River? What's…what's wrong?" She tutted and exhaled slowly.
"It's…it's nothing, Rose. I'm just being stupid." Rose twisted her body slowly to face River, ignoring the painful protest it caused.
"River, you can tell me yeah? If you don't want me to say anything to anyone else, I won't. But you need to talk to someone." She clasped the woman's hand, urging her silently.
"I…I love him Rose." River whispered, and Rose's grip on her hand slackened slightly.
"You…you love him?" She said softly.
"Yes. And I always thought there was a chance, but I know he loves you. And it hurts. I never even had a chance." Rose searched her mind for an answer that would console the woman, but she came up empty handed.
"River, me and the Doctor….we go way back, and…he doesn't love me, River. It may seem that way, but maybe it's not. He's always been a bit….confusing like that." Rose soothed the woman, not daring to believe that what River had said was true.
"He is. Confusing I mean. He's very confusing. But he needs you Rose, and no matter how hard I try, he just thinks of me like a friend. A best friend, yes…but still. I want to be more than that to him."
"River, I don't think the Doctor is…he's not programmed to want a relationship with people. That's always the last thing on his mind. When he sees someone has feelings for him, he'll push them away or choose to ignore them. He doesn't think like we do. It's nothing personal." River sniffed and wiped a hand over her face.
"I know. I know…I just wish it could be different." Rose smiled sympathetically.
"Believe me, this was never how I expected my life to turn out. Spending six months heartbroken in an underground base, after an alien dumped me. Not the perfect life I imagined." They both laughed, and River sighed.
"Well…I just wanted to see how you were doing….And I wanted to say that you should come back. He needs you." Rose reached over to give the woman a hug. As they held each other, Rose's mind raced. She was overwhelmed with sympathy for River…she knew how it felt to love the Doctor. And she knew how much he could hurt someone, whether he realised it or not.
"Hello?" The Doctor's voice made them both jump, and they broke apart giggling. Martha and Mickey came bustling in, and the Doctor trailed behind.
"Rose, I need to change your bandages." Martha said, as she brought the roll of them out of her pocket.
"Right then, I'd better go. I need a cup of tea, I think." River smiled at everyone, and paused slightly as she passed the Doctor. She doubled back and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"What's wrong?" He laughed as she clung to him, and Rose smiled to herself at the Doctor's surprise.
"Sorry…I'll go. I'll speak to you later." River unwrapped herself from the Doctor, and let her hand linger on his arm for a moment, then left the room. The Doctor turned his head to watch her leave, before looking at Rose, completely befuddled.
"What on Earth were you two talking about?" He asked.
"Girl stuff. You wouldn't be interested." She waved him away and he nodded. Martha unravelled the bandages, and started to unbutton Rose's shirt, but then she paused.
"I think that Rose may want some Privacy." She said firmly, and the Doctor and Mickey looked at each other.
"You heard her Mickey boy. I'll let you know when you can come back in." The Doctor said distractedly as he played with a stethoscope. Mickey raised his eyebrows.
"I think she meant you." The Doctor frowned and put down the medical instrument, folding his arms.
"Now why would she mean me, and not you?"
"It's not like I haven't seen her naked before is it?" He said almost smugly, and Martha rolled her eyes.
"Mickey!" Rose blushed, making a mental note to smack him later. The Doctor smirked.
"What makes you think I haven't seen her naked?" Mickey spluttered, and Rose's blush deepened. He looked from her to the Doctor.
"Have you!?" He demanded, and the Doctor merely stood from his chair and grinned.
"A gentleman never tells." He called over his shoulder as he sauntered out of the room, and Mickey stormed after him. Martha laughed as she heard his continuous demands for an explanation ring through the hub.
"As if my life isn't embarrassing enough." Rose muttered, opening her shirt. Martha shook her head and started to unravel the bandages.
"They're boys. Competition is what they do." Rose laughed, but then hissed as the wound was exposed to the air.
"You're going to have to change the bandages every two days." Martha muttered as she cleaned the wound.
"Can I do it myself?"
"No, it's to fiddly for you to do by yourself, so you're either going to have to come back to Torchwood every two days…or let the Doctor help you." Rose jumped as the new bandages brushed the delicate flesh.
"How did you know I was going back?" She whispered, and Martha chuckled to herself.
"After I saw the Doctor leaving this room whistling, and looking far to pleased with himself, I kinda gathered….I'm going to miss you Rose." She said softly as she put the medical tape on.
"I'm going to miss you to Martha." They sat in silence as the rest of the bandages were put on.
"There we are, all done. Don't worry, I'll teach the Doctor how to change your bandages." She winked and Rose laughed.
"Don't. I think Mickey will explode if you do." The two women laughed, and enjoyed their remaining time in each other's company.
More soon guys x.