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Chapter 40 - Grape Juice Germs

Rose came back into their room to find the Doctor laying on the couch. He was still wearing his suit, but had unbuttoned his vest. He had a lollipop in his mouth and was moving it around with his tongue. His arm was covering his eyes. He had slipped off his shoes and had his feet propped up on the end of the couch. His glasses were pushed up on his forehead.

Rose was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. The first time she had worn jeans in weeks.

As he heard the door close, the Doctor didn't move from the couch. He spoke. "I'm just resting my eyes. I'm not asleep."

Rose laughed at him. "Yeah, I've used that one myself, before. Don't look. Keep your eyes closed for a minute."

"Why? Are you wearing clothes?" the Doctor asked excitedly.

Rose laughed. "Yes, you nutter. I'm wearing clothes. Are you alright?"

"Yes, love. I had to fix something for Jake. It didn't take as long as I thought it would, so I lay down for a bit."

"Tired from last night?"

"Tired. Don't know if it's from last night or not."

"Intense meeting?"

"Nah, I've been in way worse. Anyway, I'm going to go to sleep if I can't open my eyes anytime soon. What's the big secret?" he asked, rolling his lollipop around in his mouth.

"Well, first of all. I ordered you some new shirts. Did you know you ripped your shirt on the beach last night?"

The Doctor laughed under his breath. "I've never been so hard on shirts. I can't even believe that. I also lost a pair of pants if you are keeping count, Rose Tyler."

Rose laughed at him. "Last night?"

"Yep!" he said with a pop. "No regrets though. It was worth it." His face broke into a huge smile.

"Okay, silly. Second, I ordered you some more lollipops."

"Thank you! I'm down to two. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted and need to find a program." he smiled.

Rose laughed at him.

"Third, I ordered a dress for tonight since I'm not dead."

The Doctor kept his eyes closed and raised his hand to point to her. "You come back to life this afternoon. That's what we decided."

He started to raise up off of the couch.

"No! No, stay there. Keep your eyes closed." Rose told him.

The Doctor froze, and then returned to where he was laying on the couch. He felt Rose lift up his legs and slide in behind him on the couch.

"What's going on, Rose? You planning on hitting me? Sneak attacks are usually unannounced." he teased her.

"No, you idiot. I'm not going to hit you. But, I am going to kiss you."

He smiled hearing that and made a happy noise in his throat. She pulled his lollipop out of his mouth and tasted the sugar from the candy on his tongue. He wrapped his hands around her bum, and ran his hands up the back of her shirt.

"By the way, I love how you look in this suit with a vest." Rose teased him as she kissed his neck.

He laughed quietly, "Oh, really? I'll have to get some more then. I even wore shoes that weren't trainers today. Did you notice?"

"Why did you do that?" Rose asked.

"They are easier to take off for a quick shag." he chuckled.

She raised up and laughed, "Don't open your eyes yet."

He sighed. "Rose Tyler apparently wishes me to be blind. What in the world?"

Rose giggled. "What is that you sometimes call me?"

The Doctor smiled. "Sweetheart?"

"Yeah, but I'm thinking something else."

"Love?"

"No."

"Ugh, woman!"

"Not that either."

"What do you want me to say? I have no idea!" he tossed his hands up as he laughed.

"Your pink..." Rose laughed.

He smiled. "My pink and yellow girl."

"Would it be alright, if I was your pink and brown girl instead?"

"What?" he opened his eyes and looked at Rose. She sat on the other side of the couch. She had dyed her hair brown with ginger highlights. She looked older to him, but even more beautiful. He couldn't speak for a moment. He raised up on the couch, blinking to take it in.

"Well, that's the strangest look I've ever seen on your face." Rose told him as she laughed.

"When did you do this?" he raised up and ran his hand through her hair. "And it's ginger, too."

"Do you like it?" Rose asked.

"Oh, I really do." He cupped her face in his hands and leaned in to kiss her.

"Rose Tyler, my pink and brown girl." he tasted the words in his mouth. "That's alright. Rose alright, too." he smiled.

She leaned back in to kiss him. He ran his hands back up her shirt as they started to really get into their snog.

Just then, the door opened and Tony ran in.

"Doctor! We need help!" he shouted.

The Doctor and Rose broke apart. The Doctor nodded to Rose. "Yeah, need to define 'disturb' to Tony. Do that later. Remind me."

He got off of the couch and took Tony's hand. "What's the problem?"

"Jacob is sick. He needs a Doctor. Mum said to come get you."

Rose jumped off the couch joined them.

Tony lead them down the hallway to Jacob's bedroom. Jacob was in the bed. Caroline was sitting on the edge holding his hand and a bucket.

The Doctor looked around as he walked in. "What's wrong, Jacob?"

"I feel sick."

Caroline added. "He just started throwing up. He seems to be running a fever."

The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and scanned Jacob. "Ew. Well, good and bad news. Which one do you want first?"

Jacob said, "Bad news."

"Well, you are going to have to stay in the bed until this time tomorrow. And you are going to feel terrible. But, I can make you go to sleep, so you will sleep through most of it. How would that be?"

Jacob nodded.

"More bad news. This is a 24 hour stomach flu. And all of us have been infected."

Jackie was over in the corner. "Oh, no! With the state dinner tonight!"

"But, the good news is...you just have to drink some grape juice, and you will most likely not get sick."

"Grape juice?" Rose asked him.

The Doctor nodded. "Yep. Grape juice kills the bacteria that causes the stomach flu virus. We all will drink it, and should be fine. Rose, call the kitchen and have them send us all up some. Have everyone in the White House drink at least 8 oz. of it."

"Sure. Grape juice?" Rose asked in disbelief.

He turned to look at her. "Yeah. I'm really good at chemistry. Trust me. Purple grape juice."

Caroline shook her head. "I've never heard of that, Doctor."

"Not many people have. But, he'll be fine. Try not to worry, Caroline." the Doctor reassured her. He put his hand on Jacob's head. "Yeah, a little fever. Nothing to worry about. When was the last time you drank something?"

"Just now. Mom made me drink some water."

"She's a good one. Your mum! That's what she should have had you drink."

Caroline smiled.

"I was going to take you and Tony to the Smithsonian today, Jacob." the Doctor told him.

"It's alright. I've seen it. Tony will love the Star Wars room." Jacob told him.

"Star Wars? I'll love that room! Would it be alright if we went ahead, then?"

"Sure. I've seen it." Jacob said.

Howie rushed in the room. "What in the tarnation?"

"Everything is fine Howie. Just a little stomach flu. Drink some grape juice and it will keep you from getting sick." the Doctor reassured him.

"Are you pulling my leg?" Howie asked.

The Doctor turned to him in surprise. "I understood that! No, I'm serious."

Rose returned and kneeled down beside the Doctor. The Doctor put his hand on Rose's arm.

'Can you get them all out of here?'

She looked over at him suspiciously. 'Sure.'

She turned around and said, "Alright. Everyone out. The Doctor has this. Jacob is just fine."

The Doctor turned around at Caroline and smiled. "It's alright. Let him rest. He will be fine."

Caroline took Howie's hand and left the room. Jackie followed them out.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked him.

The Doctor asked Jacob. "Are you comfortable? Warm enough?"

Jacob nodded.

"Alright. Close your eyes." he told him. He put his finger to the center of his forehead, and the little boy went right to sleep.

"What did you do to him?" Rose asked in a whisper.

He turned around and looked at her. "I put him to sleep. I didn't want his parents to see me do that. Thanks for helping me get them out of here."

Rose was shocked. "Is this how you get Tony to sleep?"

"Nah... Tony always goes to sleep on his own. After about two books. Don't you mate?" the Doctor asked Tony.

Rose had forgotten he was in the room. "Yep. Like you say, 'two book minimum.'"

The Doctor smiled and said, "See! And besides this is harmless. He will sleep really deep now which is what his body needs to fight this off. He'll be fine."

Rose smiled and looked at him. "Yeah, it's just strange."

"Ah, there's always something strange when it involves me. Let's go find some grape juice. I have to take Tony to see the Star Wars room!" he smiled as he bopped her on the end of the nose.

"Come along, Comrade!" he told him as he left the room.

Rose shook her head in disbelief. "Some days."

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Rose and the Doctor took Tony to the Smithsonian on their own. Jackie went to take a nap, still weak from her recent illness. She wanted to be rested for the state dinner that night. Pete had meetings all afternoon.

The Doctor carried Tony around in his arms the entire time. He was back in his suit he had worn that morning, with the vest. The look that he caught Rose giving him made him decide that he definitely would be getting some more suits like that. He also had put back on his red trainers.

Rose had put on a green skirt suit. She had her hair twisted up behind her head. The Doctor was starting to get used to seeing his pink and brown girl.

They were all enjoying looking at the artifacts from the space flights.

"You know, I thought them not having airplanes would have kept the space flights from happening here." Rose admitted.

"Nah. Different sort of technology. Although, I do see your point." the Doctor told her.

They then went into a room full of model space craft from science fiction movies, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. and Star Trek.

The Doctor looked it all over. "Amazing to me. How scared everyone is of aliens, but so entertained by them."

Tony asked him, "What do you mean, Doctor? Aliens are scary."

"Not all of them." the Doctor argued.

Rose gritted her teeth. "He's only three, Doctor."

"Well, just a bit. This is important, Rose. Tony Tyler, all aliens are not scary." the Doctor insisted.

"Yeah they are!" Tony argued.

"Okay, I know how to deal with this."

"Ugh, Doctor! No! He's three!" Rose told him.

"Don't worry, Rose. He's not the first child I've been around in my life." he was looking around as if he was trying to find something.

"Ah!" he walked through the doorway to the Star Wars room. There were models of the movie props. The Doctor kneeled down and pointed at Yoda. "Now, is he scary? He's an alien."

Tony held the Doctor's neck tighter. "Yes. He is."

"But, he's nice. A Jedi." the Doctor reasoned.

"But, he's still scary."

"Ugh. Tony. How about Chewbacca? See! He's big! Like a big dog! Actually, reminds me of someone I met once."

Rose had to admit, seeing the 7 foot alien costume was even frightening to her. Tony held the Doctor's neck tightly and refused to look at Chewbacca.

The Doctor rubbed Tony's back. "It's alright. These aren't monsters. I won't let anything get you."

Then he walked around the corner. There was a model of young Anakin Skywalker. The Doctor kneeled down with Tony still holding on in fear. He pointed at Anakin. "Now, is he scary?"

"No, but he's not an alien."

"Yes, he is!" the Doctor laughed.

Tony shook his head. "No, he is a human!"

The Doctor said, "No, he's not Tony. What planet is he from? Do you remember? It's not Earth, like where you are from."

Rose smiled as she realized the point the Doctor was making with her brother.

"I don't remember." Tony admitted.

"He's from a desert planet called Tatooine. So, was Luke Skywalker. That makes them aliens."

"But, they look like me." Tony reasoned.

The Doctor nodded. "Yep, they do. But, they would probably say that you look like them. Ever think of it that way?"

Tony thought for a while. "So, everyone in Star Wars is an alien?"

"Yep." the Doctor popped.

"I never thought about that." Tony said.

"So, does that make Star Wars scary?"

"No."

The Doctor carried Tony over to look at the Darth Vader suit. "Well, and then there is this bloke. You know what? He scares me. Does he scare you?"

Tony laughed and covered up his mouth. "It's just a suit."

"Yeah, but a scary suit."

"For an alien." Tony told him.

The Doctor laughed. "Yes, an alien."

"That looks like me!" Tony told him.

"No, that you look like him." the Doctor said.

Rose walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Well, done there. I see what you are doing."

"It's all about the ground work, Rose. One day, he'll ask, and I'll have to tell him." the Doctor said.

"Alright then, my ginger brother? Let's go see what else there is here. They have some cool stuff!" the Doctor exclaimed.

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