Title: Manipulation of the Mind

Author: Trustno1

Disclaimer: I keep the Doctor and Rose locked in my closet and the TARDIS chained up in my garage. Seriously - they still aren't mine.

Rating: K+

AN: Thankyou for the reviews - I love writing, and it's always nice to see other people actually like it too. :-)

Chapter III

"It's been wonderful to see you again, Doctor, and lovely to meet you, Rose," Greg said as he escorted them to the door they had entered through a few hours previous. "I suppose this is only a whirlwind visit, yes?"

"'Fraid so, Greg. I'd sort of promised Rose we could watch a star being born in the Milky Way quite a few billion years ago." Greg raised his eyes in approval.

"Birth of our Solar System! I'm impressed."

"It's about time too. First thing genius here – " Rose nodded her head towards the Doctor – "took me to see was the end of the world in the year five billion." Rose grinned at the scientist's response to this – namely giving the Doctor a disapproving look, as if berating a student – and nudged the Doctor in the ribs.

"I did explain. And apologize."

"Yes, well, regardless of that…unfortunate incident shall we say, it appears that you haven't forgotten how to date after all," Greg said pointedly. He smirked to himself as both friends blushed simultaneously, and Rose gave a snort of laughter.

"Dating? The Doctor! I don't think that word's even in his vocabulary! And if it was, he sure as hell wouldn't do it conventionally!" She dissolved into a small fit of giggles, holding onto the Doctor's arm for support, which Greg found especially amusing.

"I can date thank you very much," the Doctor said indignantly. "I've not been around for 900 years without picking up a few tips. I'll have you know I'm very good at dating when the occasion calls for it – very attentive, say all the right things, pick great restaurants, dance…"

"… attack monsters with Champagne bottles," Rose managed to say between bouts of giggling. Greg looked inquisitively at them, but it appeared that this was a private joke.

The Doctor frowned at his 'friends', and decided he didn't like the looks in either of their eyes; Greg's that appeared to be silently asking if this occasioned 'called for it', and Rose's that had a mischievous glint in, like she was planning something.

"Doctor, I bet you haven't had a date in… in…"

"Years?" Greg supplied helpfully.

"Maybe decades?" she countered, grinning.

"Or centuries?"

"I'm still standing here you know."

"So you are," Rose said kindly, patting his arm fondly. Funnily enough the Doctor didn't find it as annoying, or patronising, as he would have imagined, simply endearing. "I suppose you're getting restless aren't you, what with there being no immediate danger or mortal situation to get us into again?"

"I'm not the only one good at that – you're getting… no, scratch that, you are pretty jeopardy friendly yourself. You were being attacked by Autons when we met, and I had to save you a few times over in the space of a few hours if you remember…"

"That was entirely your fault, and didn't I find out what the transmitter was – not that it was especially difficult using my eyes to see the largest wheel in England – and end up saving all our lives?"

"And I only have to leave you alone for two minutes and you're getting attacked by zombies, or getting burnt to a crisp, or held hostage…"

Greg watched this playful banter with amusement. Mainly because they seemed to have forgotten he was even standing in front of them. But also because the jokes, the light-hearted shoves and good-natured teasing reminded him of an old married couple, and the thought of the Doctor being domesticated by this girl was definitely amusing. He was frankly astounded by the level of trust and intimacy these two shared, particularly Rose, who had given up her old, familiar and safe life, to travel the Universe, coming face to face with untold dangers, all with an alien who had blown up her place of work about five minutes after she had met him.

Greg saw the brief but meaningful glances they both shared; the way one would sneak a glance, then the other, then both sets of eyes would meet at the same time. He saw the familiarity with which they held hands, and the slight possessiveness of the Doctor's, particularly the glare he had given one of Greg's younger co-workers as he passed Rose, giving her an appreciative glance. It was a frown that said ' Look all you want, but she's mine and that's as close as you're getting'. He guessed the Doctor had given a few of those looks since Rose had been travelling with him.

The bond Greg saw in the two of them was far more than mere companions; better than friendship, or even the relationship between boyfriend and girlfriend, and he thought that was just fantastic. And he was absolutely certain that they both knew the kind of relationship they had – they definitely knew how much the other meant to them – even if they only knew it subconsciously, and hadn't voiced it to the other. Greg had a sneaking suspicion that Rose knew more than she was letting on to the Doctor, and imagined she would be the first to make a move; to snap her fingers and tell the Doctor to get his ass in gear. He grinned at this thought and the mental image it conjured up.

Greg pulled himself from his thoughts to find the Doctor and Rose had indeed forgotten all about him and were now laughing at something.

"I'd better let you go – that upgrade takes a while, and you don't want to keep Rose waiting to see the birth of our Solar System."

"Yeah, come on you. It was fantastic meeting you, Greg. I'll drag the Doctor back so I can come visit you again," Rose smiled, giving Greg a hug. The use of the Doctor's favorite word was not lost on him.

"Absolutely. You can come see the missus as well, she'd love to meet you, Rose, and see you again, Doctor."

"Definitely, Greg." They shook hands warmly. "Say hi to Sara for me won't you?" the Doctor asked, then, leaning in a little closer, and saying in a furtive whisper: "and don't think I don't know what you've been up to, Gregory Fox. Nothing gets past this Time Lord."

"I do hope not," Greg whispered back, looking pointedly at Rose. Confusion flittered across the Doctor's face momentarily, quickly replaced by his trademark grin. He gave a small nod then straightened up.

"Right, I think the TARDIS is about ready for her upgrade now, don't you?"

"Yep. Goodbye Greg." They all waved each other off, and Greg watched the Doctor and Rose reach for each other's hands simultaneously, interlocking their fingers with ease. 'They've sure had a lot of practice at that,' he thought with a grin, as he made his way back into the Laboratory.

End Chapter III