Title: Manipulation of the Mind
Author: Trustno1
Disclaimer: Although I own many wonderful things, Doctor Who is not one of them.
AN: Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews :-) I'm never quite sure if I'm waffling too much, or not describing enough, and I'm not as good at working with/writing characters that are already established, so your reviews help a lot:-DLindz
Chapter VI
Rose emerged from the fuzz of sleep gradually, with what felt like a nagging headache at the base of her skull. Grateful that that was now the only part of her that did ache, she dismissed it almost instantly and began getting dressed.
"Hello!" the Doctor said cheerfully as Rose strolled into the control in her usual attire of jeans and jacket. Outwardly, she seemed fine – her usual energetic self and he told himself to stop worrying so much. She'd hate it if he started fretting over her like a mother hen. No. He'd just quietly observe, just in case. Not that there should be any lasting effect on her, really. Plants like that didn't target humans as prey. A voice in the back of his mind whispered, 'Well, it is a research planet isn't it? No telling what they're doing, really.' He promptly pushed it away, but the seed of doubt had been planted firmly inside of him and he subconsciously realised that he would thoroughly scrutinize Rose's actions to the point of paranoia.
"So, what are we doing today?" Rose asked. She felt a lot better now that she had woken up fully, though she still couldn't remember the nightmare. And the dull, almost imperceptible ache remained in her head, virtually at the back of her mind. Rose pushed it forcibly away. She didn't particularly care as to what it was exactly, but it was irritating her, especially when she started to think about it, to attempt to feel what it was. She'd tried that just after getting up, but all that happened was feeling a sense of hopelessness and loss sweep over her. She supposed it was the remnants of the dream. The harder you tried to clutch at the fragments of a dream – the feelings you had; the thoughts; sounds; sights – the quicker they slipped though your mental grasp like very fine grains of sand.
And so, Rose resolved not to think about it – more often than not, something would trigger a thought process in her brain, and she'd remember the dream. If not - well, it obviously wasn't a very good one.
"The TARDIS is just floating in space for a while whilst I install the upgrade – it's easier than if we were on the planet, there's less magnetic interference from the planet, or from the experiments going on down there. It should take about six more hours or so. Then we'll go see the birth of your sun." The Doctor watched intently as Rose sat down on a couch next to the console. No cautious movements; no holding herself strangely; same inquisitive, penetrating stare. He sighed quietly to himself. He was getting far to jumpy for his own good – it wasn't healthy, even if it was Rose he was worried about.
"Great! And I suppose you'll be tinkering down there – " she inclined her head towards the grilles on the floor, " – for the majority of that time?"
"I do not 'tinker'." He leant against the support column next to Rose's chair, giving her a stare that she guessed was supposed to intimidate her or something. It didn't.
"All right then, fiddle."
"I don't do that either. I continually perform complex technical adjustments to the TARDIS to ensure she travels smoothly," the Doctor replied smugly. Rose laughed loudly.
"Ha! No offence to the TARDIS, who doesn't appreciate you 'adjusting' her most of the time from what I can tell, we very rarely have a smooth landing. And the only reason you constantly tinker and fiddle with odd wires and panels and things is because you get bored incredibly easily and you can't keep still." Now it was Rose's turn to look up smugly at the Doctor. He stared back briefly before giving a small huff of annoyance at the fact that she had so obviously seen through him and told him so, then walked around to the couch. Rose had spread herself out quite comfortably, propped up on one arm with her legs lying across both cushions. She watched with amusement as he pushed her legs out of the way, sat down at the opposite end, then turned to her with a rather petulant look on his face. She smiled back, and stretched her legs out again, this time over the Doctor's. She watched the range of emotions flicker across his face, before he seemed to decide on giving her another smug smile.
"You obviously have nothing better to do than sit on your arse all day and watch me 'fiddle', so you can't talk."
"No, I know how to relax, a concept that it evidently completely foreign to you. I bet you get restless way before I do, and pretend you need to go 'fix' something." She grinned mischievously at him, her eyes daring. Never one to pass up a challenge, particularly when he could prove himself better than humans, he grinned back, his own eyes glinting.
Besides, he did know how to relax.
End Chapter VI