A/N: Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, particularly those who gave specific things they enjoyed. It all helps, believe me!

Disclaimer: So not mine.

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Chapter 4 – An Apology, of Sorts

The Doctor knocked on the door to Rose's room. No answer. "Rose?" he called softly. No answer. She was still angry, then. He was going to apologize anyway. The door was slightly ajar, so he pushed it open and looked around. No Rose. A partially packed rucksack on the bed - what was that about? He looked around and saw that the small cupboard was open and emptied. It looked as if she had started tossing everything in the bag and been interrupted partway through. What was the daft ape doing?

He stuck his head back out the door and looked for her in the hall. "Rose?" No answer, and nowhere in sight. He sighed and started down the corridor. Halfway down he passed the bathroom and stopped. Well, he'd already found her in there once today. Be damned if he was going to interrupt her and Jack in there again, though. Feeling more than a little stupid, the Doctor knocked on the bathroom door. "Rose, you in there?"

A slight cough, followed by a soft "Yeah, but don't come in."

"What, another bathroom tryst with Captain Jack?" he asked without thinking. He knocked his head off the wall in frustration with himself. He had come to apologize, not exacerbate the situation. "Fuck, Rose, I didn't mean that!" Dead silence from the other side of the door. "Rose?"

"Jack's not in here," she said huffily, but still in that soft voice. "And it wasn't anything before, but you wouldn't let me explain." He heard a gagging noise from her side of the door. "Look, I'm really not feeling well at the mo. Leave me alone, we'll talk about this later." He didn't listen to her and was through the door in a minute.

Rose looked very small and pale sitting on the floor beside the toilet. Like a little girl, her face scrubbed clean of its customary makeup, her hair pulled back in a loose queue, wrapped in a robe with her feet peeping from under the hem. She was missing a sock and her right foot was bare. Suddenly she looked unbearably fragile to him.

He sat down beside her on the floor. "Been here long?" the Doctor asked.

"Few hours," she answered neutrally. "Mind if I lie down? Bein' vertical isn't exactly my favorite thing right now." He nodded and she lay down on the floor, using her pair of discarded jeans as a pillow. She closed her eyes and let out a small moan.

"I'm sorry you're sick," he told her. "Bad, is it?"

"Haven't felt like this since the morning after my eighteenth birthday," Rose replied. "That was the worst hangover ever. Dunno what this is, but it's givin' that day a run for its money." She clutched her stomach with both hands.

He moved her hands away and passed the sonic screwdriver over her abdomen. "Better?" he asked.

"Not really," she said. "You sure that thing works on humans?"

"Like a charm, normally." He peered at the device. "Come on, let's get you to the med bay. I should have something there that can help." He stood up and started to lift her.

"Doctor, I don't think moving me around is gonna be a good idea for you or your jacket," she groaned, pressing her hands to her stomach again.

"Look, if you end up tossing on me or my jacket it won't be any less than I deserve," he said, putting his hands under her knees and shoulders to lift her. "I've been a right prat today."

"So you have," Rose agreed, and slumped against his shoulder.

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A/N: Captain Jack will return soon, I promise. Reviews are always welcome. Alright, more than welcome.