A/N: A short chapter this time…I have company coming in from out of town and won't be able to post again until next week, but I didn't want to leave you for that long without an update. Don't say I never did anything for you.

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Nope.

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Chapter 6 – What Kind of Doctor?

Rose smiled weakly at them when they entered the med bay. "Anything good in the book?" she asked.

"Nope. Load of rubbish," the Doctor told her cheerfully.

"Then why--" she started.

"Second opinion," he informed her. "Of course, sometimes second opinions are crap. My opinion? Always right."

"Not so sure about that," she smiled. He pulled a face at her. "Alright, what's your opinion, then?"

"That bite's gotten infected. Gonna have to clean it out. Then I'm gonna mphmmmm," he said, the last words spoken into his shoulder.

"Didn't catch that last bit," she said, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Er…cauterize it with the sonic screwdriver."

"No," she said. "Absolutely not."

"Rose, honey," Jack tried, but she was having none of it.

"Think I don't know what that means? I know. It means you're gonna dig about in my foot and then burn me. No."

"Rose, look, you won't even feel it," the Doctor soothed.

"Heard that before. When I was eight. Had to go to hospital when a cut on my hand got infected. They dug around in it with tweezers, cut it open some more to drain it, then burnt it shut to stop the bleedin'. Not doin' it again," she declared. "Hurt for months afterwards and I've still got a scar." She stuck out her right hand to show them.

"Rose, you trust the Doctor," Jack pointed out. "He's much better than whatever quack treated you, and his equipment is much more advanced." Rose shot him a death glare.

The Doctor tried again. "Rose, I would never do anything to hurt you. You're my best mate. I'll give you something that will make you sleep like a baby the whole way through."

"No," she said again. The Doctor took her hands in his and looked her in the eye.

"Then you'll die," he informed her bluntly. Her eyes widened.

"I want a second opinion," she said.

"That was the second opinion," Jack said. "He's the one who thinks he can get you through this. The book says you're a goner."

"Oh, she said softly. She was silent for a moment, thinking it over, then squared her shoulders. "Alright then, guess you'd better do it."

The Doctor smiled fondly at her. "Tough little ape," he said, touching her cheek with one finger. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you. Don't want your mother hunting me down, after all."

She gave him a little half-smile, then paused. "One thing," Rose said. "Are you a real medical doctor, or is 'The Doctor' more of a nickname?" She and Jack both looked at him expectantly.

"Definitely a Doctor," he said with a confident grin. "Of lots of things," he added under his breath. "Now, let's get on with this, shall we?"

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A/N: Thanks to everyone who has left me a review – I'm really happy to know you're hearing the Doctor's voice in this as clearly as I am.