Author's Note: I am American. I'm sorry if I get some British slang wrong, but I'm trying my best! If any English readers would like to correct me, you're welcome to, but also please leave your email address so I can be in contact with you.

Chapter 6: Gestation

He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, because he was jolted awake as his arm slipped off of Rose's bedpost. He looked around the room. She wasn't there, but the covers were jumbled as if she had slid off of them. "Rose?" He called.

He got to his feet, and found her in the hotel's small bathroom. "There you are." He said. She didn't acknowledge him. This wasn't right. The look on her face reminded him of when Cassandra was inside of her. But that was impossible. He walked right up to her, and found that her eyes were closed. "Rose? Rose, can you hear me?"

Again, no response.

Sleepwalking.

He knew that this stage in the gestation period would come, but this soon? He backed up as Rose backed away from the sink and walked out the door. He had always heard that it was dangerous to wake a sleepwalker, so he followed her silently down the hall. But was she really sleepwalking or being controlled? Better not risk it… he wasn't sure what the shock of suddenly being jolted awake would do to her body. She walked calmly and deliberately as if she were awake back to her room. There she stood, and took off her pajama top. The Doctor didn't know quite what to do. She stood there in her bra, so he forced himself to look at her face. She then snatched the lamp off of her bedside table and smashed it on the edge. Rose stretched out her hands and placed them on her stomach. And then she began to scream.

"ROSE!" He called helplessly.

The sound of her own voice seemed to bring her into consciousness. She gasped, her hands still on her stomach. "Doctor!" She panted, looking at him. "Doctor, what happened?"

"You were sleepwalking." He told her.

"I want these creatures out of me."

"So do I." He said. He bent down and handed her her shirt, and busied himself with the shards of glass as she dressed.

"I did that?" She asked, pulling on her shirt.

He nodded, "Don't want you to catch cold." He subconsciously slapped himself. There were aliens inside of her, and he was saying things like that? "I also want to move us back into the TARDIS."

Rose nodded, and then froze. "Oh…" She put a hand to her head, and swayed on her feet.

"What is it?" He asked anxiously and ran forward to catch her if she fell.

"There's pain in my shoulders… my legs… it's all over… make it stop!" She collapsed to the floor, writhing in pain.

"Still, still, lie still!" The Doctor cried, trying to contain her shuddering limbs. "It will pass quicker if you lie still!"

XXX

The Doctor ran his hand over Rose's forehead as she lies still and helpless in the tub of ice water. She winced at the contact of his hand. When she had quieted down, he had carried her to the bathroom and filled the tub with cold water. It was all he could think to do for her; her skin felt like it was on fire.

"Is it better?" He whispered.

"It hurts to talk." She said. "Is anything broken?"

He shook his head, "No. Just rest, okay? But I'm going to have to move you to the TARDIS."

"I can't walk." She whispered.

"Then I'll carry you." He said simply.

"What good will the TARDIS do? They're already in me."

The Doctor simply smoothed her hair back. He couldn't believe that things were happening this way. Rose; sporty, happy, sweet Rose lay in a bath tub like an invalid. And it was only to get worse from here.

"I don't want to live out my life on the TARDIS… I don't want to hide. Can't you go into my head and force them out?"

"Rose…" He started. He didn't want her questioning things right now, he just wanted her to be comfortable. He didn't want her to wonder if he had did everything he possibly could for her.

"You can't." She whispered.

"No, I can't." He said softly. "I don't know how they'd react to force."

There was a pause between them.

"I want you to try." Rose said, "I don't want anything to do with those creatures."

"They'll sense me, Rose. I can't risk it. I'm sorry."

"I know." Rose whispered.

"Rest now." He said.

"I don't want to rest! I want to explore with you!" She sighed, "But since I'm knocked up in this tub, can you sit with me?"

The Doctor took a seat on the floor next to the tub. The only sound in the room was the steady drip from the leaking faucet.

"I didn't mean it," She whispered, "Not in that sense, anyway."

He turned to her, his dark eyes inches from hers. "Didn't mean what?"

Her eyes were starring up at the cheap stucco ceiling. "About being a mother to an alien baby. In that moment… I mean… I just want to be me again."

"It flew right over my head, Rose." He said with a small smile. "I'm not offended, I know what you mean." But he looked down at his hands. Were these the hands of a monster? Is that what she saw him as?

"I always forget you're not human." She said, and moved her hand a fraction of an inch toward his, and he grasped the small limb delicately. "Tell me about your home." She said, "You never talk about it."

The Doctor cocked an eyebrow at her, "Oh you are clever…"

She smiled, and then took a deep intake of breath as if she were trying to stop from screaming.

"It was called Gallifrey…" He started.

XXX

Once Rose fell quiet and asleep, he picked up her limp form and carried her as quickly as he could without causing her much discomfort into the TARDIS. He laid her down in her bed, and covered her lightly with a sheet up to her stomach. He thought vaguely of returning her to her mother. Jackie should be here when…

And there was that anger again, boiling up inside of him at the whole situation. This should not be happening! Not wanting to wake her to unbearable pain, yet not knowing what was happening in her dreams led to a horrible struggle with his guilt, so he left the door open a crack and walked to the main room.

The Doctor paced around the center console, staring at the yellow phone. He needed an extra eye on Rose, and there was only one person he could call. He picked up the phone and dialed.

"Jack Harkness."

"Jack, it's the Doctor."

"Doctor? You sound different. Do you have a cold?"

"No, I just regenerated… look, I need your help."

"Regenerated?"

"Long story."

"Last time you needed my help, I died." Jack said.

"It's Rose." The Doctor said, and felt like punching the wall. But he didn't; he simply rested his forehead on his arm. He felt sick.

"Rose?" Jack's voice went up in pitch.

I have his attention now… the Doctor thought.

"She's dying." The Doctor whispered his voice breaking on the last syllable, and ran his free hand through his hair. He'd give anything to be in her place. "She's dying, Jack, and I can't help her."

There was silence on the other end, and then Jack said, "I'm on my way."