AN: I'm on holiday for a week from Saturday so I'm afraid the next update will be next week. However do not fear as I'm taking my laptop and will write the next chapter (maybe even two) whilst I'm there and will post as soon as I return. Enjoy!
"You're not just going to leave are you?" Jackie asked as the Doctor strode back towards the TARDIS, Rose held carefully in his arms.
"I've got to get Rose to the infirmary," the Doctor replied, pushing open the TARDIS doors. "She's just received one hell of a mental and physical battering."
"She'll be alright though won't she?" Jackie said quietly, following the Doctor.
"Right as rain," the Doctor grinned back. "As soon as I see to her."
He wandered into the TARDIS depths, and, once inside the infirmary tucked Rose tenderly into one of the beds. He turned back to Jackie then and smiled slightly.
"We won't leave until Rose has had a chance to say goodbye to you, ok?" He said quietly. Jackie nodded. "Fancy a cup of tea?"
"No, thanks," She smiled weakly. "I better get back to the flat and ring round, make sure everyone's ok."
The Doctor nodded understandingly. He glanced back at Rose, who was lying unmoving in the bed he'd put her in. She looked so peaceful and the Doctor couldn't help smiling affectionately.
"Take care of her for me," Jackie said as she left. The Doctor didn't take his eyes of Rose.
He spent the most part of the day making sure Rose wasn't permanently brain damaged and then trying to bring her round. Obviously using the power of the Bad Wolf had drained her, but the Doctor needed to make sure she was ok, check if the nanites were still affecting her.
The Doctor also needed to find out who else had access to the nanite's main controls, because someone was definitely trying to kill either Rose or the Doctor or both. After a very long day the Doctor sat up very late into the night researching and drinking tea, when Rose began to stir.
The Doctor was instantly by her side, taking her hand gently in his and waiting patiently for her to wake properly.
"My head," Rose moaned, bringing the hand that wasn't holding the Doctor's, up to her forehead.
"Is it bad?" The Doctor asked quietly, rubbing Rose's hand. Rose opened her eyes and smiled weakly at him.
"Just a bit," she replied. She gingerly pulled herself up in the bed looking carefully at the Doctor. "Did I get rid of them?"
"You don't remember?" The Doctor asked anxiously.
"It's all a bit hazy," Rose said, squeezing his hand gently. "After the Bad Wolf took over I can't remember much, same as last time."
"Yeah," the Doctor said smiling slightly. "You saved the world."
"What about the nanites?" Rose said, then realised what a stupid question it was. Glancing about the room she couldn't see anything but that didn't mean they wouldn't come back. "Mm, nothing here at the minute…"
They sat in silence for a minute, Rose watching the Doctor, the Doctor watching his hands massaging Rose's.
"I promised your mum we'd say goodbye to her before we left," he said quietly, glancing up.
"Ok," Rose said nodding. She could still see the bruises on the Doctor's hands and felt another twinge.
"We'll find out who else had access to the nanites after that," he continued. "When you're feeling better."
Rose smiled slightly. Her mind was racing already even if her body couldn't be bothered to move yet. Part of her was already wondering whether they would get to sleep together again, which, given her situation, wasn't the most appropriate thing to think about.
"Do you want a cup of tea?" The Doctor asked standing up. Rose nodded and felt a little pang as the Doctor let go of her hand. She really had to keep her feelings under control. They were, after all, the reason she was in this situation.
The Doctor returned a few minutes later with a cup of tea for Rose. The TARDIS lights were dim now and cast an eerie but comforting glow about the room.
Rose sipped at the tea wondering what the Doctor had done whilst she'd been recovering. In fact she didn't even know how long she'd been unconscious.
"How long was I out?" She asked suddenly.
"Only a few hours," the Doctor replied, sitting back in the chair next to Rose's chair. "Don't worry; you've not missed out on much. Just the TARDIS registering that the Bad Wolf was healing you and that you didn't need any help."
Rose smiled again and finished off her tea, placing the cup down on the bedside table and holding out her hand to the Doctor again. He grinned and took it in his own, standing up and sitting next to her wrapping his arm round her so she could lean her head on his shoulder.
"They wanted me to kill one of you," Rose said, her grip on the Doctor's hand tightening slightly. The Doctor pulled her closer, cuddling her gently.
"But you stopped them," he said quietly. "All by yourself. You're going to kick me out of my job at this rate."
Rose nudged him playfully, smiling as he squirmed.
"Found your match then," She said chuckling.
"You're more than a match for me Rose Tyler," the Doctor grinned. Rose looked up at him smiling and feeling her face flush when she realised just how close they were. The Doctor could feel the warmth radiating from Rose and almost gave into his desires. Almost.
But then Rose turned and leaned against him again, leaving the Doctor to sigh inaudibly to himself. Just before she fell asleep Rose thought she heard the Doctor whispering something to her in a different language, but she might've just imagined it…
The next morning Rose woke to find the Doctor had indeed slept in the bed with her, even going as far as to change into his pyjamas again. She smiled slightly, watching his sleeping form for a moment before resting her forehead against his and closing her eyes again.