Authors note: It's hard to write the doctor in character for this fic. Send help asap. Anywho... Here it is:

After a few too many brushes with death, the doctor begins to worry about Rose. It seems like everytime she's out of his sight, she ends up in the face of danger.

- "Tooth, Claw, and Nails" -

The Doctor * * *

It was a quiet afternoon in London, sun was shining, grass was green, the usual basic stuff. The Doctor was beginning to feel antsy though. Rose was talking quickly about something her mother did that was "ha-larious." The Doctor smiled ever so slightly, "ah gotta love Jackie Tyler." He said, not sure what Rose said. She smiled at the doctor fondly.

"Where to next, captain?" Rose asked, twirling about. Her energy was contagious though; the doctor grinned, loving every minute of their flirting back and forth game. It fueled them both.

For a moment, the doctor wanted to reply, "home," but he knew that wasn't exciting. All of time and space, and they were going to what? Go to Rose's flat and watch the news? He wanted her safe. Away from the TARDIS, away from time itself.

Or maybe she was safe if she was closer to him? He pondered that. Rose was dangerous. She was him, in human form basically. Just needed to come out of her shell. And now that she had? Now he worried about her. His worries manifested into nightmares of her fading away, being mauled by aliens, cursed for all of eternity, and worse yet- torn away from him. The Doctor didn't want to concern his companion about these nightmares. Rose was too good natured to be brought down by such negative things.

"Doctor?" Rose asked, it had been silent for a moment. The Doctor was just thinking, regretting ever pulling Rose from her life. It wasn't safe.

"Can I run something by you actually?" The Doctor asked, nervousness flooded his system. Both hearts sped up. 'What am I going to say?' briefly popped into his head. He tried to half-smile. It faded quickly. Rose began to look at him, panicked.

"I-" the doctor scratched the back of his head, he glanced around the TARDIS. "I need to clean the tardis. Look at the dust on the console." He swiped a finger over the pristine metal and licked it. There wasn't actually dust anywhere in the TARDIS, but the doctor couldn't just say 'eh, I don't want you dying, so how about I drop you off home instead, yeah?'

"Too much dust and it'll just implode on itself. Kind of an outdated feature if you ask me."

"You want to clean the TARDIS?" Rose questioned, taken back by the doctors mundane behavior.

"I could drop you off... at your flat... while I clean, if you want." He offered.

Rose grimaced, "alright?"

It was awkward after that. The Doctor quickly tried to put in the location for her flat in the TARDIS. The TARDIS, having other ideas, began shifting his numbers and soon they were rocketing back and forth as the TARDIS steered them back in time.

"Oi!" Rose grunted, holding on tightly as they were bounced around. After a few minutes, the TARDIS came to a halt, roughly.

"1979! I guess that's close to home!" The Doctor put on a big fake grin. The TARDIS never seemed to go along with his plans. He desperately wanted to figure out what to do with the "Rose situation." His anxieties were getting the better of him.

Upon exiting the TARDIS, the two soon discovered they were not in the 20th century...

Soldiers dressed in red pulled up, followed by an elegant carriage.

The Doctor turned to Rose, "1879. Same difference."

One of the soldiers approached the two outsiders,"You will explain your presence. And the nakedness of this girl." He demanded.

The Doctor feigned ignorance, "Are we in Scotland?"

"How can you be ignorant of that?" Scoffed the soldier, remaining unphased.

"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused. I've been chasing this, this wee naked child over hill and over dale. Isn't that right, ya timorous beastie?" Said the doctor, in a nonchalant tone.

Rose was holding back a laugh, "Och, aye! I've been oot and aboot."

The Doctor nudged her lightly, "no, don't do that.

"Hoots mon." Rose replied, almost laughing out loud at the soldiers and the awkward situation.

The doctor felt the soldiers glaring, "No, really don't. Really." He said seriously at Rose.

The soldier stepped closed to them then, "Will you identify yourself, sir?"

The doctor reached for the psychic paper and began, "I'm Doctor James McCrimmon, from the township of Balamory. I have my credentials, if I may," he quickly gave Rose a warning, "stay close to me." With that, the two wandered into their next adventure.

"What happened to 'stay close to me?'" the doctor asked, sounding annoyed, "people were injured, Rose."

Rose frowned, "what are you on about, Doctor?"

The two just made it back to the TARDIS after a near-death encounter with a werewolf. Despite, her best efforts, Rose ended up separated from the doctor and locked in a cellar, mere inches away from the carnivorous beast.

However, that wasn't what really set off the doctor. What set him off was her mere ignorance of just how close to being mauled by a werewolf she was. It was like the whole incident never happened; Or she forgot somehow.

When they were in the library of the Queen's manor, Rose had heard the werewolf growl and inched out into the main hall. She just had to see the werewolf up close. When she had seen it, she froze in fear.

The Doctor remembered the look of terror on her face as she just stood there. Quickly, he darted out into the hallway, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pushed her into the library, slamming the giant wooden doors behind them. Rose had only blinked. The Doctor couldn't believe that she just stood there, staring, or worse yet, that she had been so inclined to get closer to the beast.

Now, the blonde was glaring daggers at the doctor. He stood in front of her, noticing how short she was. Another downfall. She wasn't a fast runner, which made her an easy target. The Doctor became cold again, "You could've been injured, or killed even."

"I wasn't though." Retaliated the blonde.

"That's not the point... You could have been, easily..." Images of Rose being snatched up by the werewolf flooded his brain. "...And I intend to make sure you're not." The Doctor said sternly, he grabbed Rose by her wrist and yanked her over to the raggedy yellow mini sofa. He sat down first, and then with determination, he pulled her down over his lap.

"What. Are. You. Doing?" Rose asked, embarrassment and anger rising in her.

"Something human." The Doctor replied.

"Have you gone bloody daft?!"

"Last I checked I wasn't daft." The Doctor replied, choking down the uneasiness that tried making it's way back to him.

"Is this a joke?" Rose asked, "it's not funny." She attempted to get up, but the doctor gently pushed her back down and wrapped his leg over both of hers. "Doctor!"

"Maybe I am daft! But I'm not going to have you running around getting yourself killed on my watch and if I have to do this to get you to listen, then so be it."

"You're going to spank me??" Rose questioned, "is that how you see me? Like a child?"

The Doctor scoffed, "I would never spank a human child."

The blonde laughed, "but I'm free game then?"

"You disregarded my only warning to you, what am I supposed to do, Rose? Send you home?"

At that, Rose was silent. Going home had never actually been an option. The Doctor couldn't part from her that easily. He hoped spanking her wouldn't drive her away. The idea actually came from Jackie. Well, not directly, Rose was in her room packing clothes to bring and the doctor had been watching whatever was on the telly while he waited. "Blue Hawaii" was on. An old film in which a young woman is spanked for nearly drowning herself. The Doctor dismissed the movie, telling himself it was only to gain viewers. Jackie chuckled at the scene, "old films are so unpredictable sometimes." The Doctor had only nodded at that statement.

Now here he was, Rose upturned over his knee and he fully intended to do the same thing to her. 'Have I gone daft?' he wondered. "I'll give you a choice," he spoke slowly, "you can either let me spank you, or I can take you home. Your choice, and noooo take-backs." At that, the doctor's heart really began to race, he really hoped Rose wouldn't choose to leave. He just wanted to make a point.

She looked over her shoulder at the doctor as she replied, "you're not getting rid of me that easily, but don't get fresh!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," the doctor replied, thankful that Rose couldn't read his mind. "However", he drew a circle in the air above her overalls, "I'm going to push your overalls up. Too many layers here." The Doctor figured if he told her in advance, maybe it would make things easier.

Rose was quiet as the doctor pushed up that layer of jean. He was thankful she chose to wear leggings as it made for the perfect coverage for a spanking, really.

The Doctor looked down at Rose, finally. Finally she was somewhere she wasn't in danger. Perfectly safe, secured over his knees. He could breathe easy for a few minutes while she endured this. He thought if he could keep her this close all the time, Rose would never even know what danger was.

Then he realized she probably thought he was staring at her bum. It had been a long moment of silence, he realized he would actually have to START spanking her or she might think he's a pervert. He was beginning to wonder that himself. 'oh just do something already, you coward!' he told himself as he brought his hand down on her upturned bottom.

Rose flinched at the strike. The Doctor wondered if he had been too hard. She didn't say anything though? Then he realized he would have to keep going. One smack on the bottom wasn't going to get them very far. 'What have I gotten myself into?'

So, he landed several more spanks to her bottom. Rose shifted uncomfortably. He was taken off guard by how easily she had complied to being spanked it in the first place. It gave him no time to mentally prepare to give a spanking.

'am I supposed to be saying something?' the doctor realized the only sounds were his hand striking her bottom and it was very awkward. 'I have to say something, anything, just say something, dammit.'

"Here's how this is going to go," started the doctor, trying to compose himself before he continued. "I'm going to spank you and then you're not going to wander off anymore, alright?"

Rose was silent. Silence was only making the doctor feel more awkward. He landed an extra hard smack then, "alright?"

"Oi, alright!" Rose replied, sounding more annoyed than anything. That's when the doctor realized, he was having a difficult time spanking her because Rose was cooperating so easily. There was no fight like usual.

"Oi," mocked the doctor, "you're in no place to be giving any attitude." The blonde kicked her legs back as the doctor readjusted so he was sitting more upright, he pulled Rose closer to him. This power exchange was unfamiliar to the two. It was typically Rose who was guiding them, not the doctor.

'The scene on the movie didn't last this long' he thought as he continued spanking her. She was so quiet too. 'Elvis made it seem so easy.' He was expecting much more of a fight. Was he supposed to start one?

Rose * * *

"What exactly were you thinking running out into the hallway back there?" The doctor asked, landing several hard smacks to the same spot. Rose began to squirm uncomfortably. She was trying to keep some sort of composure so the doctor wouldn't think he could just do this to her whenever he wanted to. It was a last minute plan, but the blonde refused to not have control over the situation.

Several times, her hands went to cover her bottom, but she couldn't let the doctor know it was actually starting to hurt. Whenever her hands moved, she'd pull them back to her chest. She was hoping she could outlast the doctor and he would realize what a foolish idea it was in the first place.

However, Rose had not been anticipating that the doctor was actually upset with her. It seemed like his determination was stronger than her willpower.

"Ow! Ow!" Rose hissed, the doctor had been striking the same spot for a while and Rose couldn't help it when her hands flew back to try to cover. The Doctor pinned her hands behind her back with ease she hadn't been expecting from him. Rose felt tears prick her eyes. It hurt and she was stuck and he was not being swayed. It seemed like usually she could talk the doctor into or out of anything.

"I asked you a question." The Doctor said, warning in his tone. "And I don't suggest making me repeat myself."

"Why not?" Rose mused, she assumed this was already the worst thing he could do to her. It was already a difficult situation. And if she could argue, maybe she could get a leg up on the doctor.

"Would you like to lose these?" The Doctor tugged lightly at the waistband of her leggings. Rose's whole face turned pink and she was thankful that she was not facing the doctor. "I'm being lenient. So! Let's try that again: what were you thinking running out into the hallway back at the manor?"

"I-I" the blonde didn't actually have a good answer. She felt like crying. It was completely unfair. Whatever answer she gave was going to sound silly.

"Out with it," the doctor prodded, landing spanks quickly.

"I-I don't know!"

"Did I not tell you to stay close by? And what did you do?"

Rose shook her head, she didn't want to answer, her voice was becoming drenched in tears and she was close to sobbing.

The Doctor laced his fingers in the waistband of her leggings as a warning, "what did I tell you about being asked a question?"

He lowered his voice, "I'm sorry, Rose, but I warned you already."

"W-wait!" Rose begged, needing some sort of grounding to stand on. Her leggings did provide the grounding she needed right then, humility that she didn't want to face. "I didn't hear you!" Rose tried, hoping the doctor would take pity on her like he usually did.

"Alright," the doctor replied, removing his grip on her waistband, "I'll repeat myself, just this once though."

Rose sighed, relief flooded her system. Feeling thankful that her leggings were still in their rightful place, she made a conscious decision to try to answer the rest of the doctor's questions.

"Why did you run out to see the werewolf? What possessed you?" The Doctor sounded scared almost.

"I was curious," she replied quietly.

"You know what they say about curiosity don't you?" replied the Doctor, "and that's after eight lives! Having lived far more than nine lives, I'd say I know a thing or two about the kind of trouble curiosity can get you into." He paused in spanking, as he spoke, "you can't go chasing every little curious urge you get!"

Rose was thankful to have a reprieve while he continued ranting about lives, curiosity, and trouble. It wasn't entirely her fault that she started to get distracted.

"So," the doctor pushed Rose forward, closer towards to the ground. He continued landing sharp smacks to her bottom then. "What have we learned about curiosity and getting into trouble?" Thankfully, the question was rehtorical, as the doctor began to answer that himself.

Rose was planning to answer when he began striking the underside of her bottom towards her thighs. Quickly, the smacks began to sting and tears pricked her eyes again. She let out little "ow"s that soon turned into sobs as the doctor began ranting once more. She was hoping not to breakdown so easily, but it was nearing impossible.

The Doctor * * *

He accidentally went off on a bit of a tangent and decided to let the questions go. Given that Rose had been honest about just being curious. Curious he could work with.

"Alright Rose," the doctor released her hands, so he could move her again. Quickly, she wiped at her face, her sobs dying down. "It's over" The Doctor began rubbing her back, knowing she would need a moment to compose herself and a part of him didn't want to let her go just yet.

Her sobs quieted a bit, "want help up?"

Rose sniffled, "maybe."

The Doctor helped Rose to her feet, shakily, he placed her upright on his lap. Her head was right on his chest. "There, there." His hands rubbed small circles over her back while she took in shaky breaths. 'Nothing like the movies' thought the doctor as he held her, 'this is much better though.'

Once Rose calmed down enough, the doctor looked at her and smiled. She couldn't help but smile back. Despite her anger, embarrassment, and annoyance with the doctor, she smiled.

"So, what have we learned about curiosity and trouble, then?"

Rose thought for a minute before replying, "it seems to enjoy your company."

"Yeah, it enjoys yours too." The Doctor chuckled, cherishing this closeness.

After a while, Rose spoke, "Doctor... I'm sorry: for worrying you that is."

"Awh it's alright. It's all part of traveling across space and time. A side effect if you will."

"You spank all your companions?"

"Did I seem to know what I was doing? Thank God!" The Doctor let out a loud sigh, clutching Rose a little tighter. It was nice to see her smile after such a tough conversation.

"Could have fooled me! I still think you've gone daft."

"Nah, just a bit too human this regeneration."

- the end -