Rose got up wearily and took the Doctor's proffered led her quietly back to infirmary only giving an encouraging smile when her steps seemed to slow incrementally.

Rose trusted the Doctor entirely and she was sure she would get not only the best medical care in the universe, but also one in which she would't have to feel like the n-th patient a doctor had to see before finally the end of his shift arrived.

They once again went into the surgery/Intensive care unit type room but this time the Doctor didn't lead her to the centre of the room, but to the side where a big tube like machine sat.

„Just hop up there, Miss Tyler", he said with a cheerful smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Rose climbed up on the narrow cot and lay on her back. The Doctor had turned away to reach for a pillow and a thin blanket.

„All right, nearly all settled. I'll just need to give this to you", he said showing her a small syringe filled with a clear liquid. „It's something to contrast and highlight all the placed where lymph nodes and bone marrow might be affected."

He took her arm and wiped the crook of her elbow with an alcohol wipe, then he slid the needle into her vein with practiced ease. Rose felt a little burning sensation creep up her arm but the Doctor just smiled and gently stroked the puncture site with his thumb. „You deserve a lollipop, model patient, you are!" the doctor smiled.

When the sensation ceased he straightened and told her that the scan would take a couple of minutes. Then the cot moved into the tube and Rose just saw the white inside of the machine.

The scan would be the most important diagnostic step right now. With the results the Doctor would be able to see not only the progress of the leukemia, whether there was any metastasis, but also whether Rose had really caught Tuberculosis.

Back with 21st century earth medicine doctors wouldn't be able to differentiate exactly between different diseases that manifested in the lungs by round lesions. But the Doctor was called „THE doctor" for a reason and admittedly the resolution that his scans provided was very advanced in comparison to anything that earth technology could offer.

After exactly seven minutes and thirty-four seconds the Doctor had all the information he needed and pressed a button to move the cot back out of the scanner.

Rose sat up and wrapped the blanked around herself. „Alright, now we've got pretty much all the information that we need right now to start the chemo and the TB meds."

Rose looked a bit taken aback. „What did it tell you? I need chemo therapy? 's it really that bad?"

The Doctor sat on the cot next to her and pulled her against his shoulder.

„Look Rose, I know it's all big and frightening words right now, and I'm not going to lie, chemo still isn't fun, but right now with the TB running rampant in you system because of the leukemia it's very much necessary that we start early and nip it in the bud. And my medications are still not without side effects, but they are a lot better than earth medicine and there is nothing to be frightened of. If there is anything along the way that you are having trouble with, if you need someone to talk to I'm always here." He kissed the top of her head and she leaned into him.

„I know, I know, but as you said it's all big and scary words. It's just you know there is so many things running through my head right now. What about my mom? You know, I always thought that if I don't come home it's because of us getting stranded or taken prisoner or something, but because of some earth illness."

She fell silent for a bit. He never liked to visit her mom maybe they could visit her. For the most part of her life she had been the one to take care of her when she'd been ill or had been feeling down, and even though the Doctor was the most important man in the universe to her, he could not replace her mother in consoling her right now.

The Doctor got up and pulled her off the cot. Rose stumbled but he caught her and looked on worriedly. „Time to get going." he said and put his arm around he waist to guide her to yet another room. Rose had been concentrating on shuffling her leaden feet over the tiled floor of the infirmary but when she looked up she stood in a ward like round room with four beds along the circler wall and a bank of instruments and cabinets in the centre. The Doctor lead her to a seemingly prepared bed. The thin hospital covers were pulled back neatly and on the foot of the bed lay her favorite pink duvet and some jim jams.

Before he'd talked to Rose the Doctor must have gone to the kitchen because on the nightstand she saw the big thermos bottle that kept it's contents warm indefinitely.

„I'd like you to sleep here tonight, where I can keep an eye on you. It's the first time for you to get the medication and I want to make sure it works and there aren't any side effects." Rose grimaced, she'd not expected to have to sleep in a hospital, even if it was on the Tardis ist still had very much a clinical feel to it.

„Good thing is, though, I get to tuck you in." he grinned, this time genuinely. Rose couldn't help but give him the smallest smile. Maybe the Doctor was able to comfort her after all.

„C'mon, get changed. I'll just go and get all the stuff we need."

When the Doctor returned Rose sat on the bed. The Doctor was balancing to trays in his arms. One of them was a stainless steel one that she'd much rather not look at. It seemed much to big for her liking and out of the corner of her eye she made out various pre labeled syringes and some IV equipment. She hoped he only liked to come prepared.

The other tray was a different story all together. As soon as the Doctor had entered the room it had smelled of freshly made toast and hot chocolate. There was even a single flower in a little vase on the tray.

„There you are, Miss Tyler, I serve you the very best our kitchen has to offer. A light evening meal and the best hot chocolate in the universe."

„Thank you! I didn't know you were such a good cook," Rose said teasingly and tucked her tongue between her teeth. She didn't believe him a single word when he said that he never learned to cook in his 900 year, he just wanted to get out of the housework.

The Doctor played along and took her compliment with a mock bow. Secretly though, he thought it was better for her to have this „light meal" as he'd called it. There would be enough nausea even with nothing in her stomach. As always he'd come prepared, with medication on hand for nearly every complication that could arise but it needed be provoked.

While Rose tucked into her dinner the Doctor prepared her IV and readied the TB meds. He didn't want the give it to her while she was eating but as soon as she's pushed back the plate there was not time to loose.

„First things first, I'd like to hook you up to a monitor. He said, pushing several button on the monitor above her bed. The he pulled a small metallic disc from his pocket. The needs to go on your chest."

He'd picked a small tank top and boxers for her to sleep in. This way the monitor could be attached easily and Rose didn't have to wear a hospital gown. When the monitor was all set up he took the IV port from the tray and took Rose's hand. „More needles?"

„I'm sorry, yes", he said with an apologetic smile. When the medicine started to flow into her vein the doctor settled on a chain beside Rose's bed. All he could do now was wait.