"Oh look at this!"
Rose watched as the Doctor darted back and forth between the stalls. Every little thing seemed to call and demand his attention. Whipping out the glasses he held up a jar of amber colored honey, inspecting it closely. She couldn't stop the smile from tugging at her lips. The Doctor had kept so many things. So different yet so the same. He still swore he couldn't dance yet proved himself wrong. He switched from pinstripes to jumpers and jeans. He helped her work at Torchwood but refused to work with them. She wondered what he had on his mind, as he stared at the honey.
He licked the jar.
She rushed over and purchased the jar, purposely giving the owner 10 dollars extra and removing the Doctor before he dropped something. Once they were a few stalls away she turned to him. "What is it with you and licking things?"
He frowned and looked slightly offended. "I thought you liked my oral fixation."
"I do but there is a time and place for everything. I don't want you to lick a wire and electrocute yourself. I want you to live for a reasonable length of time."
He laughed and smiled. "'A reasonable length?' Why just a reasonable length?"
Rose laced her fingers with his. "Doctor. I would rather live a short while burning brightly than barely a spark and last for a thousand years. What about you?"
The Doctor moved his forehead to press against hers. As long as you are there with me I don t care. He kissed her gently than breathed, I ll be careful.
3 HOURS LATER
Rose picked up their ships from the counter and headed back to the picnic table where she had left the Doctor only to find him missing. "Doctor?"
The Doctor turned the speaker a round, his nerd glasses perched on the edge of his nose. Staring at the dangerous group of wires all covered with duck tape and showing copper he held up a bright red one and wondered vaguely what electricity must taste like to a human.
Rose turned as a yelp echoed throughout the area followed by shouts of "What the hell?!" and "Someone help him!"
Pushing her way past the crowd she saw the cause of the commotion. "Doctor!"
The Doctor lay on the ground, frozen, gabbling and smoking from a rather nasty shock.
"You call this being careful?!"
Rose felt Pete sit next to her before she saw him. He wrapped an arm around her wordlessly and she leaned into the hug. After several moments of silence he said softly "You okay?"
Rose wiped her eyes and sniffed. "Yeah. I m fine. Just worried is all."
"I'm sure he'll be fine. He is the Doctor after all." He rubbed her back and looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Leaning in he whispered, "We have classes at Torchwood for aliens stranded on Earth. Maybe it would be good for him to go."
Somewhere down the hall
The Doctor looked around the corners. He hated hospitals. There was always some super secret operation going on underground, very shifty business and he hated getting involved. He started to sneak out when he heard a voice appear behind him "There you are. Come along Sir. You're supposed to be in the sickbay." What was that man's name again? Harold? No that wasn't it. Harry? Yes that was it. Harry.
"Am I? Don't you mean the infirmary?"
"No, I do not mean the infirmary. I mean the sick bay. You're not fit yet."
"Not fit? I'm the Doctor." Had he had this conversation before? It seemed very familiar.
"No Doctor, I'm the doctor and I say that you're not fit."
"You may be a doctor. But I'm the Doctor. A definite article you might say." Yes he had. He had this very conversation before. It was along time ago but it was the same conversation, same situation.
"Look here Doctor. You are not fit-"
"Not fit? Not fit? Of course I'm git. All systems go." Grabbing a random brick he chopped it swiftly in half. He began to run in place which was followed by ten toe touches and ten push ups.
"I say! Look..."
The Doctor rushed forward and grabbed the stethoscope placing the business end to his chest. "Heartbeat."
The doctor, Harry, placed the pieces in his ears and listened to the heart which was doing an odd little beat. "I say, I don't think that can be right."
"Its a bit fast is it? Still, must be patient." The Doctor inspected his reflection in a mirror running a hand threw his hair. "A new body is like a new house. Takes a bit of time to settle in! As for the physiognomy –" The Doctor touched and studied his cheekbones and jaw. "Well nothing's perfect... have to take the rough with the smooth... mind you, I think the nose is definitely an improvement. But the ears well, I'm not to sure."
The Doctor tugged on them and frowned before shrugging and turning to Harry. "Tell me, frankly what do you say to the ears?"
Harry backed up a little. He was used to some patients that were out of it. He worked for Torchwood after all. But the Doctor was something completely different. "Well, I don't know…"
The Doctor leapt into the conversation, already knowing where it was going to lead. "Of course you don't, why should you? You're a busy man, you don't have time to stand here burbling about my ears. Neither ear, nor there, is it?" He chuckled. After 900 years that was still funny. He really was a genius. "Eh? But I can't waste any more time. Things to do, places to go. I'm a busy man too, you know." The Doctor gripped Harry's hand and shook it heartily. "Well, thank you for a most interesting conversation. Must be on my way."
Harry stepped out in front of him frowning. "There is absolutly no question of your leaving, Doctor. You'll go back to the infirmary, I mean the sickbay, get into bed, and stay there till I say you can get up."
The Doctor frowned. That hadn't worked last time either. What had finally convinced Harry to let him go to the TARDIS? "How can I prove my point?" The Doctor thought and it hit him. The Doctor grabbed a piece of wire and began to play jump rope.
Harry straightened himself and was determinded not to let the Doctor's odd behavior deter him. "I feel I ought to warn you, Doctor that there's grave danger of minor cardial infration, not to mention pulmonary…"
Harry suddenly found himself jumping with the Doctor.
"Mother, mother I feel sick. Send for the doctor, wuick quick quick. Mother, dear shall he die? Yes my darling by and by. One. Two. Three. Four. Five." As he was jumping the Doctor noticed Rose who was standing in the doorway. "Hello Rose!" His foot caught the string and sent him forward, his head making contact with Harry's causing both men to curse.
"OW! Fuck shit and other such expletives!"
"My eye!"
"Doctor!"
Pete rubbed his hand over his head and groaned as he listened to her daughter chide the Doctor. As he was waiting for Torchwood to pick up he called out, "Rose. He s going to the class. I will not take no for an answer."
"Whatever Dad" Rose helped the Doctor back into bed, fixing the blankets, making sure he stayed and apologizing to Harry who glared at the Doctor. Pete smiled as he watched his daughter scold the Doctor about his carelessness and his future son-in-law's face as he didn t listen to a word of it. Pete had a feeling he was listening to the sound of her voice more than the words she was speaking. The Doctor needed to stay alive for a while. If only for Rose's sake.