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The Flip Side Part 2

For a split second (it seemed more like hours to her) Rose was sure he was going to fall. There was no way he could have made it! She should have stopped him from even trying! God, she had killed her Doctor twice…

Then there was a yank and heavy tugging on her arm, and she looked down to find the Doctor hanging there, one hand in hers, the other grasping a lever on the console.

"Got ya," Rose panted as she struggled to keep hold. "Nice jump." She grinned, and began the arduous task of pulling him up.

"Ta," he said once he was about halfway up. "Think I can get up on my own from her."

Rose let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and collapsed backwards on the bottom of the console. She was fingering a lever when suddenly was hit with the thought that there were actually controls on the underside of the console. Almost like he planned for this kind of thing.

The Doctor clambered up, hand over hand until he was slouched next to her. "Well, that was a close call, if I do say so myself," he said happily.

Rose's grin vanished. Happy, was he? He had no right to happy. Anger was now evident on her face and the Doctor was becoming more and more confused by the second.

"Wha-"

With a resounding CRACK! Rose smacked him.

"OW!" he yelped. "What was that for?!"

"For almost dying, you idiot! What would I have done if you'd died?" Nothing, that's what, she thought. What was there for her to do if he was gone?

His mouth opened and closed rapidly. "Er, I dunno. Gone back to working at a shop?" He cringed back, expecting another slap.

None came. Rose just leant against the column and closed her eyes wearily. "Just fix it so I can go…" She paused.

The Doctor froze. Was she going to ask to go home? For real this time? Not just a visit, but permanently? And to think, it wasn't the aliens or black holes that pushed her over the edge; it was a simple miscalculation on a screen.

He'd only lied a bit earlier; it wasn't his fault exactly, he just didn't set the gravity field correctly, and that, plus a bit of vortex turbulence, had flipped the TARDIS.

But really? It was such a miniscule thing to lose her over. Call him a romantic, but he'd much rather her leave because of some horrible misadventure with a great load of aliens intent on destroying reality. Was that too much to ask? She couldn't be his forever, but it hadn't been long enough yet. He needed a little more time.

So he cut her off.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Rose. Just please don't… go," he finished, somewhat lamely. He just didn't know what to say. How could he say so much in so few words? How…

"What are you on about?"

The Doctor's head popped up from where it had dropped to his hands. "What?"

She shoved his arm. "That's just what I asked you. What'd you mean 'go'? I need to go to sleep. Adrenaline rush, then crash, you know." She laughed. "Almost had to see a new face on that body too! That would be a drain."

A grin was unfolding on the Doctor's mouth, one of such length that it seemed to split his face.

"Brilliant! Fantastic even!"

Rose stared at him, still not comprehending his sudden mood change.

"Alright Rose Tyler! Now before I push this big nice button here, get down flat and hold on, okay?"

She shook her head at his antics but did as she was told.

"Good! This is going to be a bit of a bump so fasten your seatbelts!" He delivered the cheesy line and wrapped an arm around Rose, taking special care to protect her head. He let his fingers find purchase in a few of the many holes and sockets in the console and, with a well-aimed kick of his foot, knocked in the button.

A few moments, and much spinning later, the Doctor found himself lying on the metal grating, with a sore head and a very sore head and a very disgruntled Rose Tyler on top of him. Now, normally he would have found this an exceedingly pleasant turn of events, minus the disgruntled part of course. However, now he had to worry about any injuries his companion might have sustained.

Said companion began sitting up slowly, shaking her head. "Bumpy was right! Did you actually pass a test to fly this thing? 'Cos I'm pretty sure you failed."

The Doctor ignored this comment. "You alright? You didn't hit you head did you?" He tipped her chin up and peered at her. No signs of a concussion but still…

"Nah, I'm fine. You sorta broke my fall." She smiled apologetically.

"Glad to be of service." He smiled. "Did it on purpose, if that's good for anything… Is it?" he asked hopefully.

"Sure Doctor. Let's go get you a bunch of bananas or something."

That wasn't exactly what he had been hoping for. It was good, yeah, but not really-

His thoughts were cut off suddenly as Rose reached up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thanks," she said.

"For what?" he barely managed. This was a hug, hugs were good, they always hugged after an adventure. It was perfectly normal and his vocal cords needed to realize that.

"Nothing," she said and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, before jumping back and moving to sit on the cushy leather seat by the console.

The Doctor allowed himself 10 seconds to regroup. Ten seconds were all he needed because he was feeling fine! Rose was fine and he was fine aaannndd… he needed to change the subject.

"Bananas!" he shouted. "Brilliant! Earth, Brazil." Goodness, now he was shooting out random words. "Mmmmm fresh picked bananas!" He spun around and slammed a final lever, setting the TARDIS off. She beeped in irritation at his rough treatment but he ignored her. He needed to concentrate on not concentrating on… stuff.

Rose settled further down into the cushions and waited for the ride to end. Sure enough, a few moments later the Doctor's hand was in hers and she was being tugged toward the doors. They swung open and Rose happily allowed herself to be led away into the next adventure.

***

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