Anna dragged herself to the bathroom, feeling fairly certain that she would feel better if she had been hit by a bus….but she assumed that it was due to the lack of sleep. It had been a while before she had come with the Doctor and she hadn't gotten more than a couple hours of sleep a night since she came aboard.

It had nothing to do with him, although their new routine pleased her greatly. She found herself listening to his voice every night until she couldn't fight the need any longer and then when she awoke a little latter she was tucked comfortable in bed.

So, this whole feeling awful thing was just her body protesting. Finishing her business and exiting the bathroom she saw light pouring into the room from her now open door. In the doorway was the Doctor, who was looking at her bed until she stepped into the room.

"Anna, I…sorry…I…sorry…"

She shook her head at his stumbled words, and then she smirked. Wait, was that a smirk? It was just that when he went off like that he was so cute she couldn't help herself. She liked to pretend that she made him nervous, and that was why he got all fumbley around her, she doubted that was the case, but what did it hurt for a girl to pretend?

The Doctor, whom she had classified as one of the wonders of the universe, she had her own list…the one the Doctor had shown her was all well and good, but did nothing for her. His hair had its own number on her list, the hair he was currently running his fingers through.

That meant that she hadn't spoken, which meant that he was still waiting on her to say something to make him feel better about watching her in what could be taken as a slightly instusive manner. She didn't mind…and she still hadn't spoken.

"It's fine, everything okay?"

He smiled now, dropping his hand from his now extra chaotic tresses and nodded. "Yes, well, sort of, mostly. Donna has the flu, and well I just wanted to make sure that you were okay, since it's a Human flu and you are Human."

She nodded, absently. Boy could he ramble, not that Donna hadn't given her plenty of warning about that fact when she and Anna were alone. "Yes, I am. But, no, I'm fine." Never mind the bus factor, she wasn't going to admit to being anything other than fine over something silly like sleep, which was her fault any way.

"Are you sure, you seem a little…" he let the words go unfinished but she supplied that she seemed a little off. Well Doctor, she mused, that's because I can stop thinking about how wonderful you look standing there in a light halo.

"Fine," she replied as quickly as she could. "Is Donna going to be okay?"

He seemed pleased with her concern for his best friend. She didn't have to fake it, she was coming to deeply love this life and Donna was rapidly becoming her best friend as well. And the two of them together were a force to be reckoned with.

"Yes," he beamed at her, clearly feeling much better than Anna was at that moment. "She has me as a Doctor."

"It's good that you are so modest," Anna told him, bringing a smile of her own to the surface. It took some effort but it was worth it.

"Can't help the truth," he nodded, and she suspected it was to himself.

"Is that why the TARDIS is so big?"

He raised his eyebrows, and looked suspicious. "Is what why?"

"Because your head wouldn't fit it otherwise?"

His smile faltered, "I do not have a big head, ego or otherwise, thank you very much. See what happens, I come to make sure that you are okay, and get trouble for the effort. Donna is a bad influence."

Anna didn't speak, she was really quite tired, but she couldn't resist the chance to rile him up. Perhaps Donna was an influence but she didn't need any help, the Doctor set himself up for situations so perfectly.

"Anna?"

Anna realized her eyes had closed, "Right sorry, I think I better go back to sleep for a while."

The Doctor nodded, "Yes, good idea. I'll just leave you to it."

But he didn't leave, just watched her carefully. "Doctor?"

"Yes, Anna?"

She didn't want him to go…so maybe it was partially because she was feeling worse by the second, but mostly because she liked to be near him. She wouldn't ask for anything more than he could give her, but maybe friendship would be enough to make him want to stay.

"Would you…I don't know…I just thought…" It was apparently her turn to have a hard time with words.

"Would you like me to stay?" His eyes looked…hopeful…no that was probably just the fever…that was just from a lack of sleep.

"If you know, you're not too busy, or anything."

"Give me five minutes?" He asked her softly.

She nodded and swung her legs on the bed. "Sure."

"I'll be right back," he told her, and he moved away from her as her eyelids slid down, even as she was moving her head to the pillow.

DW

The Doctor checked on Donna quickly, who was half asleep, but assured him and threatened him that if he didn't get his skinny behind back to Anna's room that she would get out of the bed and make him. He had fled, asking Jack to keep him posted if anything changed.

He made it back to Anna's room at four minutes thirty three seconds and he wasn't entirely surprised to find her back asleep. He hadn't missed how pale she was even in the low light and she had seemed distracted but he hadn't wanted to push her. And once it was agreed he would stay he felt reassured that he could keep an eye on her.

He didn't know where he should sit, but decided he would join her on the bed, on top of the blankets, and then he could always make up an excuse if she found it creepy.

Kicking off his shoes softly he moved to the side of the bed she wasn't occupying and slid onto it gently. He pinned his arms down by his sides, because if he didn't he would reach for her, and laid there looking up at the dark ceiling.

It was about another minute when she moved closer to his body, slowly, and he wasn't certain if she was awake or just seeking out form.

"Doctor," the voice was so low and sleepy he smiled to himself. She sounded so innocent like that and he wanted to hug her all the more.

"Yes," he asked keeping his tone low, and he moved his arm out of her way and she moved closer to his chest, resting her head near his shoulder. He tried to ignore how right it felt to have her in his arms, and wrapped his arm around her pulling her snug.

"I like you," she mumbled.

Like? Like like? Did he just use that expression? Perhaps Donna was a bad influence on him as well. Time Lords don't say things like like-like. Except he just did, still it was probably those crazy chemicals running through his veins, the same ones that were making him want to kiss those lips. "I like you too, Anna."

He reached up to brush hair away from her face as well as check her temperature. It was up a little but she didn't seem bothered yet, so he would let her rest as long as she could. His precious Anna, he didn't even try to fight the 'his' any more. Even if she never felt the same, but he hoped she did, she had been his since hello.