I think this is the last chapter. If you want an epilogue or something, feel free to review and tell me that, but I'm currently thinking this is the last part of this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who

Chapter Five: "Do you want the soup or what?"

I groaned and pulled the covers to my nose. "Sweetie, if I didn't want the soup two seconds ago, I don't want it now."

"But I made you soup!"

I rolled and faced the opposite wall. "Shut up."

He did for a moment. Then, he set the bowl on the nightstand and laid down next to me. The bed shifted as he did, and the movement made me slightly dizzy. This surprised me a little, seeing as I'd walked here not ten minutes ago. It may have taken some help from the wall, but I managed.

"Why do you hide from me?" The Doctor asked. His voice was softer now.

I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. This wasn't a question I wanted to answer, and it was one he wouldn't let go. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, why do you pretend like you're okay all the time? You were trying to escape rather than tell me the truth. Why do you lie to me?"

"I'm not," I argued, still with my closed eyes.

He placed a hand on my forehead. His fingers felt ice cold.

The Doctor pulled his hand away and cuddled closer to me. "River, please stop. Please. These walls... They're not healthy."

I rolled back again to face him and propped myself up on one elbow. The annoyance on my face wasn't faked. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You have to talk to someone!" He didn't look or sound annoyed back at me. He appeared... sad. His voice, though, was louder than before. "How else do you get all those feelings out?" He lowered back to a whisper. "I talk to you. That's how I do it."

"Well, I don't."

This didn't make him angry either. He just watched me sadly. The arm I was leaning on felt shaky under my weight, and I knew I'd have to reposition myself, but after making a statement like that? I couldn't lie down again.

I sat up instead. The room spun when I did.

He took my hand. I looked at him.

"River, lay down."

"I don't want to."

"Please."

I didn't move.

He looked away from me. "I really did make this worse, didn't I. I should have just left you in Stormcage. You would have taken care of yourself more. I want to help you, but I should have known you wouldn't let me."

There was a part of me that wanted to deny this, but that part was quickly vetoed. Even when he let go of me and climbed out of bed, even when he straightened his bow tie and went to the door, even when he got to the door and looked back at me with sad, wanting eyes. Even when he told me he was sorry and left the room as quietly as possible, and I was left alone, just as I had asked.

I laid back on my pillow that still smelled of The Doctor, finally able to lay comfortably without eyes watching, and wished that he had never come to save me. Now, I'd hurt him.

…

A few hours later, I woke up from another nightmare, too similar to the others to bother explaining. When I became lucid again, I was facing the wall, so I turned to The Doctor.

He wasn't there, and I remembered what I'd done.

Where was he now? This was his bedroom... Was he off adventuring without me? What could he possibly think of me now... I was weak, and I had hurt him in my weakness.

This would have to be fixed.

But even sitting up to set about this task sent the room reeling. I looked at the bedside clock. I'd only slept for maybe two hours. I would likely feel symptoms for another day or so, though eased after maybe another few hours of sleep...

The thought was tempting, but I couldn't leave him like that. This was ridiculous! How could he think waiting in the other room could be more helpful than sitting beside me?

Because he was right...

My eyes slipped closed, and I let my head rest on my knees that were still under the quilt. He wasn't wrong. His being near me was the exact reason I had been pushing myself so hard. But it was this scenario precisely I was avoiding by pushing myself in that way.

The Doctor was worried about me. And I could do nothing about it except...

Except...

All but one option would actually make a difference, and it was the one I never thought I'd do. I'd never reverted to it before, and god knows I never wanted to...

My eyes still closed, my head still on my knees, I didn't clear my throat. I didn't try to sound strong. I didn't pretend. I just yelled.

"Doctor?"

It came out horse, and I winced. The word hadn't hurt my throat, but letting myself sound like that for him... It made my heart sflutter. I wanted to run and hide before he came running and found out I'd actually said his name... sounding so desperate.

At first, he didn't respond. I sat up the rest of the way and looked at the door. I could go and get him I supposed...

So I peeled the quilt off my shaky, clammy body and made my way to the door. Every step seemed a gamble for balance.

Going down the hallway, I let myself lean my shoulder into the wall instead of just trailing it with my fingers. It made me feel better anyway, though my heart was still banging away in my chest about this whole situation.

"Doctor?" I called again. I couldn't help but clear my throat after sounding horse the second time. I repeated, "Doctor?"

"River?" I heard from the kitchen. "In here!"

I willed him to come out here. The doorway seemed far away.

He stuck his head out the door. His eyes were bright like those of a child's and he had an oven mitt over the hand he lifted to wave.

When we met eyes, though, he became serious. It was then that he assessed the situation. And, as I'd suspected, he saw my surrender immediately and came to help.

"River," he said stepping close to me, "Are you okay? What's happened?"

Even following his movements was making it harder for me to stand. Instead of making myself track them anyway, I closed my eyes and leaned my head into the wall. It made the following easier to say, since I didn't have to look him in the face. "I don't feel well."

He was silent. Without giving a response, I heard him begin walking away.

I opened my eyes. "Doctor?" The desperation in my voice wasn't faked, and it wasn't put there on purpose.

He looked back. "I'm just turning off the stove. Then I'm going to bring you back to bed. I'll be right back."

I nodded, and he disappeared into the kitchen. From inside, he said, "Is it worse? Is that why you're telling me?"

When he came back out, I answered, "No."

"I'm glad you're letting me in, but why?"

I reached my hand out, but he was too far away. When I pushed away from the wall to take his elbow, I stumbled to my knees. He wrapped an arm around me.

My vision wouldn't quite stop moving, and I closed my eyes. He lifted me to my feet. "You okay?"

I didn't want to nod or say a thing, so I didn't respond.

"I'm going to start walking now, okay?"

Again, no response.

He started walking, and I moved my feet only to keep up with him. My head hurt, I felt dizzy, and I was ready to let him see. Once I let go, there was no taking it back.

"River," he said, "We're back in the bedroom. I'm going to help you into the bed, okay?"

I opened my eyes, and the room swayed. Together, we worked our way into the bed and cuddled up together. When I tried to lay on my pillow, he put a hand in my hair, nudging me toward him. I took the hint and laid on his chest.

"Goodnight, Honey," he said.

…

When I woke up, I was surprised to find only a dull throbbing in my head. I opened my eyes, and the world had finally settled into motionlessness. Even when I sat up, it did not move.

The covers over top me were cold and sticky with sweat, and I pulled them off. The Doctor was still there, and he began to shiver with the new air.

I decided I'd find him a clean blanket and went into the hallway. Things had been moved when I tried to escape, so I supposed I'd be walking in circles a bit to try and find linens, but the closet was pretty close at hand. I got back to my love in reasonable time.

He had curled into a tight ball on the bed, cuddling a pillow. His face was a fiery red, and his mouth hung open as if held on by a string. I draped the new blanket over him and crawled back beside him.

Within moments, the blankets seemed very warm. His body heat was incredible. Had I really been so sick to notice this much of a difference once the fever finally broke?

The Doctor groaned and rolled over, on top of me, putting pressure on my chest and making it difficult to breath. "Doctor?"

His eyes fluttered open. They were glassy. "River?"

"Please get off me."

He did and groaned again. "Oh god, what's with the head?"

I looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"

He put a hand to his forehead. "Headache. I've got a headache. River! You got me sick!"

I blinked, confused. "You said you couldn't-"

Oh. Oh.

I sighed. In my feverish state, I must've not thought about this enough. The Doctor's timeline was backwards to mine. I got sick after this adventure. He got sick before. That would be now.

"Sorry," I said and brushed some damp hair from his face. "I'm going to go get you some water. Okay?"

"No!" He cuddled into me. "Stay here."

"Doctor, you have to get some food and water in your system."

He buried his face in my collarbone. "How do you feel?"

"Just a headache. Beyond that, I'm fine. And I'm being completely honest this time. If I still felt as bad as I did last night, I'd be more miserable than you are."

"I'm glad you decided to let me see it."

He looked up when the statement made me stiffen. His hot breaths hit my lips and chin. I didn't answer him. I leaned in close and kissed him.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you more," I said.

He smiled. "I love you the most."

I laughed. "I love you more than that!"

"What's better than most?"

"I love you more than words can say."

His face sobered. He leaned forward and kissed me. We both smelled of sick. When we broke away a moment later, he leaned back on the pillow and closed his eyes.

"My head is killing me."

"Wait to ruin the moment," I teased and climbed from the bed. "I'm going to go make us both toast. Don't do anything endearingly stupid while I'm gone."

He smiled. "I'll do my best."

"No you won't," I informed him without a look back.

I think that's it! What do you think? Please review! Critique or praise or a simple statement, I read and appreciate every one! :)

Also: Check out my other stories! More shorter stories like this and one-shots are coming soon!