Disclaimer: can you hear the sound of my heart breaking? yes? that's because I don't own Doctor Who

AN - this chapter is just filler before we get to the emotional Gallifrey-related stuff later, but there's a hint of foreshadowing of the Doctor's sadness if you keep your eyes peeled. It's a bit random and characters are prone to sudden mood swings but that's all because of the emotional turmoil they've gone through. Also, thanks to Prospero53223 who pointed out that acetic acid wouldn't explode in fire. Sorry about that! I'm going to claim poetic license to cover up my lack of scientific knowledge cough 23 in my chem exam cough lol

Enjoy :)


Chapter 8 - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go:

Of course it had taken the Doctor about twenty minutes to untangle himself from the vine binding him to the tree. Rose sure knew her knots! If he had had his sonic screwdriver it would clearly have taken him a great deal less time. In any case, the Doctor knew that his first priority was to find Rose and stop her before she put herself in danger, so that was what he set his mind to as soon as he had untied himself. Worry clouded his thoughts as he raced up the mountainside, all thoughts of romance and intimacy swept away by fear for the woman he loved.

He broke through the edge of the foliage in time to see Rose standing mere feet away from an angry circle of Slitheen. Before he could run to her, stop her, help her, there was an almighty explosion and he was pushed backwards by the intensity of the blast. He had the wind knocked out of him by the log onto which he had fallen, but he didn't stop to assess his own pain. He could think only of Rose.

He scrambled out, once more, from the thick coverage of ferns and bushes, now limping towards the smoking area. From what he could tell, the Slitheen had all been killed, as there was copious amounts of green goop covering the ground. He squinted through the haze, finally making out a limp body lying on the edge of the debris-strewn ground.

"Rose!" he yelled, running and tripping his way towards her prone form. He dropped to his knees beside her, taking in her closed eyes and torn clothing, and the way that her limbs were sticking out at odd angles. She must have been thrown back by the intensity of the explosion, he thought, worry burning his insides. First he checked that she was still breathing. She was, and so he relaxed a bit, now semi-confident that everything would turn out alright…eventually. He saw his jacket lying on the ground next to her and quickly bundled it up. Raising her head gently, he slipped the jacket underneath as a cushion. Noticing the trickle of dark red blood that was running from the edge of her hairline above her right eye, he drew out a handkerchief and reached across to dab it away, only to find that fresh blood replaced it seconds later. He resorted to searching in his trouser pockets (since his jacket was occupied) for some first aid equipment. It was while he was doing this that Rose began to stir.

Tentatively opening one eye, Rose realised that she was on her back, looking at the swirling sky above her. The clouds had all but dissipated to leave a beautiful mixture of blue and purple sky dotted with silver diamond stars. Rose could smell a range of things, none of which matched the beauty above her head. She could smell a combination of fire smoke, burnt flesh and bad breath - not at all appropriate to this beautiful planet. This beautiful planet… thought Rose, wondering where she was or how she had come to be lying on her back. Beautiful planet... Neuvolima! I was here, fighting Slitheen and..

She could hear frantic muttering from somewhere on her left.

"Stupid pockets. Why can't these ones be bigger on the inside? Couldn't swing a cat in here. Not that I'd want to. Try to stay away from cats. Cat nun nurses. That's what I need, a nurse. Forget first aid kits, I should carry a cat nun nurse in my pocket. Never mind the fact that I'm the Doctor, no, I can't even find a stupid bandaid!"

Rose smiled, realising who the voice belonged to, and decided that now would be a great time to sit up.

"Doctor!" she cried enthusiastically as she quickly sat up. A little too quickly, it seemed, for she slumped back down again, eyes slightly crossed.

"Rose!" there was both relief and slight panic in the Doctor's voice as he saw Rose collapse again. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her upper body towards him, assessing the situation. From what he could tell, there would be no lasting damage, just another mild concussion. What a surprise!

"I did it" Rose whispered, smiling lopsidedly at him.

"Yes you did, Rose Tyler. You did it" he whispered back, stroking her hair, observing that she would probably fall back into a state of unconsciousness in another few minutes.

"But, I don't remember what happened after… after.. um" she trailed off, frowning.

"I don't feel too good," she said, paling.

"Come here," he replied, "I think you need a Doctor" and he kissed her full on the lips. Seconds later there was a nasty stinging sensation on the side of his face. Rose had slapped him. Even in her semi-conscious state she could still pack a punch - how like her mother she was.

"Oi!" the Doctor yelped, pulling away to see Rose giving him an angry glare.

"I remember why I tied you up" she said, eyes narrowed, "It's coz you couldn't focus on the Slitheen. You just wanted to fool around!"

"Yeah, well, they're gone now, aren't they. Nothing to stop us" he joked, glad that Rose's memories were returning so quickly.

"This is what got me knocked out in the first place. Fool me once, shame on you" she said, but the Doctor cut her off with another kiss, so relieved was he at her alertness. So he received another slap.

"Ouch! Stop doing that" he said, holding his cheek in his cool hand to soothe the slap mark.

"No" she said simply, making to stand up.

"Why not?" questioned the Doctor as he leapt up to help steady her.

"Firstly, I've just been knocked out by an explosion in which I murdered twenty or so living beings so I'm not really in the mood. Secondly, how can I be sure that this is the normal you talking and not the you that got struck by lightening and can only think of one thing?"

"What's the difference between the two me's?" asked the Doctor, ignoring her first point completely, because he didn't know how to counter it. His way of life demanded that those sorts of decisions - ie to defend, kill, punish - had to be made all the time, and he wasn't sure how to discuss this with Rose, especially in her current state of disarray.

"Of course there's a difference!" she said angrily.

"I disagree for two main reasons. One: We're on honeymoon for one thing so I don't suppose that we'd be different in that respect," he gave her the once over so as to indicate that he was undressing her with his eyes, "And two, you and I are both alive and I believe that both me's would like to celebrate. That makes perfect sense to me" he concluded with an air of someone explaining something very simple to someone very dumb.

"We're alive, yeah, I spose that could be a reason to celebrate" said Rose, her resolve crumbling under the Doctor's completely lustful gaze.

"I'm glad we agree" he said, scooping her up into his arms. "What do you say to me carrying you back to the Tardis - because you've just been injured" he said, as Rose made to interrupt, "and then in the morning, I can tick part b off of our list."

"B? Don't make me think too hard, Doctor, it hurts my head"

"Part b: to take you somewhere exotic and ravish you on a beach" he grinned.

"Sounds good to me" Rose mumbled, before slumping unconscious again in the Doctor's arms.


Rose tends to do a lot of fainting these days, but i suppose it's an occupational hazard of travelling with the doctor. then again, at least she got to dispatch of that aliens this time - go rose!

please review if you have time - thanks to all of you who have reviewed and who review so regularly - you know who you are. big fanfic cyber-hugs to you all. can i give cyber hugs? is that allowed? i hope so, coz i'm very grateful for all the reviews, keep them coming lol :)