Rose was sitting on the living room sofa watching the telly, snacking on some potato crisps when Jackie came in holding a blue and white striped pile. She stopped and stood in front of the television.
"Well, c'mon then," she began, motioning for Rose to get up. "Get up."
"What are we doing, Mum?" Rose asked skeptically, munching mindlessly on a crisp.
"The Doctor's not going to be comfortable sleepin' in that suit," Jackie explained. "So we're going to get him into some jim jams."
Rose nearly choked on her crisp. "What?" She squeaked. Did she mean change his clothes? The very thought made her nervous.
"You heard me," Jackie repeated. "We're changing him into some jim jams and it's a two person job! Up and about with you!"
"Shouldn't we wake him up first and ask him to change his clothes?" Rose suggested, trying to avoid having to undress the Doctor at all costs. She didn't think the Doctor was so weak to a point where he couldn't change his own clothes but she could be sorely mistaken.
"Rose, he barely had any strength to keep his head up." Jackie pointed out.
Rose put down her bowl of crisps and went with her mother to the Doctor's room, where he was still sleeping peacefully. He hadn't moved an inch since he was brought there hours ago. He still looked peaceful, even handsome with his eyes closed. Maybe her mum was right about him having no strength.
Jackie ruined the sight by pulling back the blankets, pulling off his socks, and immediately undid his pants, pulling them off to reveal his navy blue boxer-briefs. The Doctor did not wince.
"Mum!" Rose screeched, feeling her face go hot. "What are you doing?"
"Changing him," Jackie replied as if it were nothing. "It's not like I haven't seen anybody in their underwear before."
Rose's eyes widened in embarrassment. She didn't know if the Doctor could hear but she hoped he didn't.
Like a ninja, Jackie managed to get the Doctor's jacket, shirt, vest, and tie off and pulling the pajama shirt on without waking him. She instructed Rose to button up the shirt while she worked on the pants. Rose felt a little embarrassed since she had not seen this version of the Doctor without his shirt. She blushed as she carefully worked her way down, trying not to wake the Doctor. She felt the heat of the fever radiating off his body as she fumbled with the buttons. She also noted how skinny he was but well sculpted with just a bit of hair on his chest. Rose didn't realize how lost she was that she jumped when the Doctor coughed.
"All done!" Jackie said triumphantly. "Rose, you done yet? For God's sake, he's not fragile china! Here, let me do it!"
She pushed Rose aside and buttoned up the Doctor's shirt all the way up to his neck.
"Not so bad now, innit?" she said, picking up the Doctor's clothes. "I'm going to toss these in the wash. Rose, do you think you could get dinner started for us? I bought some chicken from the market. We're going to have tikka masala. I'll be there to help once I start a load of laundry."
Rose breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad changing the Doctor was over with. She didn't feel right having to change an unconscious person's clothes and she hoped she would never have to do it again. Before she left the room, Rose gently pulled the duvet up to the Doctor's shoulders. The Doctor remained motionless as she tucked him in. Rose hoped the Doctor would wake up soon so she could help take better care of the Doctor.
The Doctor woke up hours later to a dark room, forgetting where he was until he remembered he was in bed. Night had fallen during his slumber, making the Doctor wonder what time it was. Was it past bedtime? Was Rose already in bed?
His question was answered when Rose walked by the room, still in her regular clothes of jeans, a t-shirt, and a pink zip-up sweatshirt. She saw the Doctor awake and smiled, walking in.
"Hey, how're you feeling?" she asked gently.
"I feel-" The Doctor said until sharp pains struck his throat, causing his face to scrunch up in discomfort as he rubbed at his throat. "-Hurts to talk,"
"Do you want some water?" Rose offered. "Let me go grab you so some water."
She left the room while the Doctor lied in bed, tired. He felt too hot now, kicking off the blanket with as much strength as he could muster. He expected his brown pinstripe suit to restrain his leg movement only to realize he was able to fully move his legs. He noticed he was in blue and white striped pajamas and his shoes were missing.
Who changed me? He thought to himself. He hoped it was Rose who changed him and not Jackie. He didn't want Jackie to see him in only his knickers. He saw his suit folded neatly on top of the nearby chair with his white Converse placed on top of the pile.
"Here you are," Rose said as she walked in with not only a glass of water, but a steaming cup of tea. "The kettle was already on, so I made you a cuppa."
The Doctor smiled in appreciation as Rose set the tea and water down. He tried to sit up but was too weak. Rose helped prop him up against the pillows and brought the water to his lips, the Doctor sipping on it. The water made his throat ache in pain but his mouth begged for more, continuing to drink until it was all gone.
Rose praised the Doctor for being able to drink all the water. The Doctor wanted a little more water due to dehydration, but Rose helped him drink his tea first. The hot liquid immediately soothed his throat. Once he finished the tea, the Doctor handed Rose the empty water glass with a pleading look. Rose smiled and took the glass.
"More water?" she asked.
The Doctor nodded, smiling weakly. He was trying to avoid speaking but he had several questions to ask, like where did these clothes he was wearing come from? He gestured his hand over his clothes with a puzzled look on his face.
"Oh! Your pajamas!" Rose exclaimed, a light pink blush on her cheeks. "I changed you so you would be more comfortable. I don't think you'd be able to rest in your suit. You were really out cold, there!" She didn't mention how she felt dressing him. She felt very sheepish but she couldn't have him sleeping in his suit. She also didn't mention the fact that her mum mostly dressed him.
The Doctor chuckled, only for him to clutch at his throat. It absolutely hurt for him to laugh! But the worst part was that it also caused him to start coughing painfully. Rose sat on the bed next to him and began to rub his back until the Doctor bent over and spat something out into the rubbish bin. Rose noticed it was some kind of phlegm.
"Are you alright, Doctor?" Rose asked alarmingly.
The Doctor rubbed at his chest and nodded. He was beginning to feel some congestion and now he was now coughing up mucous. He did not like how he was getting a new symptom as time went on. He hoped it wasn't going to get any worse.
"Rose?" asked a voice.
"In here, Mum!" Rose shouted.
Jackie poked her head into the room. "I see the Doctor's awake," she said before stepping in and placing a hand on the Doctor's forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"He's still sick, Mum." Rose answered worriedly. "He can't talk without being in pain."
The Doctor breathed a sigh and turned to face away from Rose and Jackie. He felt embarrassed looking so weak in front of anyone. Rose was enough.
Rose handed her mother the empty cups. "Mum, could you get some more water for the Doctor please?" she asked. She turned to the Doctor. "Are you hungry, Doctor? My mum could probably cook something up for you."
The Doctor turned back to Rose and shook his head. "Not hungry." He croaked.
"But Doctor, you didn't even eat breakfast this morning," Rose pleaded. "You must eat something."
Rose had cooked an English breakfast on the TARDIS the morning. Usually, the Doctor loved Rose's cooking, especially when she made English cuisine, such as a Sunday roast or a Victorian sponge cake, which was one of his favourites. He would eat it all day if he could. However, that day was not one of those days. The thought of food absolutely repulsed him at the moment.
"Rose, don't force him," Jackie said, walking back in and handing Rose a full cup of water. "Let him rest and he will want to eat later."
The Doctor was taken aback at how calm Jackie was. Usually it would have been her trying to force something down the Doctor's throat. He realized it must have been her motherly instinct. He didn't know how many times she had taken care of Rose whenever she was sick, but Jackie knew what was best, even if it was for the Doctor.
Rose listened to her mother and handed the Doctor the glass of water. "Here, drink." she instructed. "The more fluids you get in the better."
The Doctor managed to sit up and take a few sips of water before setting it down on the nightstand, lying back down, and closing his eyes. He felt so very tired. He was so tired that once he was settled into bed, he immediately fell asleep.
Rose smiled as she pulled the covers over the Doctor's sleeping form and tucked him in once again, watching the Doctor sleep for a brief minute while stroking his tousled hair. He seemed to smile a small smile as she did this, making Rose smile.
"Sweet dreams, Doctor." she whispered before tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door until it was open a crack.