A/N The one good thing about an argument is the making up that comes after. ;)
Chapter 5
Despite being tired when she went to bed, Rose had a fitful night sleep. Peaceful sleep was hard to achieve after the words that had been exchanged between her and the Doctor. The two seldom argued, and when they did it was usually resolved quickly – and passionately. She hated when the tension between them festered. In hindsight, she wished she hadn't walked away without settling things between them. But maybe they also just needed time alone to calm their emotions.
Rose was used to giving the Doctor space when necessary, but sometimes she felt things that were so obviously weighing on him needed to be talked through, and she wished getting him to do so wasn't such an impossible task. Yet she didn't want to try and force the Doctor to talk about things that were painful for him, either. She only wanted to share his burdens because she loved him. Arguing over that point hadn't exactly been her intention, though.
The Doctor felt the same regret over the night before and wanted to clear the air with Rose sooner rather than later. He could have no peace if there was unresolved tension between them. Rose was the stabilizing factor in his life, the peace within the turbulence, and the one area where he couldn't bear to have unrest.
When Rose woke the next morning, she felt a mixture of surprise and relief as her eyes opened to the sight of the Doctor reclining on the bed beside her. His jacket and trainers were off and his tie hung loosely. It was obvious he hadn't slept, but he'd moved his work to the bed to be near her, and that alone made Rose momentarily forget she'd ever felt an inkling of frustration toward him. He sat propped up against the headboard, his glasses perched on the end of his nose as he poured over copious research notes that were scattered around him on the bed.
His eyes briefly flicked over to her, and then settled fully on her as he realized she was awake. He pulled off his glasses and gathered the papers, setting them aside as Rose lifted herself up on her elbow, turning on her side to face him.
"Morning," he greeted her softly.
"G'morning," Rose replied with a small smile.
He reached forward and tucked a lock of messy blonde hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger on the side of her face. "Rose, I'm sorry about last night," he said regretfully.
Rose lifted her hand and ran the backs of her knuckles along the line of his jaw. "I'm sorry, too."
He pulled her into his arms and kissed the crown of her head as Rose settled against him, mulling over the words she'd spent half the night thinking. Her hand slid down his chest, coming to rest over his right heart.
"I know your nature," Rose spoke softly. "I don't expect you to always talk about every single thing you're thinking and feeling, and that's not a requirement I have of you. It's just...you've carried your burdens alone for so long. But you're not alone anymore. I want to be here for you, Doctor – for everything. Even for the things that hurt. Especially the things that hurt."
The Doctor drew in a long, slow breath before releasing it. "It's not that I want to shut you out, Rose. Please understand that. It's that I want to shut those things out. There are some things I just don't want to dwell on, and putting them aside is easier for me."
Rose nodded against his chest.
He gazed down at her, placing his hand on the side of her face and tipping her head up to look at him. "For the record, out of the many regrets I may have, I don't regret a single thing with you. However much time we have together in life, I don't regret opening myself to you in order to have this relationship – even if we only had a single day together."
Rose lifted her arm and placed her hand on the back of his neck, wordlessly urging his head down toward her. Their lips met, and the Doctor sank with her down into the pillows, his body alongside hers as they kissed slowly and passionately, pouring their love for each other into the kiss as it deepened. The link between them flared to life in moments like this, always sending a feeling of electricity through Rose, straight down to her toes. It never ceased to take her breath away. Any lingering regrets of the night before melted away as their love was affirmed.
The issue that had sparked the argument between them hadn't simply vanished. It would always be a difficult matter for them, especially for the Doctor, and both knew it wasn't something they could just 'kiss and make better.' But it also was not something that could hinder their love – as they were in the midst of proving quite thoroughly.
Sometimes the Doctor felt like the love he had for Rose bordered on frightening – almost as if it possessed him. Maybe because he'd fought so long to keep it restrained; now that it was free it was unquenchable. No matter where he was or what he was doing, there were moments when Rose consumed his every thought and all he wanted to do was make love to her for eternity.
That very tantalizing idea springing to his thoughts drove his rapidly escalating desire and the need for more contact with her heated flesh. The Doctor's cool hand skimmed slowly down her ribcage, catching the fabric of her camisole on the way back up as he slipped his fingers beneath the thin garment, connecting with her soft, warm skin.
Rose moaned into the kiss and sank her fingers into his thick, soft hair, grazing his scalp with her nails as he groaned deeply, the husky sound passing from his lips to hers. His hand crept higher, brushing along the underside of her breast with his thumb, causing her to arch up into his touch, instinctively seeking more.
More was something he was all-too willing to give and receive, but other pressing matters left him feeling torn in two directions, caught between a battle of priorities.
After one last exquisite sweep of her mouth with his tongue, the Doctor slowly pulled back, his forehead pressed to hers as his fingers continued their sensual, leisurely stroking of her creamy flesh. Rose shuddered with a wave of desire, her eyes falling shut as their breath continued to intimately mingle. Slow and subdued as it was, her nerve endings were hyper-sensitive to his every touch. Always. And it was never a one-way street. Even if she was the one being caressed, those sparks of pleasure rippled back through him.
Gazing down at his gorgeous Rose, her lips parted and plump, the last thing the Doctor wanted to do was end this; but he knew there was more to be done today than simply fulfilling his own desires. If he didn't stop now, he'd let those barriers of arousal (which were already teetering precariously on the edge) tumble all the way and he'd never stop.
"There's so much work to be done today," he whispered, nuzzling her cheek with his nose and not able to hide his rueful tone.
Rose knew he was right, but at the moment she couldn't resist him as she pulled him to her and stole one more kiss, drawing his soft bottom lip into her mouth and lavishing her attention there before releasing. Momentarily distracted, he chased after her retreating lips, but she stilled him. A very large part of her wanted to remain in this bed with the man she loved, but she also knew it was a selfish thought when they were needed so desperately at the hospital. If they continued this much longer, stopping wouldn't be a viable option for either of them.
"You're right," she whispered back, stroking down his face with the tips of her fingers, "we should go."
With an almost painful groan, he leaned in, catching her lips once again and getting one last taste of her before pulling himself up to face the day ahead of them. Rose soon followed, getting dressed and ready for the day's work, still feeling pleasantly dazed from the attentions of the sexy Time Lord who'd just left her bed.
They could both live without the arguments, but there was something to be said for the making up afterward.
-:-:-:-
Rose resumed her work that day helping in the children's ward. Upon arriving, she was met by Dr. Kedra who administered another injection, Rose still unaware of the true implications this would have if the plan being orchestrated succeeded.
The Doctor once again joined Professor T'neer in the laboratory. The two continued the work they had begun the day before as they examined genomes and exchanged possible theories.
"There's unusual activity of the mitochondria of those affected," the Doctor noted as he examined a specimen under a microscope. "It seems not all of the FADH2 is able to transfer its hydrogen atoms to the Cytochrome C Complex."
"Yes, I've noted that," Professor T'neer replied. "Early on we developed a way to attempt an improvement in cellular respiration by enhancing pyruvate production; but of course, if normal unloading is not possible this does little to help."
"Mmm," the Doctor nodded, continuing his examination. "In any case, there's a definite malfunction of the Ligase during the Telomere formation in the S phase of replication in the genes carrying the mutation." They understood the problems. The daunting task now before them was to find solutions.
The two continued their work together, trading ideas and noting potential new findings. Eventually, Professor T'neer changed the nature of the topic, engaging the Doctor in a different type of discussion.
"I stopped off at the pediatric ward in passing earlier today," he began conversationally as he handed the Doctor another specimen under a slide. "I must say, Rose seems to have quite a way with children."
"Hmm, yeah, I suppose she does," the Doctor replied absently as he continued his scrutiny of the genome sample. "Rose has a way with most everyone." He paused to consider. "Weeell, I say 'everyone', but she can be quite the fearsome wolf when need be, so just don't get on her bad side." A slight proud grin crossed his face as he added, "More's the pity to the creatures that have. The Nestene Consciousness, the Daleks, those possessed by the devil...," he trailed off.
Professor T'neer's expression was bemused. He wasn't exactly sure just what to say in response to that. It seemed whatever kind of life these two led, it was far from ordinary. He cleared his throat and tried to regain his focus. "Yes, well...at any rate, she does seem to have a special regard for the children."
There was a pause before he continued, trying to maintain a conversational tone as he ventured further. "And...what about you?"
The Doctor straightened back up and looked over at him. "What about me?" he asked, having lost track of the conversation as he worked.
"Children," T'neer clarified. "Do you...have a fondness for them?"
The Doctor shrugged, not seeing the relevance of the question. "I don't have a particular partiality to anyone based on age. I see everyone as deserving of the same respect and consideration."
T'neer nodded. "A fair assessment." A brief look of regret then passed over his face. "I myself have never had much time for such things as family, having always been a dedicated man of science."
The Doctor gave him a pat on the back and a toothy grin. "Ah, science. That's why we get on smashingly, T'neer me mate. I always have a lark with a person of science. Take me and Einstein," he reminisced. "Oh, did we ever have rousing good times!"
T'neer chuckled slightly, trying to steer the conversation back on topic. "Yes, I'm sure. But still, I envy one such as yourself. You have taken the time to find a mate. The prospect of offspring is not out of the realm of possibility for you."
The Doctor tensed. This wasn't something he wanted to discuss. Why was it things he didn't want to discuss kept cropping up in conversation lately? "Having a mate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have children. Rose and I already have the life we want together and we're happy just as things are."
T'neer turned back to busy himself with the specimens. That was the type of answer his conscience feared he might receive. "Yes, well, you never know. Things can often change in life," he replied quietly.
The Doctor turned back to his work as well. "That's not something that will change," he said in an equally quiet but firm voice.