A/N Credit to my dear friend enchantment1972 for the comparison of the Doctor's current one-planet confinement to the 3rd Doctor's and her humorous line about him becoming the King's Scientific Advisor. I couldn't resist and just had to slip in the reference.

The Doctor is definitely fully awake now. ;)

Chapter 6

The early morning sun rose higher, the scattering of light through the tall arched windows painting the room in blended shades of orange and gold. Rose continued talking with the Doctor, still feeling relief that he was awake and she now could. She finished recounting to him what had taken place and those she had met since their arrival the night before. There was a quiet, unspoken intimacy imbuing the moment as they lay together in the first light of dawn, speaking in hushed tones. They rarely spent such serene moments as this when they weren't running for their lives or saving a civilization or dashing towards the next adventure, and despite their currently less than ideal circumstances, Rose was content to just enjoy the moment for what it was. But their conversation was soon interrupted by a knock on the outside of the chamber's door.

"Apparently the castle wakes early," Rose remarked quietly as she sat up.

She slipped out of bed and quickly glanced around for something more to put on as the Doctor rose up to sit but remained in bed. Her soiled clothes from the night before were still lying crumpled on the floor. Rose didn't want to put on one of the dresses brought for her until she'd had a proper bath, but she didn't fancy putting on the same dirty clothes again either. She padded over to the wardrobe and flipped through the articles of clothing, finding a dressing gown. This would do. She slipped on the long, silky, dark blue robe over her T-shirt and knickers, tying the sash around her waist.

There was a second one intended for the Doctor, and since he was still only wearing his boxers beneath the blankets covering him, she thought he might appreciate putting one on as well. Considering he never usually went without so much as his jacket removed, he was no doubt feeling a little...exposed. Rose brought the robe to the Doctor, and he gratefully put it on as she made for the door, combing her fingers through her disheveled hair in hopes that she could look at least somewhat presentable.

Rose opened the door and was greeted by Nahlia, who held a tray of breakfast food. "Lady Rose," she greeted respectfully.

"Um, Nahlia...hi! And please, just call me Rose."

The older woman nodded, smiling politely. "I've brought you some breakfast. Forgive me for disturbing you this early, but I wanted to also check on your friend and send updated word to the physician on his condition."

"That would be me," the Doctor spoke up from his sitting position on the bed, having heard the exchange between the two women at the door. He put on a chipper tone as he spoke in her direction. "And as for my condition, I'm sure I'll be in tip-top shape in no time. Weeell, I say 'no time,' but actually, unless you're in a time lock or the Void or some other fixed state which halts the progression of time or exists outside the realm of a nonspatial continuum all together, then the term 'no time' really isn't an accurate one, I suppose. So how about...soon? Quickly? Posthaste? In a flash? Oooh...I like 'in a flash.' In a flash is good."

"As you can see, he's awake," Rose said with a smirk as she stood beside Nahlia.

"I am very glad to see you are doing better, sir."

"Doctor, this is Nahlia," Rose introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Nahlia," he said with a seemingly care-free grin, and Rose wondered just how many times he had hidden behind a false front of cheer, because she knew very well at this moment it was merely an act. He was still brooding.

"Likewise, sir," Nahlia replied.

"Please, just call me Doctor."

"Very well then, Doctor." She placed the tray of freshly-prepared food down on the table beneath the center window and removed the previous tray from the night before. "I'll send word to the physician that you are now awake and have him come to assess you after you have both had some time to eat your meal."

"Thank you, Nahlia," Rose said with a smile, grateful again for the hospitality being shown them.

"Are you feeling better today as well?" she asked.

"Yeah. Much better, thanks," Rose answered.

The older woman gave her a smile before dismissing herself from the room.

Rose retrieved the tray of food and moved it to the bed where she and the Doctor could share. Two steaming bowls of yellow porridge were accompanied by two smaller dishes of plump pink berries, and a platter of sliced bread spread with some type of orange glaze similar to jam, but much thinner in consistency.

Rose sat the tray between her and the Doctor on the bed as she described the various food items to him. "We have some fruit, bread, and it looks like some type of porridge. Are you hungry?"

The Doctor leaned towards the food and took a long whiff. "I'm starving."

Rose handed him a slice of warm bread and took one for herself, both biting in appreciatively. Some of the glaze ran down the Doctor's thumb, and Rose was about to hand him a folded cloth from the tray to wipe it with, but he took care of it quite sufficiently on his own as his thumb disappeared between his lips, then slowly withdrew, his tongue swirling languorously around the tip before finally releasing.

"Mmm, this is very good," he practically moaned in pleasure, his voice low and deep.

Rose nearly moaned herself. She closed her slackened mouth and focused back on her food. "Y-yeah, very good," she agreed, feeling her cheeks flush. She often wondered if he did such things on purpose or was just totally unaware of his...effect.

Once they had finished the tasty bread, thoroughly enjoyed by each for various reasons, Rose sprinkled some of the berries on the porridge. She wasn't going to make an issue of asking if he needed help with eating this. She simply took the Doctor's hands and placed the bowl in his open palms. She briefly wondered how he would manage utensils and watched closely to see if he needed more help, but after just a second of fumbling he found the spoon in the bowl and brought a bite to his mouth without much difficulty.

As Rose watched the creamy, steaming substance disappear past his lips, she could feel the warmth rising to her cheeks again. Unbidden, the memory of spreading cool liquid across his lips and tongue the night before came to her mind. At the time, she had hardly been thinking about the intimacy of it. Now, however, the memory stirred an unmistakable heat low in her belly. Especially when that same tongue came out to lick the spoon from top to bottom in long, slow strokes, and Rose found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the languorous, sensual movement.

"You're staring," the Doctor stated matter-of-factly. "That's very rude."

Startled, Rose averted her gaze. How did he do that?

"Superior Time Lord senses," he said, as if in answer to her secret thoughts. "I can tell."

Okay, how did he just do that? Because if she was now going to learn that he was a mind reader, then she had about two years' worth of blushing to catch up on.

"I wasn't...staring," Rose contested, trying not to sound as flustered as she momentarily felt. Is this what the close proximity of sharing a room with him was going to be like? Rose shrugged casually. Not that he could see it, but he could probably sense it, so she put in the effort. "No, I was just...waiting to make sure that...," she waved her hand towards the bowl of yellow mush, "whatever that is tasted fit to eat."

He smirked slightly. "So I'm your official taster, am I?"

"'Course you are. Superior taste buds, right?"

He sniffed proudly. "Quite right. And this...," he took another generous bite, smacking his lips a few times with his tongue, "is delicious porridge. Slightly sweet after a few seconds of thorough masticating, once the enzyme amylase present in saliva starts breaking down the hexose sugar polysaccharide molecules into its monomers. It's a bit similar to the odorous green mueglosh of Shlugra Four, though a little less...slimy."

Rose scrunched up her face. Only the Doctor could manage to turn her on one minute and gross her out the next. "Not sure I'm even hungry anymore," she mumbled. Rose took her own bowl of porridge and decided to try it none the less. She was pleasantly surprised. "You're right...it is good. Though you could have just said so and left it at that."

He shook his head. "I'm your official taster, remember? These things have to be done properly if they are going to be done at all."

She chuckled, glad for the moment of semi-normalcy between them, despite the circumstances.

As they were finishing up their breakfast, there was another knock at the door. Rose moved the tray aside and stood to answer it. It was the physician, Tyrus, come to assess the Doctor.

Rose welcomed him in and followed with him over to where the Doctor sat on the bed, and she introduced him.

"A doctor for the Doctor, eh?" he commented lightly, but Rose knew he hated even having this need for one.

"Well, you are certainly looking much improved from the last time I saw you. And how are you feeling this morning?" Tyrus asked.

"Me? Oh, right as rain. Except for being in the dark."

"Would you allow me to remove the bandages and take a look?"

The Doctor nodded and sat up a little straighter on the bed. The physician had brought a satchel of supplies – fresh bandages and ointment. He sat the items down and had the Doctor turn away from the windows to avoid direct light as he began unwrapping the covering from the Doctor's eyes.

Rose stood on the other side of the bed, watching anxiously and biting down on her lip as the bandage was unraveled. The Doctor's eyes remained closed as the final layer was removed. Rose exhaled a breath of relief just seeing his un-obscured face again, and it revealed that the skin beneath the bandage, like the rest of his face and neck, had nearly healed, too; although his eyelids were crusted and swollen.

"Your burns have improved greatly in such a short amount of time," Tyrus noted. He also examined the Doctor's head and found that the gash had healed over.

"I'm a very quick healer. And I'm sure my eyes will be fine before long, too," the Doctor stated, forcing confidence. He did believe he would recover, but it was the limitations of here and now that was only serving to amplify the negativity of this entire situation.

"Well, let's take a look at your eyes, shall we? Now just relax and tell me if you feel too much pain." He lifted the Doctor's right eyelid, then the left. Rose leaned closer to see his condition. The redness had diminished but the milky haze had not. They actually looked a little more clouded. The Doctor was unable to keep his eyes open on his own due to the pain. "Now, turn your head slightly to the left towards the light, but not all the way so that it's direct. Can you perceive the light?" Tyrus asked.

The Doctor turned his head slightly towards the windows as instructed and nodded. "Now that the bandage is off, yes."

"Good. That is a very good sign. I'm going to put some more ointment in your eyes and re-wrap them, but I do believe there is a good chance you will regain most, if not all, of your sight, given time."

Rose felt her heart leap at hearing those words. They were certainly in need of some good news right about now.

After he finished attending the Doctor, the physician left the chamber.

Rose had escorted him to the door. She then came back over to the Doctor who still sat up on the edge of the bed. "Well, things aren't so bad, then. You'll be perfectly fine soon," she said cheerily, then ventured a little further. "And I'm sure the TARDIS will be, too. And in the meantime we get a new planet to explore. Could be worse, right?"

"Oh, don't say that, Rose Tyler," he admonished with a stern shake of his head, half joking but half not. "You're just inviting trouble, you are. That's almost as bad as saying 'no turning back' or 'nothing could possibly go wrong'."

Rose chuckled. She moved and sat back down beside him on the bed. "Well in this case I think things can only get better from here. We're due for a change of luck, right?"

"Hmph," he grunted, non-committedly.

"You will be better soon," she reiterated gently.

"'Course I will," the Doctor proclaimed with confidence, then let his true feelings slip out. "It's just the matter of being bloody useless in the meantime."

She nudged him with her shoulder. "You're not useless. Never could be. And I'm not gonna let you sit here and feel sorry for yourself, either."

"I don't!" he refuted, but he knew she had him pegged.

"'Course you don't. Because I just said I wouldn't let you."

The Doctor was quite certain that at this precise moment Rose was grinning at him with that sliver of tongue peeking out between her teeth, the deliberate tease. "Fine," he grumbled. "Well since you're apparently the decision maker here, is there anything I am allowed to do? Let's see...stranded in one place and one time without a functioning TARDIS – again. How about if I apply for the position of the King's Scientific Advisor, hmm? Maybe brush up on my Venusian Aikido while I'm at it?" he quipped grouchily.

"What?" Rose puzzled.

"Oh, never mind," he mumbled.

She slowly grinned back at him. "I'll tell you what we'll do. We are going to explore today."

"Rose...," he began cautiously. The Doctor wasn't fond of the idea of just sitting around in this chamber, but the last thing he wanted was to be led around by the hand.

"I don't mean the kind of exploration that involves running. Well...maybe not. You never can be too sure, I s'pose. But we've got this whole castle, right? I haven't even had a chance to see the grounds." Rose stood up and moved over to the tall center window. "There's a gorgeous garden down there." Rose turned to look back towards him. "And I bet you could identify every one of the plants out there just by smelling 'em."

This actually piqued his interest slightly, almost like a challenge. "Or by tasting them."

Rose pulled a face. With his temporary loss of eyesight, she just hoped his method of compensating didn't mean his oral fixation was going to spiral out of control. Though even with his eyesight he would probably use the same method of analysis. "Yeah...I bet you could," she admitted with a sigh of resignation. "So what'd you say? An exploratory trip out to the palace gardens?" Rose glanced down at herself and remembered again just how dirty she was beneath the robe she wore, the Doctor in an equally soiled state. Before changing into anything clean, a bath was definitely in order – for both of them. "S'pose we'll need to get cleaned up first though. I think we're both a little worse for wear."

The Doctor could still smell the smoke permeating them both, and he imagined they probably looked about as in need of a cleaning up as Rose said. And basic cleanliness issues aside, he was more than ready for them both to be rid of the enveloping scent of smoke that right now served as a constant reminder of the crash. "Right. Well, I suppose a good washing is in order," he agreed.

Rose pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, biting nervously. This brought up another issue. The Doctor didn't want to feel helpless or dependent and she in no way wanted to treat him as such, but in all practicality he was going to need assistance. "I...I could help you," Rose suggested, wishing she'd managed to make such an offer without her voice faltering.

The Doctor's voice took on a wary tone. Did Rose actually realize just what she was suggesting? "Rose, I'm sure I can..."

She was able to sound a little firmer this time as she cut in. "Doctor, we need to be practical here. You've only just recovered from being knocked senseless."

"I wasn't knocked s–"

"Yes, you were. You were out cold for at least a couple of hours."

"My body simply shut down all non-vital systems in order to begin repairing itself," he clarified.

"Exactly. Because you've been hurt. And the last thing you need now is to fall in the tub."

"The percentages of human injuries and/or deaths attributed to falls in the tub do not apply to Time Lords, Rose," he attempted to counter.

Rose sighed. She realized this was an awkward situation, but he wasn't making it any easier. "Okay, so you're not human. But you're not superhuman either, and you're still capable of being hurt. You're supposed to be getting better, not re-injured. And I've seen the bathing chamber. It's not just a tub...more like a small sunken pool with steps. You'll need help getting in and out if nothing else." She moved nearer, her voice gentle but assured, hoping to put aside his hesitation about the situation. "Let me help you. It's what we do for each other, yeah? And...and you can help me, too," she added, not quite meeting his face, even though he couldn't look into hers. Yet she made the suggestion because she wasn't going to ask him to put himself in a position she wasn't willing to be in, too.

He swallowed down hard.

Rose forged ahead, trying her best to sound casual. This was just about the simple, mundane task of getting clean, she tried to reason to herself. "This place doesn't exactly have state-of-the-art showers like the TARDIS. I could probably use a...a hand rinsing my hair."

"You scratch my back and I scratch yours?" he said with an upward twitch of his lips.

Rose wasn't sure if he put that explicit visual image in her head deliberately or not, but it was certainly there in living color. She cleared her throat. "Exactly. Team work. 'S what we're good at." She dropped her eyes to the floor, her cheeks coloring. "And you can keep your underpants on," she all but mumbled. At that second Rose was actually glad he couldn't see because her face was undoubtedly red as a tomato.

The Doctor scratched the back of his neck, his gob for once failing him as he was unable to string together a complete sentence. "Yes...well...um..."

Rose quickly turned. "Right. Tub. I'll just go...get it filled."

If nothing else could be said for this day, it was at least off to an interesting start.