The Doctor did not like this. He did not like it one bit. He felt all tingly inside, and the mental barrier he'd created for himself was crashing down like the building he'd destroyed with explosives. He'd never been one to believe in love at first sight, but damn him if he hadn't felt something when he'd grabbed her hand to save her from the living plastic. Now, almost a year (in linear time) later, he knew he was in love with the girl, even if he refused to acknowledge the fact until now. But now he had no choice. It was almost as though there was something in him that was breaking down a dam to the reservoir of emotion that, until now, he'd held at bay.
"Rose," he murmured softly, loving how her name sounded, how it felt like honey dripping off the tip of his tongue. The Doctor leaned back against one of the oddly shaped beams in the main room of the TARDIS, and tried to gather his thoughts. He heard one of the grates creak, and he looked up to see Jack, finally awake from his well-deserved, lengthy slumber following the return of Margaret to her home.
"Morning, Doctor!" he said cheerfully, "Where's Rose?"
"In her room," The Doctor said shortly.
"Are you alright? You seem… Bothered."
"No shit, Sherlock. Why wouldn't I be bothered? You're here."
"Doctor, I'm crushed!"
"Whatever. I think you should go to Rose… She's bored, and we're not leavin' until my scans are completely done. Keep her out of here." Jack decided that it would be a good idea to leave, and so began traveling the halls towards her room.
They met half way, and Jack escorted her to his quarters which, though smaller than hers, was stocked with much more comfortable furniture, not to mention things to do. There were bookshelves filled to capacity with board games from various planets, cards, books, and of course, a CD player. "So, Rose, do you know what's up with Doc?"
"N-no… Why? Did you notice it too? He's seemed a bit off ever since we got back from the surface."
"You went somewhere without me?"
"Well… Yeah. You were asleep, and it really was a boring place. No life anywhere. Everything –and everyone –was dead."
"That's strange… He didn't contract some kind of lethal disease or anything, did he? That'd be ironic," he paused, laughing, "The Doctor would be the one to be sick."
"No, can't be! He's still the same old Doctor, just… Different."
"Yeah, whatever you say, sweetheart. Anyway, he mentioned that you were bored. Whataya want to do? I've got games, books, music, probably movies if I looked for 'em. Take your pick."
"A game sounds great, thanks. And I wouldn't mind some music, either." Jack shuffled through his CDs for a bit, and then put one on. REO Speedwagon blasted through the speakers creating a kind of tinny sound, but Jack turned the volume way down so that they could hear each other should they play a game of cards or a board game that required speech.
Meanwhile, back in the control room, The Doctor had had enough. He strode, annoyed, to the medical bay.