It was a good thing Rose wasn't due at work that weekend, as she needed every bit of it to recover from the Doctor's overly ambitious psychic training. Feeling incredibly guilty for the discomfort he had caused her, he waited on her hand and foot for the next two days, only letting her up out of bed for trips to the loo and a shower. Rose normally hated being treated like an invalid, but she really did feel horrid and between the relentless headache and bouts of nausea hardly had the strength to fight him on it. Instead, she allowed him to bring her meals, treat her headache with the sonic, and gently play with her hair as she lay curled up on her side and tried go back to sleep after each meal or trip to the loo.

As the weekend drew to a close, the effects of on her body and mind began to subside. She felt well enough after a long hot shower to convince the Doctor that she didn't need to go back to bed right away. Instead she grabbed him by the hand and padded out to the front room, where she plopped on the couch and grabbed a magazine to flip through.

Still not entirely sure that she should be up yet, the Doctor hovered above her, pulling on his ear. It wasn't quite suppertime yet but she had slept through lunch so he glanced towards the kitchen and then back down at her.

"Are you hungry or still feeling nauseous? You slept through lunch… I didn't want to wake you."

"You know, I think I am, actually. My stomach seems to have finally settled."

"Brilliant! Anything in particular you'd like? I could make you some more soup, or perhaps a sandwich? How about some fruit?"

Scrunching up her nose, Rose shook her head. Then a grin spread across her face and she looked up at him with angelic eyes, the tip of her tongue just barely peeking out.

The Doctor let out a chuckle and shook his head, grinning.

"You're kidding, right Rose? You've barely eaten all weekend and now you want greasy fish and chips? You'll make yourself sick!"

"No I won't, my stomach feels fine now, I promise Doctor… Pretty please?"

Sighing, he smiled at her. "Alright, chippie down the road then? I'll just go and bring some back for us?"

Nodding enthusiastically, Rose looked up and motioned for him to lean down for a kiss. He eagerly complied, then grabbed his keys and promising to be back shortly, left the flat.

While waiting for him to return with dinner, Rose decided to walk around the flat to stretch her legs a bit. She'd been lying in bed for two days and felt stiff. The warm shower had helped some but her limbs still felt heavy and slow from lack of movement. She wandered into the kitchen and was pouring herself a glass of juice when her mobile rang.

"Hello?"

"Rose? It's Pete. Sorry to bother you on your weekend off, love, but we need you. There's a situation down by the docks. How soon can you be there?"

"Wait, what kind of situation? What are we dealing with?"

"We're not quite sure yet, this was supposed to be a routine patrol after receiving a report of suspicious activity but something seems to have gone wrong. We've lost all contact with the prelim team, complete radio silence. We need to assemble your team Rose, and get down there quickly."

When she didn't respond right away, Pete sighed. "I'm sorry if I interrupted your weekend with the Doctor, are you out of town?"

"No, no Pete, I'm at the flat… I just, I've been sick all weekend. Just barely managed to get out of bed this afternoon, actually."

"Oh… well, if you're not fit for duty I'll just-"

"It's fine Pete, I'll be there. Do me a favor, round up my team for me, will you? I've just got to get ready and I'll call you back when I'm on my way, yeah?"

"Right, yes, I'll get on it. Thanks Rose, I wouldn't ask if it weren't an emergency."

"I know, it's fine, really. Call you in a bit."

Snapping her mobile shut, Rose put a hand up to her forehead and sighed. She wasn't really fit for duty and the Doctor was going to be impossible about this, but there was nothing for it. She had to go, this is what she did, and many were counting on her.

Hurrying to her room, she quickly pulled on her work clothes: black utility pants, a ribbed and fitted black jumper, and a pair of sturdy boots. She clipped on her Torchwood issued gun (conventional guns were quickly phased out after the Cybermen invasion and replaced with technology designed to both stun and/or kill various types of life forms) and pulled back her hair. Then she returned to the front room to wait for the Doctor. Ten minutes later, she heard the keys jingling into the lock and quickly stood up, taking a deep breath and steeling herself in preparation for his arguments.

The Doctor took one look at her and the grin he was wearing immediately disappeared.

"What… what's going on Rose? Why are you-"

"Pete called, there's been an emergency with the prelim team. I've got to go Doctor."

"Rose, you're in no condition! Surely they can do this without you. Does Pete even know you've been ill?"

"Yes, he does, but I told him I was fine. And really Doctor, I think I am. I feel loads better, I really do. I've just got to get something in my stomach and I'll be ready to go. Will you drive? I can eat on the way."

"Rose… are you sure? Why don't I just-"

"Doctor, please! I'm going, alright? You can either help me or stay here, but either way I'm going." She began walking towards the door, determination etched on her face to show him she meant it.

With a frustrated sigh, the Doctor turned and followed her out of the flat, slamming the door behind them. Rose flinched but figured she'd just have to deal with his tirade later. Right now several Torchwood employees were quite possibly injured or worse and she needed to concentrate on getting to them.

Upon arriving to the location Pete had given her on the way, Rose met up with the rest of her team, all assembled and readied. The Doctor stood with his arms crossed, and a scowl on his face as they listened to Pete's debriefing of the situation. It seemed that they were still nowhere closer to discerning what had happened to the prelim team or the cause of the radio silence. The abandoned warehouse in question had been surrounded but all anyone could confirm was the presence of several life forms within, though none of the biosignatures were of human origin.

As Rose and her team began their final equipment checks and procedures, the Doctor watched her very carefully. Though she was trying to act as if nothing were the matter, he could tell she was not feeling as well as she insisted. Her balance seemed to be a bit off and judging by the way she was furrowing her brow and clenching her fists, he knew her head must be killing her again. Every once in a while she gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head, which she had been doing on a more obvious scale all weekend when she couldn't focus. He could tell her concentration was not where it needed to be in order to safely take part in this mission. Knowing she would not listen to him, the Doctor did something that would anger her immensely but he didn't care.

Taking Pete aside, he briefly explained what had happened to her and why he felt sending her into a potentially deadly confrontation was both unwise and irresponsible. Pete listened in astonishment and while he was beyond frustrated with the Doctor's part in this as a whole, he agreed with him. Approaching Rose, Pete led her away from the rest of her team and informed her she would not be going in with everyone.

"WHAT? Why? Pete, I told you, I'm fine. Look at me, I'm FINE!"
Rounding on the Doctor, she glared. "What did you say to him?!"

Ironically, her lack of balance chose this exact moment to manifest itself and she found herself swaying as she took a step closer to him, her hand raised, ready to poke him in the chest. The Doctor caught her arm and steadied her, a defiant look in his eyes as he swept them up and down her body to prove his point.

"Rose, really. This is foolish! You are obviously not fine and if I let you lead that team in it could possibly cost us your life as well as others. I'm sorry, but my decision is final. You can help us coordinate tactical moves from out here."

"But Pete, we don't know what's in there! What if it's a life form I'm familiar with? You know I've got more experience in this than anyone else on that team, this could make all the difference!"

Sighing, Pete shook his head. "No Rose, you don't."

She opened her mouth to protest but holding up a hand, he turned to the tall, skinny man beside him. "So Doctor, what do you say… up for a search and rescue mission? We could use your help."

Five minutes later, Pete was re-briefing Rose's team about the changes while the Doctor was off to the side arguing with a Torchwood drone who was trying to hand him a gun.

"But sir, every Torchwood team member on this level of a mission is issued and required to carry one. It's for your protection as well as those alongside you!"

Rose watched this exchange in silence, arms crossed and staring daggers at the Doctor. Normally she would have come to his rescue but she was still angry with him for going behind her back to Pete. In fact, if she had to sit this one out due to safety reasons then perhaps he ought to get over his stupid aversion to guns in order to participate. She walked over to them, took the gun from Phil and dismissed him. With one last backwards glance and angry shake of the head, the Torchwood employee stalked off mumbling to himself.

"You need to take this."

The Doctor rolled his eyes.

"Rose, you know how I feel about those. I've never taken one on your missions before and I'm not starting now. I've got my sonic, it'll be fine."

Looking down at the gun and flipping a switch, she sighed and shoved it at him again.

"Look, it's set to stun, alright? You don't know what's in there, at least just keep it on you. Don't use it if you don't want to, but just take it Doctor. You're not the only one that gets to worry about someone's safety!"

"Rose… really, it'll be fine. You just-"

"Doctor! Please, just take it! Or do I need to have Pete order you?"

He gazed at her with a hard glint in his eyes and after a moment snatched the gun from her hands. Without a word, he turned and stalked back over to her team which was already beginning their march toward the warehouse. As they spread out and took their places ready to enter the building from various entrances, only the Doctor and her team's second in command Lars, were visible. After receiving the go ahead from Rose, Lars disappeared from view. The Doctor hesitated momentarily, then looking over his shoulder in her direction, flung the gun away and disappeared after Lars.

Rose's jaw dropped. What was he playing at?! She was going to kill him when he got back.

The next thirty minutes were torture for Rose. At first she had remained in radio contact with all members of her team but within five minutes communications blackout had commenced, one by one. By the time she had lost contact with Lars and the Doctor, all they knew was that there was some sort of alien craft inside which the team had managed to infiltrate. Two barely living members of the prelim team had been retrieved but the rest were dead. Then chaos had broken out, and the last thing they had heard were screams and the sound of guns discharging. Then everything had gone silent, all communications down.

Rose began to frantically try to convince Pete to let her go in after them as they quickly got everyone in the secondary team ready. Again she was denied. Screaming in frustration, she turned and strode back to the communications post, resolved to defy any and all commands to stay behind, regardless of who they came from. She was conducting a last minute check on her weapon and was about to desert her post when she heard some crackles, followed by static and a few broken words from the comm.

"Commander Ty….Lars… need back-… all clear… but… Doctor… medics NOW!"