Sleeping

"Doctor, you need to sleep."

"Nonsense Rose!" The Doctor says happily, jumping up from his slouched position. "I'm fine, Time Lord remember."

"Part Time Lord," She corrects.

"Doesn't matter, I'm fine," but he sways slightly and she notices.

"Doctor you haven't slept since you've gotten here, that was what a week ago?"

"A week, two days and seven hours ago," he provides and she groans.

"Doctor!"

"What?"

"Do you have any idea how unhealthy that is?"

"For you maybe, not for me."

Rose groans, "You're practically dead on your feet."

"I told you I'll be fine, besides sleeping is useless and boring, you can't do anything!"

"Sleep."

"But—"

She holds up a hand, "maybe not right now, but defiantly tonight, okay?"

He bites his lip and nods, "fine."

She smiles, "good, I'll see you later. I'm just going to go pick up some things for mum." She kisses him softly and then she's gone.

It's late by the time she gets home and finds him sprawled out on the couch, his eyes shut and his breath coming up evenly and relaxed.

She smiles, "told you." She mutters, and putting down her bags, reaches for a blanket.

That's when he moves, curling up tightly and eyes darting around behind his closed eyelids.

She blinks, "Doctor?"

"Rose," he mutters softly.

"I'm right here," she tries to assure him, but he's still asleep.

"I'm still him, don't leave me. Please."

"Doctor," she mutters, trying to wake him. "I'm right here. I'm not going to leave you."

"I don't want to go," he continues to plea. "Please."

"Doctor!" she's shaking him hard now and he sits up gasping, his eyes darting around wildly, before finally settling on her.

"Don't make me go," he begs and she grabs him, pulling him into a hug.

"I'm never going to do that," she promises. "I promised forever, didn't I?"

And he smiles, his eye lids dropping.

"Sleep is still boring," he mutters. "Such a waste of time, stupid human half, I blame Donna."

She laughs, "Well you're just going to have to adjust." She pulls away, "now why don't we get you to a bed, the couch can't be all that comfortable."

"Nonsense, best couch I've ever slept on."

She gives him a look.

"Also it's the only couch I've ever slept on," he adds and she smiles.

"Thought so, now come on."

She's awoken, by the soft creaking of her door, and she sits up startled, flinging the hairbrush on her bedside table at the intruder, who yelps as it hits its target.

"Rose," the intruder groans. "That hurt."

She groans sitting up, "Doctor, what are you doing up? You're supposed to be sleeping."

"I did sleep," he protests.

"The time on the couch doesn't count. You couldn't have been there for any longer than a couple hours," she feels for bedside lamp and flicks it on, blinking her eyes in the new light.

"All I need is a couple hours, a quick recharge and I'm good," but he's yawning and sluggish and Rose can tell.

"Alright out with it, what's wrong?"

"Can't sleep, I'm not used to it," he explains. "I mean sure I know that I'm tired and that I really should sleep, but I can't, it's too unnatural and…" He shuffles nervously, looking at his feet.

"What?"

"It's too quiet," he mumbles. "Usually the TARDIS is there making noise, but here it's just silent. There's nothing, not even Rose the dog is making any noise."

Rose stares at the Doctor, unsure, she knew how he felt. She had dealt with it too, when she had stopped traveling in the TARDIS, she couldn't imagine what it must be like for the Doctor.

Finally with a sigh, she scooted over, "get in." She mumbled and the Doctor's eyes widened.

"What no? Rose I—I mean, I shouldn't, you shouldn't, I—"

"Oh shut up, not like that you dumbo," she explains, her cheeks burning red.

"Oh right, of course, I mean, I—"

"Just get in, before you make the hole you're digging any bigger," she mumbles and he nods dumbly and slowly gets in. "No funny business."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he mumbles, as he scoots closer to it. "You're mum would kill me."

And she laughs and shuts off the light, "good-night Doctor."

He doesn't respond, and she turns to see that he's already asleep and she smiles.

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