Sick
Characters: TenToo, Jackie Tyler
~Pairings: TenToo/Rose
Genre: Family, Hurt/Comfort, Angst
Rating: K+
Note: None

Sick

Jackie muttered under her breath as she made her way up the stairs.

The Doctor had slept through his alarm (or had simply decided to ignore it) again, and now Pete was throwing a fit, because they needed the Doctor at Torchwood and said Doctor was nowhere to be found.

That was due to the fact that the useless lump was still in bed, sound asleep, Jackie could hear him snoring on the other side of the door.

With a huff of annoyance she pushed open the Doctor's door and flipped on the light.

"Alright you," she said in her best 'mother' voice. "You need to get up right now. I mean come on what kind of grown man has to—"She stopped midsentence as she realized that the Doctor had barely moved upon her entry. In fact the only movement he had made was to curl up tighter and nestle into the blankets, no sarcastic remarks, no throwing of items (which had happened once, it was how they discovered that Mr. Half-Time Lord was not a morning person), instead he was just laying there.

Worried Jackie took a step forward, trying to get a look at the Doctor's face, "Doctor? Are you alright?"

A soft grown was the only reply.

Jackie frowned and lifted the covers off the Doctor, he was shivering.

Hesitantly Jackie reached down and felt his forehead, her frown deepening, "You're burning up."

No remark.

"Since when do you get sick?"

"I don't get sick," came the soft denial.

Jackie snorted, "Is that so? Cuz you sure look sick to me."

Silence and then all at once the Doctor sat bolt upright and Jackie knew that look. Desperately she dove for the trash bin by the desk, but she was too late… the Doctor vomited and her shoes were lost.

Swearing Jackie glared down at the now ruined shoes, "Now look what you've done," she huffed, not really angry, but wanting to complain all the same. "Do you have any idea how much these were? Why I oughta make you pay for them? Pete will make sure you do, and so will—"She froze as the Doctor curled up and began to mutter.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't—I wouldn't—"

Jackie cut him off, voice soft, "Hey, hey it's okay sweetheart, they're just shoes. I'm not mad, not really. I promise it's fine, they're just shoes."

He whimpered, "Hurts."

"Well you're sick it's to be expected."

"Don't get sick," he muttered.

Jackie was about to tell him that obviously wasn't true, but he kept talking.

"We-ll I say I don't get sick… obviously I mean him, he doesn't get sick… I'm different," A hallow laugh. "I'm always different."

"That's okay, different is good."

"Different is horrible," The Doctor countered. "Everything's too human, one heart is pathetic, my brain's too small, my heads all empty because the TARDIS is gone, even breathing is hard and now to top all that off I'm sick. Different is terrible, it's always terrible."

Jackie frowned, and, at least for the time being, decided to ignore the multiple insults towards her species, "Yeah, but you age and because of that you have Rose. Isn't that a good different?"

The Doctor looked up at her and Jackie was taken aback by the pain in his eyes, "But she didn't really get a choice now did she?"

She opened her mouth, closed it, unsure of what to say. Instead she changed the subject, abruptly and if he noticed he didn't say, "How about you go get yourself cleaned up and I'll clean up this mess."

"You don't have to," he muttered. "I can manage."

"But you don't have to, now you go get clean up, I've got this."

He opened his mouth.

"Now."

He stood up shakily and made his way out of the room, and Jackie set to work cleaning up and calling Pete.

After a short argument ("I don't care, if you need him to translate documents for you, he's sick and he's staying here.") Pete had agreed to let the Doctor stay home.

A few minutes after that the Doctor hobbled in, bleary eyed and pale.

"You look horrible," Jackie deadpanned and the Doctor shot her a look of annoyance.

"I noticed thanks."

She laughed.

"It's not funny," he whined.

And Jackie wanted to tell him that it was a bit funny, but then she recalled the conversation from earlier and schooled her features, "Of course it isn't."

He didn't say anything just collapsed onto the bed and curled in on himself.

"Don't you want the covers on?"

He shook his head, "Too hot." Then his eyes went wide and he struggled to sit up, "Am I regenerating? Is that why it's so hot? If so then you need to leave, because this is a huge issue. I mean I thought I couldn't regenerate anymore, but if I do I am more or less going to exploded and I don't want you to get hurt. Not to mention your house, I'll completely ruin this room if I start to—"

"You're not regenerating," Jackie broke in quickly. "I promise."

"Oh…good, Rose wouldn't like that," then as an afterthought. "I don't think I like being sick."

"I don't think anyone likes being sick. Is there anything I can get you?"

"The TARDIS," he replied off-handily and Jackie frowned, then softly, slowly.

"You don't have the TARDIS anymore, remember."

"Oh…" he looked pained. "Right…I forgot." She expected that to be the end of it, but all at once he continued. "I could have one you know…Donna left me one, and I could make it grow."

At this Jackie's eyes went wide, so did the Doctor's and he sat up looking, all remaining color, which wasn't much, dropping from his face.

"No, no, no, no! Stupid! You weren't supposed to know that! I can't believe I said that!" He's beginning to panic, shaking and grabbing her shoulders. "You can't tell Rose! Please don't tell Rose! You can't, she can't—"he's starting to cry, it scares her.

Gently Jackie pries his hands off her shoulders and holds them tightly, trying to keep her panic from showing, "I won't tell her, but you have to tell me why."

"I can't do it," he mumbled. "I can't lose her again…I just can't and if she comes with me into the stars I will lose her."

"You don't know that," Jackie told him.

"I can't risk it," He protested, then he continued softly. "Plus, I don't even know if I could fly a TARDIS anymore."

This caught Jackie off guard, "What do you mean?"

"Well it's not exactly like riding a bicycle and I'm slowly starting to forget things," He hesitated. "Nothing serious, mostly names of planets and coordinates, but my brain isn't used to storing so much information. Please don't tell Rose."

"I won't," Jackie promised. "But I think that you should."

"I can't," he insisted.

"A relationship built on secrets won't last," Jackie reminded him softly. "I'm not saying that you have to tell her now, but please keep it that in mind."

He nodded, shivering.

"Good, now how about you get some sleep."

"Work," he muttered as he laid back down and Jackie was surprised that the thought even occurred to him.

"It's taken care of, you just need to sleep and feel better okay?"

Another nod and then he closed his eyes.

Gently she stroked a hand through his hair, "You're not alone anymore," she reminded him softly. "Remember that okay."

Soft snores answered her, he was already asleep.

For a moment Jackie watched him, noting how small he looked and wondering how she had never noticed it before.

With a sigh she walked out the door and closed it softly, leaving the Doctor, and his secrets, on the other side.

So I've had this in my folder for a while now, but I was never sure how it was going to work and I was always a bit nervous about it (and I still am), but I really wanted to finish it so I did and I hope that you guys all enjoyed it

I also feel like the Doctor would feel at least a bit insecure about who he is and more importantly who he is to Rose and I tried to show that a bit

oOo

This story will now be updated on the 3rd and 23rd of every month, this gives me time to write chapters and it gives me a sturdy due date

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