Chocolate Bars and Red Roses
Inspired by the way I end up feeling every month. Guys on my flist, you might want to skip this one if you're not comfortable with discussions of a monthly. Sorry!
Title: Chocolate Bars and Red Roses
Author:
janna_hawkins
Beta: danaems
Summary: Rose is feeling awful and the Doctor decides to help her feel better.
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, TARDIS
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Doctor Who except my psychic paper, sonic screwdriver and sonic pen :)
Author Notes: Big thanks to Danae for the beta on this! *hug*
~..~
"Ow," Rose moaned as she twisted underneath her blankets, futilely trying to find a comfortable spot. Giving up, she turned over and pressed her face into the pillow. Why, oh why, did this have to happen?
She wasn't sure what she'd expected. Maybe that the fantastic time machine that translated alien languages inside her head would keep her from feeling the same way she did back home. Unfortunately however the ship apparently didn’t have an interest in helping out her new passenger. So, instead of having her backpack appear quickly once the pain started, Rose was forced to search through her closet to find it and the items she needed.
Rose stiffened suddenly as she heard the unmistakable sound of booted feet in the corridor outside.
"Rose? You alright in there?"
She turned over, involuntarily hissing as pain shot down her leg. "Yes, Doctor, I'm perfectly fine," she called through gritted teeth. "Go away, please!"
The door was thrown open and she shrieked, pulling the covers over her head as the Doctor stormed into the room. He yanked the blankets from her face and glared down at her.
"I will not ‘go away’. 'S my ship! Now, what's wrong? Did you get hurt back on Euronda?"
She glared back at him and yanked at the blanket held firmly in his hand. "No, I didn't. Said I was fine, didn't I? 'S nothing I can't handle."
His scowl became darker as she winced. "Out with it, Rose. Now. Unless you want me to take you home."
"You wouldn't understand."
"And why's that?"
" 'Cos you're a bloke, that's why! You aren't stuck in your bed once a month in awful pain!"
She could almost have laughed at the stunned expression on his face. Instead she turned away to stare at the wall. After a silence that seemed to stretch on forever, she felt the bed move and a tentative hand touched her shoulder.
"Rose? Rose, look at me."
She shook her head and tried to tug the covers away from him again.
He sighed. "If you don't talk to me, I won't know how to help."
"Bring me some chocolate first."
"Not until you look at me."
She rolled over and glared at him.
"That's better. Now, what do you need, besides the chocolate?"
She frowned. "You're serious? You'll get me anything I need?"
"Of course, Rose. I don't like it when you're feeling like this any more than I'm sure you do. Now, what else do you want?"
"Chocolate. Lots and lots of it. And if you have any wonderful alien medicine to make these cramps go away, that'd be great too."
He shook his head. "I don't, sorry. Anything that could help you, I'm deathly allergic to. I'll get the chocolate though. Be right back."
She nodded and watched him hurry out. Once he was gone she reached for a pad of paper on her nightstand and quickly scribbled down some words with a grin. "This might be the best day ever."
~..~
"Alright, Rose, I have your chocolate. The very best in the universe!" the Doctor announced as he walked in with a huge box wrapped in pink tissue paper.
She smiled widely and reached for it, pulling off the tissue paper and grabbing a piece of the dark sweet. "Mmm, oh, that is heavenly!"
" 'Course it is! Best chocolate anywhere, anytime!" he said smugly, sitting down next to her on the bed. "Feeling any better?"
"A bit now that I have this," Rose said cheerfully as she ate another piece. "Oh, that paper there's for you."
The Doctor turned and picked up the pad of paper lying on the nightstand. "What is it?"
"A list of things I need."
"Tea, chocolate...got those already. Heated blanket, giant fluffy pillow, chick flicks?!" He turned to stare at his grinning companion. "Chick flicks, Rose?! You're not serious."
"Of course! Titanic and Pride and Prejudice please."
"Rose..."
"Please, Doctor? You said anything!"
"But, Rose, chick flicks?!"
"What, too domestic for you?"
"Yeah, a bit. Fine, I'll get your movies, but don't expect me to watch them with you."
"Oh, come on, Doctor! Just this once? Please?" Rose pleaded.
The Doctor sighed. "Alright, just this once. Back in a mo."
Rose smiled and reached into the box for more chocolate.
~..~
"Mmm, isn't that Mr. Macfadyen lovely?"
"I hope you don't expect me to answer that," the Doctor said uncomfortably.
Rose glanced up at him and grinned. "Sorry, I'm used to watching this with girlfriends."
"So I gathered when you said the exact same thing about that Leonardo in Titanic."
"Well, he was cute! And besides, I had to say something to stop your complaining about the fakeness in the movie."
He rolled his eyes. "As if a third-class and first-class passenger could meet on that ship. Those barriers were there to prev-mmph!"
Rose giggled and moved her hand away. "See? Exactly what I was talking about. Why not just enjoy the film instead of cutting it to pieces?"
"Rose, when you've been at the actual sinking..."
"I know, I know. It is a good movie, though."
"If you say so. At least this movie stayed close to the original story," he said, gesturing towards the television screen.
Rose smirked. "So, you enjoyed it?"
"Not as much as reading the actual book, but it was alright."
"Not bad for a chick flick?"
He sighed. "No, Rose, not bad for a chick flick."
"Good. Then we can watch it again sometime soon?"
"I didn't say that..." he said slowly.
Rose frowned. "But you just-"
He held up a hand and grinned. "But, I'll say it now. How about we watch it the next time you're not feeling good?"
She smirked. "Sure it won't be too domestic for you?"
"Oh, I think I can handle that little bit of domesticness."
" 'Domesticness'? Is that even a word?"
"It is now. Just made it up."
Rose rolled her eyes and curled up against his chest. "Sure, Doctor, whatever you say." A moment later she sat up and frowned, pressing a hand to his chest. "What's the matter with your heart? Sounds like there's an echo."
"Nothing wrong with my hearts, Rose."
" 'Hearts'? You mean you have two of them?"
"Yeah. Alien, me. Remember?"
She nodded. "I guess I just forgot since you seem so human."
"Oi, no need to insult me!"
Rose stiffened. " 'Insult you'? You mean to tell me that to be called a human is an insult to you, Time Lord?!"
"Rose, I only meant..."
"No, no, I know what you meant. You think you're so high and mighty, hm? Lording it over us stupid apes?"
"Rose, calm down. It's just your hormones tal-OW!" He yelped as her hand found his cheek. Hard.
"Why you, you, you alien!" Rose shouted before running from the room.
The Doctor frowned and gingerly felt his face. "Well," he muttered to the ceiling. "She definitely inherited her mother's arm. Now, what do I do?"
The ceiling brightened and the hum from the walls grew louder.
"No, I don't think chips are going to cut it this time."
The hum changed.
"No, not flowers either."
A spark shot out of the wall and he flinched.
"What, you think that'll work? She's pretty upset."
The lights flickered.
"Fine, I'll try. But if she hits me again, I won't fix that leaky hose of yours."
The lights went out completely.
"Oh, fantastic."
~..~
Rose jumped as a soft knock sounded on her door.
"Rose? Can I come in?"
"No, go away!"
"Rose, I came to apologize. And I brought you something."
"Yeah? What?"
"Open the door and see."
She sighed and walked slowly over to pull it open a fraction. "What?"
The Doctor smiled slightly and held up a large bag of chips. "This is me saying 'I'm sorry, Rose, for being an idiot.' "
Rose took the bag with a frown and leaned against the frame of her door. "And?"
He sighed and pulled a large bundle of roses from behind his back. "And this is me saying 'I'm sorry for insulting your species.' "
She smiled and took the roses. "Thank you, Doctor. Although I guess I should say sorry too. I probably shouldn't have overreacted like that."
"Not your fault," he said cheerfully. "You haven't been feeling well all day."
"No, but you've been so great today, not running away like any other guy would've when they heard what was going on. Thanks for that." She grinned and stretched up to press a kiss to his cheek.
He flushed slightly and grinned. "That's me. 'The Doctor, rescuer of Rose Tyler’s in distress.' Just glad I could help."
She yawned and stepped back into her room. "Well, I appreciate it, but this is me saying goodnight and thanks again."
"You're very welcome, Rose Tyler. Sweet dreams."