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You had just gotten back from gathering specific and rare ingredients for Dottore. It had taken you a while, and you were a tad worried. Before you left, he had told you that he would be performing an experiment and that this one would take a few days. He didn't elaborate further when you expressed concern for his well-being due to his tendency to overwork himself and hyperfocus on the experiment he had going. So when you got back and finally made your way down to his lab after putting your stuff down in your room, you were frankly startled to see Dottore with an IV line and heart monitor hooked up to him. Your shock quickly shifted to irritation as he was currently working while recovering from experimenting on himself, like a moron. Seriously, how could he be the smartest, stupidest, and stubbornest person you know.
"Doctor, while I am not fond of you experimenting on yourself. I'm even less fond of you doing things as labour intensive as... what *Are* you doing?" You look at his work table, taking in the sheer amount of datasheets spread out on his table.
"Making sure I was successful." He says gruffly he continues after a moment. "And I can tell you I was." You sigh both from frustration and relief. If he succeeded, then you didn't have to worry as much about whatever he did to himself. "Well, if you are sure you've succeeded, will you lay down and rest for me? You're obviously still recovering." He looks up and turns to look at you for a long moment. "Oh, Nightshade, I didn't even realize it was you. Since it's you asking, I suppose I'll indulge you. Though I assure you I'm perfectly fine."
You help him back to the "recovery" room. This was really just his office with a bed for him. Most of his experiments don't "Recover" persay. Once he's settled down on the bed, you pull up a chair and sit next to him.
"Do you want to tell me what you did? Or do I have to go read your experiment logs?" You ask your curiosity finally getting the better of you. "I suppose I *could* tell you, or have you read the logs. But I've got a better idea." He smirks. You tilt your head to the side, making a go on motion with your hand. He gestures to his desk where there's a gift wrapped box. You raise your eyebrows but go and take the present from his desk before returning to your seat to face him.
"Is it for me?" You ask to clarify to which he nods, encouraging you to open it. You fail to see how a gift could explain what experiment he's run in himself this time, but it's Dottore, so it could really be anything. You open the box and find a jar settled amongst tissue paper. Upon removing it, you look at its contents carefully. It's a heart, a human heart, you've seen pleanty you know this is a human heart. It looks slightly malformed but healthy otherwise. It doesn't take you long to put two and two together. "Zandik? Is this..." He smiles it's rare you use his name, "It is. It was finally starting to annoy me how weak it was. So I replaced it with a mechanical one." He reaches out and takes your cheek in his hand. "And what could be more... *romantic* than litteraly giving you my heart!" You could see a flicker of obssesive love in his eyes. "It's beautiful, I love it, *I love you.*"
You leaned forward and kissed him your forehead and nose leaning against his. "Get some rest. I'd like to be allowed to care for you while you recover." He smiles, showing sharp teeth and nods. As he lays down, he takes your hand before relaxing. You can tell that he is actually getting tired as he hasn't fully recovered, but you'll be there with him to help along the way.
