Work Text:
Rose wakes up panting. The blood is rushing in her ears and she can’t breathe. Her heart is pounding and standing still. Her skin is sweaty and sticking to her sheets and she’s trying to breathe and she can’t feel the air. Frantically she starts thrashing, trying to get the tangled blankets off, and she Cant breathe. In and out and no air is reaching her lungs and she’s so scared and she can’t breathe. She’s clawing at the blankets, scratching her skin, but she doesn’t notice it in her panic. Where is he why isn’t he here why is she alone why -
“Rose?” the doctor asks, opening the door to her room “is everything alright? The tardis alerted me to -“ He trails off as he notices her state. He walks over to the heaving body of his… friend… and cautiously lowers his body down to sit beside her. The Doctor hesitantly placed his hand on Rose’s back, recoiling when she flinches. Rose looks up with him with a start. There is no recognition in her eyes for a second before it dawns on her the situation that is occurring. Throwing her body into his arms, Rose starts sobbing. Very taken aback, the Doctor yelps, before cautiously returning his hands to Rose’s back.
The doctor gently pushes the reluctant Rose off of his lap, staring into her reddened eyes “Please rose, tell me what is wrong” he probes “because if i have done something i need to know, or if something has happened with Mickey i - well - is that really a loss, or if you’re homesick we can retur- “ Rose cuts him off a “No!” The doctor jolts like he had just been hit “i’m sorry i just, please don’t send me home. ever.” Rose continues, calmer. “please. don’t do that to me.” she mumbles, staring down at the floor, the wall, anywhere but the doctor.
“Rose? where has this come from?” the doctor gently inquires, catching roses face and carefully turing her head to look at him. “i’m not leaving you any time soon”
“you say that” rose mutters. “i bet you said that to all of them.”
The doctor lets go of her face, looking heartbroken. He continues to sit on Roses bed for a few moments more, before standing up to leave.
“wait!” rose frantically says, standing up and reaching for his hand - pulling his towards her, wrapping her whole body into his chest. The doctor momentarily stands stiffly in her arms, before caving and relaxing.
“i had a nightmare that you dropped me off to my mothers house while i was sleeping, and left me there because you were sick of me” Rose mumbles into the doctors shirt. “promise me i will never have to leave you”
The doctor softens further at her words, rubbing soothing circles into her back “i can promise you my all, for as long as you will have me” he proclaims, wishing that she would believe him. Wishing that he had the courage to say what he really feels, that he wholeheartedly and completely loves this little pink and yellow woman in front of him. That she has effortlessly captured his heart.
Rose looks up into his soft eyes, wetting her lips before opening her mouth as though to say something. She pauses, contemplating, before seeming to come to a decision. She leans up, tiling her head towards the doctors, eyes carefully watching for his reaction. When there is none, she takes a deep breath, and softly pressed her lips to his. gently, sweetly, their lips press, as she winds her hands into his hair, feeling peace upon soul, in contrast to the nerves she feels about his reaction. She leans back down, eyes locked onto her doctor starstuck ones “Your all?”, she asks “what exactly does that mean Doctor? What exactly are you offering me?”
“Everything”