A Stolen Moment

1

"Rose, grab my sonic!" The Doctor's voice echoed through the corridor as he sprinted away, the blue light of his screwdriver piercing the dark.

Rose Tyler hurriedly obeyed, her heart racing as she watched the Doctor disappear around the corner. The TARDIS groaned and shuddered around them, protesting the abuse it had taken during their latest escapade. They had barely escaped the collapsing planet, and now the ship was in dire need of repair.

Breathless, she caught up with him in the control room. The Doctor's eyes were glued to the monitor, his hands a blur over the console. "Hold this tight," he instructed, passing her a bundle of wires.

They worked in silence, the only sounds the occasional clank of metal on metal and the persistent hum of the TARDIS. The air had tension, a palpable energy that neither of them could ignore. It was more than just the aftermath of their harrowing experience; it was something that had been building between them for quite some time.

As the TARDIS stabilized, the Doctor finally turned to her, his expression one of relief and something else. Something that made her stomach flutter. "You know," he began, his voice softer than the usual rush of words. "We've had some pretty amazing adventures together."

Rose nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, we have."

He stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "And through it all, you've always been... brilliant."Their gazes held for a moment longer than necessary, the unspoken words hanging in the air like a question waiting to be asked. The Doctor's hand hovered near hers, as if he wanted to touch her but wasn't quite sure if it was the right time.

Rose felt the heat rising to her cheeks. She had always wondered if he felt the same way she did, but she never dared to hope. Now, as they stood in the quiet heart of the TARDIS, it seemed like the universe had finally aligned in their favor.

The Doctor took a deep breath and closed the distance between them. "Rose, I—"

The console beeped, interrupting the moment. He sighed, his hand dropping to his side. "Looks like she's got more to say," he murmured, stepping back to the controls.

Rose felt a pang of disappointment, but she knew that the TARDIS always came first. Yet, as they continued to work side by side, she couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had shifted between them.

The Doctor's eyes darted to her often, and when they did, she could see the depth of his emotions, swirling like the stars outside the time-space visualizer. But he remained focused on the task at hand, his professional persona firmly in place.

Once the ship was fixed, they sat down on the floor, exhausted but alive. The Doctor leaned back against the console, his eyes closed. "Well," he said with a tired smile. "That was... something."

Rose couldn't help but lean into him, their shoulders touching. "Definitely something," she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

The Doctor's eyes snapped open, and for a second, she thought she saw a flash of something in his gaze. Something raw and vulnerable. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, and he was back to his usual self. "Best get some rest," he said, standing up. "We've earned it."

Rose nodded, though she knew sleep would be elusive. Her mind was racing with thoughts of what could have been, what might still be. As she watched him leave the control room, she wondered if their stolen moment of intimacy was just a teaser for what was to come. Or if it was the closest they would ever get.