One Hundred and Eighty Two Days ~ (a TenRose Fanfiction)

Things are Looking Brighter

~2 days later

(Sorry for spelling or grammar mistakes I will edit this tomorrow, I'm too tiered right now) 

***

-The Doctor's POV

She's gotten thinner, her whole body seems like I could snap it with two fingers. I watch as her fragile self gets up to pick up the TV remote. I only really notice it when she's wearing her thin pyjamas. And she's been skipping meals, I know it. I leave food out for her in the day to make lunch, but later that evening I find it either back in the cupboard or fridge, tucked away behind other objects in hope I'll forget about it. But I won't. And she's been leaving her dinner, too much of it. We all get non hungry days, but this is getting out of hand. So I decide to tell her about it.

"Rose." I say, as she sits back down in the sofa.

"Yeah?" She says tiredly, setting the remote down beside her, the TV not yet turned on.

"You're getting thinner. I'm sorry but I can't help but notice" I say. She pales, if her skin can actually get any lighter than a sheet of snow.

"Thinner?" She says quietly.

"Don't deny it, Rose. I know you've noticed too." I say.

"Doctor, I'm not-"

"You've been skipping meals, you're not eating enough and I know you're not sleeping at night. Quite frankly, you've gotten yourself into a right state." I say. She swallows again and I place a gentle hand on my shoulder "Why?"

"I'm just stressed out so I haven't been very hungry" she looks away, avoiding my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I say "I can help you."

"No you can't, Doctor. I've got to find this job, you found yours so I find mine. Deal."

She says. This only makes me slightly angry.

"Stop being stubborn" I say "Look at yourself, Rose!" She sniffs and looks down, then looks back up at me "You see it? Look how thin you've got. This needs to stop." I say.

"It will only stop when I find a job" she says.

"Stop with this Rose! You need to let me help you, it's a normal thing to do! I know you want to be independent, but I couldn't have found my job without my Physic paper...or screwdriver. I just..." I pause, swallow hard "Imagine watching this happen to someone that you..."

"What, Doctor?" Rose says, her voice wavering. Love. But I can't say it. It's clear she doesn't feel the same way about me as I do to her, more than "just friends". And I shouldn't even have thoughts like that, she's probably even creeped out by the thought of being any more than friends with an alien. So I stop myself from finishing my sentence. I can never say those words. I just can't. I'll never get them back in return, and I never should.

"You're ill, Rose. And I'm going to help you." I say. She looks down, and nods sadly.

"Okay." She whispers.

"Good. Now come here" I pull her into a hug on the sofa and she wraps her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder. So many parts of me just want to pull out of the hug, lift up her chin and kiss her there and then. But the other part of me tells me no, and I know I can't. And I never will.

***

-Rose's POV

Over the next few weeks things get better. I've gained weight and am back to my normal state. The Doctor certainly helped. Today I'm on another job search, and I'm meeting the Doctor for lunch, he's looking for jobs for me too. We'd agreed to search different parts of the town, and I've looked in three places so far with no luck. I'm still feeling optimistic. It is the when I'm passing a local pub I stop. There's a job ad in the window with today's date on it. I lean in to read it through the shining glass "Singer wanted. Age 16-30. Good vocal talent. No experience needed, but if you have some then you will have more of a chance. We want someone with great talent who can connect to an audience. To apply, auditions are being held over the next couple of days. See me in my office with a prepared song no more than two minutes in length. Yours sincerely, Mike." My breath caught in my throat and I let it out as I finish reading the the paragraph. I didn't now if this was amazing good luck or a leap into the past. I had done this before...before I met the Doctor I'd tried to get into singing, and it hadn't worked out the way I'd planned. And there was a horrible...I can't even bear to think about it right now, so I take a photo of the application and decide that tomorrow I will audition, no matter what memories are brought back, I'll fight through it. I need a job and this could fit the bill. I guess I've got some experience so that will do, and I haven't sung in years, but I'll give it a go. And I won't tell the doctor unless I get the job, I don't want to get his hopes up any more than mine. Fingers crossed this will go okay.

***

-the Doctor's POV

I can't find any jobs anywhere, I've looked and looked but there's nothing. So I walk down to where I'm supposed to be meeting Rose, at the chip shop for lunch. When I arrive she's sat down in the window, with two bags of chips and coffee's on the table already. As I enter the shop I decide against telling her of the possible alien activity going on within the town, it will only pull her off track.

"Hi." I say as I sit opposite her.

"Hello" she smiles, brighter than the past few days.

"Any luck?" I ask. She shakes her head quickly.

"No. You?"

"Afraid not. But we won't give up" I say.

"True. Here's your chips" she says, sliding them across the table. Every part of me is yelling to tell her about the alien activity, but I can't risk throwing her off her good mindset right now. Maybe in a few weeks, or when she's found a job. For now, we can just eat of chips and watch the small world go by.