Work Text:
“…you hear me?”
A soft hand squeezes your shoulder and jostles you gently. You feel your head loll limply to the side.
“Stay with…”
Strong arms cradle your knees and back as you rock side to side.
“…leave me. Please…”
The words fade around you as the world finally fades to black.
You open your eyes blearily and wince as you lift your head to look around. The sight of wires running down your arms is slightly alarming, but not as much as the throbbing pain behind your eyes.
You settle into your pillow and let your eyes drift closed again. Almost immediately, as if she sensed your sudden consciousness, the Doctor bursts through the door, brilliant smile on her face.
“How’s my favorite patient feeling today?” she says, beaming at you.
You chuckle. “I think I’m your only patient,” you say, glancing around to make sure none of your other companions are cooped up in hospital beds like you.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t be my favorite!” She hums as she bends over you, fussing with the equipment you’re hooked up to. “You’ve woken up a few times, but you’re definitely seeming more there than you have been since the fall. I just want to run some tests while I’ve finally got you awake and semi-alert.”
Your eyes follow her hands as they sift through equipment, hovering over certain instruments before moving on to others. Her slender fingers trace over a thin metal disc, hesitating for only a moment before picking it up.
“Sorry, bit cold,” she winces as she peels back the collar of your shirt and presses the metal to your chest. You try to suppress a flinch at the touch as well as the close proximity, holding your breath as she leans in closer.
“Nifty little devices, these are! Handy for most species - even me and I’ve got two to listen to, can get a bit loud, I suppose,” she rambles as she moves the diaphragm around. “Deep breath for me, alright?”
As you obey her instructions, your eyes drift over her face. You follow the curve of her nose, the swoop of her hair falling into her eyes, the-
Beep!
You’re startled out of your trace by the heart monitor next to you, the screen showing a grainy line that has just spiked unusually high.
The Doctor glares at it almost as if she wants to challenge it to a duel, frowning as she turns back to her work. Her fingers gently readjust the wires running down your arm and when they’re finished they drift down to rest on the back of your hand.
The warm touch sends a spike of adrenaline through you. Her eyes widen as the monitor beside you beeps again.
“There it is again! Hmm,” she scronches her nose, sonicing the panel. “Don’t think anything’s changed, no strenuous activity… Might have to run some tests. Say ahh.”
A cool hand presses against your forehead, and you have to physically stop yourself from flinching away at the contact. Her eyebrows furrow even further, tongue poking out from between her lips. “Hmm, you’re not hot. Pupils are a bit dilated though.”
She is so close now, you can feel her breath ghosting over your lips, which certainly isn’t helping to decrease your blood pressure.
“Well, your symptoms aren’t consistent with your injuries.” You feel her eyes drag over you as she clicks her tongue. “Either you’ve picked up a Venusian parasite or you’re in love.”
Oh.
Oh.
Your heart drops into your stomach as the recognition sparks in her eyes. You can feel your ears burning, you know they are. Breathe in, breathe out. In. Out.
“It’s- it’s probably the parasite then,” you choke out.
She opens her mouth and closes it, licking her lips. Is she nervous? She can’t be nervous, she’s the Doctor. She’s dealt with worse than this, probably dealt with this before.
Because how could she not have. Not have her friends falling for her. Falling for her eyes, her smile, her laugh, her everything.
“Right,” she whispers, licking her lips, eyes darting across your face. “Right, yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”
But as she says the words, her hand drifts down again, squeezing yours ever so slightly. You plaster a smile on your face that you hope doesn’t seem more like a grimace, because you know she won’t say the words, the words you so desperately long to hear.
You can feel tears welling up in your eyes but you blink them away, wanting to keep seeing her clearly. Because for now you were content. You had to be. With her. However she’d have you.