The Doctor brow furrowed at that but didn’t respond as he lifted the sheets from her legs. His jaw tightened and eyes hardened at the damage to her knees and the blood on her feet. His gaze flicked to the bedroom door as John came back with a med-kit he had found. The flash of anger in the matching brown eyes he knew was reflected in his own.
The two Doctors shared a look for a moment before John moved to put pressure on the soles of Rose’s feet to stem the bleeding.
---
Rose tried to pull away, her body fighting her mind, she knew they were trying to help but she naturally tried to withdraw from the point of pain.
---
“Shh, it’s ok,” the Doctor said softly. “Does anywhere else hurt other than your feet and knees?”
---
“Hands...I fell forward.” Rose muttered
---
“Here, let me have a look,” he said softly, putting his glasses on and holding out his hands so he could take hers.
---
Rose offered him her hands “S’not so bad.”
---
“No, not too bad. We’ll get them cleaned and dressed though..” the Doctor said softly as he took her hands and carefully inspected them. At the same time, John was still trying to stem the flow of blood from the soles of her feet.
---
“I don’t think I can walk out of here.” Rose murmured
---
“I think you may have to stay here for a while,” John said softly, carefully lifting the cloth to check if the bleeding had stopped, squinting as he looked at her feet. “I could maybe steal you some crutches. Borrow! I mean borrow, of course I mean borrow..”
---
“Or one of you two could help me back to the clinic.” Rose pointed out
---
“Or that,” both men said at the same time, in the same tone.
---
Rose rolled her eyes. “Don’t rush or anything.”
---
“Need to stop the bleeding first,” John replied, checking again, while the Doctor wrapped her palms loosely.
“Besides, I’m quite capable of treating wounds,” the time lord murmured, using the Sonic Screwdriver to scan her body to check for anything abnormal to give some explanation for the nightmares but frowned at the lack of results.
John coughed. “..wonkystitches..”
---
“What?” Rose murmured. “And I kinda want a doctor, doctor...rather than you.”
--
“I do not do wonky stitches,” the Doctor muttered before sighing softly. “I do know about medical science you know.. but alright, just let us dress the wound, stop the worse of the bleeding and then we’ll take you. Ok?”
---
“Are you really that amazed I don’t trust you? And what wonky stitches?” Rose demanded.
---
“I’ve done stitches before… they’re not always neat…” The Doctor shrugged, choosing not to respond to the latter question and attempted to keep the hurt from his face.
---
“I’m not scared of scarring.” Rose said quietly
--
The two Doctors shared a look at her words. “Well, if I could get the equipment, I could treat you here rather than you having to go anywhere..”
“We could,” John interjected.
“Right. Sure.”
---
“Boys” Rose butted in
---
“Sorry.”
---
“I’m bleeding out...can you stop bitching and help me.” Rose replied
---
“You’re not bleeding out, it’s slowed a great deal and should stop soon,” John said softly, resisting the urge to comfort her how he would normally.
He glanced at the Doctor, able to recognise the guilt behind those dark eyes that others wouldn’t be able to. John knew how the Timelord’s mind worked and that he was blaming himself for not waking Rose in time to stop her getting hurt. He knew he was thinking about what could have happened to her and he also knew how much her not trusting him like she used to was hurting him. It hurt John with how she was towards him as well, but at least he had the comforting thought that in her future he would earn her trust and her love, whereas the Doctor had to live with letting her go, despite her finally realising that he did love her back.