Previously in Chapter Four...

They walked down the corridor a few steps when Rose stopped, leaning heavily into the Doctor.

"Rose?"

"Jus' a little dizzy. Gimme a minute."

The Doctor stood there, watching her closely with an arm around her waist for support. It felt like an eternity before she finally looked up at him.

"Better?"

She took a deep breath. "I'll be okay."

He nodded at her and they took a few steps forward. Rose paused again and the Doctor's brows creased with worry. "Rose? Tell me what's going on."

When she looked up at him she was pale and he noticed little beads of perspiration forming on her forehead. "I don't feel so good." Rose fell forward, and the Doctor acted quickly to catch her, pulling her gracefully up into his arms as hurried down the corridor.

This wasn't good. Not good at all. He knew that she was actually being poisoned by the gases, just hadn't mentioned that to her, knowing he could cure the effects of the gas and clear it from her system. If she hadn't absorbed too much of it ...

And now the conclusion ...

Chapter Five: In the Air

The moan that came from the gurney behind him had the Doctor turning towards Rose immediately, knowing the results that were just coming up on the computer screen. He'd simply confirmed what he all ready knew. Rose had been unconscious for almost three straight hours, and to say the Doctor was a bit worried was quite the understatement.

"Rose? Can you hear me? Open your eyes," the Doctor spoke gently as he softly touched her cheek with his fingertips.

Rose's eyes began to open, but she immediately squinted against the bright lights of the Infirmary.

"Dim the lights," the Doctor stated to his ship, and the room grew dark enough for Rose to open her eyes comfortably, meeting the Doctor's worried stare.

"Concussion?" she asked.

"Beg your pardon?"

"I jus' figured I must've got hit in the head with somethin' since it hurts so much."

"Ah, well ... no. No concussion."

"That's good. No worries about any scarrin', then."

The Doctor grinned at Rose. "None at all. You look as perfect as ever," he answered, gently rubbing her hair back from her forehead.

"So, what happened to me then? 'Cause I know it feels like a hangover, but I don't think you'd bring me to the Infirmary if that's all it was."

"My clever Rose - always smarter than the average bear," the Doctor grinned. "Do you remember our little trip to Gradrellamber?"

"Sure I do. It was a wonderful trip - we didn't get chased or have our lives threatened ... Or did we? Did something happen I'm not rememberin'?"

"No, no - nothing like that. Think you can sit up?"

Rose nodded at the Doctor and let him help her up, the sudden change in position making her slightly dizzy. She closed her eyes for a moment, and the Doctor held her shoulders to steady her until it passed. When Rose opened her eyes again, she was eye to eye with one very concerned Doctor.

"Maybe you should lie back down," he offered.

"Nah, 'm fine. Jus' had to get my head caught up to vertical with my body. It's okay now," she told him sincerely.

He cupped her cheek with his hand, making sure for himself. Finally he nodded then hopped up on the gurney beside her.

After a few moments of companionable silence, the Doctor took Rose's hand into his own. "Do you remember that old man who gave you those balloons when we were heading back to the TARDIS?"

Rose nodded.

"He said to you 'Verulda deng falio hent gordinom.'"

"Yeah, I don't remember the exact words."

"Well, in hindsight, I did. And they meant 'True love should enjoy tonight.'"

Rose continued to stare at him, her eyes clearly showing her confusion. "I don' get it. And if he was speakin' t'me in a foreign language, how come the TARDIS didn't translate it like she always does?"

"I'm not really sure - it's possible she didn't recognize the language, but I doubt that. Probably just a glitch in her systems."

"Oh."

"Anyway, the balloons he gave you were a gift to the both of us - something that the Gradrellambers used to use about a hundred years ago. They were filled with a gas known as Feeliamorous, which basically is an endorphin-like enhancer made for couples to, ah, well..."

"You mean they had an aphrodesiac-like effect?"

"Well yes, in a sort of way I suppose. The balloons are only for people to enjoy while walking outside. Helping to 'set the mood' - eliminate the normal distractions; keep the couples focused on each other; stopping them from looking at other prospects; giving them a head st-"

"I get it," Rose interrupted with mild annoyance.

"Yes. Good. Very good. Anyway, you brought the balloons back with us and inside the TARDIS, and even worse, put them in your room, therefore overdosing yourself with those alien enhancements. You were not well."

"Not well how?"

"You don't remember?"

Rose looked around for a moment, as if she were trying to think. Finally she gave up and looked at the Doctor again. "Nope. Can't remember a thing."

"Really? Well, let's just say you were a little more friendly than usual and leave it at that."

"Are you sure that's where you wanna leave it? Kinda not like you to leave stuff out."

The Doctor looked at Rose with a raised eyebrow. "No sense in dredging up things that couldn't be helped. Besides, I don't want to embarrass you."

"How's that gonna embarrass me if I wasn't in control of my faculties?"

"Yes, well, what with all your flirtations and throwing yourself at me as it were ..."

"Oh come on, I did not." Rose looked absolutely appalled.

"It's all right. You were under the influence."

"What?! How can ya be so sure it was me?" Rose began, leaning towards him. "Who's to say you weren't under the influence as well?"

"Well I say, that's who. Superior Time Lord physiology. You should never forget that, Rose Tyler."

Rose snorted, then crossed her arms in front of her chest. The Doctor raised both eyebrows then he, too, crossed his arms across his chest. Both looked away from each other. Until Rose started giggling. That's when the Doctor turned back towards her, seeing her grinning at him.

"Look at us. We're both actin' like little children. I'm sorry." she said softly.

The Doctor smiled, uncrossing his arms. "Nothing to be sorry for. Any actions were induced, and you can't be held responsible for them." The Doctor hopped down from the gurney and turned to face Rose. "Stay right here. I'll be back in a jiffy," he stated, then turned towards the door.

"Where are you goin'?"

"To your room. You still need your rest. And I need to dispose of the two remaining balloons before you can go back in there," he answered with a winning smile.

"You're sure they can't harm you?" Rose asked with obvious concern.

"Of course. Relax. I'll be back in no time."

xoxoxoxoxoxox

The Doctor went to Rose's room, grabbed the balloons from the bathroom, then disposed of them properly, returning to the Infirmary after about fifteen minutes had passed.

He stopped just before entering the Infirmary, grinning to himself as he took a deep breath, then walked casually through the doorway.

He entered the room and walked right up to Rose, seeing his companion still sitting on the gurney.

"Did you get rid of the balloons?" Rose asked, a smile on her lips.

"Yep. All done." The Doctor grabbed Rose's hand and held it firmly within his own. "I'm sorry I didn't figure this out before things got out of hand."

"Oh no - you're not blamin' yourself for this, are you? Because it wasn't your fault."

"Rose. My dear, sweet Rose petal," the Doctor began, lifting gentle fingers to her cheek and brushing it with the lightest of touches. "It was my fault. You could've been seriously hurt if we hadn't figured it out in time - those gases are dangerous - just like any other enhancement drugs when ingested or exposed to for too long a period of time."

She looked at him with a stern expression. "Doctor, it wasn't your fault - in fact, you saved me from gettin' hurt by it 'cause you're so brilliant," she told him, knowing he loved that one word description so well.

The Doctor wrapped her in a tight hug, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I could've lost you," he whispered.

Rose was a bit taken back by his gesture, and more so by his quiet words. He seemed so ... emotional. "But you didn't. You saved me. And I'm right here."

The Doctor suddenly disengaged himself from her and looked her right in the eyes. "Yes! You are! And I'm so very happy of that," he said, reaching down and grabbing her hands in his own. "We're so good together. Rose and The Doctor. The Doctor and Rose. Just rolls off the tongue. You and me. Me and you. It's simply grand, isn't it?"

Rose stared at the Doctor for a moment, her returning smile a bit quizzical. "Yeah, we are," she answered, looking at him closely. "You feelin' okay?"

"I feel more than okay, Rose Tyler. I feel lucky. I feel happy. I feel, I feel ... I feel like kissing you right at this very moment." And he did. Snogged her good and proper. Leaning down towards her, touching her lips with his own. Licking her lips with his tongue. Moaning when her lips opened for him. Melting when he heard her answering moan.

Rose was obviously enjoying the kiss. At least that's what her expression read. Until her eyes opened. She seemed to look around for a moment and then placed her hands on the Doctor's shoulders, then pushed him back. Their lips popped when they broke apart, both breathing a bit heavily.

"Rose?" The Doctor asked, a little stunned by her actions. He went to move closer to her again, but her hand shot out to his chest, keeping a little distance between them.

"Doctor," Rose said breathlessly, her face flushed and glowing. "What was that?"

"It was what it was," he retorted, using the very same line she had when she'd first been infected. "Want to do it again?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at her suggestively.

"God, yes," she whispered, licking her lips, then her eyes grew wide at the realization that she'd spoken the words out loud. "I mean no!"

Rose swung her hips around the gurney, swiftly depositing her feet on the floor, opposite the Doctor. "Doctor, you're obviously under the influence of that amorous drug from the balloons."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm a Time Lord. I don't fall ill to such things. Now come here and let me kiss you." He said the last eight words with such smoothness that it took a bit of Rose's inner strength not to swoon towards him.

"Um, no, I don't think you should," she said, watching him as he side-stepped, moving himself around the gurney. Rose matched him step for step, but when the Doctor moved quickly, she didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to get out of the way. In fact, she stood still, waiting for him

"No chase? Well, there goes half the fun," he proclaimed, then grabbed hold of her and snogged her soundly.

Rose kissed him back, but she was calm - almost too calm. He noted her pulse was only slightly elevated, and she wasn't nearly as breathless as he'd have liked. While still kissing her, he opened an eye to look at her. And found her looking at him. The shock of it completely ruined the mood.

"What?" The Doctor asked, inching back from Rose to look at her without going cross-eyed.

"This is just you on that balloon gas, isn't it - I mean, it's not really you."

"I'm me."

"Yeah, but once this gas stuff wears off, this'll be over. You won't remember, and ..."

"And what?"

"It'll be like nothin' ever happened." She looked at the Doctor a bit sadly.

"I'd like to think I'll remember this, Rose Tyler," he said suggestively.

"Doctor, are you flirtin' with me?"

The Doctor grinned widely. "Why yes, I suppose I am."

Rose smiled. "Okay, I was jus' makin' sure. I s'pose you should carry on, then."

The next kiss was ten times better than the last.

xoxoxoxox

The Doctor knew the gases had no effect on his Time Lord physiology, but this was wayyy too fun not to do. Besides, it felt rather liberating, being able to act on all those forbidden thoughts and urgent feelings that ran through his mind way too often. Especially after she'd gotten them so roused earlier on.

And it was something he'd never regret.

If anyone had asked him why he'd done it, he'd have to grin, then just say it was simply something in the air.

The End.

xoxoxoxox