The Queen and the Rose

Chapter 2

Rose watched as the Doctor spun around the console, throwing out tips about Ancient Egypt and 'no, you don't need to change, it'll be fine,' to which she narrowed her eyes and giggled as he almost tripped over his own trainer. 

"Don't need to change?" She lifted a brow, "They've not seen denim, Doctor.  Or a union flag.  Or shorts.  Or blondes, probably."

He approached her and curled a finger around a piece of her hair, admiring it for a moment.  "Ah.  A lovely new species for them to study," he said softly, fixing her with a heated glare before shooting back to the console.

Rose blinked.  It was moments like that that made her question what she was to him, if she was just another companion or if he... Well, she supposed it wasn't really important, was it?  She was here for the adventures, she tried to tell herself that, but it had become that she was here for the Doctor and the adventures were just a bonus.  Sometimes she regretted that she couldn't tell him that.  She hoped he didn't think she was using him. 

She was thrown from her thoughts and also thrown from the jump seat, almost hitting her head on the floor as she tumbled down.  She was about to get up herself, but the Doctor was in front of her in a half-second, holding his hands out for her.  She let him pull her to her feet and he pulled her into a quick hug.  

"You didn't even fall this time," Rose laughed as he ensured their landing was secure.  

"Yes, well," he shrugged a shoulder, "I am a rather excellent driver, I've been told."

Rose snorted and leaned her hip against the console.  "Yeah?  And who was that, then?"

The Doctor scratched the back of his neck and glanced around.  "Former companions, you know."

"Certainly Sarah Jane didn't compliment your driving," Rose widened her eyes, her tone teasing, "She's not a liar."

"Oi!" The Doctor was indignant, but she saw his lip twitch as he held back a smile.  She grinned in response and shoved his shoulder.  "Alright then, show me Ancient Egypt, Doctor, that's what I was promised, after all."

The Doctor nodded in agreement and smiled back at her, a smile that made her stomach contract in on itself and she wasn't quite sure why.  She was no randy teenager, she told herself, but that was really not here nor there.  The point was he made her feel like on and on occasion, he himself acted like one.  

He took a few steps towards the doors and threw them open, gesturing grandly before turning behind him.  "Coming, then?" He asked, sounding almost bored.  It would've been convincing if not for the twinkle in his eye. 

She lifted a shoulder, playing along with his casual game.  "You know, I thought I might, but then I remembered, there's chips in London."

The Doctor cracked a smile.  "Fair enough, but I think you'll like the food here just fine, as well."  He held out a hand for her, an invitation she could never refuse, and she ran up to him and entwined her fingers with his.  He tugged her playfully against his shoulder just before they exited the TARDIS.

"Blimey," Rose said upon taking her second step, having turned to her side.  "You parked us right next to the Sphinx."  

he turned to where she was looking and nodded a bit.  He hummed in the back of his throat.  "So we did.  That, Rose Tyler, is a good park job, and no one else in the universe can tell you otherwise."

"Alright, I'll give you that one."

He grinned at her indulgence towards him and glanced in front of them.  "Which way to go, then?" 

Rose glanced around, only seeing sand everywhere she looked.  "Pyramids are off limits," she said, but it was as much of a question as it was a statement.