OSK Picture Perfect Challenge: 2x07, The Idiot's Lantern

They do see Elvis, in the end. It's probably the best thing to get face-sucking aliens off their minds.

He makes her change out of her dress, though, because what he sees when she's in that outfit certainly isn't pink and girly and fun anymore. She ends up going to an infamous '50s concert in her tshirt and trainers, and he's never had more trouble keeping his eyes off her.

"It’s OK," she tells him eventually, catching him on his twenty-second obvious glance. "I had to stare in the mirror for ages when we got back to the TARDIS."

He doesn’t quite know what to say to that, so he pretends to examine the lighting equipment while staring at her feet out of the corner of his eye, thankful she’s changed out of the pink shoes he’d all-too-recently seen peeking out from under a blanket hiding a Rose with no face.

There's a short man on the stage with a booming voice, waving an arm to encourage the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls..."

Elvis is announced but still absent, building up a few seconds of suspense before making his big entrance. In the midst of all the screaming and clapping and stomping of feet, Rose reaches over and kisses the Doctor's cheek. "I never said thanks," she explains, close to his ear as the noise dies down, one hand resting just above his knee to keep her balance as she leans over. "For doing your thing, savin' the day. The Doctor to the rescue, and all that." If she were being honest, she'd tell him that his anger had scared her, a little - he'd seen it, earlier, in her face as he'd explained what she'd missed. 

But she doesn't mention his anger, his obvious sense of frustration and uselessness at her temporary fate. Instead, she drops her voice and says something the Doctor isn't expecting. "For bein’ so worried about me, before."

He’s going to protest, but the look on her face as she pulls back to her own seat makes him stop. Her hand stays where it is.

"I couldn’t exactly hear anything and it’s not like I was thinking while I was stuck in there – " She pauses, suppressing a shudder, and he plucks her fingers from his knee and pushes his own through them, frowning, waiting for her to go on. "But afterwards… I sort of knew what had happened, you know?"

Music blares out all around them and she turns to the stage as the first song begins, as though the conversation is all over.

"Rose."

She looks back, clearly expecting some silly titbit of information on Elvis’ secret life as an alien despite the Doctor’s serious expression and his hand still in hers.

"You never have to thank me for worrying about you."

She nods, brushing the weight of his statement off. "Part of the job, I know. Jeopardy friendly, right? I remember."

The Doctor looks over to the stage for the first time since Elvis came on, giving her hand the slightest of squeezes as he does so. He settles down into his seat, suppressing a smile. "Wouldn’t have you any other way."