Title: Listen To Your Heart
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Bob Melnikov
Fandom: Doctor Who/ReGenesis
Rating: PG
Table: 1, prompt_palooza
Prompt: 48, Listen
Author's Note: Continuation of Light Up the Room.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor or Bob Melnikov. Please do not sue.

***

The Doctor watched as Bob made his way across the coffee shop, smiling that incredible smile that he'd just been musing on for the last ten minutes or so. Just seeing the other man made his hearts beat a bit faster, and answering smile on his own face.

When the young man finally got to the table he was at and sat down across from him, he had to force himself not to lean across the table and reach out for Bob's hand. Don't move so quickly, he cautioned himself. You don't want to scare him away.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," Bob told him, blushing a little. "I was held up at work. I work for a lab, and there are always all sorts of last-minute things that can happen. We're working to isolate a virus that we think may be ...."

His voice trailed off, and he sighed, looking down at the table top. "I'm sorry. I get carried away, talking about things that I shouldn't. It's a bad habit of mine."

The Doctor didn't nod in agreement; instead, he followed the instinct he'd had when Bob first sat down, reaching out to take his hand. "You can tell me whatever you want about your work. I'd love to know. But don't feel that you have to tell any secrets that you shoudn't spill."

Bob laughed at that, shaking his head. "I know enough not to tell anything that should say secret," he protested, his dark eyes meeting the Doctor's gaze. "But I -- I have a tendency to talk too much without realizing what I'm saying sometimes."

He took a deep breath, his gaze focusing on their hands. "I .... have Asperger's. So I'm not exactly what anyone would call a 'normal' person." His voice was low, as though he didn't want his words to carry to anyone else in the place.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of," the Doctor said softly, squeezing Bob's hand. "And who would want to be just like everyone else, anyway? Normality can be terribly boring. I'd rather be with someone interesting."

The other man's eyes widened as he looked up at the Doctor, as though he couldn't quite believe what he'd heard. "Really? Most people take a few steps away from me when they find out -- like they think it's going to rub off on them."

"What a ridiculous attitude!" the Doctor exclaimed, his voice heated. "There's nothing wrong with you, not really. Your brain just works a bit differently, that's all."

"My boss -- my friend David -- tells me that all the time," Bob said, his voice softening, sounding almost eager. "He's the head of NorBAC -- that's the lab I work for -- and he always says that I'm different in a good way, a way that benefits people."

"He's right," the Doctor said, smiling and nodding. "I don't think there's anything bad about you -- other than maybe being a bit too captivating." What was he doing? Was he actually flirting with Bob? The prospect startled him a little.

Of course he was flirting, he told himself sharply, keeping his eyes on Bob. It had been far too long since he'd been attracted to someone the way he was to this young man -- and Bob certainly didn't seem to mind what he was doing, if he even recognized it for what it was.

He doubted that the other man even thought of their conversation as being flirtatious -- he was sure that his growing attraction would need to be started clearly and openly for Bob to realize how he felt. But he had no problem doing that -- when it was the right time.

After all, he didn't really know this man yet, he cautioned himself. There was no need to jump into anything too quickly.

But he wanted to. He wanted to tell Bob about who and what he was, take him to see the Tardis, ask him if he'd fancy a trip through time and space. He wanted to show this intriguing man the many wonders of the universe that he'd otherwise never see.

Bob was a scientist -- he'd be able to appreciate some of the things that the Doctor could show him in ways that other people couldn't begin to fathom. He obviously had a quick mind, and the Doctor was sure that he himself would enjoy spending time with this man.

He almost wanted to let the truth spill out then and there, but Bob was speaking again, talking about his boss and the work they did at their lab. He tried to focus on what the young man was saying, rather than letting his attention be mesmerized by that soft mouth.

"David is great -- he's my best friend, and I care about him a lot." Was it his imagination, or was there a kind of .... yearning in Bob's words. Why, it sounded as though he might be in love with this David, the Doctor thoughts, his hearts sinking.

Bob's next words dispelled that notion, at least a little. "But he doesn't listen to me. He's got a fixed idea of who I am, everything that I'm about. He doesn't realize that I'm not static and that I'm not always going to be the same. He .... he takes me for granted most of the time."

"One thing I'll always be able to do for you is listen," the Doctor told him, wanting to reach out and take his hand again. "I might not always take your advice, but I'll listen to what you have to say."

Bob smiled over at him again, and he could swear that he felt his hearts turning over in his chest. What was it about this man's smile that could utterly captivate him? When Bob smiled like that, he would listen to anything the other man had to say.

"Listening is important," Bob told him, a little catch in his voice. "It's hard to make someone feel that people care about them if they don't listen. I'm not so good at listening sometimes -- but I try to be, because I know how it feels when people don't do that."

The Doctor nodded, swallowing back a lump in his throat. He supposed that it was easy for Bob to feel that people didn't listen to him, given the nature of the disease he suffered from. But taking him for granted was one thing that the Doctor would never do.

That is, if he was lucky enough to be able to have Bob with him for a while. He obviously had a life here -- one that he was happy with, or at least it appeared that way. Would he even want to leave that to go off into time and space?

Of course he would, the Doctor told himself. Bob was a scientist; he'd want to see and experience new things. If he didn't, then he would be the first person the Doctor had met who didn't have any curiosity about the kind of life the Time Lord could give him.

It wouldn't last forever -- he knew that. Bob wouldn't want to stay with him for long, more than likely. Was he only setting himself up to be hurt again when yet another person left him?

He pushed that thought away, turning his back on it. That wasn't something to think about now. What he wanted to concentrate on was finding the best way to tell Bob who and what he was -- and to find out if this fascinating young man would be interested in traveling with him.

If he was, the Doctor was sure that they could have some wonderful times together, discovering so much of what was in the universe. And if not -- then he'd have to go on his way, and hope that Bob wouldn't tell anyone about him.

That wasn't the only thing he wanted, he told himself as he listened to Bob talk on about his lab, his friends there, and the sort of work they did. He was interested on a much more personal level, too -- but that could come later, though a part of him wanted it to be out in the open now.

Bob had stopped speaking, his head on one side, regarding the Doctor with a slight smile on his face. "I wish you could come and see the lab, but it's not open to the public. I think you'd be really interested in what we do there."

This was the perfect opening for him to mention that he had a place for Bob to see; it was now or never, the right time to lead into what he needed to say.

"I think I would, too," he said softly, clearing his throat. "And I have a place that I'd like for you to see -- because I think that not only would you be interested in it, you could have the opportunity to make a choice that would enrich your life."

The other man's brows raised in question, and he leaned across the table with an expectant look on his face. "You do? I guess you're some kind of scientist too, then? Wherever it is, I'd love to see it, if getting me in wouldn't be a problem."

The Doctor shook his head, a bit amused at Bob's eagerness. This man had such an inquiring mind; he could already tell that he'd love being with Bob, in so many different ways. It was as if they were meant to spend time together.

Even if Bob couldn't -- or didn't want to -- stay with him for an extended amount of time, he was willing to deal with that when the time came. Right now, he just knew that he wanted this man with him, that there was an attraction between them that he couldn't turn away from.

"It won't be a problem at all," he said, getting to his feet and holding out his hand to the other man. "In fact, I think you'll be welcomed there more than either of us could imagine."

As the two of them headed out of the coffee shop, the Doctor could feel his hearts begin a rapid pulsing in his chest. He hoped that he was doing the right thing, and that Bob would be just as welcome by his ship as he thought the other man would be.

Squaring his shoulders, he turned in the direction of his ship once they were out on the street, Bob beside him. Yes, listening was important. And he'd learned that he should listen to his hearts in certain situations, which was what he was doing now.

He was sure that it was. Looking over at the young man walking along beside him with a small, expectant smile curving those entrancing lips, the Doctor was absolutely sure that this would turn out to be right for both of them.

***