Stellar Collision

Chapter 8

Dayle was running wildly down the hallway toward the TARDIS, the Sonic Screwdriver held high like a torch. The Doctor sighed and snapped his fingers wearily. The doors squeaked open and Dayle ran right in. The Doctor held his hand up and caught the Sonic as she ran by.

Dayle had finally stopped, still unaware of her surroundings. She was out of breath, bent at the waist. She looked a little crazed.

"Suds." She croaked. "Soap suds. From the dishwasher. I found your electric pen thingy a-a-and turned a dial and pressed a button and my dishwasher just flew open and started shooting soap suds out. It's all over the apartment. It was like, super pissed off or something." She had finally caught her breath but still looked disoriented.

Finally, she caught a glimpse of the expansive console room. "Wait, hold up. Where the hell am I?" She started to walk quickly backwards until she was back out in the hall, standing in front of the blue box. Her eyes bugged.

The Doctor held up a finger to silence her. "Let me figure out what you've done before we are all swimming in dish soap." He examined the Sonic, fiddled with the controls, then aimed it down the hall toward Dayle's apartment and pressed the button. The tidal wave of soap suds coming from her apartment slowed, then stopped.

Satisfied, he flipped the Sonic into the air, caught it and stuck it in his pocket. "That 'electric pen thingy' happens to be cutting edge sonic technology." He sounded slightly offended.

"Ok, John. You gotta help me out here, because I'm freaking the fuck out right now." Dayle gave a nervous laugh. She was trembling a bit. Likely, the result of adrenaline mixing with anxiety.

The Doctor stepped out with a kind smile. "Why don't we go get this mess cleaned up and we'll talk, eh?" He put his hand on her elbow and gently guided her back down the hall. Almost as an afterthought, he snapped the fingers of his other hand and the doors to the TARDIS squeaked back shut.

Dayle jabbered all the way down the hall. "So, I'm just hanging out with an alien right now? You're just an alien in my apartment building. Totally normal. Just another day in Dayle's life. Hanging out with an alien who travels in time and space."

"Let's get you in here and make you some tea." He steered her through soap suds that were waist high toward the sofa. "Have a seat here and I'll take of everything. My turn to take care of you." He clapped his hands together eagerly and grinned.

Fifteen minutes later, he joined her on the couch, setting a tray laden with cookies and tea on the sofa table in front of them. She had her head leaned back, one hand over her face. She was muttering to herself. "All set!" he announced.

She looked up. She seemed shocked to see the soap suds all gone and the tea service he had put together for them. "Whoa. You're like an alien butler or something." she said, grabbing a cookie.

"Call me Doctor," he said absentmindedly. "Most people do." He poured out their tea then waited until she had hers in hand before he asked, "So, tell me... are you slightly psychic Dayle?"

The look Dayle gave him spoke volumes. "Uh, not even a little bit slightly psychic. Why on earth would you think that?"

"Hmm." The Doctor was somewhat disappointed. "So the link has to be entirely between Dayle A and myself. The trouble is, I can't very well talk to Dayle A. And there's only Dayle B with me here in this universe. Communicating across universes. This is going to be a might trickier than I thought..."

"Hold on a minute..." Dayle interrupted. "Dayle A is the Dayle from the other universe? The waitress who smokes and hangs out at the library. That's Dayle A? Why can't I be Dayle A? I mean, you've met me. You're in my apartment. I nursed you back to health. And I get Dayle B?" She sounded genuinely hurt.