Stellar Collision

Chapter 11

Dayle and the Doctor sat on the floor in her tiny dining room, eating Chinese food, paper cartons spread out between them.

"I still don't understand why you don't have a kitchen table." He leaned against one wall. "You enjoy picnics that much?"

Dayle dug around in a carton of beef vegetables with her chopsticks. "I don't eat here much. And it's just me." She shrugged. "I dunno. Feels too family-ish I guess. I think I'd feel like a fraud."

"Oh, that's right. I'd forgotten. You're a hopeless recluse with no possible chance of having a family. What's the point of even pretending, eh?" He set down his chopsticks and folded his hands in his lap. "Why don't you just get a couple cats, take up knitting. I'll bet the town library has a lovely little club you can join. Like, Spinsters United, local chapter..."

"Alright wise ass. I get it. Ha ha very funny." She took a drink from her beer and was silent for a moment. She stared at her beer, peeling at the label. "Maybe it's not too late. Maybe I am young and the best is yet to come. But maybe it's just easier, safer not to try. People can be awfully disappointing."

The Doctor watched her. His hearts went out to her. She was scared but she wasn't hopeless. "People can also surprise you. And you may even surprise yourself."

They didn't speak much as they cleared up the mess, put the leftovers in the fridge. It was late and she had to work early in the morning. He had a feeling that she understood that she likely wouldn't see him again. And she was also perceptive enough to know he was eager to get going and had only endured the humany ritual of dinner for her sake. He figured if things got bad for the other Dayle, he'd know it immediately.

They walked to the door that just earlier today, he had arrived at bleeding. The door she had slammed after pushing him out into the hall.

"Sooo... I guess you're off to save the world or whatever. Be careful, will you? And do me a solid, don't bring that shit over to my side of the street. I have enough troubles of my own." She grinned and tugged on his bow tie.

"Dayle it has been a pleasure. I can't thank you enough for taking me in. As hard as you work at disguising it, you are a truly compassionate woman." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't give up on your dream, eh?" He touched her face gently. "There are children all over the place that need a mum as caring as you are."

Her eyes welled up. She hugged him tightly, then gave him a playful shove. "Good bye. Mr. Lord of Fucking Time."

"Farewell, Sweary Nurse." He gave a little salute, then was on his way down the hall. She watched after him.

He boarded the TARDIS, closed the doors behind him and started the dematerialization sequence. A great wheezing, groaning sound filled the hallway as the blue box faded completely out of sight.

Dayle stood looking at the empty space where the TARDIS had stood, sad to see her new strange friend go. But so happy to have known him.

Somewhere in the Malum Star System, Alternate Universe

The Doctor had piloted the TARDIS within a prudent distance of the black hole. They spun safely there in space while he made his preparations. He was putting the finishing touches on the device he would use to form his end of the tow rope. A psionometric relay.

He screwed on the last mount and set the gleaming blue sapphire in its place. Tightened it down. It was a special crystal from the planet Metebelis III with many useful properties. It was a crucial element of his hastily thrown together relay due to the fact that it greatly enhanced psychic powers. In this case, it was intended to enhance not just his telepathic abilities, but also the symbiotic link between the Doctor and his TARDIS.