Stellar Collision

Chapter 27

Dayle woke up from a deep sleep and at first thought the events of the night before were just some amazing dream. She was alone in the bed after all and she didn't usually experience that level of satisfaction outside of her fantasies. She sat up and noticed the Doctor's jacket was on the floor where he'd flung it in his haste to get undressed. Her cheeks burned with the memory. Holy shit.

"So that happened." she said quietly to herself. She wondered where he'd gone off to but decided she needed a shower first to regroup before facing him. She picked up his abandoned tweed jacket and set it with care across the back of a chair.

In the shower, her mind wandered over the past few days. She started thinking again about Dayle B's mother. Her mother. Not just because she was burning with curiosity to meet the woman but also the fact that she was in possession of the very alien technology that had started all this parallel universe craziness. It made her uneasy.

While she was pondering these things, every now and then she was assaulted with a flash from last night and her heart would leap, her stomach start to flutter. She leaned against the shower wall, letting the hot spray wash over her. She had to face facts. The Doctor had surprised her. She had known that they had amazing chemistry. But. She honestly didn't think he was capable of letting go like that.

Of course he was a bit awkward and nervous in the beginning but once he'd reached a certain point, he had not been playing around. She had another jolt of pleasure when she remembered him throwing her on the bed, climbing on top of her. It had all been a revelation. How he'd touched her. How he'd whispered dirty things in her ear in the throes of passion. He became very caveman when he was turned on and it was making her hot just thinking about it. She was wondering if it had been a one time thing or if there would be repeat performances.

Once dressed she decided she couldn't put if off any longer and headed for the control room. The Doctor was laying on his back, half under the console tinkering with some gizmo.

She cleared her throat softly, leaned against the console. "Hey there Time Lord. How long have you been up and about?"

He pulled himself out from beneath the control panel and stood up, wiping his hands on a cloth. He glanced over at her, smiled uncomfortably. "Pretty much since right after you'd fallen asleep." He busied himself with the TARDIS computer, his body language making it clear he wanted to be left alone.

Seriously? We're doing this? Apparently even alien dudes weren't above spoiling the afterglow for a girl with their moody bullshit. A 'good morning', a little warmth weren't too much to ask for.

Dayle rolled her eyes and headed for the kitchenette and coffee. She decided she would give him his space to work out whatever the fuck was bugging him. Maybe he was embarrassed. Maybe he was confused about his feelings. His feelings for her, of course, were the one thing she was pretty clear on. Every touch, every kiss, she had felt his love wash over her. She was sure that was part of what made it so damn good.

The thing was, she loved the Doctor too. But for once in her life, love felt good. It was easy and pain free. She wasn't worried about what came next. She wasn't concerned with owning him or being walked out on. What they had was somehow enough. Even if he never touched her in that way again. Even if he dropped her off at home right now. He would always have a place in her heart. He had made her feel so much. He had made her new again.

She sat at the little bistro table with her coffee and planned out her day. She wondered if it might be a good idea to go do a little detective work on her own today, leave the grouchy alien to his own devices. There were other things in play here, outside of just the identity of the Zygon. She knew she wasn't going to be able to rest until she'd solved the mystery of the untraveled road. And she really, really wanted to see her mom. She knew Dayle B had to work this morning. Probably had one hell of a hangover, she thought with a chuckle. She'd have to give her a call to ask about her mom.