State of Confusion (Doctor Who Fanfic)

Chapter Nine - Energy Signatures

CHAPTER NINE

Energy Signatures

Lying on the self-warming sand of a darkened beach and staring up at the stars of the Questrine Galaxy was not an unenjoyable way to spend the evening.  The Doctor needed a break - a step back from guilt and worry and headaches and stress.  This was a perfect setting for a stress free night.  Beautiful, peaceful, uninhabited.

He'd never been to this planet before, and he was still getting oriented to the sky from this new perspective when Rose spoke from where she was lying beside him. 

"Where's Earth?"

"Oh, you can't see it from here.  Can't even see your galaxy from here.  You're a long ways from home.  Three-point-two billion light years, actually."

She was quiet for a moment.  "I can't even think of how far that is."

"Thirty trillion, trillion kilometers, roughly.  Humans don't come this far until..." He paused as he considered it.  "I don't know, actually.  I don't think I've ever seen humans this far from home, come to think of it.  Good thing this planet's not inhabited.  They might want to put you in a museum."

"And you.  You look like me."

"That's true," he mused thoughtfully.  "Or they might just think you're a Time Lord."

She was quiet.  Finally, she turned onto her stomach, pulling her arms under her as she buried her fingers in the heated sand.  "I've been thinking a lot about what happened the other night.  What you said about the Tardis."

"What about it?"

"You say she doesn't feel emotions.  Does she feel other things?"

"What other things?

"Anything?"

"I think she can.  Though not with the same kind of nerves and synapses.  Or language to put any of that into."

"How does she feel, then?"

"Energy signatures."  He rolled onto his stomach and let a handful of sand sift through his fingers as he spoke.  "When you feel, it's endorphins and neurological and chemical reactions inside of your body.  She doesn't have all of that, but she does have energy reactions, pulses.  And specific things that cause them."

"What sort of things?"

"Probably the same things that cause you to feel."

"Probably?"

He studied her for a long moment.  There was curiosity and wonder in her eyes that made him smile every time he saw it.  She was so young, innocent and good.  Unscathed by war and blood and loss and pain.  Everything was new, every day was an adventure to her and she lived every moment as if it was her last, with no thought to the reality that it really could be.  Childlike. 

"You really want to know?" he teased, smiling as he waited for her to rise to the bait.

"Of course!"

Slowly, he turned more toward her and reached out, fingers against the side of her face.  Still full of innocent curiosity, she responded to his touch, turning towards him and following as he drew her closer.  Sliding his hand back into her hair, he held her still as he drew closer until their lips barely touched. 

"Do you feel it?" 

She'd forgotten to breathe.  He could feel the tension and anticipation radiating from her.

"Your blood races, heart pounds...  Your mind lights up like a Christmas tree, sensory overload.  You're aware of everything, alert, active and energized.  Just waiting..."