[007]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver wakes with a cry and a start, sitting straight up in bed. This has been happening for several days now--since the voices stopped--but this time, he finds himself running his head straight into his sphere, unintentionally opening a comm link]

Owww! [he grabs his head, mumbling sleepily] Why is that there? Stupid sphere. [waves a hand

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[exclaims] FINALLY!

Oliver! Ollie, Ollie, Oliver! Hey, can you hear me? Your iPod up too high again? You really shouldn't keep it up that loud, you know. Or are you going to keep on ignoring me?

[beat]

Come on, Ollie.

[oliverplus]

[is sitting up now, earbuds out]

Doctor... [pauses, taking a deep breath, his words as fake-natural as he can make them] I'm sorry. I should have answered the door. [forces a smile]

[bit_impossible]

[doesn't buy a word of it]

You have every right not to answer. I wanted to find out how you were doing.

[oliverplus]

[frowns, guilty] It's not you, Doctor. I know it isn't your fault. I just...have a lot to sort out, right now.

[bit_impossible]

[stares at him] You woke up screaming. Screaming, Oliver. I think you need help.

[oliverplus]

[winces, looking down, his voice quiet, evasive] Just a nightmare, Doctor. Nothing to worry about.

[adds quickly, loudly, looking at the sphere full on now with exaggerated enthusiasm] And don't think that means I need more of your homemade biscuits! You know, you could have warned me about that. "Ollie, they'll wake you up for a while, but then they'll knock you right out." I mean, I at least could have laid down first! You should market that stuff, Doctor. I was asleep until like one in the afternoon. And I fell asleep, what, around four? That stuff's better than Nyquil!

[bit_impossible]

No, no, no. I hope you threw those things away. The chemical breaks down after four days and turns the chocolate bad and green for some reason.

What was the nightmare, Oliver?

[oliverplus]

Do you really think I would eat more of them after what they did the first time?

[voice catches] Just my mind playing more tricks. I saw... [pauses, watching the Doctor, debating whether or not to answer] Well, it was that woman from, you know, the sphere, but she actually looked kind of like Chloe, so I think it probably wasn't actually her.

And... [hesitates, then falters] It just didn't make any sense. Just a nightmare.

[bit_impossible]

No, but just as a precaution.

...Not Chloe, huh? Hrm. No, that doesn't make sense.

What did she look like?

[oliverplus]

Well, she was kind of tall--taller than Chloe, definitely. And blond. Her hair was pretty long and wavy, but she had it pulled back. And her clothes...I think they must've been from the future. And she had brown eyes.

[takes a breath, watching the Doctor, knowing the obvious reason for his question]

[bit_impossible]

[nods slightly, momentarily picturing Annajin.]

So this woman...she looked like Chloe, but wasn't Chloe, eh? [is fascinated by this. he never met this friend of oliver's.]

What was going on in your dream?

[oliverplus]

[frowns, not sure what to make of the Doctor's reaction. could it be just a nightmare after all?]

I mean, she didn't look too much like Chloe or anything. Just kind of like her.

I was... [chokes on the words, but tries to convince himself it was just a nightmare; forces the answer out, quickly, softly] I was trying to kill her.

[bit_impossible]

[he's silent for a long moment.]

You're right. That was definitely a nightmare.

[oliverplus]

[is silent for a moment, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding; relieved]

Yeah, it was. But like I said, just a nightmare.

[less guarded now, like a weight has been lifted] Doctor...I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. It's just, you and I both know you have the answers--about my memory. And I've been trying to decide if I want those answers. But...I don't think I do, yet.

[bit_impossible]

Alright. [is very relieved himself. he didn't really want to go down that particular road.] I won't ask if you want them. Ask when you're ready.

I mean it.

[oliverplus]

Thank you.

[frowns, trying to fight off his remaining worries] I mean...if you think there's something I need to know, tell me. But otherwise, I'll ask you questions as I remember things, all right?

I'll get this sorted. I've done it once before!