(EOH) Over the Hill
[[Continued from here.]]
The Doctor bent over the console, muttering to himself as the Time Rotor groaned to a halt. Rocking back on his heels, he broke into a delighted smile.
"Well, that's done it!" he crowed. "Straight to our destination, without a parsec to spare. I told you she was cooperating a bit better these days, didn't I, Victoria?"
Rounding the console to peer at the readings, Victoria Waterfield mirrored the Doctor's smile. Years had passed since they had last traveled together. She was in her twenties now, a willowy brunette with wide eyes deepened by time; his hair had grown lank and grey, and there were lines in his face that she didn't remember. But at times like this, he was still the same funny old Doctor.
"I suppose I should get my things, then?" she said, a trifle wistfully. When he had come to visit her on Earth, she had confided her intention to study graphology and go into private investigation, and he had instantly offered to take her to the best graphological institution in the galaxy. Now, though, he was shaking his head, and there was a distinct trace of mischief in his eyes.
"Now wait a moment," he said. "Do you remember once, many years ago, you asked me if there was one peaceful place in the universe where a traveler could go and spend some time at rest? I didn't want to say, because there was no guarantee we'd ever get there. But I do know of one place, and I wanted to show it to you before we parted ways again."
Stepping out of the TARDIS, Victoria found herself in a gently rounded glen between a couple of hills, overlooked by tangled trees and the remains of some old stone structure. Dew glistened on the matted gorse, and the air was fresh and sweet, a touch of old lightning mingling with a tentative flowery scent.
"It really is beautiful," she said, turning impulsively to touch the Doctor's arm. "But I'm not convinced--" her voice was gently teasing -- "that it's really safe. Hadn't we better go explore?"
Chuckling, the Doctor followed as Victoria scrambled up the hill, eager to explore the ruins.
The Doctor bent over the console, muttering to himself as the Time Rotor groaned to a halt. Rocking back on his heels, he broke into a delighted smile.
"Well, that's done it!" he crowed. "Straight to our destination, without a parsec to spare. I told you she was cooperating a bit better these days, didn't I, Victoria?"
Rounding the console to peer at the readings, Victoria Waterfield mirrored the Doctor's smile. Years had passed since they had last traveled together. She was in her twenties now, a willowy brunette with wide eyes deepened by time; his hair had grown lank and grey, and there were lines in his face that she didn't remember. But at times like this, he was still the same funny old Doctor.
"I suppose I should get my things, then?" she said, a trifle wistfully. When he had come to visit her on Earth, she had confided her intention to study graphology and go into private investigation, and he had instantly offered to take her to the best graphological institution in the galaxy. Now, though, he was shaking his head, and there was a distinct trace of mischief in his eyes.
"Now wait a moment," he said. "Do you remember once, many years ago, you asked me if there was one peaceful place in the universe where a traveler could go and spend some time at rest? I didn't want to say, because there was no guarantee we'd ever get there. But I do know of one place, and I wanted to show it to you before we parted ways again."
Stepping out of the TARDIS, Victoria found herself in a gently rounded glen between a couple of hills, overlooked by tangled trees and the remains of some old stone structure. Dew glistened on the matted gorse, and the air was fresh and sweet, a touch of old lightning mingling with a tentative flowery scent.
"It really is beautiful," she said, turning impulsively to touch the Doctor's arm. "But I'm not convinced--" her voice was gently teasing -- "that it's really safe. Hadn't we better go explore?"
Chuckling, the Doctor followed as Victoria scrambled up the hill, eager to explore the ruins.