The grinding wheezing noises followed by a final thump meant the TARDIS had come to a stop.
"Have you been here before?" Charley asked.
"The fifth moon of Diwi? No. I've not been here before. Diwi is quite spectacular, but I've never visited the moons before," the Doctor said, looking over the scanner, making sure the air was good and the moon hospitable to life.
"Does the fifth moon have its own name or is it just the fifth moon?"
"Fifth moon," he answered simply. "Well, everything looks good. Good air. Good temperature. Shall we go?"
"Yes, please," Charley skipped to the Doctor's side.
He flipped the lever and the TARDIS doors opened. A late afternoon sun was shining on bluish, purple grass. Charley was instantly in love with the planet. "The colors, Doctor. Look at these colors."
The grass wasn't the only stunning foliage. Flowers and a few scattered trees littered the ground. They stepped out into the grass and Charley bent down to run her hand over it. It was soft and cool. "This is beautiful," she breathed, looking around the landscape. The Doctor held out his elbow to her and she hooked her arm into his. They started walking. A pleasant breeze blew their hair. It wasn't too cool or too hot. It was just right. Charley felt like running around barefoot until she would be too tired, then she would lay down in the soft grass and watch the clouds. She looked up. Fluffy pink clouds filled the deep blue sky.
"I think I could be quite happy here," she said.
The Doctor looked very thoughtful. "It is nice." He looked up at the sky. "The fifth moon of Diwi is far enough away from the sun that the sky always seems to be in continuous twilight or endless pre-dawn, however you want to look at it."
"Well, it's absolutely lovely."
They continued walking. It must have been the twilight tricking her mind, but Charley felt tired, even though she had only recently woken up on the TARDIS and eaten breakfast. She wouldn't show the Doctor she was feeling the need to yawn. The man never slept and always felt that humans slept too much, something he liked to point out whenever Charley was feeling like having a particularly lazy day.
"Looks like there's a building of sorts over there. Let's head that way and see what the locals are doing," the Doctor pointed slightly to his right.
Charley nodded and suppressed a yawn. By the time they had made it to the building, Charley was feeling like she had been awake for several days. She was exhausted. The building looked like a English country cottage. It was quaint and had lovely flowers in the window box. A light flickered in the window and Charley saw a figure shuffle past.
The Doctor knocked and several moments later, the door was opened by a grandmotherly looking woman. She was pleasantly plump and her hair was pulled back into a low neck bun. She had on a floral print dress and apron.
"Hello, my dears," the woman said. "Please, come in."
The Doctor looked in the door before making a move, but he didn't seem to see anything unusual or threatening, so he stepped across the threshold and into the room. Charley followed.
"I'm the Doctor," he introduced himself in his usual way, "and this is my friend, Miss Charley Pollard."
Charley nodded her head.
"How lovely to meet you. My name is Mimi Bloom. Welcome to my home. Can I get you tea and biscuits?"
Charley looked around the room. It was like her grandmother's house in Hampshire. It was comfortable, cozy, had squishy chairs and plush pillows. Crochet doilies were scattered about and a fire crackled pleasantly in the hearth. Mimi Bloom didn't wait for an answer. She set about getting a tray of goodies put together.
"What brings you here?" she asked and she placed the tea pot in front of them.
"Well, we're just travelling through," the Doctor explained. "I didn't see any other buildings."
"Oh, no. You wouldn't here. My nearest neighbor is a day's walk from here," Mimi Bloom said. She poured two cups of tea and held out the plate of biscuits to Charley. Charley took one, but watched the Doctor before she put it into her mouth. The Doctor's senses were better than hers. If he refused to eat something, she did too. He took a biscuit and popped it into his mouth.
"Well, I'm afraid I haven't much to offer you, but you are welcome to stay here for the night, as it will be completely dark very soon. Not that there is much danger, but you don't want to be getting lost out there," Mimi Bloom said.
The Doctor nodded his head. "That's very kind of you, I am feeling a bit worn out."
Charley was surprised. This was the Doctor? He almost never slept. If he felt tired, she knew she was too.
"Of course," their hostess said. "Finish your tea and I'll prepare your room." She walked out through the only other door in the room.
"She seems pleasant enough," Charley said. "Are you really tired Doctor?"
"I am, which is very unusual as I shouldn't be tired at all during this awake cycle."
"So you do sleep?" Charley asked.
"Of course I sleep. Sleep is very important to the body. Keeps it strong and energized. The problem with you humans is how often you need to sleep. Still, this tiredness is very unusual. I guess a short nap won't hurt and then we'll be off when the sky gets a bit lighter."
Charley nodded and let herself yawn this time.
Mimi Bloom walked back in shortly after. "Well, I have your room already. The washroom is just there and if you need, there are some sleep clothes laid out."
"You are most generous, Miss Bloom."
"Oh," she laughed, "think nothing of it. Being the only house in the area, I'm used to visitors. And you must call me Mimi."
"Thank you, Mimi," Charley said, following the woman into the next room. It was small and had two small beds, side-by-side. An old-fashioned wash basin filled with water sat on a dresser and a stack of fluffy towels were there along beside the basin.
"If you need anything, just poke your head out and I'll be here," she said. "Pleasant dreams."
Mimi left the Doctor and Charley in the room. The Doctor sat down on the bed. Charley expected the bed to squeak on ancient metal springs, but it didn't. She used one of the smaller hand towels and washed her face and neck over the basin.
"It's an odd place, isn't it?" Charley asked.
The Doctor was studying a painting that hung from the wall.
"Indeed it is. She said she's used to visitors, but from where? Her nearest neighbor is a day's walk away. Why would anyone walk along such a distant stretch of road. Come to think of it. I don't even remember a road. Not even a path that led to the front door. The house is just there, in the field."
"You're right," Charley sat down on the other bed. It was soft. She yawned again. "I shouldn't be so tired. I woke up not that long ago on the TARDIS."
"New planet. New time," the Doctor said.
"I was going to change, but I'm too tired to. I think I'll just go right to sleep," Charley pulled down the blankets and climbed under.
A moment later, there was a light tap at the door and it opened. Mimi stuck her head in. "Oh, I forgot to mention, before you fall asleep, it's best to go to sleep at the same time, and make sure you're holding hands."
"Why?" Charley asked.
"Trust me," Mimi had a bit of a worried look on her face. "Just do what I've instructed. You don't want to get lost. The dreams are better when you fall asleep holding hands." With that, she left, closing the door behind her.
"Better get into bed quickly, Doctor," Charley warned. "I'm going to fall asleep very soon. I can hardly keep my eyes open." She yawned again.
The Doctor quickly climbed onto the other bed. They turned to face each other and Charley reached out her hand. "Please, Doctor. I can't stay awake."
The Doctor took her hand and immediately, she fell asleep. Exhaustion washed over the Doctor and moments later, despite his best efforts to stay awake, he too fell asleep."