He was watching her eat, trying not to make it obvious. He hadn't been completely honest with her, not that she would be surprised, but this was a lot more dangerous of a adventure than she knew. He just hoped that he was wrong, and that the signal wasn't anything but an alien race that had passed through.
He hoped that all it was residue and that they would never encounter any of the species known as the Kiloran. Another day, maybe two, and the trace should be gone if there was nothing to renew it. And if that happened then they could get on with their lives, in the mean time he was actually enjoying himself.
He got to spend this time with Donna, and there hadn't been any running in a week. He thought that he would be bored, but he found that if he started to get antsy he could just call her into the office.
"We should be getting back," Donna told him.
He smiled; he didn't want to go back. He couldn't reach across the table and grab her hand in that old office, because they were in hiding.
"I suppose you are right," he agreed, holding her hand, not making a conscious decision to rub his thumb over her knuckles. His hearts were beating awkwardly, and he was starting to suspect that Donna was the cause.
He just hadn't made a real decision to think about it, mostly because he was scared if he acknowledged it he might let it slip how much he cared about her. And that could ruin everything, and he couldn't lose her now.
"I'll go first," she told him, pulling her hand away from his, her blue eyes searching his for something he hoped he was hiding. "Are you all right, Doctor?"
He smiled brightly, "Of course, just lost in thought."
"Something good, I hope," she brought their plates to the sink, and was moving towards the doorway.
"Yeah," he agreed easily. "Something good."
She smiled that smile, and he watched her walk out. He was in trouble, but fortunately he was the king of avoidance. He didn't have to look at the could be problem, and wouldn't, if that was what it took to keep that woman in his life.
DW
She walked from the TARDIS feeling confused and a little warm inside. The Doctor had been watching he over lunch, holding up his side of the conversation but only just. He had been looking at her a lot lately, like she was something special, and she didn't understand it exactly. She knew that he saw her, the her that the world seemed to miss, but that really didn't explain the look.
It wasn't almost as if he loved her, but she didn't think that was possible. He was so…well everything, and she wasn't that lucky of a girl. Besides, even though she loved him dearly, she wasn't sure that it was the kind of love that endured the transition from friendship to something much more.
Donna entered the office, seeing Camera at her desk looking through her drawers. Oh, this was going to be fun for Donna. She walked up on her, the blonde not hearing her for her tugging on the locked bottom drawer that held her gifts from the Doctor that might not easily be explained. Mostly off world magazines like the Otter one.
Donna cleared her throat and Camera looked up, her bright green eyes surprised, but her face relaxed when she saw who it was. "Oh, it's you. I was looking for some staples."
"So you thought you would go through my stuff, instead of just borrowing from one of your coworkers?"
Donna was angry with her for way more than the desk thing, and she thought now was a perfect time to express that.
"They didn't have any to spare," she said it sweetly, but Donna knew there was a venom in there.
"Well, neither do I, I suppose we will have to order some more, then," Donna told her, she had more to say but the Doctor walked into the office and was by her side quickly, clearly sensing Donna's distress.
He told her he was attuned to her now, and knew when something was wrong. Donna suspected it was because he neck turned red when she was angry.
He was looking down at Camera and then he glanced at Donna, "What's going on here?"
"Oh," Camera smiled, "I was just trying to find some staples, but I'm afraid I crossed a line and upset Ms. Noble."
The Doctor was silent for a moment, and then he sighed. "Please ask before touching other people's things, Cama. I think that is common courtesy, we'll get some supplies ordered, okay?"
Cama stood and smiled at him sweetly, "Of course, I'm sorry."
"Back to work," Donna told her, none too nicely.
She did as she was told and the Doctor told Donna he needed to speak to her. When she was inside she saw how tense he was, and she wondered what had changed from the lunch not too long ago to now.
"I was hoping I was wrong, but there is a fresh residue pattern in the building, so there is something going on here," he told her, and she didn't like how worried he looked.
He was the Doctor, he took care of things, and he jumped in often without thought. He seemed hesitant now, and it made her shiver.
He looked up at her when she did, "Okay?"
"Yeah," she agreed, wrapping her arms around herself. "What's wrong?"
"I can't say right now," he told her looking around the room, and she remembered there could be bugs, although she thought he must be fairly sure that there wasn't or he wouldn't have said anything about residue. Either that or he was hoping whatever alien species that was here would hear.
"What do we do," she asked softly, and he looked right at her.
"Just work for right now," he told her, but his tone was so gentle that she knew he was trying to express something he couldn't say.
She knew that at some point, in the very near future things were going to get bad and he was worried for her. And he couldn't tell her that right now, but darned if his eyes weren't trying.
"I better get back," she told him, moving to the door.
"Stay here," he told her.
"They think," she started but he stopped her.
"I don't care," he shook his head. "Stay here, I want you near."
She nodded, and she thought this might be worse that she could imagine. He was always protective, but she thought he might actually be scared and she didn't think she wanted to meet something that scared the Doctor.