The lights of Las Vegas beckoned them from the TARDIS; they found a tall, bright hotel and the Doctor checked them in with a flash of his sonic screwdriver onto the main computer. Allison was nearly squealing with anticipation. When they reached the room, she twirled about, narrating her surroundings with glee.
"There's the phone-we're ordering in pizza tonight, right? I don't feel like going out from here. Oh, look at that huge flat-screen telly! And everything's all gold and white and so beautiful! Oh my God, Doctor, this is so heaven."
"Imagine, I've been impressing girls across the universe with the TARDIS," the Doctor mumbled to himself. "Should've just brought them to Vegas."
Allison had already run off to look at the bathroom, so he found the bedroom and collapsed onto the king-size. It really was total luxury; there were even rose petals strewn across the foot of the bed. He smirked in spite of himself. He wondered sheepishly how Allison would consider the sleeping arrangements. He realized he'd find out soon enough; he heard her voice from the main room approaching.
"I've got to go clothes shopping, Doctor-have you got any money? I know you just sonic stuff and it works but it'd be nice to just go out and buy something-we could go to Paris next week and get great fashions!"
She entered the room and spun around in confusion. "Where's-where's my bed?"
The Doctor melted; he felt his face heat up. "Uh-this is your bed."
Allison's eyes widened as it dawned on her what he was saying. "Oh," she said, her face unreadable. The Doctor's expression darkened a little bit, but Allison just hopped onto the covers next to him.
"Rose petals-that's a nice touch, innit?" she said brightly. "I wonder how much this costs, to a regular person. Got to be a few hundred bucks a night. Thank God for your sonic screwdriver, Doctor."
The Doctor appeared surprised. "I do good?" he managed to ask. Allison smiled easily, tangling his fingers in hers.
"Very good," she assured him. "Molto benne."
Their eyes locked. Allison felt herself flush; the Doctor took his hand towards her face and pushed a strand of dark brown hair out of her eyes. Suddenly he was leaning in to her and she was leaning in towards him, and her eyes closed. She barely heard the buzz of a mobile, so she was caught with great confusion when she opened her eyes and saw the Doctor on the other side of the room, holding her cell.
"For you," he said, tossing the phone to her. She caught it and raised it to her ear, glaring at the Doctor.
"Hello?"
"Allie?" a familiar voice asked.
Allison took a sharp intake of breath. "Nick?" she asked. The Doctor watched her warily, a little more than she liked. "What-why are you calling me?"
"Wrong number-why the hell do you think I'm calling you?" Allie was struck by his sharp tone. "I'm coming after you. What do you think you're doing, running off to America?"
"You traced my mobile?" Allison asked. The Doctor looked at her protectively.
"We had no choice, Allie. Lester was furious and your parents were no picnic, either. And then I call and some guy answers the phone? Is this the guy you mentioned in your note?"
"Yeah," Allison replied tersely. "And it's not what you think. We're on vacation, just for a little while. God, it's not like we're running off together or anything!"
The Doctor watched her cautiously. "Do you want to be alone?"
"I'm fine," Allison said, her hand over the phone. Returning to Nick, her tone sharpened. "Anyway, since when are you my mum? I'm a grown bloody woman and I'm capable of taking care of myself."
"That's what you said in the future anomaly."
Allison's blood ran cold; the grim memory of one of her last anomalies sent terror through her spine.
"Never bring that up," she breathed, her bitterness surprising even herself. "And leave me alone. This is why I had to leave, what I had to get away from. You don't respect me, you never did. Maybe I'm not smart like you, or athletic like Jo and Stephen-that doesn't mean I'm useless! I don't expect you to understand. You're the oldest, the perfect worker for stupid Lester and his stupid ARC!" With that she hung up and threw the phone across the room.
"Allie?" the Doctor asked cautiously. She closed her eyes, breathing quickly, before forcing a smile.
"I am so not letting them ruin this," she insisted. "They've ruined everything since I was in high school. Order some pizza-I'm gonna take a shower."