WARNING: For anyone reading this who can't stand shippy stuff (why you'd be reading it if that was the case is beyond me, but still) this part is the beginning of some shipper moments. Oh, and my feedback monster is very hungry: won't you please feed it some comments? :)

One month later...

The Doctor looked up as the door was unlocked and Tegan walked in. She smiled tiredly at him. "Honey, I'm home," she joked.

He smiled in response, giving her a quick hug as the door was closed behind her. He'd only gotten back to their cell a few minutes ago himself. When he was sure that their captors were gone he released her and pulled a chair around for her to sit down. "How was your day?" he asked, sprawling back out in his own seat.

She flopped down with a groan. "Bloody awful. If I'd known I was destined to be a gardener I'd have paid more attention to Aunt Lavinia telling me how to pot plants." She shook her head. "Of all things, I would never have thought I'd be best working with plants." She gave her a sideways grin. "Now you, on the other hand..."

"I'll have you know I was a very famous chef in Italy once!" He told her with a small trace of pride.

"During a certain time period, you mean?"

"No, I mean the one time I cooked. The place caught on fire and burned down the day after I started. Fame is fleeting, you know."

She laughed. It seemed like several lifetimes ago that they'd taken their tests. She'd groaned when the Azim informed her that, based on her performance in over a dozen tasks, she seemed best suited to work with the plants. Now she spent her days tying vines, mixing fertilizer, harvesting and planting. And it was strange to think it, but: she actually liked the work. Helping the nutrient poor soil to return to life was like tending to a pet or a child. There was a feeling of satisfaction in knowing that, because of her, the prisoners would have enough food for the winter.

The Doctor had raised his eyebrows when told he would be assigned to work in the kitchens, but made no comment. Like Tegan, he too felt some satisfaction in what he did. He was responsible for taking inventory of supplies, calculating how much more would be needed and the most efficient ways of stretching out what staples there were. And every few days he actually cooked, testing out new recipe ideas, seeing what went over and what didn't, and working on improving flavor, quality and nutritional value. It was amusing, in a way: the Doctor, renegade Time Lord, former President of Gallifrey, destroyer of the great Vampire King, defeater of Morbius and Dalek alike, spent his time adding herbs to soups to see if it made them go down any easier. Somewhere, someone had to be laughing, the Doctor thought.

Tegan groaned, bringing a hand up to ineffectively rub at the back of her neck, and he rose and stood behind her, gently swatting her hand away and replacing it with both of his. He began kneading her muscles in slow, precise movements, and after a few seconds she purred in appreciation. "And what about you?" she asked. "What grand new mess have you concocted for us to eat tomorrow?"

He laughed. "I think I've finally worked out the vegetable mixture for the harvest stew. It was well received by the taste testers today. At least I think it was. None of the guards stunned me, so they must've liked it."

"Watch out, Julia Child," Tegan grinned. The Doctor's hands felt heavenly as they drifted down to her back. As he worked his magic on her sore muscles, Tegan marveled again at how easy it was, how natural it felt to have him do this. So much had changed in the past month. Lots of little things, really, but still. He wasn't quite as guarded and closed off from her as he used to be. And for her part she wasn't quite as antagonistic. They still argued, but it wasn't as often or as fierce as it used to be. They were mellowing with each other. She attributed this to two very significant events that had taken place: their first shower together, and their first and only escape attempt.

Her mind was drawn back to the former with a smile. He looked down at her quizzically. "What are you smiling about? Other than how amazingly talented I am at backrubs."

She chuckled quietly. "Braggart. I was thinking about the night after our testing."

At his look of confusion she added: "our first shower together."

"Oh," he said faintly, a pale flush creeping over his fair skin.

"Going all shy on me, are you?"

He gave her a look. "Time Lords aren't shy, Tegan. I believe you found that out rather quickly that first time, hmm?"

She felt an answering blush. "I suppose so." But she couldn't let it go at that. "So... if you're not embarrassed by our sharing a bath, why did you get flushed just now?"

"Did I?" he asked casually. "I'd no idea. You're looking a bit rosy yourself. Must be getting hotter in here for some reason."

"Must be," she said, equally casually.

Neither of them was fooling the other. But even after a month neither of them was quite ready to discuss the events of that day, that night.

One month earlier...

"A gardener!" Tegan managed to lace her contempt into every syllable as they walked down the hall. "A bloody gardener! I can't tell a tangerine from a tangelo half the time! How am I supposed to tend to plants! Those tests had to be wrong!"

The Doctor sighed. "Tegan, you showed high nurturing and patience qualities, though I am a bit puzzled myself as to how that came about-"

"Watch it, Emeril!," she shot back. "I'm a bit puzzled as to how they think you're suited for the kitchens! Do you know how to light a grill? Because I've never seen you cook!"

"I happen to be an excellent cook," he answered indignantly. "Besides, it's not just cooking. I showed extremely high organizational and improvisational skills."

She snorted. "On other words, you'll alphabetize the spice cabinet and instinctively know when you should use sage instead of rosemary."

"Must you take away the importance of my job?" he asked in irritation. "I don't put you down for yours, you know! You jeer at my clothes, my TARDIS, and nearly every word I say. Is there truly nothing you like about me, Tegan? Because if there isn't I'm at a complete loss as to why you're still with me."

Her eyes blinked back tears. She was shocked to discover that he was right. She did constantly belittle and berate him. Was it any wonder he kept himself closed off from her in ways that he didn't with Nyssa? How would she feel if someone treated her the way she treated him most of the time?

She didn't have time to confess or apologize. Two more guards joined them and pulled her away from the Doctor. "Where are you taking her?" he asked tightly.

"Female has to be fixed."

Tegan's eyes widened. "What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine, nothing is broken!"

"Especially her mouth," the Doctor murmured.

"You and female no mate yet. Have to fix female so you can mate without her carrying child before her time."

Tegan's blood ran cold. "How?"

"Give you shot. It will keep you from making a baby until your time comes."

"That really isn't necessary," she said hastily.

The guards frowned. "You no want to mate with your mate?"

She almost swore. Say no, and what might happen. Say yes, and...

"You're right," she said. "I need to be fixed."

As she was taken away she caught the Doctor's look of surprise. Hopefully he'd figure out she was trying to keep up appearances.

Back in their cell, that was exactly what the Doctor had figured out. He was impressed that she didn't put up a fuss that might have gotten her tapped again with a baton. But maybe that was why. The Doctor knew all too well how painful it was. And he suspected that they hadn't even been on a maximum setting the previous times.

He sighed, pulling on the hated collar, trying once more to figure out a way for them to escape. He felt sweaty and dirty and wanted desperately to take a shower, but he knew he needed to wait for Tegan.

She was brought back about half an hour later, looking a bit pale and very upset. He went to her, rested his hands on her shoulders. "Brave heart?"

At this endearment she began to sob and fell into his arms.

The Doctor stood stunned for a moment before he awkwardly gathered her close. "Tegan! Did they hurt you?"

"No," she sobbed, "I hurt me. I hurt you."

"What?"

"You were right, what you said," she choked. "I do always give you a hard time over the littlest things. It's like I can't help it. I don't want to hurt you, I've never wanted that. But every day, I do it. All because I'm so busy trying to do exactly what I accused you of. I try to keep you away, so you won't see what a small pitiful person I feel like around you. So useless, not like Nyssa. But that's not the half of it. I pick on you because... because somehow I think it's all I can do, it's the only way I can get you to notice me."

Stunned silence.

Then, after a moment, she heard an "Oh, Tegan," in a voice that almost broke her heart again. And his arms, which had been loose around her, now held her so tight she felt as though she'd never be able to move away from him. He sighed and tilted her face up to his. "Listen to me, Tegan Jovanka. You aren't small, or pitiful, or useless. You're brave, determined, fiercely loyal and painfully honest. I've never meant to make you feel inferior, or second best to Nyssa. But maybe I have. I haven't been very forthcoming myself where you're concerned. I never really stopped to think about why you always lash out at me. That's been my mistake. My vanity has been assuming it was just you being brash. Me, a being who prides himself on looking for answers, and I've never tried to scratch the surface of someone so close to me."

She sniffed. "So, what're you saying?"

His expression was as serious as she'd ever seen it. "I'm saying, let's be friends, Tegan. Really truly try to be friends."

Her tear stained eyes sparkled a bit, and her mouth turned up ever so slightly into a smile. "I... I'd like that, Doctor."

"So would I," he whispered.

They stood that way for a time, holding and being held, until Tegan moved back slightly and gave a nervous laugh. "I've just remembered: we have the problem of the shower to consider."

"It's not a problem for me," he said quietly. As she stared at him he added: "though I think it will be for you."

She shook her head slightly. "Yes. And no. I mean... hell, Doc, you've seen me before. And I've seen...well, most of you. If we're going to be friends, and not smell up the place, it's got to be done."

He smiled. "I'm relieved to hear you say that, Tegan. The last thing I want is to upset you right now."

"I'll be all right." She blew her nose into her tunic, causing him to raise his eyebrows. "Well, we've got clean clothes here," she said. "What else was I gonna wipe my nose on?"

"Quite right," he said suddenly with a laugh. "Well, then, Miss Tegan. Shall we go have our wicked shower?"

She returned the laugh. "Lead the way, Doc."