Tegan awoke slowly, relishing the fluffy pillow beneath her head and the warm quilt that covered her. She finally opened her eyes to the clean, bright room. Hesitantly she moved her hand to her ribs. They did not hurt at all, and the bandage was gone. Looking down, she saw that she wore a soft flannel nightgown. She sat and pulled back the quilt. Her legs and feet were clean, as were her hands. Indeed, she felt little evidence of the dreadful Aseylian experience on her body. Her shins were still bruised, but they were not terribly sore. She saw that bandages were wrapped around her feet. Of course -- she had cut them walking across the tundra in her stockings.
Footsteps in the hallway were followed quickly by a cheerful exclamation of, "Ah, Tegan! I see you're awake."
The Doctor stepped into the room, smiling at her alert face. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better," she said. "My ribs don't hurt at all."
"They should be just about healed by now."
Tegan frowned. "Didn't you tell me it would take twenty-four hours?"
He nodded.
"Then I've been asleep for a full day?" She was somewhat appalled by the prospect.
"Not quite, but nearly.
"I don't remember anything-- wait a minute, did you knock me out again?" she asked suspiciously.
He shook his head with a shadow of a frown. "No. You were very tired, Tegan. Your body needed the rest."
She looked down at the nightgown again. "Did you put this on me?"
She could think of no other explanation for her change of clothes and clean skin. She was quite certain that Turlough was not responsible. Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Actually, Elara did."
"Elara?" Tegan was surprised.
"Yes. I went back to the cave to get her, in the TARDIS of course. After I had made her more comfortable and relieved her injuries, she wanted to see you. I asked if she might make you more comfortable as well. She seemed glad to help."
"Where is she now?"
"I took her to another village on the warmer side of the planet. They seemed quite welcoming. I think she'll be content there."
Tegan was silent for a moment, listening. "The TARDIS is moving, isn't it? We've left Aseyla?"
"Yes, several hours ago."
"Then you dealt with the Pnorueleans?"
"They won't pose a threat to Aseyla any longer."
"What did you do? Were they angry when they didn't get the ore?"
The Doctor smiled; he was obviously pleased with himself. "Actually, Gorrob gave it to them, minus the few pieces I needed. Contrary to his belief, they didn't seem to notice the missing pieces. While I still had the bulk of it here, I irradiated it with a heavy concentration of dimythenium 7, the element that triggered Turlough's asthma attack. The dimythenium 7 prevented the nuclear reaction from taking place within the weapon, thus rendering it harmless."
Tegan blinked. "I'm not awake enough yet to understand that completely. But still, what's to stop them from making another weapon?"
"They'll have a great deal of trouble finding more molybdenite; there aren't any other sources nearby, and it comprised a large part of their missile. Several months of travel would be required for them to find any and return here in the ship they're using. I've contacted the Pnoruelean council and informed them of the problem; they've assured me that they'll deal with it."
"Do you believe them?"
"Yes."
"But won't they want the ammordoxillite, too?"
"Absolutely. But they recognize that it can be obtained through drilling and mining. Granted, it will take longer and require more effort, but they're willing to work with the Aseylians to accomplish this."
Tegan thought for a moment. "Won't that interfere with the culture?"
"It's going to bring some changes, but they'll be for the better. The Aseylians will have a steady source of food and animals, which will create an easier lifestyle. In time, as the struggle for survival diminishes, they'll find that they can form closer bonds among themselves. As their emotional attachments develop, the women will receive better treatment."
"But Doctor," said Tegan with some exasperation, "that's what I was asking for all along! You kept telling me that you couldn't interfere--"
"Actually, Tegan, I believe you were suggesting that we help Elara and the other women directly. With the exception of relocating Elara, which was necessary for her well-being, I haven't done that, although I wish that I could have helped them all. The changes that will come to Aseyla will be gradual and natural, based upon economic growth and development. I will admit that I had a hand in starting the process, but I had no choice; the planet was at stake."
"It's a good thing that you just happened to be on Aseyla when the Pnorueleans were preparing their weapon. Do you still think that it was just a coincidence that we ended up there?"
"Yes, well," the Doctor responded slowly, "I really don't know."
Tegan was quiet for some time, and the Doctor turned to leave. However, she said, "Can you stay a little longer?"
He heard a slight urgency in her voice, so he pulled a wicker chair toward the bed and sat. "Is there something you want to talk about?" he asked.
"You promised you'd tell me how you got that animal to do as you wanted."
"Oh..."
Her question surprised him, given the ordeal she had undergone. Nevertheless, he said, "It wasn't difficult. He's very sensitive to thoughts from other advanced life forms. The Pnoruelean animals all are; it makes them quite useful, if they're treated humanely. Those odd hair-like appendages across the nose are actually a type of receptor cell that senses strong desire and emotion from others."
"So I could have told it what to do?"
"In fact, you did. When you were waiting for me in the stable, he knew that you were cold and frightened, and he did his best to keep you warm and provide you with some companionship."
"I had no idea." Tegan drew her knees up under the comforter and wrapped her arms around them, remembering how she had felt then. He could see the memories in her troubled expression.
"Tegan," the Doctor began, "on Aseyla you dealt with fear and pain; you showed a strength that few people I've known possess. You seemed surprised that you had slept so long. I was not. I was quite concerned about you while we were with the Aseylians. The ordeal that you underwent -- the injuries, the fatigue, the smoke inhalation, the emotional trauma -- most humans would have collapsed from any one of these. But you persevered through all of them. I'm very proud of you."
Tegan felt her cheeks grow warm; she was not sure what to say. Compliments from the Doctor were a rarity. Before she could respond, however, the Doctor spoke again. Now his voice was grave.
"I regret that you were exposed to the Aseylians. I put you in danger -- and it could have been worse. I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again."
"You didn't do it intentionally," she said. "I should know by now that traveling with you isn't always safe."
"Do you want to go back to Earth?"
Tegan looked at him with some wonder. "No. I mean eventually I do, but not this instant."
"Are you certain? Perhaps you'd liked some time to recuperate where you feel safe."
"I feel safe here, with you. And I think I'm pretty well recuperated now."
He smiled a bit sadly. "I'm glad that you feel safe here. And you are certainly on the mend, but I want you to take a bit more time to recover. You went through a very difficult experience. I imagine that facing Vandak and his intentions must have been terrifying for you."
She lowered her eyes but did not respond for nearly a minute. Finally, she said softly, "When I hit him with the flashlight, I wasn't just trying to protect Gorrob."
The Doctor nodded. "I know."
"If you hadn't stopped me then, I think I might have kept hitting him until--"
The Doctor reached out his hand and placed it on her arm. "You had every right to be angry with him. His behavior was unconscionable."
Tegan seemed somewhat comforted by his words, but he could see that she was still troubled. He was not sure what else he should say. Finally, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
She looked up at him. "Yes, I guess I am."
"I'll bring you something to eat."
He began to stand, but she lifted her eyes to him. "Doctor... When Vandak brought me into the public house-- I'm grateful that you found a way around...what they wanted you to do. But what if you hadn't been able to? What if they'd forced you--"
His voice was low as he said, "That wouldn't have happened. I would not have done that to you."
"They might have killed you."
"Then I would have regenerated."
Tegan blinked; her eyes shone with tears. "You would have given a life for that?"
"Without hesitation."
Tegan took a deep breath and smiled at him.
"Now," he said, standing, "how about that food?"
-----------------
The Doctor returned with a covered tray about half an hour later. Tegan sat in one of the chairs, unwrapping the bandage from her left foot.
The Time Lord set the tray on the dresser, saying, "You should leave that on for a while longer."
She tilted her foot upward; several cuts and bruises were still readily visible. Tegan sighed. "I wish I hadn't lost those boots. I really liked them."
The Doctor came toward her and took her foot in his hand to inspect it. "It's healing well, but it should still be covered. I'll bring some fresh bandages in after you've eaten."
Turlough's voice came from the doorway. "Tegan?"
"Come in," she said.
Turlough stepped inside. "You're up! I'm glad you're feeling better. The Doctor's been awfully worried about you--"
"I'm going to be fine," she responded firmly.
The Doctor bent forward toward her as he said, "But you're going to take it easy for a while."
Turlough seemed slightly uncomfortable; showing concern for Tegan was awkward for him. "Well," he said, "I won't bother you. I just wanted to say hello-- and thank you for getting me back here the other day." He disappeared down the hallway.
"He looks like he's recovered from Aseyla," Tegan said.
The Doctor had turned to uncover the tray; he ladled some soup into a large mug. "Yes. His asthma was triggered by the environment."
"But what if some other place we visit has that same element?"
The Doctor handed her the mug.
"It's unlikely; dimythenium 7 is relatively rare. However, I've prepared some tablets that he can carry with him at all times which will immediately counteract the effects of dimythenium 7 in his system, should he be exposed to it."
"You've been busy." She looked at the mug. "Chicken soup?"
"I believe that's the standard recuperation fare on Earth." He turned back to the dresser
Tegan took a spoonful of the soup; it was just the right temperature, and was, in fact, delicious. She finished the mug quickly. When she looked up, the Doctor stood before her holding a teapot in one hand and a teacup and saucer in the other.
"Tea?" he asked simply, but his eyes twinkled.
"Doctor! I used the last of the tea the day we got to Aseyla."
"I managed to find some more."
She set the mug aside and took the cup and saucer. He poured a stream of golden brown, steaming liquid into the teacup.
"Thanks," she said. "Aren't you going to join me?"
He filled another cup and leaned back against the bureau. As Tegan lifted the cup to her lips, she recalled her last experience with tea in the TARDIS. The Doctor saw her momentary hesitation.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
She took a sip. "No. I just wanted to be sure we had a steady ride."
The Doctor nodded. "I see. About that-- thank you."
"What?"
"I didn't have a chance to acknowledge your making that tea for me. So, thank you."
Tegan smiled up at him over her cup. "You're welcome."
They sipped their tea in companionable silence as the TARDIS hovered steadily in the tranquil blackness of space.