Hermione did feel better after a hot bath in the deep tub that the TARDIS had thoughtfully provided for her. Her muscles had relaxed during her soak and, fortunately, there was no more extra stimulation. Thankfully, even her self-recrimination had abated some, as well. Therefore, she felt much better all around. In fact, after all of that, she was starving! Therefore, she put on the comfortable PJs she had found in her room and then made her way to the galley. Upon her arrival there, she found the Doctor already seated at the table. He looked pensive as he nursed a cup of tea.

"Care for some company?" she asked lightly. The sound of her voice jarred him out of his thoughts and he looked up at her quickly as he thoroughly searched her face with his eyes. What in the world is he looking for? she wondered. Whatever it was caused a look of resignation and acceptance to cross his face as he nodded and gestured to the empty chair - and full mug - across from him.

"Feeling better?" he asked in a nonchalant manner as he dropped his gaze and continued to drink his tea. She just looked at him for a minute as she tried to put a name to the weird tension that surrounded them. Oh! she realized with sudden clarity. He knows about the MS effects – and he is nervous about my reaction! For some reason, the thought amused her and instead of being embarrassed about it, she decided to have a little fun with him.

"Oh yes! The soreness and range of movement is so much better," she said with a glint in her eye that the Doctor did not quite understand – until she continued to speak. "However, I wasn't really prepared for the side effects of the treatment." At her words, he suddenly stilled and his mug only made it half-way back down to the table after his last sip. "You could have given a girl some warning that she was going to need a cold shower, something battery operated, or a willing bloke afterwards, you know!" She exclaimed lightly as she reached over and punched him on the arm in mock exasperation. Then she chuckled into her mug as the Doctor proceeded to choke on his tea in shock at her bold statement.

When he finally swallowed the offending liquid and composed himself, he could not help but to look back up at her with his expressive blue eyes that brimmed in amusement – and admiration! He was glad that she could take what could have been an awkward situation so lightly. He knew that he should not have placed so much importance on her reaction. No, she had not come to him (and why was he so disappointed by that when he had already decided that it would not have been a good idea?) but apparently she had not rejected him and pretended that nothing had happened, either. She did not have to bring up such a personal and potentially embarrassing subject to him, but he was glad that she had. Therefore, after he regained some control over the turmoil of his thoughts, he decided to answer her in a similar fashion.

"What? I thought ladies liked surprises!" he exclaimed and threw up his hands in mock confusion while they both dissolved into laughter. Even though they did not discuss it further, they were both relieved that they could joke about such a thing with each other and that their burgeoning connection had not been damaged in any way during what could have been a tricky situation.

"Hungry?" he asked after they had calmed down enough to talk again.

"Starving!" she answered honestly and was surprised to see him retrieve a tray laden with food from what looked like a warming cabinet of some sort. "Did you cook?" she asked in amazement.

"Should I be offended that you sound so surprised?" he asked lightly, as his eyes sparkled with amusement again. "Don't most bachelors learn to fend for themselves?"

"Yes…but then again, most bachelors don't live in sentient ships that can cook for them!" she retorted.

"Fair enough," he conceded. "However, believe it or not, I do usually handle my own meals unless there is an emergency."

"Like an injured witch suddenly appearing out of thin air in your console room?" she asked playfully.

"Exactly," he agreed. "I'm not usually that lucky!" he added, only half-joking, and received a beaming smile from the witch as a reward for his efforts. He returned the look as he carefully served the soup and sandwiches that he had prepared earlier. He knew that she would need nutritious and filling foods while her body continued to heal and adjust – and the menu he had chosen seemed to fit that criteria perfectly.

They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes before a thought occurred to Hermione. "You haven't asked anything about what you saw in my memories, yet," she stated hesitantly, and the surprise was evident in her voice.

"And I am not going to tonight," he replied seriously as he tried to set her mind to rest. "We can discuss it and our options tomorrow. Trust me when I say that I know that it is overwhelming enough being constantly bombarded with your darkest memories without having to keep talking about them, too!"

Hermione looked back at him with a mixture of gratitude at his understanding and anxiety over what those so-called "options" might entail. Of course, she knew that things would have to change eventually. They could not stay here in the safe little bubble that the Doctor and TARDIS had created for her forever. Her host had explained the nature of the Vortex to her during their discussion in the library. Therefore, she knew that they were basically just hanging out in it until she was healthy enough to…well…she just had not thought that far ahead, yet. In retrospect, she realized that she had been actively trying to avoid doing so before now. After all, what could the future possibly have in store for her now? How could she face the rest of her life without everyone and everything she had ever known and loved?

"Hermione," the Doctor's kind voice interrupted her troubled musings and she looked up at him with sad eyes full of barely restrained tears. "I know that it is hard, but please try not to worry about it now. That's why I didn't want to bring up the subject tonight. However, rest assured that whatever happens, you will not be alone. I will make sure of that! Do you understand?" With those words, he reached out to stroke her cheek in a soothing matter that was meant to reassure himself as much as it was for her.

How did he know what I was thinking? Hermione wondered. She did not trust her voice at that moment, so she just reached up, squeezed his hand, and nodded. However, she felt that her response just did not convey enough gratitude, so she stood up, crossed over to his side of the table, and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug.

The Doctor was surprised (and quite delighted) to suddenly find Hermione in his arms and he automatically reciprocated the gesture. However, what came next was an even greater surprise. "Thank you!" she said softly. Then she brushed her lips against his in a simple and gentle kiss. "Thank you for everything. I think that I will go on to bed now, if you don't mind. I just want to…oh…thank you!" With those emotion-filled words, she pulled away from him and half-ran through the door…and she did not stop until she reached her own room.

The stunned Doctor just sat there and watched her go. His lips still tingled from her touch, but he did not try to follow her. He found that he wanted to, but he also knew that she probably needed some time and space to sort some things out for herself. He did the next best thing, though, and asked the TARDIS to keep an eye on her and to let him know if she needed anything.

What an amazing woman! he thought, however, and his mind was full of admiration for the witch– in more ways than one. I will do everything I can to help her – no matter what! She deserves that much! he vowed. He then left the mess in the kitchen and headed out of the room himself after he asked the TARDIS for forgiveness. He knew that his ship would take care of it – especially since he planned to go do some research in the library for the benefit of their mutual friend. He had some urgent questions that he needed to find answers to before he and Hermione had their talk on the following morning.

Meanwhile, back in her room, as the TARDIS hummed comfortingly in the background, Hermione threw herself on her bed and fiercely scolded herself for her lack of control. Fortunately, the Doctor did not seem to mind her little slip-up of a kiss, and hopefully he did not think that she was being just a silly little hormonal human. The TARDIS hummed her denial at that idea and it soothed Hermione enough that, despite her consternation at her own actions, her thoughts about the attractive alien she had left in the galley drifted in another direction entirely. His lips had been softer than they looked even though they were surprisingly cool at the same time. Hermione knew then, without a doubt, that if circumstances had been different, she would have more than willingly spent more time with them…and with the rest of the Doctor, as well! In the midst of those very pleasant (and somewhat naughty) thoughts, she smiled and drifted off to sleep. After all, she was completely exhausted after her extremely emotional day. Surprisingly enough though, even after she had relived the worst days of her life, her dreams were considerably more pleasant that night than they had been during the previous one.