I was asked for a post-Midnight "date" story. This was all I could come up with. But you write what you know, right?

Back to Basics

"I know this isn't the anti-gravity restaurant you'd mentioned," Donna said, her voice apologetic. "But it's what the TARDIS suggested."

The Doctor looked around, his mouth too full to speak. Not that that stopped him before.

Donna frowned. His usual, animated self still hadn't returned, and Donna was starting to grow concerned. Whatever that thing was on Midnight had shaken him to his core. Even the TARDIS had noticed, and Donna was convinced the old girl was highly attuned to her thief's moods.

"Maybe, uh," she stammered, trying to reach him. "We can try some place a little less active next time?"

She hated feeling so lost. Whenever her friends were feeling down, she took them straight to the pub. That always cheered them up. But how do you handle a muted Time Lord who had been invaded by a demonic alien and nearly killed by a pack of panicky humans? There were no guidebooks for that.

The Doctor was staring at the women running behind the counter of the little diner's bar they were sitting for their breakfast. They were wearing simple colored dresses with black aprons. Their hair was pulled back into prim buns and covered in white mesh caps.

"What do you think they are?" he asked.

Following his gaze, Donna shrugged. "They look like those people who live in America who don't use electricity or anything."

Frowning, he turned to stare at her. "We are in America. And what do you mean?"

Donna exhaled, trying not to let the short tone get to her. "Oh, what are they called…They're in that film with Harrison Ford."

The Doctor looked at her as if she was the most peculiar person alive.

"Witness!" she exclaimed, smacking the table triumphantly. "They're these people who farm and don't have buttons and don't use electricity or drive cars." She turned to make sure no one was around and lowered her voice. "Dark ages, if you ask me."

A little smile started to creep into his face. "And do you think it would be so bad to live without electricity?"

Donna rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Oh, I know it is!" she answered. "One time, when I was ten, we had this whopper of a storm. Knocked the power out for three days. We had to drive two towns over to buy bottled water to dump it down the toilets so they would flush. And we had to all sleep in the living room because the heat wouldn't work and we slept around the tiny fireplace. I love my Gramps and all, but he snores so loudly, I barely got a good night sleep. I nearly ran away. When the power finally came back, my mum just about cried. For an entire week, she didn't even yell at me for leaving all the lights on."

She stopped to catch her breath and sip her coffee (no way Americans knew anything about making a proper tea). When she turned back, her heart jumped at the expression on the Doctor's face.

"What?"

Unable to contain it anymore, he burst out laughing. "Oh, Donna Noble, you brilliant human."

Her cheeks colored, but she was thrilled at the spark finally returning to his eyes.

The Doctor scooped up a healthy forkful of grilled potatoes. "And what made you pick a 21st Century Amish Farmer's Market for our breakfast?"

Donna shrugged. "I asked the TARDIS to send us someplace simple, where the humans were… well, not so bad." She raised a bit of toast to her mouth.

His smile was grateful. "You're too good, Donna."

"I…I am?"

He nodded. "You always know exactly what to do."

Shock sailed through her. She hardly felt like she was keeping her head above water when it came to dealing with all the amazing things he'd shown her. "I… thought I was doing something wrong."

"Never, you are perfect," he said, his eyes bright and happy. "And this is the best meal I've had in ages." He shoved the last bit of scrambled eggs into his mouth. At her wide-eyed expression, he swallowed quickly. "Aside from what you make in the TARDIS, of course."

Donna shook her head, amazed. "I'm just happy to help, Doctor."

He beamed. "You do," he assured her. With a large breath, he leaned back and looked at the Amish women again. "So, you said there's a film about this culture?"

Donna perked up. "Well, it takes place in their culture, and it's really good, and the lead actor… well, he…"

The Doctor looked offended. "I thought I was the one who was brilliant."

"Dream on, Spaceman."

"Let's go back to the TARDIS and watch it."

"Why not go to the premiere and see it in the theater with all the actors?"

"I will not cover for you again if you get in trouble assaulting a celebrity."

Donna's cheeks colored, but she was completely unashamed. "It was George Clooney," she said, as if that was explanation enough. "And it was not assault. It was enthusiasm."

He shook his head before popping off of his barstool. "Breakfast and a movie?" he asked, extending his hand.

"Now that's a date," she said. "Well, not a date. Still not a date."

"Whatever you say, Earthgirl."