Charley breathed deeply as her feet sank softly in the powder-fine sand, gentle waves lapping over her toes. She looked down, watching the glittering grains swirl in the ebb and flow of the warm water. It was strangely surreal, to be standing here, alive and warmed on this empty planet, when only hours before she'd held a butcher's knife pressed close to her veins at the behest of Edith Thompson.

The Doctor had declined coming down to the water's edge with her, making a claim for finding the perfect spot along where the grass met sand for stargazing purposes. Charley could still hear him shuffling occasionally some 5 yards away, muttering about constellations to himself.

Slowly, she slid her feet along the shoreline, slipping in and out of water as the waves continued their endless dance. Charley clutched the blanket still wrapped around her a bit tighter, relishing the softness of the fabric, and taking delight in the soft swish of her nightdress against her bare legs. Licking her lips, she could taste the salt in the air. Charley knew she was trying too hard to drown herself in her senses, in what she perceived to be real, but she couldn't stop.

You must choose life. You must choose life now.

If it were only that simple, Doctor, thought Charley. If she closed her eyes for too long, she could still see the flames, smell the acrid smoke choking her lungs, feel the heat searing her skin, her hair... and it made no sense. Charley shook her head, twisting physically away from these, what? Memories? Could they be called memories if they never happened?

It was then she realized she couldn't hear the Doctor nearby any longer.

Startled, her eyes snapped to the direction she last remembered hearing him, only to find the grassy slope deserted. Panic filled her heart. The Doctor said this planet was uninhabited, completely safe, so where...

A shuddering breath behind her caught her attention, and Charley spun again.

The Doctor stood only a short distance behind her, his expression strange. He looked lost, adrift, but there was such a tenderness in his eyes, it nearly broke Charley's heart then and there.

It frightened her. Where was that manic joy he'd played at earlier? Where was the chasing of nightmares, the forgetting of troubles, even for a moment? Charley was still not entirely used to his mercurial nature, and this swing felt stranger and stronger than any of his that she'd experienced before.

Charley opened her mouth to speak, when the Doctor ended the silence first.

"I almost lost you." He whispered, barely audible above the sound of the water.

"Doctor...?"

"I almost..." his voice broke, just slightly. Enough for him to pause, and try to compose himself again.

Tentatively, Charley took small steps toward him. "I'm here, Doctor. I've been strolling the shore the entire time, I swear." Gently, she touched his arm, "I haven't..."

Something snapped in him at the contact of her hand. In a sudden flurry of motion, the Doctor's hands gripped Charley by the shoulders, and the soft, strange look in his eyes had disappeared, leaving only fear and a feeling she couldn't quite put to name. Charley's insides swooped dangerously again, adrenaline rushing along her veins. She could feel him trembling, the motion carried along his arms and through his hands into her like an electric current.

"You don't understand, Charley." The Doctor spoke, his voice dark and desperate and low, "I almost lost you."

Realization crashed into her like a lorry. He didn't mean right now. He meant earlier. Then. In Edward Grove.

"Doctor," Charley spoke softly. She was unsure of what entirely was going on, but she knew well enough to tread carefully. "I'm right here." She kept her tone reassuring, despite all her own uncertainty. "I'm not going anywhere."

The Doctor's grip loosened, pulling her unexpectedly into an embrace. His arms wound around her tightly, fingers tangling into her hair, as he crushed his face into the curve of her shoulder. Carefully, Charley slid her blanketed arms around the Doctor in return, and could feel him almost deflate as he relaxed into her arms, the tension pouring out of him as quickly as it had rushed upon him.

"Yes," the Doctor murmured into her hair, "You're quite right." Charley felt his chest expand broadly with a deep breath, "You're right here." He repeated, exhaling slowly against the exposed skin of her collarbone, causing Charley own breath to catch in her throat as it ghosted along her.

"Doctor...?" Charley began, but was at a complete loss. There was a part of her, though unsure, was quite content to be wrapped up in the Doctor's warm arms. It was safe here, she'd come to realize. Safe and warm. No matter what happened in their adventures, as long as she could find her way back to him, to hold his hand, to embrace him with joy or consolation, then it didn't matter where in the universe Charley was. So long as the Doctor was there, it would work out.

Another part of her couldn't help much be concerned. The swing of his temperament could be wild at times, but this was something else. It left her unsettled and feeling all the more vulnerable. Charley wanted to shake him, awaken him from this strangeness and get back to how things were.

Charley patted the Doctor soothingly on his back, wondering what was going through his mind as moments ticked by and he had yet to release her from this hug. Certainly, the Doctor somewhat lacked in determining personal space - particularly when it came to her, she noted infuriatingly. It was as though he knew how even the slightest hint that, perhaps, he cared for her more deeply than just a friend, through the slightest of touches, or just standing that little bit too near, drove her to madness.

If she thought anything might come of it, she would have poured out the contents of her heart before the Doctor, and be done with carrying it about, locked up inside. But, for the first time in a long time, Charley was afraid. The last thing she wanted to do was to upset the beautiful friendship she'd found with the Doctor, and possibly be forced to give up this life and all its wonders.

Sighing, and figuring since he hadn't moved yet, perhaps she would just take what she was offered as it came, and nuzzled against him. Charley relished the feel of his soft curls tickling her face, the familiar scent of him filling her lungs – like lavender and citrus and something deep and unidentifiable that always made her heart skip a beat, as though momentarily overwhelmed.

Charley felt the Doctor shudder slightly under her comforting hands as they roamed idly across his back and shoulders. "Charley..." he whispered, his tone husky and edging on ragged again. Hesitantly, she could feel him shifting slightly, bringing his face up along her neck in a gentle caress, until they were cheek to cheek.

Charley's heart thundered in her chest as she struggled internally with how to respond. Before she had a chance, the Doctor pulled back again, until she could meet his gaze. His beautiful grey-blue eyes were dark in the low light of the twin moons, and she held that gaze, searching, trying to understand him, and trying to resist the increasing desire to press her lips against his finally.

The Doctor smiled, and chuckled softly to himself. He ducked his head sheepishly, wild curls falling to frame his face.

"What is it?" Charley asked, somewhat irritated by the emotional tension she was flailing about in that he seemed completely oblivious about. She did her best to conceal it, but if the Doctor was going to keep up like this for the remainder of their evening together, Charley was afraid there would be some very... unladylike actions she may have to follow through on.

"Shall we watch those stars now, Charley?" The Doctor asked quietly, completely ignoring her question. His hands slid slowly down her arms until he could interlock his fingers with hers. Confused, and a bit dazzled by the tides of emotion rolling her about, Charley allowed herself to be led up the shore.

Something was going to change, somehow, she felt it. Even if she would have to be the one to change.