PLAGUE
TWENTYTHREE
The Doctor slowly strolled barefoot through the warm, soft, grass towards his TARDIS.
The door had been invitingly left open.
He paused briefly; worried once he walked through the entrance that something important would be inexorably lost forever.
Walking up the ramp his concerns were quickly forgotten as he was overwhelmed with wonderful sensations.
First he heard the sound of subdued, wistful music. A Bach keyboard work, he realized; the 'Goldberg Variations'… the intimacy and emotions of it delighted him. He closed his eyes and listened as the notes of the aria and its variations washed over his racing thoughts and calmed them.
Second was the splendid fragrance in the air. It was a combination of lavender and jasmine with a touch of sandalwood thrown in; at least that's what he imagined. The aroma was incredibly subtle and yet glorious. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs, and found it soothing.
Finally he noticed the cello and music stand that were resting against the wall. At first he scoffed, but then realized they'd been safely secured with small straps. Bless her; Wil had made them TARDIS-proof!
As he wandered from room to room he gradually perceived there were shelves and nooks and crannies everywhere filled with musical instruments. Not only earth instruments from various cultures and time periods, but music devices from many different planets, including numerous exceedingly curious objects he'd never seen before.
He smiled and then he laughed out loud.
Walking over to a shelf, The Doctor took down what appeared to be a Stradivarius reproduction. Or was it the real thing, he wondered. Regardless, he thought, it was a lovely violin.
He held it tenderly to his left shoulder, picked up the bow, and began to play.