Part 5

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He clipped in the last infinitely small spring before replacing the cover to switch his device on. There was a slight delay and then the sonic screwdriver sprang into life, emitting a magnificent blue glow that uplifted his heart. "DONNA!" he shouted with pure joy.

She was by his side like a shot. "Did it work?" she asked expectantly.

He nodded enthusiastically at her, unable to find the words to express his unadulterated happiness. He then danced a little jig before sweeping her in his arms and twirling her around. "Oh yes!" he finally managed to squeal as he let her feet touch the ground.

"You wonderful, brilliant beauty!" Donna exclaimed, and grabbed his head. She planted a kiss firmly onto his lips.

He instantly responded by grasping her head in a similar fashion, returning her kiss. He moved his mouth hungrily over hers before slowing, taking his time to feel her beneath him, tasting and teasing in equal measures. He only stopped when she used both hands to push him away. They shared a look of horror at what they'd just done. "I'm sorry, Donna," he spluttered awkwardly.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you," she answered. 'What was I thinking?' raced through her mind. 'Something about gorgeous lips,' her libido treacherously replied. Using the motion of adjusting her blouse she fought to regain control of her thoughts. Poor Andy looked dejected. "Why don't you show me what else it does apart from play at being a metal Tinkerbelle?" she soothed him, placing a delicate touch on his arm.

He glanced back at the sonic as if only just remembering it was still lying on his desk. He released her, saying, "Okay. I thought the first thing we'd need it to do was boost an energy signal up to eleven and beyond."

She then listened to him happily explain and demonstrate all the settings he'd devised until bedtime.

Ah, bedtime. She glared at herself in the bathroom mirror as she brushed her teeth. Bedtime could prove to be very tricky if they weren't careful. She'd accidentally pushed him into responding in a way that wasn't allowable for them; and she now deeply regretted it. What must he think of her? It must have seemed as though she was muscling in on someone else's territory. Would it be better for him if she moved out and went back to her mother's? Was that the kindest thing to do in the long run? He seemed to have forgiven her, but then he would; he was lovely like that. Her gorgeous Time Human. She instantly chided herself for using such a description. He wasn't hers for a start! Their relationship was the living equivalent of a library book on loan; she'd have to give him back one day. That thought brought tears to her eyes. She didn't want to give him back; not ever! She hated her foolish human heart for loving him so much in that moment.

She splashed some cold water onto her face to try and hide the sudden redness there; she turned the light off and headed for the bedroom. He was sitting up in bed trying to read a book. The term was 'try' because he had attempted to read the same page four times and each time he got to the end he realised he had no idea what he'd just read. All he could think about was how he would cope the moment Donna appeared. She already thought he was a walking erection, and he had proved her right earlier. He really hoped she wouldn't kick him out of the bed for that; anxiety was playing havoc with him.

"Is it any good?" she asked him as she slipped beneath the duvet.

"Is what any good?" he asked in confusion.

"The book," she replied, pointing to the book lying idle in his hands. "Do I assume you've read it all and on a second sitting now?"

He chuckled at the thought. "Normally that might be true, but there's something about it that doesn't quite grab my attention."

She turned the book in his hands and peered at the title. "Aren't you feeling well? I thought something with a title like 'Heliophysics: Plasma Physics of the Local Cosmos' would have you laughing in the aisles! It sounds a hoot."

"You can borrow it if you like," he offered magnanimously.

"Is it for only 'local people'?" she asked with a knowing grin. "Nah! I'll wait for the film to come out."

"Why would they make…? Oh you!" He laughed uproariously then. "On second thoughts, the ending is perfectly guessable, so don't bother."

"Do they all get shot in the end? Or does the boy get the girl?" she asked playfully as he allowed her to cuddle up against his side.

He contemplated the closed book in his hands, and then placed it on his bedside table before switching off the lamp. The light from outside in the street left a faint orange glow in the room. "It was one of those horrible Mills & Boon books where they have to shag first before they declare their love. Who does that, huh? Only idiots deny how much they love someone before doing the… erm… the deed," he faltered as he snuggled down next to her, gazing directly into her face.

"Since when did you know about such books? Have you been secretly reading my mum's stash?" she quizzed him with glee. "Who'd have thought?"

He tapped his forehead in response. "You forget. I got all that from you! All those silly romances where she gets the bloke by being his PA, making herself invaluable, healing his wounded heart, until all he can see is… her." He ended on a whisper, and gulped self-consciously.

"And all of it is total boll-arks," she added for good measure. "I've never yet met someone who had that happen in real life. As if! Cos we all know that the next bloke we talk to will be Mr Darcy in disguise."

"I think I could look good in that costume. What do you reckon?" he mused. "I've got the sideburns." He turned his head to show off his profile to her.

She reached up to madly ruffle his hair. "And that sorts out the hair style for you." She peered closely at him, ignoring his air of miffed, and added, "Yes, I think you could get away with it. Your next problem would be coping with all those swooning women."

That caught his attention. "Do you really think they'd swoon for me?" he asked hopefully.

"I don't see why not," she encouraged him. "You've got a lot going for you."

"Like what?" he pressed closer, eager to hear what she'd say.

"Well…," she pondered, changing position, "you're not too bad looking, you're smarter than the average bear, you're a good mate, and now I know how you kiss… oh!"

"Oh? Why do I get an 'oh'?" he demanded. "Are you dissing my kissing technique? I know I don't have much experience compared to some, but am I that bad?" He considered her with a fair amount of trepidation.

"No! For goodness sake, no! There's nothing wrong with the way you kiss, Andy; it was perfectly lovely," she defended herself.

"There's a 'but' in there!" he insisted. "No doubt something along the lines of 'but I would never want to kiss you again'. Go on, be honest with me!"

"I would!" she cried. "I'd definitely kiss you given the chance, and that's my honest opinion."

"Prove it," he challenged her, looming over her. "Put your money where your mouth is."

She suddenly went bashful. "That's not exactly a romantic way to carry on."

"I don't care! If you want to kiss me, I want to see you do it," he boldly told her. "That's not too much to ask, is it?"

She shook her head. "No, I suppose not," she reasoned. Bundling up her courage, she slid across the extremely small distance that parted them and brought her lips in line with his. 'Here goes,' she thought, and cautiously pressed forward to brush against his mouth. Even that tender touch caused her senses to reel; her whole body seemed to zing. She risked opening her eyes and saw that his were tightly closed, his expression was awestruck. Perhaps it was time to stop this?

He obviously didn't think so, because he engulfed her in a crushing hug and brought his mouth in contact with her once more. The effect was electrifying. As he swept his tongue along her bottom lip, tempting her to open up, allowing him taste her mouth the overriding sensation was far more than two tongues smoothing across each other would normally cause. To use a well-worn cliché, the world exploded in her mind. She could feel herself pushing against some sort of bubble, breaking through the barrier and then… then… there he was, waiting for her, welcoming her into a special world where they could commune. There was a vague physical essence for her mind to focus on; and the overriding emotion was joy; clear and utter joy!

She mentally felt him grasp her hands, that is, if she'd actually had hands at that point and he was actually doing the holding. The effect was the same on her nevertheless. What do you think? he pushed at her. Isn't this great? Just think what we can achieve now!

What do you mean? she asked lamely. Is this permanent? I mean… have we lost the ability to speak or something?

Peals of laughter filtered through to her; delighted, non-malicious laughter. This is our Time Lord part doing this, Donna. Amazing or what! I had a feeling we might be able to do this, but it had to be unlocked.

Then why didn't this happen earlier when we kissed? Shouldn't any kiss do this? She still couldn't believe such a thing was possible.

Apparently not! We had to be touching in a particular way to forge the link. I'm guessing we'll be able to do this any time we like, he answered.

She nudged around this new cyber space, or whatever the correct term was for inside your head; but nothing different seemed to be happening. Not as far as she could tell, so she forced open her eyes.

His eyes flew open too, and gawped at her. "Did that really just happen?" he asked huskily. He coughed to relieve some of the tension in his throat.

"Yeah! Wow!" she answered him, unable to grasp properly that it had. "That's a bloody good reason to kiss you if I know anything. Seriously impressive."

He made a faint squeak of pride. "You're impressed by me?" He grinned happily.

"Well, when I say impressed, I mean I'd definitely recommend the experience to all your swooning minions," she replied.

"Does that include you?" he immediately asked.

She heard herself reply, "Nah! I don't go in for that sort of thing" before she could stop herself.

He said nothing, but a wave of hurt hit her as he shifted away, breaking direct contact with her body.

She tried saying, "Sorry" but it was as if a dark wall of silence had appeared around him. Sighing resignedly, she turned over and attempted to sleep.

Donna woke feeling extremely sick and achy. Andy didn't act none too chipper either. They slunk about, carried out their morning routine almost in silence, as though they were both respecting the other's need for quiet.

By the time she reached her office, Donna's head was banging. "You don't look well," Tracey greeted her. "What did you get up to last night?"

Without thinking, Donna replied, "You wouldn't believe me! It got a bit unusual between us."

That drew Tracey's attention like a dog to its dinner. "In what way 'unusual'?" She brought herself over to perch expectantly on the edge of Donna's desk. "What did you do to the lovable Andy?"

"What makes you think it was my fault? It takes two…," Donna blurted out before realising what she was saying.

"To tango." Tracey finished for her. "You didn't? Don't tell me you finally woke up to how you feel about him!"

"I already know how I feel about him," Donna protested. "He's my mate, my best mate; so don't you go getting any other ideas!"

Tracey stood up and held up her hands in mock surrender. "If that's how you want to play it, then that's fine. If you are chucking him away, do us a favour, will you? Chuck him in my direction!" she suggested, and made her way back to her own desk.

Donna didn't answer her but feigned interest in a document she had just opened up. She leant forward to let her hair cover most her flushed face just in case. Just when she thought her day couldn't get any worse she noticed there was an e-mail from her mother sitting in her inbox. She'd clean forgotten Sylvia had said she'd pop round one night in the week. Oh bugger!