by WhiteDalek

Rating: PG

Summary: The TARDIS crew enjoy a little off-time.

Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC.

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Adric leaned carefully back against the tree trunk, savoring the contrast of the rough bark against his back with the softness on his bare chest. Languidly, he ran his fingers up her neck and through her dishevelled curls. "I'm glad you were my first," the boy said dreamily. She turned a little at the sound of his voice and gazed up into his dark eyes. "I feel so close to you now. I need that. The Doctor doesn't un- derstand me and as for Tegan--she won't even _try_ to like me. But you... you accept me for just what I am."

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS and stretched in the aft- ernoon sun. Tegan sat barefoot in the grass a few feet away, stringing together a chain of daisies. "I've finished recalibrating the Mean Free Path Tracker, so we can leave anytime you're ready."

"That's okay," she said, gazing out at the pristine countryside. "Heathrow doesn't seem like a very high priority just now. I wouldn't mind staying here for a bit."

A look of annoyed impatience crossed his face for a moment. Tegan knew he was chafing to go. The Doctor talked a lot about slowing down, relaxing, taking it easy for a little while, but he was always anxious to be off again. Now, though, he just shrugged and plopped down in the grass beside her. "Oh, well. It _is_ a beautiful day, at that. I don't suppose it would hurt to stay for just a little while longer."

"That's the spirit, Doc!" Tegan laughed and draped the flowers around his neck. Somewhat to her surprise, he left them there.

He yawned and leaned back to enjoy the sunshine. "Where are the others?" he asked.

"Nyssa's up there," Tegan said, pointing over her shoulder. The Doctor looked up the gentle slope to where Nyssa sat propped against a rock, engrossed in a book.

"She still reading Keats?"

"Yeah. Been at it all day. Rather appropriate for the setting, I suppose."

"What about Adric?"

Tegan frowned a little. "I dunno. I haven't seen him since he went off down the valley to look at the sheep..."

END