[ She's close enough that it would be ever so easy to take her hand back again, to seek out some tether to her, but it would be complicated and messy, nothing he could explain easily. Whatever's got hold of her, he has to keep her close enough without scaring her off, despite wanting very much to be closer, to be able to talk to her like they always have. Well, until recently. He misses that, among so many other things.

But her safety is paramount to him, and without fully understanding the scope of her memory loss and the damage that might be wrought from being too openly affectionate, the Doctor guards himself.

Still, it's a pleasant thing for a moment, a memory of better days, and he basks in it selfishly while she speaks. ]

Mysteries are what I do—well, when I'm not doing...the other thing I do. Bit boring really, though my gang and I get on, we make it fun. [ The worms, yes. ] Love a mystery, me. What are you trying to work out? I'm sure I can help.