Clack Clack Clack.
Stevie Walcott was, as usual, working at her desk, which was at present crowded with various blueprints and mathematical formulas which were relevant for her latest project. Stevie was a computer programmer. People were often surprised when she told them this; her tall, blonde-haired blue-eyed self was not the usual image of a computer expert. Stevie was just writing the finishing algorithms onto the program when she heard a key being jiggled in the lock of her front door. The clack-clack-clack of her keyboard stopped suddenly. This sound used to not alarm Stevie, as she had previously lived with her best friend; but that was months ago, and she had lived alone since. Stevie stopped typing – the house seemed immediately more solemn and frightening. She looked around the room for some kind of weapon – all she could find was her spray deodorant. Stevie crept down the hallway, towards the frosted-glass front door. She could distinctly make out two figures – one male, one female. She hid behind a cabinet close to the door, ready to strike. She was completely baffled. How could they know where the spare key was?
The two figures burst through the door, and she could hear a familiar voice.
"…told you the key would still be there! Stevie? Stevie, are you home?"
Stevie moved out from her hiding place.
"Martha?" she whispered, hoping that this was not a dream and that her best friend had returned at last.
The two friends stared at each other; sadness in Martha's eyes, and a mixture of anger and hope in Stevie's. The man looked from Martha to Stevie as if watching a tennis match. Finally, he spoke.
"Stephanie Walcott, I presume! I have heard all about you, of course! I am The Doctor".
Stevie's tore her eyes away from Martha and looked at the man. Cute, she thought. Very shaggable. He can treat me any day!
"I didn't call for a doctor".
The Doctor flashed a smile.
"I guess Martha hasn't told you about me, then!" He raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Martha.
"No." Stevie snapped. "I haven't talked to Martha in five months".
Martha looked sadly at Stevie.
"Stevie, I'm sorry. Please, let me explain". Martha shared a glance with the Doctor. "The Doctor and I, we have been…traveling".
"So you couldn't call, or email or…anything? Martha, we have been best friends since we were in kindergarten! How can you just up and leave, without even a note or a message on the machine! I thought you were dead, or abducted or something! All that your mum said was that you were 'going away for a while'. I spent sleepless nights trying to track you down, and now you come waltzing back here saying you were traveling?!"
Martha and the Doctor exchanged another look.
"When I say traveling, what I mean -" Martha stopped abruptly and the Doctor cut in.
"-we have been going through time and space seeking adventure and often facing adversaries which are both terrifying and brilliant beyond your wildest dreams". The Doctor looked at Stevie with a warm smile. Stevie stared blankly at them both.
"Through time and space?! Martha, explain!"
"We travel in a kind of…space ship, called the TARDIS. And we go throughout time and space, just like the Doctor said. I even met Shakespeare!"
Stevie pinched herself. Ouch. This was definatly not a dream. Was Martha nuts? Was she on drugs or something? Furthermore, why was she back?
"OK. Let's say I wasn't thinking that you are on drugs-"
"Stevie, I am NOT on drugs!"
"-how come you're back here, and not out in time and space doing whatever it is you do?"
Martha and the Doctor exchanged another glance; this time a dark, worrying one.
"Because, Stevie, we need your help."