Chapter 1

Big Blue Phone Box

The cool rain splattered against the window, and darkness crept through the world outside. Rubbing the condensation off the window with my sleeve, I tried to look out to the world I was in. I had no idea where I was, and nowhere to go. It really was the sort of thing I should have sorted out earlier, but of course, prior engagements took over.

"This is the last stop, love." The bus driver called through the lonely vehicle, his Scottish accent testament to my new surroundings. Startled, I tripped to the front of the bus, hesitating before the open doors.

"Do… uh. D'ya know any good hotels or anything around here?" I asked, pulling at my sleeve.

"Well… Good hotels, that's a matter of opinion. The best, I'd say, is the other side of town, I'm afraid. But there's a small bed and breakfast just up the road from here, just head that way, and you should see the sign. Pretty small, mind."

"Oh. Ok. Thanks." I mumbled, and stepped outside. From what I'd gathered through the day, I was in a small town, somewhere in Scotland. I was standing on what seemed to be a main street, but there wasn't a soul about. Just up ahead, I could see a small sign reading 'B&B' above a door. Shuddering, I rushed forward, wishing I'd worn a hooded coat. It was a blessing to have remembered my purse.

The building was tiny on the inside, and clearly hadn't been decorated in decades. The carpet was a dusty, mossy brown flower pattern, and the walls were pale green. A tired looking old lady stood behind the desk, dressed in pink, gold and pearls. She glanced up slightly as I walked in, and blinked distastefully. "Hello." She said curtly, deciding whether I was worth her attention. "Are you here for a room?"

"Yeah, thanks. Is there any vacancies?"

"We do," She sighed, and I guessed there were plenty of vacant rooms. "How long do you plan to stay?" She pursed her lips, closing the book she had been reading.

"Can't I just pay each night? I'm not sure how long I'll be here. How much is it for a room?"

"Anything from twenty to thirty pounds, depending on what room…"

"Right…" I patted my pockets, searching for my purse. Nervously, I checked my funds. Forty pounds plus change. "Can I get the one for twenty quid?" I pulled two notes from my purse, and laid them on the desk. She smiled, warming slightly, and accepted the money.

"Would you like to sign here, and I'll lead you up to the room?" She pushed a guestbook my way, along with a pen. Quickly, I scrawled a name down, not my name, and pushed it back to her. "Right, Ms. Turner, follow me." She said, and strode over toward the ancient staircase. "First floor, second door on the left. Here's your key. Breakfast is served from seven till nine. If you plan on going out again tonight, I must warn that I will lock the door at eleven o'clock prompt."

"Right, right. Thanks, by the way." And with that, the old woman walked away. Taking the small, fading bronze key in my fingers, I unlocked the creaky door.

The room was small, but cosy. The horrendous carpet from the hall outside was long gone, replaced by a stylish, plush chocolate rug, over laminate flooring. The walls were plain cream. There was a tiny, pale blue bathroom by the room entrance, a tall cupboard, and a bed in cream and chocolate shades. Whoever had decorated had a better sense of style than the old woman downstairs. Tiredly, I stepped forward and fell onto the bed, damp clothes and all.

It had been a long day, that's for sure. Long, and confusing. I had started the day in London, possibly in a different universe. That had all changed, when we found it. A police box. A real one. Or so I thought. Mum and I, we'd decided to go shopping in London for Tony's birthday, when I saw it.

"I can't believe he's nearly two!" I exclaimed, laughing as she heaved an exasperated sigh.

"I can." She huffed, before grinning at me. "Ooh, you still haven't got him a card yet, have you?"

"He's two. I could give him a blank sheet of paper." I joked. "Nah, I've got him one. Don't worry, I'm all set."

"I'd hope so. He'd be put out with you if you didn't and you know it-" She paused, stopping still in the street.

"Mum…?" I said, looking back. Even her unruly blonde hair seemed frozen as she stared across the street.

"Rose… tell me that isn't…?" She said, her voice quiet, yet hopeful. I followed her gaze, and nearly choked on my breath. I didn't even answer. I was already barrelling toward the blue box, heart racing. My hands touched reached it, seconds before I slammed into it, groping for the handle.

"Please please… Let me in!" I whimpered, yanking hard on the old handle. It finally gave, and I flung myself inside, eyes blind.

It was just a police box. A phone rested on a small, graffiti covered unit, a ripped phone book stuck beside it. The small space stank, and the surfaces shone with sticky stains. "Rose? Rose!" Mum called, and I realized the door had closed behind me.

"Mum, it's not… it's just…" I started dejectedly, my various imaginings turning to dust in my head. He could have been right there in London, waiting with open arms, telling me he'd figured out a way around the parallel universe block. Tears sparked up in my eyes, and I shoved the door open.

I wasn't in London. I hadn't been in a phone box. I turned around, and found I had been standing in a red phone box, with windows. And I was in a town I had never seen before. Frantically, I stepped back inside, closing the door, closing my eyes. How did I get here? I opened them, and found nothing had changed. I was still in the strange new place. Hands trembling, I pulled out my phone, and called Mum. The line was dead. I tried using the phone box, and found that there too, the number didn't seem to exist.

There was no other way to explain it. I had been brought far from home, either by the Doctor, or for the Doctor. He had to be here. I had spent the whole day searching, looking for signs, for a familiar face, just the feeling that he was nearby, but to no avail. I hadn't even thought to buy another set of clothes, or pyjamas. It was only by chance that I'd found I was in Scotland.

It didn't seem like a positive situation, but there was still much to do before I could give in to sleep. Reluctantly, I stood up again, and wandered to the window sadly. I had been to different planets, different galaxies and different centuries. But I had never felt alone, purposeless like this. What if I couldn't find the Doctor? Why had I been so selfish as to want him? I had the mortal Doctor. I had Mum, Dad, Tony, Mickey.

The rain had cleared up slightly, just enough to see outside. Still, there was nobody out. Cars rarely passed, though it was only seven. Across the road, there were small houses, equally as small and squashed as the ones on my side. One house, the one directly across from me, was positioned awkwardly, so the garden was next to the tiny building, a tall sandstone wall around it. As though it was working by my thoughts, the outside light went on in the garden, and a tall man stepped outside. He wore an old fashioned suit with a bow tie, and his dark hair, illuminated by the light, was styled into a neat quiff. He stared across the garden, his expression thoughtful. I followed his gaze, and for the second time in the day, I felt my heart stop. The words 'BAD WOLF' spray painted on its blue wooden exterior; the dim glow of the 'Police Box' lettering, and a door that somehow looked… welcoming.

The man stared at it with a perplexed expression, like he didn't understand it. He wasn't the Doctor. Of course not; but I couldn't see why the Doctor would have left the Tardis there. The logic in my mind yearned to be heard, but I pushed it away and made for the door immediately. I passed the old woman again in the hall, and felt the need to just say something. "I'm nipping out for a bit, I won't be long." I told her, like it mattered to her.

Outside, it was still spitting with rain, but I dashed across the road, moments before the only car on the street passed by. "Sorry," I mumbled stupidly, my head in a jumble. Not one to be ignored, I pounded my fist against the door, moments short of yelling in impatience. The man from the garden answered within seconds, and, staring up at his face, I realized I had nothing I could say, not unless he knew the Doctor. "Hi, I'm here representing the local council, and we're all very intrigued by this 'blue box' in your garden… may I come inside?" I said, the words coming too quickly.

"Do you… do you have identification?" He asked, his accent not unlike my own.

"Yes, yes," I said impatiently, grabbing my purse and rooting through it. "Here." I said, showing him the blank card. "Rose Ty-…Turner, head of Environmental and Ecological department." I lied. "Now, can I please have a look at this box?"

"Come on in, Rose." He said, making me hesitate. The way he said it, it sounded… right. I shook my head: it was only because he had a similar accent to people I knew. "Yes… I really don't understand it. It's been there since I moved here." He sighed, leading me through the tiny house.

"And when did you move here, Mr…?"

"Smith. John Smith. And not long ago, about a month?"

"John Smith, did you say?" My voice had grown small, quiet. It was too strange. Something had to be going on, more than just a Tardis in the garden. He nodded quickly, and pushed out to the back door. I resisted the urge to run to it, much like I had in London. It felt like it was pulling me in, and I knew, this one was definitely the real deal. "And… have you seen anything unusual occur? People using the box? Have you been inside?"

"Nope. Certainly not. It's locked, it seems. And who would be there to use it, other than me?" He frowned to himself.

"Oh. Ok. Do you mind if I-"

"No, go ahead." He said, and eagerly, I skipped over to it. He was right; it was locked. Luckily, I had a key. Not caring if the peculiar Mr. John Smith saw, I pulled out the key, and unlocked the door. Happiness hit me as I opened the door, like the Tardis itself was exhaling in relief. Carefully, I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. It was, as always, a lot bigger on the inside. Machinery was everywhere, along with everything else a being could ever want and need. Except one thing.

"Doctor?" I called, my voice shaky. Where was he? "Hello? Hellooo?" I stepped up to the main controls, searching for any signs of life. Nothing. I reached toward the controls, avoiding any buttons or switches, and touched the cool metal, shuddering. Before heat flooded my veins, like an embrace. The Tardis 'woke up' recognising me. "Oh! You always knew how to charm a girl!" I said ecstatically, before realising I was talking only to the machine. But it knew. "Where is he?" I whispered, half hoping the Tardis would actually tell me, though I'd be mad if it did.

It was, however, a very intuitive device. On the screen, a face appeared, one of the Doctor's first incarnations. Quickly, it skimmed through the generations, pausing on the one I knew. "That's who I'm looking for, yep." I said, no longer caring. And then, it did something I didn't expect. It flipped forward to a new picture, the face of John Smith, the man in the house.

I knew the name 'John Smith' was too coincidental to be true! I knew there was something up! Tears welled in my eyes. I had found him. And of course, it was like him to want me to find out for myself. I turned, murmuring thanks to the Tardis, and walked to the door, expecting him to be standing there with an expectant smile on his new, smug face. I was only half right.

"W-what is this? This isn't… Blimey! It's certainly a lot bigger on the inside, isn't it?"

AN: Helloo :D First of all, thanks for reading, I hope you liked it, & i hope you'll read more when I post it.

Feel free to review ;) Even if you didn't like it, or didn't get something, just to tell me..

Well, anyway, thanks again, I hope i hear from you! :D xxx