There was a polite knock at the door. This would not have been odd in and of itself, but for two things.
Firstly, the cloaking devise on the TARDIS usually prevented it from being noticed by people unless they knew what they were looking for. Secondly, he was in the midst of travelling.
He stared at the door for a moment, trying to decide if he'd heard what he'd just heard when he heard it again, a brisk knock.
The Doctor hurried around the central console and went over to the door, and opened it. "Hello?"
A woman in a long dark gown, with long black hair that was almost green was standing on the doorstep.
"Ahh!" he beamed, "I should have known it would be you knocking on my door mid-flight!"
"Hello Doctor," she greeted him, stepping inside.
"What brings you here?" he asked, or started to ask as the TARDIS lurched to the left. He hurried back over to the console and yanked a lever. "Now stop that," he admonished.
His guest didn't seem bothered at all. She merely shifted her weight a bit to counter. "I wished to speak with you," she said, as though nothing had happened
"I see. Um, have a seat?" he indicated a bench, and then ran around to the other side of the console, informing the TARDIS that they had a guest now, and she needed to behave, or at least keep the floor level for at least the next few minutes.
"You did well, earlier," his guest told him.
"What?" the Doctor blinked, "Oh that." He grinned lopsidedly, "It happens. Working, I mean."
"Well you were very helpful," she replied, "I appreciate it."
"Ah, it was nothing," he waved a hand awkwardly.
"You seem to be having difficulty with your TARDIS," she said, as it jerked to one side.
He sighed and pulled another lever. "She's just being a bit… temperamental."
The woman rose to her feet and walked over to the console. "Calm down," she said to the TARDIS
The Doctor sighed as the TARDIS lurched once again. "She's been like this awhile now."
The woman, to his surprise, smiled. "This solves my problem nicely then." Her dark eyes sparkled a bit at the Doctor's puzzled expression. "I meant to do something for you, as a reward for helping me. I could not decide what, but you have given me an idea."
All that the doctor could say to that was: "Uh, yes?"
The woman set a hand on the pillar at the center of the TARDIS console. "And I think that you would like that too," she addressed the TARDIS, "Since you helped as well. Come out, if you like."
The Doctor thought both of his hearts had stopped in his chest as the air seemed to shimmer where the woman had touched the TARDIS. And then a familiar voice spoke up: "well, it's about time."
The dark-haired woman gave the new arrival a warm smile. "I think that will settle things nicely between us, Doctor."
"I was beginning to think I would have to go along without getting any sort of help at all." Idris folded her arms. She looked a lot like she had before; same outfit, same hair. She just had a soft golden glow about her. "Well, Thief?" She turned to the Doctor, who was doing a rather good impression of a fish.
"What?" was all that the Doctor could manage.
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" She put her hands on her hips.
"What's going on here?" the Doctor pulled himself together.
"You said that the TARDIS was having some problems," the visitor said, "Now maybe between the two of you, you can figure it out."
"Well, there's always a first time." Idris commented, eyeing the Doctor. "You have glasses."
"I do," he said, "I like them. Make me look smart."
She snorted. "You shouldn't show off so, Thief."
He shook his head slightly, as if to clear it. "That's not important now."
"No, no, of course not." She twisted her lips into a sort of pout, looking over the console. "You left the handbrake on. Again."
"Does that bother you?"
"Would you like it if someone hung a ball and chain from you?" She countered, pushing a button and flipping a switch.
"Been there," he said cheerfully.
"Well, it isn't nice." she huffed.
"It's just not the same without that sound though," he sighed, not quite pouting.
"You could always ask me to make that sound."
"Could you do that?" he asked.
"I am your TARDIS," Idris replied with a soft of huff.
"Yes," he grinned madly, "Yes you are. And you're beautiful!" He suddenly darted forward and embraced her tightly.
Idris flushed a brighter shade of gold. "Flatterer," she said happily, but she hugged him back, resting her head on his shoulder.
Eventually, he let her go. "Oh this is just brilliant, just brilliant." Then something occurred to him, and he turned back to his visitor, "How long can she stay?"
"As long as her body lasts," the woman replied.
"And how long will that be?" he asked.
"Depends on how well the two of you take care of it," she replied with a smile.
"Then maybe I will get to be around for awhile," Idris rested her head on the Doctor's shoulder with a smile.
"Good," he said, and then stopped for a bit as something occurred to him, "Hang on. Can you still… you know… be the TARDIS… like this?"
Idris just smiled at him, and then lightly set her hand on the console. It shimmered, and she pressed her hand through the plastic and metal. The lights blinked and a few things started whirring. "I would say so, wouldn't you, Thief?"
"That's just brilliant," he looked very pleased, to stay the least.
"I know," Idris said simply.
"I shall take my leave," their visitor said, "Take good care of each other."
Before the Doctor or Idris had a chance to reply, the woman was quietly and simply gone. The Doctor blinked a bit, but smiled. That was a goddess for you.
He turned back to Idris. "So... um... why exactly... were you jerking around so much?"
"I'll do that? Or have I already done that?"
"Already done that," he said, "These past two days. I thought that maybe there might have been something wrong with the sublinear transitioner or the quadratic stabilizer," he replied.
"It's the wiring in the subdural synchronizer," she replied simply.
"Really? Hadn't expected that."
"Which is why you didn't check."
"Nope," he said cheerfully, rummaging around, "What exactly is wrong with the wires?"
"You fried the bidural conduit, which damaged the wiring of the partner socket." She told him.
"Right," he popped up from what he was digging around in and emerged with a small toolbox. "I'll go have a look."
She smiled. "My ever-faithful thief."
He gave her a salute and made his way down.
The Doctor hummed to himself as he made his way down the stairs. He entered a long corridor that was pretty much walled with panels. Humming to himself, he counted them until he reached the one he wanted and opened it. Then he frowned and closed it, went back to the start, counted again and arrived at a different panel. Then he took out his screw driver and scanned the inside.
"Where are you?" he muttered softly. After a bit of searching, he found the damaged wires. "Ah ha!" he said gleefully, "there you are."
He reached into the toolbox and pulled out some electrical tape, binding the frayed wires back together. He hummed as he worked
"You aren't in tune." Idris commented, appearing next to him, and startling him into dropping the roll of tape. "Oh, now this is new. This is fun! I can go anywhere I think."
"Don't DO that," he said, only sounding a little scolding. But he had a smile.
Idris grinned at him. "Tell you you're out of tune? But you were."
"Oh I know that," he replied, "I meant sneak up on me like that."
"Ahhhh." She nodded. "I didn't sneak, though." She added, "I teleported."
"I'll get used to it," the Doctor nodded, getting up, "Anyway, how does that repair feel?"
Idris faded slightly, becoming nearly transparent. "That is better," her voice echoed around the room, "Much better."
"Good," the Doctor looked pleased, replacing the tape back in the toolbox, "I want to keep you in good shape."
Idris laughed. "I was a museum piece when I stole you..." she murmured.
"A museum piece in very good condition," he pointed out with a smile.
"Passable condition." She chuckled.
"Good enough for me," he replied
She looked mock-insulted. "You were supposed to tell me I was in perfect condition." She teased him.
"Was I?" he teased back.
"You were." She pretend pouted.
"Well, you're in perfect condition right now," he replied seriously, "And that's all that matters."
Idris looked very happy at that, and gave his hand as squeeze. "So where do I take you next, thief?"
"Can you come out, with me?" the Doctor asked suddenly, "I mean leave the TARDIS. Well, you can't leave the TARDIS, you are the TARDIS, but could you leave the box?"
She laughed merrily. "I'm here now, aren't I? The box is just a place to live, much like you do. Only I need to come back a little more often than you do."
He gave her hand a squeeze. "Then we have to think of somewhere good to go."
The doctor hurried (as he always hurried everywhere) back to the main control room. When he got there, Idris was already seated on the console, waiting for him.
"So, where should we go?" he asked with a smile, "The night forest on the third moon of Durkard? The diamond lake of Expanica? The Italian Renaissance on Earth? The tri-centennial celebration on Raxus IV?"
"Where do we need to go?" She murmured thoughtfully. She smiled serenely at the Doctor and then rested her hand on the console, fading until she was almost invisible. The controls flipped, dials whirled, and the TARDIS took off.
He laughed lightly. "Well I did say your choice after all. Where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there," she smiled.
He laughed lightly. "Have it your way"
"I plan to." She sounded amused.
"Only if I can have my way at times, eh?" he responded
"Oh, I'm sure I can allow that sometimes." She chucked.
"That's very kind of you, my love."
Just visible, Idris' face lit up, as did all of the lights on the console. They vanished and reappeared silently, as the Doctor did not leave the parking brake on.
"Although I do like that sound," he confessed to her
She moved lightly down from the control panel. "I will make it." She assured him. "Just for you, Thief."
"Thank you, love." He offered her his arm.
She beamed and accepted his arm. "You are so charming this time." She told him. Her eyes went golden and faraway a moment. "You were also charming when you stole me... When I stole you." Idris blinked, her eyes returning to normal, and she smiled.
"I borrowed you," he corrected, "And you just made it hard to return you. And now, well, there's nowhere to return you to."
She shook her head slightly. "Borrowing implies the eventual intention to return the thing that was taken." She waggled one finger at him. "And I told you. I had no intention of giving you back."
"So why call me thief?" he teased, "I should call you thief."
She smiled at him. "You started it." She told him sweetly. "You stole me, so I stole you."
"Fine, fine," he replied, "But could you not call me 'thief' around other people?"
She tilted her head. "Would you prefer your pseudonym?"
"It would make things less confusing if you did call me Doctor, at least around others," he said with a nod.
"I am sure I can manage. Will manage. Have managed. Oh, tenses are so confusing."
"I know you can do it," he smiled, "You are brilliant after all."
The two made their way to the door. "So, where are we then?" he asked
"Altheis Three." She told him. "Atmosphere conducive to sustaining various lifeforms and terrain. Population point two million. Three races make up the majority: Altheisians, Mendarins, and human-derivatives."
"Sounds fantastic," he said with a grin, "Shall we go out and have a look around?"
He pushed the doors open and the two of them made their way into the sunlight. They were standing out in a field of azure colored grass, stretching out in all directions.
"That looks like a city over there," he pointed off to the east, "Shall we start over there?"
He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his over coat and they started to walk. Idris was looking around most curiously; before she had had her little escapade with House, she had never really seen the places and things her thief had seen. Not the way he had, anyway.
"Ah," he took a deep breath, "Smell that fresh air."
"I can smell three different types of engine fuel." Idris commented.
"Exactly," he beamed.
"I would hardly class this fresh." She remarked, one eyebrow raised.
The Doctor chuckled, "yes, well, it's not a bad scent, now is it?" Idris shrugged, a motion she had picked up from observation. "Let's just enjoy the day, it's a holiday after all."
"Then I shall enjoy it," she laughed merrily, "So long as we do not get lost again."
"Getting lost's half the fun," he said cheerfully
"I am not sure I entirely agree..." She murmured, but she was smiling.
The city was very busy, with people bustling about their business. There were many different types of people, so neither the Timelord nor the TARDIS-in-a-human-vessel looked out of place. The Doctor looked very pleased, a huge grin on his face. "Now this is my kind of place, look at all these people, all sorts of races, just living together."
Idris smiled. "Wouldn't it be nice if more were able to do that?"
"It's my dream," he admitted
She squeezed his arm. "It is a lovely dream." She told him.
"So where do you think we should begin?" the Doctor asked.
"How about over there?" She suggested, pointing to a suitably-interesting-looking building.
"Let's go!" he led the way.
The primary city of Altheis Three was famous all over the planet for its extensive library, and that was where the Timelord and TARDIS found themselves.
He let out a whistle. "What a place."
"It is nearly larger than me! Well, not really, but it looks close."
He took her hand. "Come on!" he picked a row of bookshelves at random and hurried down it.
After running around for a bit, the two of them had amassed an armload of books, and commandeered a table and a pair of comfortable chairs in a large, conservatory-like room with high glass ceilings. The two spent the afternoon reading, until Idris' stomach made a noise.
She blinked in confusion as the Doctor chuckled, "Sounds like its lunch time."
"What was that?" She glanced down at her middle. "Has something broken?"
"No, not broken. Just time to refuel."
That she understood. "Ah."
He stood up. "Come on. Let's see what we can find."
"I don't think I know what I like..." She mused as they went. "It's not really the sort of thing I thought about."
"We'll have to try everything then," he said with a nod
Idris was quite contented to let the Doctor lead her across the city, and she was quite willing to let him introduce her to food - which was a foreign concept to her. She couldn't say she had enjoyed everything he had persuaded her to try, but she hadn't let that slow her down.
Sunset found her and the Doctor seated on the grassy hill just outside of their blue box, watching the sun vanish beneath the horizon. She clapped her hands lightly together. "It is so lovely."
"It really is," he agreed, "This is a wonderful place"
"It is." She agreed. "I wish you could see more of these types of places..."
He gave her a smile and put his arm around her shoulder, giving her a little squeeze.
Idris glanced at him, then scooted closer and rested against him. "You have seen too much sorrow..." She murmured.
"I try not to think about it too much," he replied cheerfully, "And days like today make it all worth it." He looked sideways at her, "And it's good to have someone to share days like this with."
She gave him another smile. "I always share things with you, even if it is only once you are back in the box."
"But...this is better." He replied, "I hope that you are enjoying yourself."
"Oh, I am." She said happily. "I think its much nicer seeing the universe this way."