ELEVENTH DOCTOR CHRONICLES

CHAPTER 1 - Thomas Barrow

Thomas closed his eyes and leaned back against the concrete pillar in the servant's courtyard.

His head thumped and his heart thumped in sync - Mr Carson clearly wanted him gone as soon as possible, he had made no bones about that - but was there anyone at Downton who hoped that he didn't have to go?...Thomas bowed his head at the bleak realization.

15 years of service! Had that counted for nothing?

He dropped his used cigarette and stubbed it out with his foot. He couldn't help noting the metaphorical similarity to his own life. 'That's me' he said to himself. 'Crushed...put out of my misery...gone...'

He screwed up his eyes to stop the tears that forced their way out and blew out an anxious sigh. Need to calm down...need to relax...time to put my brave face on again, show the world I don't care...

Thomas frowned. What was that? He turned his head quickly towards the faint and indistinct noise that seemed to be coming from the centre of the courtyard...

The low whooshing sound slowly ascended into audible existence and steadily it grew to a deafening crescendo.

Thomas opened his eyes wide and stared in disbelief at the large blue object that slowly faded into reality, just metres in front of him.

"What on earth?" he exclaimed to himself. His jaw dropped as the blue box became solid, the light on it's roof stopped blinking and the noise ceased.

Thomas read the sign above the doorway. "Police Box?"

The squeak of a door hinge gave way to the appearance of a man...a young man, floppy hair, dressed a bit like a mad professor.

The man approached him and clapped his hands together. "Ah...is this 1536?" he asked eagerly.

"What?" Thomas asked bewildered and confused.

"1536" the man repeated. "I need to prove Anne Boleyn's innocence, very important!"

Thomas shook his head and winced. "You were in there?"

The man walked up close to him, uncomfortably close, and looked him up and down. "Judging by the clothes...maybe not" he said more to himself than to Thomas. "What year is this please?"

"What year?" Thomas asked, his head starting to spin.

"1910? Maybe 1915?"

"1925" Thomas answered automatically. "Who are you?...and how do you not know what year it is?"

"No, no no!" the young man cried, slamming his hand against the blue box ferociously. "Don't keep doing this to me!"

"Listen, you can't keep that box here!" Thomas reprimanded him as he pulled himself together a little. "Mr Carson won't be happy, and you wouldn't want that...more to the point though, how did you get it here? I saw it just...appear..."

"Sorry, no time to explain!" the man answered over his shoulder as he rushed to the door of his box. He held up a key, slipped it into the lock and...nothing. "No!" he cried once more. "Let me in! Why do you keep locking me out?"

Thomas shook his head. "Is somebody else in there?" he asked bemused.

The man tried the lock vigorously several times but in vain. Finally he gave up. He gave a heavy sigh as his shoulders visibly dropped. He turned to look at Thomas, his face red with effort and embarrassment.

Thomas didn't know why, but he felt sorry for the young man. "Is this like a magic act or something?" he asked, trying to work out the whole bizarre fiasco.

"Sort of" the man answered dejectedly. "Anyway, sorry if I'm trespassing or anything. Didn't exactly mean to wind up in 1925..."

"How did you get that box in here?" Thomas pressed.

The young man scratched his head in frustration. "Ah...you won't believe me, but...it's a time machine."

Thomas shook his head. "That box?...is a time machine?" he chuckled with the absurdity. "Straight from the pages of H.G. Wells I suppose?" he quipped.

"Said you wouldn't believe me" the Doctor replied sulkily.

Thomas walked up to the blue box and put his hand out to touch it...it certainly felt solid enough...in fact it felt strange, like it was alive or something. It was a little unnerving and he withdrew his hand quickly.

"It's strange...I mean, I saw it appear...straight out of thin air...so either this is a magic act...a very good one mind you...or you're telling the truth."

"Why would I lie?" the young man asked subdued.

"Don't know..." Thomas replied cautiously. "...But, if it was...a time machine that is, you should be able to prove it."

"I would if it would let me in!" the man replied agitated.

"But it won't?" Thomas asked cynically.

"No! It won't!" the man replied grumpily, folding his arms.

Thomas smiled wryly at the curious fellow. Thomas had had an awful day so far, so this new visitor was a welcome distraction. "I'm Mr Barrow" he said, as he offered his hand in friendship.

The young man smiled in return. "Sorry, I'm forgetting my manners. I'm the Doctor." They shook hands.

"The Doctor?" Thomas asked bemused.

"Yes...where is this? Looks quite...grand" the Doctor asked, as he gazed up at the impressive building in front of him.

"Downton Abbey. I'm the Under-Butler."

"Ah, hence the posh clothes...Downton Abbey hey?"

"Home of Lord and Lady Grantham."

"Hm. So I wonder why the Tardis brought me here then?" the Doctor mused to himself.

"Tardis?" Thomas asked intrigued.

The Doctor tapped the blue box. "This."

"So, let me get this straight" Thomas tried. "You think the...Tardis, brought you here, and now won't let you leave for...1536 was it?"

"There's usually a reason...the Tardis often knows things I don't."

Nice fellow, but obviously not all there Thomas thought to himself. Better humour him...

"So...maybe the Tardis wanted you to come here?" Thomas offered.

"Yes, that's certainly possible" the Doctor frowned as he reflected on Thomas' conjecture.

"Listen, why don't you give that key another go?" Thomas suggested, keen for the box to be moved before Mr Carson came strolling out of the back door.

"Worth a try I suppose." The Doctor ran forward and slipped the key into it's lock...but it still wouldn't budge, not even a fraction.

"Oh I give up!" the Doctor lamented.

"Here, let me have a go" Thomas offered. He stepped forward and took the key from the Doctor. He slipped the key into it's lock...and it turned with no resistance. Thomas opened the door just slightly ajar and looked back at the Doctor. "There!" he said with a triumphant grin, as he handed the key back to him.

The Doctor gazed at Thomas with a curious smile. "Now that is interesting! he remarked excitedly. "And new!...interesting and new!" He suddenly broke into a broad smile. "You wanted proof did you say?"

Thomas huffed. "Don't be daft. There's not much room in there!"

The Doctor bolted for the Tardis door, momentarily stopping at its threshold. "Oh, you'd be surprised!" he grinned, stepping inside.

Thomas stood outside the Tardis' door, intrigued. Should he really follow this ludicrous mad man into a small blue box with 'Police' written on the outside? The whole thing seemed very suspect...and yet...

He pushed the door wide. 'If you think I'm coming in there...' Thomas began, but he didn't get any further than that. As the vibrant orange glow coming from within illuminated his face, it was as much as he could do to stand up straight. Feeling like his legs were about to give way any second he took a deep breath and stepped inside the Tardis.

The Doctor was excitedly pushing buttons and throwing levers as Thomas stood transfixed gazing up at the rafters of the console room.

"It was just a small blue box on the outside" he muttered..."but inside..."

"Bigger?" the Doctor suggested with a smug grin. "I love that bit!"

Thomas shook his head. The very idea of the Tardis seemed too big to fit inside his head...and yet, here he was staring at the reality of that concept. It was both euphoric and terrifying at the same time.

"I'm sorry Doctor, seems I misjudged you" he said humbly. "This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen...but...can it really be a time machine?" he asked incredulously. He gave a chuckle.

"Oh yes!" the Doctor replied with pride. "Will take you to anytime you want...well anytime but 1536 that is!" he added crossly.

Thomas walked up to the control panel next to the Doctor. "It doesn't like 1536?"

"Apparently not. The date will just not lock in!" The Doctor tried again, but to no avail. "Ah!" he exclaimed in utter frustration as he gave the console a thump . "Behave will you!"

"Can you not try another date?" Thomas suggested distractedly, his eyes mesmerized by the flashing lights of the instrument panel.

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Of course but...well actually, why don't you choose, Mr Barrow. The Tardis obviously likes you...i mean, it opened for you."

Thomas burst out a laugh. The Tardis opened for him? What a notion! Could it really be? As he gazed at the intoxicating radiant glow that poured from every orifice and listened to the hypnotic ambient hum of the console... he almost could believe it was a living thing...

"Mr Carson! I'll be in for it!" he suddenly exclaimed in grim realization."I'll have to go...uh, I suggest you move the Tardis before he sees it!...although I'd pay good money to see what he'd make of this!"

The Doctor gave a cough. 'Time' machine, remember..." he smiled.

Thomas stopped in mid flight. "Not sure I can still believe that part of it yet..."

"But you're thinking about it..." the Doctor posed.

Thomas deliberated. The Tardis certainly was a miracle right before his eyes, he couldn't deny that.

"So...could you get me back the same moment I left?" he asked expectantly.

"Or even five minutes earlier" the Doctor grinned.

"Then no one would ever know I'd gone..." Thomas mused.

"Precisely! Now, where will it be Mr Barrow? When will it be? You have all of time and space to choose from...what takes your fancy?"

Thomas frowned and dropped his head in serious deliberation.

The Doctor waited eagerly. "Any place you can think of, anytime in future or history."

Thomas was lost in thought.

"How about the moons of Trill?" the Doctor suggested excitedly, trying to speed up Thomas' decision. "Great panoramic views of the Ventia system there...Or what about the marble trees on Siotra?.....Or we could go to Meleoppaness...you know in winter they have pink snow! Can you imagine that? Pink snow!"

He gazed back at Thomas and tapped his fingers on the Tardis console impatiently. "Well?..."

Thomas looked up and gazed at him solemnly. "Take me to see a friend."