Author's note: Hi, everyone. I'm a huge fan of Doctor Who and have had these stories going around and around on my computer for ages. I'm so glad I'm finally publishing them, so I hope you all like them. This story will sort of be like a typical season of Doctor Who, with the chapters as episodes. Sometimes they'll follow on from each others, sometimes they won't. Please feel free to ask any questions or point out any continuity/story/Doctor Who mistakes ^_^
Disclaimer: To my utter disappointment, I do not own Doctor Who, otherwise this story would be real and Donna would still be with the Doctor.
Chapter 1: A Fateful Meeting
I was woken by a loud whooshing sound. It was the middle of the night, probably around midnight. For a moment I thought the sound was in my dream, but as it grew louder I realised it was real.
It almost sounded like the TARDIS from Doctor Who. It was a loud pulsating hum. I got out of bed and went to my window, pulling the curtain back, curious but also slightly frightened. I could hear my parents, also having woken, muttering in the next room.
I couldn't see anything, but then a blue light caught my eye and I turned my attention skywards. Hundreds of stars twinkled back at me…and among them, spinning wildly out of control…was the TARDIS itself.
I stood there staring for several seconds, watching as it slammed down violently into the ground, nearly toppling over in the process. The light stopped blinking.
Then I ran. I pelted out to the lounge, past my still stunned parents and unlocked the front door.
"What are you doing?" Dad cried, grabbing my arm.
"It's the TARDIS!" I gasped. "It's all real!"
"Talia, don't be ridiculous. It's a hologram or something."
I shook my head. "No! It's real! I'll prove it to you, come with me!"
In my slippers still, I dashed out towards the TARDIS. The door was unlocked and I stepped inside. Instantly, I knew I was right.
Well…to state the obvious…it was bigger on the inside.
While Mum and Dad stood dumbfounded in the doorway, I began calling out.
"Doctor! Doctor!"
No answer. I walked around the centre console and spotted an unmistakable brown coated figure. The tenth Doctor lay, unconscious, on the grating. A small thrill ran through me; this was better than meeting David Tennant. I went to his side, shocked and concerned. Then I leaned down and put my ear to his chest.
"What are you doing?" Dad asked again. He knew practically nothing about the series. Mum, on the other hand, did.
"Checking both his hearts." She answered, prompting a shocked look.
I could hear two pulses, but they were a bit weak. Judging by logic, I guessed that he must have crashed into my universe…an alternate universe…but why? How? I thought all the gaps were sealed. Had he met Martha yet? Donna?
So many questions flew around my head. I took a deep breath. "Mum, Dad, get him inside and lay him on the couch."
"If he wakes should we do anything?" Mum asked.
"I won't be long. I'll come in. Give him water or whatever but no aspirin!" I warned. They carried him between them and I walked over to the screen on the console. "Right, now if the series had anything right, you're alive, aren't you girl?"
For a moment, I felt very silly. But then I heard a hum in the back of my mind. An agreement.
I smiled. "Can you show me, on this screen, what happened?"
Like a movie, the screen went blank for a moment before a scene began playing. I realised that the TARDIS had taped the whole situation.
The Doctor was rapidly pressing buttons. "I've finally found it." He muttered, though to himself or the TARDIS I couldn't tell. "A crack leading to Pete's world. Rose, I'm coming."
I gasped and felt a lump catch in my throat; he was trying to get to Rose.
He waited, looking as though he didn't dare hope too much. The TARDIS' humming grew louder as they slid through the crack. Then there was a harsh jolt.
"No!" The Doctor yelled, slamming a hammer down onto the console. "No, no, no! It shouldn't be doing that! Come on, girl, Pete's world!"
Something told me the TARDIS was now out of his control. Perhaps the crack covered several universes and, while aiming for Pete's…ended up in mine.
A part of the TARDIS console exploded at the same time it jolted again. This threw the Doctor backwards and, explaining his unconsciousness, into a metal beam. The transmission cut off.
I closed my eyes. "He just wanted to get to her." I whispered.
I headed back inside, after silently promising the TARDIS that I would take care of the Doctor and get him up and going again ASAP.
He was still unconscious. Mum and Dad had laid him on the couch like I said and put a blanket over him. They seemed not to know what to do next and were sitting on a chair. They looked up as I walked in.
"What were you doing?" Mum asked.
"Finding out what happened."
As briefly as I could, for Dad didn't know any of the story, I explained who the Doctor was, what had happened during his 9th regeneration and all the way through until Rose was trapped. Then I explained what he was doing here. It took over an hour.
"It was a complete accident and, if the series is anything to go by, the TARDIS won't be operational again for 24 hours." I finished. The second the words left my mouth, I heard a soft groan from behind me.
Turning, I realised the Doctor was slowly waking. "Where am I? What happened?" he murmured.
I went and kneeled next to him, trying not to stare with my eyes which I knew were as big as dinner plates at the moment. "You're on a property in NSW, Australia, Doctor. It's 2013. You crash landed in my dimension, while aiming for Pete's."
"How do you know who I am?" he asked, frowning. My heard suddenly did a small little jump…well…I had always had a crush on David Tennant.
"In this universe, you and all your previous regenerations exist as well…but only in a TV show. The parallel you is nothing more than an actor pretending to be you. But I've watched the series so I know pretty much everything about you and your companions." I told him.
He took a moment to absorb that, before shrugging. "Well, I've heard stranger things. But how did you know how I got here?"
"The TARDIS told me." I explained.
"She listened to you?"
"Yes. I think she knows how much I know."
He gasped and held a hand to his brow. "Ah! My head! Go on then, Miss Know-It-All, how'd that happen?"
"When the TARDIS crashed, you were thrown into the wall."
He raised an eyebrow, having not expected an answer. "Well then, it seems I have to thank you and…your parents." He looked up, spotting Mum and Dad for the first time.
Mum nodded. "You're welcome, Doctor. Although I will say that even now I believe this is a dream."
Dad just stayed silent. He too seemed to be struggling with what he saw before him, but preferred to struggle in silence.
"I'd better go out and start the TARDIS' recharging cycle." The Doctor announced, sitting up slowly.
"Allons-y!" I cried, standing up myself.
His eyebrow shot up again. "Hey! That's my line!" but he grinned, so I laughed along.
We headed back outside, with Mum saying she'd put on some tea. Once in the TARDIS, the Doctor began searching around for the one power cell that remained active. I helped, until I touched something that nearly burned my finger off.
"Aha! Here we go. Leave this little guy on for a day and we're ready to go." He said satisfactorily.
I had a feeling that by 'we', he meant himself and the TARDIS.
Disappointed somewhat, but also knowing that his character would possibly ask me to accompany him at some stage, I asked, "So what do you want to do here for a day?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. We can start with your Mum's tea. I gather there's no aliens in this universe then?"
"Well, you get your sightings but I never think they're real. Although, after tonight, I might." I replied.
"So do you really know everything?" he asked.
"Not quite, but close." I said, trying to sound modest.
"Mind if I quiz you?"
"Of course not, but what for?"
He avoided answering that. "What was the first alien Rose and I, or rather, the Old Doctor, faced?"
"The Nestene Consciousness." I said.
He nodded. "Name two historical figures I have met and who with?"
"You have met Queen Victoria with Rose and William Shakespeare with Martha."
"Ah, you know about Martha."
"Yes. She's left, hasn't she?"
"Yes, yes she has." He seemed not to want to talk about it, so I didn't press the issue. We stood and stared up at the stars for a moment.
I decided it was my turn to quiz him. "What's that star, or planet, or whatever it is?" I asked, pointing to a random star.
"Silenia. Home of the Strontien race."
"That one?"
"Ah, my turn. That star you pointed out, home of the Slitheen. Which is…"
I grinned; he was openly playing with me now. "Raxicoricofallapatorius."
Even he was impressed at how the name rolled off my tongue.
"Last one, then we'll go inside. What is time?"
I grinned wider, deciding to quote him. "From a non-linear perspective it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly…timey wimey…stuff."
He burst out laughing and I joined in, glad to have made him happy. "You are brilliant! I never got your name…?"
"Talia Dincer."
"Well, Talia, you're quite a human."
Taking that as a compliment, I opened my mouth to thank him when suddenly he frowned and raised his hand for silence.
"Oh no. Remember you said you often get sightings but can't tell if they're real?" his voice had dropped to a low whisper.
"Yes."
"Don't look to your left. Standing in the forest thirty metres away is an Octavian. And it's armed."
I nodded, fear rooting me to the spot anyway. The Doctor looked towards the forest at what was clearly the alien. "What do you want?"
A voice that seemed like the most beautiful symphony mixed with an owl's screech echoed through the distance, and I realised that the TARDIS had decided to translate for me.
"Last of the Time Lords. Last of the race that imprisoned my people in the night. At last, I have tracked you down."
The Doctor visibly paled. "What is it with members of lost races wanting to kill me…?" he muttered. "I promise not to touch you or the rest of your kind if you let me leave peacefully. I shall be ready to go by tomorrow night. Let me leave, and I shall even see if I can find a way to reverse your predicament."
There was a sharp hiss. "Oh no, Doctor, revenge is so much sweeter than freedom!"
I heard a scuffling sound, followed by the unmistakable whine of something travelling through air. I dared to turn and saw a glowing red dart flying towards the Doctor. He seemed stunned.
Fear filled me; if the Octavian knew about Time Lords and wanted him dead, then that dart could kill him. In the millisecond it took me to realise that, I also made a quick decision. I threw myself in front of him just as the dart hit.
It imbedded itself into my neck.
A/N: I know. Cliffhanger after the first chapter. Sorry. Next one will be up later today. Enjoy, rate and comment!
