Disclaimer: "Doctor Who", the Doctor, the TARDIS, Rose Tyler, Time Lords, etc. all belong to the BBC, they are not mine.
MISSING PERSONS
Chapter I
A baby calf, not three days old, was happily grazing with its mother when it saw the strangest thing it would ever see in its life.
At first it heard a thrumming, grinding sound, like old machinery. Then in the middle of the field a blue box slowly faded into view. The calf, and several other young members of the herd, looked up at it. The older cows had seen many weird and wonderful inventions of men, and this magic box was nothing odd to them. The young calves soon ignored it as well.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The door to the TARDIS opened and 19-year-old Rose Tyler stepped out. The farmyard smell hit her urban nostrils and she winced. The Doctor exited after her and took a deep breath.
"Ahhh, fresh countryside air. Doesn't it just fill you with inspiration?" He grinned broadly.
Rose gave him a look and said sarcastically, "Oh yeah, makes me wanna give up my day job and become a farmer definitely." Then she asked, "Where are we exactly?"
The Doctor glanced at his watch, as if it would tell him, "We are somewhere in Pennsylvania, in the good ol' U.S. of A."
"And when?"
"About 'alf ten. C'mon, let's go look around!" He started walking briskly across the field and Rose tagged behind.
A cow looked up at the Doctor as he passed by. "Don't worry," he said, patting his leather jacket, "it's fake."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"I'm telling ya, By, I think she was serious this time. She's been gone since yesterday," explained old Henry Morse. He was referring to his wife.
Sheriff Byron Anderson sat across the diner counter listening to his old friend's ramblings with practiced patience. "Relax, Hank. You two have had worse fights. She'll just be at her sister's." Morse and his wife regularly argued, almost every month like clockwork, and she often left home to go to her sister's for a day or two before cooling down.
"But I called there this morning. She says she hasn't seen Violet."
That peaked Anderson's interest. "Hmm. I guess she wouldn't have any reason to lie..."
"I'm really worried about her this time, By. Especially with those other folks going missing an' all…"
"Okay, Hank. I'll check this one out. I'm sure they're unrelated disappearances. It's only been, what, two people in as many days. Everything will turn out-"
Just then the door opened and the Doctor and Rose walked in. Anderson and Morse looked up at the two strangers.
It was pretty early in the morning for a Tuesday, so they were the only four people in the diner. The two strangers were given odd looks by the two middle-aged American men.
"Howdy!" said the Doctor.
"Hey there," said Anderson. "Never seen you folks before."
"We're just passing through," said the Doctor. He took a seat alongside Anderson. "Got any pancakes? I could really go some good old American-style pancakes drenched in maple syrup."
"Uh, yeah," said Morse and he turned to prepare the pancakes.
"You here on business or pleasure?" Anderson asked them.
Rose took a seat at the counter and replied, "We never really know until we get there."
"What part of England you from?" asked Anderson.
Rose smiled at having her accent recognised. "Oh, I'm from London and he's… he's, y'know, from the North."
The Doctor had noted the man's inquisitive tone. "You seem to be asking a lot of questions, Officer. Do we look suspicious to you?"
Anderson lightened up. "No, not at all. I do apologise. And it's Sheriff. Sheriff Byron Anderson, and this here's Mister Henry Morse." Morse nodded towards them.
"I'm the Doctor and this is Rose Tyler."
"Pleased to meet you," said Rose.
"We don't get many strangers in town, and we have been experiencing some… problems."
"What kind of problems?" asked the Doctor.
Anderson and Morse exchanged a tense look. "A few people have been going missing lately," said the Sheriff. "Mr. Morse here hasn't seen his wife since last night. There are two others unaccounted for as well."
The Doctor and Rose exchanged a look. Silently they were saying to one another, Let's help them.
The Doctor turned to Morse and asked, "Where was your wife last seen?"
Morse looked at Anderson, who gave him a nod. "Last night, our house, about six o'clock."
"Did she say she was going anywhere?"
"Well we, uh, had a fight. She usually goes to her sister's afterwards, but I've called there and there's no sign."
The Time Lord then directed his questions at Anderson. "What about the others?"
"You think you can help us, Doctor?" said Anderson.
"It's what I do."
Anderson, seemingly somewhat uncomfortable, answered, "The first was two days ago. Sunday morning. Old Mrs. Waters didn't attend church like she usually does every Sunday. Thinking that maybe she was ill, Father Macintyre stopped by her house. She wasn't in. No-one can find any trace of her.
"The next disappearance was reported yesterday afternoon. Donny Phillips, kid about eighteen, didn't show up for work at the gas station. His parents were the last to see him and don't know where he is. And then there's Violet - Hank's wife…"
There was silence as the Doctor contemplated this. Then Morse spoke.
"Can you really help, Doctor?"
"I'll do my best."
"We're good at this sort of thing," said Rose.
"And what sort of thing is that?" asked Anderson.
"Helping people," said Rose.
"I'll need to have a look over your evidence," said the Doctor to the Sheriff. "Y'know, have a sniff around."
Morse gave the unsure Anderson a pleading look. Anderson nodded. He stood and prepared to take them to the police station. "Be my guest, Doctor. Uh, Doctor who?"
"Exactly," said the Doctor.
To be continued...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Author's Note: This is my first fanfic, so reviews (of any nature) are welcome. Chapter II coming soon.