I do not own Doctor Who, it is in the hands of the genius Steven Moffat. This Doctor Who series is made of 6 stories, each with a different story line, and I hope you enjoy reading them. As this is my first, I hope you will review this, even for just one chapter as it would mean a lot to get feedback. This is set after the eventual departure of Clara, so there may be spoilers for episodes up until Time of the Doctor. Enjoy, and please review!
The Doctor mourned Clara. He had never slept, and he had found it even harder. No longer were his nights spent saving civilisations and battling monsters, he just mourned. He'd retreated to his TARDIS; safe from giving in to companionship.
"You've let them slide again, Parker!" Captain Rippon barked at Officer Sasha Parker, his face pink, as it usually was. He was like a pig - the loose folds of his chin flapping about. "This is the third murder in a month, and you have no arrests! What am I going to say to the media? A Police Woman in my command . . ."
"Police Officer," Sasha corrected, refusing to back down to her moron of a boss.
"I don't care, sweetheart . . ."
"I'd prefer it if you didn't use that term," Sasha interrupted. "I may be one of the few women at this station, but please treat me with some form of respect."
"Listen, sweetheart. I want a murderer in bars by the end of the week, or you're fired, sweetheart."
"Sir . . ."
"No, Parker, I don't have the patience for one of your silly corrections. I want an arrest and I want it now!"
"I'll be complaining to my superior."
"I am your superior! You show little to no results, you hand me sloppy paperwork and I don't like your attitude. If there were no rules against unfair dismal, I'd have you on a London curb, begging for money in a plastic McDonalds cup! One more slip-up and you're out. Am I crystal clear?"
Sash gulped, resisting to suppress a comment on the crystal clear quality of the sweat on his brow. "Understood."
Sasha would often retreat to the internet after an argument with her boss. She combed her bushy black hair, ordered a curry and searched the internet. 403 views on her blog. It hadn't changed since yesterday. The comments were supportive, as usual, and many had taken the time to share their own experiences.
Claire arrived later that evening with a bag of popcorn and the latest Hollywood nonsense on DVD, some Rom-Com with a clichéd title. Claire and Sasha could be mistaken for sisters – bushy black hair, dark skin, quite tall, and the same jeans-jacket-top clothing style. Sasha loved her clothes. Skinny jeans that tucked into her ankle high shoes, and on this occasion, a blue shirt and a black, leather jacket. Not real leather, however.
"What do I keep telling you? Don't argue with your boss, especially if he has the power to put you in jail," Claire said, diving into the popcorn bowl.
"But he's a complete pig! He's not on this case. The murderer left no DNA, no evidence, nothing! I can't make an arrest, but it's as if he's forcing me to arrest someone for the sake of it. I can't stand it, Claire."
"Him, or the job? I told you when we were younger, but you didn't listen to be because you were the A grade student. I told you, 'the only reason you want to be an officer is because of Alec', but you didn't listen."
"Don't bring Alec into this!" Sasha snapped.
"I'm telling you the truth and you still won't listen," Claire said. "How's the blog then?"
"403 views. No-one's seen him, but more people asking for help and support."
"Don't give up. On the news there was that story about that brunette girl - she disappeared without a trace and then arrived back a week about without a clue what had happened. Well, she did, but didn't tell the police anything. They gave up quickly on the case as well; I'm sure there must be some cover up."
"What can I tell them – I'm not an expert?"
"Then find an expert," Claire suggested. Sasha looked up from the popcorn bowl. "Here's a number," Claire began, "for an expert – the expert. Trust me. This guy has helped twenty people with similar problems last year. He disappeared for a short while, but I've kept his number. Call him. He'll help you."
Sasha looked suspicious. Reluctantly, she took the number from her friend, trusting her, and typed the number into her phone. It rang out for a moment. Eventually a man answered:
"Hello? How did you get this number? Who is this?"
"I'm Sasha Parker. I'm looking for someone who can help me. Who is this?"
"I'm the Doctor."
"I need you to help me, and I'm desperate. I can't talk right now, the first snog in the movie is about to start, but can we meet tomorrow to talk. Midday in town at Papa's Coffee Stop. You are from London, right?"
"No. I'm from Gallifrey."
"Is that a Scottish island? You sound Scottish."
"I am not Scottish!"
"Your accent isn't agreeing mate. Will this affect the bill?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm busy tomorrow. Find someone else to help you. I'm done with helping people. It never ends well."
"Listen, mate!" Sasha announced, disturbing Claire from the movie, "I'm up to my neck and I need help. I've had a day from hell and it's only set to get worse. Turn up tomorrow or, God help me, I will be the number one suspect in my own murder case! See you at twelve!" Sasha cried, ending the call and throwing her phone to the floor.
"You missed the snog," Claire sighed. "I would rewind it but I love the next scene."
"It's a topless one isn't it."
"Oh yes," Claire grinned, her eyes blazing with excitement. "Mr Thompson, you'll be in my steamy dreams tonight."
The next day was dismal and grey. Rain tumbled on London like cushioned bullets. Sasha slurped her smoothie, sat by the window of a coffee shop. She stared out into the rain outside, waiting for the Scottish man to arrive. People on the other side of the glass ran like mice, shielding each other under their dark coats and umbrellas, hurrying to meetings in the inner city and capturing pictures on their cameras, on student tours from every corner of the world.
"You must be Sasha!" Sasha turned around. A grey hair man in a dark blue coat, white shirt and black, polished shoes had sat down. But he wasn't sat by Sasha, he sat by an attractive woman several tables along from her. He kissed the woman on the cheek. "We spoke on the phone yesterday. You were quite cross so I purposely came late as a form of punishment, but now that that's over let's get started. Can I have a black coffee? You'll have to buy; I don't carry money."
Sasha coughed, trying to draw the man's attention, but he didn't notice.
"So what was the problem? Too much fake tan I see – you must be from Essex, or are part of the Blathereen family. I suspect the first is more likely. Apologies."
It was at that moment that a large chested, tall, black haired man arrived beside the attractive woman's table. "Are you harassing my girlfriend?" he asked sternly.
"Your girlfriend?" the Scottish man wondered. "Ah, I see the confusion. I was merely helping your lady friend with her troubles."
"Get away from my girlfriend!" the tall man said, turning red.
"Sorry, sorry," Sasha announced, jumping out of her seat. "This man's with me," she said, gesturing to the Scottish man.
"He's a bit old for you, isn't he?" the black haired man frowned.
"Of course not!" Sasha cried. "He's . . . My granddad."
"Susan?" the Scottish man asked her.
"Sasha," she corrected. "Sorry about this, he wonders off sometimes. He's on a spectrum." Sasha dragged the Scottish man over to her table, avoiding the stern looks from the couple several tables away. "Thank you for coming. I thought you weren't going to."
"You didn't sound like the sort of person I should cross at the time," the man replied.
"I'm Sasha, as you know. Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor."
"I know, but Doctor who?"
"Ah," the Doctor smiled, "I do love that question."
"Doctor who?" Sasha asked again.
"Just the Doctor."
"Seriously? No surname?"
"Just: the Doctor."
"Medical doctor, or PhD doctor."
"I'm not entirely sure. I probably had a PhD at some point, and I'm not sure whether saving lives makes me a doctor or just lucky."
"I'll take that as a yes for both," Sasha grinned, drinking her smoothie. "Liking the suit. Very . . . Mature."
"Why, thank you!" the Doctor grinned. "I like your hair. I have a friend with curls like that, but blonde."
"Is she nice?"
"Well, she tried to kill me, went to prison and is almost certainly a psychopath - pretty decent on the hole."
"Oh," Sasha gulped, nearly choking on her smoothie. "She sounds interesting. A bit of a rebel then?"
"The very worst," the Doctor grinned, then immediately grew serious. "So, this problem?"
"Yes, right. My brother, Alec, is missing. I need help to find him. Alec Parker was his full name," Sasha explained, her expression dropping considerably.
"Have you checked his room?"
"He's not hiding, Doctor!"
"Checked for evidence!" the Doctor corrected her. "Looked through his emails? Called the police?" the Doctor wondered, looking sympathetic.
"He disappeared in 2004, he didn't have an email account and I don't live in the same house anymore. And I am the police, but every other Officer gave up at the time."
"What was he like? How would you describe your brother?"
Sasha smiled, the way anyone does when they remember their childhood. "Alec was . . ."
"A bloody nightmare!" Alec screamed, smacking the side of his computer. He was 14, sat in his bedroom on the morning of August 1st 2004.
"What is?" Sasha asked, appearing at the top of the stairs. She was 15.
"This thing. It keeps on crashing!"
"Then use it less."
"You sound so much like Mum."
"She's was smart woman; she was right."
"And when did he go missing?" the Doctor asked.
"August 1st 2004. It was at our cousin's wedding reception. It was a beautiful manor house, out in the country, owned by this rich Frenchman. Alec had annoyed our cousin months before, so he suggested the house as a way of saying sorry," Sasha began. "He was always sweet like that - advising holiday destinations and which plays to see. Always in the know."
"Get ready, Alec," Sasha moaned. "The wedding is in an hour and you've made no attempt to get ready!"
"Neither have you."
"Have you taken a look?" Sasha added. Alec finally looked up, seeing his sister in a beautiful yellow dress and her hair made-up for the occasion.
"Ah," Alec sighed. "I'll get my suit now then."
The wedding reception was loud and boisterous and colourful. Pink and yellow balloons wandered throughout the countryside hall the party was held in, and the glitter ball, streamers and coloured lights drowned the room in a kaleidoscope of madness. Pop songs were blasted through every corridor as the romance turned to a wild party.
"I hate this," Alec groaned, sat by a table of cocktail sausages and strawberry trifle.
"I love it!" Sasha screamed over the music, dancing between by the guests. "You always have been boring."
"I, oh big sister, am not boring. Your obnoxiously big head blinds you from everything nowadays. You are the boring one."
"Alec!" she cried, stomping her foot. "Don't ruin my special day!"
"You are aware that you're not actually the bride?" Alec teased.
"What was he like?" the Doctor asked.
Sasha smiled. "He was a . . ."
"Complete spanner! Dad won't let me go even though he knows I hate all of this!" Alec groaned.
"Just enjoy the party!" Sasha smiled.
"No thanks. I gonna go to the toilet. I'll be back in a moment. You're the only sane person in this family I know, and I never thought I'd be saying that." Alec left the dance floor, heading upstairs where the house was very glamorous, with its red carpet and paintings in golden frames. The family that owned the house were very rich.
"Was he ever in trouble?" the Doctor asked.
"No. He never did anything wrong."
"Seriously; a teenage boy that never got in trouble? Not even at school?"
"No. From what we knew, he was never up to anything. Just a quiet boy."
Alec looked around him, making sure he couldn't be seen. When he was sure he wasn't being watched, he took a bag from behind a plant pot, opening it to reveal a bungee cord. He attached one end to himself then to the window ledge. He punched his fist against the fire alarm, letting its wails cover the sound of the smashing glass of the window he jumped out of. Wind rippled across Alec as he tumbled through the air. As the cord tightened, he reached the ground, where he lifted a nail and a hammer from behind a patch of shrubbery. Then he was lifted, pulled through a window on the third floor of the house. He landed on the red carpet inside as he unhooked the cord and let it slither upward to where the other end was attached.
"And you're certain he was never in any trouble?" the Doctor made certain.
"Very sure," Sasha confirmed.
Alec was in a locked room, for a good reason. A large glass cabinet stood in front of him, holding a jewelled crown on a cushion. As the locks on the door were undone from the outside, Alec got to work. He steadied the nail in place, then hit it over and over with the hammer until the glass crumbled and shattered to his feet. The door burst open and in walked three large bodyguards in black suits. Alec placed the crown on his head and winked. They watched with awe as he then jumped out the gaping hole in the window, disappearing into the panicking reception beneath.
"Sasha Parker, you must be a very bad Police Woman to not notice the obvious," the Doctor smiled.
"Police Officer. And what did I miss?" Sasha frowned.
"Alec was a liar," the Doctor announced.
"My brother's been missing for ten years, have some respect," Sasha said.
"Boys who never get in trouble are always hiding the worst secrets."
"Do you ever get in trouble?"
"Yes," the Doctor grinned, "all the time. But I have massive secrets as well."
"What? Stop making this all up? Are you actually an expert in finding missing people?"
"Is there even such a thing?"
"Yes! That's why I called you!"
"Then you, my dear, are deeply misled."
"As I am beginning to realise. Can you find him?" Sasha pleaded.
"Of course," the Doctor smiled. Then his face dropped. "But only this once. No more favours after this; I put it behind me."
"Put what behind you?"
"Companionship. I don't want that life anymore."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I travel. I used to travel with a friend or two, but I don't anymore. It never goes well."
"How come?"
"Because I can't be trusted."
"Not even for one favour."
"Maybe. And that's all I'm allowing."
"Then let's start." Sasha smiled, clapping her hands in anticipation.
"We'll have to get a lift," the Doctor said, straightening his coat as he jumped from his seat. "I've got a good ride, if you want to follow."
"Of course," Sasha agreed, putting her smoothie on the table and joining the Doctor as he left the coffee shop. "What've you got?"
"It's called: the TARDIS."
The Doctor led Sasha outside into the rain. They ran, hiding under their coats, through the damp and the grey. Eventually, they turned a corner onto a market street, where food was sold from large pans and traders who spoke with every tongue. On the street stood a tall blue Police box.
"Come on," the Doctor gestured.
"Into there?" Sasha grimaced. "It's a tiny wooden box. Sorry for presuming, but by a good ride, I thought you meant a Ferrari or some private jet."
"This is the TARDIS," the Doctor smiled. "It's better than any of those."
"You must be confusing me with a gullible idiot," Sasha said, pulling a face.
"Oh," the Doctor groaned. "Come if you want." He took a key from his pocket and opened the doors to the TARDIS. There was a blue light as he stepped inside.
Sasha couldn't see the Doctor once he entered. She was slightly confused. He had disappeared inside the box, and she was sure she had seen something inside. Curiously, she pushed open the TARDIS doors and entered.
It was brilliant. She stepped from a damp street into a room which blazed with blue light. The Doctor leant against a hexagonal column in the centre, pressing buttons and looking at the screen which hung from it. The room was giant. It was as if the inside was pushed into the outside.
"What?" Sasha gulped.
"Time and Relative Dimension in Space," the Doctor explained. "Don't get used to this; it's a one way trip for you."
"But . . .? This is . . ." Sasha stuttered. She left the TARDIS. On the outside it was still a small blue Police Box. She searched every side of it, but nothing could explain it. "That is weird," she screamed, jumping back inside. "How did you make the outside smaller?"
The Doctor frowned. "Couldn't you just say the usual line; it would make my day."
"What line?" Sasha asked, stepping further into the TARDIS, inspecting it was awe and amazement.
"You know. It's bigger on the outside!"
"Yes, but it's smaller on the outside and I want to know how," Sasha asked again, flicking a switch on the console.
"No! Don't do that!" the Doctor cried pulling her away. "You'll put a dent on the 12th century."
"You can't dent a century. You don't make any sense."
"You can't understand the simplest of things!" the Doctor replied. "Come on. If you want to find Alec, don't touch another button. Now tell me, where and when did he disappear?"
"Gloucester House, Oxford, England, 1st August 2004. But why does it matter?"
"This is a time and space machine, weren't you listening?"
"What? How is that possible?"
"I travel through space and time. It's my hobby. Now hold on to something."
"Why?" Sasha cried.
"It's going to be a bumpy ride!" the Doctor smiled with a glimmer in his eye, as the TARDIS was thrown to a side as it tumbled through time and space.
