Things were perfectly normal for Jackson Rogers. He lived in a normal town. He went to a normal upstate New York high school. He had normal friends. That is, until he was attacked by angry snow monsters.

The day had started pretty normally. He had gone to school, wishing he could be anywhere else and had been teased by the jocks.

"Hey Jackson, nice shirt you got there," said football jock Tim Paterson.

Jackson sighed, looking down at his Philadelphia 76ers jersey.

"Why don't you butt out," he asked exasperatedly, but the jocks just ignored him.

"I guess you think you're the next basketball star," said one.

"The thing is basketball requires a little more than being good at Math," Paterson added.

"Maybe you should stick to sports more your speed, like jump rope," said the other guy who Paterson high fived.

They added in a few more insults before getting bored. When he was younger Jackson may have lashed back out at the jocks, but now he was mature. At 17 he was five months from finishing his junior year of high school. Besides he had gotten immune to it by now. He didn't know what it was that made him a target for bullies. Maybe it was his thick glasses, or his great Math grades but he had been bullied for years.

He knew he didn't have it too bad. He just had to deal with verbal bullying. But after days upon days upon months of it, it took its toll.

"Hey Jackson," came a low voice.

"Hey what's up man?" Jackson asked to his friend Austin.

"Not much," he said. "Hey you wanna come to the Sled hill after school," he asked.

"Sure," Jackson answered. "I'll call my mom after school," he said.

The sled hill was Austin and Jackson's winter hangout. They would throw snowballs, fail at sledding while standing up and just hang out.

Austin was tall and well built. He had chocolate brown hair and skin. His hair was curly and was cut short.

Jackson meanwhile had red hair, was short and skinny and white.

The two had been friends since fifth grade. Austin had always been more popular than him, although not extremely popular.

They talked on their way to first period. Their conversation was about their favorite topic. Getting out of upstate New York.

"I wanna go to Canada," said Austin "Where my mom is from."

"I'll go anywhere far from here," said Jackson. "I feel so trapped in this stupid school," he explained.

"At least college is on the way," suggested Austin.

"Yeah I know I've already visited a couple places," said Jackson. "I just wish I could go now. I looked into some summer programs but I couldn't find anything I liked," he said.

Austin nodded as they went into class.

Like every day at school this day went by like a blur. After school Jackson drove to the Elm Lake Sled Hill. The Sled hill was small and was next to a huge lake and Jackson thought it was great. Today was perfect, with a half a foot of snow on the ground and relatively warm weather. It was mid January and this was just the first snow of the year. Global Warming Jackson thought. By the present day 2020's most acknowledged the theory. There were still a few crackpot holdouts though. Many were in his town.

As he got out of his car Jackson saw no sign of Austin. He surveyed the hill. There were lots of young kids there but not a ton in his age group. Good he thought. As he surveyed the beach he saw a woman in a pink sweater who was standing away from the crowd. It seemed strange to be wearing a sweater in this weather, especially at a Sled hill. The woman looked like she was in her late twenties to early thirties. She had blond hair and green eyes. She was tall and skinny and didn't look too bad, having some subtle curves. What was strange was the way she looked at the snow as if expecting something to happen.

Jackson quickly dismissed her and went back to his car to get some snow gear. After taking out his snowboard he came out to find still no Austin. As he waited for Austin he saw a snow drift out of the corner of his eye. It was getting bigger and bigger. As it got to the bottom of the hill it started to take the shape of a person.

"Impossible," Jackson muttered. The huge snow creature started to come at the crowd. People ran and screamed but Jackson was too awed to move. The creature came closer and closer. Then something knocked him out of the way. It was the woman.

"Run," she said and Jackson did. They ran up the hill to where there were some trees. The huge snow drift followed them. Just as they were at the trees the snow took shape into a hand and grabbed Jackson's ankle.

"Aah get off," he screamed. Luckily the woman grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the trees. Jackson was now a tug of war rope between the woman and the snow. The woman won, pulling him onto the pile of pine needles next to the trees.

She now pulled out a small cylindrical device with a glowing pink tip. She pointed it at the creature. As the creature punched she jabbed, with the device. As it touched it, the creature pulled back.

"Electricity doesn't mix well with snow eh," she said smugly. She talked in a British accent.

Suddenly the snow creature broke apart and disappeared. Jackson saw that they were the only two people left on the hill.

"What happened?" asked Jackson "Are they dead?" he asked.

"No just dissipated," said the woman.

"Who are you? What were they?" he asked.

"I'm the Doctor," she said. "Those things were Snowkals, aliens that are made of and absorb snow," she said.

"I'm Jackson," he said and put his hand out to the Doctor.

The Doctor ignored him and walked up the hill deeper into the woods.

"Where are we going?" asked Jackson.

"Boy you ask a lot of questions don't you," said the Doctor. "Just to my TARDIS," she explained.

The word meant nothing to Jackson.

"I just want to thank you," he said.

"Well thank you, g'bye," she said rudely.

"Wait please tell me your real name," he said as they got to a blue wooden police box.

"The Doctor," she replied.

"Is that where you live?" he asked.

"Kid get a move on. I've answered four of your bloody questions, now go. Vamoose before more of the Snowkals come," she exclaimed.

"Ok," said Jackson, and he walked back to his car trying to process the whole strange day. Aliens in upstate New York! Who would've thought? Just then Jackson heard a wheezing sound. He turned around to see that his savior and her blue box were both gone.

When Jackson got home he found his mom there waiting for him.

"Hello Jackson, how was the Sled Hill?" she asked.

"Oh it was ok," he said hurriedly. "I gotta go use the computer," he said.

"What for?" she asked.

"Research project," he said as he kicked off his boots and ran upstairs.

He went into his room and took out his laptop. He opened up Google and thought for a second. First he searched "the Doctor", which of course brought results about medical doctors. Then he searched "Doctor snow creatures." Still nothing. He continued with "Doctor box woods" and "Doctor Elm Lake" and he finally gave up. Then he heard a knock on the door and his mom came in.

"Just wanted to check up on you, what are you researching?" she asked.

"Uh just music stuff," Jackson lied.

Jackson loved music. He played drums and loved rock and hip hop. He had been trying to put together a band, but he didn't have many friends and they weren't interested.

"Oh yeah you should've gone to that Rock band camp this summer," she said.

"Mom, I don't want to go to some stupid camp that I'm too old for," Jackson groaned.

"Look Jackson, I know you love playing the drums but if you can't play here you should find somewhere," she asked.

"Yeah I know, I'll find some place this summer," he said.

"Ok honey, I just want to find something, that you'll like," she said and left.

Jackson knew he probably wouldn't. He'd been looking for over a year now and he hadn't found anything he liked. He had many interests but he couldn't find the right thing for him. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for but he needed to decide soon or he'd spend another boring summer in Elm Lake.

Jackson began to feel thirsty and went down to the kitchen to get a drink. As he started to open the refrigerator door he heard a banging noise coming from the basement. It started to get louder. After all the strange events that had happened that day Jackson didn't want to take any chances. He grabbed a baseball bat from the foyer, then ran back to the kitchen and went down to the basement. He slowly descended and held up the baseball bat.

"If anyone's there come out now," he said, trying to sound threatening but coming off scared.

Jackson turned on the light and got to where the boiler was and then found the Doctor smacking the boiler.

"You," he exclaimed.

"I can explain everything" the Doctor turned around and saw Jackson.

"Oh its you ginge boy," said the Doctor dismissively.

She turned back around and pulled out her device. It made a humming sound as she moved it around.

"What are you doing in my house, and why did you call me ginge boy?" he asked.

"It's my nickname for you. Much better then your real name mind you," said the Doctor.

Even though he was a bit insulted Jackson just asked another question.

"But why did you call me that nickname?" he asked.

The Doctor turned around and ruffled Jackson's hair.

"It's what Brits call red hair," she said.

"So your British then?" Jackson asked.

"Oh no I'm a space alien. I just like the accent," she explained.

"Ok," Jackson said taken aback.

Normally he would've thought the woman was crazy but after every thing he had seen today nothing surprised him.

"But you're a good guy, not like those snow guys right?" he asked.

"Oh yes I fight bad guys travel the universe, no bigge," she said.

"Wow," Jackson said. "But still why are you in my house?" he asked.

"My sonic says there are Snowkals in the house. I broke in but haven't found anything so far," the Doctor explained.

"Why were you banging the boiler?" Jackson asked.

"I don't right know, I didn't pick up anything with my sonic screwdriver so I took a hands on approach," she said.

"All right then," said Jackson.

He inferred that the "sonic screwdriver" must be the device the Doctor had used to fend off the Snowkals.

Just then Jackson's mother called down.

"Jackson what're you doing down there?" she asked.

"I'm just checking on a noise I heard," he responded.

"What is it?" she asked

"Nothing major, just a squirrel," he lied.

"Okay I just finished vacuuming, I'm going to check the PO," she said.

"Ok see you soon," said Jackson and he heard the front door shut.

"Ah now we have the house to ourself," said the Doctor who ran upstairs.

"No you have to leave," said Jackson as he followed her hurriedly.

She turned around and got face to face with him.

"Look, you heard what I said, there's a big scary snow alien in you house. Want me to get rid of it or not?" she asked.

Jackson was silent.

"Thought so," she said and ran off.

She ran around the house scanning with her screwdriver. Jackson struggled to keep up with her.

"Find anything?" Jackson said between deep breaths.

"No" said the Doctor.

She groaned in frustration and smacked herself on the forehead.

"If I were a Snowkal, where would I hide?" she asked aloud. "And why would I hide in a teenager's house?" she asked again.

"Wait, can't all that snow that attacked us form into a Snowkal?" he asked.

"Yes" answered the Doctor.

"And couldn't some of that snow have gotten in my boots?" he asked.

A look of realization came onto the Doctor's face. She ran into the foyer and Jackson followed her. Once they got to the foyer they came face to face with a fully formed Snowkal. The Doctor pulled out her screwdriver.

"Don't panic," she said.

Then the Snowkal knocked the screwdriver out of her hand and it skidded across the floor.

"Okay now panic," she said.

The Snowkal ran at Jackson. It grabbed him and put it's hand on his face. He tried to grapple away but he couldn't. Snow got in his nose and mouth. Just as he felt like he was about to pass out the Doctor tackled the Snowkal and cut off its legs. Unfortunately the snow flew back onto the Snowkal and the legs regrew. Then as Jackson sat up and started coughing the Snowkal started to suffocate the Doctor. The Doctor reached for the screwdriver but couldn't get to it. The creature was in between the screwdriver and Jackson and the situation seemed hopeless.

Then Jackson noticed the vacuum his mom had been using. It had a very long cord. He ran into the next room and turned on the vacuum. Then he took it into the room where the Snowkal and Doctor were still grappling.

"Eat vacuum," he said.

The snow creature was sucked up and pulled into the vacuum bag. The Doctor picked up her screwdriver, stood up and brushed off her pants.

"Thanks for the save," she said. ""Could've made a better battle cry," she pointed out.

Jackson shrugged. "Short notice," he said. "Is it dead," he said.

"It will be soon," said the Doctor. "The snow will melt in the vacuum bag and once Snowkals are in their water state they're harmless," she finished.

"Ok what do we do now," he said.

"I plan my next move. You stay here," she said.

"No way," said Jackson. "You came to my house and saved my life. You're not getting rid of me that easily," he said.

The Doctor sighed.

"Ok you can tag along," she said. "I'll take you to the TARDIS," she said.

Jackson put on boots and a coat and followed the Doctor out the front door. As they made their way through the yard Jackson wondered what he had just gotten himself into.

"So you call yourself just the Doctor," he said. "Why?" he asked.

"I'm more concerned with helping people than killing bad guys," the Doctor said. "I want that to be my identity," she explained.

"Ok," he said.

They got to the blue box that Jackson had seen at the Sled Hill.

"Is that your ship?" Jackson asked.

"Yes," said the Doctor as she unlocked the box with a key.

"Pretty cramped huh."

Jackson was cut off as he stepped into the ship. It was huge. There was a runway coming from the door up to a pink, circular control panel with a tube going up to the ceiling from the center. There were multicolored circles on the walls. Jackson saw a door in the back, which must have another room. He stepped out again. He walked around the box. It wasn't more than a few feet around! But it was just as big when he went back in. The Doctor smiled at him as if wanting him to say something.

"It's bigger on the inside!" Jackson exclaimed.

"Oh yeah it is, isn't it," the Doctor said sarcastically, acting as if she had just noticed it.

"But how is that possible, it defies the laws of physics," said Jackson.

"Oh those laws are so stuffy. The TARDIS is dimensionally transcendental, which means the interior exists in a different dimension than the exterior. It does that using these things called dimensional dams and it's all wibbly-wobbly and timey-wimey, but just accept that it's bigger on the inside," the Doctor finally finished.

Jackson's mind was reeling to explain these things. His mind had been blown so many times that day that he decided to stop asking questions.

"Now the main thing is how to stop the Snowkals. I know they're planning something in New York City, but I don't know know how they plan to get there," she said.

"Well they could go on the reservoir," he suggested.

"Reservoir?" the Doctor inquired.

"A big body of water not far from here, it goes to the city through an aqueduct," said Jackson.

"The reservoir, you're a genius ginge," said the Doctor.

She pulled a lever. Again Jackson heard the wheezing sound. As it faded away he heard a thump. The Doctor ran out the door and Jackson followed. Jackson found himself looking right at the reservoir.

"But we didn't even take off," Jackson sputtered.

"Dematerialisation and rematerialisation," said the Doctor.

"Got it," said Jackson.

The temperature was above freezing and as a result the reservoir flowed freely. The water from the lower reservoir was pumped up to the upper reservoir and was taken to New York City. It was a beautiful sight in the waning sun. Jackson stayed captivated by it until the Doctor wrenched him from his thoughts.

"All right then, lets get to work," the Doctor said.

The Doctor ran over to the turbines with her screwdriver and started pointing at it. As she worked Jackson stood next to her.

"So what are you doing," he said.

"Finding a foolproof way to beat the Snowkals," she said.

Just as she said that, Jackson noticed a mound of snow moving. Now a few mounds. Now he saw a few dozen mounds.

"Doctor," he called worriedly.

"Not now ginge, I'm busy," she said.

"Snowkals!" he said.

The Doctor turned around to where an army of Snowkals was standing. For the first time Jackson heard one of the Snowkals make a noise. It seemed to be speaking some alien language. The Doctor put her hands up and Jackson followed suit.

"It's ok we surrender," said the Doctor.

"Ipnic lec rivet," the Snowkal spoke again.

"We know nothing of what you're doing," said the Doctor.

The Snowkal spoke louder this time, sounding angrier.

"No we know nothing. You don't have to kill us," she pleaded.

The Snowkal made one order that sounded like "Klilip pik" and the Snowkals advanced. The situation was going downhill quickly. Jackson closed his eyes waiting for the Snowkals to overwhelm him when the Doctor spoke again.

"Wait before I die I want to know what your plan is," said the Doctor.

The Snowkal talked again for about half a minute.

"I see, using the Empire State Building to freeze Earth," said the Doctor. "Can I just request one more thing?" she asked.

The Snowkal made a noise that sounded like when you suck your breath in.

"Can you kill us over there," said the Doctor.

She pointed to a platform that was under an old disused power line.

The Snowkals made a coughing noise that must have been laughing. Then the head Snowkal that they had been talking to said something quick and fiercely.

"What did he say," Jackson said, speaking for the first time since the encounter began.

"Whatever the location of your death is irrelevant to us," the Doctor translated.

The Snowkals led then to the platform. Jackson felt like he had a rock in his stomach. This was where he was going to die? In upstate New York with a woman he barely knew. This couldn't be how his life ended. Could it? As they got to the platform the Snowkals watched from under the power line. The Doctor and Jackson walked onto the platform. Then the Doctor did the most unexpected thing. She laughed. Jackson looked at her strangely, finding nothing funny about the situation. The Snowkals seemed just as confused.

"I'm sorry, it's just that you're so naïve to think you'll kill me.

"Tiwix plax," the Snowkal demanded.

"This reservoir functions as a pumped-storage Hydroelectric power plant," she said snidely.

The Snowkal again made the breathing noise.

"What does it matter?" the Doctor translated. "I short circuited the power to go to one power line, and your standing under it," she finished.

The Snowkals started to run, but the Doctor pulled out her screwdriver and pointed it at the line. In an instant all the Snowkals were electrocuted and all that remained was a puddle of water. Jackson just looked at it in open- mouthed awe. He couldn't believe the Doctor had just defeated an alien army.

The Doctor just smiled at him.

"Snow and electricity just don't mix," she said.

Twenty minutes later they were back at Jackson's home.

"That was amazing," he said.

"Yes you're back home a few minutes after you left so you can run off now," she said.

"Can I come with you?" Jackson asked.

"What do you mean?" the Doctor asked.

"Can I travel with you? It's so exciting. I mean I want to have adventures not sit around in this stupid little town," he explained.

The Doctor's brow furrowed in thought.

"I don't know," she said. "It's very dangerous," she said.

"I can handle it," he pleaded.

"I'll think on it," she said. "Nice meeting you ginge boy," she said as she stepped into the TARDIS.

"Nice meeting you," he said, as he watched the TARDIS dematerialize away.

Five Months Later

"Jackson come down," his mother called.

Jackson walked down the stairs to see the Doctor with his mother. He smiled and came down.

"So Jackson, Mrs. Smith here told me you signed up for a summer program," she said.

"Oh yes at the Galifrey University Junior Program, Jackson will be learning a lot of skills for college and will be going to other worlds with his knowledge," said the Doctor pointedly.

"When do I start?" said Jackson happily.

"We'll be sending transportation for you next week," said the Doctor.

And a week later as Jackson took a backpack full of his things onto the TARDIS he knew it was going to be a heck of a summer.