Chapter Two: Shaken, Not Stirred

"You're sure you don't need any help?" Clara leaned against the staircase as the Doctor continued to work, rather loudly, on the TARDIS.

"No, no. I'm quite alright, thanks."

He reached his hand out, stretching to get a hold of some tool, and fell a bit short. His companion sighed and strode over to him, picking up the alien object. As he reached to grab it from her hands, she pulled back. "Ah, no."

Rolling his eyes, the Doctor grumbled, "please," under his breath. Clara smiled and handed the tool over.

"Atta boy." She sat down next to where he worked, getting lost in thought. It was a Wednesday (at least, it was for Clara), but the Doctor decided they should stay on the TARDIS so he could finish up some repairs. Not that she minded, of course. The ship was monstrous in size, and she was determined to explore at least seven new rooms before lunch. But watching the Doctor work made her wonder…

"Why do you work so much on the TARDIS? I mean, it won't break down, will it?"

"She. And not as long as I'm here. We've been through a lot together, me and the ol' girl. She takes care of me and I take care of her," he answered, not looking up from his work.

"What would you do without the TARDIS?" she asked.

"I'm not sure." He looked up at her. "Why all the questions?"

"Just humor me." She cocked her head to the side, lost in her curiosity. "Say, hypothetically, me an' you end up stranded somewhere. What would you do if you couldn't travel the stars and get into trouble?"

Smiling slightly, he set down whatever he was working with. "Well, I'm sure we'd still find trouble. And we could still help people. Not that I'd ever dream that anything would happen to her," he replied, patting the ship.

"We?"

"I thought you would stay with me. Hypothetically." Straightening his bowtie nervously, he continued, "Would you?"

"Stay with you? Course I would. Can't let you wander into trouble without any backup," she smiled slyly.

Returning to his repairs, he grinned that smug grin of his. "'Course you would."

"Oh, come off it, old man," Clara laughed, standing to leave. "I'm going to the kitchen, want anything?"

"No, I'm fine." He had thrown himself back into his work.

"Suit yourself!" she called behind her.

.::::.

Walking carefully as not to spill the two mugs of tea she carried, Clara made her way back into the console room. The Doctor had said he was fine, but she figured a good cuppa wouldn't hurt. After all, he was always rattling on about tannins and radicals and such.

She made it back to the console room and set the mugs on one of the side controls. "Doctor? I brought you some tea."

"Brilliant! Be up in a mo'," he called up to her, moving towards the stairs. A loud, thunderous noise filled the TARDIS, shaking and quaking the entire ship, sending both the Doctor and Clara flying.

"DOCTOR?! WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Clara shouted, trying to stand back up. The refreshments had fallen off of their perch and drenched her. How wonderful…

Downstairs, the Doctor was attempting the same. "WE'RE FALLING OUT OF THE VORTEX!"

"SHOULDN'T THAT BE IMPOSSIBLE?! YOU SAID WE WERE DRIFTING!" she shouted, finally standing upright and gripping to the railing for dear life.

"IT IS! WE WERE!" The Doctor's hold on the banister slipped, and he wound up hitting the floor square on his stomach. "But when has anything stayed impossible…" he grunted.

This continued for several moments, then as suddenly as the shaking as started, it had stopped.

"At least that's over…" Clara sighed, still holding herself up. "Doctor!"

Racing downstairs, she found the Time Lord on his stomach, groaning about improbabilities. She quickly helped him back onto his feet, straightening his bowtie when he was finally standing. "Good thing I like my aliens shaken and not stirred then, eh?"

"Much like your tea?" he smirked, looking down his soaked companion.

Taking herself into account, she frowned slightly. "And I just bought this top… Guess I better change before we see where we landed."

The Doctor smiled after her as she left.

.::::.

"Another citizen from the town of Trenton has gone missing earlier this week. Madeline Johnson, the seventeen year old daughter of Mayor Clayton Johnson, was last seen working in the town's convenience store before her disappearance on Monday night. Authorities are not yet confirming whether her disappearance is connected to the other locals', Dodge MacLean, 25, and Gertrude Montgomery, 65. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of any of these individuals, we urge you to call the information hotline at 875-TIPS. One again, if you know anything about the disappearance of these people, please call 875-TIPS. Reporting live from Trenton, this is Cindy Tolks signing off."

Cindy sighed as Alex, packed up the equipment outside town hall. "Three people missing and no clues… It's a shame."

The cameraman nodded. "In the diner earlier I heard some people talking. Apparently the cameras in the stores were filled with fuzz. Cops can't make heads or tails."

"Messed up security cameras? Couldn't be professionals, not in this town…" she turned, genuinely curious. "Could it?"

"You're asking the wrong guy. I only know how to make cameras work, not the opposite."

The situation was horrible, Cindy knew. But just imagine the story on this one… A serial kidnapper could make her career. "I'm running in and getting a bite before we go. Need any help?"

"Nah, I've got it. Get me a coffee, black, for the road. I'll just run over to the service station, loop the van back around and pick you up."

"Alright, see you in fifteen."

Fifteen minutes later, however, Alex had not yet returned.

Or in twenty.

By thirty minutes past, Cindy was worried. Carrying her crewman's coffee, she walked up the road to where the gas station was located. She could see the van from far off, but it wasn't until she was mere feet away did she realized that the vehicle was abandoned. Alex, and the driver of another car in the station, were nowhere to be found.

"Alex?" she called, hoping he was pulling her leg. Of all the insufferable—

She ran inside, hoping to ask someone if they knew what was going on, but the store was empty.

She was alone.


A/N: One benefit of summer is I have nothing to do besides write and watch TV. So here you are, another chapter in our little story.

I'm also looking for a beta, if anyone is interested...

Please review, and I'll see you soon! x