Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who in any way, shape or form
Five
"Where is he?" Peter Michaels gazed around the common room determined to locate Steven Alder. He had requested that the boy came to see him that morning but he had not appeared. "The Unit" was due to asses him today and his parents had not attended the meeting he had scheduled. Not that that was any surprise.
What did surprise him however, was the fact that he had had few complaints about Alder and his behavior this week. He had become almost a model pupil. He wasn't expecting it to last. The boy had phases like this and when he went back to his usual self, he was worse than before. Now was merely the brief calm before the storm.
His eyes settled on the boy. He was sat alone at the far end of the room, deeply engrossed in some task. He approached him quietly, in order to catch a glimpse of what the boy was so interested in.
He was drawing. He had a sketchpad open before him and was in deep concentration. The quality of the drawing amazed Peter Michaels. It was so detailed... It was the face of a young woman, no older than twenty. She had loosely curled hair that fell around her shoulders. Her lips were curved in a half smile as if at some unknown joke, and her eyes...it was the eyes that grabbed the Heads attention the most. They seemed almost alive. They were glittering with some unknown emotion, maybe joy, given her expression. There was such depth there, Michaels felt like he was gazing at a photograph. He felt like he was seeing her soul.
He glanced at Steven, who had yet to acknowledge his presence and was amazed. The boy was smiling as he drew. A smile of recognition, of joy...of love. Such an intense mixture of emotions swam in his eyes that the Head took a step back. Something had changed in the boy.
"That is fantastic Steven." he said sitting beside him. The boy didn't even raise his eyes from the paper in acknowledgment. "Who is it?" he looked around, expecting to see a photograph from which they boy was drawing. Yet there was nothing.
"Rose." Steven finally looked up. "Her name is Rose."
"Oh? And where is this Rose from?"
"I-I-I I don't know sir." Steven stammered unsure of what to say. He saw the Heads' eyes widen in surprise.
"You don't know? Then where did you meet her? I mean you must have met her in order to produce this." Michaels watched the boy closely.
"I can't remember where I met her..."
"Did you ever meet her? Have you ever seen her? Does she even exist." The Head lowered his voice. He was treading on dangerous ground here and he knew it. "are you sure you didn't just make her up?"
"No!" the boy suddenly stood up, shaking slightly. "I did not make her up. She is real! I've seen her!" people were now looking over to them curiously, but Steven went on unperturbed. "I know she is real. I've ..." all of the fight suddenly went out of him. " What do you want anyway? I've got a feeling it wasn't to admire my drawing."
"No, it wasn't." the Head got to his feet. "I would like to see you in my office." he motioned to the boy to bring his things.
Steven got to his feet, uncertainly. Why did the Head want him in his office? He glanced around him, catching Wills eye as he entered the room. He could hear the whispers around him, but what did they know.
"Nothing." he whispered. "They know nothing about her."
He opened his eyes and immediately wondered if he had as it was still pitch black. He had no idea where he was. Mind you, he supposed this was better than knowing what weird and wonderful alien life form was out there preparing to cause him pain. No wait...scratch that, he'd rather know what alien was out there than be here in this darkness.
It wasn't your ordinary darkness. It was thick, heavy, oppressive. He could feel the weight of it pressing down on his chest, his double heart beat somewhat faster than usual. He didn't understand and that unnerved him more than the darkness and the uncertainty. He was a Time Lord. He'd been alive for over 900 years, he had seen it all. Or near enough everything. Why did this darkness scare him so much?
It felt alive. Like it was a living being, and that wasn't right. Darkness was, well darkness. Merely he absence of light. It couldn't live. Could it?He shook his head, searching for something to keep him sane. "Rose." he whispered, guilt rising in his chest once more. He had failed her. He had left her when she needed him. He had lost her. He sighed remembering the sound of her voice. He closed his eyes, trying to remember her touch...
He opened his eyes, aware of the change in the air around him. He was in an Earth office of some description. Someone was sat opposite him, watching. He didn't like the look in the man's eyes. He tried to get up, tried to move, but could not. His body refused to obey him.
"Steven..." the man rose from his chair. "Do you know why I've called you in here?"
"Steven!" This was new, he could never remember calling himself Steven before. John Smith yes, but never Steven. Even though this was his tenth form, he possessed all of the memories of those that had preceded him. Something wasn't right.
"No," he felt his lips move. " Why have you called me here sir?" The Doctor was reeling. He had not said that. Someone else was here with him. He caught sight of his reflection in one of the many windows in the office. His "host" for lack of a better word was tall, athletically built. He had blond hair, not quite as long as his was, and intense grey eyes.
What the hell was going on!
"I have asked you here because you have a visitor. One of the psychologists from the adolescent mental health unit is here at my request."
"Mental Health?" The Doctor knew enough about humans to understand that this wasn't a good thing. Apparently Steven did too, as he was on his feet.
"What! No way! You won't get me back there! I'm not going back to "the Unit!" No way!"
"The Unit?" the Doctor muttered to himself. "Why does that sound familiar?" Unable to pinpoint the reason, he squirrelled this information away in his mind. It might come in useful later...
Okay, things are starting to get going now. The Doctor has realised something is not right...but what exactly has happened? And what has happened to Rose?
Next chapter should by up soon. In the meantime, please review!
