Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the characters of Doctor Who. They belong to the BBC. I do, however, take credit for the invention of my characters Evelyn, Millie, the evil Mr. Vailmen, and the Shylorax. I also deserve recognition for the invention of the fictional town called Wotchdoor, New Mexico. Special thanks to My friend Chris for reading through this story and supporting it with both his hearts ;) Also, I want to apologize in advance for any editing flubs, as I am editing this myself and tend to be very bad at editing. If anything sticks out like a sore thumb, let me know and I'll change it.
Chapter 7: Impossible
Evelyn awoke to a faint humming sound and found herself lying on a cot in a strange circular room. The room was dimly lit, emitting a small glow of yellow and blue light. And IV taped to her hand, attached to a bag of dripping clear liquid. How had she gotten here? She couldn't remember. And where exactly was here? She remembered her walk home from the library, going inside the house, and then...
It was all a blur after that. Was she in a hospital? She was wearing a hospital gown after all, but this didn't look like a hospital. Not like I would know what a hospital looks like, Evelyn thought. She had never been in one before.
There was a small tray on the left bedside table containing a glass of water and a banana. Evelyn picked up the banana and started peeling. She was starving! She decided to have a look around, maybe find out where she was.
She swung her legs over the side of the cot, suddenly aware of the open back of her gown. Evelyn looked around the room, searching for something to cover up with. She found her clothes folded neatly on the counter by the door. She grabbed her long coat pulling it around her. Her waist length hair, which had been taken out of its messy up-do, now fell freely down her back.
Evelyn reached the door, cautiously pulling it open. The hallway was illuminated with the same light as the room. There were no windows along the coral colored walls, and the floor was cold beneath Evelyn's bare feet. The door closed behind her as she entered fully into the hall. She looked up, seeing a sign above the door that read Infirmary. That's odd, Evelyn thought. She could have sworn that sign was just a bunch of swirls and circles a moment ago. She shook her head and began walking left.
She turned a corner. A sign labeled kitchen this way with an arrow pointing straight ahead appeared on the wall. Had that been there the whole time? Evelyn figured she was just seeing things. she came across a big white door with KITCHEN stenciled across it in red at the end of the hall. Without a second thought, she opened it. To her surprise, a man in brown pinstripes was sitting cross-legged on the counter. Black horn-rimmed glasses were sitting atop his nose and he was reading a book titled Galifreyan History 101.
Now she remembered what happened! The Doctor, he'd called himself, the Shylorax-thing, her house being destroyed, fainting. Oh God, she had fainted. In front of him! How embarrassing. then he must have taken her here...wherever here was.
"You!" she cried, causing him to break his concentration from the book. He seemed unfazed by her cry. The Doctor clamped his book shut and jumped off the counter, smiling.
"Mornin'! Did you sleep well? You should've, you've been out for hours." As he spoke, he waved the sonic screwdriver all around Evelyn, slightly annoying her. "you were massively dehydrated and your blood sugar was extremely low. When was the last time you ate something? 'Cause you are pretty thin, you know. Well, not too thin, but thin enough, especially in your circumstances. How about fresh water, got any decent plumbing in that house of yours? And what about—"
The Doctor was cut short by a slap to his right cheek. "What was that for?" he whined as he rubbed his sore face.
"You never stop talking, do you?" Evelyn huffed, flustered. She crossed her arms and pulled her coat tighter. She was beginning to feel self conscious in her paper thin cotton gown, especially with The Doctor standing so close. "Exactly how low long have I been asleep?"
"twenty-six hours, twelve minutes, and...18 seconds. "He smiled that big toothy grin at her. She rolled her eyes at his facetiousness.
"Well, I am starving. Do you have anything good to eat?"
"Oh, absolutely!" he bounded to the refrigerator. "Beans on toast, scones with jam, and a nice cuppa tea. How's that sound?"
She sat at the small wooden table. "Sounds very British."
He laughed genuinely. "Yes, I suppose it does." he prepared her breakfast on a tray and set it in front of her, sitting opposite. "Enjoy."
She ate in silence, noting that he was watching her the whole time. Not in a creepy sort of way, more like curiosity, but Evelyn still felt uncomfortable. "What time is it?" she asked.
"9:13 pm., Earth time." He answered her without looking at a clock. The Doctor wasn't even wearing a watch.
Earth time? As opposed to what, Mars time? "Are you the one who put me in this hospital gown?"
His face turned a shade of pink at this. "Well I had to get you out of those ratty clothes, didn't I? But I didn't look, I swear! Kept my eyes closed the whole time!"
Evelyn chuckled at his embarrassment. "And you put that IV in too, I'm guessing?"
He nodded. "You passed out right in front of me. I figured you could use some fluids in you. And I couldn't just leave you there, could I?"
"So...where exactly am I?" that was one part she still wasn't clear on. Well, that and the whole alien thing. "What is this place?"
"Tell you what, how 'bout you go get washed up first, then I'll explain everything." He reached for her now empty tray, carrying it to the sink. "sound good?"
Evelyn was still wary of him, but a wash sounded really good right now. "Fine," she said curtly. "But then you explain EVERYTHING, and I mean everything. I don't want you to treat me like I'm stupid, Doctor."
"Of course not. Now off you go!"
Evelyn rose, heading for the door. She turned back, asking, "Where is the washroom?"
"Oh don't worry, you'll find it." he slammed the door shut in her face.. Evelyn shook her head and mumbled, "Still rude."
She turned and abruptly found herself face-to-face with a small green door marked Bathroom.
"Okay, that's weird." she said to herself. Evelyn knew that had not been there before. She spun back around, expecting the kitchen door to be there, but found a long empty corridor instead. Strange, she must have walked ahead and not realized it. She scrunched her eyes shut. Her mind was playing tricks on her from the dehydration. That had to be it.
The bathroom was the most luxurious thing Evelyn had ever seen. A claw footed porcelain tub big enough for at least four people was set at the far left, filled to the brim with soapy bubbles. Next to that, two large sitting chairs faced each other in a sitting room fashion. Two Chrome sinks were placed along the marble counter tops, lined with soaps and lotions Evelyn had never even heard of. The toilet was placed in a separate room, and the best part: the tile was heated! The beige walls were bordered with gold trim and the far wall was lined in full length mirrors. Evelyn stared at her reflection. Her hair was a rat's nest, she had dirt all over her arms and legs, and her eyes looked tired. The Doctor was right; she did need a good wash.
Evelyn pulled off her jacket and the hospital gown, neatly folding them across one of the plush chairs. She eased her way down into the hot water of the large tub, sighing at the pleasure of the water on her skin. She had never had a bath before, the best she could do was sneak into the YMCA Center in town early in the mornings, and use the free showers. Millie would lend her soap and shampoo. This, however, was much more relaxing. Evelyn just sat there for a good 20 minutes before actually washing.
A small bar of soap sat on the edge, still in the wrapping, labeled Armallian bath soaps. Evelyn had never heard of that brand before. It sounded fancy. She unwrapped it, bringing it to her nose to smell. The fragrance was a combination of vanilla and pears: her two favorite scents. Odd, she'd never have thought those would smell good together, but somehow they did. She lathered her body in the sweet smelling mixture, ridding herself of the grime from the last 24 hours.
Also on the tub's edge, sat a small silver razor. Evelyn smiled. This Doctor had thought of everything. after shaving, she sat in the tub for another half hour. Amazingly, the water had remained warm the whole time. Evelyn wished she could stay in this bathroom forever, but her skin was starting to prune. She stood, wrapping first her hair in one of the soft yellow towels laid out for her, then her torso.
She began curiously looking through the contents of the cabinets, only to find similar products to those on the counters. She also found tampons, which Evelyn found odd. If The Doctor was alone, like he said, what would he have tampons for? She decided she would ask him about that later.
Fresh clean clothes were lain out across the plush chairs with her name, Evelyn, scrawled across a note card in scripted handwriting. They hadn't been there earlier, Evelyn was sure of that. The doctor must have sneaked in and put them there. "Sneaky. "Didn't look,' he said. 'Kept his eyes closed the whole time,' my ass." she grumbled to herself.
She pulled on the panties and bra which fit perfectly, again strange. Next, light denim blue jeans and a fitted white t-shirt. A pair of midnight blue socks were left alongside black and white sneakers. Evelyn put them on, grateful for the cushion in the soles. she never realized beat up her old boots had been until now.
Hurriedly, she combed and braided her long damp hair down her left side and made her way out. to Evelyn's surprise, the corridor had changed again. a wide, oval-shaped door frame was to her right and a dead end was to her left. another hand painted sign hung on the wall, this one read Console Room this way, and pointed right.
Evelyn shrugged and passed through the doorway entering into what must be the console room. The large room had coral walls dotted with hexagon windows, and that blue and yellow light was once again glowing.
A circular blue tube with piping wheezing up and down was placed in the middle of the console board which contained lots of buttons, dials, switches, levers, and what looked like old pinball machine parts. Evelyn was glad she put the sneakers on, as the grated floor didn't look too comfortable.
The Doctor was sitting on a yellow jump seat, fiddling with a small electronic device. He looked up at the sound of Evelyn's voice. "What is this place?" She asked.
"It's called the TARDIS." He answered.
"TA-DIS?" She asked, confused.
"TAR-DIS." He corrected, over emphasizing each letter. "This is where I live."
"Pretty odd place to live." Evelyn walked around a circular center, taking in as much as she could.
"You saying you don't like it?" The Doctor asked with feign hurt.
"No, no its great! I mean your bathroom is...incredible! It's just...pretty weird room for a house."
The Doctor smirked and raised his eyebrows. "This isn't a house."
Evelyn furrowed her eyebrows. "Then what is it?"
"A spaceship." The Doctor said matter-of-factly.
Evelyn laughed. "No, seriously."
"Seriously." He leaped off the seat and, running toward the double white doors, unlocked the golden latch. "See for yourself."
Evelyn followed him "See what?" she asked suspiciously eying the doors.
"Space!" He grinned happily.
"That's impossible."
"You saw an alien yesterday. You thought that was impossible too."
"It is impossible. Aliens aren't real, it had to be a trick."
"Well if you are so sure, open the doors." he crossed his arms and lazily leaned against the wall. "Prove it."
He was mocking her, she knew he was. He was just trying to make her feel stupid. they couldn't be in space on a spaceship and she would prove it. Evelyn wrapped her hand around the cold metal handle. she took her time, opening the door with a creak. Evelyn gasped at the beauty she saw before her.
"Impossible."
I forgot that I was going to be out of town on Friday, so I apologize for posting chapter 7 late. Chapter 8 will be posted by this Friday, if not sooner. Yes I know this was a long chapter but what did y'all think? leave a comment or write a review! They totally make me type faster! Let me know what you think of Evelyn and how she fits in with The Doctor. My Sister laughed at the part where Evelyn tells The Doctor that his breakfast menu "Sounds very British." haha. :)
