A/N: Arg this one is short and a tad pointless. You can probably guess what happens because of the title xD
Chapter Nine
Jailbreak
'You know what we could do with right now?' Ashley sighed, her face pressed up against the cold metal bars. 'A harmonica.'
The Doctor hardly moved from his seat on the cot in the opposite cell, his expression thoughtful. Ashley didn't dare sit on her cot as there was a suspicious looking stain on the top end. There were only four cells in the back of the local jailhouse and had been empty until they had arrived. Sheriff Lockely had locked them up silently, unwilling to make eye contact with either of them. They had been able to hear Bobby yelling about witches and saying that they should just shoot them already. It was a good job that Lockely was of a rational mind, or else they probably would have just shot them.
'So… plan?' Ashley asked, watching the Doctor through the bars.
'Hmm…' was the half-hearted reply.
'Oh I get it, you're thinking of one. Well you better think of one quick because this cell stinks. I'm sick of being locked up, Doctor. I got locked up at the BLFC, I got locked up in a cage in that bloody basement full of dogs, I got locked up in your little fantasy world… okay that sounds wrong… And I got locked up in the bloody hall of mirrors. If this is going to be a regular occurrence you could at least give me a lock pick or something. Tell me why you aren't using your sonic thingamabob again?'
The Doctor didn't look up. 'Because they took it off me.'
Ashley remembered the Sheriff taking the Doctor's screwdriver, his psychic paper and – weirdly enough – a banana and putting them in the bottom drawer of his desk. Ashley had had nothing to take, but he hadn't been keen on searching her. In fact, he wouldn't touch her. Probably scared that he would burst into flames.
She sighed heavily. 'In the movies they have one weak bar,' she said in boredom. 'We could find it and try and knock it out. Or if you have a poster or something I could start digging a way out through the wall and cover it when someone comes in.'
'Could you please just… shut up a minute?' the Doctor told her irritably. 'I'm trying to figure out a way to get out.'
Ashley frowned. 'You're a rude one, Doctor. You're not the only one who can cook up a plan you know. Hell, I could just heat up the lock until it breaks or something. Who knows how hot I can make things? I could try and melt the bloody bar or something.' She turned, crossing her arms over her chest. 'At least give me a chance to think of something instead of instantly dismissing me of being completely feckless.'
'Of course!' the Doctor cried, making her jump. 'You could melt down the inside of the lock and open the door! Fantastic!'
Ashley turned and looked at him in confusion. 'You mean that would actually work? Because I was just talking out of my arse.'
'You can try,' the Doctor nodded keenly. 'What's the worst that could happen?'
'Um, I could spontaneously combust.'
'Pfft, that could happen any time. Go on then! Get going!'
Ashley looked at him for a moment and then glanced at the lock. 'Um… I'm not sure how to do that.'
'Just try.' The Doctor insisted. 'The least you can do is try.'
She hesitated, and then cupped her hand over the lock. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The Doctor watched anxiously. A second later she snatched her hand away with a hiss.
'I can't.' she said, rubbing it. 'It just burns me.'
'Move your hand back then.'
She gave him a disgruntled look and tried again with her hand a little further back. The Doctor watched. After a moment, the metal began to glow red. The Doctor grinned as it changed to orange, and then something broke inside. Ashley's eyes shot open and she jerked her hand back. She looked at the door for a moment, and then nudged it with her foot. It creaked open.
'I'm immense.' She beamed proudly, stepping out.
'That you are,' the Doctor nodded. 'Now go into the front and get my screwdriver so we can open this one.'
'I'll just heat it up again.' Ashley grinned. 'It was fun.'
'No, just get the screwdriver please.' He didn't want to admit that he actually didn't like seeing her using her powers.
She poked her tongue out at him good-naturedly and then headed, quietly, to the front desk. As expected there was no one there. The Sheriff was probably still out looking for Billy Bloom – if he was even still alive that was. The thought saddened Ashley briefly. She liked Sheriff Lockely, even if he had locked her up in a cell. He had just been so nice about it. Also as expected, the drawer containing the Doctor's belongings was locked. She stood and looked at it for a few moments, wondering how she could open it. She couldn't see a key. And also she couldn't do the lock-melt thing because the whole desk would go up in flames. At least then she would be able to get in. Although the psychic paper would probably take a bit of a bashing.
After a few minutes of pondering and some impatient urges from the Doctor, she tugged hard on the drawer. She pulled on it with all her weight and some more, gritting her teeth as if it would summon up some hidden strength. It gave just when she thought it was going to and she landed hard on her backside with a yell.
'Are you okay?' the Doctor asked, unable to see her from in the cells. 'What was that? Ashley?'
'I'm fine.' Ashley replied, getting up and rubbing her rear. 'My arse is taking some right abuse here.' She paused. 'I didn't like how that sounded.'
'Neither did I.' The Doctor answered. 'Have you got it then? Because I'd really like to get out of here.'
Ashley scooped up the Doctor's belongings out of the broken drawer and jogged back to him. Only seconds after he took the screwdriver the door popped open and he stepped out. Ashley handed him the psychic paper and grinned.
'What'd you do without me?'
The Doctor took the psychic paper and pushed it in his pocket. 'Probably be able to get a word in edgeways. 'Okay, my guess is that Billy has gone back up to the mountain. If he did manage to control himself from killing you, then he's probably all over the place emotionally. He'll want to apologise to his brother.'
'What if the sheriff and those other two have gone up there already?'
'Then they're more than likely dead.' The Doctor headed for the door quickly. 'Let's just hope they didn't think of that, eh? Now get those knees up, we need to make a pit stop.'
'Where?'
'The chemist.'
Ashley frowned in concern and then held the front of her dress so she could keep up with his fast pace.
