CHAPTER TWO

Claire went home and had that cup of tea, followed by two glasses of Glenfiddich, a Christmas present from her sister. The rest of the night was a bit of a haze, hours of tears and staring at the television, before finally falling asleep on the couch. Which was why she slept through her alarm clock and was only woken when Marcus rang to see why she wasn't at work. A stuffed up nose and very groggy responses convinced him she was sick enough not to come in that day. Luckily her roster had her off for the next few days so it wasn't until Wednesday that Claire found herself standing in front of Thomas' old home once again.

Everything was gone, his tarpaulin tent, his sleeping bag, all the little things that indicated someone lived here. It was all gone, swept away like he never existed.

'I hoped I might find you here,' the Doctor's voice caused Claire to jump in shock.

Turning she saw him standing there, still wearing that silly costume. 'What you doing here?'

'Looking for you.'

'Looking for me?' Claire shook her head in disbelief. 'I'm sorry what ever happened to,' she dropped her voice, '"forget about me, Claire, you'll never see me again, Claire"?'

'I don't sound like that,' the Doctor protested, 'and I meant it at the time. Listen we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, shall we start again?' The Doctor held out his hand. 'I'm the Doctor and you're Claire.'

Claire folded her arms, 'Yeah and about that, the Doctor? What kind of name is that?'

'It's my name.'

'That's not a name, its, its a job description. It would be like if I went around calling myself the Waitress.'

'If you like,' the Doctor wiggled his fingers, 'still rude not to shake.'

'I'm not shaking your hand, remember what happened last time?'

The Doctor dropped his hand. 'Yeah, fair enough.'

Claire sighed and turned to stare at the empty doorway. 'Speaking of names, I don't even know Thomas' surname.'

'Reginald Thomas Sorenson,' the Doctor replied. At Claire's inquiring look he added, 'I asked around.'

'Thomas wasn't even his first name, you think you know someone . . .' Claire's voice trailed off. 'Who am I kidding, I just talked to the guy and gave him sandwiches.'

'You talked to him, you saw him as a person. Not someone to walk past and ignore,' the Doctor said. 'I'm sure he appreciated that.'

'Maybe,' Claire wasn't so convinced, sniffing she turned and nodded at the Doctor, 'anyway I've got to get to work so, see ya.'

'Wait, you can't just leave.'

'I think you find I can, sunshine.' Claire retorted.

'But I've been looking for you, I need your help.'

'With what? Can't read the menu, maybe you want a soy milk frappuccino made or something?' Claire shook her head, 'I'm late for work.'

'Its the Reaving, I'm trying to stop them,' the Doctor said.

Claire peered at the Doctor's face, thinking he was having a lend. But he seemed so sincere and serious. 'Oh hell no,' Claire backed away, 'you saw what happened last time.' She indicated the empty space that was Thomas' former home. 'Call the police, let them handle it.'

'Alien invasion,' the Doctor laughed a little at the idea, 'I think it's a little beyond their jurisdiction, don't you?'

'And you think it's mine?' Claire waved her hands in a dismissive gesture and began to walk away. 'No thanks, good luck and all.'

'Three more people have died since that night,' the Doctor called after her.

Claire stopped walking, but didn't turn around.

'Two of those people were from the street, the third was just an average guy walking home from work. I wasn't able to save them, but with your help I can stop anyone else from dying like Thomas did.'

Claire unclenched her fists and turned around to glare at the Doctor. 'That was a low blow.'

'But did it work?' He asked.

'Do you see me walking away?' Claire stomped back towards the Doctor. 'I've already missed one day's work because of you, you're so going to get me fired.'

'Give me your phone,' the Doctor gestured towards Claire.

'I'm not handing over -,' to her surprise Claire reached into her bag and gave the Doctor her phone. 'Why did I do that?'

'Hmm,' the Doctor ignored her question as he began scrolling through her phone. 'You don't have many friends, do you?'

'Oi, don't be rude.'

'Ah,' the Doctor found the number he was looking for, 'Denny's Cafe.'

'Don't you dare,' Claire watched horrified as he dialed the number, 'hang that up right now, or I swear -'

The Doctor made a shushing gesture as the muted ringing tone cut out and a muffled voice answered. 'Hello, Becky, can I please speak to the manager.'

'No, no, no, this is not happening,' Claire moaned.

'Marcus, hello, this is Doctor -' the Doctor looked about the empty alleyway looking for a suitable pseudonym, his eyes caught the recessed doorway,' - Alcove-ian, I'm Claire's physician. I just wanted to contact you and let you know that she can't attend work today, or for the next couple of days.' There was rumbling reply from Claire's phone. 'Hmm? Nasty little stomach bug, very contagious, not the sort of thing you want associated with your business.' More mumbling emanated from the phone. 'It's more a precaution than anything else, couple days rest and lots of fluids should do the trick.' The reply was shorter this time. 'I'll send your regards, goodbye.' The Doctor tossed the phone back to Claire, 'there sorted.'

'Doctor Alcovian?' Claire caught her phone and dropped it back into her bag before the Doctor got any other ideas.

'Thought Smith might have been a bit obvious, would you have preferred Doctor Dustbins?'

'I'd've preferred you not call at all.'

'Well you should have mentioned that before you gave me your phone.'

Claire bit back the rude reply and scowled at the Doctor.

'Getting a little angry are we?' The Doctor turned and began walking out of the alleyway. 'Come on, Waitress.'

Claire watched the Doctor walk away. 'I'm not following,' she called after him. 'You hear me?'

The Doctor disappeared around the corner.

'Dammit,' Claire hurried after him. 'Why am I following you?' She asked his back.

The Doctor glanced back at her with a grin. 'Maybe I just have one of those faces.'

'No you don't.'

'Yes I do.'

Claire caught up with the Doctor and matched his long stride. 'Where are we going?'

'To my TARDIS.'

'Your what now?'

'You'll see.'

'These cryptic answers are really beginning to annoy me,' Claire said as they passed her bus stop.

'Good.' The Doctor replied as he sharply turned off the footpath and pushed his way past some scraggly bushes.

'I don't see how I'm supposed to help you,' Claire said as she tried to avoid snagging her trousers on the sharp branches.

'You already are,' the Doctor paused in an empty lot next to an old blue box. He circled around it stopping at a door.

Claire followed, looking up she saw the words "POLICE BOX" printed in bold letters above the door. 'You're a policeman?'

'What?' The Doctor snorted dismissively. 'No, do I look like a policeman?'

'You seriously need to start explaining yourself.' Claire demanded, as the Doctor leaned casually against the box.

'I've been running around this city for days, trying to attract the Reavings' attention.' The Doctor finally started to explain.

'Why would anyone want to do that?' Claire asked with a shiver. Since that night every time she'd gone to sleep Claire's dreams had been full of nightmares where she'd almost died.

'To save your planet, of course. Or would you prefer the Reaving to stick around and pick you off one by one?'

Claire shook her head.

'No, I didn't think so. Now where was I?'

'Chasing alien nightmares.' Claire prompted the Doctor.

'Yes, but they kept ignoring me. Honestly I find that quite insulting. I've seen and done my fair share of bad things, I should be full of negative emotions. I'm a regular all you can eat buffet for the Reaving, but instead they kept killing you humans.' The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out a key.

'You humans?' Claire caught the key that the Doctor tossed her way. 'What am I supposed to do with this?'

'Really Claire,' the Doctor rolled his eyes, 'it's a key,' he pointed towards the door, 'that's a lock, do I have to draw you a picture?'

'What do you want me to open some grotty old box for?'

The Doctor snatched the key back from Claire. Grotty?' He patted the side of the box, 'ignore the stupid human.'

'Stupid human?' Claire raised her voice in annoyance. 'Just 'cause I work in a cafe doesn't make me - ah!' A sharp stab of pain jabbed Claire behind her left eye.

The Doctor stepped away from the box and looked up at the sky. 'Here they come.'

Claire rubbed her temple trying to massage away the pain. 'Whose coming?' The rising background noise reminded Claire of the first time she met the Doctor. 'Please tell me that's just the wind.'

'Nope,' the Doctor seemed pleased with the idea. 'They've cut us off from the herd, we're all alone now.'

Fear grabbed at Claire's insides. 'The Reaving?' She whispered.

The Doctor pushed his key into the lock. 'The night we met, I thought they were after me. Turns out they were after you, Claire, or maybe it required both of us to get their attention. That's why I came looking for you, I needed your help.'

'To do what?' Claire could feel the faintest whisper beginning to manifest. That hateful voice reminding her of all her failings.

'To draw them in,' the Doctor turned the key but didn't push open the door. Sensing Claire tensing up next to him, he reached out and grabbed hold of Claire's arm. 'No running, remember?'

'This is all my fault,' Claire whispered, 'Thomas is dead because of me.'

The Doctor shook Claire's arm to get her attention. 'Your friend is dead because of them,' he nodded up at the sky, 'and now we're going to stop them, together.'

'How?'

'I have a plan.'

'Which is?' The voices were screaming at her now, they wanted her to hurt, they wanted her dead.

'Step one, get their attention,' the Doctor laughed at Claire, 'check.'

'Why are you so happy?'

'Step two, when I say run, you run. Hopefully the Reaving will follow us.'

'You want it to follow us? Wait, you just told me not to run!'

'You're not running away, you're running into the TARDIS.'

'The what?'

'Big, blue box, when I say so, push open the door and run inside. I'll be right behind you.'

'We won't fit, there's no room.'

'You'd be surprised.' The Doctor yelled over the screaming noise that was the Reaving. 'Now get ready.'

Claire placed a trembling hand on the door. 'I don't want to die,' she muttered repeatedly.

'Ding, ding, ding, that's the dinner bell, boys,' the Doctor yelled up at the sky as his grip tightened on Claire's arm, 'can you feel it? All those nice juicy emotions, yum yum.'

Claire started yelling as the pressure continued to grow and she felt like her head was about to explode.

Suddenly the Doctor pushed her hard. 'Run, Claire, run!'

Pushing open the door Claire bolted inside, raising her arms up in front of her as she expected to slam into the far side of the box. Instead she kept on running for several steps before slowing to a stop, her echoing footsteps fading away as she opened her eyes and looked around. Where was she, it was huge, like some sort of cathedral, how did she get in here? Claire took a couple of steps towards what looked like a half built motorcycle when the Doctor's yell dragged her attention back towards the door.

'Doctor!' Hurrying back Claire ran past the Doctor as he sprinted inside, slamming the door shut behind him. Claire's sneakers squeaked on the floor as she turned sharply to follow him. 'What happened, there was yelling.'

The Doctor slammed against a metal girder, one of six that surrounded a wooden construction in the middle of the room. 'Console,' he rasped.

'What?' Claire stopped by his side.

The Doctor lifted a hand and pointed at the wooden bench-thing. 'Console, go.' He gestured towards it. 'Far side.'

Claire hopped up a step to stand at the six-sided console. Moving around it she stopped when she was opposite where the Doctor was standing. 'Now what?'

'Two steps to your right,' the Doctor instructed.

Claire stepped sideways twice around the console. 'Okay,' she said, uncertainly.

'Big lever on the side,' the Doctor said.

Claire reached out and rested her hand on a brass lever. 'Got it.'

'Now pull it down,' the Doctor mimed the gesture.

Claire yanked the lever down hard and a glass column full of what looked like crystal shards on the console began to move up and down. Some sort of machine started to hum and groan beneath Claire's feet as she stared up at the blue shards; rising and falling, rising and falling. Claire felt the tension in her shoulders start to ease away, it was beautiful; whatever it was.

'When you've quite finished dillydallying.' The Doctor's voice suddenly appeared right behind Claire.

She jumped in shock. 'Sorry, sorry,' Claire stuttered as she turned.

'No, Claire, no,' the Doctor shook his head, 'I should be the one apologising. I didn't mean anything I said out there, I don't think you're a stupid human. I just needed you angry.' The Doctor rubbed hard at his forehead, then moved past Claire and looked down at the console. His hands reached out towards the smooth polished wood then just as quickly he snatched them back again, almost like he was afraid to touch it.

'Are you alright?' Claire asked, 'you look a little peaky.'

'I'm fine,' the Doctor snapped, noting Claire's jump at his words he softened his tone. 'I think,' he glanced at the console again. 'Hmm, we have a little while before we arrive. Come on, might as well be comfortable.'

Claire watched the Doctor stumble off the small step and steady himself on a girder. He walked slowly over to a small area that held a couple of armchairs and a low coffee table. Sitting heavily in the nearest armchair he slumped forward, elbows propped on his knees, head in his hands.

'What's wrong?' Claire followed him slowly.

'Ah,' the Doctor sat upright, 'question time. I'll start shall I?' He gestured for Claire to sit in the other chair. 'Who: I'm the Doctor, remember; what: Timelord from Gallifrey; when: well that can be a fluid situation,' he rubbed for forehead again, grimacing slightly, 'right now we're in the Time Vortex; where: you're in my ship and how: well you ran through the door.'

Claire perched herself on the edge of the chair, as she shook her head. 'I ran into that box.'

The Doctor nodded, 'The TARDIS.'

Claire stood up and gestured about her. 'So how'd I end up in here?'

'Because you ran through the door,' the Doctor sounded the words out slowly. 'I thought that would be obvious. Even a human can't miss that.'

Claire slumped down on the chair. 'I had my eyes closed,' she muttered.

'Sorry?'

'I had my eyes closed,' Claire said, a little louder. 'I was running into a box, I thought I was going to smack into the other end.'

The Doctor started chuckling.

'Its not funny,' Claire retorted, 'I thought it was going to hurt.' She fought back a smile as the Doctor laughed harder. She looked around the vast space of the Doctor's ship, 'guess it's a little funny.'

The Doctor's laughter quietly faded. 'Ah, that's interesting,' he said to himself.

'What's interesting?'

The Doctor sat up a little straighter in his chair. 'Endorphins kicking in helped, guess laughter really is the best medicine.'

'Helped with what?' Claire watched as the Doctor used both hands to rub his face.

'No, no,' the Doctor's voice was muffled until he dropped his hands into his lap, 'you're forgetting the big question.'

Claire pushed herself up to the edge of her chair. 'What big question?'

'Did it work?'

'Did what -' Claire remembered standing outside the TARDIS, 'the Reaving, your plan! Did you kill them?'

'Kill them?' The Doctor said. 'It would take a nuclear blast to take out a Reaving horde, believe me I know. Luckily for me, this is just one single entity, besides I wanted it off your planet, not dead.'

'But they killed Thomas,' Claire protested.

'The Reaving are carnivores, it's only following it's nature. Do you mourn the cow when you eat a hamburger?'

'That's different.'

'Tell that to the cow,' the Doctor shook his head, groaning slightly, 'well that's the endorphins worn off. Don't suppose you know any good knock-knock jokes?'

'What are you talking about?'

'Knock-knock jokes, a humourous limerick perhaps? Weren't you listening when I mentioned laughter is the best -,' the Doctor interrupted himself, 'never mind, not important, I removed the Reaving from your planet, you're welcome by the way.'

'Thank you?' Claire answered hesitantly. 'Hang on, how did you remove the Reaving . . . and what do you mean from your planet?!'

'Humans and your questions,' the Doctor smiled briefly before it slipped away as he rubbed his forehead. 'Once we had the Reaving's attention I made sure it followed us.'

Claire jumped to her feet, looking fearfully about the room. 'It's in here, with us?'

The Doctor nodded. 'In a manner of speaking,' he tapped the side of his head.

'Why are you - ,' Claire's eyes widened in shock, 'wait, are you saying the Reaving is in your head, that was your plan?'

The Doctor nodded. 'Seemed like the quickest way.'

'Of all the stupid ideas.' Claire slumped back down into the chair.

'I said I had a plan, I never said it was a good one.'

'But, look what happened to Thomas, it could have killed you.'

'It still might.'

'That's not funny,' Claire was almost in tears at the thought.

'Trust me, I'm not laughing.' the Doctor looked over at her. 'Claire, Claire it was the only way.'

'So what happens now?'

'Now,' the Doctor kicked off his shoes, leaned down and began rolling up his pants, 'we go to some friends and ask them for help. Shoes and socks off, please. Watches, phones and any jewellery, too, leave them on the table.'

'What?' Claire felt stupid, constantly asking all these endless questions.

The Doctor pulled off his socks, balled them up and stuck them into his shoes. 'It's sandy where we're going, I hate sand in my socks, don't you?'

'Uh,' Claire pulled off her sneakers and socks, 'sure, I guess. I mean, yeah, doesn't everyone?'

'Exactly.' the Doctor emptied his pockets onto the table, he had a pocket watch, Claire was a little envious, she had always wanted one since she was a kid.

Claire rolled up her trousers as she watched the Doctor take off his jacket and undo that ridiculous silk scarf thing from about his neck. 'But where are we going and how are we getting there?'

'You're just full of questions today. We're traveling in my ship and you should know where we're going since you sent us there.'

'What?'

The Doctor mimed pulling a lever. 'I didn't know how much control the Reaving might have when I let it in, so I preset the co-ordinates.'

'So I,' Claire looked back at the wooden console, 'started your ship?'

'My TARDIS, yes.'

Claire looked about the vast room they were sitting in. 'We're seriously in a ship and we're going to another country?'

'Planet,' the Doctor corrected her, 'jacket too.' He nodded at Claire as he began rolling up his sleeves. 'Warm, tropical planet, no more blustery London for you.'

'This is mental,' Claire slipped off her coat and unstrapped her watch from her wrist, 'I hardly know you.'

'Well I hardly know you, yet I trusted you enough to pilot my ship,' the Doctor retorted.

'But another planet, aliens, a great big space ship. I feel like I'm in some sort of movie or something.'

'You much watch some strange movies then,' the Doctor stood up and began to slowly walk over to a bank of filing cabinets. 'Now where did I -?' He opened a couple of drawers, 'no, no,' slamming them shut he continued down the row. 'Aha, found you!' Reaching deep into the cabinet drawer the Doctor pulled out what looked to Claire to be a couple of black pieces of cord.

Just then there was a deep chiming sound and the mechanical noises that Claire assumed was the ship in motion stopped. 'What happened?'

The Doctor looked back at Claire. 'We've arrived,' he gestured for her to come towards him, 'now, first planet protocols. Follow my lead, assume everyone is sentient,' he pointed suddenly at her, 'don't blow anything up!'

'Why would I blow something up, how would I blow something up?'

'I don't know, 'the Doctor shrugged, 'I knew someone who loved to blow things up.'

'Well he sounds nice,' Claire said, sarcastically.

'She was, now where was I? That's right, the most important rule is be open minded. Think you can do that?'

Claire blinked, 'I'll try.'

The Doctor smiled. 'Good girl.'

Claire frowned at his words. 'Yeah we really need to talk about -,'

'Turn around,' the Doctor instructed as Claire stopped in front of him.

'What?'

The Doctor groaned, 'Claire I am distracting the Reaving by reliving some of my more boring memories, but I don't know how much longer I can hold it off. So would you please just turn around?'

'Sorry, sorry,' Claire turned about, 'Doctor?'

'Hmm.'

'Does it hurt?'

The Doctor's sigh was heavy enough that she felt it against the back of her neck. Instead of answering her he reached around her shoulders displaying what he was holding. It was a cord, or at least a thin kind of rope, blueish-black with fine metallic threads running through it. Glancing backwards Claire realised the Doctor was wearing one exactly like it as some sort of choker.

'Could you move your hair, please?' He asked.

Claire pulled her braid away from her neck as the Doctor fastened the cord. At first it seemed cold and restrictive but just as quickly it warmed against her skin and it was almost like Claire wasn't wearing the cord at all.

'What is this?' Claire asked as she turned around.

'All the rage where we're going,' the Doctor replied as he began walking away.

'No but seriously,' Claire hurried after him, 'what is it?'

'A vital piece of equipment, you'll see.' The Doctor stopped walking and placed a hand on what Claire assumed was the door. 'Are you ready?'

'Uh,' Claire shuffled her feet, still not convinced that this was some sort of elaborate joke and when they walked outside it would be the same old empty lot she had recently left. 'No, not really.'

'Come on Claire,' the Doctor rested a hand on her shoulder, 'this is the best part, your first alien planet, all the universe just outside that door. I love this moment!'

Claire smiled at his enthusiasm. 'Yeah sure, ready as I'll ever be, I guess.'

'That's the spirit!' The Doctor moved his hand down to the small of Claire's back. 'I just remembered an addendum to the most important rule.'

'What?' Claire felt a hard shove from behind as the Doctor pushed her out the opened door.

'Don't forget to breathe!'