A Silver Lining
"I close my eyes
Only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind"
Note: This fanfic has no beta, so please aware that there will be silly mistakes and errors you might find while reading this fanfic. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you.
Chapter 1: Dust In The Wind
The easiest thing to understand in life, well, something.
What? You think I know?
I still don't fully get the concept of breathing.
Sure, my body and my lungs do the work, but why was I made this way? Why did my organs and parts all make up the system in-which makes it possible for me to breathe? There are probably hundreds of scientific papers out there but I'm not going to sit there and read them all. I wouldn't even understand a good quarter of it anyway, it would be wasted time.
So why am I rambling about this? Ah right, the easiest thing to understand in my life was that it was a mess.
Well, the type of mess that an everyday, boring nine to five working adult lives; I'm the youngest of three and the one who has yet to fully plant their feet onto the solid ground. I was and am still floating five millimetres from the concrete and I am still terrified of the miniscule fall that will come one day. Aren't we all? You wake up one day, school behind you and your hours at work start to become your main home, then you meet people and then you settle. But I didn't want to settle, I didn't want to be stuck in the back end of town where I knew every road and pathway like it was a well painted landscape that span across my home.
I wanted to get out, break the social norm of sitting in one place for too long. I wanted to pack my bags and for once disappear. That wasn't possible without money, an unlimited amount to get by with ease.
Unlimited money only exists for the successful, the horrid and the corrupt. I was none of these things, just a person stuck in a square of extremely limited options.
I am tired.
I am tired of seeing the same old faces when I walk down the streets. The buildings never change even when the contents do with the inevitable change of time, I know every short cut and every secret route, I know the houses at each end even if I never understand the jumbled-up numbers with no proper clear order. This is home, the place I been in since before I could see, speak, or walk. I knew it better then majority of the people living here, there wasn't much new to see or experience. I have exhausted the exploration of this little, itty-bitty town.
I knew when it would change weather, when certain seasons would come off the beaten path and end up somewhere else on the timeline. I knew certain people routines, that I learnt some days it better having something playing full blast to bed so I wouldn't be awakened to a grass cutting crazy neighbour at the crack of dawn. Sometimes I wonder how he still has grass in his garden.
My friends have all spread far out from the town we would go and hide in, the days of sharing earphones on a warm summer under the shades were long behind us. The walks in the local forest, climbing trees and scrapes knees that I would see every time I would pass through those areas. All I had was memories echoing like ghost following me as I try to put my head down.
Time had come and gone and with it stretch us apart. Our lives change, distance physically and emotionally estrange us to one and another and all is left is what had been. Have you ever found it hard to message someone you hadn't heard from in ages? And then months turn into years, and you think maybe it much too late. It was always too late.
So, in comfort, I would encase myself within my sheets. Often, I would find the bed impossible to escape, it hugs me like a lover begging me to not go. It kept me safe and warm within its clutches, as it whispers sweet, sweet nothings.
But I fling awake, in the pitch darkness of the early hours of the morning. I grip my shirt with one hand, to feel and to touch something, just to give some sense of grounding as my other hand reaches for my phone to check the time.
3:00 am.
It glares at me, making me flicker my eyelids. It wasn't the first time I awoke for no reason beside the cold, shivering sensation running up my spine and an empty head filled with nothing but questions. What did I dream about? What had I seen, heard, felt? Why am I like this now? Why, 3 am of all times?
I put my phone down, took one big breath, and came to realize that I needed to pee. Right now.
That left the questions for another night and the bedcover to the side. I glided across the carpeted floors, gently as possible pulled my squeaky door with clenched teeth before tiptoeing to the loo. I did knock my toes in the process, but I did make it to the throne. I did business like any type of royalty and tiptoe back to my bedroom.
Until I felt my feet slip further down when I crossed the line of my bedroom door, I did not feel the carpet. There was nothing touching my feet beside the slight brief breath of air, almost like the sensation you get when you almost step on your pet sleeping on the stairs. It tickles the toes and makes you want to pull back. I should've panicked, I should've question it, however it was hard to tell what was happening in the pitch darkness, and all I could think was my sleep deprived brain thinking I had fallen through the floor. As if!
Carpets, flooring, or the main build of the house does not just disappear in mere minutes. So of course, I thought it was all in my head. Just my mind giving me some sort of sleep hallucinations.
I took another step; one I partially regret now.
Like right now.
I didn't fall, I didn't flutter like a feather, I didn't go tumbling into a muddy hole like Alice. I didn't scream for nothing was making me slip down some sort of rollercoaster ride nor did I feel like I was sitting in a back seat of some reckless driver taken me home after too many drinks that night. No nausea, no pain, just pure confusion. I just slip from one space to another. I sniffle as the horrors of my hay fever hit me first hand. My bare feet met concrete, and stones and I hiss in pain as they sink into my feet, almost similar when stepping on Lego unknowingly. Warm yellow blares into my sight making me try and fight it back by flailing my arms to block it, I felt like almost hissing as if I had somehow become some sort of vampiric entity.
Its one thing to fall, it another to completely just change places in a single step.
The pain saying otherwise. Once I rub my eyes clean of sleep, I took note to where I am. I stood between too buildings near a junction of rows of shops, the place familiar and yet completely different. I knew from the brands and architecture that I am still within the UK. I glance down to see I was still in my stripe pyjamas, shirt luckily all button up and baggy trousers. I've never had dreams where I'm wearing my night gear, that was new.
I wiggle my toes, took a deep breath, and decide to walk around. Find out why I was dreaming of this location since I wasn't waking up anytime soon. It also been a while since I had some control on my dreams, I want to explore, to see what I can find. It is somewhat exciting. So, pockets penniless, I wonder around the streets that lay bare. The stores lights were off, meaning they were shut and all I could think it must be early hours or the evening, matching the soft cool wind gave me the idea that this was the early hours of the morning. I rub my arms and hope my feet wouldn't get to cold, already noticing the tips of my toes turning colour.
I try to focus on clues, like street names or locations that should ring alarm bells, but nothing really screams anywhere I been in the UK. This was a country I had barely ever left, one I have camp in with different locations growing up and plentiful school trips, you think something would come to mind. Maybe since this was a dream this was like a cross of reality and fanciful dream? Familiar enough to make me know where I am but not enough to feel like I had never been here.
After what felt like a good hour or two of walking aimlessly, I took a seat at a bench in front of one of the many shops. The window held my reflection, I couldn't help but look away when I noticed the stripe pyjamas. Someone walk down and I almost gasp before jumping behind the bench, the person walking down was me. A much younger me. But I knew that face, I had seen that face a lot over the years, for it was my own.
Back then I had long hair, it was before I started to focus on myself. Pleated hair, something I loved doing to keep my fingers occupied, in work uniform and keys. I knew now what time, what day of the week of seeing myself and roughly what year.
I hear myself sigh, twist the key, and proceed with my normal Sunday routine. I snuck away, wondering if I saw myself if that would have any type of rectifying my existence, and for some reason that terrify me. I trust my gut for it rarely been wrong, and so I got as far away from the store.
Seeing that me brought back many memories and I wonder, if I had met me now, would've comfort me or upset me more? "It's a dream! stop being ridiculous." I mutter to myself, and it probably didn't help me as people start their day, shop lights flicker on. Workers walk pass me with questionable gazes as they notice my clothes, but no one stop to ask, and I was thankful for that.
Because I didn't need anyone telling me at this moment that this isn't a dream. Even if everything was adding up to deny my hope that being the case.
I shook my head, wince as I step on something uneven and step back. "Shit." I couldn't help mutter before continuing, there wasn't any more places to stop and after seeing me of all people has made me want to get as far as possible of the other me. As well the many gazes of others coming out to the shops, the ringing church bells and sickening notion that everything is eerily familiar and yet all offsets to being just different enough. Of course, I am going to go as far as possible away from here.
I felt like I was in some form of conspiracy show, the ones that question aliens and the strange phenomenon that have happen without any true form of evidence. Yet here I am, in my pyjamas in broad daylight in the very past I have tried to forget. To anyone else, I was some crazy person wondering the streets. If I told them what had happened, no one would believe me.
I walk, walk, and walk some more, lost within my thoughts and fears and the morning sun slithers into day. My stomach growls and I wonder if I be able to find food with nothing on me. I stumble upon a park and a bench, I fall onto it like a lifeline, exhaustion settling in from the hours of walking through houses, shops, and streets. All of it a blur to me.
It had been my dream to travel, but not like this. You know most people like traveling with supplies and the right gear. Usually, my dreams are kind enough to give me some plausible le way, and I knew with my stomach gurgling that this was not a dream.
I had ignored the pain in my feet and legs, the sensations of the breeze on my skin, the numbing in my toes. The dryness of my throat and my stomach has never happened in any dream, and you can't get hungry in a dream, usually it would wake me up otherwise and I was not waking up. I groan, not knowing how to comprehend what had become of my life.
"I know I didn't want a normal life but…" I whisper into my hands; this is not what I meant.
I gaze up, laying down on the bench staring through the leaves, watching the sun shimmer through. I took some deep breaths and savour the gentle quietness around me. Birds sung, cars thrum past, people flitter back and throw. I couldn't help but take it all in. It could be worse.
I had fell asleep on that very place, the hunger, tiredness all caves me to slumber on the bench. It wasn't for too long, for I awoke to chattering and engine running not too far away, that when I tilt my head, I saw a coffee van had settle itself within the field of a park. People had settled in seats as they talk, the barista hands steaming the milk mid convention. The little sizzles of the milk had been what woke me up, the familiar sound almost made me think I had somehow fallen asleep at work.
I hadn't of course, for I was where I was before.
I groan as I pull myself up. "You alright there, kid?" I glance over to the voice of older gentleman. He has a fresh cup of coffee in his hand and a cane in his other hand. He was sitting in the many chairs the coffee van had set out.
I nod, "Yea, just a rough day." I cough from the dryness in the back of my throat.
"Rich, get the kid a cup of water." He calls over to the Barista who just nods as he passes over a coffee to a dog walker, exchanging money. The man gaze turns back to me, "So why are you sleeping here in your Pjs?"
I wonder what to say, I wasn't very good at lying. But the truth was unbelievable, I was still trying to understand it let alone believe it. Something in the middle, would be best as an answer. "I'm lost really, I think I might've gone for a walk in my sleep."
He smiles, "Haven't we all?" he answers wistful. I wander if he meant more to that.
Rich passes me the plastic cup of water and I take it with a "thank you." I easily drink the whole lot. "Then you probably can sympathize with my problem here."
Rich pats the gentleman, "Will, here has many mornings found himself in strange places. He got me once to drive him back from Lancaster! That's like three hours away, and when I asked him how he got there, his answer was sleep walking! Sleep walking! I still don't believe he really slept all the way there, he wou-"
"It was closer to 5 hours." He corrects, "Okay, Okay Rich, I think he gets it."
"She gets it." Rich tries to correct. The two begin to bicker between each other and it was strange having too older men argue over your gender.
"Um, guys." I try and interrupt, but my words flew over their heads instead.
Until they came at an agreement, a reasonable one. "Let's ask them then!" Rich ends the conversations and turns to me, "This might seem rude of us, but may we know your gender?"
"Well, usually people ask for my name before they get to the gender question." I reply, they begin to open their mouths. However, as I gaze at the two, I wonder what I should say, should I lie? Considering the era, I was in and the way people even where I was were still get wound up with my gender specifications, I decided it best for now to keep to one gender. "I'm a guy." A little white lie will be fine, and it was a nice change for being the usual pre-set 'her' even when I went by all pronouns.
"Well, you hear the kid, so let stop this silly argument." Will answer with swift acceptance. I breathe a sigh of relief. "And it true, we never did ask for your name, may we have it since you know ours?"
"And give you power?" I jokingly answer, "You seem of Faye kind, and I wonder what you want from me with all these questions."
Will merely quirks his eyebrows, seemingly the joke had flown over his head, or it was terrible. Probably the last one.
"Alright, alright, my name… "I start to answer before stopping, realising that within the last few hours, I hadn't thought of my name, not even when I saw myself from before. I squint my eyes, trying to muster up the memory of my name.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"No, no, it just, that. "I begin to answer, "I can't, can't recall my name." I clutch the plastic cup tightly, letting it crinkle and crackle in my hands as the idea of my name has left me. It felt wrong, it felt so out of place and strange to even admit for everything and everyone had a name, yet all that came to mind was a blank answer.
Will and Rich look at me with concern, before the other spoke up. "You know where you live, though?" That I answer with such ease that they both seem to be surprised. "Jesus, your miles from home." Rich exclaims soon after.
"Explains why everything seem unfamiliar." I answer, cracking a small twice of a smile. "For a second there, thought I was crazy." Sarcastic protective wall to cope put in place, check.
We continue to discuss normal things, phone numbers, anyone I could ask for help, etc. All with the simple answer of "no." leaving my lips. Will and Rich were kind enough to give me some cash for a bus to get me part way home and the other giving a coffee to warm up and keep me awake on my journey home.
We said our goodbyes and I wonder if I would ever meet them again, but I highly doubt it.
I quickly found a bus to slip onto, the bus driver didn't question me as she took the money as I told her I get off at the last stop. She took it with ease, as if it wasn't the first time someone came onto her bus with bare feet and pjs on. I took my ticket with a "thanks." And took the steps to upstairs and took the middle seats, sipping on my now lukewarm coffee.
Days rolled by, with me scavenging in the streets for money and food. I am officially homeless, when I got my hands on the yellow papers and found that a different family lives at that address, as if I had never lived there at all. I instead slip around London, in and out of the city. When I gather money, I take a nap on the buses for shelter, for a bus ride was much cheaper than any YMCA housing. I needed to eat of course.
I would try and spread any kindness given to me, food, money, clothes as much as possible. Hide under bus shelters and any bridge in horrible weather when I couldn't afford a ride across the city. Some nights, if I hide under Westminster bridge, I could easily watch Big Ben tick away nearby. It was a very pretty sight, though it didn't cover the backpain.
I am missing a real bed.
Clutching tightly, I grip my hoodie closer in the cold. Someone kindly gave it to me when seeing me shiver across a MacDonalds, I had kept it ever since with the visual memory of my saviour. I had been able to save some old shoes from the trash in my travels as well, a little too big but they did the job for now. At least I wouldn't have worry about cutting my feet anytime soon.
Plink. Plink.
Coins scatter before my feet as someone passes by, their hand flickering a shadow across me before they walk on. I gaze on the shiny coins and quickly gather them before they further slide on the pathway, I would've said thanks, but they were long gone. I couldn't help feeling a tug on my lips, for I knew I be able to afford a bus ride tonight.
Warmth, plush seating, and walls all around me. Even if it a shared space, it got me off the streets for an hour or two. Plus, the best sleep I can get without fear of getting hurt, moved, or targeted by strange individuals. The cameras help further giving me this comfort.
I pull myself up, pick up my plastic water bottle and take a walk along the pathway till I found the bus I want to take for tonight. I usually like trying to find the longest route bus as possible, the longer the better. More lost the better, I might as well adventure while being homeless.
I got to find the silver lining in this situation.
The weather was already looking bleak this morning of overcast, yet as the day move so did the changing of the colour of the clouds. Dark, looming grey clouds form and I couldn't help counting my lucky stars I be taking the 200-bus tonight, for I will be out of the rain for a couple of hours and if I'm further lucky, the rain may stop once I must get off.
The 200-bus driver was a kind bloke, as long as he got his money, so if I gave the cash for a couple back and forth on the bus, he'll take it and let me do as I please without question. I was no actual hassle, and I usually slept that time onboard. Sometimes if there was any left for the day, he'll give the newspaper just to keep me up to date on things.
I was and am practically bouncing for joy for this time of rest, now with it getting dark. With quick ease and familiarity, he took the cash and handed me my slips of paper. With that, I took a seat closer to the back, got as comfortable I could, curl up in a ball with the back of my hoodie being used as a makeshift pillow and close my eyes. Sweet, sweet sleep.
I slump into the cushions, relax my muscles, and almost purred at the feeling of the double decker bus humming around me. The feeling of shimmering waves of heat admits from the bodies around me, further cave me into my exhaustion.
That when an annoying, irritating, and fear inducing sound admit right next to me. I jump awake, clutching the shoulder of the person in front before muttering "Can you just, not."
They turn around at me quickly, buddle of energy I wish I could even muster. "Oh. Sorry!" he looks at me and his seat buddy, glancing at the half-eaten chocolate easter egg, his pocket and the two of us. He decides to shove the treat my way, "Take it as my apology, go on, have it. Finish it. It's full of sugar and I'm determined to keep these teeth."
I take it with confusion, but I couldn't say no to him. Plus, when was it the last time I had chocolate of all things? "Um, thanks." But I don't think he took care as he began to pull out the device that had originally awoken me. It looks strange, almost out of a sci-fi and as I blink my blurry eyes, I couldn't help but think this was oddly familiar. I snap the chocolate and let the piece melt in my mouth.
"Ah. Oh, we've got excitation." He pulls the device closers as it further blares high pitch squeaking, twisting, what looks like a volume button, around. "I'm picking up something very strange."
The woman beside him turns to look out the window, grimacing at something she saw. "I know the feeling." She strains.
They both talk more, as I stare at the back of the brunette in front. Trying to figure out why this whole scene seem too familiar. Like Déjà vu, yet not. For I hadn't seen it from this angle, not from the back for sure. I study the long brown trench coat, the high red converses, and the strange device he was now flickering with his fingers as he further blabbers on.
I was also trying and failing not to hear the police sirens playing in the background, as if echoing the warning bells before me.
"Doctor?" I whisper, entertaining the notion, because how much more peculiar was my life going to get? If I had somehow slip into another universe, it would explain the other me, being in the past and the fact everything was familiar enough but nothing being what I remember. I take another snap of the chocolate.
He tilts his head to me for a moment, probably hearing me say his name before going back to his main focus. Standing up at the reveal of the dish spinning with intrigue until it spits sparks, spilling smoke behind him hitting the lady to his right with the aftermath. She complains, and I can't blame her for the stuff smelt strange. Alien technology, I guess it built different.
Like a warning the device high pitches squeaks began louder, as if in warning and I knew then and there were we be heading as I quickly sat up and took full grip of my chair. There goes my night of rest.
"Can't you turn that thing off?" She asks him, as he switches the device off.
He turns to her, he catches eyes with me, and I nod, "And what are both your names?"
"Don't have one."
"Christina." You can guess who answer what, right?
He tries to say something before quickly changing his mind, and instead said to everyone as he grips his pole and took his seat again. "Christina, hold on tight. Everyone, hold on!"
"Already on it." I answer before chaos ensues. Lights flicker, people talking, screaming around me in very reasonable worry. If I didn't know what was going on, I would've been too. I try to think of it as some strange joyride to go to at Thorpe Park, the kind made to make you scream. I never been on one, couldn't afford it then and can definitely not afford it now.
I try not let the force of transition take me flying, digging my nails into the plush fabric as I try and take deep, calm breaths within the moment I never thought I would ever live. Not after the night of slipping out of my bedroom right into the streets. No one does, for reality mistress was a cruel one. I wince as glass scrape my battered pyjamas pants. Light flickers around me, blaring and dying that if I had left my eyes open, I wonder if I would I had seized from existence.
I felt someone reach for me, pulling me into their arms as they kept me caged to the seat I was in. Sleeves upon sleeves scrape around my midriff where the hoodie had swept up a bit in the chaos. I gulp as I place my head onto their chest, as I took a deep breath. I would be lying if I didn't say this wasn't terrifying. On screen the moment was a handful of minutes, and they were on the other side, here it felt like hours as we hung through some sort of portal.
Then we sunk, the bus sputters and we stop. Silence settles around us either in wonderment or mixture of confusion and fear. Glass sat beneath our feet, and metal of bus look warped from the travel, I look back at the person who had took hold me, eyes that many fanfictions and stories would say was old, was something I couldn't see. I never been good at looking at eyes, let alone reading them.
They were brown. His hair was sticking up, he wore that iconic suit and I always wonder if that was inspire by his younger selves, some of them did like a suit. The leather coat reminded me a bit of the 3rd's cape. At least it explains the layers of sleeves I had felt, the ones still at my side. He smiles, "Dusty! I almost didn't recognise you, where have you been?"
Dusty? Dusty, who calls themselves dusty? What kind of name is that? I grimace as I wrinkle my nose at the name. "Whose Dus-"
I don't get time to ask as the others start to spur into conversation and The Doctor takes my hand and pulls me steadily out with Christina following behind. "End of the line." He says, my shoes sink into the sand as I take in the sight, a whole planet of dead now just sand, just an echo of it once was. I couldn't fully remember much of what will and has happened. It had been years since I last fully watch this episode, for Doctor Who had been a comfort show, something I would switch on and have as background noise. A childhood friend who could get me to sleep on a bad day.
Did I also tell you, its hot? Very hot. "Call it a hunch, but I think we've gone a little bit further than Brixton." He says, trying to look across the sandy mounts and the light rays. The others scatter out behind us, minds boggle. It would've been amusing to see their expressions if I wasn't almost mouth wide at the sight.
The bus behind us had sunk a little into the sand, seeping smoke into the atmosphere. "I just wanted to sleep." I mumble, even if my expression said otherwise.
"There more better things to do then sleep Dusty!" He exclaims. I just huff, it is not like he been scraping to get by, he hunkers down to the ground to examine the sand. I knew I would have to question once we are a better location.
I left them to talk about the suns as I walk around the bus, trying to understand condition it is in, how deep in the sand. I did admire the three suns in between; They were petrifyingly beautiful. I could see Christina and the Doctor discuss and flirt as they look at the situation on their end. I didn't want to look at the sand, the reminder that this was once a flourishing planet filled the brim with life and I didn't want to tell the doctor anything, let the timeline play like it should.
I wasn't meant to be here to begin with.
As I begin to open the engines, I notice the others begin to gang up on the Doctor. I couldn't help but rush over in concern. "Oh, humans on buses, always blaming me." He begun, as he had his arms up in surrender. "Look, look, if you must know, I was tracking a hole in the fabric of reality. Call it a hobby. But it was a tiny little hole. No danger to anyone. Suddenly it gets big, and we drive right through it."
"But then where is it?" The driver asks, he wiggles head around as he eyes dance around. "There's nothing, there's, there's just sand."
"Alright..." He replies, softly in slight annoyance. "If you want proof," he picks up handful of sand and throws it at the portal. "We drove through this."
It shows itself, like when you throw a pebble into water. It splashes and waves with a strange, screeching whining noise. I clutch my ears and the others around me just stare, as if the sound wasn't as loud.
"And that's…" Christina asks as the Doctor turns back to us.
"A door."
"A portal." I whisper at the same time.
"A door. In space." He finishes.
The driver walks up to doctor as he points at the portal, "So what you're saying is, on the other side of that is home?" My instinct scream, and the memory of bones flash before my eyes. "We can get to London through there?"
The doctor shakes his head. "The bus came through, we Can't."
The Driver looks back and I quickly grasp his jumper in my hands. "Don't, please." I beg, no one else here may care of his ignorance, his desperation to get home. I did, for this man for weeks had made my life easier. Gave me safe journeys, gave me food, gave me stability. He did the little things, but those little things meant worlds to me. I stop him from speaking as I grip tighter as he tries to pull away. "I know you want to get home, but you will die. We are not made to go through that. The bus can but we can't." I stress.
"And how do you know that?" he asks, the image flashes before my eyes. His death, unneeded but a warning, a message to the others.
"Look at the bus! Seriously look at it! It wouldn't be in that state if the door was safe." I said pointing at it. "Do you think you can get through alive?" He stares at the bus, fully and properly taken it in. I don't let go until I know he will give in.
The Doctor hand weigh itself on my shoulder, softly squeezing. I take a deep breath; the Doctor takes over. "Do you understand?" The Driver looks at the portal and glumly nods and I gently let go.
"Your life matters to me." I tell him, "Who would let me use their bus like a hotel?"
He smiles slightly and we stare back at the strange situation. Now his death avoided, by some simple miracle. I knew I was lucky to be able to sway him from his choice and I wasn't out of the dark yet. Because time might catch up and say I was wrong, that this was set in time.
"It was the bus." The Doctor continues letting go of my shoulder, as he walks up to it taking a closer look. "Look at the damage. That was the bus protecting us. Great big box of metal."
Christina stares up at it, "Rather like a faraday cage."
The young boy speaks up with who I suspect might be his mum, "Like in a thunderstorm, yeah? Safest place is inside a car because the metal conducts the lightning right through. We did it in school."
"But if we can only travel back inside the bus? A Faraday cage needs to be closed. That thing's been ripped wide open." Christina points out.
"Well, slightly different dynamics with a wormhole. There's enough metal to make it work, I think." says as he walks back to us, me blinking my eyes at the sight. "I hope." He pulls out some spare sunglasses out of his pockets and place it in front of me.
"Um, thanks." I gently take them and put them on, they were in my favourite style. The little 1970s round sunglasses you would see villains in marvel comics wear. Strange, out of all the sunglasses to have on him.
I probably look the strangest in our ragtag group, stripy pjs, smart shoes that a little too big for me and a hoodie and now these sunglasses. I look like I came out of some kind of comedic sketch. Even though I am standing between a alien and a thief on another planet with a broken bus. What is my life becoming?
"Then we have to drive five tons of bus, which is currently buried in the sand, and we've got nothing but our bare hands. Correct?" Christina continues, the little transaction between us being just that. Her head just a little above mine, making it easier for her too look at the Doctor.
"I'd say nine and a half tons," He corrects, looking back. "but the point still stands, yes."
"Then we need to apply ourselves to the problem with discipline. Which starts with appointing a leader." Christina reasons, taking lead quiet easily that what she implying flies over his head.
"Yes. At last. Thank you. So."
"Well, thank goodness you've got me. Everyone do exactly as I say. Inside the bus immediately." She interrupts happily and I couldn't help giggle at the Doctor expression.
"Sssh you." He whispers to me, though I could see his own lips twisting upwards.
"Is it safe in there?" The boy asks.
"I don't think anything's safe anymore, but if it's a choice between baking in there or roasting out here, I'd say baking is slower. Come on. All of you. Right now." She states clearly, shooing the others in like cattle. "And you both. The Doctor. Dusty."
Looks like for this adventure, I'm stuck being called Dusty, yay. Please note my internal sarcasm, because seriously, Dusty? Did I meet the Doctor in some dusty old cupboard or something? All the names in the universe and it like I been given a name you would give to an old truck.
"Yes ma'am." The Doctor replies, taking my sleeve between his fingers pulling me towards the bus. I squeak not expecting him to do anything of the sort. I know the Doctor touchy, but like I've never met him till now, what is this? Part of me wants to pull away every time he does any form of subtle touch, being that in all honesty he is a stranger. Knowing someone on screen and in real life are two completely different things.
And so, I let him drag me back into the bus as Christina pushes the others to join us. We all settle into our seats with me wedge next to the Doctor couple rows back, where he got comfortable with his feet onto the bus metal railing, his arm behind me. I try to lean closer to the window side to give us space as he watches Christina get the others to take their own places before she begins her speech, as if this was almost routine for her.
"Point five. The crucial thing is, do not panic. Quite apart from anything else, the smell of sweat inside this thing is reaching atrocious levels. We don't need to add any more. Point six. Team identification. Names. I'm Christina." She says pointing at herself, "This man is apparently the Doctor, beside him in stripes is Dusty."
"Hello." The Doctor says cheerfully, playing along. I just wave my hand awkwardly at the others feeling extremely out of place.
Christina turns to the boy beside her, pointing with her hands at him. "You?"
"Nathan," He answers with a wave, turn towards the others behind him.
The guy behind him continues. "I'm Barclay." Like the bank?
Back to the front with the woman I assume is Nathan mum, "Angela. Angela Whittaker." Did we need the full name?
The last two at the back, who haven't left the bus. "My name's Louis. Everyone calls me Lou. And this is Carmen."
The Driver huffs from the back, "David."
"Excellent. Memorise those names. There might be a test." She says, almost teasing as if trying to lighten the mood. I don't think anyone took note of it. "Point seven. Assessment and application of knowledge." The Doctor gazes over my head and onto the dunes. "Over to you, the Doctor." She announces, bringing his focus back on her.
I know all this sitting around was probably making him anxious. "I thought you were in charge." He exclaims, not wanting to take over what she began.
"I am." She replies with a wide breadth of a smirk. "And a good leader utilises her strength. You seem to be the brainbox. So, start boxing." I couldn't help note how she seem to enjoy teasing the Doctor.
"Right," seeming the idea cheering him up, doing what he best at as he pulls himself up on the back of railing of the seat, hand around the bus pole. Probably so he wouldn't be giving me show of his ass, which I greatly appreciated. Many would say otherwise, I'm sure. "So, the wormhole. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was just an accident."
"Its not," I whisper, though I couldn't remember what had brought us here. I knew it wasn't an accident, a whole planet wouldn't be just sand. Not in the Doctor who world it wouldn't, not without reason.
"No, it wasn't." Carmen voice booms louder over mine, more with a stronger sense of clarity and understanding. "That thing, the doorway? Someone made it for a reason." Her finger point behind her.
"How do you know?" The Doctor asks, softly and pure curiosity.
Carmen looks unsure how to answer, a face of being deny the truth she lay bare many a time. I wanted to go over and reassure her, but the Doctor block the way. All I could do was softly smile at her, to try and encourage her.
Lou took over, knowing it was hard for her to explain. "She's got a gift. Ever since she was a little girl, she can just tell things. We do the lottery twice a week."
Christina pulls an eyebrow up. "You don't look like Billionaires."
"Not everyone wants to be billionaires, "I mutter under my breath. "Just comfortable."
"No, but we win ten pounds. Every week, twice a week, ten pounds. Don't tell me that's not a gift." He exclaims back, happy at the gift his partner has.
"Tell me, Carmen. How many fingers am I holding up?" The Doctor asks, pulling a hand behind his back and I face away, looking out the sand Dunes so it looks like I'm not helping.
"Three." She answers right away, "Four."
"Very good." He praises. "Low level psychic ability, exacerbated by an alien sun." He pulls himself down, edge of the seat closer to carmen. I couldn't help sigh at the distance put between us. "What can you see, Carmen? Tell me, what's out there?"
"Something, something is coming." She began, and I turn to face her as she stares faraway. "Riding on the wind, and shining."
"What is it?" the Doctor whispers.
"Death." She seems to pull into herself more. "Death is coming."
Everyone begins to panic, their nerves fraying near their end. The calm that Christina tried so hard to start, fell apart. The noise of the bickering bang and clang in my ears, before the Doctor could shout, it left my lips instead. "Stop it, now!" My foot sprung a thud to the floor with an emphasis. Everyone quietens, surprise at the volume of my voice as the smallest voice of the bunch. I took a deep breath, turn to Angela. "Okay Angela, I have a question, one that you will have an answer too." I began, I take her shoulders to bring her face me, she looks up at me and I smile at her. "There, see. When you got on this bus, where were you heading?"
"It doesn't matter now does it." She speaks between soft sobs.
"Please, answer the question." I continue softly.
"Home."
"And what's home?" The Doctor asks beside me.
"Me and Mike. And Suzanne. That's my daughter. She's eighteen." She says, her sobs slowing down as she starts to find ground.
"Suzanne. Good." He answers, as I continue to rub circles into her back. He turns to one of the others. "And what about you?"
Barclay replies, "Don't know. Going round Tina's."
"Who's Tina? Your girlfriend?"
"Not yet." He says smugly.
"Good boy." The Doctor lips switch up as they share the uplifting thoughts. "What about you, Nathan?"
"Bit strapped for cash. I lost my job last week." He answers truthfully. "I was going to stay in and watch TV."
"Brilliant. And you two?"
"I was going to cook." Lou answers.
"It's his turn tonight. Then I clear up." Carmen continues, her hand in his and I almost want to coo at how sweet they are.
"What's for Tea?"
"Chops. Nice couple of chops and gravy. Nothing special." Lou continues.
"Oh, that's special, Lou. That is so special. Chops and gravy, mmm." He says, I could see the way he was warmed by their closeness. He turns to other at the back. "And you, David?"
David looks at me, soft smile. "Was gonna do my usual shift, keep that one on till the end of my shift and awaken them when it finishes. Once it ended, go home to my partner, have my morning dinner and sleep."
"A long night." I answer, "and Christina, you?"
"I was going so far away." She says, wistfully. Far away from the cops more like.
"Far away. Chops and gravy. Watching TV. Going home to your partner. Mike and Suzanne and poor old Tina."
"Hey." Barclay says, cheering up as he points at the Doctor.
"Think of them." He says, pointing his hand out as he looks out once more. "Because that planet out there, all three suns, wormholes, and alien sand, that planet is nothing. You hear me? Nothing, compared to all those things waiting for you. Food and home and people. Hold on to that because we're going to get there. I promise. I'm going to get you home."
With everyone on the right track and no longer panicking about the descending aliens of death. We start to put our heads together and finally; the Doctor went off and left me be. The others start to pull some of the seats from upstairs to make flat surfaces.
I could see outside Christina, the boys and the Doctor talking as she gave out supplies, she had in her bag. It was amazing how well packed her bag is and a little of me was jealous, what be like to prepare for majority of situation. I still am salty about being dump in an alternative world with just my pyjamas on my back. Most protagonist of their own story get some sort of helping hand.
The Driver, no, David took a seat across from me as Lou and Carmen spoke quietly to each other in the back. "The Doctor? A friend of yours?"
"I don't know." I reply honestly. "Never met him before today."
"Doesn't look like you just met today." He replies smoothly, as he looks out the window, with the gaze of who he questions looking back. More at me then David.
Now that David had calm down, no longer panicking his way home. He stares me down like some form of father figure, in a way he is, considering he had been the one of the few regular faces I got to see since living there. I gulp, "I didn't know my name before today, if Dusty is my name." I answer truthfully.
He quirks his eyebrow, "Didn't know your name?"
"I woke up in a town, nothing but my clothes on my back and in a place just quiet not familiar enough." I told him, "No name, no idea how I got here, just a gap of memory of being at home and the next on the streets. Everything I thought I knew, doesn't link up with the reality."
His eyes spark in recognition, "You didn't happen to meet a Will and Rich?"
"The gentleman and Barista?"
"Oh, Will be in shock when I get home to tell him." He says, "All this time and you been hopping on my bus, Will was wondering if you ever got home. Why didn't you?"
"Home wasn't home anymore. A different family live there."
"Oh."
"Oh, indeed." I reply smiling.
"I can't find the keys!" Angela shouts and I nudge the driver to do his part.
Which he gets up and takes over from Angela, teaching her as he tries to get the bus running. I follow to the front as the bus starts to grind and cough before stopping again, I wince at the sound. "Not good." I mutter.
I follow the Doctor to the back of the vehicle with Christina. Small puff of smoke could be seen even before the doctor pulls it open. "Oh, never mind losing half the top deck. You know what's worse? Sand. Tiny little grains of sand. The engine's clogged up." He pulls his hand in, wiping at the grains of sand that invaded the engine space.
"Anyone know mechanics?" Christina asks.
The Driver shouts from the front with a yes, Barclay also nods "Me. I did a two week NVQ at the garage. Never finished it, but"
"Off you go, then. Try stripping the air filter. Fast as you can. Back in two ticks." He says at the two, as the Driver and Barclay got their hands on the engine. Two heads was better then one.
"Wait a minute. You're the man with all the answers. I'm not letting you out of my sight." Christina says, taking stride alongside him.
He looks at me with a questioning twitch of the eyebrows and shook my head. I mouth at him "I'll keep an eye on this lot."
He turns his head and walks away with Christina at his side, that being answer enough for both of us. With that I start to dig out the wheels from the sand, now with Nathan pulling the seats apart, Angela testing engine when ask, the driver and Barclay trying to clean out the engine. I had to do something, so digging it was.
However, wasn't long until the two came running back, rushing into the bus. I could hear them muttering over the phone and a loud "Thank you, Angela." Nathan had taken to doing one of the other wheels, taking the shovel as I sat in the sand for a moment, hearing the voices talking rapidly inside before continuing with my bare hands.
The Doctor slides out beside me, pulling me up on the way. "Barclay I'm holding on to this!" he waves the phone.
Barclay calls back, "Hey, you'd better bring it back."
"Hey, hey no need to drag me along, I much more useful at the bus!" I say as he drags me by arm.
"Come on Dusty, that isn't true." The Doctor states with ease. "You-"
"I what? You keep pulling me around like you know me!" I pull back on his hand, "I don't even know if this Dusty you keep calling me, is me."
He stops, Christina just behind us as we bicker. Just far away to not fully hear our argument. He put his hands on my arms and fully looks at me since we first met. "Oh, oh," He mutters as he gently rubs them. "Your young, not just young, this, this is the first time we met."
"So, you're saying you've already met me?" I question.
"Spoilers."
"Ah, yes then." I reply, pulling the yellow sunglasses off. "Plus this, a little too specific to me to have on you."
"Something wrong in paradise?" Ask Christina once she catches up, looking between us.
"If this is paradise, I wouldn't want to know what's below." I reply sarcastically, waving my hand at the sand scrape. Trying to avoid the question I had no answer too, for it was far too complicated.
The Doctor pulls his hands away with a look to say we'll talk about this later. Before shoving his hand in his pocket and continue further forward, we were already good walk away from the bus now that I sigh and follow along.
We trudge through the grains, slipping every so often and one of us would straighten the other up. Mainly Christina and I, though mostly me. I never walk in sand like this before, okay? I couldn't afford going abroad or anyplace with hot weather and sand. I am the least experience member of this little trio.
We climb up one of the steeper dunes, high enough to give us a better view of the landscape we were in, though not too much had change till now. The storm in front of us we hadn't fully could see before, became clearer. The Doctor pulls out the old phone, using the camera to see what was in the distance, the image pixels blur from the zoom in however we could see more then our own eyes. "Send this back to Earth. See if Malcolm can analyse the storm" He takes a picture.
"There's something in those clouds. Something shining. Look." Christina points out, the light reflects of the creatures in front of us.
"Like metal." The Doctor answers.
"Why would there be metal in a storm?" Christina questions.
All I could do is stare at the swarm heading our way, "Because it not a storm." I answer.
Something clicks and clacks nearby, the Doctor plays with the phone probably talking to Malcom or just trying to send the image, I wasn't too sure as the noise caught my eyes, taking my mind away from swarm. "Did you hear something?" Christiana asks, I nod in agreement.
"Hold on, busy." Replies, a slight movement of his hand before focusing on the phone fully.
I had already turn around to see what I could describe as beautiful. For what stood before me was a real-life alien, the kind you would see in fiction. I know, the Doctor is one however we were too much alike that it wouldn't be able to be told on glance. This was an alien with fly features and hands in a full clothing, I would describe as some sort of space suit you would see astronaut's wear. I whistle, "You, beauty."
Christiana follows my gaze. "Doctor."
The Doctor turns around pulling Christiana back, hands slightly raise. I follow the gesture to show no harm. The alien chitters and I wince, a thrumming pain slide across my forehead.
The Doctors does a similar chatter before translating, "That's wait. I shout wait, people usually wait." He steps a little closer, tugging me back.
"You speak the language?" Christiana asks.
"Every language." He continues to chitter back, making a sound in the back of his throat. "That's begging for mercy."
The alien gesture with his gun which Christiana understood right away. "That means move."
"Ooo, you're learning." We all turn around, letting the alien take us to their ship.
"These fly things, they must be responsible. They brought us here."
I point at the ship, "If that was the case, I doubt they would be in that state."
He chatters and I step forward toward the ship, The Doctor hesitates for a moment before also following along. We all wonder in, the temperature switching to opposite of the outside. I felt woozy, the day, the temperature change was affecting me. I grab the first thing in sight as the two rambles on around me, it the Doctors sleeve I take hold off and I try to steady myself. He quickly takes me into his side, supporting me up right.
I don't take in much that said, as we walk into a room where other one walks around. Their language grates on my being and I cling onto the Doctor, I felt bad I couldn't fully admire anything. The sway of my feet and the string of salvia coming up my throat is enough to tell me to not try. The more they talk the more I hide my face in the Doctors back, I felt internally embarrassed, but I couldn't help wanting some kind of stability right now.
"Sorry, what's the two hundred?" The Doctor questions.
"The bus, you twat." I mutter at him.
"Rude." He whispers back, before understanding what they were trying to say now. "Oh. No, look, I think you're making the same mistake Christina did." He says, putting a hand behind Christina. "I'm the Doctor, by the way, this is Christiana and this one at my side is Dusty."
I grumble but he continues talking to the Tritovores. I think that what he said? He carefully lets me go before scrambling his way to machinery and somehow getting it back on. I pull my hand to my head, the pounding starting to become louder then the talking and all I could do was grit my teeth. I knew I would be useless here.
He takes both Christiana and I a place to sit, me once again in between the two. Waiting to gather more information on the situation while the prob goes towards the swarm. I can't help but slump against the Doctor. "Is she alright?" Christiana asks, putting a cold hand to my head and I hum.
He looks over at me. "Just tried, they probably hadn't had a good sleep in weeks, they will be fine after resting," he answers softly before gazing at the screen. I nod as confirmation, closing my eyes, listening as they talk about the place we are at. Our other companions fill us in on their role here. We were far away from home, and I was even further from it.
Christiana starts to freak about the sand in her hair, her elbow knocking me, and I joint awake. The Doctor calls Malcom, and the wormhole had grown as the swarm grows closer. Then the others call in-between, their worries go straight through me. I should've stayed with them; I shouldn't have kept going with the Doctor. The two get up as they hear the probe had gotten close to the swarm, finally understanding it not a storm.
They both smile at each other; the Doctors turns to me.
I stand up, yet instead of being able to walk over, my foot sinks into sand on another side. "ah?" I swing my foot in the hole, he looks over and sees my foot and leg disappearing in the air, or I think that what he sees. I hope they could see what I saw.
"I'll see you at the bus." He answers and just as I was about to ask a question, something pulls me through as if I was not allowed to wait.
I stumble and fall into the sand outside the bus, loud booming sounds echo far from me and yet it was getting closer. Nathan comes out and helps me up, guiding me back into the bus. "Where the Doctor?" He asks me.
"He still at the other side with Christiana. They found a ship and other life, who also got stuck here." I explain as I sink down on the floor. I couldn't keep my eyes open, my arms felt like weight lead and my legs like jelly. "They'll get us out of this, don't you worry."
"How can you be so sure?" One of them asks.
"It the Doctor." Was all I could say before lights out. It wasn't for long, not with the doctor hammering something in the Driver seat. I blink, noticing I'm no longer on the floor and instead on the back seats. I pull myself up shakily, the noise growing outside, the panic from the front and all I could do is bare my fingers in to the fabric and my teeth in my lips.
"This is your driver speaking. Hold on tight." He announces.
"But what for? What's he doing?" Barclay says.
"Do as he says. What are you doing?" Christina barks before turning to Doctor in confusion.
Bus fires up underneath me, it vibrates to life, and I cling to the seat in front of me. "Come on. That's it. You can do it, your beauty. One last trip." The Doctor mutters and with it the bus starts to hover, taking it wheels clean off the sand.
"Ah, you are so kidding me." Barclay.
"We're flying. It's flying." Nathan excitement got me to smile a little.
"He's flying the bus." Lou says beside me.
Angela stare wide mouth, "It's a miracle."
David doesn't say anything besides clutch tighter to his own seat.
"Anti-gravity clamps. Didn't I say? Round we go." The Doctor turns to bus around, us all swerving to the side like some spinning teacups. I gulp as I notice how close the swarm were at our behinds.
"Doctor!" Carmen cries, "They're coming!"
They look behind before putting their heads forward. "Do you think this thing will survive the journey back?" Christiana shouts.
"It will!" I cry out but it falls on deaf ears.
"Only one way to find out. Next stop." He speaks, as he heads towards the wormhole.
"Planet earth!" Christiana shouts out.
Then we're suck in, the ride pulling and twisting. My skin feels like it being pull back and my fingers creak against the firm grip I have on the railings, keeping my head down so the bubbling, stewing feeling in my stomach wouldn't find it way back through my throat. The lights switch to bright, and I wonder when it turns to normal, If I be in the opening of Skyrim this time.
It felt much quicker this time, or it might be because I was not in a good state this time. The adventure had worn me out. Once we had got out of the hole and onto more gentle waters, I slip back down, pulling my hands to my chest and sighing. Before the gunshots came blaring upwards, quickly I gather myself together, hand to ears and took slow, deep breaths to calm my hammering heart.
"Malcom! Close that wormhole!" He says over the phone, I couldn't see him, but I could hear his tone go higher pitch when he adds. "He's hung up on me." He tries a couple more times, until he finally gets through to Malcom. "I need that signal. We've got billions of those things about to fly through."
"Loop it back through the integrator, and keep the signal ramping up." He stops, obviously listening to the other side. "Five hundred Bernards. Do it now!" He shouts over the phone.
"Doctor, it's coming for us." Nathan yells and I quickly graph the railing once more.
"Oh no, you don't." The Doctor surges the bus around, smacking the beast away before turning us back to course all with the extra sound of screaming.
"Did I say I hated you? I was lying." Christiana says, and from where I sat, I could see her pull the Doctor in for a kiss, the others around me in tears and yet they all applaud. I join in, just happy this was pretty much over.
"Do not stand forward of this point."He says, before staring into the bus mirror at us. "Ladies and gentlemen, you have reached your final destination. Welcome home, the mighty two hundred." He carefully takes the bus downwards as the other all seem to laugh, happy to finally be setting on solid Earth ground.
We landed with a thump, we joint upwards and regripping tight onto the bus. Before finally being fully able to let go, I stay silent as the others clap, cheer alongside the soldiers outside. I lay my head back, letting my shaky hands grip my hoodie tightly. It one thing to watch or dream about a doctor who episode, it another to live through it.
The buzz of the sonic screwdriver pulls me out of my head, seeing the door open and the others start to get up and take their stuff, pull on their clothes back on properly. I get up when the Doctor gaze falls on me and I wobble my way over, he slides his arm over my shoulder take me out with him. Christiana just in front of us.
"Welcome back. If you could step away from the bus, just to be safe. As fast as you can, thank you. It's standard procedure. We need to screen you and then you'll all be taken to debriefing." The soldier says outside.
The Doctor flicks his psychic paper at the man. "We don't count."
"No, but Doctor?" Christiana calls out, the soldier pulls her back.
"With me, thank you."
The Doctor takes me over to Malcom and I couldn't help but smile with him when our eyes settle on the genius. "Doctor."
"You must be Malcom." He slides his arm away from me as Malcom pull him to a hug.
"Oh, I love you!" he proclaims. I couldn't help notice the slight tears in the corner of his eyes, but I said anything, I know he would deny it as such. "I love you" he mumbles into his coat, before looking up at him in the eyes. "I love you."
"To your station, Doctor Taylor." The Soldier at his side says.
He pulls back, though with all the cheer, it seem to be in kind gesture to the Doctors space. "Yes, ma'am," he walks away before swiftly turning to point at him once more. "I love you." The Doctor points back, making his day as he walks away.
"Doctor, I salute you whether you like it or not." She salutes and the Doctor twist around, putting a hand behind my neck, cool to touch and I almost jump in the spot. "Now, I take it we're safe from those things?"
He shrugs, "They'll start again." He says, rocking back and forth on his feet, twitching on the shoulders as if he ready to jump the scene soon. "Generate a new doorway. It's not their fault, it's their natural life cycle. But I'll see if I can nudge the wormholes on to uninhabited planets." He lets go and leans beside her, bringing attention to the boys we had been on the bus with. "Closer to home, Captain. Those two lads. Very good in a crisis. Nathan needs a job, Barclay's good with engines. You could do a lot worse. Privates Nathan and Barclay, UNIT's finest."
Her mouth agape at the Doctor recommendation, always giving the idea of distaste for them probably would do that. "I'll see what I can do." She answers. "And I got something for you." She points behind, where they reveal the gem of the universe, the beauty of the skies, the waking sun and the glorious night. Every Whovian wet dream of seeing the TARDIS in real life and it stood only handful of feet away.
"Wah, uh ah uh aaaah!" He exclaims when she catches his eye, "Better than a bus, any day. Hello."
"Found in the gardens of Buckingham Palace." She states.
"Oh, she doesn't mind." He says, looking up at her. I take myself closer and I couldn't help but touch her as I heard a soft melody sing in my head, soothing the headache I had away.
"Now, I've got three dead alien stingrays to clear up. I don't suppose you fancy helping with the paperwork?" She asks, the Doctor denies her with ease, and she turns to me. "What about you Dusty? Don't think we didn't notice you."
"Um, what?" I reply, hearing say my new given name.
"Spoilers," Doctor answer for me. "That a no."
"Till we meet again, Doctor, Dusty." She says shaking his hand, smiling at us both. She walks away, back to work.
The Doctor watches as I stay against the TARDIS, listening to her sing tunes softly across my mind. It was like having someone lay a blanket on top of you, gently as they caress your head. Almost motherly and I couldn't help but soak it in.
Christiana runs over, the Doctor stopping from opening her up and I was too tired to say anything. I just soak in the night air. "Little blue box, just like you said. Right then. Off we go. Come on, Doctor, show me the stars." The Doctor just stares her down.
"No."
"What?" it almost like hearing a father tell of their daughter.
"I said no."
"I saved your life, you saved mine."
"So?" He questions.
"We're surrounded by police. I'll go to prison." She says, now getting desperate.
He takes a big breath and releases a "Yeah."
"But you were right. It's not about the money. I only steal things for the adventure, and today with you. I want more days like this." She continues, pleading for him take her. "I want every day to be like this. We're made for each other. You said so yourself. The perfect team." They stare each other down, the Doctor not backing down on his answer. She frowns. "Why not?"
"People have travelled with me and I've lost them. Lost them all. Never again." He replies and I tug gently at his sleeve. Not all, if I'm here.
The police come around, taking Christiana in as she looks at the Doctor, she even turns to me with pleading eyes as I turn them downwards. "Lady Christina de Souza. Oh, I have waited a long time to say this. I am arresting you on suspicion of theft. You do not have to say anything, etcetera, etcetera. Dennison, take her away." They drag her away in handcuffs.
Lou and carmen come up beside us, starting to be taken home from the looks of things. "Doctor? Dusty? You take care now."
"You too. Chops and gravy, lovely." He says, with one last smile to them.
Carmen shakes her head, "No, but you be careful. Because your song is ending, sir." She stresses to him.
"What do you mean?" He asks, my fingers gripping tighter on his sleeve.
"It is returning. It is returning through the dark. And then, Doctor?" She says, looking to the answer and I can't help but say it too. "But then he will knock four times." She then bows her head and leaves with Lou holding on to her arm.
What a way to say goodbye.
The Doctor pulls over, pulling his sonic out. His mind already brewing ideas. "Oh Doctor, you sonic'ed her!" I say once he releases her, and I couldn't help smiling as he tsk under his breath at my joke as he put his sonic away.
With the opportunity given, she slides out the car and rans full head to bus. The man from before, whom I had assume as police screeches for anyone to stop her. Though none of soldiers care in this situation, focus on their own task. She was quick, getting on the bus and closing the door before he could try and get her.
The Doctor walks up to him, "I'd step back if I was you."
I couldn't see them from here, but I knew Christiana was likely smirking.
"I'm charging you too. Aiding and abetting." He claims and the Doctor merely nods.
"Yes. I'll just step inside this police box and arrest myself." Pointing behind him, the man was for sure confused.
"Out. Now!" He demands, and Christiana just waves her fingers at him before turning the bus on. Taking for a joy ride as the man further screeches in defeat.
She flies it over to us, as the others tell her to go. "We could've been so good together." She says one more time.
"Christiana," he says, stretching his words. "We were."
They smile on last time at each other before she closes the doors, the other of the 200-bus cheer for her escape. In such a small time we had bonded a little, I think. The Doctor pulls me into the TARDIS and send her drifting, closing the chapter to that adventure for the day.
He wanders the centre as I gape at her gorgeous appearance, the circles, oh how I love them. The warm, cosy hues of brown and yellow. She sings bright and clear, as if my thoughts had for sure please her. "Darling, darling," I whisper to Sexy, rubbing my hands on the console. "You are the most beautiful ship I have ever seen."
"She is, isn't she?" The Doctor says beside me, leaning on the console.
"Yes," I whisper in awe as I take in the space before me then my legs give way, and the Doctor quickly grabs me and lets me slide to the floor. All the feelings, everything that had happened finally catches up and all I could do was cry. "Shit, that really happened, didn't it?"
"It no dream, if that what you are asking," He sit down beside me. "This is real."
"Really?" I mutter, looking through the gratings underneath and seeing the lights swirl. The TARDIS thrums some strings. "I guess with Sexy singing, it should scream this real, but I just…"
"You can hear her?" He asks, "I thought it took time for you hear her."
"I hear her the moment I touch her door." I reply, "She was already singing lullabies to me."
"Oh, she must really like you." He murmurs, as I lay myself down. My limbs still felt weighty, and my legs hadn't fully recovered yet. He looks over and pulls me up. "Ah, Let get you clean, fed and some sleep. We can talk more later once your more yourself."
"Um, sure," I didn't have the fight in me. I let him drag me around the TARDIS, as she soothes my nerves. We come to a door, wooden and a little crooked with my name written in marker pen. Little stickers lay on the door, some worn, and it look like the door from my childhood.
"This is your room, get yourself clean and if you don't fall asleep, the TARDIS will show you the way to the kitchen." He answers before walking off to who knows where in the endless halls. I take his advice; I push the door open. The room was filled with trinkets and maps, a desk full of parts and notes, ones written in code from the look of things.
I notice a tie, hanging over a chair and canvas red shoes at the end of the bed. I don't think to much of it, maybe I had borrowed his wardrobe on an adventure or something and forgot to give it back. A big king size bed with the fluffy of blankets sat at the end of the room, one side against the wall. The pillows had me smiling for there wasn't just two, not there was a whole bunch, all different sizes and materials. I knew for sure I was sleeping well today, however wrinkle my nose at the stink I probably was transmitting, I took to the door on the other side.
There was a private bathroom, and I quickly got the bath running. I almost fallen asleep in it, the steam and warmth taken away weeks of being homeless and sand from the adventure. I had to change the water a few times, however once I came out, I could clearly see my skin once more.
I look in the mirror at faded blue shaggy short hair, a scar across my bottom right of my chin from getting in a scrap in the back of the shops, it still looks sore. Dark eyes stare back at me, and I look away, taking a towel and drying myself off.
Once I exit, I find clothes on my bed. It was some painter brown dungarees and a black turtleneck jumper, comfortable to sleep in but no fear of slipping somewhere without some actual clothes on again. "Thank you," I tell her, as I slip on some thick fluffy socks as well.
My stomach growls and after a couple of minutes snuggling the soft bed, I let myself go hunting for some food. I follow the pathway given to me before she bumps me to the door, and I open it to find the Doctor eating Banana and a cup of tea at his side. A book in his hand and glasses slipping down his nose. He looks up and smiles, "ah, you clean up good." He says, it was almost awkward the way he said it and I couldn't understand why.
"ah, thank you?" I reply, making my way to the table, noticing the other tea and a bowl of soup. "Is this for me?"
He hums, "Who's else would it be for?"
"You?" and he sticks his tongue out in disgust.
"No."
"Okay," I reply taking the chair, and taking a whiff of the soup. "Oooh, Ham and pea soup." I quickly take a spoonful and hum in happiness. It felt so good to have something hot, that it relaxes the muscles. I almost scoff the lot down if it wasn't for the heat.
The Doctor flicks back to his book, taking another bite of his banana. Letting me take this time to take in the whole situation, it felt so out of body. I was sitting with the Doctor having dinner with him, this just doesn't happen. It rarely ever happens in the show. The soup vanishes quickly, and I take my time sipping the tea, surprise that it made the way I like it.
A slap and shuffle of plastic, and I notice the banana skin in the doctor hand has landed in the bin in the corner of the room. He smirks at me before changing to the next page, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was really reading the book or if he is trying to get my attention. I shook my head and with the last sip of the tea, I announce I was going to bed. I put the everything in the sink, washing it up before I left, leaving it on the drying rack.
She guides me back, and I stumble like a drunk on a night out on the town. She takes me to my bedroom, and I slip under the cover and pull the pillows around me like some form of protection and comfort. I sink into a deep, deep sleep. The TARDIS sings to me, a full assemble of a song just for my ears and with that song, I do not find any nightmares, just quiet, pitch-black darkness.
So, when I awoke with a tin dog in my face and clear white TARDIS walls, I knew I had change places to where I had been. "Um, Hi?"
"Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Now don't hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind." Dust in the wind by Kansas.