"It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny."

― Jean Nidetch

Chapter 8: Stage Eight, The Maid and the Police Box

The servant bustled around for a few tense minutes, giving Martha the time she seemed to need to regain her senses. She closed her mouth and didn't bother hiding her glare, which was directed at Susan. As the servant finally left and the door clicked shut, Martha rose from her chair and pointed a finger at Susan.

"Explain. Now!"

Susan moved slowly and put her feet up on the little coffee table, showing off her beige converse shoes. "You see but you don't observe, dear Miss Jones." She grinned, pointing at the shoes. "These aren't very 20th century, now, are they?" she asked, made a face and shrugged. "But they are, however, very comfortable."

Martha seemed to seethe in place at Susan's flippant tone, ignoring the jab about the shoes. Finally, she burst into action and started circling the room and Susan. "Are you an alien?" Martha wondered, her eyebrows drawn tight. "Are you with the Family? How did you find us so quickly?!"

Susan smiled. "Nope," she said. "I'm just regular ol' human."

Martha narrowed her eyes. "But you're not from around here." It wasn't a question.

"Obviously not," Susan said. "Didn't the Star Wars reference clue you in?"

Martha looked a little sheepish. "Actually... I haven't seen Star Wars."

"Ah." Well, there went her joke's entire audience. "That's okay. We all have our faults."

"Yeah..." Martha agreed, then realised what Susan had said and glared. "Wait! Stop trying to distract me. Who are you?"

Susan sighed, and crossed her arms. "Okay, okay," she admitted. "Sorry, I tend to make a joke out of everything when I'm nervous."

Martha nodded, frowning a bit. "Go on," she urged and sat down.

"I'm kinda stranded in time and place and was hoping to hitch a ride with you guys," Susan explained. "Well, mostly with the Doctor, since he is the TARDIS's pilot," she specified, feeling a bit of a ramble coming on. "And I really mean he is the pilot of the TARDIS, since you can't really own a TARDIS. Or at least not this one. She owns you."

Martha just gaped at her. "So..." she said slowly, "you just need a ride?"

"Oh, that, and I have a huge problem I'd like the Doctor's opinion on," Susan said cheerfully. "But that can wait for later. Oh, also, I know everything about you and also him. Are we cool? We're cool. Let's go get him," Susan continued, and stood up.

Martha stood up with her, nodding along, until she finally processed what Susan had said. "Wait, what?" Martha said, crossing her arms and glaring at Susan again. "What do you mean you know everything about us?"

Susan grinned, feeling like her face was about to crack open from the fake expression. "Oh, you know, I just know your past and future and weirdly enough, way too many conversations by heart."

Martha sat back down. "Maybe you should explain that before we go anywhere," she said, all serious.

"All right," Susan said with a sigh, "But it's all sort of part of the huge problem that I need the Doctor's opinion on."

Martha nodded.

Susan scratched her neck. "Okay, let me put it the way you might understand. Do you know Star Trek?"

"Yeah, I've seen it," Martha said, to Susan's pleasant surprise. "But what does it have to do with your problem?"

"Well, it doesn't, really. The point is, imagine you were a huge fan of that show," she said, gesturing to Martha, who nodded slowly. "Now, imagine you were walking somewhere and missed a step, and suddenly found yourself on a spaceship with Spock and Kirk staring at you. How would you react?"

"First of all, amazing!" Martha said with a grin, but then sobered up. "I would think I've lost my mind," Martha admitted.

Susan gave her a long look. "Well, that's me. Except I'm not in Star Trek, but in Doctor Who, the longest running sci-fi show in the history of the television. Can you guess who it is about?"

"Oh," Martha breathed out, her eyes widening. "Doctor Who. As in the Doctor... Oh."

"Yep," Susan said, nodding in agreement. "The Doctor, in his mysterious blue police call box, travelling the universe in time and space."

"That's..." Martha trailed off. "That's not possible."

"Someone once said: 'When you've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth'," Susan quoted, smiling faintly. "But that's a whole another fandom."

"So that's why you want the Doctor's help?" Martha said. She leaned back in her chair and let out a breath. "You're in the wrong universe."

"Yup," Susan said. "No aliens where I come from. Imagine my surprise when I met Janet," she said and chuckled. "Well, not surprise exactly. Just a weird, living confirmation of the truth I already suspected."

"Who's Janet?" Martha asked, a curious smile making its way to her lips.

"A Weevil in Cardiff," Susan said. On Martha's blank look, she elaborated, "An alien from an yet unknown race, called a weevil. Not an actual weevil." She stood up, brushed her clothes and gave Martha a chipper look, "Time's of the essence. Let's go."

"Where?" Martha said, getting up and following Susan to the door. "The Doctor's lecture won't end until later."

Susan grinned. "Oh, I was thinking of testing this theory I have..." she said, "And I'm gonna need to see the TARDIS so try it out."

"What kind of theory?" Martha asked.

"Something that might prove my good intentions to you."

Thankfully Martha was more than happy to show her to the hiding place of the TARDIS. Most probably since she was the only one with the key, and we all know the TARDIS is an impenetrable fortress. No enemy can breach its walls. Or doors.

The pair spent the walk there in peaceful silence, until they arrived at the abandoned shed.

"I don't know what you think you can prove," Martha said with an amused smile while opening the shed door. "But in case I'm wrong to trust you, there's no use trying anything. The TARDIS won't open without a key."

"Yes, yes," Susan muttered and stepped in, only to stop and admire the TARDIS as it glowed slightly in the dark. The design was slightly different compared to Eleven's TARDIS. But nevertheless, it was a classic. The first TARDIS Susan had ever known, through the 9th and 1th Doctors, until it renewed itself alongside the Eleventh doctor.

Susan took careful steps forward. "Beautiful," she breathed out, gently caressing the doors.

Martha smiled in agreement. "It is, isn't it?"

"Alright," Susan said, glancing at Martha. "Let me try. This might take a couple of minutes."

Martha shrugged, leaning against the shed wall. "Go ahead," she said, doubtful.

Susan turned back towards the TARDIS and leaned slightly against the doors, her arms wide. Her forehead touched the wood. She could feel slight vibrations from the ship, and a presence. Yep, there was definitely a presence. Which meant she was totally right.

"Let me in, sexy," Susan whispered. "If you let me in, in order to proof myself to Martha, I'll do my best to protect you from the Mastet. If I can just change these events just a little bit, then John Smith and Joan Redfern never have to suffer. All those people will never be killed." Susan swallowed. "You know better than me, though. Open up, if you think this could work. Please."

She closed her eyes and waited.

And waited. Nothing happened. Susan sighed, and turned away. She threw Martha a smile, "Well, I trie-"

There was a very distinct Click.

Martha's face went slack, and Susan swirled around. The door was open.

"Yes!" Susan laughed and ran to give the other door a kiss. "I knew I could count on you, you sexy thing!"

Martha was amazed. "How did you do that?" she asked incredulously. "I thought you said you're human! I've never seen even the Doctor do that."

Susan glanced back at her, her hand positioned on the door handle, eyebrows raised.

"Not yet, anyway," she said, and grinned. "The TARDIS is just highly telepathic. She also can sort of see into the future and the past, so she can be relatively sure of people's intentions."

"Amazing," Martha breathed out. "The Doctor never mentioned that."

Susan hid a smirk, "Well, he has always kind of underestimated her."

She took a deep breath and opened the doors. The sight was kind of glum, since most of the power had been shut while the Doctor was human and the TARDIS was hibernating. Susan still liked it, though. Eleven's TARDIS might have been prettier and shinier, but this one had always been her first console room and it held a special place in Susan's heart.

Susan grinned widely and danced her way towards the controls. "Oh, you poor thing," she said, tutting. "Must be so lonely here all by yourself."

The TARDIS hummed quietly in response.

Martha was still looking amazed and quite baffled. "It's like it's answering you!"

"She is," Susan said quietly. "We just really can't understand her responses. I think the time lords can, but I'm not exactly sure if the Doctor knows how..."

Martha was finally getting over her amazement and walked next to her. "How do you know these things?" she asked.

Susan looked up at her. "I told you I know stuff," she said. "If I can, I'll explain everything in more detail to you and the Doctor when we get him back."

Martha sighed. "About that," she started, "It might take a while. We've still got a few weeks left before he can turn back safely."

Susan nodded, expecting the answer. "But..." she trailed off hesitantly. She really wanted to tell Martha what was going to happen, so that they could stop all of those people form dying and the Nurse Redfern from falling in love with John Smith, who technically, didn't even exist.

Martha looked at her. "But?" she questioned. "Do you know something, because if you do, you have to tell me! I need all the help I can get."

Susan let out a deep sigh. "I wish the Doctor was here. He'd know what would be the best thing to do, no doubt about it," she said glumly. Although the TARDIS had let her in, which she took as a good sign, Susan wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do.

Martha shook her head. "That's exactly the problem," she said. "If the Doctor was here we wouldn't be in this situation."

Susan thought about it for a while, and the words said by the Son of Mine came to her mind.

"Do you know why the Doctor chose to change into a human?"

Martha frowned. "Because they would have never stopped chasing us otherwise?"

Susan shook her head. "No," she said. "It's because he was being kind. He gave them a chance to die peacefully, by running out of their life energy."

Martha blinked. "Kind?"

Susan nodded grimly. This episode had always creeped her out. "Never underestimate the fury of a time lord, Martha," she said. "You see him as the kind person he is to all of his friends... But when those friends are in danger, he's like..."

Susan paused.

"Like?" Martha whispered, her eyes wide.

Susan shuddered. "Like fire, and ice, and rage. He's like the night, and the storm at the heart of the sun. He burns at the center of time and he can see the turn of the universe." And he's wonderful. Oh, he is. But he's really, really scary when he's angry.

"I really don't enjoy making this kind of choices, Martha," Susan said, shaking her head. "But I think we need to wake up the Doctor a bit sooner than you thought."

John Smith walked back to his room after an afternoon class of history. The day had gone well, none of the lads were causing any trouble, so he was in relatively good humour. He only wished he could figure out the odd dreams he had been having lately. They had been extraordinary, very imaginative, nothing like any stories he could come up with if he was awake.

"Miss Jones," John greeted, surprised upon entering his room and seeing the maid in conversation with a man he didn't recognise. "And a guest?"

"John Smith, I presume," the guest said, standing up. "I'm with Scotland Yard, here to ask you a couple of questions."

John eyed his outfit and frowned. "I see," he said. "May I see your badge?"

The officer exchanged a glance with Martha. "Of course, sir," the man said, and handed it over.

John read it quickly before handing it back. "Seems to be in order. What is this about?"

Martha let out a deep breath, like in relief, causing John to glance at her. The officer stood next to the fireplace and was fidgeting with an old fob watch that had earlier been sitting on top of the mantelpiece.

"Is something wrong? Is it one of the boys?" John asked, sensing the tense atmosphere in the room.

The officer smiled thinly. It was an odd smile, John thought.

"Nothing really," the man said, looking down at the old fob watch. "Is this yours?"

John blinked at the odd question. "Yes, but it's never worked."

The officer glanced back at him. "How do you know it doesn't work if you've never opened it?"

"How did you guess I've never opened it?" John asked, suddenly a bit more interested in the plain looking watch. He had never really thought about the watch at all. It had just... been there.

The man from Scotland Yard smiled again, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Miss Jones told me."

John glanced at Martha, starting to feel annoyed at all the questions and cryptic answers. "What is this about?"

Susan sighed, shaking her head sadly. "I'm sorry, John, I'm really sorry. But this is for the best."

"What on earth are you talking about?" John asked.

Susan held the fob watch towards him. She swallowed, slammed her eyes shut and opened the cover. The light was blinding, even though her eyes were closed, and she still saw the bright golden light behind her eyelids. Susan waited for a while, not yet opening her eyes. She wanted to look, but was afraid to. This probably wasn't a way to get into the Doctor's good books.

"Who in the world are you?" a familiar voice, this time with a twinge of the usual Doctor-like disbelief, asked.

Susan slowly peered open her left eye, only to shut both of them tighter at the sight of the angry Doctor. She dropped the watch on the floor with a thud and covered her face with her hands.

"I'm sorry!" she squeaked. "I'm just trying to help and I'm sorry I don't know if we'll all die now and I'm sorry," she rambled.

"Martha, who is she?" an amused sounding Doctor asked.

"She told me she knew what was going to happen if you didn't return and it was going to be bad, so we opened the watch."

The room was silent for a while.

"Open your eyes," the Doctor said.

Susan thought about it. He didn't sound too angry, so she peeked at him through her fingers. His expression was slightly curious but not really frightening at all. But she squeaked anyway.

"Am I really that frightening?" the Doctor asked Martha, half joking.

"I don't know," Martha said, confused. "Susan was acting just fine before, while you were still John Smith."

Susan slowly peeked at them again. "Yes," she muttered, and the Doctor turned his gaze back to her. "Well. No, I don't know," she said, throwing her hands up in the air, before hastily bringing them back to her chest for psychological defense. "It's just, well, you're the Doctor!"

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Odd reaction for someone who definitely knew what they were doing," he said and glanced down at the now empty fob watch. "It was you who let me out in the first place."

Susan swallowed. "Yes, sorry, I'll explain that just in a minute," she muttered quickly. "But let me just freak out for a second like the fangirl I am, okay?" she asked with a straight face before squealing loudly.

The Doctor groaned. "Oh no, not a fan girl."

Martha blinked. "You have fans?"

The Doctor nodded grimly. "Yes," he said. "People who have seen me do things, or heard about it," he explained and glanced at Susan's shoes. "Form the fantastic choice of footwear I'd say you're from the golden age of internet, the 21st century. Am I right?"

Susan finally managed to calm down a little. "Yes," she said, a bit out of breath. "But that's not all. I'm also from a parallel universe."

The Doctor's eyes widened. "But you can't be!"

It took for a while for Susan to understand what he meant. Her eyes widened.

"Oh, sorry, I see how misleading that might have sounded to you," she said and scratched her head. "I'm not from that particular parallel universe. And I was kind of brought into this one by an accident."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by accident?"

Susan let out a breath. "Uh," she mumbled. "So, I was just walking around London, you know, as one does. Then I sort of missed a step and suddenly I was back in time and in another universe. And then, a certain time travelling alien sunk its claws onto me."

The Doctor's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Time travelling alien?"

Susan nodded. "Well, I don't know if they travel in time themselves, but they send their victims back in time and consume the time energy created by that."

The Doctor's raised an eyebrow. "Surely you can't mean..." he trailed off. "The Weeping Angels are just a legend! There aren't supposed to be any of them left!"

Susan shook her head. "Well, as you know," she said, looking pointedly at the Doctor, "The legends are often wrong."

The Doctor sighed. Why did he have a very bad feeling about this?