Chapter 2
I sprint down the stairs, nearly tripping on the rug at the bottom. My fingers fumble for the lock on the front door. I start sprinting again even before the door has fully opened. It's sunny out and I can hear birds chirping. But I'm not paying attention to that. The only thing I'm focusing on is the blue box in my yard.
I tiptoe up to it until I'm only inches away. With my hand outstretched, I touch the smooth wood. The little silver lock glints in the sunlight. I gently run my fingers over the sign posted on the left-hand door, tracing the words as I go. PULL TO OPEN, It reads. I laugh, knowing that's not how anyone uses it. That's not how he uses it.
Suddenly, I'm hit with the gravity of the situation. I start thinking a million thoughts all at once. "What do I do? I cant just sit here and stare at it, can I?" I think. I stand before this box. This machine. I slowly raise my hand. And knock.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
(I don't dare knock four times.)
Seconds later, the door swings open and a face appears. A face that belongs to a man with floppy hair, a tweed jacket, and a bowtie. He looks me up and down with a confused expression before he speaks. Well, he tries to. He opens his mouth as if to begin a sentence but no sound comes out. "H-how? Where am I?" he manages to stammer. I put on my most serious face.
"Earth. The United States of America. It's 2013. June of 2013 to be exact. And it's a Thursday. Specific enough?"
The man blinks at me and nods. He steps out of the blue box and onto my lawn. "I'm-"
"The Doctor." I say, cutting him off, "I know."
He flashes me another confused look. "How do you know who I am?" he asks, "What are you? A trick? A trap?" He pulls out a small device which I recognize to be his sonic screwdriver and begins to scan me with it. "No," I reply, "I'm just a fan. One who really wants to see your TARDIS."
"A fan?" , the Doctor asks, completely ignoring my request, "What exactly are you a fan of?"
"Well, for starters, you. But, also..." I trail off as I jerk my thumb towards the TARDIS. The Doctor raises his (nearly invisible) eyebrows.
"You like my TARDIS?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say, "Gotta love a stolen Type 40."
The Doctor smiles sadly. "I was always going to take her back"
"No you weren't." I say, rolling my eyes. The Doctor stares at me for a long time. Finally he speaks. "How do you know about me?"
"Television, you've got your own show." I reply simply.
"I do?"
"Yeah, Doctor Who, I love it. I'm guessing that this is a different universe than yours, am I right?"
The Doctor smiles and nods. "Well," he says, "since you're such a fan and it doesn't seem like you're cable of too much damage, you can go in."
My eyes widen and I throw my arms around the Doctor's neck, hugging him and shouting "THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!" I push open the blue door and walk in, my jaw dropping at the size of the room inside. "I knew it was bigger on the inside but this is just beautiful." I say breathlessly. The Doctor walks up behind me. "I know," he says dreamily. He clearly loves this machine. But, then again, who wouldn't love a time machine. "I'm in a time machine," I think, "I can go anywhere in time and space." I'm barely aware when I blurt out "Can I come with you?"
The Doctor swiftly turns to look at me. "What?" he says.
I repeat my question, "Can I come with you? In the TARDIS, I mean. I've always wanted to travel. I know all about daleks, cybermen, weeping angels, anything. You name it: I know it. Please!"
By this time, I'm begging. I barely even notice when the Doctor holds up his hand to silence me. I stop rambling on and on about my extensive knowledge of the Doctor long enough to hear his reply.
"It isn't always easy, traveling with me. There's a lot of danger out in the universe. I can't promise you'll be safe. I can only promise one thing."
"What's that?"
"You're gonna do a lot of running!"
"S-so I can stay?" I ask in disbelief.
"Of course, I don't mind."
"Well then," I say.
"Well what?" the Doctor asks.
I turn to him and smile.
"Geronimo!"