((Things Aren't Always What They Seem: Part I))

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but Catie ended up joining the Doctor and I on our little traveling team. Catie ended up with the strangest bedroom I've ever seen, something that seemed to be almost decorated to the brim with things from shows such as Sherlock or Firefly. Seriously. She had a spray painted smiley face on one wall with bullet holes in it. That kind of worried me, but I pretended not to notice.

Now, we were easily making our way down the street. Clave was curled around my shoulders and I walked slightly behind Catie and the Doctor, who were deep in discussion about something that I didn't understand. A smile kicked up the corners of my lips. Maybe she'd stay with the Doctor when I was gone...keep him company and reassure him that I was fine...

I stuffed my hands in my pockets, a flash of worry stabbing through me. We had just under two weeks before things went to hell. And only I was aware of that. Every time the Doctor talked about what he planned to do next, I found myself worrying that this would be the last time I saw him.

Of course, the TARDIS had recently reassured that I wouldn't be alone when it happened. The Doctor would be there, though she hadn't explained when. While I was dying or before I completed the necessary steps of the Successor?

"Ali!" the Doctor scolded suddenly, startling me out of my thoughts. "Keep up! We're almost there!"

He'd taken us to some planet I couldn't remember the name of, a planet that had a very well known art museum that held pieces from multiple other planets. It was owned by humans, much to my relief, as humans didn't seem to care that I was the Successor destined to become the TARDIS. It held pieces from everywhere and brilliant pieces of art, accoding to what the Doctor had said.

I hoped they let Clave in.

Yawning, I followed the Doctor and Catie into the museum, watching as they paid and were directed towards a broadly smirking blonde woman. Her gaze was sharp and determined, multiple colors depending on how she was looking at you. "Hi," she greeted, "I'm Steph."

Catie smirked. "I'm Catie, and this is Ali and-"

"John," the Doctor interrupted smoothly. I understood immediately. We weren't here completely for a vacation, though it would have been nice. He'd noticed something abnormal about the place, so here we were. "I'm John Smith."

"Nice to meet ya," Steph said bluntly, then waved us after her with a smirk. "This way, I'll show you around."

The Doctor fell back to walk beside me, offering his arm and I took it, ignoring Clave's bothered hiss when he was jostled. Catie immediately hit it off with Steph and the two began to mess around and joke as we walked. "What's going on around here?" I asked softly.

"I'm not sure," the Doctor admitted. "The TARDIS alerted me as we were landing. I initially intended for this to be relaxing, but as usual, we're not going to get to enjoy ourselves."

"Of course not," I muttered.

We'd made our way past a few areas when I suddenly paused to investigate a beautiful piece of art that had been left alone in an area by itself. The Doctor continued after Catie and Steph, not even casting the curious art a second look. Clave nipped my cheek in annoyance; he wanted to stick close to the others.

Ignoring the little dragon creature, I smiled and stepped forward to examine the strange looking statue. it was an angel, looking as if it was weeping into its hands though its eyes were raised to the sky. I felt sympathy towards it. The poor thing looked absolutely devastated. No doubt this would be me within the next two weeks.

Clave suddenly gave a growl that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. His tensed, talons digging sharply into my shoulders and I winced as he tensed and gave a piercing shriek as he glowered viciously at the statue. "Clave," I scolded, turning my face towards him to frown. He glared furiously at me, and I rolled my eyes as I turned back to the statue. "There's no need to-"

The statue's face was less than an inch from mine, glowering angrily, and a hand reaching out to touch me.

I screamed, toppling backwards. Scrabbling away from it, I kept my eyes on it. What. The. Hell. Quivering, I whispered, "The heck is that Clave?" He snarled at it, the plates along his spine seeming to ripple in his anger.

I gasped for breath. So the thing wasn't good. Statues that moved definitely can't be good. Where had the Doctor gone now?! Surely he'd seen this thing and known, right? Maybe not, he hadn't even looked at it...

Something in my mind told me that looking away or eve blinking would be a bad idea. So I hissed to Clave, "Clave, go get the Doctor, please. Now." He whined in protest and I flicked his nose. "Now, Clave."

Clave scampered off.

"Oh, look at that!" I cursed under my breath at the curious voice of another visitor to the museum and knew exactly what they were speaking about.

"Don't come over here," I ordered when I heard movement. The movement paused. "Do you hear me? This isn't a regular statue." Unless regular statues could move...

"Oh, you can look away, miss!" A warm hand descended upon my shoulder, a reassuring voice adding, "Trust me, this statue does this often. It is fond of scaring those who look at it. Trust me, it won't harm you." Something in this person's voice was wrong, very wrong. It was coaxing, warm and gentle, and I felt my gaze drawing from the statue to the owner despite what I felt.

The world vanished around me and I shrieked as I slammed on my hands and knees onto cold stony pavement. Pain flared up my wrist when it twisted underneath my weight and gave a sharp snap. Crying out in pain, I sat up, cradling the now broken appendage to my chest. Confused, I looked around.

I was now in an ally in the moments before the sun rose. It had to be on Earth, there were cars racing by not too far away. Confused and worried, I stood and spun around in a circle. Where the hell was I? Where was Clave and the Doctor? The strange man and statue? Catie? Something rustled and I tensed as a drunken man roared with laughter and toppled into the ally.

Time to go.

I darted past him- and straight into a street. A car screeched to a stop centimeters from my knees and I gasped before darting back to the safety of a sidewalk. Where was I?! Hyperventilating now, I leaned back against a wall. Pain flared up through my wrist again and I bit back a confused whimper, trying to think logically.

It was obvious the statue had sent me here. So how did I get back? Where was I anyways? Taking a deep, calming breath, I looked around, relieved when I saw a nearby abandoned newspaper. I scooped it up, examining the front page. My jaw dropped at what I saw.

According to the newspaper, it was New York City. September 11th, 2001.

...damn it all to the fiery depths that must be my hellish life.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

It was eight a.m. when a smirking man in a suit caught my elbow, making me yelp when he jostled my arm and therefore my wrist. In an instant I knew he wasn't human. That may have been because of the yellow eyes that gleamed from his face. "Come, Successor," he hissed. "Our leader wishes to speak with you."

"Hell freaking no," I retorted, ripping my arm away. I needed to find a way back to the Doctor and there was no way I was going to accomplish that with aliens trying to kill me at the same time. Especially since the first plane would strike the first of the twin towers within the next forty five minutes.

But the alien was insistent. "We don't plan on harming you. Our leader wishes to speak with you."

I contemplated what to do. "Um...where exactly is your boss?" Naturally, he pointed to the North Tower, and I instantly began to shake my head. "Nope, no way as hell you're getting me in that building today of all days. Sorry, man. Call me tomorrow or yesterday, and I'll definitely come talk."

He caught my arm again, this time digging talons sharper than Clave's in. "You don't really have a choice, Miss Successor. If you'll follow me..."

Panicked, I had no choice but to do as I was told. I let him drag me along the street, tears gathering desperately in my eyes. This could not be happening. There was no way this could be happening! Too desperate while trying to escape the alien's grasp, I nearly missed someone shoving something into my pocket.

I paused in my thrashing to stick my free hand into my pocket, crying out when he jostled my broken wrist. I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and looked up with surprise in time to see a smug looking woman shoot me a secretive smile over her shoulder, her brown eyes sparkling. Then she was gone, disappearing among the people.

I'd seen her somewhere, though I couldn't place my finger on just where.

I shoved the paper back in my pocket, deciding to check it later as we entered the North Tower. Swallowing, I glanced at a clock as he forced me into an elevator. Only thirty minutes until this place was a gonner. I could do this. I could talk with the bastard and get out with time to spare. Hopefully.

The alien finally released me, hitting the floor number he wanted. The top floor. Damn it! It took us a few minutes to reach the top, but I let him lead me when we did. Cooperate, I told myself, taking off my jacket as we walked and arranging a sling for my entire arm to discourage any touching of my wrist. It hurt like a son of a gun, that much I was sure of.

"Ah, Miss Successor," an older man greeted me slyly as I entered. He had the same golden eyes as the alien that had dragged me here. I glared at him silently. "Nice to finally meet you."

My eyes traveled to the clock on the wall. Twenty five minutes. Damn it all to hell! "What can I do for you?" I asked quietly. I'd play along for now. But only for now. Soon as it was getting close, I needed to get the hell out of here. This was something that had to happen, a fixed point in time, I was sure. I couldn't try and stop it. And even if I did, nobody would listen to me. They'd call me stupid or psychotic.

The alien leaned forward. "Nothing much. I merely wished to know what choice you will make when the time comes."

It took me a few seconds to understand what he wanted to know. "You mean you wanna know if I'm going to save you all or let you all die?" He nodded slowly and I pursed my lips. Wasn't that the question? I'd wanted to save everyone, but now...I couldn't just leave the Doctor...

It struck me. Bowtie man. I'd already seen myself as the TARDIS. So that meant...I had no choice, right? "Yes," I said simply, "I'll save you lazy creatures. I'm going to live up to my title."

"Wrong choice."

...the hell?

The leader glared at me. "We don't want the universe to be saved, Miss Successor. We are tired of worrying constantly about whether or not we will have to survive the next day." Another glance to the clock. Fifteen minutes. Damn it! "We don't want you to live up to your title."

"Well I will," I said with a glare. "I won't let the Doctor die."

"If that's what you truly wish," he sighed, standing. He waved at his little worker people and they stepped out of the room. "I'm sorry it has come to this then..."

Oh, no. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. But it was. The alien grinned maliciously and waved before stepping outside of the room after his men. I darted forward to get out, but the door slammed shut and even though the knob twisted, it wouldn't open. "No," I mumbled. "DAMN IT!"

I had ten minutes. Ten minutes before this place was attacked. I slammed my uninjured arm's shoulder into the door but only ended up bruising it. That certainly wasn't going to be the way I escaped outside, I thought sullenly. I made my way over to the windows, but there was no way out there either. Not unless I wanted to jump to my death hundreds of stories down.

I slammed my fist on the desk the man had sat at moments before, wincing as my wrist was jostled. There was a soft sound in my pocket and I gasped. That paper! How could I have forgotten?! I hurried to dig it out of my pocket, unfolding it expertly with one hand after a quick glance. Seven minutes.

I read it quickly.

Good luck. We'll meet again soon.

-Bad Wolf

Below the signature was a number that I recognized after reading over it once. Relief flooded through me. The TARDIS's emergency number. But it was the signature that caught my attention. Bad Wolf. I knew I'd seen that girl somewhere.

Rose Tyler. I'd seen Rose Tyler in person despite the fact that she wasn't supposed to be here. Not in this universe, anyways... Not good. Not good at all. If I got out of this alive, I don't think I'd be telling the Doctor about this. It wouldn't end well.

Boom!

I gasped as the floor trembled violently beneath me. I could hear screams of surprise come from below and around me and I winced as I was sent sprawling. Not good! The clock read eight forty-six a.m. The first tower had been struck.

It was a matter of seconds before smoke began to leak in under the door. I coughed, waving it away from my face as I reached for the phone on the desk. I hurried to dial the number, cursing loudly when the smoke increased.

It was Catie who answered. "Hello?"

"Catie!' I wheezed, relieved. I could barely see two feet in front of me. "We've got a big, big problem right now."

"I'D FREAKING SAY! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" I winced at her loud tone.

"Um, top floor of the North Tower on Semptember 11th, 2001 at...eight forty-nine a.m. Some little jerks dragged me up here 'cause they don't want the Successor to be the Successor and now there's smoke everywhere. Where's the Doctor? I kinda need help. Now."

"Right here," came the reassuring sound of the Doctor's voice. I wanted to cry in relief. "I'm on my way." I beamed in relief, my eyes streaming from the smoke. It was only growing worse. And the screams were dying, replaced by the roaring of flames. A hoarse cough escaped me, and he demanded, "Are you okay?"

"Nope," I rasped back. "Not okay at all." And I wasn't. Bad Wolf had shown up in the form of Rose Tyler, something I wouldn't be telling him, some aliens had locked me up, and if the Doctor didn't get here soon, I was going to die. Possibly. Again.

Just what every person wants, right?

He demanded to know exactly where, and I wheezed out an answer before dropping the phone, sinking to my knees and coughing, struggling to drag in fresh air that didn't exist. The room was nearly too smoky to see in, and a suspicious red light had appeared at the bottom of the door that led to the room. My heart was pounding as I coughed even harder. "Damn it," I croaked again. Today was just a good day for profanities.

Was it just me or were things beginning to blur together...?

Distantly, I could hear a familiar sound, the comforting sound of the TARDIS. Instantly, I could hear a panicked wail in my head. The TARDIS was terrified for me. "Shut it," I snapped, clutching my hands over my ears with a small glare. She shut up quickly. I gave a choked cough, struggling to get to my feet but was unable to do so.

"Ali!" The Doctor was suddenly there, kneeling beside me as I wheezed and choked on smoke.

"I'm fine," I whispered, barely able to get the words out when another fit escaped me. "Just need...air."

He hurried to get me to my feet and I swaggered slowly along beside him towards the TARDIS, where Catie was impatiently waiting with concern in her eyes. As soon as the Doctor had us in the TARDIS and had closed the door, the TARDIS suddenly jolted. My eyes widened. "Oh," I mumbled. Not good.

Not good at all.

The TARDIS suddenly plunged down through the burning ceiling of the floor beneath, sending us sprawling to the floor when it landed. What air was left in my lungs left me a whoosh and I cried out as my wrist slammed into the grated floor. "My Girl," the TARDIS moaned, panicked.

Yep. Things were definitely beginning to blur together.

Because everything became one big blur. And then I was out, whatever intelligable thought in my head gone.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

I woke to Clave purring beside me, his entire body wrapped around my head with his own head resting beside my ear to let a soothing purr rumble in my ear. Grimacing at a slight ache in my chest, I reached up with my good arm to stroke his nose in greeting. "Good boy," I croaked when he gently nuzzled my cheek. It was good to know he was alright.

"My Girl," the TARDIS whispered in relief, humming happily and loudly so that anyone and everyone could see her relief. "You are awake."

"Yeah," I muttered, throwing an arm over my eyes with a soft moan of irritation at the light that made my head pound. "I'm awake. But I don't want to be awake. Where's the Doctor and Catie?"

"The Strange One is in the room I had prepared for her," the TARDIS replied, making me snicker at her title for Catie. Looks like everyone got a title here. "My Thief is pacing through the halls. Would you like me to alert him of your waking? Or should I move the infirmary?"

"Someone's feeling better," I sighed, then told her, "Have him come here. I don't think I can get up without falling over a few times."

The TARDIS hummed in amusement but let a soft ringing sound begin to echo throughout the endless inside that made up the TARDIS. Seconds later, the door flew open. "Ali!"

"Doctor," I rasped with a grin. I forced myself to sit up, wincing in pain as I did so. "Long time no see."

He sat down on the infirmary's bed beside me, his brow furrowed with concern. Clave slipped into his lap after purring, watching me with intense yellow eyes. He glanced at the multiple things around the infirmary, a variety of different screens, and I realized then that there was an IV in my arm. Cursing under my breath, I ripped it off. "What's with all of that nonsense?" I said crossly, examining the brace that had been wrapped carefully around my wrist.

"You've been out for a few days," the Doctor admitted. "The TARDIS was sluggish, too. You inhaled a lot more smoke than you should have." He reached out to ruffle my hair and I pouted, swatting his hand away playfully. "We'll go back to deal with what sent you there as soon as you're all fixed up."

"Weeping Angels, right?" I asked, glancing at him for clarification. He nodded and I ran a finger through my hair. "Guessed as much. Thought I'd seen it somewhere. What happened after I disappeared/"

"Catie was with that woman who was showing us around, talking," the Doctor said slowly. "She was enjoying herself. I was going back to see where you'd gone off to when Clave came screeching. And it wasn't a very pleasant sound..."

I found myself giggling at that information. "That's Clave for you, loud and irritating." I pulled him into my lap, kissing his nose.

He rolled his eyes playfully then continued. "I came back and a couple visitors were chatting excitedly about the girl who disappeared." He narrowed his eyes. "If you knew it was a Weeping Angel, why didn't you just stay away from it?"

"Because I didn't know until it was two inches from my face," I retorted, glaring at him irritably. "You think I wanted to get suck in that stuff again? I saw it once on TV. Didn't expect to get stuck as a victim for two seconds." I paused. "You couldn't save all of those people even if you wanted to, could you?"

He shook his head. "It's a fixed point in time," the Doctor said confidently. "I couldn't even if I tried. It would all end up badly anyway."

"That's too bad," I murmured sadly, pulling my hair over my shoulder to comb it with my fingers and begin braiding the long locks methodically. He watched silently until I said, "Come on, I'm fine to walk around. Let's go get Catie and deal with those damn Weeping Angels? I kinda wanna give one a piece of my mind." Along with those little jerks who locked me in a building that was going to burn! And they knew what was coming, too!

He nodded his agreement, standing and offering me his hand. I took it with my good hand and stood, wobbling for a brief moment before straightening. He paused to gently kiss my forehead, then pulled me out of the infirmary gently. Clave slid up to rest around my shoulders. "If you see one, remember this time," he warned, "Don't look away and for heaven's sake, Ali, don't blink!"

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: I felt as if I needed to honor 9/11 within the fanfiction since tomorrow is that day and I, myself, am a proud American beside my character (though Ali left for England). Tomorrow, it will have been thirteen years ago since the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were struck with passenger planes, along with the single plane that went down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that day, close to three thousand people died. The North Tower in particular (the tower Ali was dragged into) was struck with the first plane at 8:46 a.m. and collapsed 10:28 a.m. Almost half an hour before, the South Tower had fallen, and hours later, down came the World Trade Center. I'm not sure if how Ali experienced is how it truly would've happened, but... So let's have a moment of silence for the many innocent people that lost their lives, shall we?

bored411: Very, very true. People do seem to get interested in our violent actions towards our characters, do they not? Thank you for your review!

BrainStormer: Perhaps some fluff will pop up. Eventually. Maybe. XD Maybe JaVan will pop up, though at this point, I sadly severely doubt it. |D

MaybeALittleBroken: ...you've tempted me. You've seriously, really tempted me. Clave needs his own little sequel. XD