Closing Time- Pt. 1
The Tardis landing in our house woke me up. I shook Jack awake and said sleepily, "The Doctor's here."
"Why would he wake us up at-" Jack said, then stopped to look at the alarm clock, then looked back at me. "Three thirty in the morning?"
"I don't know." I said. I got up and through on my bathrobe and walked into the hallway where I saw the Tardis. I rolled my eyes and banged on the Tardis door. "Why are you here at three thirty in the morning, Doctor? You're lucky Amelia didn't wake up."
The door opened to reveal a very serious Doctor. "Susan, do you remember when we went to Berlin?"
"Yes Doctor, How could I forget?"
"I- I downloaded my information off of the Teselecta. I found out when I die. When you die. Why didn't you tell me?" The Doctor asked.
I leaned against the hallway wall and glanced toward my bedroom. Jack had probably fallen back asleep. "It's that time already?" I asked quietly.
"We have time for one more adventure." The Doctor said softly. "I was hoping that you would like to meet Craig Owens since you weren't there last time we meet. Then we will be off to The Alignment of Exedor, Seventeen galaxies in perfect unison. After that, well..." The Doctor trailed off.
I thought about it. "Sure. I think I should probably get changed into something more appropriate and tell Jack. Can he come with us? I don't want to leave him just yet."
"Of course, Susan. I'll wait in the Tardis." The Doctor said and turned around and walked back to the Tardis while I walked back to my bedroom and turned on the lamp.
I was correct, Jack had fallen back asleep. I sighed, blinking back tears and shook Jack awake. "Jack," I said. "Jack, wake up."
"What's going on?" Jack asked, blinking through the light. "You've been crying. Why have you been crying?"
"Jack." I said and took a deep breath. "It's time."
"Time? Time for what?" Jack asked, puzzled and concerned.
I bit my bottom lip. "Lake Silencio."
At that, Jack was fully awake and bolted upwards. "Susan-"
"Jack," I interrupted him. "According to The Doctor, I have time for one more adventure. A quick pit-stop to say hi to Craig Owens, who I really want to meet, and then to The Alignment of Exedor."
"The Alignment of Exedor?" Jack asked.
"Seventeen galaxies in perfect unison." I repeated what The Doctor had told me. "Then-" I trailed off.
"Susan, please, is there anything that I can do to help?" Jack asked, tears forming.
I swallowed and shook my head. "I don't think so. Amy, Rory and River already witnessed it. I'd just cause a paradox if I tried to stop it."
Jack closed his eyes tightly. "I am so, so sorry."
"It's not your fault, Jack. Korvarian forced you to." I said, sitting on the bed and hugging Jack. "So, what do you say Jack? One more trip? You, me and The Doctor?"
Jack put his arms around me and brought me close. I could feel Jack's breath on my neck. It comforted me a bit. "Of course, Susan. What about Amelia?"
"I'm not leaving her with Sarah Jane this time. She will be coming with us."
Jack and I entered the Tardis. I was wearing dark jeans and blueish pink camisole under a lightweight jean jacket. Jack was in his regular world war two outfit. Amelia was in her blue one-piece with stars on it. I was wearing a papoose so that I could have my hands free and Amelia's bag of goodies, mainly baby things like sippy cups and her favorite teddy, was slung across my right shoulder.
"You brought Amelia." The Doctor said, surprised.
"If you thought I would spend my last forty eight hours without her, you're out of your mind." I said, narrowing my eyes and placing an arm protectively around Amelia's back.
The Doctor winced. "Sorry. Okay!" The Doctor said, changing topic very fast. "One pit stop before The Alignment of Exedor."
The Doctor, Jack and I walked up the path to Craig Owen's house. "So, who's Craig?" Jack asked me.
"He's someone The Doctor meet while he had to pose as a human on Earth until he could get the Tardis under control again. It turns out, Craig was living under an spaceship."
"The Doctor posing as a human?" Jack asked, his eyebrows raised. "I would pay to see that."
"Oi!" The Doctor said. "I'll have you know everything worked out perfectly fine."
I put my hands on my hips. "Really, Doctor? Does Sophie almost getting killed qualify as fine?"
"I hate it that you know everything that happens." The Doctor mumbled.
I flinched. Before Jack could say anything, The Doctor rang Craig's doorbell. "I'm coping on my own!" Craig said as he opened the door. He stopped and stared at us.
"Hello Craig, I'm back!" The Doctor nodded to me. "This is Susan Jane Harkness, and her husband Jack, and their daughter, Amelia."
I didn't think Craig was paying attention to the introductions. "She didn't." Craig looked horrified. "How could she phone you?"
"How could who phone me? Nobody phoned me, I'm just here. Oh, you've redecorated... I don't like it." The Doctor said, pushing his way inside Craig's house.
"Sorry Craig." I said, apologizing for The Doctor.
"It's a different house. We moved." Craig said, still in shock. "Who are you?"
"Yes, that's it." The Doctor said.
"Susan Jane Harkness. My husband, Jack and daughter, Amelia." I said, patting Amelia's head. She giggled and I smiled back at her.
"The Doctor told me about you." Craig said then he turned back to The Doctor "Doctor, what are you doing here?"
"Social call. Thought it was about time I tried one out. How are you?"
Craig looked offended for a second then said, "I'm fine."
"This is the bit where I say I'm fine too, isn't it? I'm fine, too. Good. Love to Sophie. Bye." The Doctor turns to leave, then the lights flicker. "Something's wrong."
"Oh no." Jack groaned. "This is an episode, isn't it."
We hurried after The Doctor who stopped on the staircase up to the second floor. "On your own, you said. But you're not. You're not on your own."
"Just shush." Craig said desperately.
"Doctor, you should listen to Craig." I cut in.
"Thank you." Craig said, gesturing to me.
"Increased sulphur emissions. And look at the state of this place. What are you not telling me?"
"Doctor, please."
"Shush."
"No, you shush."
"Shush!"
"Shush!"
"No, you shush!"
"Doctor!" Craig yells as The Doctor bursts into a bedroom.
I sighed and looked at Jack. "The Doctor can be clueless." I said and followed Craig into the room, Jack behind me.
"Whatever you are, get off this planet!" The Doctor yells.
Alfie began to wale. At Alfie's wale, Amelia decided to join in the action and started crying as well. I sighed and pulled out Amelia's sippy cup out of my purse that was strapped to my side and she instantly quieted. It was helpful that I understood Baby.
Craig sighed. "You've woken him!" Craig scolded The Doctor.
We moved into the kitchen. "So when you say on your own-" The Doctor starts as Craig lifts Alfie out of his crib and begins to bounce up and down to quiet him down.
"Yes, I meant on my own with the baby. Yes. Because no one thinks I can cope on my own. Which is so unfair, because I can't cope on my own with him. I can't. He just cries all the time. I mean, do they have off switches?"
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Human beings. No. Believe me, I've checked."
"No, babies." Craig said, looking a bit scandalized.
"Same difference. Sometimes this works though." The Doctor puts his right index finger up to his mouth. "Shush." Alfie goes quiet.
Craig looked up at The Doctor in amazement. "Can you teach me to do that?"
"Probably not."
"Oh, please. Come on, I need something. I'm rubbish at this." Craig begged.
"At what?"
"Being a dad. You read all the books, and they tell you you'll know what to do if you follow your instincts. I have no instinct. That's what this weekend's about, trying to prove to people I can do this one thing well."
The Doctor is flicking through the books on the table. He laughs at Daisy's Wild Ride. "So, what did you call him? Will I blush?"
"No, we didn't call him The Doctor."
"No, I didn't think you would." The Doctor said.
"He's called Alfie. What are you doing here anyway? And with a married couple and their child?"
The Doctor ignored him "Yes, he likes that, Alfie, though personally he prefers to be called Stormageddon, Dark Lord Of All." I laughed out loud. It was my favorite line.
"Sorry, what?"
"That's what he calls himself." I said, sticking up for The Doctor.
"And how do you know that?"
"Time Lord's speak baby." I said.
"Of course you do. I don't even know when his nappy needs changing, and I'm the one supposed to be his dad. Oh."
"Yeah. He's wondering where his mum is? Where is Sophie?"
"She's gone away with Melina for the weekend. She needs a rest." Craig said.
"No, he's your dad. You can't just call him Not Mum."
"Not Mum?"
"That's you. Also Not Mum, that's me. Susan is Substitute Mum. Amelia is Baby Buddy. And everybody else is peasants. That's a bit unfortunate." The Doctor said, cringing a bit.
I smirked at Jack. "Hello Peasant." Jack pouted.
"What are you here for? What's happening?" Craig asked suspiciously.
"I just popped in to say hello."
"You don't do that. I checked upstairs when we moved, it's real. And next door, both sides, they're humans. Is it the fridge? Are there aliens in my fridge?"
"I just want to see you, Craig! Cross my hearts. I've been knocking about on my own for a bit. Bit of a farewell tour. One last thing, popping in to see you, then we're off to the Alignment of Exedor."
"The Alignment of Exedor?" Craig asked.
"Seventeen galaxies in perfect unison. Meant to be spectacular. I can't miss it. Literally can't. It's locked in a time stasis field. I get one crack at flying my Tardis straight into it, if I get my dates right. Which I have."
"Sounds nice." Craig said wistfully.
The Doctor looks through the local paper. "So this is me, popping in and popping out again. Just being social. Just having a laugh. Never mind that." The Doctor ends slowly.
"Never mind what?"
"Nothing." The Doctor said quickly. Jack and I exchange glances.
"No, you've noticed something. You've got your noticing face on. I have nightmares about that face." Craig
"Ooo, nope, given up all that. Done noticing things. I didn't even notice that, for example. Well, got to go. Good seeing you, Craig. Goodbye, Stormageddon. Come on, Jack and Susan." The Doctor said as we walked to the door.
"No, no, wait, wait. Can you do the shushing thing?" Craig asked.
"No, it only works once, and only on life forms with underdeveloped brains." The Doctor said.
"Hang on. You said farewell tour. What do you mean, farewell?" Craig asked. Jack stiffened and placed his arm around my waist.
"Shush." The Doctor said and Craig could say anything.
"Well, It was really nice to meet you, Craig." I said. "As well as you, of course, Stormageddon."
We walked back down the path to the Tardis and the Doctor was muttering along the way while Jack and I shared looks. Amelia was asleep against me, sucking her thumb. "Just go. Stop noticing. Just go. Stop noticing, just go. Stop noticing, just go. Stop it. Am I noticing? No. No, I am not. And what I am not doing is scanning for electrical fluctuations. Oh, shut up, you. I'm just dropping in on a friend. The last thing I need right now is a patina of teleport energy. I'm going. Do you hear me? Going. Not staying, going. I am through saving them. I am going away now."
Jack and I stood by the Tardis watching The Doctor and Jack turned to me. "He stay's, doesn't he."
"Yep." I said. "Although I would like to get some sleep before all the crazy stuff happens."
Jack and I were browsing through a toy department story. I still had Amelia in her papoose. Jack and I were talking through our telepathic bond. Susan, do you have a plan? You must have a plan. It can't end like this.
Jack. I do have a plan. I just can't tell you it.
Why?
I don't know if it will work! I also can't say anything aloud because the Silence will definitely hear it. I have no doubt that they are watching us right now. I sighed. I just- I wish this didn't have to happen.
Me too. Jack said through our telepathic bond.
I grabbed Jack's wrist and stopped. We were in the middle of the baby cloths section, though mostly out of the way, by the wall. Jack, this isn't your fault. I'm not blaming you.
But- but I killed you! I wasn't strong enough to stop the suit.
That hasn't happened yet. I told Jack. Please, lets just enjoy this.
"Nobody panic, but I appear to be losing control!" We heard the Doctor call from the toy section.
I rolled my eyes. "We should probably go bail The Doctor out of trouble."
"Susan." Jack said, grabbing my hand. "We'll talk about this later."
We walked through the cloths section to run into The Doctor pushing Alfie's stroller into the section we were coming out of. Craig was behind him.
"These funny old power fluctuations which just happen to coincide with the disappearances." The Doctor was saying.
"Oh, it's you guys." Craig said.
"Hey Craig." I said and leaned in to see Alfie asleep in his stroller. "Hey Stormageddon." I whispered. Thankfully, he didn't wake up.
"The power fluctuations are just the council putting in new cables, isn't it?" Craig says to The Doctor. We stopped at an Out of Order lift.
"Oh yes, that's it. Mystery solved. Wasting my time. Now, you can go home and I can go to Exedor. Goodbye." The Doctor says. He uses his sonic screwdriver on the lift and the lift dings. "And here's the lift."
"It says it's out of order." Craig says.
"Not any more. See? Here to help."
"It says danger." Craig pointed out.
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Oh, rubbish. Lifts aren't dangerous."
Craig looks at the Doctor, "Do I look like I'm stupid?"
Alfie makes a comment in Baby. The Doctor laughs and I giggled. "Quiet, Stormy. Oh, all right. There's more." The Doctor said. "Coming?" The Doctor asked us.
I looked at Jack who sighed and nodded. We got into the lift.
"Just between you, me and Stormy, don't want to frighten me punters. Someone's been using a teleport relay right here in this shop. Missing people last seen in this area. Before you ask, CCTV's been wiped." The Doctor says.
"A teleport? A teleport? A teleport like, a beam me up teleport, like you see in Star Trek?" Craig asked.
"Exactly. Someone's been using a beam me up Star Trek teleport. Could be disguised as anything." The Doctor said. There are six circles in a circle on the ceiling.
"But a teleport in a shop? That's ridiculous." Craig said.
I shrugged. "Anything could happen, Craig." The lights flashed.
"What was that? Was that the lights again?" Craig asked, oblivious to where we were. We were in a cybership. Jack tightened his grip of my hand.
"Yes, that's it. That's all. It's the lights." The Doctor said in an strangled, high pitch, voice.
"Why did you say that like that?" Craig asked, suspiciously.
"Like what?" The Doctor asked.
"Like that, in that high pitched voice."
"Just keep looking at me, Craig. Right at me. Just keep looking." The Doctor said.
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Why?" Craig asked.
"Well, because, because, because I love you." The Doctor said and Jack burst out laughing.
"You love me?" Craig said, in an really awkward way.
"Yes, Craig. It's you. It's always been you."
"Me?" Craig said, still trying to figure out how this happened.
"Is that so surprising?" The Doctor puts his arms around Craig's neck and uses the sonic screwdriver on whatever it behind the definitely not a lift any more scene behind him.
"Doctor, are you going to kiss me?"
"Yes, Craig. Yes, I am. Would you like that? Bit out of practice, but I've had some wonderful feedback."
"Doctor, no. I can't. I'm taken." Craig looks behind him to see a cyberman.
"You just had to look behind you." I said, groaning and took out my sonic pen.
"Oh, my God!" Craig shouted.
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Or we could just hold hands if it make you'd feel more comfortable." A Cyberman notices them.
"What is happening?" Craig asked.
"Well, first of all, I don't really love you, except as a friend." The Doctor said.
"Knew it!" Jack said.
"What is that?" Craig asked.
"Quick reverse!" The Doctor said and we all ended up back in the lift.
"What the hell happened?" Craig asked.
We were now back in the children's clothing. "They must have linked the teleport relay to the lift, but I've fused it. They can't use that again. Stuck up there on their spaceship." The Doctor said as we walked away from the lift.
Now we were in the soft furnishing section. "What were those things?" Craig asked, still in panic mode.
"Cybermen." Jack said.
"Ship. A spaceship. We were in space!?" Craig asked.
A/N:
Reviewer:
RiverSong98 (For Ch. 31): I find Pasta also very good and I absolutely love garlic bread, but it is not as good as the Parmesan Sub. I also enjoy pizza with cheese or sausages for the topping.