Saving the Doctor

Chapter 2

The sun is about to set by the time I finally make it to the front of the line. Thankfully, I'm the last one. Meaning: I can take as long as I like and won't have to worry about others waiting for me to finish. Knowing this, I was smart and let everyone else in front of me.

But it also means there's no one to help me take pictures. And I can't just set it on a timer because I didn't bring my tripod.

I guess it wasn't such a smart move to let everyone in front of me after all...

I'm about to resort to taking a selfie when one of the workers walks by, starting to load up a disassembled cart into a van. "Excuse me. Would you mind taking a couple of pictures of me with the Tardis? I forgot my tripod."

He studies me a moment before nodding, taking the camera, and positioning himself a little ways off so that he can get the entire scene in the picture. I pose a couple of times on either side of the big blue box and once in front before wondering if the door opens. The worker might know. He's been here all day, after all. "Would you happen to know if the doors open?"

He shrugs like he couldn't care less, "You can try, I guess."

I give the door an experimental push. Amazingly, it opens! I don't really look inside; it would ruin the fun of pretending it's the real thing. Instead, I set one foot inside with my back to the door and lean out, waving at the camera with a smile. He gets the picture and starts to look like he's getting impatient.

I decide to go ahead and cut it short, "Okay, let's see how they turned out."

He comes forward with the camera and hands it to me. I look through them and smile, "These are really good. You could be a professional photographer."

He grins and points to his van. I read the side and realize that that is exactly what he is. "Oh." I kinda laugh, "Well, thanks for taking my pictures. Could you use some help packing up?"

He shakes his head. "No problem, and naw thanks. I got it."

I smile, "Okay. Well, thanks again. Have a nice evening."

He nods, "You too. Night."

"Bye." I say absentmindedly as I go through the pictures again, still perched at the edge of the open door. Soon, more people start loading up, and I realize just how late it really is. I also realize that someone is going to want to pack up the Tardis replica soon, so I should probably hurry up and get out of their way.

I look up to the top of the door, barely seeing just inside of it, and suddenly realize just how tall the ceiling looks: way too high. I start to wonder if its like that all the way back and soon my curiosity wins out. I push the door a little more, step completely inside and take a look around.

At first I can't believe my eyes and barely register that the door has fallen softly shut behind me. I find myself suddenly thinking that it's the real thing and it really is bigger on the inside, but soon realize that it must be some sort of special effect. It must be giant screens on the ceiling and walls or something. I shake my head, "This is so cool. Aunika is never gonna believe it."

I take some pictures, noting that it looks very much like the Ninth Doctor's Tardis, and walk towards the console in the 'middle' of the room, taking some close ups of the controls and Vortex. As I get closer, I see someone laying on the floor on the other side of the console dressed like the War Doctor. He's obviously unconscious, almost like he fell and knocked himself out. "Oh, my god!"

I rush over to him and check his pulse, and then, finding it to be a bit faster than normal, but not dangerously so, I flip him over and check for concussion. Satisfied that he hasn't got one, I decide to see if anyone knows who he is, and to see if I can get him some professional medical help, just to make sure he's alright.

As I head for the door, there's a strange grinding sound, followed by some mechanical wheezing. I turn and look at the console, seeing that the center piece is moving, just like in the show when the Tardis takes off. There's no one at the controls, though, so it's not really very convincing.

I reach the door and try to pull it open, but it stays securely shut. I pull harder, but it still won't open. No matter how hard I tug and strain to open it, it won't even budge. The whirring of the Tardis gets louder and everything lurches. I'm flung backwards and land hard on my bum near the console. I suddenly realize that this must be what happened to the guy on the floor.

I stand and look over to see him up against the far railing surrounding the outside of the console platform.

Past what should be a screen creating the illusion of being bigger on the inside.

But I was over there.

I didn't even think about it, but I was.

There is no television screen; no illusion.

It really is bigger on the inside: the real Tardis.

But that means....