The Castaway and The Doctor

Chapter 4

//Here's the next part. Sorry it took so bloody long, I had writer's block and school and then finals. But, Christmas break came and gave me time to catch up a little. Anyway, I hope you like it!!//

While Kian was away, I tidied up the TARDIS. A little hard to do when you have a constantly changing, infinite house that's bigger and never-ending on the inside. But it wasn't too long before I heard the door open and close. I had never known how much that sound could lift my heart.

"I'm back!" Kian yelled. "Where are you?"

"Three doors down on the hallway just off the right of the door!" I called over my shoulder.

I heard Kian's shuffling steps make their way down the stairs and head down the hallway, but they got quieter rather than louder.

"Uh, Cas?"

He had said my name. Out loud. No one had done that for... too long. Centuries. I smiled a little as I replied. "Yeah?"

"I'm three doors down on the hallway just off the right of the door. Where are you?"

"Three doors down on the hallway just off the right of the door. Where are you?" How can you get the wrong hallway?

"Again, same place. Why aren't you here?"

I sighed in exasperation. "Did you just make another hallway to annoy me?" I muttered to the TARDIS. "Or do you just not like Kian? Come on, that's just low."

I headed back through the hallway to the console room and, sure enough, now there were two hallways just off the right of the door. Mine was now the second from the door. I sighed again and proceeded down the hallway to where Kian was standing next to a box that looked a little too full and he gave me a sheepish look.

"Sorry. I took the wrong hallway," he said, picking up the box.

"No, it's not your fault. The TARDIS decided to play a trick and I'm not amused," I replied, leading him back to the right hallway.

"Why are you talking about the TARDIS like it's a person?" Kian asked.

"Because he is, and right now, he's a person I'm really irritated with," I replied. "Don't you ever try that again, okay?" I directed at the TARDIS.

The TARDIS made a sound that I had come to know meant "Make me."

I punched the wall, and walked into the room three doors down, Kian following me in.

"This is your room," I said, sweeping my arms around the room. It was simple, but nice. At least the TARDIS hadn't made it a dungeon. Although I wouldn't but it past him. Unpredictable was his middle name.

"This is great!" Kian said, looking around after placing his box on the bed. "Thanks."

"It's nothing," I replied. "Seriously, there's like three hundred more rooms like this, so you could probably have your pick."

"Ah. Thanks," he replied. He paused for a moment."Why is your TARDIS a guy, may I ask? Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but normally, machines are girls, and I was just wondering..."

I looked down at the floor. "I miss my brother... I felt like there needed to be a guy around, and he, my TARDIS, was the only one who stayed..."

Sniffling a little, I decided to take this chance to return to my tinkering. "Well, I'll leave you to it," I said, walking backwards to leave. "I've still got some... important..."

"Yeah, see ya," he replied.

I smiled and turned. Right into the door frame.

"Ow."