Stellar Collision

Chapter 3

This time the blonde woman was working as a waitress at a diner. A customer at the counter seemed to be harassing her as she went about her job. She was irritated, then scared, then downright angry. He pinned her arm to the counter and-

He awoke with a start. He still couldn't see anything, but he could tell that they'd landed. More specifically, if his now restored space-time senses weren't very much mistaken, they had landed on earth in the 21st century. The Doctor lifted his throbbing head.

"River." he whispered. The switch he had thrown had been specifically designed to bring him directly to his wife's side. A long, long time ago the TARDIS had created the combination fast return/homing device switch as something of a wedding present for River and himself. The Doctor had yet to test it out. He'd never found a practical purpose.

He suddenly remembered everything that had led up to this moment. Repairing the HADS. The distress beacon. His failed rescue attempt. The neutron star collision.

"A gamma ray burst. Of course. The flash must have blinded me." he murmured as he sat up. The explanation provided some comfort. There was a good chance his condition was only temporary.

He imagined what must have happened once the explosion occurred. If the HADS was functioning, the TARDIS would have been displaced from danger before impact. But the TARDIS still had the force field generator working properly. His ship may have been hit hard by the blast but much of the force had been deflected by the force field prisms. Microseconds after impact the catrastrophic failsafe would have taken over and returned him safely to the time vortex.

He wondered where exactly the TARDIS had brought him now as he once more climbed to his feet. The Stormcage Containment Facility was certainly not around in the 21st century. Maybe Professor Song was here on an archaeological dig? Perhaps teaching at University again? Walking was getting to be nearly impossible. Even with a Time Lord's advanced physiology and accelerated healing abilities he was going to need medical attention and soon. The Doctor's inability to see was definitely going to make finding River a challenge. But, with the help of his Sonic, it should certainly be doable. Before he could reach the door, he heard it rattle as if someone were trying to gain entry. He froze.

A familiar voice with an even more familiar tone of annoyance asked disbelievingly "What is this then!?"

He smiled in recognition and reached out to the manual door release. Not such a challenge then after all.

He stepped out onto what felt like carpeting. He heard a gasp and he could only imagine how alarming his appearance must be. Just as he was about to offer up words of reassurance, the TARDIS door slammed shut behind him and the woman in front of him began shouting hysterically.

"Who exactly are you? What on earth are you doing in my hallway? What the HELL has happened to you? And more importantly, how did you get that Police Telephone Box up all those stairs!?" He had not seen that coming.

Flustered, the Doctor turned tail and attempted to reenter the TARDIS and instead bumped clumsily into the closed door with a THUD. And locked. The TARDIS has apparently started the healing process and wanted a little privacy.

Clearly he was mistaken about the invisible woman's identity? After all, she sounded almost frightened of him. Not the brave River he knew.

"I-I-I'm sorry Miss." he stammered with his hands held where she could see them. "I'm just trying to find a friend. Maybe you know her? River. Her name is Professor River Song."

The woman seemed to calm down a bit but she obviously still regarded him with distrust. "I don't know any professors. Is she supposed to live in this apartment building?"