Two Ponds, A River, And A Rose {[Doctor Who Fanfic]}

12: Dark Secrets

There's a man in my house. A strange man. I've never seen him before, but I feel like I know him. Like I trust him.

"Hello?" a voice behind me calls. I whirl around, hand on my belt. I discover a red sonic screwdriver there. I pull it out and press the button, waving it at the hooded figure that spoke.

"Hello? Is. . . Is anyone there?" it calls again. I walk toward the small figure. It was a girl's voice. Young. Very young. No older than eight or nine. American accent. "Hello?" it calls, louder this time. I try to touch the hood that covers her face, but she disintegrates before I can get within an inch.

"What. . ?" I whisper softly.

"Grace Addison Hallows." I whip my head toward the ceiling when a deep, booming voice speaks my full name. There's no one there.

"You will save the Doctor." It says.

"What? How?"

"You will rediscover the Eleventh." The Eleventh Doctor, presumably. But. . . How?

"How?" I repeat.

"You possess the information. Deep within your mind. Buried."

"No! No, I don't . . ."

"Your personal emotions cloud your ability to see reason. You can save him, and the Universe, or you can save yourself."

"I can't . . . I don't know what you mean!" But I do. I know exactly what he means. I have for a while. But I thought I could find another way. . . A way that would allow me to stay with him. But no. This is the only way. But. . . It can wait. Just. . . One more adventure. . . One more day. . . Just one more. . .

"Grace! Gracie!" I snap awake to Katelyn shaking my shoulder. "Grace! Oh, you're awake."

"No kidding. . ." I moan tiredly, sitting up. I rub my eyes.

"You were yelling in your sleep again. What do you dream about?" She asks, staring into my eyes. I debate whether I should tell her. She'll get it out of me eventually even if I don't. Sirens are good at picking up lies. Still. . . I don't want anyone else to know. She'll tell the Doctor for sure, and I don't know how I could explain why I didn't tell him before. No. I better just keep it to myself for now. One more adventure. After today, I'll tell Katelyn and we can figure out what to do.

"Grace!?" She shakes me out of my reverie. I shake my head.

"Nothing. Just a stupid nightmare."

I walk slowly down the steps to the console room, where the Doctor is jumping around the controls, spinning dials and pressing buttons.

"Hey, Doctor?" Katelyn says from the swing chair underneath the console. He lays on his stomach and looks down at her. "I thought you couldn't fly the Tardis in this form? Ror- Um... Grace said she had to fly it when you crash-landed on my planet." He scrunches up his face and jumps up, walking to the controls. Katelyn runs up the steps behind him.

"I. . . I don't know. Maybe it changed to my version of the Tardis. . ."

"It still looks the same," I point out from the bottom step.

"Yes. . . It must have been a really small thing that changed and it changed on Veena. . . While we were outside. . . Huh." he mumbles to himself as he inspects the controls. "Ah!" he yells after a few minutes, startling both Katelyn and me. "Here it is! The bio-damper's different!" he says excitedly, pointing to an object that resembles a plastic pumpkin. "It used to be an eggplant." he explains. I roll my eyes and sigh in Katelyn's direction. She giggles quietly and leaps toward the Doctor.

"So, where're we going today?" she asks excitedly. A huge grin spreads across his face.

"A special place." He flips the last lever dramatically and the room starts jerking around violently. I flail my arms, looking for something to hang on to. The Doctor grabs my hand, steadying me. I blush. He trusts me so much. . . I think guiltily. I need to tell him. Soon.

"Here we are then!" The Doctor exclaims, running toward the door. I reach to open it, but he gets there first. The door flies open to reveal. . . My house. I look at him in disbelief. Did he find out? Is he leaving me here?

"Oh, don't be so dramatic!" he says, looking at me playfully. "It's just a visit. Your parents will be home soon, and they'll wonder where you are." I breathe a sigh of relief and go to the door.

"Wait." he says, pulling out his sonic. He waves it in front of the door, over the exterior walls, and finally around the windows. "I took you away from here for I reason I can't remember. I had to make sure it was safe. Go ahead," he gestures at the familiar bronze of the handle. I turn it and push the door open slowly and carefully. It's just like it was when I left it. Not a thing out of place. Maybe a little more dusty. . . I take a deep breath and smile. My house. My home.

As much as I'm enjoying the Doctor's kindness, I can't bury the thought that I know how to save him, but I can't bear to do it.