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

17: Panic! In The Tardis

I wake up by myself, which is weird. Usually Charity comes in at six in the morning asking me to have a tea party. I open my eyes, thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wake peacefully. But when I do, I scream. Because the ceiling above me is not the purple of my bedroom, and the bed beneath me is not my own. A door opens, and a man wearing and old-fashioned suit and top hat enters. I try to see if he's holding any weapons, but I don't see any. He smiles a bit sadly at me, and walks toward my bed. I try to get up and run, but my ankles are cuffed to the footboard.

"Relax, Grace." the man says. "My name is Hilton. I won't hurt you."

"Yeah, right. So you swiped me from my house for kicks?" I spit venomously. If I've learned anything from any movies, it's to keep your attacker talking. Sometime their arrogance distracts them just long enough for you to run. Hilton just smiles at me.

"I didn't. What really happened has been removed from your memory. In a few hours time you will lose all recollection of this day, too. But believe me, it's for the best." What can I say to that?

"'Removed'? What does that mean?" I ask, saying the first thing that comes to mind. I really want to know, too.

"Never mind that, love. You'll be on you way home by sunset tonight. That is a guarantee." Why would he kidnap me just to send me home? Unless... Is he telling the truth? Did something else happen? I do actually feel as though I've forgotten something.

"What are you going to do to me?" I ask in a shaky voice.

"Nothing, dear! I swear, you'll be safe and sound and back home before dark."

"Why am I cuffed to the bed, then?"

"So you didn't try to run. You'd hurt yourself in those halls, not remembering where anything leads. Your friend is safe, too. I don't know if you remember her at all, but she's fine. Memory wiped, of course-"

"Naturally." He smirks and chuckles.

"I almost forgot how sassy you are, Miss Hallows. It's a gift, really." I roll my eyes, trying to keep up my act. Don't show fear. A voice in my head says. I manage, I think, though I must be shaking.

"Your hero is on his way, Grace. It'll all be over soon."

"You know, you keep saying that, but I somehow am having a hard time believing you!" As soon as I finish that sentence, the door bursts open. I scream. Hilton runs to the wall, slides a panel, and vanishes inside. The man who busted the door steps into the room, and I try to back away but the cuff on my ankle won't let me. I scream again. The man has strawberry hair and smile lines. He's tall. He can't be any older than sixteen. He too wears a suit. He pulls a small metal object out of his pocket. Is that. . .?

"A sonic screwdriver?!" I ask, incredulous. The man looks confused.

"Um. . . Yes, of course. How else would I bust you out of here?" He points the. . . I guess sonic screwdriver. . . at the cuff on my ankle and it pops open. I stare at it, wide-eyed.

"How did. . . How did you do that?!" I half-yell at him. His face scrunches up.

"Uh. . . It's my. . . It's my screwdriver, Grace. You okay?"

"How do you know my name? Why are you helping me?! Who are you?!" The man blinks, his eyes glaze with tears.

"You. . . don't remember?" I shake my head.

"Grace," he walks over to me and cups my face in his hands. I pull back, cringing. His voice breaks when he speaks his next words. "I'm the Doctor."

A tear falls from his cheek. My sympathy goes out to this stranger. He seems to know me, somehow. I timidly wipe his face with my thumb. The gesture feels so familiar yet so completely alien at the same time. He leans into my touch and puts his hand over mine.

"You have to remember, Gracie. Please!" He begs with his eyes closed, tears streaming from them both.

"I. . ." I stammer, "I. . . I'm sorry."