SuperWhoLock: When the Shadows Rage

Episode 2: The Blue Box part 3

Just a quick jaunt to check out a few spots, a run back to collect their luggage and Rory after he finished work, and a relaxing week-long vacation. That's what the Doctor had promised.

Amy leaned against the TARDIS control room railing, watching her son-in-law—Oi, that just sounds weird—stare at one of the viewscreens. Maybe it had been a while since she and Rory had traveled regularly with the Doctor, but she knew that look. That curious, squinty, puzzled look always came just before he poked something that shouldn't be poked.

"Doctor?"

"Hmm, yes. Hang on."

That was his distracted voice too. Amy stood and walked over to the console. He tilted the screen away.

She raised her eyebrows. "What are you looking at?"

He gave her a sheepish grin. "Nothing much."

"Where are we?"

"Not in space, I can tell you that." The Doctor tapped the screen, then smiled. "Earth, the United States. Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Ahh, look at that. You humans, clever as always."

Amy pulled the screen toward herself. It was too dark outside for the cameras to pick up much detail, but one thing blazed out clearly from the center of the screen—big, glowing letters spelling out one word.

DOCTOR.

She groaned.

"Well, personally I thought it was rather clever. Never had my name on fire before."

"Why did you bring us here?"

"I didn't!" The Doctor tapped the glass of the console. "I was trying to head for the Kalamatazoo mountains on the planet Oofdos. Heard they have lovely downhill skiing there. But the TARDIS brought us here instead. Tricky little thing, isn't she?" He swiveled the viewscreen back toward himself, and a little smile curled his lips, crinkling the skin around the corners of his eyes. "You have to be curious. After all, who knows enough about me to call me like this?"

Amy crossed her arms and tried to look stern, but it was basically useless. She huffed out a laugh and leaned against the railing. "Do you even understand the meaning of 'vacation'?"

The Doctor grinned and began flicking switches. "Just a quick peek, promise, then we'll pop back to Rory and go on with our vacation!"

The TARDIS lurched, and Amy sat down on one of the captain's seats, grabbing the arms tightly. The Doctor let out a laugh.

Within a few seconds, the TARDIS landed with a thump. The Doctor skipped past the controls and ran for the door, shouting over his shoulder, "Come along, Pond!"

***

Sam started around the letter 'D', edging partially-burnt logs back into the main blaze. Just as he came halfway around, over the crackling of the fire, he heard a loud vvvwooorp, vvvwooorp from behind him.

"Dean!" he yelled, turning around.

A blue police box was fading in and out of visibility closer to the water's edge.

Footsteps thumped on the sand, and Dean joined him, eyes narrowed. "What the--"

The police box thumped into the sound, yellow light shining from the windows set into the door.

Dean pulled his pistol from his pocket, cocked it.

"Hey, hey." Sam grabbed his arm.

Dean pulled away from him. "Dude, we don't know for sure what this thing is!"