Time Passages was wrote during the winter/spring of 2008, I was all fired up after the ending of another messy relationship, at the time I imagined the Doctor coming to the rescue to save me from my sad little life. After years of wasting time I was sufficiently inspired to finally sit down and write, enough procrastinating, besides since the age of nine I’d always wanted to write my own Doctor Who story and I was happy that David Tennant’s manic, quicksilver and rather brilliant Doctor would be starting me on my writing odyssey.

 I’m pleased with my little story but when I look back I know it could have been done so much better and I would do it better now but at the time I was single, unimaginably happy with my story and for the first time in a long time, I was optimistic about the future. Somewhere in the back of my creative awakened mind, a plan was forming and there would be a few more adventures to come for the feisty bookseller Anna and the Doctor.

Chapter One

At this moment in time Anna Bailey wanted to forget about her boyfriend’s existence. If only she could wave a magic wand to take away the pain of rejection and heartache, but Anna couldn’t imagine life without Mike Hilton.

“I’m twenty eight this year… am I wasting my life with this man? Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I don’t want to settle down… Should I go off on my own travelling….A new job perhaps? But I’m afraid I’m going to spend the rest of my life here. I know I’m a fool… But I still love him.”

Anna hugged her knees close to her chest; her dark hair cut into a bob tumbled sleekly around her pale face. Anna was an attractive young woman and very capable at most things in life but she wasn‘t very confident, which meant a lot of people including Mike walked all over her. Most of her Bookselling colleagues would know her as the quiet girl who worked in the Classics department. Though once you got to know her, Anna’s warmth, good humour and passion shone through. She knew she lacked motivation and sometimes felt she could be doing something more with her life, if only she could work out what that was! Everything was a mess, all in a matter of a few hours she was back with her parents, in her old bedroom, sobbing to herself on her childhood bed. Anna’s mum, Caroline entered the room with a steaming mug of tea.

“What am I going to do Mum?”

Anna’s voice was all broken and childlike as Caroline

Bailey put a consoling arm around her daughter, this had become a regular pattern in the last couple years of her daughter’s life since she’d become involved with this dreadful man and she’d been powerless to stop it. “Mind control maybe?” she thought rather perceptively as she stroked her daughter’s hair. “Everything always seems better in the morning.” Anna thought “Maybe Mike will realise how much he loves me and realise he’s making a big mistake.”

Yet little did Anna Bailey realise that life as she knew it was about to change and she along with the rest of the world would never know. For the Universe is rather more strange, complex and wonderful than Anna could ever have imagined and the fact that any of us are here at all is either due to fate or a happy accident, depending on your beliefs. In the next few moments Anna’s Boyfriend was about to become an ex in more ways than one… He was about to be erased from history… Taken out of existence.

In the suburban shadows, lurking just outside Anna’s semi-detached home a solitary figure was watching. In appearance he would pass as a young humanoid man, if a bit unusual, long gangly limbs, impossibly bushy fair hair with quirky features. How easily by a small twist of fate that face could have been warm and smiling but behind those eyes there was a cold and calculating nature, a being that possessed no sense of humour, in short he was deadly serious. But underneath the surface his heart was racing, agitated and excited at the thought of what he was about to do. Nobody knew and there was no one to stop him. He wasn’t even supposed to set foot on this planet. He went by the name of Ed but liked to think he was grander in the scheme of things, considering himself to be the architect of Anna’s existence. Ed was going to do it tonight, and then Anna would finally see him. He’d scanned ahead and backwards for possible complications, he wasn’t entirely without morals. It was all for the best, it was for both their sakes. Stray leaves fluttered around him as he nonchalantly flicked a switch, one last glance as he seemingly walked through an invisible doorway and disappeared from sight.

Chapter Two

“Anna…Help me!”

“What Can I Do?”

Anna woke up in a cold sweat, Sunday morning and she was going to be late for work. She’d spent the entire night disorientated; every time she woke up she kept thinking she was a visitor, sleeping in a strange bed.

“It’s going to be one of those days…Ouch!!”

Anna had banged her knee against a bedside table which wasn’t there last night. In fact everything about Anna’s room had altered since last night but she was oblivious to this fact. This was a well maintained bedroom befitting someone who had spent all twenty seven years at home with her parents. Anna had never met Mike Hilton, had never left home and moved in with him. For Mike Hilton no longer existed for the Bailey family.

“You look a bit out of sort’s sweetheart.”

“Morning, mum…Dad. I didn’t sleep well. I had the most vivid dream last night. I was with someone- a man. There was an earthquake, the ground opened up from under us. He lost his balance and began to fall, I tried to save him”

Anna looked at her parents distress momentary flickered across her face “but he fell…”

“Just a dream Anna.”

Caroline Bailey smiled reassuringly at her daughter.

“She gets it from your side of the family.” David Bailey joked to his wife. “Do you want a lift in Anna?”

“No I’m alright... Thanks Dad. Sorry I freaked you both out talking like some dark Prophet from one of Dad‘s dodgy sci-fi movies.”

Anna started logging onto her Hotmail account whilst munching on her cornflakes.

“Another email…which one is it from? …let’s have a look…”

Caroline dashed over to the computer.

“Mum!” Anna placed her hand over the screen.

“You didn’t mind me looking last night

.” Caroline frowned, then shrugged and like the true Matriarch ignored her daughter and began reading over Anna’s shoulder. “Ah he wants to meet up… Take Care Ed. What are you going to do?”

Anna was deep in thought.

“I don’t know Ma…It’s what we were talking about last night. He seems a bit intense. Don’t you think? What was it we were saying last night? No it’s gone… I really have got out of bed the wrong side this morning.”

“Why don’t you date both of them?”

“Dad!”

“You need to keep your options open sweetheart.”

“For once I agree with your Dad.”

Anna glanced at the clock.

“Is that the time?!”

“Oi! Cheeky… you won‘t fade away.”

Anna stole a slice of toast from her Dad’s plate.

“Laters Ma and Pa!”

“Something’s wrong… Something doesn’t feel right.” Anna quickened her pace as she walked through the deserted streets, always eerily unfamiliar on a Sunday morning. “Is there something I’ve forgotten?” By the time Anna reached St Martin’s, rain began to fall as takeaway cartons from the night before blew menacingly across her path. As Anna reached the upper mall platform by Selfridges something unusual caught her eye, a blue box, standing outside one of the entrances to the curvy building. Anna wasn’t a fan of these modern installations but there was just something retro about it which appealed to her and the electric blue perfectly complimented the silvery disc backdrop of Selfridges. She moved closer to inspect the sign above the doorway.

Police Public Box

Call

Then the panel on the door-

Police Telephone

FREE

For use of

PUBLIC

PULL TO OPEN

“What?! How bizarre.” Intrigued, Anna placed her hand on a panel, wooden yet warm to the touch… like the bonnet on a car recently parked. She looked around; no one else seemed to notice it. Smiling to herself she moved quickly up the steep pathway, past the Bullring and the towering Rotunda. The crowds of eager shoppers were growing but nothing was what it seemed today. For someone had been taken out of existence and reality was still playing catch up, altering around the people of this City, as faces began to change then some disappear. Everyone was oblivious to this shift in time, yet a tiny handful like Anna felt something was wrong. There were a couple of familiar faces as Anna waved back to Ken, the local tramp who was taking his morning stroll with his greyhound Queenie. Then there was Jay the Big Issue Seller, Anna always bought the magazine from him, even though she never read it. Anna was glad that Jay had taken Ken under his wing and always kept an eye out for the pair of them, bringing them leftovers from the bookstore café even though she’d been told off by her Manager!

In this alternative existence Anna didn’t have many friends and had never had a long term relationship. On her way to work today, entirely out of the blue she wondered how this had happened and how the years had got away from her. As she turned the corner Anna felt like she was about to cry. How little did she realise what was actually going on and what had been done to her by the mysterious Ed. Things were about to get even stranger for Anna…Someone was blocking the bookstore staff entrance “Will I ever get to work today, I don’t mind but…”

Anna loosened her military style jacket and cleared her throat.

“Excuse me…Hello? I need to get by.”

Anna wondered what he’d been doing; he had a glowing torch in his hand and had seemed to be studying the lock. The stranger, a tall, skinny male in a long dusty, brown coat turned to face her. Anna was struck by his wide grin and manic look in his eyes, though he seemed a little confused and dishevelled, like he’d been in a fight. “Was he just trying to break in? I have a right charmer on my hands here.” Anna thought, yet she was strangely drawn to him even though she didn’t have time for it, but if she’d waited she would have seen a spark of recognition in those fiercely intelligent eyes. Sensing her agitation, the stranger jumped aside to let Anna pass. He opened his mouth to speak; Anna’s response was to slam the door in his face. “What is wrong with everyone today!?” she cried, as she heard a knocking behind her. That was to be Anna’s first meeting with the Doctor…

Chapter Three

Anna felt better now she was inside work of all places… but the aftershocks still hadn’t caught up with her and everyone else yet as she dashed into the staffroom.

“Hi Jas. It’s been one of those mornings. Did you enjoy the film last night? Are you ok?”

Jasmine Kaur was a colleague and good friend of Anna’s they’d gone to the same high school and had worked together for five years. Jasmine would never get the chance to reply to her friend as she collapsed onto a chair clutching her head. Suddenly afraid Anna ran towards her friend; then a voice called out to her-

“Anna…here are those Returns you requested.”

Just that one split second Anna turned her head distracted by another colleague and then her vision darkened as though she was about to faint. When Anna opened her eyes Jasmine was gone and a young girl by the name of Vicki was standing in her place.

“I’m sorry Vicki…what were you saying?”

Jasmine Kaur no longer existed and nobody realised it.

The bookstore was about to open, Anna just hoped that today would be over with quickly. Her feelings of unease were growing stronger by the minute. The dream had started her off this morning and that Ed from the website was troubling her. In a trance she began wandering around her floor, picking old stock off the shelves, her heart sank as she heard footsteps bounding up the stairs “Please go on to the next floor…Please.” Anna knew she was being very unprofessional as she knelt beside a table pretending to search through the under stocks. The customer began talking animatedly to himself.

“I need a Holiday… Right that was the last of the time shifts.”

He began pacing the floor. “Met

him….met him… met her…didn’t like them much….oh they were hard work.”

His accent was southern, possibly from London Anna thought as she peered over the top and saw the man who was trying to break into the store earlier… “Oh my God! Not him again.” She took a deep breath and stood up straight.

“Can I help you?”

The Doctor had been scanning the shelves, books lay scattered everywhere; he stopped rubbing the back of his head and removed his glasses.

“Hello again! I was wondering when you were going to come out from behind there. Interesting…” He sniffed, puckering his nose in contemplation. “I don’t usually have that affect until later on…Sorry…where was I?

Help me…yes thanks…In fact it’s starting to come back to me. I’m here to help you actually.”

“Right…” Cautious, Anna moved a little closer as the Doctor pulled some paper from his pocket and stared at it.

“The girl in the painting…sorry photograph!”

The Doctor exclaimed excitedly.

“Where did you get that?! You’re not Rob from the website. How did you find me…It’s not fair to come to my work place. How would you like it if I showed up at yours?”

Anna was shocked and indignant as she snatched the photo from the Doctor’s hand. It wasn’t even a photo she remembered posing for.

“What?” W

as the Doctor’s slightly annoyed reply. “I haven’t got time for this. Why do they always have to make it a trillion times more difficult? Start again.” His tones were exasperated as he spoke to himself. “No I’m the Doctor, you are Anna Bailey and I‘m here to help you.”

“What? And “the Doctor” what kind of a name is that?”

“Now don’t you start. I’ve had one helluva of a day, I’ve had a hypodermic full of amnesia drugs pumped into my arm and look… feel that a lump the size of cricket ball on the back of my head…a door slammed in my face…”

There was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked at Anna, blushing she put on her polite face of concern that she uses to humour her awkward customers.

“I’m sorry to hear that and about the door but how do you know my name?”

“It’s a long story…by the way”

The Doctor paused. “What day is it?”

“Sunday…”

“Never!”

The Doctor exclaimed loudly in an over dramatic voice.

“What’s so amazing about that?” Anna enquired, bemused.

“Nothing ever happens on a Sunday. I never land on Sundays…Oh well first time for everything.”

“Have you escaped from somewhere?”

Anna couldn’t believe she’d just said that.

“I have as a matter of a fact but not a psychiatric ward if that’s what you were thinking?…”

“Okay calm down, Can I get you a cup of tea or something?”

The Doctor’s face instantly brightened up.

“Now you’re talking! Just what the Doctor ordered.”

What made Anna stop and consider this Doctor’s story instead of running to fetch security? Yes he was confused which made him very erratic and eccentric even though Anna strongly suspected he was always like this. There was a genuine warmth and honesty in the way he spoke. The fact he’d reminded her of Rob from the website was rather disconcerting because she hadn’t found his photo attractive but she rather liked this Doctor’s unconventional looks. But it was the expression in his eyes which fascinated Anna; they betrayed knowledge and wisdom of someone much older, when in fact he only looked a few years older than her. Anna had never got enigmatic until today, nor geeks, maybe that was where she was going wrong…Anna would never admit this out loud but since the Doctor had turned up she’d felt a lot better and somehow safe. Dave the security guard came onto Anna’s floor with two mugs of tea.

“Thanks Dave, you‘re a star. This is my friend…err… Rob.”

The Doctor started inhaling the tea fumes through his nose as Dave stared at him bemused.

“Hello Dave…nice to meet you…good brew.”

Dave was a man of few words.

“Alright mate.”

he looked at Anna.

“He’s from the south.” Was Anna’s explanation for the Doctor’s odd behaviour. Dave shrugged his shoulders with a “that” would explain it look and strode away.

“So Doctor whoever you are, what’s going on?”

“Direct, straight to the point. I like it.”

Anna could have sworn he was being sarcastic but she let him continue.

“I’m not the only one whose memories have gone…who’s lost something or rather someone. You had a boyfriend who you split up with recently.”

“No sorry you must have the wrong person. I think I would remember that.”

The Doctor gulped down his tea, his expression darkened as he gazed directly into Anna’s eyes. “But you know something’s wrong don’t you?”

Anna looked away and started pacing the floor.

“How could I forget I had a boyfriend…that’s crazy. Nothing’s happened to me. I haven’t had an accident. You’re the one suffering from amnesia remember?”

The Doctor placed his mug on the counter and calmly replied.

“Not if they’ve been taken out of existence.”

Anna heard what the Doctor had said and thought of course he’s completely mad, so why wasn’t she running for the door? The Doctor leapt over to where Anna was standing muttering to himself.

“Time…Time…Time… you’d think a Time Lord would have all the time in the Universe, but no. Anna, you’re not feeling yourself are you? I mean hiding behind a table isn’t the norm is it?

“You’re obviously not from around these parts.”

Sarcasm with someone she barely knew wasn’t usually Anna’s style, though she noticed that the Doctor was starting to get impatient. “Well no, but can you blame me?”

Now was the time for the Doctor to come straight.

“Anna I’m not from your world. I’m a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey…

oh every time, why won’t anyone believe me?” He rolls his eyes upwards with weary acceptance. Anna began to shake her head this was all becoming too much.

“I am not of this world. Look two hearts…different,”

The Doctor took hold of Anna’s hand and placed it upon the left, then the right side of his chest. It could have been a trick but there were two hearts beating at an alarmingly fast rate. The Doctor released Anna’s hand; she let out a slight gasp.

“Right…okay. A spare one?…Well not if you need both I guess. I believe you. I don’t know why, I can’t believe that I believe you… Doctor I do feel empty inside like a piece has gone missing from my life. But I thought I was just being paranoid.”

“Nah that’s just for androids…you’ll be alright.”

The Doctor smiled kindly “I know it’s a lot to take in sorry about that. Right now I need your help Anna Bailey. I need to get my head working properly again. But you must believe me, I’m here to help you and everyone caught up in this…” The Doctor stared off into space tapping his head. “Something else…oh by the way you’ve got a stalker from another world and he’s after me because I’m on to him.”

“Why?”

“Because…It’s starting to come back to me… He’s the one who’s caused this mess.”

Anna could hear footsteps; she almost jumped out of her skin. After the kind of day she was having she knew this would be the ‘stalker.’

“Someone’s coming now. Quick hide behind the counter! I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She uttered under her breath.

Chapter Four  

Anna could feel her stomach turning as she waited for the figure to appear; she held a clipboard, pretending to write some important report. She looked up to see Ed standing right in front of her.

“How are you today?”

his voice was softly spoken, almost hypnotic.

“Fine thank you.”

Anna smiled politely wondering if she’d seen him somewhere before but it was the way he stared so intently at her which made Anna feel uneasy. She thought it was almost like he knew her intimately, owned her in some way…like he could read her mind. There was also a detachment about him; he did not notice Anna’s discomfort as he stood too close to her.

“Don’t be alarmed. I’m Ed from the website.”

Anna backed away, dropping her clipboard. “Is this the same man” She hurriedly thought “Who I’ve been emailing these past couple of weeks and… Is he my alien stalker?!”

“What?!…what are you doing here?” Anna blurted out.

“So many books…you know where I come from we absorb information via a chip in our head. We have no need for books. Reading has died out. Can you believe that Anna?”

He smiled sadly at her, ignoring her question. “Anna I’m from the future.”

“Oh my God! It is him. Keep calm…keep calm.” Anna thought as she started scanning the floor, working out the best escape route. Wondering what the Doctor was making of all this.

“Don’t be afraid.” Ed’s calm tones and condescending manner were beginning to annoy Anna.

“Me afraid?” something snapped inside Anna. “So you’re from the future are you Ed? Don’t tell me, you had an accident in 2038 and woke up in 2008?”

Ed looked puzzled; he hadn’t studied popular culture which involved the hit TV series Life on Mars. “Well a bit further away…A thousand years to be precise and as for accidents if you count meeting the Doctor as one well…”

“So he does know the Doctor” thought Anna “what’s going on here?” Maybe Ed could read her mind as he replied.

“I travel with the Doctor and I’ve lost him. He’s alone and confused and he need’s my help.”

“Okay…but I don’t see what that’s got to do with me.” Anna thought it best to play along.

“The Doctor mentioned you Anna Bailey; he said he needed to find you. I don‘t know why. I know this is a lot for you take in.”

This is easy thought Ed, I have her now and she will bring the Doctor to me and then I shall have his TARDIS… Ed attempted to smile at Anna. “I thought that if I could track you down…then I might find him.”

“By posing as a potential internet date?”

she replied.

None of this made any sense to Anna and now she was very confused. Ed sounded plausible but there was something about him which didn’t feel right, call it intuition but Anna did not trust him. Yet she completely trusted the Doctor, there was an openness and warmth about him which Ed did not possess. They both could have been madmen for all Anna knew but she truly believed the Doctor was here to help. Maybe if Ed had got to Anna first things might have been different but the Doctor had got there first.

“So, have you seen the Doctor?”

There was an edge of aggression in his voice which Anna didn’t like. “It would be hard to miss him, tall, thin, pinstripe suit and manic.”

“No I haven’t… sorry.”

Anna replied flatly, lying through her teeth, she’d done well up until now but she’d always been a terrible liar as she squirmed under Ed’s gaze.

“That’s a great pity Anna because I don’t actually believe you. Where’s the Doctor?”

Ed didn’t like being lied to especially by the woman he loved as he lurched forward and grabbed hold of Anna’s arm before she could reach the phone.

“Where are my customers when I need them?” thought Anna as she shouted out loud-

“Let go of me you creep! You’re hurting me.”

She struggled to free herself from Ed but he was relentlessly stronger than he looked.

“Right I’ve had enough of this!” The Doctor came diving over the counter his coat billowing behind him like a cloak. “You heard my friend. Let her go right now!”

The Doctor had the advantage of surprise, Ed loosened his grip and Anna managed to escape as she ran over to the phone and dialled up security.

“Hello again Doctor, so you managed to get here first? Never mind but you can’t stop me…I will have your Time Machine.” Ed turned to look at Anna. “I’m sorry I hurt you Anna. It wasn’t meant to be this way, but you will be mine. It‘s only a matter of time.”

Anna looked at the Doctor, waiting to see what he’d say and do next.

“Now Eddie boy let’s be reasonable. I think we may have got off on the wrong foot earlier on. I’ll overlook the fact that you tried to drug me and pose as my companion in an attempt to gain control of my TARDIS. You just saw an opportunity, you’re young, ambitious, a little bit desperate perhaps, I’ll let that one go you’re not the first to try and steal my TARDIS and you certainly won’t be the last, but going around changing time. You know I can’t let you get away with that don’t you?”

The Doctor’s tones were cajoling, speaking to Ed like he was a child and though Anna had no idea what this “TARDIS” was, she knew the Doctor was in full flight and he meant business. He was a completely different being from moments before.

“It stops right now.”

There was no disguising the Doctor’s steely determination.

Anna could feel her heart racing “Hurry up Dave”. Ed was clearly rattled by the Doctor’s authority but then he smirked with a swaggering arrogance as he tugged back his jacket sleeve to reveal what looked like a leather wrist watch.

“Oh no you don’t, I haven’t finished talking to you.”

Anna saw the Doctor pull out that torch again; there was loud bang as smoke poured out of the device on Ed’s wrist.

This made Ed angry as he began to run towards a swiftly retreating Doctor but Ed didn’t reach his destination as a trolley full of stock was flung into his path, knocking him to the ground with an almighty crash. The Doctor turned to face Anna who’d been wanting to do that for quite some time.

“I could have taken him on. He took me by surprise last time.”

the Doctor spoke in tones of mock disappointment.

“No you can‘t…I don’t care what planet you come from, you’re suffering from concussion. Come on!”

Anna grabbed hold of the Doctor’s hand and started pulling him towards the stairway just as Dave and the rest of security arrived. “That’s my stalker Dave…stop him!”

Anna could hear Ed’s cries as Dave and the boys dived on top of him to restrain him.

“Cheers for that Dave…I owe you one!”

The Doctor shouted over his shoulder as he now started dragging Anna up the stairs. “Where are we going by the way?”

“The only place of sanctuary in this whole building…the staff room of course.”

Anna replied breathing fast.

Chapter Five

Anna was very relieved to have escaped from the scary Ed as they reached the staff room. Although she couldn’t deny it had all been rather exciting running through the bookstore, hand in hand with the Doctor. “What must my colleagues have thought?” Anna felt like a child again in the land of make believe but knew she mustn’t lose touch with reality… Whatever that was supposed to be!

The Doctor was even more hyperactive than before and not a bit out of breath as he began pacing up and down.

“Your security will keep Ed out of the way for a bit.”

The Doctor was thinking out loud and wasn’t paying full attention when Anna spoke-

“I’m worried about the police being involved Doctor.”

“He can take care of himself, don’t you worry about him.”

“I’m not. I just thought with him being an alien from the future…you know. There might be some questions asked?”

The Doctor didn’t seem bothered by that fact so Anna just shrugged her shoulders. “That was a close thing though wasn’t it? He was not a happy bunny.” Anna smiled briefly.

The Doctor turned to face Anna and smiled with a certain amount of glee. “Yeah I know…what with me disabling his time travelling device! He can‘t operate his Time Passages, he‘ll be stuck here until he can get it fixed. Brilliant huh?”

Anna had no idea what the Doctor was talking about and just nodded. She was still coming to terms with what he’d told her only moments before. Anna wondered how she’d managed to get herself an extra-terrestrial stalker; a human one was bad enough. Life would never be the same again and she was only beginning to imagine the possible implications for others caught up in this mess.

“Doctor what was his name?” Anna spoke quietly, her voice full of grief for a part of her life she’d never known, for a person who’d never existed.

The Doctor saw this young woman in a new light and admired her acceptance as he sat down beside her and full of certainty replied-

“His name is Mike Hilton and I’m going to bring him back.”

Anna stood up and started pacing as she began to reach a new understanding.

“So Time could be altering around even as we speak… People could be disappearing, important events changing all the time…right? Anna shook with fear at the realisation of this concept, she’d thought about such things before but to believe it actually could happen. “And we wouldn’t know.”

The Doctor leapt up from his chair all fired up and defiant as he sought to reassure his friend.

“Not on my watch it doesn’t! There are very few races capable of Time Travel and those that can don’t go round altering events, well not on purpose. The consequences would be too great…They only observe.” The Doctor pauses, lost in thought. “Not on my “watch” Did I just say that?… Oh I can’t believe I just said that.”

“I’m afraid you did Doctor.”

Anna giggled at the Doctor’s rambling speech.

“Right I see. Okay, that’s a bit embarrassing.”

The Doctor sucked the air through his teeth as he frowned. Then he faced Anna, giving her his full attention again.

“Sorry ‘bout that where were we? Anna Bailey, Time is very much my business if someone-something is altering Time- well it’s up to me to sort it out.”

The Doctor’s expression saddened as his voice went quiet “There is no one else…”

Anna could sense his loneliness, but a veil had gone over his eyes, he was not the kind to give much away.

“So what now Doctor?”

Anna tentatively asked.

Then a brightness spread across his face again as though the Doctor had returned from somewhere. “We’ll we can‘t stand chin wagging around here all day. Let‘s go outside.”

Chapter Six

Anna had observed that nobody from work had come to check on her which she had to admit she was rather put out by “Should I stay or go?” she thought. The Doctor sensed her hesitancy and maybe he’d become cautious of late at putting new friends in danger.

“I can carry on from here. Things might get a bit risky from now on. If you like?”

Anna was quite hurt that the Doctor had said that but she knew he meant well.

“What was it you said? Time is your business well I’d quite like to try something different today, a change of career perhaps…I want to help Doctor.”

“Right then let’s get to work!”

The Doctor clapped his hands together, visibly excited.

“Glad to see you’re better.”

Anna smiled “Hang on a minute, I’ll have to leave a note.” She hastily scribbled on a board.

The Doctor picked up a book lying nearby. “Shopaholic and Baby. Ah I love that series.”

Anna blushed and thought my guilty secret, then blurted out incredulous.

“What…really?!”

“Of course. Don’t be such a literary snob. Come on!”

Anna quickly grabbed her mobile and directed the Doctor to the nearest fire exit. They began running down the stairs, the Doctor taking two at a time.

“So this Ed?”

Anna began to ask

“He’s a Gragorn, a race descended from humans, a thousand years away from your future.”

The Doctor replied, anticipating Anna’s question. “What we need to do is find one of his Time Passages…that’s how he travels from this planet to his own. Very primitive method of time travel…Speaking of which, where did I park my TARDIS? Think…think.”

Anna hazarded a guess. “You mean that blue box outside Selfridges? Is that your Time Machine?”

“You saw it?”

The Doctor was surprised. “That’s quite rare, when I leave its vicinity my TARDIS sends out a low level perception signal so she doesn’t get noticed in public places, unless of course you’re obviously aware of its existence and want to nick it like Ed…hmm interesting you must have a touch of the old ESP Anna.”

“Really? My Gran always said I had second sight.”

Anna quite liked the sound of that. “So aren’t you using your TARR-DIS? I know it’s only a box”

“No my TARDIS, which by the way stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space is safer here. I need to return to Gragornia, find out from the database exactly what’s been done and find the correct Time Passage that Ed used to alter history so we can undo it.”

The Doctor looked appreciatively at Anna as she was eagerly trying to keep up with him mentally and physically as they began to run through the crowded high street. It had stopped raining as the clouds and sun competed in the sky. The Doctor randomly halted to a standstill and held his sonic screwdriver aloft; to Anna it just looked like he was trying to get a radio signal as he began to wave it about.

“What’s with the torch?”

Anna amusingly inquired.

“It’s my sonic screwdriver.”

The Doctor replied somewhat annoyed.

“How’s that going to help us?”

“It will help us to find exotic matter.”

The Doctor wasn’t very forthcoming with information, Anna got the feeling that intellectually he had to come down many levels to talk to her but she wasn’t just going to leave it at that.

“Wasn’t aware there was much “exotic matter” in these parts.”

Anna’s tone was slightly sarcastic drawing emphasis on the word exotic, intending to get an explanation out of the Doctor.

“And before you ask it’s what wormholes otherwise known as Time Passages are full of… and there’s an awful lot around here. You humans really should pay more attention in your physics classes.”

“Excuse me! But Quantum physics and wormholes weren’t exactly on the national curriculum that year.” Anna replied defensively but at the same time laughing at the audacity of this man…well technically speaking in appearance he was human even though Anna knew he was a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.

“Well they should be…when things like this happen you’d be better prepared.”

The Doctor always had the last word and for now Anna was going to let him. What was it about the Doctor thought Anna that provoked her to speak out; there was one part of her that wanted to shout with infuriation and in the next breath laugh with him.

“Oh yes!!”

The Doctor started moving rapidly in another direction, practically bouncing up and down on the pavement, decidedly animated. “Come on my beauty!”

People started staring as Anna felt her face burning.

“What was it you said earlier? About not drawing attention to yourself.”

But then she smiled indulgently his enthusiasm was infectious. The Doctor looked at Anna and gave her the biggest, toothiest grin she’d ever seen. He held out his hand which Anna took.

“Come on…I’ve found one this way!”

Chapter Seven

The Doctor and Anna made their way to Moor Street Station which was practically deserted on a Sunday; it had recently been restored and looked like a scene from Brief Encounter. There was a certain logic to having a gateway to another world at a Railway station. Anna wanted to know what she was letting herself in for.

“So it’s like finding an invisible doorway? Couldn’t people just wander through by mistake?”

“Not unless there’s a “faulty lock” The Doctor raised an eyebrow. “It would be one helluva surprise, like something out of the twilight zone…Let’s hope not. Now if I can just find the right setting I can open it…brilliant.”

Anna wondered what her parents would make of all this and then she wondered what if something were to go wrong, she’d never see them again and they’d never know what had happened to their daughter. She couldn’t believe what she was about to do as she saw the Doctor thrust his hand straight out before him and it wasn’t there anymore. He looked like a magician performing an illusion.

“Have a go…it’s quite safe.” The Doctor coaxed Anna into placing her hand into the Time Passage.

“I can’t see my hand!…Oh no I can’t feel it now! Don’t like it…” Anna let out a girly squeal, pulling her hand out as though it was in a flame. She was standing in front of the entrance but she couldn’t see anything, why did it remind her of diving into the deep end at the school swimming baths. It was the fear of the unknown.

She was lying when she said. “Doctor I’m scared.” she was absolutely terrified.

“To be completely honest Anna I haven’t done this method of travel for a while but it’s perfectly fine, it will be over before you know it.

You trust me don’t you?” The Doctor smiled encouragingly at Anna and held her hand tightly within his own. “We’ll go through together on the count of three” They both took a step back “One!… a two!…a…”

There wasn’t time to scream as the breath was torn from Anna’s body as they were both propelled forward with incredible velocity through a tunnel of blinding light. Anna decided it was best to close her eyes…Then there was darkness.

Chapter Eight

“Whoa! Steady there. I’ve got you.”

Anna was about to collide with the floor but the Doctor caught her just in time. “I forgot how primitive Time Passages are. In fact if I remember rightly they will be banned around hundred years from now. Your senses will adjust to it Anna, it won’t be so traumatic next time.”

Anna groaned, her head was aching “Next time…I’ve got to go through that again” she thought as she opened her eyes and found herself in the Doctor’s arms.

“Hello!” The Doctor said all cheery.

“Hi”

Anna replied, and then she burst out laughing when she noticed the Doctor’s hair was sticking bolt upright.

“We’ll you can laugh. Look at yours!”

Anna felt her head, both sides of her hair were sticking out like bat wings.

“Static electricity? I’m just glad to be here all in one piece. Wherever here is.” Anna looked around, soaking up her surroundings. Then it suddenly dawned on her. “Doctor!

I’m in the future, a thousand years away on another planet!” Even though it looked suspiciously like some kind of trendy, minimalist office from her own time…

The Doctor turned and beamed at Anna.

“We most certainly are Anna. This way!” As he led her to the control room where there was a huge touch screen, the Doctor started hacking into the computer database.

Anna was still very excited. “How many people can say they’ve time travelled to another world in their lives?”

“Err…more than you’d think actually.”

The Doctor teasingly replied.

“Well nobody I know.”

Anna pouted; the Doctor wasn’t going to spoil this moment for her. The Doctor smiled to himself as he continued to search through the files.

“I know it’s nothing to you…I can’t believe what’s happened. How would I ever begin to explain it? Not even my parents would believe me, Time Travel it actually goes on!”

The Doctor was always cool and calm, an experienced traveller who took everything in his stride. At least that’s the impression he liked to give humans and other life forms, secretly he liked to wind them up a bit. Yet to see the wonder and awe in this young woman meant he got to relive the experience through Anna, to see it all with new eyes as though for the first time. At nine hundred and three he’d seen a lot (at least that’s how old the Doctor thought he was-it was hard to keep track of the years) but there would be nothing left, the day the Doctor stopped finding wonder in the Universe. No point to anything at all.

“Where is everybody?”

Anna observed.

“That’s our Ed he’s taken his colleague’s prisoner and hidden them away somewhere. Don’t worry I’ll find them later. When I first arrived here I thought this is strange and then when I found out what he’d done well…”

The Doctor sounded like an annoyed parent.

Anna was suddenly distracted as she spotted a huge viewing platform “Outside.” Her voice shook a little with anticipation as she sprinted over to the window.

“Doctor…it’s beautiful. Can we go outside?”

Anna was entranced by the scene before her; it was like something out of dream. There were tower filled cities as far as the eye could see, each enclosed within a huge Dome, all connected together by a monorail system. It wasn’t all shiny and sparkly like something out of a sci-fi film, there was a faded grandeur to the scene as desolate ruins littered the empty wilderness outside the cities. Anna shielded her eyes away from the twin suns and thought, where were the Gragorns on the land and there must be some wildlife. Just as it was becoming unsettling in its emptiness, Anna saw a shadow moving across the landscape at first she thought it was a cloud, but then she realised it was a figure hovering gracefully through the sky except it wasn’t solid it looked like someone’s shadow and then she saw another and then another…Now some swooped below onto the land whilst the rest flew menacingly above. Anna shivered; she turned to find the Doctor standing beside her.

“Elemental shades… living shadows. I’ve never seen so many. They don’t belong here and thankfully they can’t get through these force fields. They came through the time vortex a long time ago and now Gragornia is stuck with them. They opened a Pandora’s Box when they first began to time travel, a new science which wasn’t controlled properly.

They ran before they could walk, my people tried to warn them but they would not listen.” Anna had never seen the Doctor so grave, his voice so subdued. “The shades are the least of Gragornia’s worries. This planet is war torn. They could get rid of the Shades but the level of radiation is so high out there that no one can live on the land except for these creatures. So they leave it like this.”

“That’s terrible Doctor.”

The elation Anna felt moments ago was replaced by shock that something so beautiful could be so deadly. “No wonder they travel to escape this. Will it get any better?” Anna swallowed as she could feel tears pricking the back of her eyes.

“Given time. It will.”

The Doctor put a protective arm around a stunned Anna and guided her back to the control room. “Now to find out what Eddie boy’s gone and done.” The Doctor was taping rapidly on the touch screen.

“You don’t think he’s murdered this Mike Hilton’s parents?”

Anna’s imagination was on overdrive after what she’d just seen.

“Nah…He’s not a murderer. Nothing so drastic…we’re just dealing with someone who’s got a bit carried away, lost the plot. That’s not to say he isn’t dangerous, look what he did to me.”

The Doctor continued searching through the databanks, checking the records on the Hilton family. Ed had left some very detailed notes on what he needed to do. Anna marvelled at how fast the Doctor accessed information, only a few moments had passed.

“I’ve got it!”

The Doctor cried out.

“What did he do?”

Anna couldn’t wait to find out.

“Interfered with Mike Hilton’s parents first meeting. Fairly textbook stuff. Have we got a picture? Oh yes, you’ve got to admire old Ed’s organisational skills…Right we’ve got to get this right first time, make Mr Ed in 1976 think he’s done his job, then we put it right, we’ll back to how things are meant to be. Are you up for this Anna? I can engineer their meeting on my own if I have to but it would be easier if it was the two of us working together.”

“Of course I want to help Doctor.”

Anna replied.

“Good” The Doctor smiled “…Because the stakes are pretty high. I don’t know whether Ed was aware of the consequences of his simple action, obviously his intention was to wipe Mike Hilton out…but going through his time line it looks like Mike was responsible for saving the lives of his classmates.”

“How?”

“As a child there was a fire and he raised an alarm which got the other children to safety. People you might even know Anna.”

The Doctor’s words were a physical blow.

“Oh my God…” she gasped.

“Whole generations wiped out and the world changed forever.”

The Doctor explained to Anna how the Gragorns could only travel into their past and how they liked to study and collect detailed information on their ancestor’s lives. Anna wondered if there was a file on her family somewhere.

“Right we need to sort out this disturbance. I’m just pinpointing the exact Time Passage Ed used and setting it a few minutes after he arrived…all this and not be noticed. Then I need to contact the authorities who are the biggest bunch of time travelling amateurs I‘ve ever meet…”

“Or you could just contact the authorities and let them sort it out…”

Anna crossed her arms and waited. The Doctor stared at Anna weighing her up. She had a point, but that just wasn’t the way he did things.

“Nah, where would be the fun in that? Besides I said I was going to sort this out didn’t I?”

The Doctor replied all jovially.

“Calm down…I’m only kidding.”

Anna smiled. “Well what we’re waiting for?”

“Now she’s getting it!”

The Doctor couldn’t hide his obvious delight. “First you need a disguise…late 20th century fashion.” The Doctor put the requirements into a computer.

“I feel like I’m working for MI5...what about you?”

Anna enquired.

“Ed in 1976 hasn’t seen me yet…we don’t meet until after he’s done the deed. But he knows you.”

“But your suit isn’t 70’s fashion.”

Anna was trying to point out.

“Yes but I blend in anywhere me. Very discrete.”

Anna scoffed. The Doctor chose to ignore her as he continued. “The summer of 76...oh that was a scorcher, you’ll need something summery and…”

The Doctor plonks a big floppy straw hat onto Anna’s head as he hands her a lilac tunic dress produced from a computer.

“Not bad, I wish shopping was always this easy.”

Anna was suitably impressed as she changed behind a screen.

Chapter Nine

The Doctor was waiting as Anna joined him by a gateway. This was where the Time Passages originated from; Anna could quite clearly see what she was going through this time.

“Ready?” The Doctor asked.

“No not really.”

Anna replied nervously.

The Doctor took Anna’s hand again.

“Hold onto your hat!…”

Anna closed her eyes. That journey wasn‘t too bad Anna thought, I must be getting used to this Time Travelling lark as she opened her eyes.

“Wow! Doctor this really looks like the 1970’s! Either that or I’ve wandered onto the set for Life on Mars.”

“Hmm…”

The Doctor was waving his sonic screwdriver in the air and pondering something. “No it’s definitely the 1970’s.”

It was 1976 and Anna was in the Bullring that she remembered from her childhood, she had stepped into the past, over thirty years ago, before she was even born…A long gone day which had become alive again. It was an incredibly warm day as Anna started fanning herself with her hat. There were in Manzoni Gardens which was right next to the shopping centre, she could hear the song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” playing on a radio somewhere, most people were just relaxing, it was too hot to do anything else.

“I’ve got a trace on Ed. We need to get this right first time Anna; we don’t want to return to this exact moment in time again understood? Two sets of us…that would be disastrous, causing a disruption in the whole space/time continuum which in turn could bring about the collapse of the universe.”

“Right…Don’t break it to me gently will you?”

Anna replied somewhat taken aback.

“Worst case scenario…Thought it best you know.”

The Doctor took in his surroundings properly “Ahh that’s nasty” He pointed to the concrete monstrosity that was the Bullring Shopping Centre.

Anna agreed but even so, she had to defend her own City.

“Oi! I grew up with that Doctor.”

“I’m being rude again…Sorry. Come on!”

The Doctor and Anna both peered from behind a tree and in the distance was the unmistakable towering figure of Ed, in a dark suit and a broad hat that sat on top of his bushy hair. He doesn’t exactly blend in thought Anna.

“Look! The devious little so and so. He’s got the future Mrs Hilton and he’s asking her for directions and Mr Hilton has just walked by.” The Doctor talked in hushed tones like he was filming a wildlife documentary.

“That’s all he needed to do?” Anna was stunned. “The whole of our existence hangs by a thread, it’s a wonder any of us are here at all.”

“They do still get together but at a later date. Call it destiny but Time will correct itself, they’re meant to be together. But if they don’t meet today Mike Hilton won’t exist

. Get down!” Ed stared in their direction as the Doctor pulled Anna behind the tree. “He mustn’t see you.” Ed stood around observing what he’d just done and then satisfied he smiled smugly to himself as he returned to his Time Passage. “Right he’s gone…I’ll get John Hilton while you distract Barbara Jones. You know what to do?”

Anna nodded, but she could feel her knees shaking because she knew the gravity and importance of this moment, she had to get it right and she was about interact with someone from the past and become part of History herself. The Doctor sprinted off as she walked towards Barbara.

“Hello is that Barbara?” A pretty young girl turned to face Anna. “I know someone that would like to meet you.” Anna could see the Doctor returning with John Hilton, he winked at Anna as he spoke.

“Hello sweetheart we really must be going, we’re going to be late for our train.” The Doctor spoke to the young couple. “Sorry we must dash, we’ll have to catch up some other time. Bye.”

The Doctor took Anna’s arm and

they walked calmly away until they were clearly out of view and then he peered around the corner of a building, Anna stood behind him.

“Well? Has it worked or do they just think we’re a couple of nutters and walked off.” The suspense was too much to bear along with the ferocious heat.

“They’re talking…they’re smiling and they’re both walking away together. Result! We did it Anna!” The Doctor gave Anna a great big hug lifting her off the ground.

“Really?!” Anna couldn‘t explain why she wanted to cry, these people were strangers to her, she guessed it was with relief.

“Right…time we weren’t here. It’s something I spotted earlier, these Time Passages are unstable, they could collapse at any time and no one would know we’re here.”

“Now you tell me!” Anna cried. “What if we were actually in the Passage while it collapsed?”

The Doctor continued on unperturbed on his trail of thought.

“Except for Ed and we wouldn’t want to be at his mercy…well you’d be alright but me and him aren’t exactly the best of chums…And the 1970’s is not an era I wish to be trapped in again… No it can‘t collapse while we‘re in it. What do you take me for?”

“You’re unbelievable do you know that?” Anna glanced off into the distance and all of a sudden she grew faint, the Doctor reached out to steady her. “Doctor…I think I’ve just seen my parents.”

“We’re getting out of here right now!”

With just a hint of panic in his voice, the Doctor starting pulling Anna away.

The rest of 1976 was a blur for Anna as she found herself back on Gragornia and that’s when reality hit her and changed for the second time that day, for what was lost had returned. Mike Hilton existed again…

Chapter Ten

Anna had got changed back into her own clothes, The Doctor was optimistic that everything was back in its rightful place and all was well with the Universe again. Anna was the first to speak, she smiled but her eyes were sad as she spoke, as all the memories came flooding back.

“We did it Doctor. Mike Hilton is alive, so is my friend Jasmine and everyone else. Except he’s not my boyfriend anymore…But that doesn’t matter… not in the scheme of things…not after today.”

Anna had resolved to put on a brave face, but before she knew it, her lips started quivering and her whole face crumpled as she started to cry. Anna turned away to compose herself. The Doctor placed his hand on Anna’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry.” he said simply. “Thanks for your help today…you did good Anna.” Anna turned around, the Doctor‘s kind words made her smile.

“No thank you Doctor…I’m glad…truly… everything is back to where it should be. Life as we all know it. Our memories and experiences, the good and the bad are what make us who we are and take those away…What are we left with?”

The Doctor nodded in agreement.

“Come on Anna, one last trip in the Time Passage and we’ll go and sort out Mr Ed once and for all. You’ve gotta keep on smiling kid and never let them know!”

It seemed to Anna, that she and the Doctor had been gone for hours after they went through the first Time Passage, but according to her wristwatch they’d only been gone a couple of hours. The next logical step was to return to Waterstone’s and find out what had happened to Ed. Anna had only made it a few yards inside when Jasmine Kaur came running from behind the counter towards her friend, Anna’s face lit up.

“Jasmine!”

she cried as she threw her arms around her old friend.

The young woman was surprised as they’d spoken to each other first thing this morning, Anna was aware of this, but for her the alternative reality, the world without Mike and Jasmine would always be in her head. The Doctor explained she’d been at the heart of the Time shifts, no one else would remember the alternative world and she’d always have knowledge of both.

“Where have you been Anna? When they told me about your stalker I was worried when I couldn’t find you…what with you breaking up with Mike who‘s such a fool. Then I saw your note “Due to stalker incident …my friend Rob has taken me home.” Who’s Rob?”

The Doctor had been staring outside, observing the high street activity and then he turned and smiled at Jasmine.

“Hello I’m the Doctor…Otherwise known as Rob…apparently” The Doctor raised his eyebrows at Anna, pulling a funny face, he looked as though he’d just eaten something which hadn’t agreed with him.

“He doesn’t like the name Rob.”

Was Anna’s explanation for the Doctor’s behaviour. “But I think it suits him.” The Doctor and Anna exchanged a glance.

Jasmine watched the pair of them and noticed how close they looked and that her friend seemed different, more confident somehow. This Doctor was a bit of a live wire Jasmine thought as he started waving and calling out enthusiastically to Dave.

“Hello Dave! How did you get on with our stalker?”

Dave glanced at the Doctor as though he was a

being from another world, how little did he know as he turned to speak to Anna instead.

“You alright Babs? The police turned up but they couldn’t press charges against Mr Edensor because you and the gentleman weren’t here. They had to let him go.”

“That’s alright Dave. When was that?”

Anna enquired.

“About ten minutes ago, one of the lads saw him heading off in the direction of St Martin’s. Do you want one the lads to run you home Anna?”

“No I’m alright, but thanks Dave and for earlier.”

Anna gave him a hug, Dave was a modest man, blushing he walked away.

“Is everything alright Anna?”

Jasmine asked all puzzled.

“It will be Jas. I’m going to go now with the Doctor. I’ll speak to you soon. Take care.” Anna gave her dear friend another hug and thought I’ll always be grateful to Mike, without his actions Jasmine wouldn‘t be here now.

“You take care and I’ll speak to you soon.”

Jasmine waved to the pair of them.

“Bye! Jasmine Kaur It was lovely to have met you.”

The Doctor shouted over his shoulder as Anna led him towards Selfridges and his beloved TARDIS.

The Doctor and Anna stood on the Selfridges upper mall platform peering over the railing, searching for any sign of Ed. It was almost five o’clock; the crowds were starting to dwindle, except for gangs of youngsters hanging about. Anna’s mobile started ringing.

“It’s my Mum…I’ve got to take this call.” The Doctor gestured “fine by me” and gave Anna some privacy,Anna knew she couldn’t explain what had happened today over the phone if ever, but it was good to hear her mother’s voice. “Hi Mum…no I’m alright. Are you and Dad alright? I may be back tonight…I’ll see how things pan out. I’ll let you know. I’m with a friend.” Anna glanced at the Doctor “…No Ma I’m not back with Mike!” Anna rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry” Anna laughed, then the Doctor shouted into the phone.

“Hello Mrs Bailey.”

“See I told you it wasn’t.”

Anna continued. “Well…Yes it’s been quite an interesting day.” Anna winked at the Doctor “I have to go now. Thanks for last night. I’ll see you soon Mum. Bye…bye.” Anna smiled cheekily at the Doctor. “My Mum said hello and has invited you round one of the days!…Don’t worry…I think it would be a bit complicated to explain you to my parents.”

“It’s just…Mum’s don’t generally like me all that much. Well not at first …”

The Doctor replied somewhat mystified, recalling past experiences.

Anna couldn’t imagine The Doctor doing “tea” with her parents, couldn’t imagine him staying in one place for too long and wondered whether she’d ever see her time traveller again after today.

“I have to say they’ve done wonders with this place.”

The Doctor observed, changing the subject.

“Don’t start that again!”

Anna laughed “So what now?” she asked.

“I’m going to have to go and get help from Ed’s people. I bet he isn’t even supposed to set foot on this planet… He can’t control these Time Passages properly either, he’s inexperienced, basically his passages are open to the elements in the vortex and anything could fall into them.”

The Doctor looked troubled. “No wonder they banned them… but he can’t be allowed to carry on like this. He might do something again and next time it might be something more paradoxically impossible to fix!”

“What can I do Doctor?”

Anna looked hopeful and thought he can’t leave me out of this after everything we’ve been through together.

The Doctor ponders out loud.

“Well…it’s a bit of an ask…I’m suspecting Ed’s still around these parts…so if you well… wait around here I’m sure he‘ll show up… and you could well…”

“Distract him while you fetch help?”

Anna replied.

“Kind of…If that’s alright.”

“Sure I think I know how to handle Ed. There‘s a few things I ‘d like to say to him.”

Anna felt fairly confident.

“Don‘t make him angry though…”

The Doctor warned. “Right…I’ll be off. I promise I won’t be long.”

“Wow I actually get to see your TARDIS in action.”

Anna watched the Doctor bound up to his TARDIS, she really wanted to see inside.

The Doctor opened the door, as he turned waving he shouted with a mischievous look.

“See you soon Babs!”

Anna didn’t know what to expect and watched in amazement as the roaring engines started up, it was the most unearthly sound as it grew louder, like a storm trapped in a confined space. Anna held her hair back as she felt a rush of air, the full force of the TARDIS dematerialising and then the blue box faded before her eyes. All that was left was an empty space and silence.

“That certainly beats driving.” Anna gasped to herself and then she had the fright of her life because there was Ed the stalker, he was standing on the other side of the platform. “Oh great…” Anna buried her face in her hands.

Chapter Eleven  

The sun had set as the shadows of early evening began to fall. Anna had no idea how this was going to end, but the one constant thought running through her mind was the Doctor, she trusted him and knew he would be back soon. Anna just had to kill some time. Ed started walking towards her but Anna was going to stand her ground.

“So Anna, you and the Doctor have undone all my hard work. It’s a pity when I did it for you.”

Ed was defiant and self-righteous; there was no trace of remorse in his voice.

“If you’d have wanted a date Ed you could have asked.”

Anna could feel herself shaking; she was determined to control her emotions.

“Don’t mock me!”

Ed snapped back. Anna decided to try some compassion.

“I’ve seen your world. No wonder you long to live in the past. It can’t be much of a life.” Anna could see the loneliness in his eyes and feel the frightening intensity when he spoke.

“I was lost until I found you Anna. I know everything about you… You’ve become my life!”

“No Ed, you don’t know me. I’m only beginning to know myself after today.”

“He’s dangerous this Doctor…This last of the Time Lords. I want you to know that Anna. He seems to favour the human race and I pity the next human he takes on his travels. Everywhere he goes he leaves a trail of death and destruction in his wake…”

“Why Ed…why did you choose me?”

Anna asked changing the subject.

“You stood out from all the rest, it was the way you noticed and helped the weak and vulnerable in your society…When others passed them by. The passion in your voice when you spoke to your customers. It made me realise you had so much which my world has lost… The sadness in your eyes as you waited for him but he left you waiting. You called out to me. I could feel your pain.”

There was no denying Ed’s certainty, he’d created this perfect illusion around Anna and no one could break it.

“You may think you know me…but you don’t. Don’t make assumptions about me…sadness in my eyes? I was probably thinking about my shopping list!”

Anna was determined not to let this being from another world beguile her.

“Come with me Anna…It’s not safe here.”

Ed started staring around, nervous all of a sudden, spooked by something.

“Do you really think I’d go anywhere with someone like you. After what you did to Mike… and Jasmine? What gives you the right to do that to them? Who made you God?”

“Hilton had to be removed. He was a cancer that had to be cut out of your life. You can’t be trusted with him. I have seen your future; he’ll destroy your life.”

Ed’s words chilled Anna; he had seen her future and no one should have that power over another being. Anna could barely speak, shocked by the realisation that he’d seen her whole life played out, but in this very moment now he was changing her future by what he was sayingto her…but it wasn’t just Ed, it was the Doctor as well. Anna’s life changed forever the day they both turned up.

“How dare you…what gives you the right?…”

Anna’s voice faltered.

Ed didn’t have much time he had to use Anna’s vulnerability to his advantage.

“You’re coming with me!”

Though Anna was wise this time around to his lunging techniques as she jumped away but she wished she knew some martial arts “Where’s the Doctor when you need him?” Anna thought as out of the blue she heard a loud voice in a Liverpudian accent shout.

“Big Issue!!!”

And a stack of magazines came crashing over her stalker’s head, it really wasn’t Ed’s day for colliding with things. It was Jay and Ken with his canine companion Queenie.

“Is this gentleman bothering you Anna love?”

Ken an elderly gentleman spoke in a broad west midlands accent. He was wiping his hip flask with a filthy bit of rag, and then offered a sip to Anna, she declined politely.

“Not anymore thanks to you two.”

Anna would be eternally grateful.

“So everything’s cool mate? We heard about your spot of bother

.” Jay asked.

Anna nodded.

“Sorry about your Big Issues Jay.”

“Nay don’t worry ‘bout it. I’m starting my new job in Telesales tomorrow. Well someone‘s got to take care of the old geezer.”

Jay gestured to Ken.

“That’s brilliant news!”

Anna smiled.

Ed was rubbing his head, sitting on the floor. Anna relaxed for a moment, thinking the worst was over. Only it wasn’t, it had only just begun.… It was when Queenie started barking rapidly at something which didn’t appear to be there that Anna grew suspicious and when the greyhound started whining in a high pitched tone and dithering, everyone knew something was wrong.

“No…No. It’s here Anna…I tried to warn you…get away from here you fools!”

Ed waved Ken and Jay back, the panic growing in his eyes as he went to grab hold of Anna, pulling her away.

“What’s going on Anna?”

Jay asked suddenly afraid because he couldn’t see a thing.

Anna peered into the shadows with a sense of dread, then a shadow moved, it had shining jet black eyes that were staring straight at them. It was alive…Anna knew it was an Elemental Shade…

Chapter Twelve

“We’ve got to get out of here. I’ve fixed my device…”

There was no disguising Ed’s fear.

“We can’t leave it here, roaming the streets. The Doctor warned me about your Time Passages... This is your fault!” Anna pointed an accusatory finger at Ed “Can’t you do something?”

Ed sank onto his knees with despair.

“I have no weapons for it. Sorry…don‘t let it near you…it mustn‘t touch you. It will drain the life out of you”

“Sounds like an ex of mine…”

Jay deadpanned, though his voice shook with fear as he placed himself in front of a confused Ken and Queenie.

It was a strange time of the day, most people had gone home by now but then Anna spotted a young couple, walking hand in hand down the high street, oblivious to the danger that awaited them as the Shade changed direction and started gliding towards them, and that’s when something instinctively wonderful and heroic switched on inside Anna. When she first spotted the Shade it had been by a street lamp, a moth drawn to a flame Anna thought, as she used her mobile as a source of light and ran in its direction without a second thought.

“Where are you going?” Ed screamed after Anna, yet he could not move he was frozen to the spot.

“I’m not going to stand by and watch innocent people die.” Anna muttered to herself. She started waving her phone, whistling and shouting “Over here!”

Anna’s plan had worked as the Shade changed direction and started chasing after her. The group watched in horror as Anna started running for her life down the steps towards St Martin’s Church. But that was as far as her plan went… “What am I going to do…There‘s nowhere to go?” Anna’s frantically thought as she made her way to the Church‘s sanctuary. Anna did not dare look over her shoulder, she knew it was right behind her, she could feel its hissing breath…its hunger and that’s when she stumbled and crashed to the ground… “Stupid…stupid paving slab…is this it?” Anna thought of her parents, then instinctively closed her eyes to block out the Shade as it hovered over her…

“ Oi!! Don‘t you dare touch a hair on her head!”

Anna knew that commanding voice anywhere as she opened her eyes and saw the Doctor standing there! He was right behind the Shade as he aimed his sonic screwdriver at the creature with a dangerous glint in his manic eyes.

“Your last chance…”

The Shade went to launch itself at the Doctor but he was ready as his sonic device emitted a powerful energy pulse which tore the shadowy creature apart particle by particle. Anna watched in horrified fascination as it let out a high pitched scream and dissolved into the night sky…

“Doctor!” Anna cried full of joy and relief. The Doctor helped Anna to her feet and gave his friend a great big hug, “Thank you…” Anna uttered with her all her heart and then she begun to shake, the Doctor placed his coat around her shoulders.

“Sorry about that I got a bit held up…”

The Doctor gave Anna his most charming smile.

“I forgive you…but for a Time Lord, you’re a lousy time keeper!” Anna smiled back at the Doctor, “Am I going insane? Is this any way to behave after a near death experience?” she thought to herself.

Anna and the Doctor started walking back up the steps.

“I was afraid something like this would happen…but thankfully all of Ed’s passages are closed now…I heard what you did…it was very brave of you.”

The Doctor paused and looked at Anna who‘d always believed she was a coward but maybe she was braver then she thought. The Doctor’s words were heartfelt, there were so many sides Anna thought, to this strange being who looked like a human, embodied so much which was good about being human and yet was so different, so alien. Then Anna tragically realised, the last of his kind…but Anna had a feeling The Doctor had always been unique and had stood out from all the rest.

Chapter Thirteen  

When Anna walked onto the platform she noticed Ed, with his head downcast cowering between two of his own people. Then she noticed Ken and Jay staring in amazement at the TARDIS which they must have seen suddenly appear from nowhere. Jay kept jumping up and down in disbelief and going on about Government cover ups and how he’d always wanted to meet a “Star Man”. Ken was in the process of tipping away the contents of his hip flask. As soon as they saw Anna they both came up to her, happy to see she was safe, whilst Queenie started jumping up her. Anna gave the greyhound a serious amount of fuss, then hugged both her friends, the Doctor shock their hands, as they bid them goodbye. They agreed that they’d had more than enough excitement for one evening and their “lips were sealed.”

“Now where were we?”

The Doctor turned towards the Gragorns. “You pair need to get your house in order…all those unstable passages open. It’s a good job somebody actually found out what was going on.” His tone was highly critical.

The Gragorns both turned their beady eyes upon Ed but the female figure appeared to be in charge.

“Edensor…How long did you think you could conceal your actions?”

“Well I did for quite a long time actually…”

Anna had to admire Ed, he was beaten, but he was going down defiant. The female figure turned to the male and spoke in hushed tones.

“How did these things come to pass?”

Her anger and incompetence rather reminded Anna of her manager after a visit from head office. The female addressed the Doctor in clipped tones; she was not one for apologies “It won’t happen again, you have my word Doctor. The space/ time continuum is paramount to Gragornia, we have no desire to jeopardise our future.”

“No it mustn’t happen again. You can’t have another Ed, who on a whim decides they want to change history… ‘Cause if it does happen again I’ll have to close you down…”

The Doctor’s expression darkened, he really meant business this time. “We can’t have what happened today…all those people disappearing down the line.”

“That wasn’t supposed to be, it was a slight miscalculation… anyway they were of no great importance

…I did it for you Anna…”

Ed had finally lost the plot, Anna backed away sickened by his words. The Doctor raised his voice; Anna had never seen the Doctor so angry.

“Slight miscalculation! No great importance! Ed you really need to understand the consequences of your actions. You’ve gone too far…. What will become of him?” The Doctor spoke to the female figure in a gentler tone.

“Edensor will be dealt with. Rehabilitation and Reprogramming.”

“That’s a bit harsh…”

The Doctor winced. “Maybe you need to look at the root of the thing…your society…regeneration of your planet…relocation to other colonies. I’m well aware of your problems but maybe it’s time you look more to the future of your own people…instead of living in the past.” The Doctor conferred with Anna “I know, I know, I sound a bit cliché and I’ve interfered too much for one day…” “But the day I stop trying…” the Doctor thought to himself.

The two Gragorns exchanged glances; the male approached the Doctor and shook his hand.

“An old earth custom. Thank you Doctor.” He acknowledged Anna. “Sorry about the inconvenience…it won’t happen again.”

Ed seemed resigned to his fate; after all she’d been through due to him Anna still found herself pitying Ed. If none of this had happened Anna would never have met the Doctor. Anna Bailey had only known him for a day, but she couldn’t imagine what her life would be like without the Doctor now. The Gragorns were about to take their leave, via a proper constructed Time Passage. Anna wondered what the future held for Ed, Rehabilitation and Reprogramming sounded pretty sinister but Anna guessed it was their way of life, how they coped within their society. Then Ed spoke for the last time.

“Goodbye Anna…given time who knows what might have been? Will you remember me? For soon I won’t remember you…”

“Now you know how it feels.” Anna thought to herself. “And when they’ve finished I won’t even remember me.”

After Ed said that Anna was truly saddened but before she got the chance to reply, Ed was manhandled by his fellow colleagues.

“I know he did wrong…I’ll probably regret saying this.” The Doctor gazed upwards to find the words. “But if we can find some compassion for Ed” gesturing to Anna. “Then surely you can find it within you?” There was no reply, as they walked through an invisible doorway and were gone.

It was just the Doctor and Anna left now, standing on the upper mall platform. The Doctor looked awkward, he started running his hand through his mass of hair, it was unusual for the Doctor to be lost for words. Anna handed him back his coat.

“So.” The Doctor said.

“So.” Anna mirrored back without realising it. “I suppose I’ll let my Mum know I’m on my way home…Well it’s not really my home anymore, up until yesterday I used to live with Mike …”

Anna’s voice trailed off, she looked at the Doctor who hadn’t really registered what she’d just said because he’d been having a little think, then his eyes locked with Anna’s.

“So Anna Bailey…how about it then? Do you fancy some proper Time Travel?”

“You’re asking me?”

Anna couldn’t believe it, he was asking her, she could feel the butterflies inside her, this moment was momentous and if she said yes her life would be changed forever.

If she said goodbye she knew she’d never see the Doctor again and how could she slip back into her everyday life after all that had happened today? Then Anna realised most days were like this for the Doctor, his pace of life must be incredibly fast, a whole lifetime packed into a day…could she keep up? Life with the Doctor would be dangerous beyond imagining but at the same time simply wonderful.

“I don’t know what to say!”

Anna was still in shock.

“Well…You could stop here for another ten years…”

Pointing in the general direction of Anna’s bookstore. “Or you could come with me…”

The Doctor was used to a direct answer in these situations. Anna suddenly grew annoyed, was there just something a bit condescending in his tone. Did he know her future?, could he possibly have had a sneaky peek in Ed’s file, if one existed? Anna became fired up as she pulled her shoulders back and took a deep breath.

“Doctor, we can’t all be off saving the Universe and doing amazing things… Life…It’s not all about grand gestures, it’s the little things that count as well you know…And I know you’re A Time Lord…And you’re way beyond this…But there’s nothing wrong with working in a shop!”

The Doctor was a little taken aback.

“That’s told me…” He muttered under his breath. “Quite right too.” he said in a chirpy voice. “Right fine… I’ll be off then.”

“What…You’re leaving now? Leaving me… When I haven’t actually given you my answer…”

Anna incredulous, leaned against the TARDIS doors, folded her arms and smiled at the Doctor. “I can see this one is going to keep me on my toes.” The Doctor thought to himself as he shook his head with amusement, smiling his most welcoming smile. Then something caught Anna’s attention, it was another couple walking through the city centre. It seemed perfectly natural to Anna that the male figure was Mike Hilton, right on cue, the one who was unknowingly the reason for everything that had happened today.

“We saved him…and he’ll never know.”

“

The same smile”, Anna thought to herself, “I thought Mike only smiled like that when he was with me” Then Anna noticed the female figure that was holding Mike’s hand, disconcertingly she was a younger version of herself.

“Well…He didn’t waste much time.” The Doctor wryly observed. Anna had to laugh; she’d spent too long crying over Mike Hilton.

“Good luck to her…That’s all I’m going to say.”

The Doctor turned the key in the TARDIS lock.

“Madam…Would you care for a tour?…Step inside.”

The Doctor pushed the TARDIS doors open as Anna walked inside to be greeted by the warm honey glow of the console room. Anna was speechless, in awe as she took in the sheer space of something that she thought was a little blue box, she looked up to the huge dome ceiling which made her blink and then her wide eyes were drawn to the emerald brightness of the central column, the heart of the TARDIS. Was that the sound of engines? To Anna it seemed the TARDIS was a living, breathing being.

“Hello…I’m still here.” The Doctor waved to Anna.

“It’s bigger…”

Anna noticed the Doctor’s raised eyebrows and look of amusement. “I’m not the first to say that…am I? She’s beautiful… and after everything today…Amazing. It reminds me of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

“Possibly…back there somewhere.”

The Doctor sniffed, nonchalantly pointing to another doorway.

“I bet there are lots of bedrooms with walk in wardrobes and en suite…right?”

“Quite probably…”

The Doctor vaguely replied.

“You’d make a rubbish Estate agent.”

Anna teasingly smiled.

“Good.”

The Doctor smiled back, then all of a sudden there was a flurry of activity as the Doctor started running around the console his hands flying over the controls, pulling and pushing levers. Anna wondered what she had let herself in for as she jumped out of the Doctor’s way as he paused momentary to ask.

“Now Anna Bailey…where to next?”

Mike Hilton could have sworn he saw Anna standing on the upper mall platform with a strange man next to some modern installation but maybe the shadows were playing tricks on his eyes or it was a guilty conscience. For when he looked again, Anna Bailey was nowhere to be seen, along with the stranger and the blue box.