Chapter 8~ Orphanage

Hey guys.

Okay, so this chapter is going to be a bit sad and... Sad? I hope you'll like it anyway. And I wanted to say that I skipped the 'Beast below' cause I was too lazy to write it and I didn't have good ideas for it. So here is what happened after the Beasty-Beast and, well... Enjoy and have a nice day.

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Elizabeth's pov:

We were done with our first adventure and I loved all of it. Except the fight Amy and the Doctor had... Luckily, I managed it and they are speaking to each other again. After that, I asked the Doctor to bring me to the orphanage 'cause I needed to take some stuff before continuing traveling.

It took me an hour or so to convince him because for him it was "waste of time".

«But you have a time machine!» was what I answered at that. Luckily Amy interjected and threatened to take his bow tie so he allowed me to. And here I was: at the doors of the orphanage. I stepped in and quickly walked through the corridors.

No one seemed to notice me, so I walked upstairs to my room and closed the door behind me. I took out a bag and started throwing things in there: clothes, my diary, some unfinished drawings... At last, I took Crystaline's old teddy bear, which the Master had given me. I looked at the old, fragile toy in my hands and I thought it would be right giving it to the Doctor since it's owner was the person he loved. But not now.

I carefully put it into my bag which I put it over my shoulders. I was about to leave when my eyes fell on the bedside table. The pocket watch was still there. I slowly approached it and opened it.

It was full of old drawings of the Doctor, but I moved them out of my way. And there it was, buried above the infinite stack of sheets. There was my old pocket watch.

I carefully took it out and cleaned it with my thumb.

"Because one day you'll have to open it. You'll feel when." The Masters voice sounded in my mind. I looked at it and a thought came into my mind. I slowly pushed the lock. It wasn't closed. I pushed it harder and was about to open the top when «ELIZABETH!»

Mrs. Caroline rushed in my room: she looked as if she just saw a ghost, all pale and stuff. I quickly hid the watch in my pocket and faked a smile. «Hello, Mrs. Caroline, I'm going out today so-»

«-Where the hell have you been for a year?!» Mrs. Caroline shouted at me.

Oh, no...

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I sat in my room (which walls were still covered with drawings of the Doctor) on my bed with Mr. Hunter and Mrs. Caroline nearby: Benedict Hunter was the owner of the orphanage. Mrs. Caroline was still shouting at me while Mr. Hunter just looked at me from up and rarely nodded. I tried to avoid everyone's contact, staring down at my hands in my lap.

«Miss Smith.» I looked at Mr. Hunter who walked to me and glanced at me through his glasses. «Where have you been for a year?» he calmly questioned.

I lowered my eyes, breaking the eye contact: What was I supposed to say? That I travelled through time and space with a man who is over nine hundred years old? And that I left just a day ago?

Something made me feel he wouldn't believe me. I looked at his neck and noticed a bow tie. I smirked slightly, but then my smile faded because of the situation I was in. If only the Doctor could've known I was in trouble. I'm sure he would've helped, but unluckily, he didn't. So I needed to face the situation by myself. «I repeat my question, Miss Smith: Where have you been?»

I raised my eyes on him slowly. «Otherwise?»

«I will be obligate to call the police.»

«And?»

«They will take you away.»

I laughed at that.

«Did I say something funny, Miss Smith? I am not kidding-»

«Oh, please! I'm almost 19. I am capable to take care of myself!»

«Until you have turned 19, you are under our protection so now I demand to know. Where have you been for a full year, Elizabeth?»

I snorted and tried to think about the incoming lie. «I travelled.» Well, it wasn't a complete lie after all.

«Oh, really? May I know where?»

"You may not" a voice in my mind spoke.

I totally agreed with it but knew I had to answer «Around the world.»

«And where from have you gotten the money?»

«I was with a friend of mine.»

«A friend?»

I nodded avoiding eye contact. Mr. Hunter looked at me curiously.

«And may I know his name?» he asked.

I bit my down lip and was about to say John Smith but other words slipped out of my mouth «The Doctor.»

Mr. Hunter snorted and landed his head on his hands while Mrs. Caroline looked out the window scoffing in disbelief. «Elizabeth, how many times do we have to tell you that he is not real?» Mr. Hunter questioned.

I suddenly jumped on my feet «He is real, don't you dare saying I'm a liar or I'm crazy, 'cause I'm not! He. Is. real.» I hissed making both of them stare at me: in Mrs Caroline's eyes I read fear. My expression changed immediately and I backed up.

«Miss Smith, take a seat.» Mr Hunter cleared his throat and I did as he said. He took one of the drawings from my wall where was drew me and the 10th Doctor: it was my favorite drawing of him because it was the only thing I had from that night when we met and my heart skipped a beat when Mr Hunter ripped it off the wall.

He walked to me, bending over so his was was really close to my face, hissing «He is not real, Elizabeth. He is just a stupid character from your childhood which your subconscious created because you were lonely. Because no one cared for you and because no one loved you. The Doctor is just a way for you to hide from the reality where everyone hates you.»

I clenched my jaw, ousting back the tears and stared in Mr. Hunters grey eyes. «He. Is. Real.» I repeated. I wanted to show him I was stronger than he thought. He scoffed looking at Mrs. Caroline in disbelief while I kept my eyes on the mans face. I think even the Daleks are kinder than he is.

He then glanced down at the drawing in his hands and my heart jumped in my chest as he did. He looked at me and saw that my strong expression faded. Probably, he understood my pressure point was the drawing so he looked down at it and the second after, it happened: he took my drawing and ripped it into pieces.

«No! No, please stop!» I begged jumping on my feet and trying to take the drawing from his hands but failing. He continued ripping it in small pieces. «I'm begging you please stop! Please!» I cried, uselessly. He was taller than I, so just as he turned his back to me, it was impossible for me to reach for the drawing. And the second after that, it was too late. A single tear fell down my cheek as he let the little pieces of the paper fall on the floor. I felt my legs weak and the moment after, I fell on my knees and tried desperately to collect the pieces. But they were too small.

I looked up at him: anger was boiling in my veins. I admit, have never been so angry before. Only when someone threatened to hurt the Doctor. Or was flirting with him. Mr. Hunter stared at me from up with a smirk but I was determined to make it disappear.

«He. Is. Real.» I repeated, hissing it as hatefully as I could.

He scoffed again and was about to say something when a wind raised in the room. At the beginning, it was just a breeze that was going through the walls of my little room, but then it became a little storm. I smiled in relief while Mrs. Caroline and Mr. Hunter started looking around and at each other.

«What's happening?» Mr. Hunter asked, looking around. I smirked and he looked down at me with a scared and questioning look.

«What's so funny?» he shouted as the wind started getting even stronger.

«Never stop hoping.» I answered with a grin.

«You're insane.» he said, scared.

I laughed a little «I've been told.» I said as the so loved noise started sounding in the room and the second after, a blue police box appeared in it.

I giggled at the looks Mr. Hunter and Mrs. Caroline had on their faces. For a moment, the box stood there, swallowed by the silence in the room but the one after that, the doors flew open. «And now, ladies and gentleman, please love and respect, the one who everyone waited for! The one everyone love! How would you describe him, Lizzie? Handsome? Funny? Clever?» the Doctors voice questioned but he wasn't in the door frame yet.

«Late.» I rolled my eyes but smiled anyways.

«Oi! Heard you young lady! But no time to argue, I'll save it for later. Anyway, may I present you: The Doctor!» the Doctor then appeared on the edge of the door with a big smile on his face.

Silence fell in the room as the Doctor was standing there smiling ear to ear, arms opened.

«Well, I thought I'll make a bit more impression. Never gonna do it again.» the Doctor said, fixing his bow tie awkwardly. I weakly laughed.

«No. It's impossible.» Mr. Hunter back upped: fear in his eyes and his body shaking slightly.

«Why? What's wrong?» The Doctor looked down at his clothing and then back at him.

He ran to the wall and carefully took a paper with sketches of himself. «I think I am pretty similar, don't you think?» he asked, fixing his bow tie with one hand while holding the paper with the other.

«H-How can you be real? You're imaginary! You are Elizabeth's imaginary friend!» Mr. Hunter kept back upping while Mrs. Caroline was crying by now. I felt a bit guilty, but not that much. They made my life a hell for the past 14 years!

«I'm not, see?» the Doctor ran to him and opened his mouth wild, then he moved his arms in the air and even started dancing the macarena.

Mr Hunter looked at me in fear: I was still sitting on the floor and laughing at the Doctor who was dancing. I really couldn't understand how many aliens feared a man who was now dancing the macarena. Horribly, may I add.

«Okay, enough dancing. Even if you have to admit, I'm brilliant at that. Now, if you'll excuse us, Lizzie we have to go. Amy will skin us both if we make her wait even more.» He said with a smile. I nodded, got up, took my bag and started walking to the TARDIS door.

«Y-you can't do that! You are kidnapping her! I-I will call the police!» Mr. Hunter said, still in fear but stepping forward. The Doctor stepped forward too and Mr. Hunter's eyes widened with fear.

«You obviously can, but when you will, we will be long gone. Plus I'm just imaginary, remember? Just an imaginary friend of hers.» The Doctor answered with a smile. I smiled slightly when Mr. Hunter made eye contact with me.

The Doctor turned around and looked in my eyes too «Go in, I'll be right there.» he smiled.

I looked at him for a second, unsure, but then nodded and entered in the TARDIS, closing the door behind. That was the minimum I could do after what he just did for me. He saved me.

He saved me from reality.

The Doctor pov:

As Lizzie stepped in the TARDIS and closed the door behind herself, I spun to look at the man who made her whole life a hell: I never felt that angry before in my life.

Who ever dared and will dare even thinking of hurting her will regret it hardly. So I stepped forward to be as close as possible to that man and, with all anger I had, I growled «Now listen here, you made her suffer her whole life and, believe me, no one should ever do that. Whoever lies even a finger on her, will regret it for his or hers whole life. So from now on, I'll keep an eye on this orphanage and if something, even a little thing, happens, I will come back and you better be long gone by then. Did I make myself clear?» I said in a low voice so only he could hear me, raising my chin a bit to show I was the dominating one.

He swallowed and nodded.

«Good.» I fixed my bow tie and slowly started walking away, to the TARDIS. Before I stepped in, I took another look at that man with no emotions on my face. Then I got in and closed the door behind me.

I spun around with a grin, faking that nothing happened.

«Okay, then! We can leave now! We could go the-» I started but then noticed Amy and Lizzie getting off their eyes from the the TARDIS screen and looking at me. They clearly saw me. I completely forgot Lizzie knew how to handle the TARDIS.

She jumped down from the chair and slowly walked to me with her hands in the pockets of her skinny jeans. Beautiful she was, may I say.

«You... You heard me, did you?» I asked, looking down and hoping that I wasn't as red as a tomato.

She nodded «Yup.» she said, popping the P.

I nodded and looked at the ground: what was I supposed to say? «Emm... I... I don't know if I need to apologize or pretend that nothing happened, but I-» I was cut off by Lizzie's hands wrapping around my neck.

At first I almost fell down because I lost the equilibrium, but then her embrace won: I wrapped my hands around her waist and buried my nose in her shoulder. I missed being so close to her. «Thank you.» she whispered squeezing her arms tighter but not that much to hurt me.

I was completely lost in her scent: she smelled of flowers and peach, as she always did. I don't know what shampoo she uses but it always drove me crazy. «You're welcome.» I managed to say while rubbing my hand on her back.

We stayed there in silence almost loosing the count of time: I really missed her. My feelings for her never changing... But I knew she didn't know how I felt and I wasn't sure if it was reciprocated yet.

«Well, at least now we know that you dance horribly.» Amy said, still sitting near the console.

Lizzie pulled away and laughed.

«Oi! I am good at dancing! No one's that good at dancing, no one's better than me.» I said, as Elizabeth walked to the console and stood next to Amy. I soon reached them.

«Whatever.» Amy rolled her eyes while Lizzie laughed.

«Where to, Doc?» Lizzie then asked.

I glanced up at her and smiled «Geronimo.» I said and pulled the lever.

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