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CHAPTER FIVE:
THE INTRUDER

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IRIS was in a rush.

She'd been late getting out of bed — cramming for a final exam the night before — and missed said final exam, only for the Doctor's office to be closed after lessons. She couldn't find him anywhere, and the only proof he'd been there was a note pinned to the door reading: "Find the Prospero and return to the bridge."

Could he be any more obvious? He was referring to her name and returning "home" and the bridge obviously represented the TARDIS. But why had he moved it? What was the purpose in her bike ride back to the dormitories just to find it there instead of the Lecture Hall?

After the day she'd had, she only wanted to yell at him.

Grumbling to herself about how annoyed she was with him, and how she'd rip him a new one, Iris unlocked the TARDIS door, giving the blue ship a soft pat as she entered in greeting.

"Alright, mister, you better have a—"

"—Who the hell are you?"

Iris blinked, stopping abruptly in the entrance.

Before her was not her Doctor, with his attack eyebrows and magician's coat and witty banter. Instead, a man stood with large ears and a harsh glare and a leather jacket — the same leather jacket she'd left over the console railing.

Glancing to the side habitually, she spotted it empty.

In fact, the entire TARDIS was completely different. The dark, moody, blue ambiance was gone, replaced with a bright green center console, warm yellows and what appeared to be tree limbs or coral hanging from the ceiling to the ground.

Iris blinked again, doing a double take.

"At least the round things are still there," she managed finally, looking at the walls again, and then to the Doctor.

"Don't make me repeat myself," he snapped, storming up to her. "Who are you? How'd you get in here?"

"I'm Iris," she responded with a sheepish shrug. "I have a key."

Surprise flickered across his face, and he looked down to the key. Before she could refute, he grabbed it, attempting to pull it off but it singed his hand and he pulled his hand back, looking at her wide-eyed.

"How'd you do that?" He asked in disbelief. "How'd you manage that?"

Iris shrugged. "You gave it to me. Future you, I'm presuming because you knew me when I didn't know you but now, I know you and you don't know me, so this is definitely a younger self. I'd say it's obvious with the body, but regenerations are fickle and—"

As she continued, his expression grew more and more disbelieving until he finally shook his head. "Get out!" He exclaimed, pointing behind her to the doors. "If you're from my future, you can't be in here, I know your little human brain can't understand this properly, but this is a—"

"—Paradox, I know what you're thinking, but this is how it works with us. Time's in infinite temporal flux around us but you and I are fixed points. We're always meant to meet and end up in this point and my future where you meet me. We come across each other constantly in the wrong order, but I still travel with your future self, and so in order to catch up with the history that version of you knows, I have to live through your past events. Come on, Doctor, it's not that difficult."

Baffled, the Doctor looked at her as though she'd grown a second head. "Who are you?" He asked softly.

"Iris Holloway," she grinned, offering her hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

The Doctor looked at her hand, then at her face, then to her hand, then to her face, then back again. Finally, he took it and shook her hand once.

"How do I know you are who you say?"

Iris raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms. "You're very paranoid."

"You didn't answer."

"You're not going to like it," Iris countered. "Your future self said you won't."

"Try me."

Iris hesitated, and then, "Theta sent me."

The Doctor's face changed drastically. Shock was written all over it and he stumbled back, looking at her in horror. "What?" He breathed out. "I...but there's only one reason I'd ever tell someone that." He looked down, lost in thought, before walking up to her again and staring her down.

He was searching for something, anything. Any sign that she wasn't who she claimed. That she'd stolen the information somehow.

But her eyes were genuine and her smile even more so.

His hearts sank and he swallowed, nerves washing over him.

"Iris Holloway, you said?" He asked, clearing his throat. "Human?"

"My whole life," Iris nodded. "That a problem?"

"Yes," the Doctor answered immediately. "Big problem. You only get one life, I get—"

"—Twelve," she cut him off. She knew that he had more than that, but she couldn't tell him that. The Doctor made that very clear when telling her about his history. Or, what he felt she needed to know. "Depending on which regeneration you're in currently, it's more or less."

"Nine."

"Oh," Eden's eyes flickered. "The Time War."

"What?" His eyes darkened, face tightening. "What do you know about the Time War? You're an ape."

"I know what you've told me," she countered softly. "I'm sorry about your people."

He crossed his arms. "Well, now we've met, you should go."

"Can't," Iris shrugged, walking past him into the TARDIS. "Gotta live out my days with you. Do you wanna go on an adventure or just hang out on the TARDIS? Not entirely sure how long I'm supposed to stay with you, but I'm winging it."

"I'm not taking you anywhere."

"That's okay," Iris gave him a two-fingered wave and headed out of the console room. "I'll be in my room if you need me!" She called back.

Her room was in the same place as before; fairy lights, dark green walls, a big dark bed. A ceiling that showed the stars and moon, lighting up her room, a wall of bookshelves.

Iris dug around in her room, trying to spot the Galifreyan book she was almost finished with and frowned, not able to find it anywhere.

She left the room in hopes of going to the library, but stopped when she spotted the Doctor outside her door, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"Oh, hi!" Iris grinned. "I'm off to the library, want to join me?"

"No."

"Okay," she shrugged, moving to walk around him, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Stop it," he scowled. "This isn't your stomping ground, it's my TARDIS."

"I know," Iris responded. "I can leave if you want but judging the way you're gripping my arm right now — you need someone with you."

He blinked, looked down to his hand on her arm and slowly let go. "I don't need anyone."

"Well, then, lucky for you I'm not just anyone."

They stared at one another for a moment, and she softened at the look in his eyes. So different from her Doctor's. Her Doctor was grumpy and unfriendly and off-beat, but this Doctor was angry. There was a storm in his eyes, a tornado threatening to swallow her whole if she pushed him.

It broke her heart.

"One trip," the Doctor relented, turning swiftly back to the console room. "If you're late, I'm leaving without you!"

Iris grinned to herself, grabbing one of Charlie's old sweaters and tossing it over her head as she followed him down the hallway. "Can I pick where we go?"

"No."

"Please?" Iris whined hopefully, offering him the puppy dog eyes that always worked on her Doctor.

He glanced at her. "No."

"I promise it's cool."

"No."

"She was only the first real connection to racial equality in the United States," Iris praised, rocking on her heels. "Aaaaand she's from the past aaaaand I would've asked my Doctor for this next but I'm with you so if I only get one trip with you it's where I'd like to go."

He met her gaze and sighed in frustration. "I'll think about it."

"Yay!" Iris grinned, leaning towards him on the console. "Her name's Jane Addams—"

"—I know who you're talking about, I do my homework."

Iris sat down on the console chair, wishing she'd grabbed a snack — it wasn't like this Doctor carried snacks with him, bummer — and she looked into her bag just in case.

Reaching her hand in, her eyes lit up when she felt the snack, pulling out a bag of Aquatic Gum and the sharpie written over it saying, 'eat something better at pompei, holloway.' Iris smiled to herself, opening the gummy sharks.

"What're you doing?" The Doctor asked her, frowning. "No eating in my TARDIS."

"It's already open, if I stuff them all in my mouth I'll probably choke."

"You're annoying."

"It's part of my charm."

"I wouldn't use that word to describe you."

The Doctor walked to the doors and Iris quickly followed, munching on her snack. Her face lit up seeing they were in the past — and that he'd obliged in the location if the brick building and wrap-around porch in front of them was anything to go by.

"Thank you!" Iris grinned up at him excitedly. "I promise, I'm very fun on adventures."

"I doubt that."

Iris trailed next to the Doctor as he walked them into Hull House. "Just a meet and greet," he looked at her pointedly. "One trip, then you're off my TARDIS to whatever future you came from."

Iris saluted him teasingly and nodded. "Yes, sir."

He frowned, opening the door and closing it behind her.

"Hello!" Iris smiled at the woman in the entrance hall. She looked to be Iris' age; red hair, brown eyes, and freckles scattered across her heart-shaped face. She was quite pretty. "I'm Iris, this is the Doctor, we were hoping to meet Ms. Addams."

The girl's face lit up. "Of course," she nodded. "She's upstairs now, feel free to take a seat. Will you two be staying with us?"

"No," the Doctor cut in harshly. Iris shot him a look. "Just saying hi and bye."

"Allow me one moment," she smiled. "I'm Louise, her housekeeper."

As Louise left the pair, Iris took a look around, squealing in excitement to see the Hull House in its prime.

"I love Jane Addams," she gushed to the Doctor excitedly. "She was my idol growing up. Well, her and Sally Ride. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, she was definitely a lesbian, and she created Hull House to establish living quarters for the poor. She was a huge advocate for women and child labor laws, and she was a social progressive with pockets that could've kept her comfortable. She's incredible."

The Doctor glanced down at her, a different look in his eyes. "You know a lot about her."

"I didn't have any female role models growing up, had to come up with my own. Jane Addams, Jane Austen, Sally Ride, Frida Kahlo, Emmeline Pankhurst." She then added. "Oh! And Hatshepsut and Cleopatra, too, obviously."

"Quite the extensive list," he remarked, looking around the room. "It's quiet in here."

"Which is weird because this is," she peeked over the registration counter to the newspaper. "1909, and this place should be crowded."

The Doctor nodded. "Unusual, but not unlikely. People could be busy."

"Not the people who lived here," she denied, and then perked up excitedly as a middle-aged woman walked downstairs.

She was exactly what Iris always pictured. Brown hair, brown eyes, smile lines, plain brown frocks, and a big, majestic, feathered hat. Iris fought back a squeal.

"Welcome to Hull House," Jane smiled at the pair kindly. "I'm Jane Addams, Louise mentioned you requested me?"

"We most certainly did," Iris reached her hand out. "I'm Iris Holloway, this is the Doctor, we're just — well, I'm just — you're Jane Addams."

Jane laughed lightly at Iris' enthusiasm, shaking her hand and then offering it to the Doctor. "Last I checked, yes. Pleasure to meet you both. You're welcome to stay the night if you require, but I'll have you know we've been empty lately."

"How long's it been empty?" The Doctor frowned.

Iris crossed her arms next to him, the familiar tickle in her neck that followed her on adventures with the Doctor coming back. Something was wrong and something would keep them here.

"A few weeks," Jane sighed. "I don't mean to dishearten you from staying," she assured. "Please, come in properly."

"Not to worry," the Doctor pulled out a black wallet, handing it to her. "I'm an Inspector, and this is my associate."

"Oh!" Jane's face brightened a fraction. "Well, do come in, then." The pair followed Jane inside and Iris bit her lip to stop herself from smiling at the scenery before her. No glass coverings or plaques — all authentic and original flooring. "Everything is up to date, but we've had a problem with missing persons."

The Doctor and Iris exchanged a look.

"When did this begin?" Iris asked.

"Oh, a month ago," Jane informed them. "We thought it was an accident, but we've had numerous complaints since then." She led them to a seating area, and they took a seat in a large sofa across from a cushioned chair where she sat. "These people are good," she defended. "The police haven't been much help, claimed the ones that have gone missing aren't a productive part of society. But they are. And whoever is taking them is only going after the innocent. The helpless." She sighed, a defeated look crossing her face. "If we don't find the culprit soon, Hull House will be shut down. For good."

—

Iris and the Doctor took two rooms for the night, both eager to solve the mystery behind Hull House. They'd spoken with numerous staff members and the Doctor used his sonic on different pieces in the wall, but they hadn't found anything notable.

People were simply disappearing.

Iris tried to recall hearing anything about a temporary closure or missing persons report but she nothing came to mind.

"So," Iris began, eating an apple, sitting on the counter in the kitchen next to the Doctor, who stood with his arms crossed, scanning the room. "We have missing people that disappear every night for the past few weeks and no evidence that it's been happening, save for the reports from families. The biggest questions are how and why and—"

"—Do you have to voice your thoughts?"

"Do you have to be such a jerk?"

The Doctor scowled at her. "I can't imagine travelling with you again, I don't know I put up with you in the future."

Iris shrugged, trying not to let his words get to her. Her Doctor liked her well enough, right? They were close?

"You just do," Iris responded simply, taking another bite.

The pair were quiet for a few minutes before Louise entered the kitchen, carrying a tea tray. "Ma'am, sir," she greeted politely. "Any luck finding answers?"

"No," Iris shook her head. "Have you thought about anything else? Anything that could help?"

Louise glanced around, setting the tray down on the island. "Well," she hesitated, lowering her voice. "There are stories."

"What kind of stories?" The Doctor asked.

"People say Hull House is haunted."

"I don't believe in ghosts—"

"—That's not possible, ghosts don't exist."

Iris and the Doctor exchanged a look before he added to Louise. "Why do people think there's ghosts?"

"Because of the noise," she whispered, eyes filled with fear. "And the light."

Iris slid off the counter, tossing the apple core in the bin. "What light?"

"I shouldn't say more," Louise took a step back. "It may anger them."

"Anger who?" The Doctor asked, eyes narrowed. "Are you being threatened?"

"I musn't," Louise opened the kitchen door. "The spirits will come for me next, I've said too much."

As Louise scurried from the room like a mouse to lions, Iris and the Doctor looked at one another.

"Hologram?" She suggested. "Slitheen exiting the suit? But why would they take people?"

The Doctor looked mildly impressed by her suggestions. "I think we're dismissing the sound too easily. Sound and light. What sort of species makes both? And why kidnap one person at night?"

"Maybe they can only come out at night?"

"A shadow creature?"

"Perhaps," Iris nodded. "What if they can only control one person at a time? Subduing more would take too much energy or deplete them entirely."

The Doctor hummed in agreement. "Either way," he stood, grinning for the first time since she'd met him. "We're in for a bumpy night."

"I ain't afraid of no ghosts."

—

heheheee i do actually love jane addams i think she's one of the coolest women literally ever so do some research on her because she's amazing and was decades ahead of her time. this is such a fun storyline, i'm so excited for the next chapter. HOPEFULLY you guys enjoyed my portrayal of 9 he's soooo hard to write so hopefully it was okay gahhhh.