Universal Displacement

If At First You Don't Succeed

"One last adventure," Sutton mocked under her breath. She slunk down another dim hallway in nothing more than a spare pair of pajamas and socks, and checked that the coast was clear before continuing on.

"Tell me I get one last one. Well, I'm not staying here, you unlicensed phony-"
A creak, or was it a groan, came from somewhere behind her and she froze until it was obvious that no one was following her. It must have been some floor panels settling for the night. Sutton continued to move carefully, always listening for footsteps as she glided along. It only felt like it took forever to get back to the main console room because she was so paranoid about being caught.

In the main room it was silent, save for the low hum of still running computers, and Sutton circled around the console to search the area. She wanted that watch. Needed it. And maybe the Doctor wouldn't just have it laying out for her, but she had to at least check. The console produced enough of its own glowing light to see with, and it only took a lap around it to see that the watch wasn't there. She snorted out an indignant puff of air.

Of course it wouldn't be that simple.

The surrounding area in the main room was watch free as well. After silently searching every last cupboard and cranny, Sutton had to accept that the Doctor probably had the watch with him. He was many things, but a fool wasn't one of them.

She snatched up her bag instead from where she'd left it on the seat near the doors and slowly made her way back towards the bedroom. Neither Rose nor the Doctor confronted her on her way back, and Sutton sighed as she reentered her borrowed room uncaught, yet also unsuccessful. Back in her room, she crawled up onto the high bed that looked like it belonged in a Syfy movie and clutched her bag close to her chest.

"I just need some sleep," she mumbled to herself. "I'll be able to come up with something once I've gotten some rest."

But she wasn't quite sure that she even believed herself.

[][]

The Doctor was chipper the next morning; Sutton was positive that it was, in part, an attempt to put her in a better mood. Sutton, however, wasn't ten anymore and it would take more than a bright smile and a new planet to distract her from her looming fate.

"Any place you'd like to see, Sutton?"
Sutton pursed her lips and adjusted her bag over her shoulders.

"Don't care," she said, "you pick. I actually don't know that much about this galaxy, contrary to what one might think."

He seemed slightly rebuffed by her answer, but she couldn't work up the effort to care. She still hadn't come up with a plan to get that watch, and time was only running out. For the moment, she was guessing that the watch was in his jacket, because there was a bulge in his breast pocket that hadn't been there before, and it made sense for safe keeping.

Rose threaded her fingers through the Doctor's and gave his hand a light squeeze in encouragement. Sutton huffed quietly and looked somewhere else.

"I know," the Doctor spoke in a new excited tone, but something told her he'd had a plan in mind all along. "How 'bout we go visit Jane Austen, eh? Everyone likes a nice romp in a period piece."

Sutton's eyes flickered up despite her attempts to remain obstinate. She did like Jane Austen books. The Doctor caught her gaze and his grinned widened; Sutton tried to scowl in return.

"Eighteen-thirteen it is!"

Rose smiled widely in excitement and delight and the Doctor threw a lever that sent the TARDIS spinning through time and space. Sutton tried not to be at all excited and keep her mind focused on the mission.