Driving the TARDIS

  "Okay now, pull that lever there," the Doctor hopped over a loose wire as he pointed to a big blue device.  

  Zayda reached up and tugged on it, creating another jolt.

  The Doctor froze, listening to his ship.  "…Right… maybe not that one."  He thought for a moment, then spurred back into action.  "Belgium all over!  Don't pull that lever again!"

  She blinked.  "Um… alright?"

  Eventually the TARDIS settled down a bit and the Doctor appeared beside her.  "Right, that's sorted."  He sighed.  "Now, pull that lever," he pointed to one next to the offending blue switch.  "That's the good one.  Should have specified!" he shouted up to the central column.  The TARDIS groaned in reply.

  Again, Zayda reached for the lever and pulled it, waiting for something to happen.  The floor beneath her feet began to vibrate intensely.  

  "Ah!  Now!" the Doctor moved around her.  "Pull—no, push that!  And that, and twist…" he searched the console.  "This."

  Following his instructions, Zayda hoped she was doing it all right.  Sometimes things would work for the Doctor and not for her.  A few seconds later, the time rotor slowed down and the TARDIS stilled.  She kept one hand hovering near the console, just in case, but she thought—hoped—she just landed the ship.  

  The Doctor bounded up to her and grabbed her shoulders.  "You did it!  You landed her!  Oh, that was brilliant!"

  His beaming smile made her light up with pride.  

  "Right, now to see where we are!"  He whipped his 'brainy specs' onto his face and rushed to the doors, simultaneously pulling on his coat.  Once there, he leaned half way out the door, his upper body completely hanging out.

  Zayda thought he looked quote comical like that, then corrected herself.  He always looked comical.  He had one leg swinging off the ground as he leaned further outside the TARDIS.  Suddenly she heard a shout.  Zayda was about to go investigate when the Doctor jumped back from the doors.

  "Start the rotor!" he yelled as he fell completely over.  Scrambling like mad back at the doors, he shut them and continued to yell.  "Now, Zay, now!  Not a friendly!"

  She ran back to the controls and hit random buttons and switches, hoping again that they were the correct ones.  Zayda was abruptly thrown to the ground as the ship burst into life.  Within seconds however, things began to quiet and the TARDIS was still once more.

  The Doctor reached down and offered his hand to her.  "Good job," he said.  "You've officially flown the TARDIS, well done!"

  "Doctor," she started, accepting his help.  "What happened?  Why'd we leave?"

  He shrugged.  "I popped out to see where we were, saw the natives and waved.  But then they waved back, so I ran.  End of story."

  Zayda looked at him.  "You ran… because they waved…  Doctor—"

  "Well, actually, they waved their spears," he added.  "Quite angrily too."

  "…Ah.  I see."  

  He shook his head.  "And anyway, that's beside the point.  You flew the TARDIS!  And avoided Belgium!"

  Zayda began to bounce up and down, smiling uncontrollably.  "I know!" she squealed.  "I did, didn't I?"

  The Doctor laughed.  "Yes, yes you did!  But you still can't drive when I'm not there.  Well, except for emergencies.  Well… except for emergencies and free cake.  Well… yeah, never mind."  He stared her in the eye.  "My TARDIS."

  Nodding solemnly, Zayda agreed.  "Yes, your TARDIS.  I promise I won't drive her without you.  Except for cake."

  Both the Time Lord and the girl laughed, and they continued on to their next destination.