Chapter 1
I sat home, alone, reading like most any other night. My tea was steaming in my favorite mug on the table next to me. As I sat down my mind wandered back to last night's dream, as it had all day. Always the same man. Over and over and over again, every day. The confusing thing was that the situation of the dream was always different, but chronological, like a window into someone else's life. As I was sitting lost in thought, I heard a noise. It was a noise as familiar as the kettle steaming, or the turning of the pages of the book. But it was no everyday sound. At least not for most people. It was the sound of a type 40 TARDIS landing. The last TARDIS in existence as a matter of fact.
For a moment, I sat stunned. There was no way that that grinding noise could exist here, outside of my dreams. Because that's all it was. A figment of my imagination, something my mind had invented. I dismissed the thought immediately. It must have been because I was thinking about those dreams.
"Would you stop freaking yourself out, Lena?" I chided myself as I turned my attention back to my book. It was then that a soft knock came at the door. This was just a coincidence I tried to convince myself as I got up to answer. It was 2 am. who could it possibly be? I flung the door open, half expecting no one to be there, and there he was. Him. How could it be him?
"Just be friendly," I thought, "maybe he just looks like him."
"Hello," he said. That voice, there was no mistaking it.
"H-hello. Can I help you?"
"Yes, right!" he exclaimed as though remembering something important, "My um...car broke down, may I use your telephone?"
"Of course. Come on in." I tried to paste on a smile. He couldn't be...
"Oh, how rude of me, I haven't introduced myself! John Smith, pleased to meet you." He stuck out his hand.
His introduction shattered my calm. I dropped my mug on the floor, shattering it, and just stared at him. Then, the tears came. I tried to stop them at first, but they refused to be suppressed. He was standing right in front of me. Pinstripe suit, trench coat, Converse high tops, freckles, and that hair. And, I noticed suddenly, he was looking at me, clearly concerned.
"Are you alright?" he asked, walking over to me. Through the tears, and the confusion, I knew two things: my Doctor was real, and, for once, I was alright.
I hugged him, and said, "Doctor. My Doctor."