The Truth in Waiting

By: KimTomPW

Disclaimer: I do not own the Merlin or Doctor Who series.

Prelude

Jethro Cane had been living on his own for a few years now. Having turned eighteen a couple of years back, he was of age and decided to move away from his constantly bickering parents. Things were never the same after what had happened on Midnight. And he would never forget the man who had called himself The Doctor. He also would not forget the conversation they had after returning to the Leisure Palace.

"Take me with you, Doctor," Jethro had begged the Doctor.

The Doctor nervously scratched his head, leaving his hair more untidy than it had been to begin with.

"I already have a traveling companion," he explained.

The companion in question, Donna Noble, was actually walking their way as they spoke.

"Please, take me away from all this," Jethro said.

He voice was so desperate. There was something about this boy that the Doctor could not put his finger on. It was like he knew Jethro, but he did not know from where.

"Is that why you act out the way you do with all the black?" the Doctor asked.

Jethro looked down at his all black attire. Even his nails.

"I guess you can say that," he replied.

He did not know himself why he dressed like that. Rebellious teenage faze perhaps?

"I might not be able to take you with me right now. But I'll tell you something, Jethro Cane. We'll meet again," the Doctor said.

That had been almost five years ago. Jethro wondered when he would see him again. That mad man in a blue box. He had just gotten out of the shower when he had heard the strange noise coming from his living room. It was a wusing sound that Jethro could not quite remember.

"Who the bloody hell…" Jethro cursed as he walked into the living area with only his towel wrapped around his small waist.

And there he was, leaning up against the blue police box. That stick of a man in a suite and trench coat. The Doctor.

"Expecting someone else?' he asked, eyeing Jethro's towel.

"Doctor," Jethro gasped.

"How long has it been for you?" he asked.

"Nearly five years," Jethro told him.

The Doctor looked at Jethro in shocked.

"Five years. Sorry," he apologized. "Wasn't sure how long it'd be."

Jethro then realized he was still half naked.

"I'll be back," he said, taking off towards his bedroom to change. When Jethro returned, he was dressed in a blue shirt and red scarf paired with dark trousers. The Doctor stared at him for a moment. "What?"

He looked down, thinking he had forgotten to put something on.

"Nothing," the Doctor replied. "You've just changed. No more wearing black I see."

"I grew up," Jethro said.

He had been a teen when he wore all that Goth clothing. The Doctor then gave him a heartbreaking look.

"Oh, Jethro. You might have waited for me for five years, but you have been waiting for someone else for far longer," he told Jethro.

Now the Doctor understood why he was so interested in this boy. There had been something off about him when they first met. Like Jethro was not who he said he was. But now the Doctor knew exactly who Jethro Cane truly was. Of course he did not want to believe it at first. After all, he had thought it was a myth and that there was no truth behind the story of Camelot.

"What are you on about?" Jethro asked, filling absolutely confused.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But you're not really Jethro Cane," the Doctor said.

"Pardon?" Jethro asked.

"Why did you change your style?" the Doctor questioned him.

"Because I… I don't know," Jethro admitted. "Everyone changes their look. All the time."

Then, feeling like something heavy was on his chest, Jethro fell to the couch. "What's wrong with me?"

The Doctor joined him on the couch.

"Absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing. Well, apart from the fact that you appear to have scrubbed your memory clean," he explained.

"How is it possible?" Jethro asked.

"You're the greatest wizard that ever lived. I was hoping you could tell me" the Doctor replied with a laugh.

"Why would I do that?" Jethro asked, sounding not at all surprised that the Doctor had just told him he was greatest wizard to ever live.

"Because the truth and waiting was too much to take. Forgetting was easier," the Doctor told him.

"Are you going to tell me who I am or not?" Jethro asked.

The Doctor nodded and got up.

"Come with me," he said, making way to the TARDIS.

"In there?" Jethro asked.

"You wanted to the last time," the Doctor reminded him with an amused look on his face.

"Right," Jethro replied, taking a deep breath.

Jethro followed the Doctor into the TARDIS. He looked around in amazement. He had seen nothing like it before.

"Well, what do you think?" the Doctor asked, crossing his arms and leaning up against the consol.

"It… it's smaller from the outside," Jethro said.

The Doctor frowned a bit.

"Not the exact phrase I was looking for," he replied.

He have Jethro a little longer to look around. Finally, Jethro walked up to him.

"So, if I'm not Jethro Cane, who am I?" he asked.

"You have many names," the Doctor told him. "You're called Emrys by some. But mostly people call you Merlin."

"Merlin. You mean from King Arthur?" he asked.

There was just no way that that could be true. Then again, he was in what looked like an old time Police Call Box with a man who could travel in time and space.

"Place your hand there," the Doctor told Merlin, indicating a circular object. As he did, all his memories started coming back. Merlin's eyes glowed for a moment after lifting his hand. The Doctor gave Merlin a few moments to take everything in. "You want to see Arthur again, don't you?

"More than anything," Merlin replied.

The Doctor nodded and led Merlin back out into the living room.

"I must warn you, though. He might not be the same," he told Merlin.

"That's it?" Merlin asked. "You're leaving me here with my memory back just so I could continue to sit and wait for something who may or may not even return?"

"Oh, Arthur will come back to you," the Doctor said.

And with that, he left.

"Well, that's just great," Merlin muttered.

He quickly turned when there was a knock at the door.