One man. Alien. Rejected. Not surprised. Shuts a door and cranks up his Time machine. Asks for any landing. Somewhere he's needed, which is everywhere and everywhen.
Opens the door. Sees the stars. Fire and Explosions. Walks a bit. Finds light. Asks to sit next to:
One man. Human. Dejected. Not decided. Twirls a watch and opens a journal. Asks for courage. He's needed nowhere and nowhen. He is.
Looks to his right. Sees the eyes. Fire and Explosions. Flinches a bit. Finds might. Asks to be left alone.
"Who are you?" asks Alien.
"Just a story," answers Human. "And you?"
"Just a legend. Nice watch."
"So I'm told."
"Nice journal, too."
"So I've seen."
"Nice dreams?"
"I wish I didn't sleep."
"You won't have to."
Silence. Three hearts beat separately and together.
And then:
"So you know him?"
A nod.
"What's he like?"
"I can't say."
"Can't or won't?"
"Both."
"Is he mad?"
"In spirit or emotion?"
"Both?"
"Yes."
Silence.
"Who are you? I think…I've seen you in -" Human points to human head.
"A friend. I'm a friend."
"Can I trust you?"
"I hope." A glance into the journal. "Who's the girl?"
"I don't care."
"Why not?"
"She's not the one who matters to me."
"There's one who does?"
"Very much."
"What else matters?"
No answer.
"Will you open it?"
"Would you?"
No answer.
"Should I open it?"
"Who am I to say?"
"Will you stay here?"
"If you open it?"
"Either way."
"Yes." A pat on the knee.
"Will you remember me?"
"One day, I hope."
"Will he?"
"I hope."
Three hearts pause.
One watch is opened. One soul dies. Another reemerges.
Four hearts beat.
One man glimpses into moments not yet lived. Loves not yet learned. Loses consciousness. Too Dangerous.
The reawakened man sees the body. Understands, though doesn't quite remember. Carries him back to his home ship.
Alien wakes up. Last remembers walking in, rejected. Finds a note stuck between his hearts.
You're safe. Find someone to keep you that way.
As for who I am – you'll know when Time is right.
Thank you.
Both find his way back home.
A/N: Yes, I realize that the Family of Blood would smell Nine's delicious Time Lord scent and soon chase after his derriere...but let's just pretend they're a little slow, or not expecting some non-John Smith dude to be the Gallifreyan.
Also, for the ninth Doctor, I imagine this to take place during the episode Rose, right after Rose rejects his offer to travel with him. This is what happended when the TARDIS dematerialized for a few seconds. But it could probably be any time - or maybe even another incarnation of the Doctor.