The Madman and the Rebel

Summary : Crossover (Downton Abbey/Doctor Who). What if the Doctor visited Downton Abbey, in search of a new companion. What happens when he meets the rebellious Sybil Crawley? Set from 1903 to 1914. No Sybil/Branson, no Amy.

Disclaimer : All Doctor Who characters belong to the BBC. All Downton Abbey characters belong to ITV and Julian Fellowes. All plot-lines belong to me.

Chapter One

1903

The TARDIS was malfunctioning. It was out of control! The Doctor had no idea where he was going, but he didn't like the look of the engine. He had to land soon, or it would blow up! He pulled on the brakes and began to land, though he had to admit, he didn't know where he was going or when, for that matter. He just hoped it wasn't dangerous.

CRASH! The Doctor fell to the floor with the force of the landing. As he regained his composure, he strode towards the door and flung it open. After over 900 years and eleven different faces, you'd think he would have learnt to check where he was before striding out. That was what most people say to him, though he has never listened to them and never plans to. He contradicted himself for several minutes, until he ran into a small girl.

"Oh, 'ello, what's your name?"

"Sybil, Sybil Persephone Crawley, monsieur."

"Well, Sybil Persephone Crawley, I'm the Doctor."

"Pardon me, sir, but Doctor who?"

"I get asked that a lot, but the answer is...the Doctor, just the Doctor."

"That's a strange name."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it? Now, Sybil, could you please tell me where we are?"

"Downton Abbey, of course."

"Right, of course, where's that?"

"Yorkshire, sir."

"Right and what year is it?"

"Beg pardon, monsieur, but how is it that you can come to a place and not have a clue where it is, or even the date?"

"I'm funny like that."

"In answer to your question, monsieur, it is December 25th, in the year of our Lord 1903."

"Right, thank you. Right, merry Christmas, goodbye."

"But monsieur, where are you going?"

"I have to go now, Sybil, but I'll be right back, okay?"

"Promise?"

"Five minutes."

"Alright. Goodbye, monsieur."

"See you in five minutes!"

With that, the Doctor disappeared down a corridor, unaware that the small girl was following him. She watched in sadness and slight confusion as he entered a large blue police box, but her expression quickly turned to one of awe and amazement as the box began to disappear carrying the strange man with it.

"Five minutes." the little girl repeated aloud to herself, then sunk down to the floor and began to wait. She waited and waited. And waited. But he never came. She soon found herself succumbing to the dark clutches of sleep and when she awoke, she was in her bed, her mother looking over her worriedly.

"Sybil? Oh, Sybil, thank goodness you're alright! I was so worried!"

"I'm fine, mama. But guess what!"

"What?"

"I met a man in the corridor, he was magic, he's my best friend now. He was very strange, but so nice and so clever. He disappeared in his magic box and he's going to back to get me and we're going to explore the stars together."

"Darling...did you hit your head when you fell?"

"I'm not lying! He's going to come and get me!"

"Darling, don't be rude, I'm on your side."

"NO, YOU'RE NOT! Otherwise, you would help me find him!"

"Darling, it was just a dream. Now, come, we have to join your father and sisters for breakfast."

"Alright, mama."

Her mother enfolded her in her arms and lifted her out of bed.

"Come on, darling."

She took her mother's hand and began to walk downstairs with her, trying to ignore the doubting voice in her head, wondering if she had been dreaming after all.