A/N: I've wanted to write something like this for a while. I may continue it since it's pretty short. Please review!
)O(
"Hello, Craig!"
He instantly felt the familiar mix of fear, joy, excitement and dread rise up upon seeing the alien on his doorstep. It had been more than three years since the Doctor last came to visit and they'd fought those awful...cyberpeople together. Alfie was now an energetic five-year-old whose favorite bedtime story was how Daddy and the Doctor saved the world. Okay, so maybe Craig exaggerated a bit.
"Doctor! I wasn't expecting..."
"Of course you weren't," the Time Lord interrupted, stepping around him to enter the house. "No one ever expects me. Where's Sophie and Alfie?"
"She's at work. Alfie's at school. Why? Should I get them? Is it an alien invasion or something?"
"No. Why would it be?" The Doctor looked at him like Craigwas mad, then continued making tea.
"I dunno, because you're here?"
"Don't worry. Everything is fine," he said firmly. "Why are you here? You should be at your job. That's what people do when I'm not around, isn't it?"
Craig sighed. "Got laid off, about a month ago."
"I'm sorry. That's terrible."
"Yeah."
The silence that ensued felt even more awkward than normal human awkward silence. When at last the water boiled, the Doctor poured two cups of tea. Craig still could not stop thinking something must be wrong. He never just popped in for tea and a nice chat. So what was the problem and why wouldn't he say anything?
"Doctor?"
"Hmm?"
"Well, it's just...when you were here last time, I dunno, you were talking like the world was ending."
"Oh. Yes...that. It sort of was, for me anyway. You see, Craig, I was almost certain I was going to die. A fixed point in time. Impossible to avoid and very hard to change. But here I am!" He smiled unconvincingly. "Everything's okay now."
"Right, yeah, that's good. But, Doctor, are you...okay?"
The teacup stopped halfway to the Doctor's mouth and he set it back down, focusing his ancient eyes on Craig. "I'm always okay. I've recently lost two people who meant the world to me. I'm alone again and right now if I go out into the universe I can't say what will happen. Stars explode, worlds die, civilizations fall and other very bad things; I stand at the center of it, a merciless god. I might not be able to stop myself. And I'm terrified, Craig, so would it be all right if I stay here for a while?"
His mind had difficulty comprehending what he'd just heard. After several moments of blank staring, the most intelligent reply he could manage was: "Uh...sure, I suppose."
"If it's not too much trouble," the Time Lord added quickly. "It won't be for too long, I promise. And I can cook."
"I remember. You can take the guestroom; it's no problem. Sophie won't mind and Alfie loves you."
"Really?"
"'Doctor' was his first word."
They laughed, and he smiled genuinely for the first time in many weeks. Craig was startled once again when the Doctor hugged him.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
"We're mates, yeah? And mates help each other out."