So the Doctor and Amy have already defeated Prisoner Zero, saved a Space Whale and Visited Churchill's bunker. But before their next adventure can begin, the Doctor takes a detour to pick up another companion, the mysterious Aderyn. She means a lot to him and he has no idea why he is so drawn to her. He makes it his mission to find out.

And how is she connected with the enigmatic Doctor River Song?

This is the first part of The Broken Girl series

This will most likely turn out rather long so I apologise in advance.

I DO NOT own Doctor Who or it's characters (though I would love to get my hands on River Song)

The Doctor leapt around the console.

"So where to now?" he didn't wait for an answer. "the Delirium Achieves," he shouted excitably. "If you want to know about the world out there then there is no better place to go."

"what's the Delirium Archives?" Amy asked. She leant against the railing surrounding the console platform. She did enjoy watching the Doctor rush and twirl around the console like an excitable child.

"It doesn't sound as exciting as it is. It's the largest museum in the universe."

"A museum?"

"The best museum. But first," he dashed around the console, flicking switches and pulling levers "there's one person I need to see."

They landed. The Doctor checked the scanner before making for the door. There was too many occasions he had got the date wrong. He pushed open the door and stared out.

"She's not here." The Doctor sounded almost disappointed as he made his way back to the console.

"Who?" Amy said. She was able to keep the disappointment from her voice. She didn't much like the idea of meeting a female friend of the Doctor's.

"Aderyn. But I know where she'll be." He moved the TARDIS again. When he threw open the door this time, the noise of traffic poured into the TARDIS, accompanied by the harsh orange glare from street lights. Amy followed him out. They were in an alley. She looked around, looking back in time to see the Doctor disappear around the corner.

"Where are we?"

"We are in the UK. In the year 2010."

Amy broke into a brisk walk to catch up with him. Without warning he turned abruptly and entered a small cafe.

He found an empty table for them and signalled to the nearest waitress.

The waitress was young. Very young. Amy wouldn't be surprised if this was her first job, she couldn't be any older than 16 or 17, though she could have passed for younger.

"What can I get you today?" she smiled.

"Two generous slices of chocolate cake, one small coffee," The Doctor paused to let the waitress scribble down the order "and one extra large coffee with two extra shots."

The waitress frowned at her notepad as she finished writing the order "that's a lot of coffee. The extra large already has three shots. Are you sure?"

He leant slightly so he was close enough for him to whisper "trust me, I'm the Doctor." the waitress's pencil stopped moving. She looked up at him, an eyebrow arched. He leant back in the chair smiling. "I'll be right back with your order." she said before walking behind the counter.

"I take it that's her?" Amy whispered, leaning across the table. The Doctor nodded. "It looks like she didn't recognise you."

"I had a different face last time I saw her." he watched the waitress behind the counter, it looked like she was taking her time, constantly looking at her wrist watch. Another waitress approached her. They spoke for a few minutes. The first waitress took off her apron, collected the Doctor's order and walked towards them. As she approached Amy saw an extra mug on the tray she was carrying. She put the tray on their table before sliding into the seat opposite the Doctor, picking up the third mug. He smiled broadly at her. Once again she had a sceptical eyebrow raised. He took the psychic paper out of his pocket and showed it to her.

"It is you." she grinned.

"I'm afraid so."

"What happened to you? You've got floppy hair."

Amy cleared her throat subtly, before grabbing one of the pieces of cake off the tray.

"Amy Pond, this is Aderyn. Aderyn, this is Amy Pond."

"That's an unusual name." Amy commented as she shook Aderyn's hand.

"It's Welsh. It literally means 'bird'," Aderyn said. "You've changed you're face and travelling companion."

"Yeah but that's for another day. So I believe I promised you a quick trip if you passed your exams?" There was no let up in the Doctor's broad smile. He seemed genuinely happy to see Aderyn.

"Straight A's." Aderyn beamed.

"So how about it? I was going to take Amy to the Delirium Archives."

"Your timing is unusually excellent," Aderyn smiled. The Doctor frowned "I've finished my last shift here. Got nothing to do now."

Now with Aderyn in tow, they made their way back to the TARDIS, the Doctor constantly questioning Aderyn about how things had gone since he'd last seen her.

"Well I did pass all my exams but I've been kicked out. I think my parents, if you can call them that, planned I was gonna be out after school from the minute they got me. Took the job at the cafe in the hopes I'd be able to get enough money to make it on my own. It was a good job but the pay wasn't that great. Got enough saved to pay a deposit and first month rent though."

"That's awful." Amy said.

"It's not that bad. I'm gonna get out of this area, head down South. They've got good colleges."

"Don't worry about that for now," the Doctor said as they reached the alley where the TARDIS was concealed "tonight we'll just have fun."

In the light of the street lamps, Amy noticed that Aderyn looked tired and worn.

In the TARDIS the glow of the console did nothing to help Aderyn's haggard appearance.

"So the Delirium Archives," The Doctor said, bounding towards the console. He set their location and soon they heard the comforting noise of the TARDIS engines whirring into life.

"We'll be there in about an hour." he said, stepping back from the console and sitting on the steps leading to the TARDIS's many corridors. Aderyn sat on the floor leaning against the console. Behind her, Amy frowned at the Doctor, who shook his head just enough for her to see.

As the Doctor and Aderyn talked, Amy noticed Aderyn's voice becoming slower and sleepier. Amy moved round the console. Aderyn was falling asleep. When she finally fell asleep, led on her side, her back against the console, the Doctor removed his jacket and draped it over her. He motioned for Amy to follow him. He went over to the doors and pulled them open, sitting on the floor, his feet dangling off into space.

"I thought the TARDIS could go anywhere instantly?" Amy said, sitting next to him.

"It can," he said quietly "but this way she gets some sleep. She doesn't sleep much at home."

"She talks about her parents as if she hates them." Amy said.

"She does. But that's just because they hate her. They're not her real parents. She was adopted when she was two. I don't think her adopted parents ever wanted her." He heard Aderyn sigh and looked round to make sure she was still asleep.

"How did you meet her?"

"The TARDIS. She always takes me where I need to go. And she took me to Aderyn. Aderyn was surrounded by rather unsavoury people when I got there. Dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't shown up. The TARDIS always takes me to Aderyn whenever she needs someone."

"Those scars on her arms..." Amy started.

"She's been diagnosed with manic depression. Those scars are self inflicted. Some of them were intended to do more than just be scars." The Doctor said quietly. He looked out at the stars and constellations that spread out before them, lost in his thoughts.

"How old is she? she looks so young."

"I think she'd be 17 now. She's been through so much already."

Amy frowned "how old was she when you met her then?"

"12. She'd snuck away from home and ended up in a not so pleasant area."

Aderyn shifted in her sleep. The Doctor stood and walked over to her. Crouching next to her, he pulled his jacket up to her shoulder and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.

"We'll let her sleep a bit longer."