To some he was the oncoming storm, causing a cringe of fear upon meeting the man who had a reputation throughout time and space as a deliverer of justice. Still others were merely awestruck at the alien and his strange blue box. But to Rose Tyler, while he could be all those things she knew him as her best friend.
Which is why when she heard a thunderous rumbling and then a loud pop come from the Console room she ran toward the danger, not from it.
"Doctor? Doctor where are you?!" She choked on the smoke that filled the place, trying to remain calm and focused on finding him.
"DOCTOR! DOCTOR IF YOU CAN HEAR ME SAY SOMETHING! PLEASE!"
"I- I here! I here!" A small voice called back, sounding as though he was trying to be brave and failing miserably. Her panic went up another notch. The doctor rarely, if ever sounded frightened.
"Hang on I'm coming! Just stay where you are!" Using the handrail as a guide she slowly made her way to the panels closest to the doors. As the TARDIS circulated in fresh air and smothered a few small fires in force fields, she gradually made out a small figure.
"Doctor! I was so wor-"
Her words caught in her throat. Gone was her doctor. In his place, drowning in his signature blue pin striped suit and long hair wildly on end sat a toddler who couldn't have been more than three. Huge brown eyes peeped out from underneath the floppy do, and a chubby hand quickly ran over the sharp chin and little point of the nose. Even with some singed ends and a dirty face the sheepish smile was purely time lord.
"Oh God doctor… what's happened to you?" She whispered. He sighed heavily, an odd look on such a small body.
"I suppose this makes Barcellona out of the question."