Chapter 1:

It was a strange occurrence. But then again, it wasn't the strangest I'd seen. But she had been disguising herself as a recluse, a hermit. I'd pretended to be one of those before, actually. Never mind that. But she was pretending to be a human hermit. Why? What was she gaining from that? I jumped out of the TARDIS and placed a kiss on her blue wood. "I'll return soon, sexy." I walked away and checked my Psychic Paper again. Help me was still written on the paper. I sighed before walking up to the door.

Knock knock. I whistled a little tune awaiting someone to answer the door. Nothing. So I secured my Sonic in my coat pocket and proceeded to walk inside. It was extremely mundane. Almost too much so. Everything was in perfect, human order. But as I walked along, I noticed something sticking out of the perfect landscape. Dust. Like no one had been here for more than a month. That or their feather duster broke. But I knew that that wasn't likely when the resident was an alien calling out for help.

After I'd gotten the message, I came here. And I saw her. I saw that look of absolute despair on her face. I recognized that look. I waited a few more days before deciding it was the right time to save her from this depressed state. That's what someone did for me, at least. As I stood in front of the door I knew she was behind, I took a deep breath and patted my Sonic. I felt I might need to use it. I knocked on the door and called, "'Ello? Anyone in there?" I heard a small intake of breath. "Who is it?"

"I would love to continue this conversation, but I'd also love to be inside the room before doing so," I said, ignoring her question. I heard her get up and open the door. Immediately, I began formulating why a beautiful young girl (alien, really, but she looked female) in London 2014 was in such deep grief that it transformed into a message onto my Psychic Paper.

"Who is it?" she repeated, barely glancing at me before returning to her perch on the window sill. "I'm the Doctor and I got your message on my Psychic Paper." She narrowed her eyes. "Psychic Paper? I wouldn't send a message to Psychic Paper. That's ridiculous," she laughed a little before getting sad eyes once more and resuming her gaze.

"Well, I got a message saying 'Help Me' and my ship took me the remainder of the way." A sliver of something was portrayed in her eye when she looked back over at me again; disappointment, maybe, hope, just as much chance. "Nice place you got here. What planet are you from?" She didn't miss a beat when she uttered her answer. "Gallifrey."

As she wore an amused look on her face, I stuttered about opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water. "You say you're from Gallifrey?..." I finally spat out. I heard something that sounded like a bell and realized it was her tinkle of a laugh. I smiled widely as she answered, "No, that's where you're from, silly!"

She laughed a bit more before turning sad once more and changing positions to watch the window. "Well, you sure know your way around the galaxies..." She grinned minutely before it fell off and she resumed in her gazing. "It sure is cloudy outside today..." she muttered morosely after a brief lull. I walked forward a bit. "It's been that way for a week now. But you know that. Of course you do; you've been keeping watch. So, tell me, where are you from and why are you here?"

Messing with the curtains, she said wistfully, "The last of the Time Lords. A spectacular man indeed. Arriving here with your Blue Box and your Psychic Paper. Not to mention that Sonic Screwdriver in your upper left coat pocket." I instinctively touched it and pulled it out. "How did you..." I heard that bell noise again signifying her laugh.

"How do I know? Because I was a friend of the Time Lords oh so very long ago. They talked much of you, Doctor. The mad man with his blue box travelling all of time and space, running. Always running. Running right into trouble. Making yourself a hero. A face with the wisdom of a warrior and the burden of a soldier wrapped up to make you: the hero. You have all of time and space in that stolen Police Box outside. And where do you always manage to end up, Doctor?"

She paused for effect before continuing, "Earth. I find myself here now as well, Doctor. Why do we always end up here? This place that seems so mundane and hesitant to alien life yet thriving with those who've ended up here. Us two included. Why is that, Doctor?" She finally turned to face me once more. I crossed the room and pulled out a chair to sit in front of her.

I cleared my throat and began, "It's beautiful. And it's pure. And it's always in trouble. It calls out to the lonely heart because it's so heartwrenchingly beautiful. And the people. Oh those humans down there, they sure are something, all right. Always making new things. Sure, they make plenty of mistakes but everyone does. That's why I'm here. And I have a strong feeling that we're both on Earth for roughly the same reason. What's yours?"

She wiped her eyes of tears that had yet to fall. She then sorrowfully started, "I've committed the worst crime. The most hateful, the most awful, thing I could've ever done in my entire existence. Now I have picked my prison and will endure my punishment. I will watch this beautiful world crumble to dust before my eyes. Because I know for a fact that I will outlive it...That's how bad my mistake is, Doctor."

She turned back to staring out the window, still as a Weeping Angel as I watched her. "Come with me?" She was jerked out of her reverie. "What?" she screeched. "You truly are a mad man! I've resigned myself to this punishment and I'm hellbent on staying! This is the torture I must face. Why would you take me from that?"

I just nodded and turned to leave. She then called, "What was your mistake, Doctor?" I chuckled mirthlessly and stated without emotion, "You know exactly what my mistake is, miss." Opening her mouth and closing it again, the girl seemed at a loss for words. Finally, she got out, "I think I know why I've been placed on this planet."

I raised an eyebrow and put my hands in my pockets. She continued on, "I think I've been looking for someone who can empathize. And I believe you're just the man. So Doctor, will you heal me?" I grinned like the mad man I was and grabbed her hand. "Of course, you just have to promise to run with me. No more of this punishment stuff, agreed?" She grinned before agreeing. "Brilliant! Allons-y!"