Arthur was sitting calmly in his parlor when he heard it. A strange wheezing sound that despite its foreign tones brought a sense of hope with it. Because of his familiarity with this particular sound, the Briton was not surprised when a blue police box appeared in the room and a lanky man in a blue suit and brown jacket stumbled out. "Thank you for coming." Arthur said with a small smirk on his lips as he sipped at his tea.
"Was that really necessary?" The Doctor asked, exasperation clear on his face.
"You know how the queen loves me. Consider that payback for Elizabeth."
"Fair enough. Now what was so urgent that you needed me?"
"Might as well get to the point then." Arthur said, setting down his cup and focusing his attention on the Doctor. "I have a very dear friend who encountered something I know you have experience with."
"I have experience with lots of things. Daleks, Cybermen, angry monarchs, stuff-"
"Weeping angels, Doctor." Arthur cut off his rambling.
"Oh... Oh. I can see how that would be a problem." The Doctor trailed off. "I assume you want me to go back in time to where the angel dropped them?"
"If only it were so simple. There are some complications with this particular friend, however."
"Complications? What sort of complications?"
"My friend happens to be the representation of the United States of America. The angels sent him back and he relived his personal hell up to the present day." Arthur said with a slow deliberation. "You and him are quite alike in that aspect really. Despite all the good you two have done you still consider yourselves unworthy for every life you couldn't save."
"What do you expect me to do? Messing with the past at this point may cause some paradoxical problems."
"At least talk to the lad. You above all people would know how much it hurts to witness your greatest failures repeatedly."
"Low blow, old friend." The Doctor replied with a wince.
"Only being honest." Arthur stated calmly as he stood and strode towards the TARDIS. "Now, shall we go see what we can do about this problem?"
"Oh sure, walk in like you own the place." The Doctor said as he shut the doors.
"You do realize the doors are supposed to open the other way, right?" Arthur said as he leaned against the railing near the main console.
"It doesn't matter. They open however I want them to." He replied as he started messing with the controls of the main console and the TARDIS lurched to life.
"Sure they do." The Brit said as he held onto the railing. Soon enough the erratic movement of the TARDIS came to an end and the Timelord pulled open the doors to see a young blonde adjusting his glasses with a quizzical expression.
"Hello there, I'm the Doctor!" He greeted with a smile at the disheveled American.
"Um, hello." Alfred replied as he gave a small wave to the person in front of him.
"Sorry for dropping in unexpectedly." Arthur said as he walked into view. "My acquaintance here is a time traveler."
"I see." The bespectacled blonde said softly as he looked at the two figures before him.
"How about we go somewhere, Alfred. Anywhere at all." The Doctor said, the obvious sorrow weighing on the person before him allowed him to sympathize.
"I'm not sure. I just feel tired." Alfred replied.
The Doctor looked around when a set of stone wings caught his attention, "Are those-"
"They are." Alfred interrupted, his gaze cast downward. "They've been following since they sent me back. Guess when they figured out I was immortal they decided to enjoy he buffet. They won't bother you though."
"Are you sure about that? These creatures aren't exactly docile." He kept a wary gaze on the statues.
"They haven't attacked anyone yet but I still don't trust them. I'm sure they're laughing at me."
"They are cruel." The Doctor stated lowly. He could see why Arthur wanted him to help cheer up the kid. Despite his physical age he was still quite young in the mental and emotional aspects. He grabbed Alfred's wrist and pulled him into the TARDIS in a sudden motion. "So, come along now. We have places to go and things to see!"
"Careful you madman with a box!" Arthur scolded as he assisted the stumbling teenager who was adjusting his glasses once again.
"Who says I'm a madman with a box?" The Doctor replied as he shut the TARDIS doors and started throwing levers on the main console without a care.
"You do." The Brit stated as he helped his former charge keep steady in the lurching of the TARDIS.
"Since when?"
"Spoilers." Arthur answered with a knowing smirk as the TARDIS ceased its erratic movement.
"You two argue a lot." Alfred commented. "Where are we?"
"Away from the angels and a long way away from Earth." The Doctor said, smiling brightly as he ran over to the doors and pulled them open.
What Alfred saw beyond the entrance nearly took his breath away as he gazed upon the swirling patterns of rock, dust, ice, and light that formed a myriad of colors. He had seen plenty of nebulas and galaxies throughout his years of contact with NASA but those had always been pictures. It was different when he was actually in space with the Eagle Nebula right in front of him.
"Eagle Nebula?" Arthur asked.
"I thought it would be fitting. He is America." The Doctor replied as he watched the great celestial body give birth to new stars and planets.
"It's beautiful..." Alfred commented. He had always wanted to see the stars for himself but was never able to due to his poor eyesight. Astronauts had to have perfect vision when the opportunity first presented itself but now he was too busy to even consider the possibility of such a venture.
As he was inexplicably drawn towards the doorway, he put his hand on the wall of the machine. The entirety of the vehicle seemed to pulse, like a heartbeat that resonated with the very core of his being. Not just America the nation, but Alfred F. Jones, the explorer, the innovator, the dreamer. The ship was alive all around him, speaking to him. There was no distinct voice or formation to the words but what they said was clear.
"Type 40 TARDIS with a blown chameleon circuit. You could fix it but you choose not to." The words left Alfred's mouth feeling natural and comfortable.
"How'd you know that?" The Doctor asked as he put on his own spectacles. No one strolled into his TARDIS and just knew. Unless he had met them before of course.
"She told me..." He explained, a bright smile forming on his face. "She told me her stories and I told her mine."
"You are the first one to ever be able to speak with her like that. Quite amazing."
"I won't be the last. It's even more amazing to hear your stories. You stole each other and now you both travel together. Looks like you have another Jones tagging along for a while."
"And I will be here as well." Arthur said. He wasn't completely surprised that Alfred had resonated with the TARDIS so easily. They were, after all, two of a kind. Both wanted to be free to explore the universe around them.
"Well, I don't see why not. The TARDIS seems to like the two of you." The Doctor said.
"The TARDIS has always liked me." Arthur responded.
"You don't have to be so snide about it. She just has particular tastes in people and you happen to be the type of person she likes."
"So Doctor, are we going to go on an adventure?" Alfred asked as he shut the TARDIS doors with a barely subdued grin.
"Anywhere in all of time and space."