The Doctor

Taking Kurt back to see his mother had been a big risk on the Doctor's part, but as Kurt returned to the TARDIS, his eyes red and his face tear stained, he knew it was worth it. Kurt just moved in and took a seat, keeping quiet. The Doctor couldn't tell if he should say something or just let Kurt digest what had just happened to him. He awkwardly pretended to be working, flipping switches that hadn't worked in centuries and checking out the monitor like he was doing some reading, his eyes 'slyly' glancing towards the boy. He was never great at the comforting role, purely after so long he had grown a little cynical and his words of comfort seemed empty because he tended to know if things were going to be okay or not, and couldn't bring himself to lie though that's what the person needed to hear. After what felt like an hour silence, the Doctor turned and opened his mouth to try to say something but Kurt got there first,
"We should head back… I have schoolwork to do…," he said, furiously wiping his eyes as if insisting he was okay. The Doctor just nodded, moving to the correct buttons.

There was something he was feeling; deep in his gut. It was strange for him to think that he knows this person; maybe their paths had crossed in a different time, when he had a different face. It was hard with his timeline, always jumping about; he could barely remember his life before he had time travel. He couldn't remember what life he had left behind, he wasn't sure if what he did know was false memories. He swallowed thickly as he turned the dials for Lima. He hoped he wouldn't mess up this landing, he's sure Kurt would never forgive him if he couldn't turn in that assignment. There was silence as the TARDIS whirred and flew through the vortex before appearing in the middle of a field, not too far from Hummel's Tire and Lube.

"Wait, don't leave yet," The Doctor said, checking the monitor, the last thing he needed was another instance where he was accused of kidnapping someone – particularly if Burt was the father of said kidnapped child. He glanced over to Kurt's inquisitive face and smiled sheepishly, "Sometimes I don't arrive at the time I intend…," he said before he nods to himself and goes to lead Kurt out. He glanced around to make sure they weren't on some kind of inhospitable environment before he stepped out and looked around, taking a sniff of the air and wandered around a bit to try and get a sense on the time. Kurt must have gotten impatient because he sped on ahead, causing the Doctor to trip as he went to catch up.

"Kurt wait, I –" he started, rounding the corner, interrupted by the image of Kurt in the arms of his father and he stopped. He couldn't hear what was being said, but by the looks on Burt's face, the man wasn't sure what was going on either but knew he was needed by his son at that moment. There was a heavy feeling in the Doctor's stomach, this man - he was still a boy really - just had to watch his mother dying in front of him. It made so much sense; he needed the comfort of his father, knowing he was okay. The Doctor stood awkwardly, moving from foot to foot, as he tried to look casually around rather than staring. Unfortunately, his attempt to act invisible was unsuccessful and soon Burt's eyes captured his and he looked to Kurt,
"So… who's this?" he asked, his eyes now going into the Doctor, who felt like his soul was being drained.

Kurt's P.O.V

"So… who's this?" came from his father's mouth and Kurt wiped his eyes, turning around to see whom he was referring to when he remembered. He looked sheepishly at the Doctor, realising he had just run off and left the man behind and now he wasn't sure how to answer that question. Licking his lips, he turned away from the Doctor back to his father, "This is Blaine Anderson," he said, "He joined the school a few days ago… I was just…" god now he couldn't think of how to explain why he was around.
"He was showing me around… sir," the Doctor chimed in, giving Kurt a warm thankful smile,
"Right… but what upset you?" Burt asked, somehow keeping his attention on Kurt but making the Doctor feel like he was the one being surveyed. He didn't seem to want to move from the spot in case the man went for him.
"I took him to the cemetery… and spoke about mom…" it came easy, it was almost true and what he had said to his mother in that bed was what he said when he stood at her graveside.

His father didn't look too convinced but he didn't push it, just nodding. Kurt smiled softly, trying to assure his father before looking to the doctor. He seemed so... normal and afraid. It was quite remarkable and it made Kurt feel a pull towards the man – alien – he would probably never be able to get. It was strange though, something kept pulling him close to the Doctor like he knew him more than he let on … He shook himself slightly and turned to his father, "Could he come round for dinner tonight? I've been talking about my chicken Caesar salad ALL day and I'd best make it for him." He smiled brightly, looking to the Doctor. He couldn't help but wonder when the Doctor last had a proper meal in that TARDIS, out of all the rooms the ship had, he hadn't noted a kitchen. His father looked to him, obviously debating if it was a good idea to let this strange boy into his house before he sighed and conceded.

The Doctor followed him into his car, awkwardly looking around to avoid catching Burt's eye or seem to be staring at Kurt. Kurt smiled softly as he noted this in his rear view mirror. It was hard not to forget that the teenager in his rear view mirror was not actually a teenager but some kind of alien. His mannerisms were adorably awkward, adjusting his tie as though it was crooked when it sat perfectly under his collar. Kurt had found it hard to keep his eyes on the road as he drove his father and the Doctor home, his eyes drawn to the reflection, wondering what was going through the man's head. Did he had the mind of a teenager? Or was it so much more complicated? He ought to have asked him more about what he was, try to understand. He didn't know if he could be politically incorrect with his species but it couldn't hurt to try to understand him, could it?

When they reached the house, they all climbed out of their individual doors and Kurt led the way into his house. Burt went straight to the fridge before the living room, not without sending a concerning glance in the way of Kurt and 'Blaine' as Kurt assembled the ingredients for the salad. He turned to the Doctor as his father left the room all, "Okay?" the Doctor nodded,
"I've dealt with an overprotective mum… she even came with me in the TARDIS once… but not a dad like him," he said, smiling gently.
"You've had other… friends here?" Kurt found himself asking, trying to keep a tone of jealousy of his voice. The Doctor looked to him and nodded,
"A few…" he said, quietly, "You're the first with this face," he seemed to be trying to assure him. Kurt frowned,
"This… face?" he asked, not even trying to look as though he was assembling the food and the man blushed,
"It's hard to explain…" he started,
"Try."

The Doctor

Try? The Doctor sighed as he glanced around, pretty sure it wasn't wise to say everything with Kurt's father in the next room, "Are you sure? Your dad is probably listening in?" he said, watching Kurt to see if that had any effect on him. A small crease on his forehead and a head tilt was just enough to assure him that Kurt did agree with what he was saying,
"Fine… in my room later." Kurt decided with a tone that the Doctor daren't argue with, so he just nodded. It was strange, no one had this hold on him before… no one since… her. But it couldn't be. She had died, with her final face and he knew she was gone. There was no way Kurt could be… he had been born and raised as a human… He shook himself out of it, moving to help Kurt quietly, thinking about how he was going to explain everything to Kurt later.


"Right. He's asleep upstairs… explain," Kurt said, moving down the stairs to the basement where the Doctor hovered awkwardly, looking at the photos.
"Where do you want me to start?" the Doctor asked, not sure how much he had let slip to him. Kurt hesitated,
"Species and planet," he said, the words felt weird on his tongue as he said it aloud, looking over the Doctor. This was something the Doctor could do, start with the facts of what and who he was.
"Time Lord, Gallifrey… located-" the Doctor started, using something he prepared for such times but Kurt put his hand up,
"That doesn't matter. So… What's the difference between you and me? You look human," Kurt said, a flush on his cheek showing he wasn't sure if that was some kind of discriminatory term.
"Right… we have two hearts… and own these kinds of ships…" he said, swallowing. "When we're small we have to stare into the time vortex… we don't see time as a straight line… but something wibbly-wobbly…" he took a deep breath, "We can see everything that was, is… and could be all at the same time," he said, carefully, his eyes unable to leave Kurt's as he tried to explain it. "When we get mortally wounded or in something traumatic… we regenerate… so we change forms…" he stopped there, looking over Kurt's face to see if the boy believes him.

Kurt nodded, "Forms… so that's what you meant by faces?" he asked, carefully, looking over him and the Doctor nodded,
"Exactly… I'm over 1000 years old…," he said, and there Kurt's jaw dropped and he shrugged sheepishly, "Yeah… this is the youngest I've ever looked as well…," he added. Kurt swallowed, his eyes still wide as he looked over, as if trying to find a hint,
"That explains the outfit… looked a bit like you were wearing your dad's clothes," he said with an amused expression and the Doctor laughed,
"Yeah…"
"Cool…" Kurt said, nodding, "So… what do you do?" he asked. Oh, that one was somewhat easy,
"I travel," he said, "Through space and time," he said, smiling. Well, it wasn't just that, "Well… and sometimes I get sucked into fixing some changes to the time stream… such as Sue using a product of some kind that is alien to this place and time," he said, trying to make it easy for Kurt to relate it,
"You said you travelled with a mom before?" he asked, curious,
"Yeah… I have a few people join me…" the Doctor answered, it felt wrong, awkward, "They… they leave eventually," he added, dreading the question that followed,
"Why?" Kurt asked, almost on cue and the Doctor felt at least one of his heart break as he speaks,
"The life isn't for everyone… and people have other people to get back to…" he said,
"And who do you have?" Kurt asked, gently, taking his hand. The Doctor was speechless for a moment,
"The TARDIS," he answered, quietly, afraid to look up to see Kurt's face if the squeeze on his hand was enough to go by. He knew what he was thinking, but he also knew Kurt wouldn't be able to leave his father alone and go off with him.
"Why don't you stay here?" Kurt asked and the Doctor turned to him, licking his lips slightly,
"Because I don't belong," he answered, simply.