Night had set in Rome as the full moon watched over the city. As the time

travelling trio left the TARDIS, Clara looked up at the sky and thought to herself how wonderful the moon is, particularly now she knows it's an egg encompassing a dragon-like creature which is the only one of it's kind. It's funny how things work out like that when travelling with The Doctor.

The Time Lord in question was at this point incredibly scared. He was terrified because he recently had a horrible thought: maybe, just maybe, this wasn't just a weird conspiracy, maybe this was a treasure trail. A trail of breadcrumbs leading him to- what exactly? And who set the trail in the first place? Was this a trap- he secretly hoped so, he'd been so bored since Missy had been killed.

Jack was wondering if he should get a gun- he forgot to pick one up when he left Gwen on Earth. Not like he particularly needed one but purely because his pocket felt empty without one. He doubted that The Doctor would approve but he wasn't so sure about his most recent form. He didn't really know what to make of him. Jack thought it sounded strange, but he never thought of him being so alien until now.

As the three of them crept to a door, The Doctor turned round to them. "Inside this house is a man called Lobus Caecilius, a very old friend of mine. But there is one thing I should probably tell you."

Clara rolled her eyes, "What is it?".

"He might still think I'm a god." Said The Doctor slowly, as even he was slightly embarrassed by this. Jack and Clara rolled their eyes in unison this time. The Doctor nodded with a grimace on his face as he put his hood up and knocked on the door four times. Old habits die hard.

The door slowly opened as a man who wasn't Caecilius stepped out of the candle light of the house. His face was lined with wrinkles and his hair was greying. "Who are you?" the man whispered.

The Doctor, who looked equally confused replied with "Um I'm looking for Lobus Caecilius, I think we must've gone to the wrong...ah...villa."

"Lobus does live here, he's my father." the man said, looking even more confused.

"I think we might have...um...over shot it a bit." Said The Doctor, partially to his friends and partially to himself, "I'm The Doctor, but I've changed a bit since I last saw you."

The man, Quintus, seemed to relax "I was wondering when we were going to see you again. But I'm afraid, you've come very late, my father is ill you see.".

"Can we still see him- I need to talk to him, it's pretty urgent." explained The Doctor softly.

"Of course, come in." Quintus said as he beckoned the trio through the door. The inside of the villa was lit up by oil candles, releasing a dreamy aroma, that made the three of them feel exhausted. In front of them was a set of gauzy curtains, through which you could see a bed and a figure looking down onto it.

Quintus went ahead and disappeared behind the curtain.

"Evelina, there are some people who want to talk to father, come with me and give them some privacy."

"But, who are they, what do they want?"

"The Doctor has come back, but he won't show his face. He says that he must speak to father."

"But why has he come back now?"

"I don't know, to pay his respects or something."

There was a noise which sounded suspiciously like a smack, followed by a "Aghh" from Quintus.

"Don't talk like that. You're such a child sometimes."

"Children do shut up and let The Doctor in." whispered a hoarse voice.

Clara looked at The Doctor, wondering if she wanted to see her friend like this. She knew that The Doctor and Caecilius were entirely different people but still, she felt pretty uncomfortable. She looked up at The Doctor, who, under the hood had a stony expression, which seemed exaggerated by the candlelight flickering across his face.

Quintus and Evelina appeared from the shrouds, Quintus' left cheek was slowly turning red as he looked awkwardly at his guests.

"He'll see you now." Muttered Quintus, avoiding everybody's eyes. The Doctor only raised his eyebrows in response.

The three travellers slowly stepped into the dimly-lit room, to face Caecilius. He looked ancient- his wrinkles deepened by age and sickness, his breath coming in short spurts, although all of his hair was still there which pleased The Doctor for some strange reason. Quintus and Evelina stepped out of the room to give them some privacy. At this point The Doctor decided to dramatically take his hood down to reveal his face to Caecilius.

"Doctor, why have you changed your face to my own?" Croaked Lobus as he looked up at the Time Lord.

"That's what I'm trying to find out. You see, there are many different people who look like us, and I'm trying to find out why. Do you have any idea?" Asked The Doctor, almost humouring the man.

"Maybe the other gods are playing a trick on you." Replied Lobus without really believing his own words.

"I'm sorry Caecilius, I deceived you. I'm not a god to worship- I'm just a man. I don't want you praying to me anymore." Said The Doctor gently as he took a seat next to Lobus, who just smiled to himself.

"I know you're not a god, and I don't pray to you. I thank you for saving me and my family in your blue box, hoping maybe that you might be able to hear me, because I've seen your world, Doctor, all that wonder and beauty. But there is darkness and destruction there too I bet. Evelina used to tell me what she saw in you when she still had the visions, all that loss, all that love. How can any man stand it? But you do somehow. How do you stand it?" whispered Caecilius slowly, his voice weakening over time.

"By not being alone." Answered the Time Lord. Both Jack and Clara smiled sadly, understanding not just how much they meant to The Doctor, but how much he truly needed them.

"Go! Carry on with your impossible adventures, leave an old man to die in peace." Smirked Lobus.

"I could help you. I could keep you alive for longer!" Begged The Doctor.

"I don't want you to. I've had a good life, filled with love and loss in equal measure. I think I've earned the right to go quietly." Said Lobus, with a weary smile etched across his features. The Doctor nodded respectfully and beckoned Clara and Jack to leave the room with him as he lifted the hood back over his head.

They said their goodbyes to Quintus and Evelina, and left the household.

"Are you okay?" Asked Clara, her gigantic eyes looking concerned.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." said The Doctor as his voice trembled slightly.

As they got into the TARDIS, a voice broke the silence, "So where to now?" Asked Jack who so far hadn't said a word ever since they landed in Rome. The Doctor was momentarily taken aback as he had forgotten Jack was there.

"Um...I think we should pay a certain spin doctor a visit." Declared The Doctor as he flipped the controls and did his little pirouette around the console.