DISCLAIMER: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or Doctor Who.


The Doctor awoke abruptly, bringing a hand to his aching head and groaning.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?" Carson looked down at him, looking slightly intimidated. The Doctor sighed, realizing that he had most likely made the entire Atlantis base slightly terrified of him. Within 10 minutes of meeting them.

"What did I do? I don't remember much of waking up the first time. I am so sorry if I did anything weird."

Carson relaxed and smiled, just a little bit, saying, "Don't worry, all you did was sniff the wall, call yourself the Doctor, claim you'd met the Ancients, say something about time travel, talk about how okay you felt and then pass out on the floor."

Uh oh. Something told him that these people were not going to believe the truth.

"Sorry. Healing comas cause me to go a bit weird afterwards. But I think a meeting should be called so that I can tell all of you about me, because most of the stuff I said was probably true but not explained very well."

Carson looked at him skeptically. "Time travel?"

The Doctor nodded. "Time travel."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yep."

"Alright."

"Mm." The Doctor looked around. "Have you got my clothes around here anywhere?"

"Are you sure you should be getting up?"

"I'll be fine, just need to wait for the headache to pass."

"Alright, I'll go get your clothes for you and tell Doctor Weir to call a meeting," Carson said.

Once he had left, the Doctor got out of the bed and stretched. Now that he was nearly recovered from the coma, he was able to clearly hear Atlantis in his mind. He had known the city was sentient from the moment he had tried to scan it, but hadn't been able to communicate.

You are not like the others, Atlantis said in his mind.

I'm not, the Doctor replied. I am sorry about my attempt to scan you before.

It is fine, you were not well, she said. You are different. You are a Time Lord. The last of the Time Lords. You are sensitive to telepathy. I have not been able to talk since my builders ascended. It's been so long. I have tried to sing to the others, but they could not hear me.

I am sorry, the Doctor replied. Soon, I may be able to bring my ship here. She can talk. She is called the TARDIS.

A slight vibration ran through the ground. I would like that, I have waited for someone for years. Just to talk. I have been so lonely. Like yourself. Lonely traveller in the dark.

I have companions, I do not travel alone often.

They do not stay long. I can sense your sadness, Time Lord, your longing for what's lost and never found. Rose.

In any other occasion, the Doctor would be shocked and angry that Rose had been brought up, yet now he didn't feel angry. He felt safe in talking with Atlantis.

She is trapped, and I cannot get her back without killing many. I know this.

Yet you still yearn for her.

I cannot change what happened.

I know.

You sound just like the TARDIS.

Then your TARDIS is doing a good job. I cannot wait to meet her.

You'll love her, I can tell.

Atlantis withdrew from his mind as Carson returned with the Doctor's clothes.

"I'm sorry, but the shirt has a hole from the bullet," he said, setting the clothes down next to him.

"That's fine," the Doctor replied. "Thanks for, y'know, not immediately knocking me out with sedatives as soon as I started to jump around talking about meeting the Ancients and licking the walls."

"No problem. The meeting's in 30 minutes in Doctor Weir's office, I'll take you there when it's time. There's showers down the hall."

The Doctor nodded and Carson left.

What was he going to tell them?

You'll be fine. Atlantis rumbled.

The Doctor smiled. "I know."