The flame of time - Doctor Who

One

I was six years old and as long I can remember my family was a mess. I was in my room, crying in my bed and my hands covered my ears. Mom and dad were fighting again. Words and sentences struggled their way through my fingers and find their way into my head. I knew I wasn't the only kid who had a messed up family but I think my screams for help were apparently the loudest so I whispered: "Help me..." Somehow this "help me" thing was calming me down, not knowing help was actually coming from far, far away. "Kate! Come down!" It was mom and I crossed my fingers, hoping not to get beat up again by the hands of dad. But... He wasn't my dad at all. Mom married again a few years ago, because dad had said not to stay alone. And she married this idiotic bastard. I walked down the stairs, filled with fear. The man, whom I had to called "dad", was getting his jacket on and mom walked towards me. "Listen Kate, dad and I have to go, can you stay alone for a while?" I was mad. "He isn't my dad!" It was louder then I hoped for. Mom hushed the situation for a while but I read the fear in her eyes. "Go and watch the telly, and let no one in. You know how scared I am about those people." I nodded and went into the living room. As I sat, I nearly felt in sleep but the door bell woke me up. Mom forbid me to open the door but as always my curiosity won and this could bring me in big trouble one day. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked towards the front door. While I grabbed the doorknob, adrenalin rushed through my body and I opened the door. A tall man stood there. Brown hair, blue suit, a long, brown coat and All Star shoes. He turned around and saw me. "Hello, there. I'm John Smith." As a child I found it suspicious considering my situation so I asked if he could identify himself. He kneeled down showed his paper and asked. "Where are your mom and dad? I would love to speak with them." I stared at the paper, it was blank. "But sir that is a blank paper." His eyebrow rose, as he was surprised.

"A clever kid. May I ask what your name is?" I turned around, walking towards the living room. "My name is Kate, please close the door behind you sir." I heard the front door closing and a few seconds later he stood in my living room. I sat down on the couch and I thought well about my question as I finally asked him. "Who are you really? You're not one of those people so what are doing here?" He asked me if he may sit down next to me on the couch and I nodded. "Kate, did you asked for help?" "Well, I did but I never thought I would happen." The man pulled out some kind of stick and pressed a button. It lighted up and it made a buzz sound. He mumbled something about no aliens or strange things and stuff. "I am the Doctor, Kate and this is a sonic screwdriver." I laughed. "A doctor? Come on tell me where you from. And explain the alien part you mumbled about." He laughed and pointed his finger to me. "You girl, you are a severe one." As he continued his short story about his home Gallifrey and the war, I started to notice he has this strange effect and I trusted him. With whole my life. I saw all kinds of emotions cross his face and I felt sorry for him. Even though, the Doctor didn't told whole details and things, he has a lot luggage of memories and choices to carry along. It was my turn to tell my story in my short life. I realized it was nothing compared with him. At the end I cried and I couldn't hold it. Totally unexpected he comforted me and I smiled. "You Kate are strong enough but I could visit you once in a while if you want to." I hugged him so tight I thought I might choke him. He put me back on my seat and started walking and thinking in the free space in the living room. Suddenly he stopped and smile. "I got it! Allons-y! Let's go to your room, upstairs!" And he was already gone to my bedroom. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" I ran upstairs and I found him ruining my bedroom. "Do you want me dead, Doctor?" He stood up and examinated me and found some of the bruises. His face turned sad. "Okay, Kate. What is important for you and what will you carry around in like say forever?" I handed out my arm where the bracelet from granny was gone to. Yes, I stole it but it was the only thing left of all the memories. The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it on grans bracelet. "If you ever need immediate help, just call my name." I nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Doctor." And I hugged him.

So that was it? No, definitely not. Over the years he visited me recently and I was happy. He didn't forget me but things changed since the first meeting. When I was ten, my stepdad had beaten me into the hospital and I was placed by a foster family. I was sure it was the Doctor who did it and I was happy about it. But there was one down side on it. I had to go every weekend to my mother but she was never there. And one weekend that went terribly wrong. I was sixteen and it was a Saturday evening. Actually I had a jam night with some friends but I wasn't allowed to go. I was watching the telly and I heard a noise coming from upstairs. So, again with a pounding heart, the same feeling I had when the Doctor first came along and I hoped it was him. I walked upstairs. The noise was in one of the bedrooms like someone was pulling everything about. The next few moments went so fast I only remember someone ran against me and I felt a warm liquid flowing from my stomach down. I looked down and there it was; a big shiny kitchen knife and I felt, screaming the Doctor but he can't be here on time, never. The last thing I saw was this burning light and I blanked out.

When I woke up, the Doctor sat next to me. He looked worried. I looked down. Though I saw the color of my shirt was turned into deep red, I didn't feel any of the pain I had expected. " What... What happened?" The Doctor helped me to stand up. " I used a bit of my regeneration to fixed you up but I though..." From that moment we never spoke about it.

The real story started at my school.