Help is Always Given

Chapter 1

Strangers

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•Autumn of 2011•

The Doctor, Amy, and Rory sit at a table outside a caffè having their afternoon tea. The Doctor can't help but notice an old man sitting a few tables away. It doesn't help that the old man keeps staring at him.

Fingers snap in front of the Doctors face and he turns his attention back to his companions who had been asking where they are going to go after tea time.

"I don't know," says the Doctor, clearly distracted and not paying close attention. "Might go see the Waterfalls of Caliburry on the moon orbiting Vawlin. Pop in to see River maybe, I dunno."

Amy laughs and takes a sip of her tea.

"Doctor.." starts Rory irritatedly, "who or what do you keep looking at over my shoulder? It's really making me want to turn in my seat."

"I'm not exactly sure. But I'm curious to find out who he is," he replied.

The Doctor focuses on finishing his tea and pastry to distract him from the strange man. After a while, the man gets up and walks over to their table.

"I'm sorry to disturb you during your tea," he starts, "but I was observing you from a few tables away. I wasn't going to come over until I was certain." He pauses. "You are the Doctor, aren't you?"

"Maybe. But how would you know that?" The Doctor is clearly a little frightened by this confrontation.

"When you're as old as I am, and have seen many things, and heard many tales of extraordinary men, you know a thing or two. There have been many story's about you, Doctor, all through history." The old man explains. "A strange but extraordinary man who is noticeably different from the people of this world. Long ago, a friend of mine spoke to me about such a man as you. He said that you will save me in my greatest hour of need."

The whole while, Amy and Rory were sat there finishing their tea and pastries silently watching the conversation going on in front of them. They still hadn't a clue as to who the man was or what his reason was to talk to the Doctor.

The Doctor is shocked, no one should know about him. He's deleted himself from history many a time. "How would you know that? No one as far back as 2005 should know I exist, so how do you know who I am? I've deleted myself from earth's history on many different occasions. It's impossible... And who was your friend? How could he know such things?"

The man smiles. "I'm older and more powerful than you think. Just because you erase yourself from history doesn't mean I don't know who you are. Everything I know remains always in my knowledge. No one, not even you, could erase it, Time Lord. As for who my friend was, I am afraid I can not tell you. Not yet."

The Doctor can't decide if he's frightened by this man, or intrigued by him. Both perhaps.

Amy studies the Doctors face, looking for clues, for something, anything. She sees something that is almost like realization. He doesn't let it show very long, just long enough for Amy to see and understand that this old man, whoever he is, is to be trusted. Amy gives Rory's hand a squeeze to let him know that everything is about to fall into place.

The Doctor stands up and motions for the man, Amy, and Rory to follow. Rory puts down some money on the table, always the one to pay, and quickly catches up. The Doctor takes them to the opening of the alley that the TARDIS is parked down and stops, not wanting the stranger to see his precious blue box just yet.

Amy and Rory are a few feet behind the old man, still observing the two men with intense curiosity. The Doctor turns to face the man. He squints at him, studying him so intensely, Amy's afraid a hole will bore through the poor old man.