'1973?' The Doctor frowned at the TARDIS console screen. 'What's so special about 1973?'

The TARDIS didn't respond, merely hummed contentedly in it's new parking space.

'Well you're a great help.' The Timelord tutted. 'Well - May as well go for a wander while I'm here. Might even get to catch a few gigs while I'm at it! T-Rex, or someone like that. You know, I haven't seen them since - Well, 1973, actually.'

He pulled on his coat and headed for the door, smiling over his shoulder.

'Don't wait up!'

He spluttered as he walked out of the door, torrential rain soaking through his clothes in seconds. He could only be in one place - Manchester. The one place in England that could produce a downpour while the rest of the country basked in the sun. He rolled his eyes and spotted a glowing sign in the distance, deciding to buy a nice cup of tea and wait for the rain to pass. He tugged his coat and held it closed as he ran towards the doorway beneath the light, groaning slightly when rain soaked through the holes in his battered hi-tops. When he walked through the door, his glasses immediately steamed up. He huffed and pushed them on top of his head, shaking his arms as rainwater dripped from the tips of his fingers. The dim, neon strip light illuminating the dated greasy spoon flickered slightly, Metal Guru ringing out over the crackling wireless radio. A portly looking woman behind the counter leaned over, looking him up and down before grinning.

'Cats and Dogs out there innit, luv?' She beamed.' Can I get yers a brew?'

The Doctor flashed her a wide grin.

'Cuppa tea, please. Nice and strong.' He nodded.

'Ooh, blimey - a Southerner!' She chuckled, flapping her wrist exaggeratedly. 'We are privelidged. I'll use me best china, shall I?'

The Doctor laughed, peeling his coat from damp shoulders. 'Your finest chipped mug with a crude slogan will do just nicely, thanks.'

'Ooh, I like you.' She crowed, house-slippered feet shuffling off towards the back. 'You can come again!'

The Doctor shook his head and sat down, placing his jacket on the seat beside him. He rested his chin in his hand and watched the rain hammering against the window - the dark street illuminated by flickers of lightening in the distance. Pulling his sleeve over his hand, he wiped at the condensation, watching a young couple huddle under an umbrella as they raced to get away from the rain.

It was the rare times like these he really appreciated - being allowed a brief respite from the running around, battling against whatever force had decided to cause trouble on any given day. He enjoyed just being able to sit, and watch this tiny little planet go about it's business. Even if the weather was predominantly rubbish.

'Wait. Wait!'

The Doctor frowned as he heard a voice from the other corner of the room. He raised his eyebrow at another man, sat with his back to him and his hands clamped to either side of his head. The leather of his jacket creaking slightly as he pressed his fingers against his skull.

'Mum? Tell him! I can hear you!' The voice yelled again. 'I'm still here!'

The Doctor leaned back in his seat. It was too early for mobile phones, never mind bluetooth headsets - So who on earth was he talking to? He rolled his eyes slightly, realising that he may have just run into the reason the TARDIS decided to touch down in 1973.

Never a minute's peace.

The woman from behind the counter placed his mug of tea on the table and smiled.

'Excuse me?' The Doctor asked. 'Who is that man over there?'

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

'Oh, that's Sam.' She nodded. 'Local copper. He's always comin' in here, falling asleep and shouting - scaring away my bloody customers!'

'Oh..' The Doctor said, looking back over to where Sam was sitting. Sam didn't look very asleep to him.

'Sam!' The woman yelled, waddling over to his table and patting him on the back. 'You're talking in your sleep again, love. C'mon - you've got a bloody home to go to. Go and get some sleep!'

Sam span around, and The Doctor could see his breathing was heavy, startled by the woman's shouting.

'Shit. Sorry, Moll.' He stammered, running a hand over his face. 'Look - I'll go in a few minutes, yeah? When the rain's stopped. Can I have another coffee before I go?'

She rolled her eyes and nodded, shuffling back towards her kitchen. She pointed at The Doctor.

'You! Make sure he doesn't nod off again, or I'll kick the pair of you out, pissing down or not!'

The Doctor grinned cheekily at her and rose to his feet, walking over to Sam's table. He tapped against the plastic-coated chipboard and smiled at the other man.

'D'you mind if I sit here?'

Sam shrugged, his gaze distant. Clearly his mind was on other things.

'Listen, I couldn't help but hear you-'

'It's nothing.' Sam snapped, a faint grin tugging at his lips. 'And besides, you wouldn't believe me if I told you.'

'Oh,' The Doctor said, leaning back in his seat and letting out a puff of air. 'Dunno about that.'

Sam laughed incredulously, shaking his head.

'I do.' He smirked, tapping his fingernails against the third empty mug on the table. 'Who are you, anyway? I may as well ask, seeing as you've been ordered to babysit me.'

'The Doctor.' He nodded.

'The Doctor?' Sam smirked. 'Doctor what?'

The Doctor folded his arms.

'Just - The Doctor.'

'Well, aren't we enigmatic!' The other man snorted as Moll came to put a mug of coffee in front of him. 'Hear this, Moll? He's The Doctor.'

'Good job.' She smiled, walking away. 'You'll bloody need one if you fall asleep in my caff again.'

'Well, I only know you as 'Sam' - You could be anyone!' The Doctor retorted.

'Sam Tyler.' Sam nodded. 'DI Sam Tyler.'

'Tyler?' The Doctor questioned, blinking at him.

'What?'

'Oh - er - nothing.' He shrugged. 'I had a friend called Tyler, once. That's all.'

'Ah.' He grinned. 'Well there we go, a tenuous link.'

'So, anyway.' The Doctor continued to press. 'You weren't asleep, were you?'

Sam folded his arms.

'When you were shouting - You weren't asleep.' He continued. 'Who were you talking to?'

'My - nobody.' Sam frowned, certainly not feeling comfortable enough to reveal anything significant to the stranger sat opposite him. 'And what business is it of yours, anyway?'

'Humour me. I'm the curious type.'

'Evidently.' Sam tutted, sipping at his drink. 'Look - Can I ask you something?'

The Doctor shrugged, peering over as he sipped carefully on his steaming drink.

'Have you ever felt like - like you're completely out of your time?' He almost whispered, leaning forward slightly. 'Like - you're stuck somewhere that has no concept of anything you're familiar with?'

A slight grin tugged at the Doctor's mouth, amused at the irony of the question.

'A bit, yeah.'

Sam looked at him, and tilted his head.

'You know, you're the first person who's ever said 'yes' to that question.'

'Well,' The Doctor grinned. 'I'm not from around these parts. Could be why.'

Sam frowned, looking away slightly as he nodded.

'Could be.'

He leaned forward again. 'Who are you, Doctor?'

'If I told you,' He smirked. 'You wouldn't believe me.'

Sam raised his eyebrows at the Doctor - This was beginning to get a little bit wierd. He cleared his throat and sat back in his seat, his gaze still fixed on his new companion.

'So, Doctor,'

'Mm?'

'D'you fancy a drink?'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nelson was ringing the bell for last orders as they arrived at the Railway Arms, and there were few patrons remaining. Sam grinned at the one person who appeared to have no intention of leaving any time soon - hunched over the bar with a scotch in his hand, slurring and cursing about something as he teetered on his stool.

'Alright, Guv?'

'Fook off, bass'd.'

'It's me, Guv.'

Gene Hunt clumsily span around on his seat, holding his arms aloft.

'Sammy-boy!' He bellowed, punctuated by a loud belch. 'Where y'bin? Nelson's been 'andin out freebies.'

'Oh, out and about.' He nodded.

''Oo's this?' Gene growled, gesturing towards the tall, thin man stood behind Sam. 'S'this yer girlfriend, Tyler?'

'No, Gene.' Sam said, the roll of his eyes betraying his patient tone of voice. 'This is the-'

'John Smith.' The Doctor grinned, stepping out from behind Sam and gripping Gene's outstretched hand, shaking it firmly. 'I'm a mate of Sam's - thinking of joining the force, so he invited me to see how you lot do it up here.'

'Bloody southern poof.' Gene grumbled, watching his hand be shaken vigorously. 'Gerroff me, Daisy.'

'Guv!' Sam exclaimed, fearing the Doctor might about to be on the recieving end of a trademark Hunt beating.

'What?' He growled back. 'I tell you what - I might - might let him 'ang around like a bad smell and be a pain in me arse - if 'e can complete my challenge.'

'Oh yeah?' The Doctor smirked, raising an eyebrow. 'What's that?'

Gene turned around to Nelson.

'Nelson! A bottle of your finest scotch please, my good man!'

Nelson stopped drying the glass he had in his hands and turned to Gene, rolling his eyes.

'Gene, not another one. That's the third time you've done it this week! I might want to get to bed tonight!'

'Well we can lock up for yer! You wouldn't be disobeying a police officer, would yer?'

Nelson shot a despairing look at Sam, who could do nothing but shake his head in exasperation. The only upside to this was that Gene had already had a skinful, and wasn't likely to last more than a few hours. On the downside, he feared for the state of his new friend once this was over. He's seen many a man fall to Gene Hunt and his ridiculously excessive constitution for alcohol.

The barman relutantly handed over the bottle and three shot glasses. Sam would be roped in to adjudicate - he always was when Gene decided to hold one of his little competitions - and get a few whiskeys for his trouble.

'C'mon, you lanky streak of piss - Last one to fall is the victor.'

The Doctor glanced at Sam mischeviously before slapping Gene's shoulder.

'Let battle commence!'

-------------------------------------------------------------

Sam could scarcely take it in. He blinked at Gene, head on the table and an unattractive string of drool hanging from the corner of his mouth.

'How?'

'Well, it's -' The Doctor paused, taking a considered sip of scotch. 'this thing I have. With booze. It takes a lot longer to get around my system.'

'But it's Gene!' Nobody on this planet could ever drink Gene Hunt under the table. I've seen it! Big hairy biker types, local 'ard-nuts. Not one of them have ever been able to do it. I swear, you aren't human!'

'You might be right there, Sam.' The Doctor smirked, lips pressed to the rim of his glass. 'You're a very persh- pershep. Oh blimey, here it comes.'

'The booze?'

The Doctor nodded, swaying slightly in his seat, his eyes suddenly becoming glassy. Sam let out an exhausted sigh and stood up, tossing Nelson's keys in his hand and gesturing towards the door.

'Come on. You might want to have a lie down.'

The Doctor grinned dopily and stood up unsteadily, almost tripping over his own feet as he stepped out from behind the table. Sam caught his arm and guided him towards the door and out onto the street. The Doctor's knees buckled and he sank to the floor like a broken marionette. Sam rolled his eyes and turned around as he realised body attached to the arm he was holding had become a dead weight.

'1973!' The Doctor giggled. 'Ended up in 1973 to have a drinking competition with an overweight copper. Brilliant!'

Sam's eyes widened and he let go of the Doctor's arm.

'Ended up in 1973?' He questioned. 'What do you mean by that?'

'I'll tell you.' The Doctor nodded, staggering to his feet and throwing an arm over Sam's shoulder. 'If you can take me somewhere I'd be able to get a nice cup of tea.'

Sam tutted, locking an arm around the taller man's waist and assisting him up the road. He felt his surprisingly light body leaning heavily on him for support and wondered why most of the people he seemed to encounter in 1973 were complete headcases.

It was either that, or this was all in his mind - and he was the headcase for dreaming them up.