Old Friend (comic story)

Summary
The Tenth Doctor and Emily exit the TARDIS, which has appeared next to a house for the elderly. Entering, they are met with suspicions by the head nurse, and claim to come as a "surprise inspection". In the house's main hall, a small party is being thrown for Barnaby Edwards, one of the residents, who all of a sudden recognizes the Doctor and asks to talk to him.

Barnaby tells of how he recognized him, in spite of being a companion of a future Doctor, and how that Doctor gave him an envelope to hand to his earlier self. He also mentions previous (from his perspective) encounters with Sontarans and "the Floor Menace", and profusely apologizes for leaving the TARDIS, explaining he had fallen in love and felt he had to live his own life.

Allaying his fears, the Doctor assures him he had been "one of the best companions ever" and that he does not nurse any anger towards him for leaving the TARDIS. The relieved Barnaby sighs in relief and goes to sleep as the Doctor leaves. Emily tries to tell the Doctor something about Barnaby, but the Doctor stops her, saying he doesn't want to know.

Opening the envelope within the TARDIS, the Doctor finds a single, charred sheet of paper-one of the pages of the false diary supposedly kept by Turlough. Realizing the message was that the diary was to be soon destroyed, the Doctor changes course to meet with the Advocate and ensure her final defeat.

Characters

 * Tenth Doctor
 * Emily Winter
 * Barnaby Edwards

Continuity

 * The Doctor tells of the time when the TARDIS pretended to be Martha Jones. He references the TARDIS as "she", yet again.
 * The Doctor and Barnaby encountered the Sontarans.

Timeline

 * This story occurs after IDW: Don't Step on the Grass
 * This story occurs before IDW: Final Sacrifice