Disclaimer: Doctor Who (c) to the BBC.
Mickey saw the Doctor leap to his feet after Rose, and quickly scrambled up after him. They both threw themselves towards Rose as she turned to help the girl and the man raised the stick again, but they were too late. Mickey cried out in anger as his friend folded to the ground. He skidded to a halt in front of Rose, but the Doctor was already there, eyes flashing dangerously as the man went for Rose again.
"Normally, I don't like violence," he told the man conversationally as he grabbed the weapon with both hands, "But just so you know; touch Rose again, and I'll kill you." The dangerous look in his eyes betrayed the calm tone of voice, and the man swallowed, glancing at the black woman, who was staring at him in fear. Mickey gaped helplessly at her as he crouched down beside Rose.
"Move." The Doctor politely shoved him out of the way, gently rolling Rose onto her back and checking her pulse. "She's alive."
Mickey stood up, relief flooding through him, quickly followed by anger. He spun to face the man, who was unsuccessfully trying to rearrange his expression into one of sympathy, his attention obviously still on the girl.
"What're you playing at?" Mickey demanded furiously, hands unconsciously balling into fists. "You could have killed them both!"
"I'm sorry about your friend, but she shouldn't have got in my way." The man growled, trying to grab the weapon from the ground where the Doctor had dropped it. Mickey kicked it away and grabbed the man's arm. He wanted to rip the arm right off, but the Doctor spoke again from the ground behind him.
"Who are you?" he asked. "Why do you think this woman is a witch?" He gestured at the black woman, who had retreated behind him.
"I know she's a Witch," he spat the last word, as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "She bewitched my family; my daughter lies delirious because of this creature's trickery! And to think, I actually paid good money for her." Mickey had to tighten his grip to stop the man from lunging at the "witch".
"You didn't answer my first question," the Doctor said, the anger never leaving his eyes.
"Parris?" someone from the crowd said to the tall man, "Should I get the doctor?"
"No need," said the Doctor. "I'm the Doctor. How can I be of service, Mr. Parris?" The man looked him up and down incredulously, taking in his scruffy pinstriped suit and sneakers.
"You're a doctor?"
"No," the Time Lord sighed patiently, "I'm the Doctor. Pay attention. And good idea by the way, my friend does need medical attention."
"I didn't mean for her!" the man flared up again, then quailed under his fierce stare. "Um, yes, of course she needs attention, but I was meaning for my daughter –"
"Ah, certainly, if you'll wait just one moment..." the Doctor said in falsely polite tones, bent over Rose once more, dug in his pocket for his sonic screwdriver, then glanced up. "This is perhaps not the best company for medical instruments such as mine."
"What do you mean?" Suspicion was growing in Parris's eyes.
"Just that I would prefer it if the angry mob were to...disperse." he explained. Mickey could hear the patience in his voice wearing thin. Parris, who seemed to be the leader of the mob, motioned at the rest of them, and they reluctantly wandered off in twos and threes until only Parris, Rose, Mickey, the Doctor and the accused witch were left.
"I will stay and make sure you keep your word, Doctor," the tall man explained, with barely contained rage, as the Doctor stared pointedly at him. The girl said nothing, but none of them wanted to release her into the mob's clutches, so she stayed.
"OK, just don't burn me at the stake," the Doctor muttered, and produced his sonic screwdriver. Parris sucked in breath loudly.
"What is that?" he demanded. "What are you, some kind of Witch Doctor?"
"No, I'm the Doctor," was yet again the predictable reply. Flicking through settings on the sonic screwdriver, he pointed it at Rose's head.
"Hey, what're you gonna do?" Mickey asked, aghast. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"What do you think? It won't hurt her, if that's what you're thinking. It's on setting 489-C." he added, as if that should mean something. Then, after another second, in a very patient voice, "For head wounds."
"Oh. How silly of me to forget." said Mickey sarcastically, and the Doctor frowned at him, before aiming the sonic screwdriver and setting to work.