So, I think I'm going to break my "one chapter a day" thing because the next chapter is pretty big (ironically it's extremely short) but you'll probably have to wait a few hours because I'm procrastinating from doing school work right now and I need to start it lmao
Chapter Three:
~of Tony Gillingham and fire~
The Doctor and Clara stood a few feet behind the family, standing in the crisp spring air. After a few moments of silence, a car pulled up and out stepped a man with dark hair who both time travelers figured was Tony Gillingham.
"Hello!" He said, stepping up to the family and giving Lady Grantham a hug. "How have you all been since my last visit?"
"Good." Smiled Cora. Tony walked up to Mary and gave her a long hug, only pulling away when Mary muttered something about her eyes bugging her.
"What was that?" Tony asked, pulling away and holding her at arm's length.
"There's an angel in her eye." Piped up the Doctor. Ignoring the man's confused and shocked face, the Doctor continued, "Hi, yes, My name's John Smith, or you can just call me the Doctor. And I live just down the road with my," He stared down at Clara for a moment before saying, "With my daughter. She was friends with the late Sybil." Tony walked over to them and shook the Doctor's hand.
"Nice to meet you." He said, "What you said about the angel…"
"It's true," Said Matthew, wanting to add to the conversation but also having very limited knowledge of what was happening. "You see, when you look into the eyes of an angel it can climb inside of you." Tony opened his mouth and closed it again,
"But.. what angel's eyes did she look into?" He asked, thoroughly confused and having no idea what he was talking about.
"Mine." Said Matthew with a straight face as Mary lightly slapped his arm. "Only joking, they're angel statues. I'm not really sure how they work though.. Magic or something."
"It's not magic-" Began the Doctor but was interrupted by Lord Grantham,
"I think we ought to go inside." He said, wondering why the Doctor man was back and if his son-in-law was going insane.
"So when does he go home?" Asked Matthew, as he, Mary, Clara, and the Doctor, walked up the stairs to get ready for dinner.
"Tomorrow morning like usual." Said Mary, "Although perhaps if you annoy him enough he'll go home early."
"Wonderful. I'll do my best." Said Matthew.
"Why don't you like him?" Asked Clara, walking faster so she could catch up with him.
"I'm not sure really… I guess because he seems to have a large crush on Mary, and he also just gives me bad vibes. Not Richard Carlisle bad but still bad." Said Matthew. They stopped in front of what Clara and the Doctor recognized as Mary and Matthew's bedroom.
"Now go hang out in your Tardis or whatever before dinner, we'll come collect you when the gong sounds." Said Mary, shooing them off. The Doctor and Clara walked back to the Tardis quickly, hoping to make a plan before dinner.
"So, Said Clara, stepping into the Tardis and went to sit down on the stairs, adjusting her dress and taking off her shoes. "What now?"
"Now," Said the Doctor, leaning against the control panel across from her, "We find those angels! We can go now if you'd like." He said, because he'd been dreadfully bored all day.
"Nah, I think we should stay, have some dinner, catch up. Because even though it's been about an hour for us it has been two years for them. Plus, I'm starving." Said Clara, leaning back and resting her hands on her stomach for emphasis.
"Fine." Mumbled the Doctor, "Why are all my companions so into the domestic approach? Will I ever have someone who just wants to run and take action and defeat monsters? No, it's just, 'lets stay for dinner' and 'catch up'" Said the Doctor, beginning to walk around the Tardis and talk to himself.
"Are you going to change then?" Asked Clara.
"Why on earth would I?" He shot back, spinning around so he was facing her.
"Because I do believe you gave Tony Gillingham the impression that you were a respectful and wealthy man who shows up at his friend's house for dinner with his beautiful daughter, who I must say, is in a very fancy dress. So, why wouldn't you wear a suit to dinner?" Asked Clara, with a sly smile on her face.
"I hate you." He said, stalking down the hall towards the wardrobe.
"No you don't!" She called back. A few moments later the Doctor reluctantly joined her back in the control room wearing a suit. "Very fancy." She said laughing.
"It feels so… wrong." He said flatly.
"Oh, come on." Said Clara rolling her eyes. They didn't have to wait long before there were four knocks on the door. Clara went to get it but the Doctor beat her there, opening the door to see the faces of Mary, Matthew, and Tom.
"You changed!" Said Tom.
"Unfortunately, yes." He sighed back.
"Oh, stop moaning about it." Grumbled Clara, grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the Tardis. "We'll be back soon enough." She said, closing the door behind her.
The group was mostly silent on the way down, occasionally making small conversations. When they opened the door and Edith stood up, looking irritated.
"Oh, I see." She began. The others looked at each other, confused. "So you think you can tell me your little plan and then abandon me?"
"What? Edith, we were hardly abandoning you." Said Mary, rolling her eyes. "You simply didn't follow us when we left. Honestly, you mustn't be so overdramatic."
"I'm not being overdramatic. And where have you all been anyway? I've been waiting down here for ten minutes."
"If you say 'doing things' I will hit you." Whispered Mary jokingly to Matthew. He chuckled quietly.
"We've been in the Tardis. It took me a while to find the correct suit so I thought I'd get some help." Lied the Doctor. It was easy to believe, he was basically a professional liar. Edith still looked skeptical but sighed in defeat. Their second dinner at the Abbey went smoothly, the Doctor continued to lie about his profession, house, staff, anything that Tony asked him about. He didn't really know why he felt as though he couldn't tell him the truth, but he was in too deep to go back now. As soon as dinner was over the Doctor and Clara decided that they'd head up to the Tardis early, since Clara was tired. She had hardly an hour of sleep since 1920.
"Nine." Said Mary.
"Nine?" Asked the Doctor, freezing at the door.
"What? How did you get nine from goodnight?" She asked.
"You said nine…" Said the Doctor.
"I said goodnight, are we doing this again?" She said, exasperated.
"They're still making her count down." Said the Doctor, running a hand through his hair.
"Who's making her count down?" Asked Robert.
"The angel in her eye!" He said, "now shush, I'm thinking." He thought in silence for a moment before narrowing his eyes and walking towards Mary. "there's something… off about you." He began circling her before reaching out and taking a few strands of her hair in his hand, "You got a haircut!"
"I was wondering when he'd notice." Muttered Clara, who was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed. Mary swatted his hand away and ran her fingers through her hair, fixing it.
"Yes, I did. But I believe we have bigger fish to fry."
"Right right.. Tardis Clara, let's go!"
"Go where?" She asked him, letting herself be dragged around.
"The Tardis, didn't you hear me?"
~Later that night~
Clara and the Doctor were chatting about various things when they heard a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Said Clara, running over and swinging the door open. "Oh, hello Matthew."
"Hello." He smiled at her, "Tony and Mary are having a 'private conversation' so I thought I'd give them some space." Clara looked at him for a moment, a smile playing on her lips.
"Y'know Matthew, you're what people call a cinnamon roll on Tumblr." She said finally.
"I-is that good?" He asked.
"Depends. I'd say yes." She responded, shrugging.
"Oh.. okay.."
"Hufflepuff don't you think." She asked the Doctor, who had joined her.
"Oh yes. Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Mary would be a-"
"Slytherin." Finished Clara. "I'm sure someone could make a fabulous 'forbidden love' fanfiction about them." She said, visibly cringing.
"I'm sure they could. Now, let's go eavesdrop!" Said the Doctor, clapping his hands together. Clara nodded in agreement and they both set out for the door, passing Matthew who shrugged and decided to follow them.
"Look, Tony, I know you like me but I'm married. Happily married at that and I'm not going to end my relationship because you have a crush on me. I know you say I've 'led you on' but I really haven't." Said Mary, from the other side of the door.
"But-" however no one got to hear what he was going to say because at that moment a scream echoed around the house. Clara and the Doctor looked at each other before running towards the noise. Matthew ran off after them; coming to a halt when he saw that Edith's room was engulfed with flames. Mary was next to arrive on the scene, breathing heavily she stopped and looked into the room, her eyes wide. Laying on the bed was Edith, the flames getting closer and closer. The Doctor was halfway to her bed, and Matthew could hear the sounds of the rest of the family making their way to the room.
"Is she alright?" Yelled Robert, running down the hall.
"The Doctor is going to save her." Said Clara, peeking into the room again to check on his progress. He had made it to the bed and had scooped her into his arms. Matthew wrapped his arms around Mary from behind before turning his head towards Robert.
"Call the fire department." He called.
"They're already on their way," He said, running a hand through his receding hair. Matthew nodded and immediately let go of Mary to ran over to the Doctor and help him with Edith. The Doctor set her down and she stood up, coughing and almost lost her footing before brushing the ash off her nightgown. Then they all preceded downstairs as quickly as they could, trying not to choke on the thick smoke.
"Edith dear, I think you ought to sit down." Said Cora, following her daughter back into the house after the firemen had successfully gotten rid of the fire.
"I'm fine mama." She said for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening.
"How are you feeling?" Asked The Doctor, strolling over to where they were standing.
"Splendid." Responded Edith.
"You must stop pestering Edith mama, she is a eight after all." Said Mary, holding Matthews hand and walking over to the group.
"I'm not a eight… since when have you started rating your family?" Said Edith.
"Why on earth would you say that?" Asked Mary.
"Because-" Mary cut her off before she could finish,
"I'm counting down again aren't I." She said.
"Afraid so." Said the Doctor dryly.
"Is Mary safe?" Asked Matthew.
"Nope!" Exclaimed the Doctor, an excited glint in his eye, "She's dying. Every time she counts down she get's closer to death." Silence.
"I-is that supposed to be comforting?" Asked Matthew.
"If she closes her eyes and keeps them closed until I manage to get rid of the angels she'll be fine but if she doesn't then by the time she gets to zero she'll die." He said. "Although, I think you should wait until you get to at least five to close your eyes. That way you can actually see where you're going longer." Mary nodded.
