Timothy Latimer watched as two figures traveled down the sidewalk. It was Professor Smith and the Matron walking slowly, side by side, on their way to the dance. Mister Smith's face was downcast and he stared at the ground.

"… She's infatuated," Latimer heard the Matron say. "You're a dangerous man. I know she'll come back."

"She thinks nothing more of me as she does any other professor," Mister Smith said in a despondent tone. "And I…"

He broke off as they climbed the steps to the village hall. A beggar was standing there jingling a can with a few coins inside.

"Spare a penny for the veterans of the Crimea, sir?" the old man asked.

"Yes, of course," Mister Smith said, digging into his pockets and depositing a few coins. "There you are then."

"Thank you, sir," the man said. Mister Smith gave him a nod and then turned and entered the hall. The Matron followed him with a concerned look on her face.

Latimer watched them go. Cautiously, he crept along the wall towards the entrance. His eyes focused on the back of the beggar as the man counted his collection. Head down, he quickly went into the village hall without the man noticing.

Various teachers and people from the town where there, chatting and sipping on their drinks. No one paid any heed to the small boy as he slipped behind a curtain.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" a man called out from the dais. "Please take your partners, for a waltz!"

Couples began grouping together and moved across the floor as the village band played. Latimer watched as Mister Smith and the Matron joined the villagers. The professor had put on a faux smile but it was plain to see something was bothering him.

Latimer hid behind the curtain as a woman walked past him. The watch had told him it wasn't the time yet. He could be patient.

⋆⋆⋆DW⋆⋆⋆

Rose ducked her head down as she walked toward the village hall. To her dismay, a lonely beggar stood at the door.

"Oh, staff entrance I think, Miss," the man said pointing to his left.

"Yeah? Well, think again, mate," Rose stalked past him and into the hall.

A dance had just ended when she walked in. Rose scanned the room until her gaze fell upon a small table. Taking a deep breath, she made her way across the room.

⋆⋆⋆DW⋆⋆⋆

Joan sadly watched John wait in line for some drinks, her heart aching for her friend. She knew all he wanted to do was go back to his study and shut out the world, and yet here he was trying to put on a happy face and enjoy the dance. Joan sighed and looked down at the table. The floor creaked and she raised her gaze and gasped in surprise.

"Rose!" she said as the girl sat down across from her.

"Where's the Doctor?" Rose asked in a hushed tone staring at Joan with determined eyes.

"Please, don't," Joan sighed. "Not again. He's not 'the Doctor', he's John Smith."

"He's different from any other man you've ever met, right?" Rose whispered.

"Yes—"

"And sometimes he says these strange things, like people and places you've never heard of, yeah?" Rose continued. "But it's deeper than that. Sometimes when you look in his eyes you know, you just know that there's something else in there. Something hidden. Right behind the eyes, something hidden away, in the dark."

"I don't know what you mean," Joan said.

"Yes, you do."

"But why are you doing this, Rose?" Joan asked. "Why are you trying to make him into a man he is not? Why? What did he do? All he's done is care for you. He loves you, Rose. And you've broken his heart. Why?"

"I have to do this," Rose murmured and wouldn't meet the Matron's eyes. "I don't mean to be rude, but the awful thing is it doesn't even matter what you think. But you're nice. And you're lucky to have had him as a friend. And I just want to say sorry for what I'm about to do."

"Rose?" John's voice croaked above them making both women turn their heads. "What, why… you came back."

A mix of happiness and anguish was across his face as he gazed at Rose. Casting a glance at the Matron, she stood up from the table and faced John.

"I thought you'd left and, and," John stammered. Rose reached in her pocket and withdrew the object she had collected from the TARDIS.

"Do you know what this is?" Rose said holding out the sonic screwdriver. "Name it. Go on, name it."

John's brow furrowed as he stared at the instrument. Hope flared up in Rose's chest as she something flash in his eyes. Hesitantly, he reached out a hand and took the screwdriver from Rose.

"John, what is that silly thing?" Joan asked from the table. "John?"

He didn't respond but stared at the device. Rose nodded to him and a smile played across her lips.

"You're not John Smith," Rose told him. "You're called the Doctor. The man in your journal, he's real. He's you."

John's gaze flicked up to Rose. He opened his mouth to speak when the door to the village hall was kicked open and three people stalked in.

"There will be silence!" A stout man with a thick mustache roared. "All of you!"

His two companions grinned as the villagers backed away from the trio fearfully. Rose stifled a gasp as she recognized Jenny. The other was the boy with the crooked smile from before, Jeremy Baines.

Gasps of fear came up from the townsfolk as scarecrows shuffled into the hall and situated themselves behind the man, Jenny, and Baines. Their sack heads with holes for eyes gazed around the room, as if daring anyone to step forward.

"I said, silence!" the fat man yelled again.

"Mister Clark!" one of the professors form the school spoke up, coming behind him. "What's going on?!"

Clark withdrew an alien weapon from his pocket and aimed it at the man. Before anyone could react he fired and a green laser shot out from the gun vaporizing the man behind him. Screams echoed around the hall from the villagers. Joan stood up from the table and brought a hand over her mouth in horror.

"Mister Smith?" Rose looked over to John who stared fearfully back down at her. "Everything I've told you, just forget it. Don't say anything."

"We asked for silence!" Baines screeched with a crooked smile still on his lips. The townsfolk grew quiet as they stared at the three people and scarecrows.

"Now then," Baines continued. "We have a few questions for Mister Smith."

The boy's blank eyes flicked over to the professor. John was breathing heavily now in alarm, his heart hammering in his chest.

"No, better than that," a little girl holding a red balloon called out, shouldering past the villagers to go and stand beside Baines. "The teacher, he's the Doctor. I heard them talking."

"You took human form," Baines smiled with a humorous expression on his face.

"Of course I'm human!" John stood up to the three. "I was born human, as were you, Baines! And Jenny! And you, Mister Clark!" John nodded to each person. "W-what is going on?! This is madness!"

"Ooo, and a human brain too," Baines cooed. "Simple, thick, and dull."

"But he's no good like this," Jenny hissed to Baines.

"We need a Time Lord," said Mister Clark.

"Easily done," Baines smiled. Stepping forward, he aimed his gun at John. The crowd gasped and John staggered back a few paces.

"Change back," Baines commanded with a cruel grin.

"I don't know what you're talking about," John spluttered.

"Change back!" Baines shouted.

"I literally do not know—" John broke off as Mister Clark reached forward and grabbed Joan, pointing his gun to her head. Joan's breath caught and she looked to John with eyes wide.

"She's your friend, isn't she?" Clark growled. "Doesn't this scare you enough to change back?!"

"I don't know what you mean!" John yelled exasperatedly.

"Wait a minute," Jenny spoke up. "The maid said something earlier about Smith and her."

Rose screamed as Jenny wrapped an arm around her neck and held her fast.

"Get off me!" Rose yelled. She struggled in Jenny's grip but the woman just aimed her gun to Rose's temple. John was trembling in place on floor, he looked fearfully to Rose with his eyes wild in panic.

"Have you enjoyed it, Doctor?" Baines smiled. "Being human? Has it taught you wonderful things? Are you better, richer, wiser? Then let's see you answer this. Which one of them do you want us to kill?"

John glanced at Joan and then back to Rose. She caught his eye and John saw his own fear reflected in hers.

"Matron or maid?" Baines continued with his crooked smile and narrowed eyes. "Your friend or your lover? Your choice."