Turn Your Back, Look Away and Blink

By Lumendea

Chapter Fourteen: Hidden Hero

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who and gain nothing from the creation of this story.

…..

Looking up, Rose smiled as Martha walked into the library carrying a broom in her hand. She felt a wave of sympathy for Martha followed by a rush of gratitude for her. It wouldn't have been that difficult for Martha to just hide in the TARDIS after the first week in this dreadful time. She could have collected some food and camped out in the console room, but she'd stayed to keep an eye on John Smith.

"Morning Miss Rose," Martha said kindly with a glance at the students sitting about.

"Good morning Martha," Rose greeted warmly which earned her a small smile from Martha. "Now I need you to take care of something for me." Rose lowered her voice as Martha stepped closer and asked, "Did you find anything last night? We weren't able to talk."

"Sorry about that, but no the field was empty," Martha answered with a small shake of her head. Rose nodded but the worry didn't leave her face, so Martha asked, "Any sign of the watch?"

Shaking her head, Rose whispered back, "No, I'm afraid not. John hasn't even noticed that it is missing."

"Have you asked him about it?" Martha pressed gently, but Rose shook her head.

"We can't make him aware of it and if he doesn't know it could cause trouble," Rose pointed out as she nibbled on her bottom lip.

"You could ask him and if he doesn't know distract him," Martha pointed out with a teasing smile. "That way he won't think about it."

Blinking, Rose asked, "Distract him? How?"

Raising an eyebrow, Martha teased, "You were doing a fine job of it when I walked in on you two the other day."

Rose hit Martha's arm lightly, but couldn't help but chuckle. For a moment they both struggled to hold back their laughter even as a pained look crossed Martha's face. Rose felt a flash of guilt, remembering all too well how much distance and rejection from the Doctor could hurt.

"Anyway I've got to go into town with Joan and John today," Rose whispered to her after she'd recovered.

"What for?" Martha asked, surprised.

"Doctor Adams is back," Rose replied with a shiver, "More modern medicine."

"That's what you get for faking memory loss," Martha reminded her, but there was a flash of sympathy in her eyes.

Raising an eyebrow, Rose commented, "There was hardly another option given that I showed up in a field in twenty-first-century clothing. They might have decided to bring back the witch trials."

Shaking her head, Martha tried not to laugh, gaining her a smirk from Rose.

"Good luck with that," Martha remarked quickly before taking her things and starting to clean up the library.

Rose didn't bother looking up as another student entered the library. Baines sniffed the air of the library and paused, frowning deeply. The Son of the Family stepped forward and sniffed again, deeper this time. He took a long look around and his eyes settled on Rose. There was a trace about her, but it was not the Time Lord. Sitting down at one of the tables, he watched her shelve the books and sniffed again.

His eyes suddenly widened and he gasped softly, "A spark of the Time Vortex."

…

The corridor of the main building was quiet and Joan was lost in thought. That strange green light had haunted her dreams much more than she cared to admit. There was also the dull ache in her chest that she didn't wish to acknowledge the source of. Joan gasped softly as she almost ran into John as he stepped out of his office.

"I beg your pardon Matron Redfern," John said quickly, sidestepping to let her pass.

Joan smiled and replied, "Quite alright Mister Smith since we are both going to fetch Rose." When John paused she added, "Well you are accompanying her to see Doctor Adams are you not?"

"Oh yes," John answered quickly nodding, "I forgot that you were joining her as well."

Smiling Joan, pulled on her coat as they passed down the stairs. Her eyes landed on a notice on the board. She was once again struck by both nostalgic and longing.

"Have you seen this, Mister Smith? The annual dance at the village hall tonight? It's nothing formal, but rather fun by all accounts," Joan paused, glancing at him a bit sadly. "Do you think you'll go?"

"I hadn't thought about it Matron Redfern," he admitted with a small shrug and rather clueless expression.

"Truth be told, when it's just you and me, I'd much rather you call me Nurse Redfern. 'Matron' sounds rather...well, matronly."

"Ah, Nurse Redfern it is then," he agreed quickly, making Joan smile. She was about to continue when Rose joined them at the bottom of the staircase.

Holding a smile, Rose nodded to Joan and John and greeted, "Good morning. How are you this morning Joan? I hope that fright last night has passed."

Joan nodded quickly in response and Rose had to hold back her smugness as John rushed to meet her. He offered her his arm with a wide open smile. She did allow a small smile take over when Joan glanced at them.

The Matron brushed it off and said, "We should be off. We can't keep Doctor Adams waiting."

….

The office of the village doctor reminded Rose far more of a business establishment. She was sitting in a comfortable chair with the doctor examining her after spending more than half an hour talking at her from across the desk. Doctor Adams tapped his chin thoughtfully and adjusted his glasses as he turned to Joan.

"I doubt she will ever recover her memory, there are no signs of it returning or head trauma to explain it, Nurse Redfern," he announced very calmly. "Otherwise, she is in excellent health. I'm sorry."

"Thank you for your help Doctor Adams," Rose told the man with a smile.

"Of course," he answered calmly, seemingly unaffected by her smile. "I only wish I could help you further."

Rose didn't reply, she just smiled and left the exam room to join John. Doctor Adams pressed his lips and watched Rose quietly speak with John.

He smiled and chuckled, "I see why she's not upset," he paused and looked at Joan, "A lovely couple."

Joan nodded and thanked the Doctor before leaving his office and joining John and Rose. She watched them for a guilty moment as the door behind her swung shut and cleared her throat.

"I have some additional errands to run," she announced calmly as the house servant came over to them to return their coats.

"Then we will see you back at the school Nurse Redfern," John replied to her with a nod.

Joan sighed but forced a smile and nodded to John and Rose. As she pulled on and buttoned up her own coat, John gallantly assisted Rose into her own. Shaking her head, she swallowed thickly and followed the servant back to the front door.

…..

Timothy was scribbling in his book when Baines returned to the dorm room early that morning. The younger boy looked up carefully as Baines sniffed the air loudly. Another boy remarked on his cold, but a chill went down Timothy's spine. Reaching into his pocket, Timothy brushed the watch carefully as it hummed a warning and whispered, 'Hide Timothy, beware him.'

Baines sniffed louder and deeper, letting his eyes fall shut as he walked about the room. Watching him under his lashes, Timothy carefully noted Baines' movements in the room. Finally, Baines looked directly at him and watched him for a long moment. Locking his eyes with Timothy, Baines sniffed loudly again.

"You alright Baines?" Timothy asked gently. "You sound like you should go see Matron Redfern."

Tilting his head, Baines sniffed again but nodded, "Yes Latimer, perhaps I'll see the nurse."

Giving Timothy one last long look, he turned and walked out the room. Breathing a sigh of relief, Timothy grabbed his books and rushed to the library to hide from Baines. The school was quiet and he thankfully didn't run into any of the other boys as he moved quickly through the corridors.

Entering the library, Timothy looked around for Miss Rose, but he only saw one of the maids cleaning one of the corner nooks. Looking up at the boy, Martha frowned, noting how pale he was.

"Everything alright sir?"

"Yes," Timothy muttered quickly. "I'm fine, where is the librarian Miss Rose?"

Martha stood and brushed off her hands as she answered, "Miss Rose went into the village for a few hours. She should be back soon."

Timothy glanced around the library before asking, "Is Professor Smith here?"

"No sir, he was escorting Miss Rose to see Doctor Adams," Martha answered him.

She took a step forward as Timothy swallowed and asked, "They're together then?"

Martha nodded and softly pressed, "Are you sure you're alright?"

Timothy nodded and set his books down on one of the tables and assured her, "Fine just need some direction for an assignment. I'll wait until she returns."

He was aware of Martha's gaze on him for several minutes and made a show of occasionally turning the pages of his book. His fingers tightened protectively around the watch and he told himself to keep breathing. He could wait for Miss Rose's return.

…..

Rose smiled slightly as she and John walked through the village. They were still getting looks from the curious villagers, but Rose felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest. Doctor Adams would no doubt spread the word that she wasn't going to regain her memory and no one would think too much more of the strange girl courting the history professor. Not until they disappeared anyway.

"What are you going to do now?" John asked softly, not looking at her.

Rose smiled and squeezed his arm before reassuring him, "I'm going to stay in Farringham. Everyone here has been so lovely, the Headmaster is pleased with me as a librarian and the ring I sold when I first arrived has made sure I'll be alright for a while." Rose smiled up at him as she added, "And there are other reasons." She was pleased when he smiled back at her.

"It is a pleasant area I agree, Rose, peaceful and quiet," John agreed softly as his smile brightened. Rose nodded but couldn't help but frown softly as she remembered the future for England. John must have caught the frown because he asked, "What is it, Rose?"

Rose shook her head and tried to brush it off the dark thoughts. This was the problem with lingering in the past. She'd started to wonder about the boys who came into her library, wondering what was going to happen to them. They'd all be called to the war before it was done and the notion made her sick.

"It's just nothing ever stays peaceful forever, John," Rose whispered forlornly. "In your journal, in one of your stories, you wrote about next year. Nineteen fourteen and the outbreak of a great war."

"That was just a dream," John assured her, putting his hand over hers on his arm. "Nothing to worry about Rose."

"Still John, such violent images and such death, doesn't it worry you?" Rose questioned without looking at him.

John straightened up and set about reassuring her, "Well, then we can be thankful it's not true. And I'll admit mankind doesn't need warfare and bloodshed to prove itself." John released her hand to turn and look at her. "Everyday life can provide honour and valour and . . . " his eyes were drawn to a woman pushing a baby carriage, "let's hope that from now on this, this country can . . . can find its heroes in smaller places . . . " His eyes flew to a heavy black piano hanging above the street by a thin rope. Two men were desperately trying to steady it as the rope wore down, but the woman pushing the baby carriage did not notice, "In the most . . . " Looking to his right, John noted the young boy tossing a cricket ball up and down before glancing back at the falling piano line unaware of Rose staring at him oddly. Watching the rope wear down more and the woman move forward, John muttered, "Ordinary.." The woman was almost beneath the piano when John spoke again, "Of deeds!"

Lunging forward, John grabbed the ball from the boy and threw it toward the far side of the street. The ball crashed into a bundle of metal scaffolding, causing the bars fall to against a plank of wood with a brick on one end. Flying upward and over the piano, the brick landed against a milk churn on a cart. The force knocked the churn into the street, across the woman's path, forcing her to stop just before the piano crashed only feet in front of her. Gasping, the woman reached down to comfort her crying baby as the workers rushed to her aid.

John breathed deeply, trying to bring his adrenaline down and keep from grinning. He grew aware of Rose standing next to him and he glanced down at her only to freeze. She was smiling widely at him and her eyes were a mix of a hundred emotions.

Still stunned, John looked back across the street and muttered, "Lucky."

Next, to him, Rose giggled and shook her head, "That was luck?"

Pausing, John took a deep breath and turned back to her. His courage and confidence were boosted and he rushed to try before they vanished.

"Miss Rose, might I invite you to the village dance this evening?" John asked, watching her face carefully "As my guest?"

John couldn't help but grin and a huge smile spread across Rose's face. Relief surged through him and left him feeling like he could fly. Laughing, Rose looked back at the near fatal scene as John slipped his hand into hers.

"I'd love to John," she assured him, giving him a tongue on teeth smile.