Authors note: This chapter will feature some 'British Slang' so apologies to any non-British readers who don't understand.
Jimmy and the Doctor exited the lift up to Jimmy's floor. Jimmy then unlocked the door and entered the flat. Valerie quickly ran out of the front room.
''Jimmy!'' she said ecstatically.
''Hi Mum,'' Jimmy said. Valerie turned to look at the Doctor.
''Doctor,'' she said, nodding at him.
''Mrs Greaver,'' the Doctor replied.
''So what's been going on with Andrea, Mum?'' Jimmy asked, interrupting his mother and the Doctor's tense 'reunion'.
''Well, Andrea's been engaged to Harry for about four months,'' Valerie told him ''They wanted to get married as quick as possible.''
''They've been going out for five years,'' Jimmy said.
''About time then!'' Valerie laughed. The Doctor had to stop himself openly cringing at the domestics.
''Where's Adam?'' Jimmy asked.
''In his room.'' Jimmy took off towards Adam's room, finding his brother playing a video game.
''Hey mate!'' Jimmy said. The boy turned to look at him and grinned.
''Jimmy!'' Adam exclaimed, dropping the game controller and hugging Jimmy.
''What're you up to, lad?'' Jimmy asked.
''Just school and all that,'' Adam said.
''How are you finding it?''
''It's OK.''
''Nobody's giving you any grief, are they?''
''It's all fine, Jimmy!''
''Alright mate. Just looking out for you,'' Jimmy said. He hoped his brother would not have to go through the same things he did at school.
''It's good to see you, though,'' Adam said, smiling. Jimmy ruffled his brother's hair and left the room.
''I'm going to bed, Mum,'' he said to his mother, who nodded, before looking at the Doctor, ''What about you?'' he asked.
''I'll go back to the TARDIS,'' the Doctor replied, making his way to front door.
''See you in the morning,'' Jimmy said. The Doctor nodded and left.
The next morning, Jimmy woke up early. He hauled himself out of bed just like he did before he met the Doctor. He had a shower, brushed his teeth, and made himself some breakfast. He then headed out to the TARDIS.
On his way out of the block, Jimmy saw two people he wished he would never see again. It was Daniel Johnson and Ben Lawrence, standing around smoking cigarettes. Daniel was of average height, dark-skinned and slightly overweight. Ben was a complete contrast. He was very pale with short blonde hair, and was as tall as Jimmy, though not as skinny. They were both members of a vicious gang that existed throughout the estate, as well as most of the area.
''Greaver, what you sayin', fam?'' Daniel asked.
''Alright Dan,'' Jimmy said, hoping to keep this conversation short.
''Where you been, blud?'' Ben asked, ''I thought you went and disappeared.''
''Long story.'' Jimmy said.
''You're back with us now bruv,'' Ben continued. Jimmy tried his best not to look intimidated.
''Relax blud!'' Daniel said, ''You're from our ends. We ain't gonna hurt you.''
''Long as you let us do our ting,'' Ben added, taking a drag from his cigarette.
''Don't worry,'' Jimmy said, ''I'm not back for long.''
The gang-members laughed as Jimmy walked away. He made his way to a newsagent and upon entering a local newspaper caught his eye. The headline read 'THIRD EXPLOSION IN WEEK' and displayed an image of the destroyed car from yesterday. Jimmy purchased the paper and went to the TARDIS. He found the Doctor sat there deep in thought.
''Jimmy!'' he said. Jimmy thrust the newspaper into his hands.
''Read,'' he said simply, pointing at the front page. The Doctor began reading the article and his eyes widened at what he saw.
''What's up?'' Jimmy asked, having not actually read the article himself.
''Apparently, there have been three explosions in this area this week,'' the Doctor said, ''but the earlier two took place in houses.''
''Who's doing this?'' Jimmy asked. The Doctor was already walking out.
''Maybe Harper can tell us,'' he said as Jimmy followed him outside.
''Where's Olivia?'' the Doctor asked as they walked down the street.
''Not a clue,'' Jimmy replied, ''I haven't seen her since yesterday.''
They reached the police station and the Doctor began speaking to the desk sergeant.
''I need to speak to Constable Harper,'' he said. The desk sergeant eyed him suspiciously.
''Who are you?'' he asked. The Doctor showed him his psychic paper. The man nodded and went to fetch Harper.
''Hello sir!'' Harper said. The Doctor just nodded at him.
''Did you find out anything?'' he asked.
''Yeah. We got some experts on to it,'' Harper replied, ''Apparently the guy in the car was Darren Andrews.''
''And who's he when he's at home?'' the Doctor pressed.
''Nobody,'' he said, ''He's not important. No criminal record. No vendettas, nothing. No necessary motives.''
''What about the last two explosions?''
''Same as Andrews. Both had only one person caught in the blast, and we couldn't discern any motive.''
''Anything to connect them?''
''No. Completely unrelated. No evidence that any of them even knew the other's names.''
''Hmm,'' the Doctor said, deep in thought. 'Why would those people be targeted?' he thought to himself.
''Maybe it was some kind of test,'' Jimmy said. The Doctor looked at him interestedly and gestured for him to continue.
''Maybe whoever was behind that explosion was testing their weapons. As though they're planning something else.'' The Doctor and Harper looked unnerved.
''What kind of explosive was used in each explosion?'' the Doctor asked.
''Exactly the same each time,'' he replied.
''Advanced?''
''From what we detected, it was basic.''
''So chances are it's the same person,'' the Doctor finished for him.
''But who?'' Harper wondered. The Doctor turned on his heel and began to move out.
''Come on,'' he said to Jimmy who followed. Once they were outside, Jimmy decided to give Olivia a call.
''Hello,'' she answered.
''Where are you, Liv?'' he asked.
''I stayed the night at Alice's,'' she replied.
''Bet that must have been fun,'' Jimmy said, sarcasm evident in his voice.
''Shut up,'' she muttered, though she did smile slightly.
''Anyway, something's going on, and the Doctor's trying to find out what it is,'' Jimmy said.
''What a surprise!'' she laughed.
''So, you coming, then?'' he asked.
''Where are you?''
''We're near the police station. Are you coming?''
''Yeah, why not. Best keep you two out of trouble,'' Olivia said smirking, before hanging up. She then changed her clothes – having gotten a spare set of clothes from the TARDIS before going to Alice's house – before applying her make-up. She walked out of the room and knocked on the next door, which was Alice's bedroom.
''Come in,'' Alice said from inside. Olivia entered and saw Alice sat on her bed texting on her phone.
''I'm off now, Al,'' Olivia said.
''Where are you going?'' Alice asked
''I'm meeting up with Jimmy and the Doctor.''
''Who's 'the Doctor'?''
''That man you saw yesterday.''
''Oh. Him,'' Alice made a disgusted face.
''See you later, Al.''
''You can come back once you're done, Liv.''
''Yeah. I might do, actually,'' Olivia said, smiling. She left the room and went downstairs. She said goodbye to Mrs McGowan and left the house, making her way to the police station.
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Jimmy were standing by the police station, and Jimmy was describing the gang culture of his estate.
''It's crazy,'' he said, ''There's been fights, stabbings, shootings, drugs, everything.''
''Have you ever been involved?'' the Doctor asked.
''No,'' Jimmy said, ''I'm just that nerdy guy who stays indoors with his computer. They leave me alone because I'm from the same estate.''
The Doctor saw Olivia walking towards them.
''Nice of you to join us!'' Jimmy sniped.
''Had fun with your friend?'' the Doctor.
''Yeah. Sorry about what she said to you, Doctor,'' Olivia said.
''No worries,'' the Doctor said, ''More important things to worry about.''
''What's going on?'' Olivia said.
''Read,'' the Doctor said, handing her the newspaper Jimmy had given him. She read the article and looked up at him.
''And you're trying to find out what's going on,'' she surmised.
''Got it in one,'' he grinned.
''Do you think aliens are involved?''
''For once, no.''
Olivia had another read of the article and noticed something. ''Who's Arnold Hanson?'' she asked.
''Some local professor,'' the Doctor said, ''He's condemned the attack.''
''So what do we do?'' Olivia asked.
''Well, instead of standing around here,'' Jimmy interrupted, ''Lets get to work.'' He started to walk onwards.
''Where are we going?'' the Doctor asked.
''Where do you think?'' Jimmy called back, ''the TARDIS.''
Once they reached the TARDIS, Jimmy turned to the Doctor.
''Right,'' Jimmy began, ''What do we know?''
''Three explosions,'' the Doctor said, ''Three unrelated victims of different backgrounds. Basic, primitive explosives.''
''And do they have any idea who did it?'' Olivia asked.
''Not a clue,'' the Doctor said.
''So what are we going to do about it?'' Jimmy asked. The Doctor looked unsure.
''I'm gonna liaise with the local police,'' the Doctor told them, ''I need you two to keep watch for me around the area.''
''Watch for what?'' Olivia asked.
''Any suspicious activity.''
''So we're staying then,'' Jimmy noted.
''Until this is sorted, yeah,'' the Doctor said.
''But I don't understand,'' Jimmy said, ''You don't think there's aliens involved, so why can't we just let the police sort it?''
''It's not about aliens, Jimmy,'' the Doctor said, ''It's about doing the right thing and keeping people safe.''
Jimmy agreed with the Doctor, but before he could express his agreement, his phone began to ring. It was his mother.
''Hello,'' Jimmy said, trying to mask his annoyance.
''Jimmy, Andrea and Harry are heon their way here. Do you think you can come over,'' Valerie said over the phone. Jimmy looked at the Doctor, who nodded.
''Sure, mum. I'll be round in about ten minutes,'' he said.
''OK. See you later,'' she said, hanging up.
''Sorry guys,'' Jimmy said, looking apologetically between the Doctor and Olivia, ''I've gotta go.''
He stepped out of the TARDIS, leaving the Doctor and Olivia.
''So,'' Olivia said, ''Keep watch for suspicious activity.''
''That's right,'' the Doctor said, and she too began to move out of the TARDIS. The Doctor was quick to leave after, taking off towards the police station.