"Masterpiece." I nod
"All sorts of skills today!" Laughing, we head back onto the road, walking into the little diner.
After breakfast, we walked back to school and went to our respective duties. Later in the afternoon, once my shift as nurse had finished and the Doctor had completed all his history classes for the day, we were in our room, and I was letting him sketch me.
"Can I see?" I ask, tired of holding my position on the windowsill, book open in my arms, the setting sun on my back.
"I'm almost done."
I wait another moment.
"Done."
The Doctor moves to sit next to me on the windowsill, showing me the book.
I gasp in delight and surprise.
"Oh, goodness... Do I look like that?" I laugh aloud, amazed at the beauty with which he portrayed me. "Are you sure that's not me?" I point to the sketch of a Slitheen on the opposite page.
"Most definitely this page, I should think." He points back to his sketch of me.
"You've made me far too beautiful." I shake my head
"Well that's how I see you." He answers as he fondly brushes the side of my hair. Slowly, he leans in towards me and we share a long and loving kiss. The kiss the Doctor gives me as John Smith is so different compared to the Doctor's, you can hardly believe it's the same man.
We hear the rattle of the door, and we break apart, quickly.
"Martha, what have I told you about entering unannounced?" Groans the Doctor and Martha scurries back out of the door and closes it behind her.
"Don't chastise her so much. She's only trying to help." I sigh
"Sorry Love." He mutters
"We better get ready for the dance." I stand up "I'll be in the loo, don't come in."
I walk to my closet, select my dress, a simple pale blue dress, with darker blue lace over top it, with cap sleeves and a wide V neck, as is the style for the time period. I pin my hair up again and brush a tiny bit of make up on and put on the silver necklace the Doctor bought me for our one year "anniversary" last month.
"Rose, love are you ready to go?"
"What do you think?" I walk into the sitting room, where the Doctor has done his hair and put on his familiar pin stripe suit. I turn around to show him the dress
"You look wonderful." He compliments and I smile.
"What time does the dance begin?"
"Um... I'm not certain..." The Doctor answers and I laugh
"There's a surprise. Is there anything you're certain about?" I tease
"Yes." The Doctor whispers, stepping forward, and giving me a kiss.
The moment is quickly broken as the door bursts open and a breathless Martha runs in.
"They've found us!" She gasps, and my stomach clenches
"Martha, I've warned you." Growls the Doctor
"They've found us, and I've seen them. They look like people, like us, like normal. I'm sorry, but you've got to open the watch."
We look to the mantle piece, and the watch is missing.
"Where is it?" Cries Martha, and she shuffles through the things on the mantle piece. "Oh my god, where's it gone? Where's the watch?" Demands Martha
I know if I join in the Doctor wont know what's happening. The best thing for me to do is act bewildered.
"What are you talking about?"
"You had a watch, a fob watch. Right there!" Wails Martha
"Did I? I don't remember and I can't see what concern it is of yours." Responds the Doctor
"But we need it... oh my god, Doctor we're hiding from aliens, and they've got Jenny and they've... possessed her or copied her or something and you've got to tell me, where's the watch?" She demands and I realize she just told the Doctor who he is
"Oh I see..." The Doctor gasps, before muttering quietly to me "Cultural differences."
He picks up his journal, which I left on the table.
"It must be so confusing for you. Martha, this is what we call a story." He tells her, slowly and very patronizing.
"Oh you complete..." She groans, furious "This" She waves her hands at the Doctor "is not you, this is nineteen thirteen." She explains, looking to me for help
"Good. This is nineteen thirteen." Nods the Doctor, as if talking to a child
"I am sorry, I'm really sorry but I've got to snap you out of this." She reaches back her hand and slaps his hard across the face.
"Martha!" I gasp in surprise.
"Wake up!" She yells, taking his hand and pulling him along.
"How dare you! I'm not going anywhere with an insane servant!" Roars the Doctor and I step in.
"John, why don't I see if I can explain to Martha what's going on? I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. Please, Love, let me try a moment."
"Fine." Growls the Doctor and I take Martha's arm, dragging her out into the hallway.
"What is wrong with you?" I hiss
"We need to go! They found us!"
"Okay, but the Doctor isn't going to go like that. We have to find the watch first!"
"But Rose-"
"Martha, listen to me. I am going to the dance with the Doctor. He needs his world to remain this way for as long as possible. Once you find the watch we can talk to him. While we're gone, search everywhere for it. Ask the Tardis for help. We lose that watch we lose him forever!"
"Okay." She nods "I'm sorry."
"Alright. Good luck." I give her a quick hug, before walking back into the room.
"Alright John, are you ready to go?" I ask
"Yes. What was wrong with her?"
"I think she's taken ill. I sent her to rest. I am terribly sorry."
"At least there's a reason Martha went mad. Are you ready?"
"Yes. The funny thing is, you did have a fob watch. Right there. Don't you remember?" I ask but he just shakes his head.
We arrive outside the dance hall ten minutes later.
"Spare a penny for the veterans of the Crimea, sir?" asks a man by the door.
"Yes, of course." The Doctor digs in his pocket and pulls out a coin
"There you are."
We walk inside where people are milling about, getting drinks from a beer keg, laughing and talking.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Please take your partners for a waltz." Announces the man
The Doctor offers his hand and we start to dance. I had to learn how to waltz when we got here, taking private lessons.
We dance to three songs before I need a break. I sit down and the Doctor goes to find us something to drink.
I spot him, chatting with a couple of guys and wave at him, indicating that I am waiting and he gestures to the drink stand, where he is still waiting in line.
"Rose." I turn to see Martha standing next to me
"Did you find it?"
"No." She shakes her head.
"Oh no…"
"I just wanted to say sorry for what I'm about to do." She winces. "I have a crazy idea and you're not going to like it."
The Doctor has returned, so I can't argue with her and he looks none to pleased to see Martha there
"Oh, now really, Martha. This is getting out of hand. I must insist that you leave."
Martha holds out the sonic screwdriver and I suppress a gasp
"Do you know what this is? Name it. Go on, name it."
"John?" I whisper as he slowly takes it off Martha and turns it over in his hands.
"You're not John Smith. You're called the Doctor. The man in your journal, he's real. He's you."
The Doctor is staring at the sonic, running his hands over it, slowly
A man bursts into the room, gun in hand. Knocking over a hat stand as he strides in, the people shriek and move away.
"There will be silence! All of you!" orders the man
Scarecrows file in after a woman dressed in a maid's uniform and one of the students
"I said silence!" Howls the man
"Mr. Clarke! What's going on?" Demands the announcer and Clarke turns and fires at the announcer, dissolving him into nothing.
"Mr. Smith, everything I told you, just forget it! Don't say anything!" Hisses Martha
"We asked for silence! Now then. We have a few questions for Mr Smith."
"No, better than that." Giggles a little girl, sitting behind us, running to them
"The teacher. He's the Doctor. I heard them talking."
"You took human form." Gasps the student
"Of course I'm human, I was born human! As were you, Baines. And Jenny, and you, Mr Clarke! What is going on, this is madness!" Gasps the Doctor
"And a human brain, too! Simple, thick and dull." Laughs Baines
"He's no good like this." Growls Jenny
"We need a Time Lord." Agrees the little girl.
"Easily done." Shrugs Baines. Stepping forward, he raises his gun and aims it at the Doctor. The crowd gasps and the Doctor recoils backwards. I take his hand and hold it tightly.
"Change back." Orders Baines
"I don't know what you're talking about." The Doctor responds, confused
"Change back!" Orders Baines again
"I literally do not know..."
Jenny grabs Martha, holding a gun to her head, Martha screams.
"Get off me!" Shrieks Martha
"She's your friend, isn't she? Doesn't this scare you enough to change back?"
"I don't know what you mean!"
"Let's have you!" Growls Clarke, who grabs me and holds me hostage, as Jenny is with Martha.
"Have you enjoyed it, Doctor? 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? Your friend, or your Wife? Your choice…." Growls Baines as I struggle to free myself.
"Perhaps if that human heart breaks, the Time Lord will emerge." Giggles Baines
"It's him!" Gasps Clark and all the possessed people turn to look to the left at something. Using the distraction, Martha turns the tables on Jenny, holding a gun to her.
"One more move and I shoot." Growls Martha
"Oh, the maid is full of fire!" Chuckles Baines
"And you can shut up!" She fires the gun into the ceiling.
"Careful, Son of Mine. This is all for you so that you can live forever." Warns Clarke as he tightens his arms around me
"We'll shoot you down!" Growls Baines
"Try it. We'll die together." Warns Martha and it occurs to me how much of a warrior she has become. She's been so strong and helpful the past few months and now she's risking everything to help the Doctor and I.
"Would you really pull the trigger? Looks too scared." Cackles Baines
"Scared and holding a gun. It's a good combination. You wanna risk it?" snarls Martha
Baines looks at the Doctor, who is completely out of his depth, before lowering the gun. Clark does the same and I rush to the Doctor.
"Mr. Smith, Rose, get everyone out. There's a door at the side. It's over there. Go on!" Orders Martha The Doctor stands indecisive, as I tug his hand
"Do it, Mr. Smith. I mean you!" Orders Martha again
"Do what she said. Everybody out now." I yell and begin to usher everyone else "Don't argue, Mr. Jackson. They're mad. That's all we need to know. Susan, Miss Cooper, outside, all of you!" I urge all of my coworkers and other villagers out of the door.
I run back to see Timothy Latimer standing there
"Move yourself, boy. Back to the school, quickly." I urge and he turns and runs.
"And you and Mr. Smith. Go on. Just shift." Martha tells me
"What about you?" asks the Doctor
"Mr. Smith, I think you should escort your wife to safety, don't you?" The Doctor looks to the door, to Martha, back to the door then Martha again before taking my hand and running out. As soon as we arrive outside we begin directing those outside.
"Mr. Hicks, go to the village. Get everyone out. Latimer, get back to the school. Tell the headmaster..." The Doctor reaches out to touch Timothy's shoulder but he lurches away.
"Don't touch me! You're as bad as them!" He runs off, leaving the Doctor looking heartbroken.
"Its okay, Love." I whisper, and he rounds on me angrily
"Am I? Am I your love? How do you even know I'm the same man? How can you love me knowing I am not who I thought I was and I didn't even know it?"
I take a step back surprised.
He pauses, staring at me, wide eyed, I think a little shocked at himself.
Martha runs out the door of the hall and starts yelling at us
"Don't just stand there, move! God, you're rubbish as a human! Come on!"
The Doctor grabs my hand and we chase after Martha.