Disclaimer: I should probably have mentioned that seats on my spaceship are purely arbitrary. I will not actually be reading your essays. But you do have to send one to be considered. Just call me fickle. (Serious note: Don't you love how the majority of my disclaimers don't ever actually say I don't own Doctor Who?)

Ch. 54:

"Hello, girl." Lily whispered as she walked into the dormant ship.

"I still can't believe we're talking to a machine." Martha marveled with a shake of her head.

"A TARDIS isn't a machine." Lily told her, her eyes closed. "They're grown and they only bond with a Time Lord of their choosing." Lily opened her eyes and looked at her friend. "The TARDIS is a sentient being. She only bares us because she chooses too."

"Look out!" the Doctor shouted as a bolt flashed past and the console exploded in sparks.

Lily gently ran her hand across the console towards the screen.

"They can follow us wherever we go. Right across the universe. They're never going to stop…Martha, you trust me don't you?" he asked her.

"Of course I do-" she told him.

"Cause it all depends on you." he told her.

Martha joined Lily at the console, both thinking about the last time they had been here with the Doctor.

"Martha, this watch is me." he told her. "Just like Lily's watch is her."

Martha took it, looking totally confused.

"…Right, okay, gotcha…No, hold on! Completely lost!" she told him.

"Those creatures are hunters." The Doctor told her. "They can siff out anyone-and me being a Time Lord and Lily being…well whatever you want to call her; the point is, we're unique. They can track us down across the whole of time and space."

"And the good new is?" Martha asked, with a humorless laugh.

"They can smell us, they haven't seen us." he told her. "And their life's bound to be running out-so, we hide, wait for them to die."

"But they can track us down." Martha pointed out.

"That's why I've got to do it." he told her seriously. "I have to stop being a Time Lord. I'm gonna become human."

Martha glanced at the head set hanging from the ceiling while Lily tried to look anywhere but there.

"Never thought I'd use this." the Doctor murmured. "All the times I've wondered…"

"What does it do?" Martha asked.

"It's a Chameleon Arch." Lily surprised them by walking up behind them and answering. "It'll re-write his biology. Literally change every single cell in his body." She stared at the device, tightly controlled fear in her eyes. "It's how my parents made me human." she told Martha.

The Doctor took the watch from Martha and went to put it in the device, but Lily stopped him.

"We're Time Lords." she told him softly. "We don't have to run."

"No." he replied softly. "I won't do that to them, not unless we have no other option."

Lily hesitated before letting go and nodding.

"The TARDIS and I have taken care of everything." she told him. "We've come up with a cover story, found a place and time. I even wrote Martha and me into your memories."

"But…hold on." Martha interrupted. "If you're going to rewrite every single cell-isn't it going to hurt?"

"Oh yeah." the Doctor agreed. "It hurts."

"Three months." Lily whispered, backing away as he put the headset on. "Three months and I'll wake you up. I promise."

He nodded and Lily, tears flowing, pressed a switch on the console. She grabbed on and held. Never once did she turn back around as the Doctor screamed. When it all stopped and Martha got her to let go, her hands were bleeding.

Lily looked down at the mostly healed cuts running along her hands.

Martha and Lily were both standing in front of the screen now, and Lily tapped it to wake it up.

"Come on girl." she said. "Wake up for just a minute, okay?"

The screen turned on, showing a video of the Doctor.

"This working?" the Doctor on tape called, tapping the camera.

"It's working just fine!" they heard Lily call off camera. "Just record the damn thing!"

"Fine." he huffed. "Martha, Lily, before I change, here's a list of instructions for when I'm human. One: don't let me hurt anyone. We can't have that, but you know what humans are like."

"Stop insulting species and get on with it." Lily called from the background again.

"Two:" he continued, ignoring her. "Don't worry about the TARDIS, I'll put her on emergency power so they can't detect it. Just let her hide away. Four-no, wait a minute, three: No getting involved in big historical events. Four: You two. Don't let me abandon you. And fi-"

"Oh this is useless." Lily complained, twisting a dial and fast forwarding through the video. "He never told us what we were supposed to do in case of the damn invasion from space."

"And twenty three." the Doctor recording said as Lily let go of the dial. "If anything goes wrong, if they find us, Lily, you know what to do. Make me open the watch."


Back in his study, John walked over to the fireplace.

"Everything I am is kept safe in there."

John picked up the watch, studying it. He turned it over in his hands.

"Now, I've put a perception filter on it so the human me won't think anything of it. To him it's just a watch."


The Doctor on the screen was serious.

"But don't open it unless you have to." he told them. "Because, once it's open, then the Family will be able to find me. It's all down to you two. It's your choice."

He got up and walked off screen and then came back.

"Oh, and, thank you." he told them with a smile.

The screen went back to it's normal display.

Lily walked away while Martha stared at the screen.

"I wish you'd come back." Martha whispered.

There was a loud crash and Martha looked over to see that Lily had kicked over the coat stand.

"For both of us." she continued softly.


A boy, Latimer, stood outside the door marked 'J. Smith'. He knocked and the door opened to reveal John.

"You told me to come and collect that book, sir." he told him.

"Good lad, yes…yes!" John said, motioning Latimer inside. "The Definitive Account of Mafeking, by Aitchison-Price. Where did I put it?"

He walked over to his desk and Latimer followed slowly.

"And I wanted a little word." John told him as he looked for the book. "Your marks aren't quite good enough."

"I'm top ten in my class, sir." Latimer pointed out respectively.

"Now, be honest, Timothy." John told him. "You should be the very top. You're a clever boy, but you seem to be hiding it." He glanced around the room. "Where is that book…? I was sure I got it from Lily." he said to himself.

Having no luck with his desk, John moved into the annex Library in the next room.

"And I know why." he called to Latimer. "Keeping your head low avoids the mockery of your classmates. But no man should hide himself, don't you think?"

"Yes sir…" Latimer called, not really paying attention. Something else had caught his attention.

"You're clever, be proud of it." John called. "Use it."

Whispering voices seem to be calling to Latimer. All coming from a watch on the mantle.

"Time Lord…" it seemed to whisper. "Timothy, hide yourself…I'm trapped, kept inside the cogs…"

Latimer reached out and pressed the release button on the watch and wisps of golden energy escape.

On the grounds, the annoying boy from earlier, Baines, whips his head around, picking up a scent.


Lily stopped on the road back to the school, causing Martha to stop a few steps on.

"Lily?" she called.

Lily took out the watch she always carried and stared at it. It was glowing slightly.

"Mate…" she heard it whisper. "Time Lord…"

"What are you trying to tell me?" she asked it.

"Lily, what's going on?" Martha asked, walking back to her friend.

"Danger…" the watch told her.

"I don't know." Lily said, looking up at the other woman.


As John walked back into the room, Latimer quickly closed the watch again.

"Fascinating details about the siege," he was telling him. "Really quite remarkable-are you alright?"

"Yes, sir." Latimer replied. "Fine, sir."

"Right then." John said. "Good. And remember-use that brain of yours!"

He held the book out and Latimer went to take it. But when he touched the book, Mr. Smith looked different.

"Power of a Time Lord…" the voice whispered.

Latimer saw the Doctor. The true Doctor, in his pinstripe suit, wielding the sonic screwdriver. The vision faded as John released the book.

"You're really not looking yourself, old chap." John told him. "Anything bothering you, or…?"

"No sir." Latimer told him shakily. "Thank you sir."

Walking quickly, Latimer made his way to the hall. He quickly ran up the stairs to the dorms. Sitting on his bed, he took the watch out again. He once again opened the watch and this time the voices were louder.

"You are not alone…keep me hidden…"

Suddenly, his mind was assaulted by images. Daleks, Cybermen, Ood, a giant wolf creature, The Empress of the Racnoss, Lazarus, the Sycorax.

He quickly snapped the watch shut again.


Still outside, Baines sniffed again.

A teacher rang a hand bell, signaling the change of classes.

Baines made his way into a quiet corridor, stepping into a gap beneath the main stairs. Suddenly, his eyes rolled back in his head and a green glow surrounded him.

"There is a trace," he said softly, "but somehow scattered. The scent is confused. Nevertheless, we'd best arm ourselves."

The glow disappeared and Baines eyes rolled back.

"Activate the soldiers." he called.


The sound of gun shots rang out over the grounds and a dummy target exploded in a hail of bullets.

"Concentrate." John called to the boys.

The gun was being fired by Hutchinson with rounds being fed by Latimer.

"Hutchinson, excellent work!" John praised.

"Cease Fire!" a voice called and Hutchinson obeyed.

"Good day to you, headmaster." John said.

"Your crew's on fine form today, Mr. Smith." the Headmaster told him.

"Excuse me, Headmaster, we could do a lot better." Hutchinson said. "Latimer is being deliberately shoddy."

"I'm trying my best." Latimer protested.

"You need to be better than the best." the Headmaster told him. "Those targets are tribesmen from the dark continent."

"That's exactly the problem, sir." Latimer replied. "They only have spears."

"Oh, dear me." the Headmater said. "Latimer takes it upon himself to make us realize how wrong we all are. I hope, Latimer, that one day you may have a just and proper war in which to prove yourself. Now, resume firing." he told them.

Hutchinson did so, Latimer feeding rounds again. But as the shots rang out, Latimer began to hear the sounds of a different sort of warfare. The sound of a bomb falling.

Two young soldiers struggle through the dark, one supporting the other, who is injured. The one supporting the other opens an old pocket watch. It's Latimer.

"One minute past the hour." he whispers to his companion. "It's now, Hutchinson, this is the time. It's now."

He looks up and he hears another bomb heading straight for them.

Latimer realized the gun had stopped firing.

"There's a stoppage, immediate action." Hutchinson said, turning to Latimer. "Didn't I tell you, sir?" he said turning to the Headmaster and John. "This stupid boy is useless! Permission to give Latimer a beating, sir?"

"It's your class, Mr. Smith." the Headmaster deferred.

"Permission granted." John said in a bored tone.

They watched as Hutchinson and the others dragged Latimer off. All of them except for Baines.

"Anything the matter, Baines?" John asked as the boy let out a large sniff.

"I thought…" Baines murmured. He shook his head. "No, sir. Nothing, sir."

Turning sharply, he headed off to join the beating.

"As you were, Mr. Smith." the Headmaster said before walking off.

"Ah…Pemberton, Smythe, Wicks." John called. "Take post."

As the boys took up positions at the gun, John spotted Joan watching them.

"Ah, Nurse Redfren." he called, walking up to her.

"Um…I'll give you back your journal when-" she stared, but was interrupted.

"Mr. Smith!" Martha called, running up to them.

"What is it, Martha?" John asked.

"It's Miss Lily, sir." she told him breathlessly. "She had gone to take a nap and when the gun fire started, I went to check on her. She's having a nightmare, sir, and I can't wake her."

"So?" Joan asked. "It's just a nightmare, it'll pass."

"I'm afraid I have to leave." John replied. "Lily's nightmares can turn dangerous, both for herself and for others."

"Well then, as I'm the school nurse, I should come with you." Joan replied. "Just in case."

"Fine." Martha said urgently. "Just hurry."

They followed her into the school and to the teacher's wing. As they were nearing the room, they heard a crash and John broke into a run, the two women following behind him.

As he ran into the room, he saw that the crash had been caused by a vase Lily had knocked off her night table as she thrashed in her bed.

"Lily!" he called, running to her side. He grabbed her arms and tried to hold her still as the two women watched. "Lily!" he called again. "You need to wake up now."

Lily continued to thrash. Martha began to worry as she glimpsed just the slightest hint of gold surrounding the thrashing woman.

"Lily." John said calmly. "Come on now, Lily girl. Wake for me, yeah? There's nothing here that can hurt you. It's just me, John. Come on. Wake up."

Suddenly her eyes opened and she threw herself away from him and off the bed. She huddled in the corner of the room, looking around her wildly. Finally her eyes landed on John and for a moment she looked surprised before she began to sob.

John moved around the bed and wrapped her in his arms.

"Shh." he said quietly as she continued to sob. "It's alright. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. Not ever."

Joan watched them for a moment before turning around and walking out of the room. After a moment, Martha followed her out, shutting the door behind her.


Outside, she found Joan waiting for her.

"He's in love with her, isn't he?" she demanded without preamble.

"I don't know what you're talking about, ma'am." Martha said, turning away, but Joan stopped her.

"Please, Martha." she pleaded. "I need to know. They're in love with each other, aren't they?"

Martha sighed.

"I don't know if love is the right word, ma'am." she said finally. "They need each other. It's like they're two parts of the same person. Two sides to the same coin." She sighed again. "And I don't think there's a person or thing in the whole universe that can keep them apart."

Joan nodded, looking sad.

"Please tell Mr. Smith that I will return his book tomorrow." she told Martha before walking off.


Back in the room, John had moved Lily back to her bed. He was sitting there quietly, Lily wrapped in his arms still, waiting for her sobs to subside.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" he asked softly as she quieted.

She shook her head.

"I thought they were getting better." he told her. "You've only had two since we came here, and Martha was able to wake you from both of them."

"I just miss him." she whispered. "It's so quiet."

John assumed she meant his brother.

"I know, dear one, but he's dead." he told her softly. "He's not coming back."

"No!" Lily shouted, pulling away from him. The fictional James was not the one she was talking about. "Don't you dare say that. Don't you dare!"

She started crying again.

"I need him." she cried. "I need him so much it hurts."

John pulled her back to him and she went unresisting. It wasn't the Doctor holding her, but if she closed her eyes, she could pretend it was.

"I know you do." John said. "But sometimes we have to make do with what we have."

He kissed her forehead softly and pulled away, his eyes meeting hers. Before he could stop himself, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

Lily pulled away a moment later.

"No." she whispered, touching her lips and avoiding his eyes.

"I'm sorry." he said, pulling away. "I overstepped my bounds. I'm sorry."

"No." she said again, grabbing his arm and pulling him back down. "You didn't. I just…" she paused before taking a deep breath. "I need time. Please, can you give me that?"

"Of course." he said, touching her cheek. "As much as you need."

"Just till the end of this month." she told him. "Just wait until the we leave this place and then, if you still want this, want me, then ask again."

"Alright." he replied, confused, but willing to go along with what she wanted.

They sat there in silence for a few moments.

"I have a class I need to get back to." he told her softly, getting up from the bed.

"Yes, and I have a library to save from rowdy young men." she replied with a hint of a smile.

He made his way to the door and paused, his hand on the handle.

"I suppose this means you wouldn't want to accompany me to the dance tonight?" he asked her, turning back to face her.

Lily hesitated a moment before smiling gently.

"On the contrary." she told him. "I would love to come with you."

He smiled and nodded before opening the door and leaving.

The moment she felt he was far enough away, she leapt up and fixed her clothing and hair quickly before going off in search of Martha.

She found her friend in a nearby corridor, dusting.

"We've got a problem." she told her.

A/N: Third chapter done. SO, does John really care for Lily or is it residual feelings left from the Doctor? And will he choose to be with her when it's all over? Find out Next Time on Never Gonna Be Alone!

Question: Who is your favorite enemy from the new series?
Answer: Hands down it's got to be the Master. He's just such a magnificent bastard! I mean singing and dancing while you destroy the world and make your arch rival watch? How do you get better than that?

Abbey