Another little girl came up to Alice and Mary and started to talk. What she said clearly upset her daughter and Rose was about to go out and help when someone restrained her arm. It was the Time Lord. "Wait, I want to see what she does," he said grimly. The voices of the girls were raised and angry and they could hear the conversation. A small crowd of children had gathered to watch.

Chapter 27 Lambs

Mary's eyes were downcast. Alice was standing in front of Mary with her feet planted firmly and her hands on her hips. Alice was a good five inches shorter than the new girl but it didn't matter to her. "If Mary doesn't have a daddy then she can borrow mine! You're not a very nice person to say such a thing. Shame on you! Come on Mary, lets go." Alice took Mary's hand and gently led her away from the other girl who quickly stomped down their sand castle. With her chin in the air, Alice didn't look back.

Rose had tears of pride in her eyes. When they came close enough she held out her arms to Alice and gave her a hug. "Alice, what was that all about?"

"That girl said they were going to have a daddy daughter dance but that Mary couldn't come because she didn't have a daddy!" Mary was quiet and hurting behind Alice. "I told her if Mary didn't have a daddy then she could borrow mine!"

Alice's anger paused and she stopped when she realized she had spoken out of turn. "I'm sorry daddy. Momma said I should always ask permission first. Will you take us to the dance?" She looked up at her father, whom she adored, with those big brown eyes. How could he refuse?

"I'm very proud of you Alice. You found a solution and there was no violence. I'm very proud indeed, and would be happy to escort you both, if Mary will have me, and it's alright with her mother." Mary knew the dance was coming and had given up on going.

She looked up at the tall, thin, handsome man, "Yes sir," Mary said quietly, "I would be happy to go with you."

"Thank you for the offer Doctor." It was Louise, who had watched the scene unfold as she was coming up the road. "I'm so glad Mary can go. That's very generous. Time to go home Mary." The child looked up smiling, took her mother's hand and they walked away.

Rose looked at the Captain for an explanation. "Mary's father died of a fever on the way here. She's a sweet and giving little girl."

"Oh, momma, the picture!" Alice's picture of Mary was in Roses pocket. She quickly retrieved it and gave it to Alice. "Run and give it to Mrs. Wilcox." Alice ran the short distance to them, unfolded and gave the picture to Louise. She knelt and hugged Alice, showing Mary. She stood and waved back at them and then continued home. Alice ran back with a big smile on her face. "She liked it momma. She said they will hang it up in Mary's room."

All through this incident Captain MacAbee had watched them all, and taken note. "That was the Henderson girl. She comes from a long line of troublemakers. Her father and brother spent most of the voyage here in the brig. Drunken fights and general mayhem. There's rumour he beats his wife and the girl. Teaching his son to be a man." The Captain said it with disgust.

"We put up with it on board because she wouldn't sign a complaint, and we had no choice. Now we're here, the council will vote on whether or not they can stay. We don't tolerate such behavior and he will probably find himself on the ship back to earth. We may be able to help her then, but she will have to file a complaint."

He hesitated a moment. Deciding if he should say something. "Best be careful you two. They have a taste for revenge." He looked at them both straight in the eye. "I am the law here, but I can't do anything until he breaks the law." The Time Lord was immediately on guard. "Rose, you and Alice start back for the house. I'll be there in a minute."

Rose and Alice walked away, but Rose looked over her shoulder a moment to see them talking. "I'm sorry if I frightened the ladies, but you needed to know." The Time Lord looked hard at the Captain, then offered him his hand. "I want to apologize to you for my behavior, Captain. I see now that you have my family's best interest at heart. Thank you for the warning. I know what to do."

The Captain shook his hand. "I understand Doctor. One soldier to another, you have a beautiful family. We must keep them safe." The Time Lord nodded, "Good night Captain." He left to catch up to Rose. When he reached them he grabbed Alice's hand and they picked her up together and let her swing between them. She laughed and they did it again.

The Captain looked at them with sad eyes, remembering. Rose was very near the image of his wife. His heart had stopped in his chest when she walked out of that pond on that first day. He knew the Doctor had cause to dislike him. He was starting to have feelings for Rose, and he was sure the Doctor could sense it.

Feelings that really had nothing to do with Rose, it was just a memory trying to fight to the surface. He looked at the ground ashamed of himself, but unable to stop. He had watched for her the day they came to speak to the town council. He had watched for her when she came to the playground. He knew she was not Sarah. But he felt protective of her all the same. If the Henderson's tried anything to hurt the Smith family, he would kill them.

When they got back, the house was dark and empty compared to the settlement. Rose was getting used to having people around again. She had forgotten what it was like to have friends. The days here alone with her husband were not jam packed with adventure, well, except for Alice. Rose's whole world had revolved around Alice before the colonists came. Now she was having adult conversations, meeting new people, helping out. It felt good. Not that living with him wasn't everything she ever dreamed, it was just that after nearly four years she was ready for something new.

Alice had come in and went right to her desk to draw. Of course with new people came new problems. He was brooding over the threat from the Hendersons. Rose could see he would dwell on it and be overprotective for weeks. All over a little girl stomping on a sandcastle.

She couldn't believe someone would take revenge over an incident in the playground. The Captain seemed to think it was a possibility. It might be wise to take a little extra care for a week or two. She made up her mind not to ever let Alice out of her sight. He had crashed on the couch and she sat with him.

"I see you talked with the Captain. Thank you." "We understand each other now." He didn't tell her he still felt a little apprehension. There was something about him that felt like a threat. Not a physical threat, but he had caught something in the way he looked at Rose that made the hackles on his neck rise.

It had been a long time since he had been exposed to the thoughts of other humans. He told himself that Rose was a beautiful woman and it was normal for a man to admire her. He knew it was something more, and decided to find out what he could about the handsome Captain and his family.

"So what do you think about this Henderson family?" Rose inquired. "Don't you think it's a bit much to look for revenge over a playground argument?" "I've seen others argue over much less. Sometimes they're looking for a reason to justify their actions. Insulting their little girl might be just the excuse they need to make trouble and blame it on Alice."

A heavy sigh dampened his mood. "We must be careful. You and Alice are a target now. Try not to be alone with Alice anywhere. When I go to the camp you two come with me. Do not come home alone. Ask MacAbee to escort you. Keep him here until I return." Rose smiled at his complete reversal of opinion on the Captain. She was glad the jealousy was gone.

"Oh, I didn't tell you what Alice did today." Rose went into a somewhat shorter version of the day's happenings. "We need to get Alice a baby doll to play with." Despite Rose's enthusiasm for Alice's day, he found it uncomfortable thinking about his daughter wanting to have a baby. Doll or otherwise. It felt too much like she was growing up and becoming an adult.

He knew he was being silly. That was many years away yet. He was curious, "Did you have a baby doll when you were growing up?" "Yes of course. Her name was Trina, and I carried her everywhere. Alice needs a doll to practise on, just as I did. She will feed it, change it and rock the doll to sleep, tell it stories and give it a bath." He shook his head and smiled, humans.

The day of the dance, the Tardis had made a very special dress for Alice. Rose had requested an Alice blue gown with white lace and small pearls on the trim. Alice was thrilled to know there was a color named for her. Her father came down the stairs in a black tux. Rose loved it when he wore that tux. He was so handsome. Alice thought the same. "I can't wait to get there. All the other girls will wish you were their daddy too." The Time Lord smiled and lightly pinched her cheek.

Rose was dressed in jeans and a light sweater. He was surprised at her appearance. "Aren't you coming?" "It's a daddy daughter dance. You two should go alone." "I'm not leaving you here by yourself." He was insistent. "I'll be fine. It's been two weeks and nothing's happened. I can't live my life afraid all the time."

She could be so stubborn "I know, but I'll be worried about you the whole time." Rose hedged, "It's only for an hour or so. It's the middle of the day. I'll stay in the house. Ok?"

Alice wasn't sure what they were arguing about, but was sure her father was going to lose. "Daddy, we'll be late, and we have to go get Mary." "We'll go soon sweetie, go get your coat." He looked at her to offer a compromise. "If you promise to stay in the Tardis." "OH, you can be so stubborn. Ok, I'll stay in the Tardis." "Right now." He wasn't taking any chances. She rolled her eyes and looked at the ceiling but closed the Tardis door behind her.

She could hear them as they left, getting out of the Tardis she looked out the window to see them going down the path. It suddenly occurred to her that they were no safer than she was. The woods would be just the place for an ambush. Yea right, a human, fighting a Time Lord for his child. They wouldn't know what hit them.

They had made a habit in the past few weeks of locking all the doors and windows. They had even installed a chain on the front door. She had latched it and felt very safe in her own home and was going to enjoy an hour to herself for a change, maybe even a nap. The weather had turned, and she got cozy with a blanket and a glass of wine next to the fire, and opened her book.

After almost an hour there was a knock at the door.

Chapter 28 When Evil Comes