Penny pulled the trigger, a laser like beam shooting out and disintegrating the gun Jenny held to Martha's head.
Now that Martha no longer feared being shot, she stomped on Jenny's foot and managed to get away. Penny took her hand and pushed her behind her.
"That was an amazing shot, Pen." Martha whispered.
Penny didn't say she hadn't been aiming for the gun.
"Dumb luck." Clark said.
While Penny couldn't agree more with that statement, she had a friend and a clueless human to protect. She snorted, plastering on a smirk. "Dumb luck? I've been in arms training since I could walk." She lied fluently.
Clark smirked. "Maybe with the feeble weapons from Earth."
Penny clicked her tongue cockily. "Wrong again, mate. Born and raised in the fifteenth New York on New Earth." She lied again.
"Even still. We can kill you without guns." Baines said. "And maybe by breaking his human heart, the Time Lord will emerge." The Family turned their heads as if hearing something. "It's him!"
While they were looking the other way, Penny handed the gun to Martha. "Keep them distracted, I'll start getting people out."
Martha nodded, aiming the gun at Baines.
Penny turned to John, who was looking at her in confusion. "John, head to the side door, I'll usher the others to it. Get to safety."
"How could I possibly leave you with them?"
Penny snorted. "You're not leaving me with them. You're leaving them with me." She looked him in the eyes. "Now please, John."
John debated with himself a moment. He looked down at her and crashed their lips together in a passionate kiss. He pulled away, nodding. "Be safe." He whispered.
Penny nodded, shocked.
John ran off, gesturing for people to follow him as he went. Penny began to do the same as Martha kept the Family from doing anything.
Once everyone was out, Penny stood next to Martha.
"I have one question." Penny spoke, no emotion showing in her voice.
"And what would that be, Magistra?" Baines mocked.
"Did you kill my student when you took his body for your use."
"He is consumed." Jenny said.
"He was overwhelmed, tried to be brave, this one." Baines said. "But in the end, he called out for his Mummy." Baines smiled cruely.
"Martha," Penny said calmly. "Hand me the gun."
Martha shook as she handed it over. Penny's hands were steady as she aimed at Baines' chest.
"Misericordiae occides."
She lowered the gun and ran, pulling Martha with her out of the hall.
She pushed Martha out before her and started running, only stopping when she saw John waiting for them, pacing and looking worried.
"Don't just stand there, move!" Martha yelled at him. "God, you're rubbish as a human. Come on!" She grabbed his arm and ran, Penny following, looking behind every few seconds to make sure they weren't being followed.
They didn't stop running until they were in the school. John grabbed the alarm bell and started ringing it. Penny face palmed.
"What are you doing?" Martha asked. She turned to Penny. "What's he doing?"
"He thinks we can fight them." Penny said dryly.
"Maybe one man can't fight them, but this school teaches us to stand together. Take arms!" He called out, grabbing the attention of several students. "Take arms!" The students who heard rushed to do as he said.
Penny stopped a few of the younger ones who she knew would listen to her. "Go to your rooms and lock your doors."
"But Mr. Smith-"
"Do as I say."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"You can't do that!" Martha cried.
"You want me to fight, don't you?" Penny shook her head. No, she didn't want him to fight, and she definitely didn't want her students to fight. "Take arms! Take arms!'
A teacher stormed up to him, ripping the bell from his hands. "I say sir, what's the matter?"
"Enemy at the door, Hutchinson. Enemy at the door." He quickly informed. "Take arms!"
The group made their way outside, where, to Penny's dismay, the boys were passing out guns.
"You can't do this, Doctor. Mister Smith!" Martha tried to stop him. When she realized it wouldn't work, she turned to Penny. "You have to make him stop."
"I wish I could, Martha." She said quietly. "I'll do what I can, but at the moment, I need to make sure no one gets hurt." She said, her gaze sweeping over the children fumbling with guns.
"They're just boys." Martha told John. "You can't ask them to fight. They don't stand a chance."
"They're cadets, Miss Jones. They are trained to defend the King and all his citizens and properties."
Penny spoke up. "Because property is more important than these children's lives." She looked at John disappointed.
His gaze faltered, but as soon as the Headmaster walked up, he looked determined again.
"What in thunder's name is this?" He bellowed. "Before I devise an excellent and endless series of punishments for each and every one of you, could someone explain very simply and immediately exactly what is going on?"
"Headmaster, I have to report the school is under attack."
"Really? Is that so?" The Headmaster almost laughed, not believing a word he was saying. "Perhaps you and I should have a word in private."
"No, I promise you, sir. I was in the village with Ms. Walker. It's Baines, sir. Jeremy Baines and Mister Clark from Oakham Farm. They've gone mad, sir. They've got guns. They've already murdered people in the village. I saw it happen." He said, eyes saddening.
"Walker, is that so?"
"Yep." Penny said, still focused on the children.
"Murder on our own soil?"
"That's what he said, isn't it?" Penny's eyes widened as she rushed to a boy about to fall over with a pile of guns in his arms.
She caught him and righted him. "Adrien Mathews, I would suggest going to your room. Your help is not needed." She said with no room for argument.
The boy nodded and ran back inside, putting the guns he was carrying down.
"Perhaps you did well then, Mister Smith. What makes you thing the danger's coming here?" Penny heard the Headmaster continue as if she hadn't run off.
"Well, sir, they said..." John began.
Penny swooped in, saving him from what would no doubt be a horrible answer.
"They threatened the school, sir."
The Headmaster's face hardened. "Very well. You boys, remain on guard. Mister Snell, telephone for the police. Mister Philips, with me. We shall investigate."
Penny had had enough of the stupid men putting people in danger. "Rocastle, send those boys back inside."
"Ms. Walker, I will do no such-"
"My proper title is Lady Walker." Penny snapped, remembering what the psychic paper said.
"That does not-"
"Oh, but it does!" Penny shouted, stopping the man from speaking. "Not only was I the private tutor of his majesty the prince, but because I was so, I was given military training to protect him and myself. Do not doubt my knowledge for one second. I was appointed by the king himself and I believe that in itself tells you that I am far more competent than you." Penny glared at him, the man physically shrinking from her. "Now, send. Those. Boys. In."
The Headmaster fumbled for a whistle in his pocket, one she knew told the boys to retreat. He blew it and Penny watched as the boys fled inside where they would be safe.
As the last kid ran in, Penny let out a breath. "Now," She said, a fake smile on her face. "Headmaster, as I said, you are not competent enough to make proper decisions, so I would suggest you retire for the night, yes?" She tilted her head, sure she looked terrifying.
"Lady Walker-"
"Now."
The man nodded and headed in.
Penny turned to Martha, whose mouth was open. "Martha, could you go inside and look for the watch?" She asked, all anger from before gone.
"Yeah, I'm on it, Pen." She nodded and rushed inside.
"Be careful and don't let anyone in!"
"Obviously!" Martha called back.
Penny turned to face John. "Our job is to finish the barricades the boys started."
"You were employed by his majesty?"
Penny groaned. "Not the time, John." Of course that's what he took away from her speech.
The Family arrived just as they finished. Penny stepped in front of John, facing the iron fence that separated them, knowing she could protect him best in his state.
"Ah, you again." Baines said, smirking.
"Ah, yes, me again." Penny mocked, pulling the disintegration gun from her pocket where she had stowed it earlier.
He pulled off the arm of one of his scarecrows, sparks flying. "Molecular fringe animation fashioned in the shape of straw men."
Penny rolled her eyes. "You see, it would be more impressive if the Doctor were here to explain that to me." She deadpanned. "As he's not here at the moment, it just looks like people in fancy dress to me."
"I can explain it to you easily, Ma'am. It's my own private army, Ma'am. It's ever so good, Ma'am"
"Can you stop calling me Ma'am? It's obnoxious and unnecessary."
"Would you prefer me to call you Penelope Vivian Walker, the Woman of the Box?"
"Nah, that's a bit long." Penny stalled. "Why don't you call me Penny?" She said.
"If you give us Mister Smith, I'll call you what ever you want." Jenny said from beside him. John tensed from behind her.
Penny snorted. "Will you call me Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Or maybe Super Awesome Foxy Mega Hot? I'm rather fond of that last one."
"No, Ma'am. You, Ma'am, you will send us Mister John Smith."
"And we're back to Ma'am, are we?" Penny realized the hadn't noticed John yet. He was standing in the dark near the door.
"That's all we want, Ma'am, Mister John Smith and whatever he's done with his Time Lord consciousness. Then we'd be very happy to leave you alone."
Penny snorted. "If John was here, I'd tell him to rush into the school to get away from you." She said, hoping John got the hint. "But, he's not." Penny began sidestepping, so that she was no longer in front of John, and their focus would stay on her, giving him a clear escape path back in. "So I don't have to."
Penny tapped her chin in fake thought with the hand that wasn't pointing the gun. "Now, I know you are the Family, but I doubt that's your full name."
"We are the Family of Blood."
Penny scoffed. "Of course you are. I suppose Family of Love and Peace was already taken?"
"We will find him." Clark said.
"Not with me here, you won't." Penny said sweetly.
Baines feigned a frown "All your little tin soldiers, locked away, safe." His frown morphed into a horrific smile. "But tell me, Ma'am, will they thank you?"
"Probably not, they don't really value women at this time, do they?" Penny replies easily, as if chatting with an old friend, not that she had any of those. Or if she did, she didn't remember them.
"You've saved them for now, Ma'am. But will they forgive as they're shot down in the trenches? As they look back, knowing there was a time they could have practiced and gained experience? Do you think they will thank the woman who taught them cowardice was glorious?"
"Maybe not." Penny said, glaring. "But they will thank me when they realize I saved them so they could fight for their country."
Baines hmmed, a smug smile on his face.
Penny heard the Scarecrows beat against the gate that separated them. Penny didn't bother shooting them. They were only there for intimidation.
She prayed to whatever god was out there that John had snuck out of the school.
The Family of Blood looked at the second floor of the school. "That's it." Baines said.
"Upstairs!" Jenny said, walking to where their scarecrow had bent the bars of the fence enough for them to walk through.
Baines and Jenny went into the school, Penny tried to convince herself her students would be alright. If they had followed orders, they should all be in one room on the first floor, so she knew they shouldn't be harmed.
Clark stayed and Penny's eyes widened when three scarecrows brought him the Tardis. "Doctor! Doctor!" He called. "Come back, Doctor. Come home. Come and claim your prize." He baited.
While their focus was no loner on her, she ran, heading toward a bush she had seen move.
As she got closer, she saw John, Joan, and Martha running away. Penny followed, glancing back to check if they were being followed.
Penny caught up to them. "Hiya." She said, all three jumping out of their skin as they turned. They all relaxed when they saw it was just her, John reaching for her hand and holding it securely.
"This way." Joan pointed to her left. "I think I know somewhere we can hide."
"We've got to keep going." John argues.
"John, listen to a woman for once. More often than not, we know what we're doing." She said. "Joan, please lead the way. We'll be behind you."
Joan nodded, shooting a smile at her. She lead them to an old cottage.
"Oh, here we are." Joan said, walking the door and opening it, ushering everyone in. "It should be empty." Penny took one last glance behind her before walking in, letting Joan lock the door behind her. "Oh, it's a long time since I've run that far."
"But who lives here?" Martha asked, looking around.
"If I'm right, no one." She walked into the hallway. "Hello?" There was no answer. "No one home. We should be safe here."
"Whose house is it, though?"
At Joan's face, Penny cut in. "I'm not sure you want to know, Martha."
"I must go to them, before anyone else dies." John said suddenly.
"You can't. Penny, Martha, there must be something we can do." Joan immediately protested.
"Not without the watch, right Penny?" Martha asked.
And suddenly all eyes were on her for the answers again. "How the hell am I supposed to know?" She questioned quietly, only Martha and John hearing her. She sighed, trying to think. She paced the small room, letting go of John's hand. "There are tons of thigs we can do." She finally said. "The only question is what can we do that's helpful." She groaned, wishing the Doctor were there to fix everything so she didn't have to be scared anymore. "We could give John up. Not helpful. We could kill the Family of Blood. Helpful, but unlikely and unethical. We could sit and wait things out. That could go wither way. But nothing is helpful when we don't have the damn watch!"
"You're this Doctor's companion." John said to Martha, changing the topic so Penny could take a moment to try and calm down. "Can't you help? What exactly do you do for him? Why does he need you?"
"Because he's lonely."
John's face fell. "And that's what you want me to become."
A knock at the door stopped all conversation. Penny immediately walked to it, unlocking it.
"What if it's them?" Joan asked fearfully.
"Martha, please explain." Penny said, opening the door for one of your youngest students.
"I'm not an expert, but I don't think scarecrows knock."
"I brought you this." Tim said.
Penny took the watch and gestured for him to come in, locking the door behind him. "Are you alright?" She asked him.
He nodded and pointed to the watch. "It needs to be held."
Penny walked to John and took one of his hands. "I know you're scared, but can you please hold the watch?"
John sighed and took the watch, squeezing Penny's hand slightly as he looked closely at it.
"It told me to find you. It wants to be held." Tim repeated.
"You've had this watch all this time? Why didn't you return it?" Joan asked.
"Because it was waiting." He hesitated. "And because I was so scared of the Doctor."
Penny winced.
"Why?" Joan asked again.
"Because I've seen him. He's like fire and ice and rage. He's like the night and the storm in the heart of the sun."
"Tim, stop." Penny said softly, rubbing John's hand, seeing his fearful look.
"He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and he can see the turn of the universe." He continued.
"Tim." Penny warned.
"And he's wonderful." Tim finished.
Penny sighed. "At least you got one thing right." She looked at John. "The Doctor is the kindest person I've had the honor of knowing, you don't need to fear him, John."
"How would you know?" John asked, shaking with fear.
"Because he's my best friend."
The cottage shook.
"What the hell?" Martha shouted.
"They're destroying the village." Joan realized.
"The watch." John said, staring at it, transfixed.
"Can you hear it?" Tim asked.
"I think he's asleep. Waiting to awaken." John said softly.
"Why did he speak to me?" Tim questioned, standing a bit taller.
"Oh, low level telepathic field." John said, sounding exactly like the Doctor. "You were born with it. Just an extra synaptic engram causing-" John cut himself off. "Is that how he talks?"
"That's him." Martha said happily. "All you have to do is open it and he's back."
"You knew this all along and yet you watched while Penelope and I..."
"I didn't know how to stop you." Martha defended. "Neither of us did. He gave me a list of things to watch out, for but that wasn't included."
"Falling in love? That didn't even occur to him?" He held Penny's hand tighter.
"No."
"Then what sort of man is that?"
Penny looked up at him, catching his gaze. "The sort that his so focused on helping others, he doesn't stop to think about himself."
"It was always going to end, though!" Martha defended them. "The Doctor said the Family's got a limited lifespan, and that's why they need to consume a Time Lord. Otherwise, three months and they die. Like mayflies, he said."
"So your job was to execute me." He snapped, looking between both Penny and Martha, but keeping hold of Penny's hand, showing that he wasn't really mad at her.
"People are dying out there." Penny snapped back.
"They need him and I need him." Martha began. "Because you've got no idea of what he's like. I've only just met him. It wasn't even that long ago. But he is everything. He's just everything to me and he spends all his time looking at Penny, but I don't care, because I love him to bits. And I hope to God he won't remember me saying this." Martha winced, finishing her speech.
They heard an explosion.
"It's getting closer." Tim shrunk in fear. Penny wrapped her free arm around him, hoping to comfort him.
"I should have thought of it before. I can give them this. Just the watch. Then they can leave and I can stay as I am." John said hopefully, looking down at Penny, who looked heartbroken.
"John," She started. "I'm so sorry. If we did that, the Family of Blood would never stop killing."
It all would end in destruction." Joan said, holding his journal. I never read to the end, but those creatures would live forever to breed and conquer, for war across the stars for every child."
Penny wished that when she looked up at John, he wouldn't be crying, but she knew that he would. Penny felt her throat tighten and her own eyes water. "Tim, Martha, Joan, could you all go in the other room for a second?"
They did as she asked and Penny threw herself into John's arms. "I wish with every part of my being that I could fix this for you. But I can't." She whispered.
"He won't love you."
"I don't need him to." Penny sighed, pulling away and stroking his hair soothingly. "He's already my best friend."
"I'm not real." He sobbed. "I really thought."
"You are real, John." She put a hand to his chest. "I can feel your heart beat. You are real."
Penny placed a hand over the watch, a voice overwhelming her. "Open me."
John put a hand over her's.
It was their wedding day, Penny walked down the isle. They said their vows and John kissed her softly, a smile on both of their faces.
John held his first child as Penny lied on her bed, a smile on her face as she saw the love in John's eyes.
Penny and John walked in the woods, three children running ahead of them, hollering with laughter.
Penny sat by John's side at their daughter's wedding. They were both crying.
Penny sat by his side as he lay on his bed, his time running up. "They're all safe, aren't they?" He asked. "The children? The grandchildren? Everyone's safe?"
Penny smiled sadly, taking his hand. "You always kept them safe, and they'll stay that way." She kissed him one last time. "They send their love, John."
"Well, it's time." He looked up at his wife with adoration. "Thank you, my love."
"Did you see?" He asked her franticly, more tears streaming down her face.
"Yes, John." She said, sniffling as tears fell from her eyes.
"And you want me to give that up?"
"It's your choice, John." She said, hugging him again.
It was silent for a moment. "Will you be safe with him?" He asked quietly.
"All he does is make sure I'm safe." She said just as softly.
John sobbed and pulled away, kissing her one last time as he opened the watch.
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A/N
HannahHPandDWfanJones: I'm super happy I made you Fangirl!! Unfortunately for you, I don't think there will be anymore kisses within the next few episodes lol but there WILL be fluff ;)
for those wondering, Misericordiae occides roughly translates to "Killing you is mercy."
Yeah, that's right, I've taken Latin before (three years of it, actually) :D
Hi! Isn't today so lovely? :) Everything is so happy and nice :) absolutely no sadness or angst
If you hated me after this chapter, there's more to come :P
but for real, I had a hard time writing this because I couldn't imagine Penny letting the Doctor go, but I also couldn't imagine her being okay with John dying.
...I'll admit it, I was a bit of a mess as I tried to think of what to do
Anyways, tell me any ideas you have, what you liked, what you didn't, ect.
You are all marvoulous!
-Jamie