The night was going well for almost everyone, Joan and John were happy - even for Theo was enjoying the dance a little. Except Martha, she was getting more and more scared by the minute. The Family were here and she'd lost the watch. And not only had the watch been lost, Charls was at the dance for some reason. . First, she'd need to talk with Joan.
Theo leaned against the wall, cradling a cup of wine that he hadn't taken a sip of. He'd been too nervous to drink and too awkward to talk. He was mostly useless at parties and dances. Flowers and libraries had always been Theo's specialty and there wasn't really anything else. At least that's what he thought. Deep in thought, Theo barely registered the shouts of a man, Mister Clark. Luckily, he noticed the strong scent of hay walk in and that was enough for him to back into a corner.
"Mister Clark, what's going on?" A man demanded an answer but was shot down, literally, Mister Clarke shot him with a strange pistol and he disintegrated.
"Mister Smith? Everything I told you, just forget it! Don't say anything." Martha whispered.
"We asked for silence!" A student, Jeremy Baines ordered, "Now then, we have a few questions for Mister Smith."
Martha breathed a small sigh, they hadn't found Charls yet, but it was worse that they'd gotten a trail onto the Doctor.
"No," a small girl walked in, Lucy, "better than that. The teacher. He's the Doctor. I heard them talking."
Jeremy Baines smiled widely, "You took human form."
"Of course I'm human. I was born human, as were you, Baines," John protested, confused, "And Jenny, and you, Mister Clark. What's going on? This is madness."
Theo could agree, the thought of anything alien or out of this world seemed to give him a headache. He was so distracted by fear that he ran into a young boy, Tim Latimer. Theo mouthed a quiet sorry and held still. Tim nodded and stared at Theo, he recognized him from one of the images the watch showed him. A person similar to the mysterious Doctor but altogether different.
"Ooo, and a human brain, too." Baines said with a smile, "Simple, thick and dull."
"But he's no good like this." Jenny rasped.
"We need a Time Lord." Mister Clark noted.
Baines stepped forward and pointed the ray gun at John, "Change back."
"I don't know what you're talking about." John whispered and retreated a bit.
"Change back!" Baines demanded with a furious look.
Theo winced and Tim grabbed onto their coat sleeve.
"I literally do not know-" John tried to argue but was cut off by Martha's scream.
Jenny had grabbed her and held her own gun to Martha's head.
Martha kicked and screamed, "Get off me!"
"She's your friend, isn't she? Doesn't this scare you enough to change back?" Jenny asked.
Theo held onto Tim and inched towards the exit. This situation was giving him a headache, such a bad headache it felt like his head was going to split.
"I don't know what you mean!" John yelled.
"Wait a minute, we're missing something. This isn't the person who was running with you before. The maid told me about Smith and the Matron and about a man with green eyes. That woman, there. And now a green-eyed man." Jenny glanced around as Clark put another gun to Joan's head.
Theo's eyes widened, he didn't know why they'd need him. Sure, green eyes were a bit rare but he didn't think that they were important. Not important enough to put a gun to his head! He ducked his head and shut his eyes.
"Find this green eyed person!" Baines demanded and the scarecrows fled, "Now, 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? Maid or matron? Your friend or your lover? Your choice."
Theo felt Tim reach into his coat and pull out a round object. He didn't ask but he didn't look either.
"Make your decision, Mister Smith." Jenny growled.
"Perhaps if that human heart breaks, the Time Lord will emerge." Baines suggested.
Tim held the fob watch in his hand and looked at the circles on top. Theo risked a peek and looked at the watch. The gears in his head spun, nothing had changed but something in his brain had clicked. The circles looked familiar and he didn't know why.
Tim took a breath and opened the watch, they looked up, hearing the voice. Theo's head seemed to hurt more than ever. Even if he thought it couldn't get worse it always did. Martha had managed to get free and Tim closed the watch again. Theo closed his eyes once more. The Family lowered their guns and people ran.
"Doctor, get everyone out" Martha said as calmly as she could, "There's a door at the side. It's over there. Go on. Do it, Mister Smith. I mean you."
"Do what she said," Joan hurried and herded the people out the door, "Everybody out, now. Don't argue, Mister Jackson. They're mad. That's all we need to know. Susan, Miss Cooper, outside, all of you."
Theo breathed heavily and stood in place, still having Tim hold onto his sleeve. A hand guided him forward.
"Mister Woods, keep those eyes closed as much as possible," John murmured without knowing why, "Move yourself, boy. Back to the school, quickly. Take him with you."
Tim nodded and tugged at Theo's sleeve, they didn't run to the school. They stood outside and waited a little. Theo opened their eyes and looked at Tim.
"And you. Go on. Just shift." Martha told John.
John bounced over to Martha, "What about you?"
Martha kept her eyes on the Family, "Mister Smith, I think you should escort your lady friend to safety, don't you?"
John hesitated, looking at Martha then at Joan for a little before leaving the room. He went outside to find Tim and Theo waiting with Joan. Theo, the man with green eyes.
"Mister Hicks, warn the village," John informed a man and a woman by the gate, "Get everyone out. Latimer, Mister Woods, get back to the school." John walked towards them, "Keep Mister Woods safe, they're looking for him. Tell the headmaster-"
Tim backed away and pulled Theo with him, "Don't touch me. You're as bad as them." He ran towards the school.
Theo looked at John, his head still killing him but he kept his eyes on John.
"Are you the Doctor?" Theo asked in a hushed voice.
John frowned, "No, I'm John Smith, I've no clue why they think those things."
Theo breathed and waited for something to happen. Maybe he thought that all the answers would come after one question but they didn't. Martha burst out of the doors and started to shout.
"Don't just stand there, move!" She ran past them, "God, you're rubbish as a human, both of you! Come on!"
They ran together and through the dark, the Family still shooting at anything they saw moving.
Theo gulped in air after arriving at the school and unbuttoned his waistcoat. John picked up a bell and started to ring it. Loud and clear.
"What are you doing?" Martha exclaimed.
John kept ringing the bell, "Maybe one man can't fight them, but this school teaches us to stand together." He explained then shouted, "Take arms! Take arms!"
"You can't do that!" Martha shouted.
"You want me to fight, don't you?" John argued, "Take arms! Take arms!"
Theo groaned, "That's just the children fighting for you, then. God, this headache is killing me."
"Charls, I mean, Theo. Did you see anything?" Martha asked, holding Theo's shoulders.
Theo held their head, "What? You're making it worse, I just saw some circles. That's all."
Martha groaned and stomped her foot, "That's one out of five. That might be good and bad. Oh, this is too complicated with two of you!"
Martha ran after John who'd gone upstairs and Theo stayed with Joan. Joan checked out Theo for any problems but she couldn't find any. All she found was a pair of cloudy, green eyes. Theo thanked her for her help and then went upstairs. He wanted answers and Martha seemed to have them all. He went up to shouting and arguing.
"They're just boys. You can't ask them to fight." Martha was face to face with John, "They don't stand a chance."
"They're cadets, Miss Jones," John informed her, "They are trained to defend the King and all his citizens and properties."
Theo hurried into the room and stood by the wall when a familiar voice echoed behind him.
"What in thunder's name is this?" The Headmaster, Mister Rocastle, walked into the chaotic room, "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?"
The room stood very still, John walked up to Mister Rocastle.
"Headmaster, I have to report the school is under attack." He said with his head low.
"Really?" Mister Rocastle tilted his head, "Is that so? Perhaps you and I should have a word in private."
They spoke in low tones, "No, I promise you, sir. I was in the village with Matron. 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."
Mister Rocastle turned to Joan who'd followed Theo into the room, "Matron, is that so?"
She looked him in the eyes, "I'm afraid it's true, sir."
"Murder on our own soil?" He asked again.
Joan nodded, "I saw it, yes."
Mister Rocastle turned back to John, "Perhaps you did well then, Mister Smith. What makes you think the danger's coming here?"
Theo said in a small voice, "They're looking for him. And me. And Martha."
Mister Rocastle looked up at him, which caused Theo to shrink into the wall as much as he could. Luckily Joan explained in better words the situation.
"Baines threatened Mister Smith, sir. Said he'd follow him. We don't know why. He also asked about a man with green eyes, which would be him." Joan nodded towards Theo.
"Very well," Mister Rocastle said, "You boys, remain on guard. Mister Snell, telephone for the police. Mister Philips, with me. We shall investigate."
Martha leapt forward, "No! But it's not safe out there."
Mister Rocastle glanced at John, "Mister Smith, it seems your favourite servant is giving me advice. You will control her, sir."
He walked away and left the room. Martha sighed and watched the boys prepare.
"I've got to find that watch." She said under her breath.
Theo barely heard her but he did, "Watch?"
Martha nodded, "Yes, a silver fob watch. It'll get the Doctor back to normal."
Theo gasped as his head started to hurt again, "Don't say that again. It makes my head hurt. But I saw a watch."
"Really?" Martha exclaimed.
Theo nodded, "Tim had it. A student here, looks sorta small."
Martha smiled and ran out the room with Joan tailing her, "We'll need to get that watch back."
Theo watched as the two left the room and began to search. When he did that he noticed a little shoe poking out from around the corner. Theo walked quietly towards it, making sure not to scare them.
"Hello." Theo whispered.
Tim jolted and almost shouted.
Theo sat with him, "Please don't run."
Tim nodded and continued to listen to the watch. Theo held out his hand and Tim gave it to him.
"What is it?" Tim asked.
Theo shrugged, "Some sort of important trinket."
"It talks." Tim whispered.
"What's it say?" Theo turned the watch over in his hands.
Tim thought of what to say, "It shows me this man. A scary man that journeys through time and space."
Theo's head began to pound, "Time and space? Sounds like you'd need to be scary to handle all of time and space."
They sat for a few minutes, staring at the watch and wondering who that man really was. Who John Smith was and who Martha Jones was. Theo even questioned who he was.
There was a loud stomping, students flooded the hall and one of them grabbed Tim. Theo stood up and glared at the student.
"You cowards. You'll do your duty, Latimer, with the rest of us. And Gardener, you'll stay out of our way." The student growled and dragged Tim away, leaving Theo in the hall, holding the silver fob watch.
Martha and Joan had gone to John's office to look for the watch. While there, Martha had been trying to explain John Smith and the Doctor. Luckily, Joan caught on quickly.
"And human, I take it?" Joan asked about Martha.
"Human. Don't worry. And more than that, I don't follow him around all the time. I'm training to be a doctor. Not an alien doctor, a proper doctor. A doctor of medicine." Martha reassured while searching through the drawers.
"Well, that certainly is nonsense." Joan shook her head, "Women might train to be doctors, but hardly a skivvy and hardly one of your colour."
Martha turned around slowly, "Oh, do you think? Bones of the hand." She showed her left hand, "Carpal bones, proximal row. Scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, pisiform. Distal row. Trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate. Then the metacarpal bones extending in three distinct phalanges. Proximal, middle, distal."
"You read that in a book." Joan said softly.
"Yes, to pass my exams!" Martha laughed.
Joan looked at the floor, "What about that green-eyed fellow. Mister Woods."
"That's Charls. Charlie Grey. They're similar to the Doctor. Partly. They're a little human, at least." Martha sighed and kept searching.
Joan turned to the door and started walking, "I must go."
Martha hurried after her, "If we find that watch, then we can stop them."
"Those boys are going to fight," Joan said with a shaky voice, "I might not be a doctor, but I'm still their nurse. They need me." Joan sighed and left the room.
Joan had changed into her uniform and started to prepare. John had tried to convince her to leave. She tried to get to know about his childhood, any specific detail or anything that didn't sound like an encyclopedia. He couldn't answer her. John could only kiss her a last time, denying the Doctor's existence. Then he'd left.
Theo walked in right after John had gone outside.
"Matron, hello." Theo nodded and hid the watch behind his back.
Joan frowned, "Charlie Grey, what are you doing here?"
Theo tilted his head, "Who's Charlie Gr-" He cut himself off, falling to the floor with his head in one hand and the watch in the other.
"Sorry, I meant Mister Woods." Joan ran to his side.
"People say all the wrong things around me." Theo groaned and rubbed his head.
Joan frowned and looked him over again, his eyes were less cloudy but in pain. Then Tim Latimer ran past them. Joan didn't notice him but Theo did. And he got up and followed him. Joan stayed behind to do her duty.
"Tim!" Theo shouted quietly.
"Mister Woods, what are you doing?" Tim asked in a hushed voice.
Theo groaned, "I don't know! I need to find Martha."
Tim didn't reply, he was staring at the watch and then looked down the hall. A girl, the same girl from the dance who'd been on the side that killed people. Theo lowered the watch behind his back.
"Keep away." Tim said bravely.
Lucy sniffed, "Who are you?"
"I saw you at the dance. You were with that family. You're one of them." Tim thought aloud.
"She's dangerous, Tim." Theo whispered.
"The green-eyed man. What are you hiding?" Lucy asked.
"Nothing." Theo said quickly.
"What have you got there?" Lucy asked with a straight face.
Theo replied as Tim took the watch from his hand, "Nothing."
"Show me, green-eyed man." Lucy demanded.
"I reckon whatever you are, you're still in the shape of a girl." Tim started, "How strong is she, do you think? Does she really want to see this?"
Tim held up the watch and opened it directly at the girl. A bright light raced towards her and she jumped and ran away. Right outside the school, the Family of Blood saw the little boy with the whole of a Time Lord in his hands. Next to him stood the green-eyed man, a secret of the Doctor and the universe. As the scarecrows entered the school, John Smith couldn't fire a single shot.