A/N: Oh wow! Thank you all so much for the reviews! I can't believe I have over a hundred for this story already!
Season Three: "Family of Blood"
Jenny primed her weapon, "Make your decision, Mr. Smith."
Timothy reached into his jacket pocket and slowly pulled out the watch.
"Perhaps if that human heart breaks, the Time Lord will emerge," Baines said fiercely.
Timothy opened the watch.
A voice murmured, "Time Lord..."
"It's him!" the boy said scowling, whipping his head around.
Using the distraction, Martha turned the tables on Jenny, holding a gun to her, as Rose spun and snatched the weapon from Mr. Clarke.
Rose spoke, in a voice colder and more confident than she'd had in a while. "One more move and I shoot."
Baines seemed amused. "Oh, the Lady is full of fire!"
Martha shook her head. "And you can shut up!" She fired the gun into the ceiling.
Mr. Clarke said slowly, "Careful, Son of Mine. This is all for you so that you can live forever."
The boy leveled his weapon at them. "I can still shoot you down!"
"Try it," Rose dared him. "We'll die together."
He sneered. "Would you really pull the trigger? Look too scared."
"Scared and holding a gun. It's a good combination. You wanna risk it?" Martha replied. She glanced over at Rose, who didn't appear afraid at all. She looked like a woman ready to defend the man she loved against everything.
Baines looked at the man who should be the Doctor-who was completely out of his depth-before lowering the gun. Rose waved Martha over toward John.
"Martha, get everyone out. There's a door at the side. It's over there. Go on! Get him out, especially."
John stood indecisive. "Rose… what's happening?"
"Go on, John," she replied. "I will handle this. Don't you worry."
Martha nodded. "Do what she said. Everybody out now. Don't argue, Mr. Jackson. They're mad. That's all we need to know. Susan, Miss Cooper, outside, all of you!"
The villagers exited the hall through the front door, screaming.
John noticed Timothy nearby, "Move yourself, boy. Back to the school, quickly."
"And you, John. Go on. Just shift," Rose snapped, eyes and weapon trained on the creatures before her.
"What about you?" he said, unsure how to take the change in her. She had suddenly become the Rose in his dreams, and he couldn't see what had prompted it.
"Mr. Smith, I think you should listen to your Lady friend and get to safety, don't you?" Martha said, tugging his arm. "Trust Rose. Above all, trust Rose."
Timothy stared at Martha with wide eyes as she said that.
They left the hall, the professor issuing directives to those still hanging about outside. "Mr. Hicks, go to the village. Get everyone out. Latimer, get back to the school. Tell the headmaster—"
He reached for the boy's arm, but Timothy yanked away from him, shouting, "Don't touch me! You're as bad as them!" He ran off into the dark.
Rose, inside, held the gun with both hands, aiming at Baines. "Don't try anything. I'm warning you, or sonny boy gets it."
"She's almost brave, this one," Baines said with a grin, as the Family moved closer.
"I wish I'd gotten her form. Much more fun. So much spirit," Jenny grinned.
Rose took a step back, planning an escape. "What happened to Jenny? Is she gone?"
"She is consumed. Her body's mine."
"You mean she's dead," the blonde clarified, realizing there was no way to save these four.
Mother rolled her eyes and mocked the dead woman whose form she'd stolen. "Yes. And she went with precious little dignity. All that-aah-screaming."
A scarecrow grabbed Rose from behind.
"Get the gun!" Son screamed at the creation.
Rose smirked, threw the gun, ducked out of the stuffed soldier's arms and ran for the door. As she made it outside, she saw John and Martha still there.
"Don't just stand there, move!" she shouted. "Did you think they'd just change their mind because I waved a gun at them? Come on!"
Rose grabbed John's hand and glanced to Martha. "Thank you friend, for not giving up. But now we have to hide."
Timothy ran along a road through the woods towards the school and in the distance heard the villagers screaming. He had to talk to Lady Rose. The voice in the watch believed in her. She could fix this... he hoped.
As the Family exited the village hall, Son fired at the villagers as they ran away. "Run! Ah, this is super. We've been in hiding too long. This is sport."
Mother sniffed. "I can smell the schoolteacher. He's gone back to his academy."
"And what do we know about the women?" Son asked.
Mother's stolen body glowed green. "This body has traces of memory, was once the on named Martha's friend. Martha would go walking to the west, and when she brought the one named Rose to the school, it was from the west. Husband of Mine, follow the maid's scent. Go to the west. Find out what she was keeping secret."
"Soldiers!" Father left, followed by some of the scarecrows.
Son smirked. "As for you, Mother of Mine, let's go to school."
John, Rose, and Martha arrived breathlessly at the school. The professor closed the heavy wooden main door behind them. Once inside the school's front hall, he immediately began ringing a bell.
Rose blinked incredulously. "John, what're you doing?"
"Maybe one man can't fight them, but this school teaches us to stand together. Take arms! Take arms!" he shouted up the stairs.
"You can't do that!" Martha cried.
"You could get those boys killed!" Rose insisted.
He shook his head at them. "You want me to fight, don't you? Take arms! Take arms!"
Boys began rushing down the stairs, including Hutchinson.
The bleary eyed boy looked at his teacher. "I say sir, what's the matter?"
"Enemy at the door, Hutchinson. Enemy at the door. Take arms!"
Rose and Martha looked at each other, not knowing how to stop John.
Mother, Son, and Daughter approached the school with a few scarecrows in attendance.
"They're sounding the alarms," Son crowed.
Mother cautioned, "I wouldn't be so pleased, Son of Mine. These bodies are silly and hot. They can damage and die. That's why we need the Time Lord."
He nodded acceptance. "Indeed. They will have guns. Perhaps a little caution. Sister of Mine, you're such a small little thing. Find a way in and spy on them."
Daughter grinned a bit ferally and skipped away down a path.
Inside the school, the boys, now rousted from their sleep, were barricading the school, loading machine guns and other weapons.
"You can't do this, Doctor. Mr Smith!" Martha tried to reason with him.
He ignored her and ordered, "Maintain position over the stable yard."
She tried again, "They're just boys! You can't ask them to fight!"
"Faster now! That's it," he said as though she hadn't spoken.
"They don't stand a chance!" she finally cried dismally.
John turned to her. "They're cadets, Miss Jones. They are trained to defend the King and all his properties."
Rose shook her head as the headmaster entered the room.
"What in thunder's name is this? 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 recently woken man bellowed.
"Headmaster, I have to report the school is under attack," John said immediately.
The Headmaster glared at him. "Really? Is that so? Perhaps you and I should have a word in private."
The teacher held up a hand, "I promise you, sir. I was in the village with Lady Rose. It's Baines, sir. Jeremy Baines and Mr. 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."
"Lady Rose, is that so?"
Sparking on a plan, Rose glanced to Martha with a look that asked the other woman to trust her. "I'm afraid it's true, sir."
The Headmaster gasped. "Murder on our own soil?"
Rose bowed her head demurely, as though horrified. "I saw it, yes."
"Perhaps you did well then, Mr. Smith," he conceded. "What makes you thing the danger's coming here?"
John shifted awkwardly. "Well, sir, they said, um..."
"Baines threatened Mr. Smith, sir. Um, said he'd follow him. We don't know why," Rose said quickly, knowing the truth would be a bad thing to reveal to the Headmaster.
"Very well. You boys, remain on guard. Mr. Snell, telephone the police. Mr. Philips, with me. We shall investigate."
Martha moved in front of him, "No, it's not safe out there."
The Headmaster gave John a reproachful look. "Mr. Smith, it seems your favourite servant is giving me advice. You will control her, sir."
As he left, Martha sighed. "We've gotta find that watch."
Rose nodded, glancing at John before they both headed out of the room. Running down the hallway, they passed Timothy, who is hiding in a small alcove. The Doctor's voice was speaking from the watch.
"Hold me. Keep me safe. Keep me dark. Keep me closed. The time is not right. Rose will know."
There was a movement in the hallway from the other end.
"Not yet. Not while the Family is abroad. Danger!"
The Headmaster and Mr. Philips strode outside to confront the forms of Baines and Jenny.
"So, Baines and one of the cleaning staff," he said, a bit dismissively. "There's always a woman involved. Am I to gather that some practical joke has got out of hand?"
Son bowed jerkily to the man. "Headmaster, sir. Good evening, sir. Come to give me a caning, sir? Would you like that, sir?"
"Keep a civil tongue, boy," the Headmaster snapped furiously.
Mr. Philips tried to calm both of them. "Now - come now everyone. I suspect alcohol has played its part in this."
John was watching from one of the windows.
"Let's all just calm down," Mr. Philips continued. "And who are these friends of yours, Baines? In fancy dress."
"Do you like them, Mr Philips? I made them myself," Son said gleefully, walking to one of the scarecrows. "I'm ever so good at science, sir. Look-" he pulled the arm off one of the scarecrows "-molecular fringe animation fashioned in the shape of straw men.-my own private army, sir. Ever so good, sir."
The Headmaster drew himself up to what he felt was a commanding presence. "Baines, step apart from this company and come inside with me."
"No, sir. You, sir-You!-will send us Mr. John Smith," Son snarled. "That's what we want, sir, Mr. John Smith and whatever he's done with his Time Lord consciousness. And the ever so lovely blonde Rose, as Mother would like her body instead of this one. Then we'd be very happy to leave you alone."
The Headmaster narrowed his eyes. "You speak with someone else's voice, Baines. Who might that be?"
"We are the Family of Blood."
"Mr. Smith said there had been deaths."
Son laughed. "Yes, sir! And they were good, sir!"
The school head reared back as though struck. Teaching them to kill when necessary, that was part of their training. Teaching them to enjoy it... "Well, I warn you, the school is armed."
The boy that was Baines scoffed. "All your little tin soldiers. But tell me, sir, will they thank you?"
"I don't understand," the Headmaster said slowly.
"What do you know of history, sir? What do you know of next year?" Baines taunted.
John frowned, remembering what had been written in his journal about that year.
"You're not making sense, Baines."
"1914 - sir. Because the Family has travelled far and wide looking for Mr. Smith and, oh, the things we have seen. War is coming. In foreign fields, war of the whole wide world, with all your boys falling down in the mud. Do you think they will thank the man who taught them it was glorious?" Son pushed the man, enjoying his torment.
The Headmaster shook his head. "Don't you forget, boy, I've been a soldier. I was in South Africa, I used my dead mates as sandbags, I fought with the butt of my rifle when the bullets ran out, and I would go back there tomorrow for King and Country!"
"Et cetera, et cetera," Son said, bored with human sentiment. He turned and fired on Mr. Philips, disintegrating him.
John recoiled, horrified.
Son waved a hand. "Run along, headmaster. Run back to the school, and send us Mr. Smith and the Lady Rose!"
The Headmaster hurried back inside and straight to John. "Mr. Philips has been murdered, Mr. Smith. Can you tell me why?"
John shook his head, helplessly. "Honestly, sir, I have no idea. And the telephone line's been disconnected. We're on our own."
"If we have to make a fight of it, then make a fight we shall. Hutchinson, we'll build a barricade within the courtyards, fortify the entrances, build our defences. Gentlemen, in the name of the King, we shall stand against them,"
The boys saluted the Headmaster. "Yes, sir!"
The Headmaster walked out of the room and the boys filed out to help with the defences.
Hutchinson began delegating jobs to the younger boys. "Barricade the kitchens. Secure the passageway to the stables." He saw Timothy hiding away and grabbed his arm. "You coward! You'll do your duty, Latimer, with the rest of us!"
Outside, the teachers were directing the boys as they prepared for the attack.
"Sandbags to the north and west."
"...stables in case of..."
"Load the spare magazines with bullets."
"Quickly now! Take the magazine cut-off out!"
"That's it. We need water for the Vickers gun. See to it. Faster! All of you, faster!"
"Lockley, when firing commences, you're in charge of the gallery."
"Peterson, that is not acceptable. Report to your senior officer."
Martha and Rose were searching John's room when Joan came to the door.
"What are you doing?" the Matron asked, surprised and horrified.
Martha looked up, scowling a bit. "Looking for something. You haven't seen a fob watch, have you?"
She shook her head, a bit sharply. "No, I have not. I don't make it a habit to go through men's things."
Rose snorted but kept looking, currently digging through a drawer that held John's underthings. The nurse looked over to say something to her, but gasped when she saw what the blonde woman was doing.
"Lady Rose! What do you think you're doing?!" the widow nearly screamed.
"Looking for the damn watch," she mumbled. "He sticks things in his knicker drawer at home... I found a few pounds but no watch. Martha, where is it?"
Joan pressed a hand to her heart, looking utterly scandalized. "How do you... know such... intimate..."
Rose looked over, sighing. "Look Joan, I'm sorry there isn't a more delicate way to explain just now, but the man you know as John Smith is only a small part of who he really is. He's the Doctor, he's very, very special to me, and I'm trying to get him back."
Joan came into the room a ways. "Lady Rose, you seem different."
"Because I have my memory back," the woman said, moving to the next drawer. "And I'm not a Lady. I'm just Rose."
Martha smiled kindly at Joan. "I know it sounds mad, but when the Doctor became human, he took the alien part of himself and stored it inside the watch. It's not really a watch, it just looks like a watch."
The widow nodded slowly. "And alien means...not from abroad, I take it."
"The man you call John Smith...he was born on another world," the medical student said gently.
"Dammit," Rose snapped, slamming another drawer.
"A different species," Joan murmured. "And are the two of you also of this species?"
Martha shook her head. "I'm just a normal, ordinary human, and Rose is... well..."
"Complicated," the woman said, moving over to look under the bed.
"Yeah."
The nurse seemed to want to argue. "So tell me, in this fairy tale...who are the two of you?
Martha shrugged. "I'm just a friend, enjoying my time with them as they travel. Rose and the Doctor... they're going to be married, but it's much more... remember when they locked eyes in the infirmary? It was like everyone and everything else sort of faded away? That's them. Completely made for each other."
Joan looked crestfallen. "Oh..."
Rose stood, moving to her side. She put an arm around the nurse's shoulders. "It was never our intention to hurt anyone. He had to hide, and I wasn't completely safe in the open. But as soon as Martha realized that you were developing feeling for him, we knew I had to try and make him not an option. When this is over, he's going to leave, Joan. Even if I hadn't come out, he still would have left you behind."
The woman nodded. "If you weren't safe then... are you safe now?"
She shrugged lightly. "Not exactly. But with the Family here, he's in danger without me."
"And your servant," Joan said, glancing at Martha.
Martha laughed. "I'm not really a ssrvant. And I just don't follow them around. I'm training to be a doctor-not an alien doctor-a proper doctor, a doctor of medicine."
"Well that certainly is nonsense," Joan scoffed. "Women might train to be doctors, but hardly a skivvy and hardly one of your colour."
Martha glared at her. "Oh, d'you think? Bones of the hand. Carpal bones, proximal row; scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform. Distal row; trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate. Then the metecarpal bones extending in three distinct phalanges; proximal, middle, distal." She pointed to each bone as she named them.
"You read that in a book," the woman declared.
"Yes, to pass my exams. Can't you see this is true?" Martha cried.
Rose shook her head. "She doesn't want to see it, Martha. She wants to believe that I'll go away and John will stay with her."
"I must go," Joan said edging toward the door.
The medical student sighed. "If we find that watch we can stop them."
The woman paused at the door. "Those boys are going to fight. I might not be a doctor, but I'm still their nurse. They need me."
Rose started to say something, but moaned and covered her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Martha asked worriedly.
"I think they've found the TARDIS," her friend whispered. "Oh, this isn't good at all, Martha."
John walked into a room with two boys where Joan-now in uniform-was preparing for after the battle.
"You're with Armitage and Thwaites. They know the drill," the teacher said. "Joan, it's not safe."
She nodded. "I'm doing my duty, just as much as you. Fine evening you and Lady Rose had together."
He sighed. "Not quite as planned. Hope she isn't upset."
"Tell me about Nottingham," she said thoughtfully.
He blinked "Sorry?"
"That's where you were brought up. Tell me about it."
He began reciting, "Well, it lies on the River Leen, its southern boundary following the course of the River Trent which flows from Stoke to the Humber."
The nurse laid a hand on his arm. "That sounds like an encyclopaedia. Where did you live?"
"Broadmoor Street, adjacent to Hotley Terrace in the district of Radford Parade," he said without hesitation.
She shook her head. "But more that facts. When you were a child, where did you play? All those secret little places...dens and hideaways that only a child knows? Tell me, John. Please tell me."
"You too?" he groaned. "How can you think that I'm not real?"
She sighed. "No, it isn't that. No."
"This Doctor sounds like some...some romantic lost prince. Would she rather that? Am I not enough?"
Joan frowned. "No, that's not true, I'm sure of it. Never."
"I've got to go," he said, ending the conversation.
"John," the nurse stopped him. "They were right about one thing, though. Those boys-they're children. John Smith wouldn't want them to fight, never mind this Doctor. The John Smith I was getting to know-he knows it's wrong, doesn't he?"
The Headmaster called out, "Mr. Smith, if you please!"
"What choice do I have?" he asked, heading out to his position.
The teachers and the boys were in the courtyard making final preparations. Hutchinson and Timothy were teamed at a gun.
"Get those bags piled up, filth. Gonna mean the difference between life and death for us," Hutchinson ordered the smaller boy.
"Not for you and me," Timothy said softly.
"What are you babbling about?" the bigger boy snapped.
He looked up with clear eyes. "We're going to battle together. We fight alongside. I've seen it. Not here, not now."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hutchinson asked with no small amount of confusion.
"It means you and I both survive this. And maybe..." he said softly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the watch. "Maybe I was given this watch so I could help. I'm sorry."
Timothy clamoured to his feet and took off.
"Latimer, you filthy coward!"
Timothy half turned with a wave. "Oh yes, sir. Every time!"
He ran back into the school, and sat alone in the hallway holding the watch in his hands.
"What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?"
"Beware..."
The boy shook his head. "Beware of what?"
"Her."
He looked up and saw Daughter standing at the opposite end of the hall. Timothy stood to face her, hiding the watch. Daughter sniffed experimentally.
"Keep away," he warned.
"Who are you?" the creature asked.
Timothy stepped back. "I saw you at the dance. You were with that Family. You're one of them."
"What are you hiding?" Daughter asked.
"Nothing," he replied automatically.
She scowled, stepping toward him. "What have you got there?"
"Nothing."
"Show me, little boy," she ordered.
the boy smirked. "I reckon whatever you are, you're still in the shape of a girl. How strong is she, do you think? Does she really want to see this?"
He opened the watch in Daughter's direction, sharing some of the Doctor's memories, especially his confrontation with the Racnoss. She ran off, and he decided he had to find Lady Rose.
Inside the courtyard, the boys were at their guns watching the main doors.
"Stand to!" the Headmaster shouted.
There was a pounding at the door, as something, likely the scarecrows, began trying to get in.
"At post!"
Everyone aimed their guns, including John, though his mind was awash with uncertainty in his own actions.
"Enemy approaching, sir!" one of the boys called out.
"Steady!" the Headmaster returned. "Find the biting point."
The wood bar across the gate cracked apart and the scarecrows entered through the now open door.
"Fire!"
The boys fired and some of the scarecrows fell but others kept coming. John did not fire, torn between disgust and relief. Inside, Rose and Martha stood at a window, joined by Joan, and Rose seemed ready to cry.
"He didn't fire," Rose whispered gratefully. "I'm glad. He would have hated himself."
As the scarecrows lay heaped on the ground, the Headmaster shouted, "Cease fire!" He walked out to inspect the fallen enemy. "They're straw. Like he said. Straw!"
Hutchinson turned to John, asking in a quiet, frightened voice, "The no one's dead, sir? We killed no one?"
John nodded at him, unable to trust his voice. They were children... just children...
They heard footsteps and the Headmaster headed back behind the guns. "Stand to!"
A little girl with a red balloon appeared and skipped right into the middle of the scarecrows. Rose and Martha tore from the window and ran for the courtyard.
The Headmaster, seeing Daughter standing there, moved forward. "You child, come out of the way. Come into the school. You don't know who's out there. It's the Cartwright girl, isn't it? Come here. Come to me."
Martha, reaching the doors first, cried, "Headmaster, please. Don't go near her."
He barely glanced in her direction. "You were told to be quiet."
"Listen to her, sir," Rose echoed, and John's shocked, frightened face turned to her. "She's part of it! Matron, tell him."
Joan, who had followed them out, stammered, "I think-I don't know. I think you should stay back, Headmaster."
Rose locked eyes with the professor who was staring at her. "John, please. Tell him."
He stuttered, "She was-she was with-with Baines in the village."
The Headmaster glowered at all of them, "Mr. Smith, I've seen many strange sights this night but there is no cause on God's earth that would allow me to see this child in the field of battle, sir. Come with me."
Daughter tipped her head. "You're funny."
He nodded and held out his hand. "That's right. Now take my hand."
"Soooo funny," She said in a sing song voice, reaching into her coat. She pulled out a gun and shot the Headmaster and smirked at everyone. "Now who's going to shoot me - any of you, really?"
"Put down your guns," John said, lowering his own rifle.
Hutchinson turned. "But sir, the Headmaster-"
"I'll not see this happen," the teacher interrupted him. "Not anymore. You will retreat...in an orderly fashion back through the school. Hutchinson, lead the way."
"But sir-"
John barked at him, "I said, lead the way."
"Go on, then, run!" Son cackled as he appeared, firing his gun into the air.
The boys panicked, many screaming as they ran to retreat.
"Come on!" Rose said to John, grabbing his hand and running, Martha and Joan right behind.
The four adults ran through the school, leading the boys out through the stables.
"Let's go! Quick as you can!" John shouted.
"Don't go to the village! It's not safe!" Martha instructed them.
The professor gestured to the three of them, "And you, ladies!"
Joan shook her head. "Not until we get the boys out."
When they had all gotten outside the stable, John paused before turning to head back. "Now, I insist. The three of you just go. If there are any more boys inside, I'll find them," he said, over their protests as he opened the door to the passage to find scarecrows on the other side. He quickly slammed it shut and locked it. "I think...retreat."
They ran for the woods, pausing only when they heard a sing song voice calling, "Doctor! Doctor!"
The four of them looked through the trees to see Father standing next to the TARDIS. Rose gave a cry of dismay.
"Come back, Doctor. Come home. Come and claim your prize," Father taunted. He took a deep sniff. "Or just send that woman. She's connected to this... we can tell. If you send her, we won't need you."
Son joined him, grinning at the new knowledge. "Out you come, Doctor! There's a good boy. Come to the Family or sacrifice your ship and the woman."
"Pretty little Rosie," Mother added. "Time to end it now!"
Martha looked at John. "You recognise it, don't you?"
Rose covered her face. "I can save him Martha..."
"Don't you dare, Rose!" her friend snapped in a hushed tone. "Without him, we need you right now."
Mother called again, "Come out, Doctor! Come to us!"
John shook his head. "I've never seen it in my life."
"Do you remember its name?" she pressed.
Rose shook her head. "I'm sorry, John, but you wrote about it. The blue box. You dreamt of a blue box. If we can't get you back to normal, I'll have to go or they'll kill everyone."
"You would give yourself over to those murdering creatures?" he asked incredulously.
She met his gaze with tears in her eyes. "To save these people? To save you? To protect the Doctor? Yes. Every time."
He spoke, his voice breaking slightly. "I'm not-I'm John Smith. That's all I want to be. John Smith, with his life...and his job...and his love." He reached out to touch her cheek. "Why can't I be John Smith? Isn't he a good man?"
"Yes. Yes, he is," she whispered.
"Why can't I stay?"
Martha hated herself for saying it, fighting her own tears. "But we need the Doctor."
He looked at her. "So what am I then, nothing? I'm just a story."
He whirled and ran, followed immediately by Joan, then Rose and Martha turned to go. The group rushed down a country road, stopping after a while to get their bearings.
Joan gestured to the west. "This way. I think I know somewhere we can hide."
"We've got to keep going," John said, more than a little flustered.
"Just listen to me for once, John," she said heatedly. "I may not be Rose, but trust me. Follow me."
Martha glanced at him and followed the Matron, Rose right behind her. After a moment's hesitation, the professor followed the women. After about a good run, they arrived at a dark house.
"Here we are. It should be empty," Joan panted. "Oh, it's a long time since I've run that far."
"But who lives here?" Rose asked.
The nurse glanced back in the direction they'd come from. "If I'm right, no one."
They walked slowly to the front door and Joan entered first. It was a simple cottage kitchen with tea set on the table.
"Hello? No one home. We should be safe here," she said.
Martha saw a doll on a bench. "Whose house is it, though?"
Joan looks around sadly. "Um, the Cartwrights. That little girl at the school-she's Lucy Cartwright, or she's taken Lucy Cartwright's form. If she came home this afternoon and if the parents tried to stop their little girl, then they were vanished." She touched the teapot. "Stone cold. How easily I accept these ideas."
John sat heavily on one of the chairs at the table, looking as if he was carrying the weight of the world. "I must go to them before anyone else dies."
"You can't," Joan said taking a seat. "Rose, Martha, there must be something we can do."
"Not without the watch," Martha said, shaking her head.
Rose walked to the window, looking out. "There's something, but none of you would like it, and he'd be furious."
"You're this Doctor's companions!" John exclaimed, and the woman at the window flinched. "Can't you help? What exactly do you do for him? Why does he need you?"
Martha frowned at him. "Stop it. You're hurting her."
"Maybe I don't care anymore," he snapped, looking miserable.
"Maybe you shouldn't," Rose said quietly, twisting the ring on her hand. "Maybe he wouldn't even want to come back... maybe he's tired of saving people..."
"And that's what you want me to become," John scowled.
There was a knock on the door and they all turned to face it.
"What if it's them?" Joan gasped, hand flying to her throat.
Martha shook her head. "I'm not an expert, but I don't think scarecrows knock." She walked to the door and opened it to reveal Timothy.
The boy came inside and walked directly to Rose. "I brought you this," he said, holding out the watch.
"My Rose," the watch whispered, and tears poured down the woman's cheeks as she sank to the floor.
Her friend moved over and held her hand out, letting the boy deposit it in her palm. She moved to the professor and held it out.
"Hold it," she told him.
He stiffened and pulled back. "I won't."
"Please, just hold it," the medical student begged him.
Timothy looked at him, frowning. "It told me to find you. It wants to be held."
Rose took a deep breath, calming herself. "You've had this watch all this time? Why didn't you return it?"
The boy shuffled his feet. "Because it was waiting. And because I was scared of the Doctor."
"Why?" Joan asked, surprised.
His answer was soft. "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."
"Stop it," John choked out.
Timothy continued, as though he hadn't heard. "He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of time and he can see the turn of the universe."
"Stop! I said stop it," the teacher gasped.
"And he's wonderful," the boy said, his eyes shining.
Rose smiled at him. "Yes he is."
Joan reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the journal. "I've got this. The journal. I'm so sorry for taking it, Rose, but I wanted to understand why he connected to you so well."
Rose waved her off, standing to her feet once more.
"Those are just stories," John said defensively.
The nurse frowned at him. "Now we know that's not true. Perhaps there's something in here."
There was a sudden explosion outside and they all gasped.
"What the hell?" Martha cried.
They all looked out the window to see what could have passed for meteorites falling to the ground.
"They're destroying the village," Rose said, her sadness almost radiating from her. "I... I can't let them do that..."
The confused man turned to Martha, holding out his hand. "Watch."
"John, don't," Joan said, flipping to the end of the journal. "There might be another way."
"Come closer," the voice in the watch said.
"Can you hear it, sir?" Timothy asked him.
"Closer. Closer," the watch beckoned.
John peered at it. "I think he's asleep. Waiting to awaken."
The boy moved closer. "Why did he speak to me?"
The man holding the watch spoke without thinking, "Oh, low-level telepathic field. You were born with it. Just an extra synaptic engram causing-" He stopped and took a deep breath, looking up at Rose almost accusingly. "Is that how he talks?"
She nodded, still staring out the window. She couldn't speak. If he chose to remain human... she would have to leave. She couldn't stay with him while he grew old and died, and she didn't.
"That's him!" Martha cried excitedly. "All you have to do is open it and he's back."
"You knew this all along and yet you watched while Rose and I-Rose knew!"
Martha shook her head emphatically. "I didn't know how to stop you! And Rose didn't, that fall down the stairs was real and she couldn't remember anything! He gave me a list of things to watch out for but that wasn't included."
Joan scanned the journal, trying not to feel the sting of jealousy.
"Falling in love?" John asked, mouth agape. "That didn't even occur to him?"
"No," she said with a certain matter of factness. "Why would it?"
"Then what sort of man is that?" the teacher snorted derisively. "And now you expect me to die?"
There were more explosions from outside, and Joan flinched as she read through the end of the journal.
"It was always going to end, though!" Martha tried to explain to him. "The Doctor said the Family's got a limited lifespan. That's why they need to consume a Time Lord. Otherwise, three months and they die. Like mayflies, he said. And of course he didn't consider falling in love. He's already so in love with Rose that everything in the whole of time and space centers on her for him! How could he even think that his human self could feel any different?"
He chose to ignore that last bit. "So your job was to execute me."
She could have shaken him for being so selfish. "People are dying out there! They need him and I need him and more than anything, Rose needs him. 'Cause 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 so many people..."
The house rocked with the explosions.
"It's getting closer," Timothy said fearfully.
John stood. "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!"
"You can't mean that!" Joan suddenly cried out.
"Can't I?" he said, eyes a bit wild. "If they want the Doctor, they can have him."
Martha said, horrified. "He'll never let you do it."
He floundered, "If they get what they want, then-then-"
"Then it all ends in destruction," Joan finished. "I just read the end and those creatures would live forever to breed and conquer. War across the stars...for every child."
John was on the verge of tears.
Martha sighed. "Can I talk to you honestly, please?"
John sobbed, nodding his head. Explosions still echoed throughout the countryside and Joan pulled Timothy into her arms, hugging him tightly. Martha sat next to the teacher.
"If I could do this instead of you, then I would," she told him gently. "But I can't. You can choose to remain human, but in the end, can you live with yourself?"
He turned to look at her. "How do I know he's a better choice? Can he love her like I do?"
Martha patted his hand. "She won't be able to stay with John Smith... not really. Rose doesn't age, and won't die for a very long time... if ever. Unless she's killed. She could never stay around normal humans for long."
He hung his head. "I don't want to die, Martha. And I don't want to live without her. Why can't I just live a normal life?"
She sighed. "I can't make the decision for you. None of us can. Talk to Rose, this hurts her at least as much as it does you."
"That might be difficult," Timothy interjected.
"Why?" John asked, raising his head.
"Because Miss Rose left," the boy explained. "I didn't realize until just now, but... it was around... the time you asked Miss Martha if she expected you to die."
"Oh God, she's going to give herself up to them..." Joan realized, horrified.
Martha choked back a sob. "I lost both my best friends now. One to selfishness, the other to stupid nobility."
John stood, holding the watch tightly, his expression grim but determined.
"What are you going to do?" Joan asked, both in awe of his expression and a bit afraid.
He didn't answer, he just strode out.
Inside their ship, the Family stood around Rose sneering. Son was trying to force her into opening the TARDIS for them.
"We can't use you quite like this, you know. The connection is almost hidden… how did you do that?"
Rose glared at him. "I've already told you, it's on emergency power. I can't do anything from here, I have to be inside."
Mother laughed. "You think we'd fall for that? You'll just zip out of here to protect these stupid little humans. No, you access it from here."
There was a slight metal twang and the Family turned as one to see the man known as John Smith entering the ship, holding up his hands in defeat.
"Just—" He gave a clumsy lurch and leaned against the side of the ship, hitting a few buttons. "Just stop the bombardment and let Rose go. That's all I'm asking. I'll do anything you want, just don't hurt her!"
"John!" Rose cried. "What have you done?!"
Son grinned triumphantly. "Say please."
He didn't even hesitate. "Please."
After a slight pause, Mother turned a switch and there was a hiss as the ship responded. She grabbed Rose's arm to fling her toward him, but stopped.
"Wait a minute," she said, inhaling deeply. "Still human."
The man spread his hands. "Now I can't-I can't pretend to understand, not for a second, but I want you to know that I'm innocent in all this. He made me John Smith. It's not like I had any control over it," he explained, stumbling a bit and knocking against more buttons.
"He didn't just make himself human, he made himself an idiot," Mother observed with some amusement.
Son rolled his eyes. "Same thing, isn't it?"
John shook his head. "I don't care about this Doctor and your family, I just want you to go. But I do love Rose, with everything that I am. She's the most important thing in the universe."
Rose had been hanging her head in defeat, but at his words, she snapped her eyes to him, staring in shock.
He nodded. "So, I've made my choice." He held out the fob watch. "You can have him. Just take it, please! Take him away, and give me my Rose."
Son laughed. "At last." He took the watch, grabbing the man by the lapels. "Don't think that saved your life, either of you."
Son pushed him away, taking hold of Rose and flinging her after him. As they fell, they hit more buttons, but he managed to pull her close. She placed a hand on his chest, smiling tearfully at him as the Family gathered around the watch.
"Family of Mine, now we shall have the lives of a Time Lord," Son gloated, opening the watch.
The Family all breathed deep.
"It's empty!" Son cried angrily, turning on the couple.
"Well, where's it gone?" Rose demanded, looking properly shocked.
"You tell me," he snarled, throwing the watch at them.
The Doctor caught it one-handed with a bit of a smirk. "Oh, I think the explanation might be you've been fooled by a simple olfactory misdirection-little bit like ventriloquism of the nose. It's an elementary trick in certain parts of the galaxy. But it has got to be said—" He dropped the watch in his pocket, pulling out his glasses and putting them on without loosening his hold on Rose even a little. "I don't like the looks of that hydroconometre. It seems to be indicating you've got energy feedback all the way through the retrostabilisers feeding back into the primary heat converter—ah," he winced sympathetically hissing through his teeth. "'Cause if there's one thing you shouldn't have done, you shouldn't have let me press all those buttons. But, in fairness, I will give you one word of advice-Run."
Taking Rose's hand, the pair ran for the exit, listening to the Family behind them, screaming and running after them. They all ran across the field behind before the ship exploded, throwing them to the ground. When the Family looked up, they saw the Doctor standing over them, holding Rose's hand, absolutely furious.
"I tried to give you a chance," he told them in a low, dangerous voice. "I tried to allow you to simply live the lives you'd been given… but you couldn't have that. You followed me, killed innocent people, and tried to destroy the most important thing to me… and still… once you thought you'd gotten your prize, you blatantly told me that you still intended to kill us."
Rose looked disappointed, but cold. The Family felt cold stabs of fear.
"You wanted to live forever?" the Doctor promised, though his voice clearly said it would not be a gift he offered. "I will ensure that you do. No matter how much you wish otherwise… you will live on."
The Time Lord turned to his fiancee. "Are you going to stop me from this, Rose? If you speak for them, I'll just kill them."
She looked at the Family, seeing the fearful pleas in their eyes, and then she turned to see the smoking village in the early light of the new day. Finally, she looked at the Doctor.
"They almost wiped out this entire village for something they were never meant to have. They almost destroyed you. They intended to destroy me. They showed no compassion, no respect for life, no remorse," she said in a softly angry voice. "Even if I wanted to after that, I cannot speak for such monsters."
Nodding with an impassive expression, he grabbed the arms of both Father and Son, Rose taking hold of Mother and Daughter.
"We'll take them to the TARDIS, and deal with them from there," he said to her. "Then we'll come back for Martha."
"I wouldn't want her involved in this anyway. It's bound to upset her," Rose said, as serious as he was.
The Doctor looked at her. "Would you rather I do this alone, Rose? You don't have to help."
"Yes, I do," she said. "I've told you, time and again, I intend to be your partner, and that's in everything. If I only wanted the fun things, I shouldn't have agreed to marry you."
He nodded, and they left to deal with the Family. For the Father, they chose a hidden chamber in a world trapped half out of time where they locked him in unbreakable chains, forged in the heart of a dwarf star and left him there to scream out his pain and loneliness indefinitely. For Mother, they traveled to the event horizon of a collapsing galaxy and Rose shoved her out, to be imprisoned there...forever. For Daughter, the Doctor trapped her inside a mirror, every mirror. He wouldn't tell his fiancée how he did it, but she noticed that when there was a flutter of movement out of the corner of someone's eye as they gazed into a mirror, that was Daughter. Son was the last, and most personal for the couple. The Time Lord suspended him in time, and they dressed him as a scarecrow out in a field. The Doctor placed the hood over his head, his eyes dark and unreadable.
With the Family taken care of, they returned to the Cartwright's house, both now dressed in their regular gear. Joan, Martha, and Timothy were all there, though it was obvious a few days had passed since they took the family away. Rose tossed a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket to Martha, smiling apologetically, and stepped outside with Timothy, while the Doctor looked at Joan with an expression of sorrow.
"Is it done?" she asked, staring out the window.
"It's done," he nodded.
She sighed. "Police and the arm are at the school. The parents have come to take the boys home. I should go. They'll have so many questions. I'm not sure what to say," she admitted, turning around. "Oh, you look the same. Goodness, you must forgive my rudeness. I...find it difficult to look at you. Doctor, must call you Doctor. Where is he? John Smith?"
The Doctor tapped his temple. "He's in here somewhere."
"Like a story. Could you change back?" she asked curiously.
"Yes."
She shifted, glancing away. "Will you?"
"No," he told her. "This is the way I was meant to be, and I wouldn't do that to Rose again."
"I see," Joan nodded, silently admitting defeat. "Well then. I think you ought to know, I loved him. That ordinary man. I never expected to, and I know he never thought of me in that way, but I loved him, all the same."
"For what it's worth, Joan, I am sorry. I never intended to cause any sort of lasting change here."
Trying to distance herself from him, the woman said, "Answer me this, just one question. That's all. If the Doctor had never visited us, if he'd never chosen this place on a whim...would anyone here have died?" She nodded as he made no attempt to answer. "You can go."
After he left, Joan slowly walked to the table and picked up the journal and held it to her, crying.
Outside, Martha joined Rose and Timothy as the Doctor walked out of the cottage.
"All right. Molto bene!" he said in the tone that even Martha recognized as falsely cheerful.
"How was she?" the medical student asked.
Instead of answering, he said, "Time we moved on."
Rose placed a hand on his arm, knowing him too well to not recognize the look in his eyes. She spoke softly, "It isn't your fault."
He nodded, a flash of pain behind his eyes that he quickly pushed away. "Time we moved on. And I never said thanks for lookin' after me." He smiled and wrapped Martha in a big hug.
"You're welcome, of course, and I'm sorry for pulling Rose out of the TARDIS and putting her in danger."
The Doctor shook his head. "Not at all, not at all. I would have been more upset had I found myself moving further away from her and her trapped inside when they captured it."
Rose bit her lip, looking away. They hadn't really spoken since he'd returned to himself. The distrust and resentment of John Smith still echoed in her head and heart. Sure, he'd only been human, and a frightened, threatened human at that, but that part of her that feared she wasn't good enough for him still wondered if he wished she'd just let him stay human and left him to live a normal human life.
Timothy looked up at him. "Doctor, Martha."
The Time Lord grinned. "Tim-Timothy-Timber."
The boy nodded. "I just wanted to say good-bye, I already told Miss Rose. And thank you, because I've seen the future and I now know what must be done. It's coming, isn't it? The biggest war ever."
"You don't have to fight," Martha said softly.
The boy smiled sadly up at her. "I think we do."
"But you could get hurt," she argued.
"Well, so could you, travelling around with them, but it's not going to stop you," he countered.
The Doctor nodded. "Tim, I'd be honoured if you'd take this." He held out the watch.
Timothy held the watch up. "I can't hear anything."
"No, it's just a watch now," the man said, shaking his head. "But keep it with you. For good luck."
Martha bent and gave the boy a hug. "Look after yourself." She gave him a kiss on the cheek before she turned and entered the TARDIS.
Rose knelt and held out her arms, hugging Timothy tightly. "I really did like you best, hon. You're a wonderful boy, and you'll make a good man. I only wish I could have stayed to see you do it."
"Miss Rose, I'm going to miss you, but I'm glad you know who you are now. And don't worry." He leaned closer and whispered, "He didn't really mean any of that."
She kissed the opposite cheek from Martha and moved inside the TARDIS. The Doctor shook the boy's hand and moved to the door.
"You'll like this bit," he said with a wink, moving inside and after a few moments, the TARDIS dematerialized.
Timothy smiled and walked away.
Martha stretched and grinned as she looked around the control room. "It's good to be back," she smiled. "I'm going to go see if the TARDIS will let me find the library, and possibly take a nap. Being a maid in 1913 is not easy by any definition. Don't go anywhere fun until I wake up. Also… I may take a two hour shower… oh hot water that lasts forever… how I've missed you!"
Rose couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up out of her as her friend sauntered dreamily toward the hall, though it faded a bit as she turned to the Doctor.
"I…" she started before gathering her thoughts. "I'm sorry… for how it all turned out."
He nodded, adjusting the controls a bit before looking up at her. "When did you take it off?"
Rose looked down at her hand, knowing exactly what he meant even if she was surprised he noticed. "Before I left the cottage. It didn't seem fair to keep it on… if you didn't mean it anymore…" She stopped speaking, the lump in her throat painfully large.
He crossed to her in three quick steps, gathering her into his arms and laying his cheek on her head. "Oh my poor girl… what have I done to you? Rose, my darling… my life… I still mean it, love. I do. I meant it then, I mean it now. I was scared, angry, confused about a lot, but not about you. Never about you."
She broke down and cried then, wrapping her arms around him and holding on desperately. He held her just as tightly, not saying a word while she let go of all the fear and pain she'd been tucking away. As she finally got herself to a point she could speak again, she tipped her face up to look at him, and gasped as she found him crying as well.
"Doctor!" she said, reaching up to wipe his tears away. "Why are you crying?"
"You were willing, even when you thought I had changed my mind about you, to give yourself up to protect me," he told her in awe, wiping her tears away also. "Darling, don't you know how much that means to me? How much you mean to me? I love you."
She beamed at him. "I love you, Theta. And I wanted to protect you, and your right to choose. If you wanted to be human, I wanted to make it possible for you to live a long life as one."
He shook his head, touching his forehead to hers. "I have no life without you, my Rose. Where's your ring?"
She stuck her hand in her pocket, pulling out the shining diamond. He took it from her and held her left hand, sliding it onto her finger before kissing her deeply.
"Never take it off again. Please," he asked her, his voice thick with emotion.
"Never again," she promised, kissing him back.
"Here's a quick thought…" Martha said suddenly from the side of the room.
The couple jumped, both staring at the woman as though she'd appeared from nowhere.
"Next time, just tell people you're married, so you don't have to be separated in the first place," she instructed them.
Both Rose and the Doctor blushed at that, looking a bit embarrassed.
Martha rolled her eyes good naturedly. "I'd thump you both, but I'm way too tired. I want two days to just be exceedingly lazy, and then we're going somewhere fun."
The Doctor grinned and hugged his Rose to him, drinking in the feel of her in his arms again. "Two days sounds about right."
The blonde woman laughed and snuggled up to him. "And then a faire of some kind. With games and prizes."
Martha waved and headed off to her room, for real this time, and Rose looked up at her Doctor.
"What will we do for two days?" she asked with her sassy grin.
"Oh, just you wait, you beautiful girl, just you wait," he laughed, pulling her out of the room.
The TARDIS hummed happily, holding the course until her people had all recovered from their most recent misadventure.
A/N: Well, we're over a hundred reviews so my new goal is 150 reviews before season three is finished. The decision for a baby has been made, but you'll have to keep reading to figure out what it is. Also, the details on the wedding are being adjusted, so I'm reopening the polls on that. But only for the timing. Let me know when they should get married!
