They barely dodged the green laser before the TARDIS door slammed shut. Rose began to frantically press buttons and flick switches, Martha slumped against the railings breathing frantically. Suddenly there's a beeping noise.
"Crap! They're following us" Rose said.
"What! But how?"
"I don't know! They probably nicked a vortex manipulator. They could follow us anywhere. Right across the universe, never stopping…unless…"
"Unless?"
"Martha you trust me right?"
"With my life!"
"Because this all depends on you"
"What does?"
Rose walked away from the console and stared at something in the corner. "These creatures are hunters" she said quietly. "They can sniff out anyone and with me being a Time Lady…well I'm unique aren't I? They can track us down throughout all of time and space"
"Can't we hide from them?"
"That is exactly what we'll do Martha, for three months that's how long they got left"
"But where is it safe? You just said they can find you anywhere!"
"Only if I'm a Time Lady…looks like I'm going to have to be human again"
She woke up with a gasp. Once again she had one of those strange dreams that haunt her. She exhaled slowly and stretched out like a cat. She sat up and ran a hand through her hair before getting off the bed. As she reached out for her dressing gown the door flew open.
"Oh sorry Ma'am you are not ready"
She turned round to see her maid looking away. "Martha, honestly it's all right. We're all women here and it's not like I'm naked!"
Martha looked back at Rose; it wasn't that she never saw Rose in her bed clothes or anything she was just so unsure how to act round someone who doesn't remember who she was. When she looked at this woman she wasn't seeing Rose Tyler the most incredible woman in all of time and space, no she was seeing Marion Smith the first ever female teacher in the all boys' school in a little village in Framingham.
Marion smiled at her softly as if she was one of the younger boys in her class; Martha instantly blushed and placed the breakfast tray down on the table. "Your breakfast Ma'am"
"Please Martha I have asked you enough times to call me Marion, now sit down and have a cup of tea" Marion Smith said impatiently. It had become a morning ritual where Martha and Marion would share a cup to tea together before the actual day started. Rose did warn Martha that there'll be residual attachment and Marion will probably befriend her. "I've been having this weird dreams Martha"
"Oh?"
"I dream that I'm this adventurer, this wild child, this daredevil, I call her Rose Tyler" Marion stood up and reached out and picked something on the fireplace mantel. "And this watch, this watch it was…oh I can't remember now but it was important" she put it back on the mantel and sat back down on the small sofa. "You were in them"
"Was I Ma'am?"
"Yes you were my companion, my best friend. You and I were from the same future the year 2007"
Martha pulled the newspaper off of the trolley and opened it up for Marion "well you can see that the date is November the tenth 1913"
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Marion strolled down the hallway to her class, dreaming. She hadn't been completely honest with Martha, in her dreams there was always a man, a handsome man, a charming man, the man of her dreams you could say. He was like Rose completely wild, he was called the Doctor.
"Morning Miss Smith" one of the students called out.
"Morning" she called back smiling. When she first started she had been worried that she would not earn any respect from the students and teachers, now the only people that gave her grieve due to her being a woman was Baines and Hutchinson.
She walked past the two maids who were kneeling on the floor while washing it.
"Good Morning Miss Smith" Martha called out cheerfully.
"Good Morning Martha, Jenny" Marion replied smiling down at them before she turned to go up the stairs.
"Lovely woman she is" Jenny commented "you would think that most women like her wouldn't even look at us let alone bid us good morning"
"Yes well I think it's safe to say that Marion Smith is ahead of her time" Martha said.
"What a modern woman should be, practical but kind to everyone" Jenny agreed.
"Now then you two, you're not paid to have fun" one of the elder boys snapped.
"Yes sir" Martha murmured going back to cleaning the floor in silence, only twenty days left of this and she could go far away and never have to clean a floor again.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Martha cycled slowly towards the shed that was hidden behind some trees far out of the village, she slipped in and beamed up at the blue box that she had been living in for a few months before this incident started. She pulled off the chain round her neck which held the key to the TARDIS and unlocked the door.
"Hello" she murmured stroking the rail, she then snorted in disbelief "can't believe I've been driven to this, talking to a machine" for a moment she swore the TARDIS let out an angry rumble but dismissed it as her imagination.
She sat herself down and played the video that was one the console screen, she forward it and rewinded it repeatedly trying to find what she was looking for.
"And Martha? Thank you, thank you so much. I don't know where I'll be without you"
"But what if you remember by yourself!" Martha shouted at the screen "what if you have dreams?"
No reply came and Martha let out a frustrated groan.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Marion was stumbling along the corridor trying to balance a large pile of books that was obscuring her sight. She couldn't see a thing ahead of her and had almost bumped into a couple students who were no help at all, the unhelpful brats! She carried on stumbling along when she heard someone cry out.
"Miss Smith mind the stairs!"
But it was too late, suddenly she stepped onto nothing and fell tumbling down the stairs, the books thrown everywhere and just before everything went dark Marion cursed those unhelpful brats one last time.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Martha burst through the door without knocking "I just heard! Is she ok?" she asked.
The Headmaster turned to stare at her in a disgusted disapproval. "Mary it is inappropriate to burst in like a savage in your mistress's room. You should knock and use appropriate language when asking one's health"
"Oh pish, posh" Martha could hear Marion say "Headmaster Martha was only concerned about my health, you must take pride in having such caring servants most won't even bother to ask about one's health let alone show so much concern"
"Even so Miss Smith, one should not blunder into a room in such a manner" the Headmaster said stepping away to reveal Marion propped up by some pillows on her bed. "The doctor should be here soon, I did send Latmir to fetch him."
"Headmaster I am fine, I just took a fall" Marion said smiling.
"Miss Smith, you were unconscious for about twenty minutes and it took one of my strongest boys to carry you to your room and another two to carry that monstrous pile of books of yours"
"Yes well I'm fine now" Marion argued, her cheeks turning pink in embarrassment. Martha bit her lip from sniggering; oh she can't wait for this to be over. Rose will never live this one down.
"Well you're not getting up until the doctor has checked you over" the Headmaster said firmly "oh why did Matron Redfern had to take this week off to visit her son, we could have used her medical knowledge right about now"
Martha was itching to go over to Marion's side and check for concussion but she had the feeling if she stepped out of line the Headmaster would throw her out of the room. Marion Smith was a prize to the Headmaster, she was an intelligent woman who was brilliant at teaching and she made the school look so much better. Marion was the winning card to lure more students into his school, it made Martha sick and she was rather glad that they were leaving soon, away from that man.
There was a knock on the door.
"Martha would you get that for me please?" Marion asked pulling Martha out of her thoughts.
"Yes Ma'am" Martha said dipping slightly before turning to answer the door, when she had answered there was a tall., dark, handsome man and a small blonde boy.
"I'm Dr James McDonald" he said in a thick Scottish accent "this wee lad here said something about an injured woman"
"I keep telling everyone that I'm fine!" Marion said "I just took a tumble down the stairs"
"I shall be the judge of that Miss Smith" Dr McDonald said settling his bag on the table and opening it.
"I best leave, I have work to do" the Headmaster said "I hope you come to my office with a full report on her health Dr McDonald, I need to know if she's capable of working."
"I shall give you one as soon as I finish me examination" Dr McDonald said dismissively.
"Come along now Mary and Latmir, leave the doctor to his work" the Headmaster said herding Martha and the blonde boy out of the room before shutting the door.
"Pompous man" Dr McDonald muttered under his breath.
Marion giggled "yes I never liked him very much either. He always calls poor Martha Mary, it annoys me so much" she winced when Dr McDonald touched a sore part of her head.
"Well it seems that you have no concussion" he said "however you have a nasty cut here and I'll be needing to clean that up. The boy said you walked right off the stairs"
"I was carrying a very large pile of books that obscured my view of what was ahead" Marion sniffed.
"Sure you were" Dr McDonald said teasingly. "But I am used to having beautiful woman do foolish things just to get my attention"
"Why…why…you…you" Marion stuttered at the boldness and cheekiness of the mans sentence.
"Is that all you can do Miss Smith, stutter at me?" Dr McDonald asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm in half the right mind to give you a slap for cheek!" Marion said hotly.
"So you are the fiery type, good I like that in a woman"
Marion's cheeks were now stained scarlet. "You are far too bold" she said flatly.
"Maybe I just forgot to guard my tongue when I'm around such a beauty" Dr McDonald countered back "don't you ever let go? Just for a second"
"I do when I dream" Marion said softly.
"And what do you dream about?"
"Sometimes I dream about having two hearts" she whispered.
Dr McDonald pulled out a stethoscope and put it on, he reached out and listened to her heart and then moved to the other side, and he heard nothing. "Only one here" he murmured.
Marion rose up from the bed and walked to her desk, she pulled out a leather bound journal and passed it to Dr McDonald "I wrote them down, these dreams. They're so real, so unbelievable. I call it the Diary of an Impossible Girl"
Dr McDonald opened the journal and slowly turned the pages over, reading little bits. They're was a drawing of herself but younger, eyes outlined thickly. There was a picture of a woman who looked like herself Jackie Tyler, mother, hairdresser and slap extraordinaire. Was scrawled on the top, a few other words were there but he skipped them. A picture of a black man holding a large gun was next Mickey the Idiot, Best Friend, Mechanic and Tin Dog. Another page showed some sort of console TARDIS, home, fantastic. Another of a man in military clothing Captain Jack, the constant flirt, brother figure. Two men, one that looked older in his forties with big ears and one that had wild hair and a friendly grin the Doctor, changes his face, always running never looks back, forever.
"Got an eye for handsome men" Dr McDonald teased.
She avoided his eye "they're friends" she muttered. "Sometimes I wish that life was real"
"Yes if only" Dr McDonald agreed staring at Marion; he then snapped the book shut "right then I'll tell the Headmaster you're fine and healthy to teach. Good Day Miss Smith"
"Good Day Dr McDonald"
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
The three of them stumbled down the lane giggling. They shouldn't be doing this, it was seen wrong for three unaccompanied women to drink till they're drunk and then walk home. But they wanted to let their hair loose and have a little freedom.
"Cor Dr McDonald, what a handsome man" Jenny said giggling. "Far nicer to look at than Matron Redfern"
"Matron Redfern is a stuck up cow" Marion blurted out causing Martha and Jenny to giggle "seriously, she told me that it was wrong to be friends with servants"
"She's just jealous!" Martha slurred slightly "because you're young and pretty and the favourite while she's isn't"
Suddenly there was a green flash in the sky as meteors fell down.
"Woooooooooooooooooow" Jenny said dazedly.
"Beautiful" Marion murmured sobering up slightly.
"Look, I think it landed just over that field!" Martha cried out "we should run after it"
"Oh I don't think so"
The girls screamed when they heard a male's voice behind them and they turned quickly to see Dr McDonald standing there.
"It most likely landed far away, in the channel or something." He continued.
"What are you doing here?" Marion asked.
"I saw you three ladies down in the pub and I thought it was best to supervise you back. God knows what trouble you three would get into"
"We don't need anyone to look after us, especially me!" Marion snapped, tripping on a stray root and falling backwards.
Dr McDonald reached out and caught her "I beg to differ; you're a woman who's headstrong and has pride. Someone who won't admit to walking off the stairs this morning. You know drinking after a head injury is most likely to kill you. I will walk you home"
One they reached the school grounds and the two servant girls walked away, Marion turned to look at Dr McDonald.
"I thank you Dr McDonald"
"Call me James"
"That would be inappropriate Dr McDonald"
"It wouldn't if I courted you"
"You wish…to court me?"
"Very much so, Miss Smith you fascinate me. I have never seen such a headstrong and bold woman who is unafraid of what people think of her. I wish to court you, may I?"
"You may"
"Then I shall start tomorrow, expect me to turn up magically"
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Marion silently cursed alcohol as she taught with a massive headache. Her dreams were just as vivid as before only about even more wilder nights with dancing in flashing lights and such short clothes. She called back Timothy Latmir and took him to her rooms for some books she thought he would be interested in and for a little chat.
"You see Timothy I think you have the potential to be the very best but for some reason you're holding back" she said softly. "Is there something wrong?"
"No Ma'am" he mumbled looking down at his feet.
She went away looking for those books when he heard the whispers. He went up to the mantle and saw it, a silver fob watch with swirly designs; he reached out and picked it up.
Timothy, Time Lady, Martha, Bad Wolf, Doctor
He saw images of his history teacher wearing trousers and a hoodie with her eyes glowing gold, swinging down on a chain, facing monsters, dancing midair and so much more. He gasped.
My name is Rose Tyler
The watch could talk to him; she was mentally shaking his hand. She would be his friend.
Yes I would, protect me and I will protect you.
He pocketed the watch.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Marion stood there beside the Headmaster overseeing the missile target lesson, wincing each time. She remembered her fiancée John Smith who died in a battle, she hated this. She looked down at Timothy in concern when he gasped and ruined Hutchinson's attempt.
"May I have the permission to beat him?" Hutchinson said glaring down at the boy.
"You may" the Headmaster said. Marion watched in anger as Hutchinson dragged Timothy away. She felt the Headmaster place a hand on her shoulder "now, now Miss Smith the boy needs to learn. Is that Dr McDonald I see over there?"
She turned round while shrugging the Headmaster's hand of her shoulder to see James McDonald standing by the gates, she strolled towards him head up high.
"Yes Dr McDonald" she said curtly.
"I thought I told you to call me James Marion"
"And I don't recall allowing you to call me Marion just yet Dr McDonald" she shot back.
He chuckled "I thought I would take you for a walk round the village, are you free?"
"The Headmaster is distracted by allowing beatings on innocent children so I expect so" she said.
He chuckled "I knew you were the type to be against this sort of thing. It is good you know, teaches them discipline, prepares them for war"
"I had a fiancée who died in a battle so excuse me for not supporting this"
"Blimey he must have been a brave man and a fool" James said.
"Pardon?"
"Brave to fight for your hand and a fool to leave you for war" James elaborated; he picked up her hand and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. "Please walk with me"
"Yes, yes I will"
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Timothy cowered in the corner as Hutchinson raised his hand up high to hit him when suddenly there was a growl and a warm feeling in his pocket and Hutchinson was backing away.
"wh-wh-what was that?" he gasped.
"I don't know what you mean" Timothy said slipping his hand in his pocket and stroking the watch in it.
No one hurts you, I will protect you.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
"You are the most fantastic woman that I have ever met!" James exclaimed from his sitting position on the sofa "no one should have been able to save that baby like you did!"
"Sit still! I can't complete this drawing if you're bouncing up and down all the time" Marion said blushing. She bent over and finished off the last few strokes of a pencil, she held up the drawing "what do you think?"
"It's brilliant" James said looking awed "you are a woman of many talents. Marion…will you do me the honour of going to the village dance with me?"
"I would be honoured too"
Suddenly he leaned down and kissed her.
They didn't hear the gasp nor did they see the maid shutting the door quickly.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDWDW
"And Martha? Thank you, thank you so much. I don't know where I'll be without you"
"But what about falling in love?" Martha wailed "how am I supposed to stop you from suffering a broken heart!"
There was no reply, Martha let out a frustrated screech and picked up the sonic screwdriver, tonight she was going to have to wake Rose up before this went too far.
DWDWDWDWDWDWDW
Of course it went wrong. The watch was missing; Marion didn't believe her and Dr McDonald advised her to take a holiday before they went to the dance. Then it turns out that Jenny has been taken over by the Family and she is running as fast as she can barely dodging the green laser beam.
She cornered Dr McDonald and showed him the sonic screwdriver.
"Please if you love her you will help me" she said. "The universe needs her and she's in danger"
"I have read that journal" he hissed "she would be in danger if she opened the watch. She wouldn't be the woman I loved, let me have her"
"We need her"
"You need her. But I need her even more and I love her"
Dr McDonald won't help and suddenly the Family is crashing through and the next thing Martha knew they had her at gun point with Dr McDonald.
"Tell me Bad Wolf, has being human made you richer? Wiser? Did you learn anything at all? Tell us who to kill, your companion or your lover?"