So, two years ago, just after I had finished watching the sixth season of Doctor Who, I had a dream with the scarecrows from Human Nature and Family of Blood. Two days later, I had written the first draft of this story. This is my first fanfiction. I hope you enjoy it.

Author Note: This is based between the Fourth Season episodes The Doctor's Daughter and The Unicorn and the Wasp.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or concepts of Doctor who or the afore-mentioned episodes. I do, however, completely own Maddie and Geoffrey. All others are based on characters from Human Nature.

Prologue

Maddie Smith stumbled in her fancy black boots as she clambered over a short fence. Her friend, Ernest had promised to show her something amazing, but he had warned her to keep up. They were heading in the direction of the barn, but Madeline couldn't be sure.

The fields between her house, which was still in sight, and the dark green barn were golden, and the stiff stalks scraped against Maddie's stockings and sleeves. The sun was hidden behind thick, blue-grey clouds. A light sprinkle of rain pattered on the top of Maddie's head.

"How much further, Ernie?" she demanded. She stumbled as her short legs caught in the last couple of wheat stalks and she skidded into the open barnyard. "Wait up, Ernie." He simple had no sympathy propriety for all his high and mighty talk.

"You have to be faster than that, Madeline," Ernest called over his shoulder, stopping mid-sprint. He turned, revealing the patched knees of his two-inch-too-long trousers and blonde hair poking out of the ragged holes in his cap. He grinned back at her, his two half-grow-in teeth leaving black spaces in his smile.

Don't call me that," Maddie protested. "It's Maddie. Can't you just call me that? M-a-d-d-i-e. Maddie."

"Well, mine's Ernest. E-r-n-e-s-t. Not Ernie."

Ernest had a point. While Maddie liked being called by her nick-name, Ernest hated his. Since Maddie was the daughter of a wealthy businessman, she had had enough of propriety and tea parties. Ernest, on the other hand, was the son of a lowly farmer. Just to jade him, Maddie called out:

"Why not Ernie? It's a lovely name." Maddie stumbled again as Ernie pressed forward.

"A lovely name for a ninny," Ernest grumbled, just loud enough for Maddie to hear. "I'm going to be a gentleman with fine carriages and ebony pipes and a painted miniature of me and me wife."

"Silly boy," Maddie sighed. Her skirt caught on a farm tool- a rake- and she bent to untangle the loose thread. "You can't be a gentleman just by talking like one."

After stepping away from the rake, Maddie looked up. Ernest was gone.

"He must have gone into the barn without me!" Maddie cried indignantly. She hiked up her skirt and petticoat to the point where she was showing a generous amount of bloomer and marched up to the entrance. To her horror, it grew to loom above her.

"Ernie?" she asked, peeping around the large green door and scanning the room. It was crowded with tools and there were a number of chickens milling about. The hay made a crunching sound as she shifted from foot to foot, debating what to do next. Maddie entered warily. It was eerily quiet and her throat went suddenly dry.

With the shutters closed over the windows, it was nightmarishly dark, even up to the cobwebbed rafters. A pigeon flapped down onto a large piece of machinery, cooing loudly.

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, and Maddie glanced towards it. Nothing was there but a shoe. A shoe with straw poking out. It was a leg.

"Ernie?" Maddie whispered, stepping over a pile of chicken droppings and evading a large mouse. As she rounded the pillar by the shoe, she found the leg was connected to a disused scarecrow. Maddie giggled at its goofy appearance. "Ernie, come look at this!"

Extending her index finger, Maddie bent to poke its chest. Before she made contact, the splayed scarecrow jumped to life, grabbing Maddie by the wrist.

"Ernie!" she screamed, yanking away and stumbling backwards into something scratchy and solid. Gloved hands squeezed her shoulders, and Maddie kicked out, hobbling the scarecrow behind her. She turned tail and ran for the barn door, which another scarecrow slowly worked to close.

"Ernie!" Maddie breathed hard, but a sharp pain shot up her foot as she tripped and plunged to the floor. Her head rang painfully as it struck the floor. Her chest released as she blacked out.

Ernest decided it was time to stop when Maddie fell.

"Stop," he called to his friends. They pulled of their scarecrow masks and Ernest crept up to Maddie's side, afraid she might punch him. "Maddie, it's just us. It's okay." She made no move to answer. She didn't move at all, except for her breathing. Ernest nervously prodded her shoulder. When this elicited no response, he shuddered.

"I'm getting help," Ernest said, standing and dashing out of the barn. "Keep an eye on her!"

Frightened, Ernest ran the half mile to Maddie's manor, passing cows and crossing a dirt road on the way. He slipped through the bars on the wrought-iron gate, tearing a hole in the waistband of his trousers. He stumbled onto the cobbled front walk and charged through the hedges to get to the servants' entrance. Despite all Ernest had done to become a respectable gentleman, Maddie's father refused to let Ernest in by the front door.

Ernest burst from the hedge and leapt into the kitchen

"What on earth?" one of the scullery maids cried as Ernest brushed past her with a hurried apology. He left the servants' quarters and sprinted down the hard-wood-floored hallway.

"Just a minute, young man. Not on the rug." A hand took hold of Ernest's collar, yanking him away from the embroidered rug. Maddie's father's study was only a few feet away. "Didn't your mother ever teach you to wipe your feet?" Ernest stared at his shoes- caked in mud and dry grass- then looked up at the butler behind him.

"Sir," Ernest started, "I need to speak with Mr. Smith immediately. It's about-"

"Hold a bit," the butler ordered, dragging Ernest back toward the kitchen. Ernest fought the grip on his collar, but the butler took hold of his sleeve, halting his efforts. "I'll send Mr. Smith when he is done with his meeting and one of the maids cleans up the mess."

Ernest looked guiltily at his streaked footprints as the butler pulled him into the kitchen and sat him on a stool. Every moment this butler caused delay, the longer Maddie would remain unattended.

"Sit there, and don't leave that spot until bidden." The butler exited, and Ernest gripped the sides of his stool. Cooks stoked the dinner-time fire, and the clock about the cupboards rattled in a frustrating rhythm. Finally, Maddie's balding father stepped into the kitchen.

"What do you want, boy?" he demanded upon catching sight of Ernest. His well-fitting back suit gleamed in the light from the flickering lamp. Raising an eyebrow, he reached for his gold pocket watch, pulled it out, flipped it open, scowled, and replaced it in his vest. "Well? Make it quick." Someone pulled a flour sack from a shelf and dropped it onto the ground with a billow of white dust.

"Maddie's hurt," Ernest said, not quite finishing before Mr. Smith stormed out the servants' door. Ernest leapt off his stool and struggled to keep up. Mr. Smith opened the front gate and closed it behind him, forcing Ernest to slip through the bars again. A loud ripping sound came from Ernest's trousers, but he tried to ignore it. After crossing the dirt road, thick grass tangled around Ernest's lanky legs, and he lost sight of Mr. Smith/ TO his relief, the grass got shorter, and Mr. Smith came back into view.

The sky had darkened since they left the house, and Ernest could feel the tension emanating off Mr. Smith. They made it to the barn again where they met Ernest's father, led by one of the other boys. His trousers were muddied and there were twigs and splinters in his bristly hair and mustache.

"What's happened?" Mr. Smith demanded of Ernest's father as they strode to the open barn.

"It's my fault, sir," Ernest admitted shamefully.

"Where's Madeline?" Mr. Smith shoved through the door, sweat gleaming on his bald spot and neck. Mr. smith stopped breathing, and Ernest knew he had spotted Maddie and the friend that had been left behind. "Back away, you scoundrel!" Ernest followed his father and his other friend into the barn to see Mr. Smith lift Maddie into his arms. The dust on her dress cascaded onto Mr. Smith's trousers. Ernest dropped his head as Mr. Smith's hostile glare fell upon him.

"You imbeciles."

"We didn't do nothing to harm her on purpose," one of Ernest's friends piped up. "She was scared and then she tripped."

Shut up, Ernest though, hoping his friend would notice the minuscule movements Ernest made with his head.

"Young man, you are never to see my child again, do you hear me?" Mr. Smith carried Maddie out into the yard, nearly tripping over a chicken. He cursed aloud.

"Understood," Ernest's father said calmly.

Without another word, Mr. Smith waded into the grass, carrying Maddie back towards the manor.

"Do you know what could have happened?" Ernest's father asked in the same, frighteningly calm voice he'd used with Mr. Smith. Ernest flinched at the tone. "Go do your chores."

Roses are red
Violets are Blue
I wrote this in hopes that
You'd read and review