Kathryn stared at the streets with speechless joy. The Doctor could see it on her face; this was her favorite stop so far, and they hadn't even moved yet. Her happiness was added to when a small parade went by, led by a man carrying one of the more common propaganda flags. The flag bore a serpent in 13 different sections, each with the abbreviated letters of a colony, under which the words "Join or Die" were written, illustrating the need for all the colonies to join together against the British.

"Quick, what's today's date? I know we're on Lexington Common, but when?" Katie asked breathlessly.

"April 17th, 1775."

The Doctor wasn't sure how, but Kathryn's rare full smile became even larger, and her eyes rounder. "Are you serious!" She jumped and gave him a tight hug, surprising him even more. Kathryn wasn't really the hugging type. "Oh, you are so forgiven for the coffee." She let go of him, practically bouncing with joy. "We have to stay until the 19th."

"What happens on the 19th?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes, her customary sly half-smile returning. "As always, so little care for American history. April 19th, 1775, on Lexington Common, almost right where we are now standing, there's going to be a very quick encounter with the Brits."

"Typical."

Ignoring the Doctor's comment, Kathryn continued. "It's not just any fight though. We're going to run from it after practically being mowed down by 'em."

The Doctor slipped his hands in his trouser pockets, confused. "And you want to stay in order to watch your get side killed and then retreat?"

"I want to see who fired The Shot."

"The shot?"

"Not the shot, fly-boy, The Shot. The first shot of the American Revolution, The Shot heard 'round the world. The one that started a whole chain of events, that practically drew the line that America has been holding for years. No one knows who fired it, or whose side it came from. Whoever it was, British Loyalist or American Rebel, I'm shaking them by the hand before we go anywhere else."

"If you wanted to know so badly, why didn't you ask to come here?"

"Lucky for you I didn't, or you'd still be trying to get back in my good graces. Truth be told, I'm getting sick of Earth. I want to visit another planet."

"Last time I took you to one of those, the planet's leader almost had us beheaded."

"Can I help it if sneezing is considered a grievous insult? Besides, you were the one who parked us in the middle of the ash heap. We got out all right in the end."

"Yes, but only because I happened to have an orange, 3 pickles, sardines, and a blender with me."

Kathryn shuddered at the memory. "Don't remind me. It took me two days to get rid of the taste. Besides, you've had more than your share of ticking off other species."

"Fair enough. Are we going to stand here all day?"

The Doctor could see Kathryn's irritation wash out of her, replaced by the unconcealed exhilaration she had earlier. She turned around and stepped forward. "This is going to be great. Just watch your accent. If you get mugged, I'll be trapped on the East Coast before indoor plumbing."

"My accent?"

Kathryn sighed, stopped, and turned back towards him. "Yes, your accent. You sound British. In this time and place, it's better not to sound like either side." She twirled around and joined the crowd on the street, and they seemed to have switched roles as the Doctor trailed behind.

"But you sound American."

"Yes, from a part of the country that we haven't even gotten to yet. I'll be safe."

Kahthroom!

Not 200 feet in front of Kathryn, a shop exploded. She jumped backwards, looking like a cat that has had its tail set fire too. With an awkward flip, she landed hard and rolled next to where the Doctor was and stood up, breathing heavily.

"Two thoughts right now. One, I really wish I knew how I did that, and two, I have got to stop saying things like that. Why are the flames purple?"

15 minutes after the explosion, Katie hadn't had time to get the answer from the Doctor. She was sure that he knew it, but at the moment she was busy trying to help the people injured by the blast. Not for the first time was she thankful she always carried a first aid kit on her belt. It wasn't exactly a replacement for a real hospital, but it was certainly better than the things the doctors in this time period had. She smiled lightly.

Doctors, heh. Two sides to that thought. The Doctor I know certainly has better medical equipment then these people do, and I personally could squash the medical careers of just about everyone here with what I have in my small bag.

"There you go. That should hold," she said out-loud, tying off a bandage, but being careful not to actually touch the man. Although Katie's ability to absorb different forms of energy helped her when she was injured, it drew too much attention when she came in physical contact with others.

The man nodded his thanks as she stood and looked around for the Doctor. She didn't see him right away and started muttering under her breath as she began searching for him.

"Okay, you bed-headed time nut, where did you go now? Whenever you walk off, it either means something's going to try and eat me, or I'll have to save that striped suit of yours while you're in it."

"Watch your step, there's a lot of debris. What's wrong with my suit?"

Katie snorted and picked her way over to a large section of what used to be the shop, where the Doctor was standing, eyes focused on his screwdriver. "Don't you know it's rude to listen in on people's conversations?"

"You were talking to someone?" he questioned, looking around for a second person.

"I'm a person, and I was talking to Me. I know potassium can get you purple flames, but not as lasting as those were."

The Doctor, by now used to the way Katie would jump from one topic to the next, answered, "It was a mixture of oil and potassium. Makes it last longer. However, that's not the interesting part."

He paused. Katie knew from experience that he wouldn't say what the "interesting part" was until she asked. Whether it was because he just liked to have a chance to show off, or because he honestly thought she already knew, she wasn't sure. "What doesn't belong?" she asked.

"The traces of 43rd century C-4."

"Why and how would somebody here have explosives from the 43rd century?"

"Well, the how is most likely that someone from the 43rd century bringing them back here. The why is harder."

"How many races out there use time travel? This has to be at least the sixth one we've met! Honestly, why do you call yourself a Time Lord when everyone else is sharing your estate?"

The Doctor appeared to be lost for words and grew flustered. "We do it better than everyone else."

Katie crossed her arms, enjoying the Doctor's discomfort. "Right, you always land when you want to."

"We sort of…invented it."

"I see, first ones to put the name on the patent. Is there anything in the 43rd century that would give someone reason to come back to 1775 and blow up a dress shop?"

She gasped as a thought struck her. "Hold on. This is Lexington. I might get to see Paul Revere. Now that would be something."

"It's always good for a man's pride to know when a young woman is looking for him," a warm male voice said.

Katie spun around and before she had even realized it, blurted out, "You look just like your portrait!"

The man looked quizzically at her, though in a good natured way. "I hope that is a compliment."

The Doctor straightened and smiling winningly at the man. "Ah, you must be Paul Revere, Apollos Rivoire, I believe your birth name was. Ow!" He looked down into Katie's glaring eyes, rubbing his arm where she had hit him. "What was that for?"

"You really do know absolutely zilch about American history!" she hissed at him. "This is Paul Revere Junior. You are referring to his father, who has been dead for 21 years!" She turned back to Paul Revere, a gracious smile on her face. "You'll have to pardon my…guardian. For a doctor, he can be rather forgetful."

Showing no signs of pain or insult, Revere picked his way over to where they were standing. "A medical man? Yet, you were here at the wreckage instead of in the street with your charge."

"Yeah, well, sometimes you have to give them a chance to be on their own," he said, gesturing towards Katie and implying she was learning from him. "So, why would there be an attack on this particular store?"

"I have no answer to that question." Revere paused, head tilted slightly to one side as he studied the two travelers. "I pray you will forgive me for asking, but why do you, my dear, have such a…different accent, but your friend sounds-"

"British?" Katie interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I know, where I come from our accent is no accent. You could have said flat and it wouldn't have mattered. In my friends case…well, what better way to make the red-coats think he's one of theirs then to sound like them?"

Revere smiled. "Ah, then that would make you a spy, Doctor."

"Well, I do have my ways of knowing what will happen," the Doctor said. Katie dipped her head, hiding a smile. As a time traveler, he knew the major points, that was true. However, he seemed to neglect the fine details. Such as the one she was about to pull out now.

"What business brings you to Lexington, Mr. Revere? I thought your silver shop was in Boston."

"Many of us left Boston when the British moved in. I opened a smaller store a few buildings down. And yourselves?"

"We just thought we'd pop on down for a visit."

"It is usually unadvisable to journey to places on the very edge of a revolution. But we shouldn't speak of such things here. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Ye- oomph!" The Doctor quickly changed his answer into a fit of coughing when Katie stepped hard on his foot.

"We didn't make any prior arrangements. Is there anyplace here you would recommend?"

Revere smiled. "If you have nowhere else, you should come stay with me. I have room."

"I thought you had numerous children. Seven, I think it was."

Revere raised an eyebrow, though he still smiled. "You both seem to know a great deal about me."

The Doctor had recovered from his faked coughing long enough to say, "Well, when you're one of the best silversmiths in the colonies, word tends to spread."

Katie raised her eyebrow. 'I'm impressed. You actually knew something about American history."

He gave her a look that would have turned a bonfire into an ice cube. She ignored it and smiled again at Revere. "Forgive us, we haven't even introduced ourselves. My name is Kathryn Moore, and this is Doctor…It."

"It?"

She smiled at the Doctor through her teeth. "I could always introduce you as Hubert again," she quietly said.

"Doctor It? Is that short for something?"

"Isthmus," Katie quickly said.

"I've been called many things, Kathryn Moore, but never a landmass," the Doctor said so only she could hear.

"First time for everything," she retorted, following Revere away from the wreckage. "Now stop being so mournful. We're going to eat dinner with Paul Revere!"

*Constructive critisisim welcome, praise happily accepted, flames not wanted*