Baines, looking rather murderous, had picked up his gun and was pointing it at John. "You're no longer human, Time Lord," he spat.
John did not answer. Instead, he just stared at the boy. Kayla very slowly looked at him and then at Martha, who was beaming. For a moment, she was confused, but then what Baines had said hit her. She gasped softly and looked at the man who still looked like her husband, but was certainly not her John.
Almost as if he was sensing her crashing feels of worry and shock and just general confusion, John reached behind him and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. Kayla gasped. Usually it was the opposite way, around. Usually, she was taking John's hand and she was squeezing it. It was nice to be the one getting support.
John glared at the family. "You've threatened my friends, innocent people, so I'll only give you one more chance. Leave. Go away and die," he spat.
Mr. Clarke laughed. "Why should we? You're a Time Lord now; you're exactly what we need."
"And," Jenny added in, "you have a pregnant Time Lady. Do you realize how much she could go for?"
John literally growled at the groups and moved in front of Kayla even more. "There goes your chance." Pointing the pen object, the same high-pitch noise from earlier sounded. Whirling around, he grabbed Kayla and yelled to Martha, "Run!"
The trio ran out of the room, Kayla looking back briefly to see the murderous group struggling with their scarecrows, who had grabbed onto them and were holding them hostage. Kayla swallowed hard as she realized the device her husband…no, the device the Doctor was holding, had somehow done that. It was barely the size of a pen and yet it brought so much devastation!
But she didn't feel the horror she knew that she should have been feeling. As she ran along with the Doctor, her hand in his, she couldn't help but realize that this…this felt right.
"God you were rubbish as a human, Doctor!" Martha called up to them, making Kayla bristle.
As if he was somehow feeling her emotions, the Doctor squeezed her hand. "I'll explain everything when we have a chance to sit down."
Martha was suddenly next to them, panting harder than she had been. "I can show you where the-"
"No!" the Doctor cut in, stopping her from finishing her sentence. "We can't let them get close! No, no." He rubbed his hands through his hair multiple times until it was sticking up. Groaning, he started to hit his forehead with the heal of his hand, repeating, "Thick, thick, thick," as he did so.
Kayla stared at him, his mouth falling open. "He's going mad!" she hissed to Martha. "We have to do something."
Martha stared at her for her a few seconds, her eyes wide. She looked back at the Doctor, who had turned, unnoticed by Kayla, to stare at the brunette with a hurt expression. She felt her heart drop. Usually the Doctor knew what to do, and Kayla would chime in with a helpful suggestion. She had gotten use to taking care of them, but with the Doctor back, it seemed so wrong with Kayla just not knowing what was going on.
"Right," the Doctor said, breaking the silence that had followed Kayla's whisper. "We need to get back to the school and warn them."
"Why?" Martha asked. "If we hurry we can get to the TARDIS before they can."
The Doctor shook his head. "They know I'm connected to the school through John Smith. They'll act there."
Kayla gasped at that. "They're just children!" she protested. "Innocent children who have nothing to do with this…madness!"
Taking a moment to swallow, the Doctor turned to Kayla and nodded. "You're right."
"They're monsters…they're…" Kayla shook her head. "We need to hurry!" Spinning on her heel, she started to nearly run towards the school.
The Doctor looked at her and then looked at Martha. "Do you know where my fob watch is?" he asked in a soft voice.
Martha shook her head. "It was on your mantle one day and," she shook her head helplessly.
The Doctor's hands clenched. "When I opened the fob watch, it could tell that we were under attack. So instead of allowing the vulnerable Time Lady to become human, it had me replace her essence. Whoever has my watch has the actual Kayla."
By now, the Doctor had started to walk after Kayla, who had since slowed to a fast walk. Martha was beside him, frowning as she tried to follow what he was saying. "Once we get to the school, I want you to look everywhere for that watch, Martha. I'm counting on you."
In the dark, Martha nodded.
When they arrived at the school, Kayla was clearly tired from the walk, but when the Doctor started to hover over her protectively, she took a quick step away from him. Martha looked over at the Doctor in time to watch this movement cause that horrible expression from before.
Thankfully, the Doctor had his key to the school and unlocked the side door. He started to try and figure out a way to wake up the boys, mumbling something about needing a speaker to amplify the sound of his screwdriver when Kayla, rolling her eyes, grabbed a bell and started to ring it loudly.
"What are you doing?" the Doctor asked.
Kayla looked over at him, incredulous . "It's the alarm bell. The boys know that mean that there's an enemy at the gate and to take arms."
"Take arms?!" The Doctor looked widely at Kayla and then at Martha, as if she would verify what he was hearing. "Kayla, they're children!"
Kayla nodded, a brief flash of remembered pain went across her face. "And when the family comes and kills them? They've been trained for this," she said, swallowing hard.
The Doctor ran a hand through his hair, causing it to stick up widely. "By who?!"
Kayla whirled around and glared at him. "By you, John!"
His mouth falling open, the Doctor took a step back. He watched in a mute horror as the boys wandered down, sleepy-eyed and confused. "Ma'am, why are you ringing the bell?" one of them asked.
"Enemy at the gates; you need to take arms."
The Doctor looked over at Martha. "This is madness!" he hissed.
Martha sighed. "No, this is what they've been trained for."
For quite a bit, the same process continued on. Martha, having wandered off to try and find the fob watch, had left the Doctor and Kayla alone. Thankfully, Kayla had stopped ringing the bell. But now, much to the Doctor's very vocal horror, had started to hand out guns to the boys. The Time Lord gaped like a fish when she expertly broke apart a gun to make sure it was clean only to put it back together at a speed that made the Doctor wince and rub at his eyes. He was able to find his voice, though, when he heard one of the boys stop her again. He had to be only a year or two above ten, really just a child.
"Ma'am, are there really enemies at the gate?" he asked in a timid voice.
The Doctor watched as Kayla squatted down in front of him and looked the boy straight in the eye. "Yes Jamie, there are. How good are you at target practice?"
The Doctor stepped forwards to protest, ready to put a stop to what Kayla was doing, when Martha suddenly pulled him back. He turned towards her, frowning, only to see her point towards the doorway where the Headmaster was storming in. "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?"
Kayla straightened up and the Doctor saw the flash of annoyance the roll of the eyes the Headmaster did at her appearance. "Mrs. Smith! Am I to believe that you are responsible for this….madness and bedlam?"
"I am sir. This school is under attack."
The Headmaster snorted and turned his glare to the Doctor. "Control your wife better, Mr. Smith, or we might all need to have a private talk."
The Doctor straightened considerably and glared back just as hard. He was bristling hard at the threat and the slight against his wife. The nerve of this man to say anything against his Bonded!
Taking a step forward, he stared down the man until he took a step back. "My wife is telling the truth, sir," he sneered. "Jeremy Bains and Mr. Clark – " he frowned slightly, realizing that he didn't know the name of Martha's maid friend.
"Jenny," Martha hissed.
The Doctor nodded and added in, "Jenny the maid as well. They have guns and they are killing people. Now I don't agree with having these boys go and try and fight them, because they will die, but I do agree with getting the school evacuated-"
The Headmaster stared at the Doctor as if he had grown a second head and was speaking nonsense. He looked around the room to see if anyone was backing up this insane story. Thankfully, an older man stepped into the room.
"Headmaster," the man gasped out, seeing the man immediately. "There is madness occurring tonight! Baines, Jeremy Baines, he's gone mad! He's running around with that maid Jenny and Mr. Clark! They've killed people with these guns-"
The Headmaster, now frowning deeply, looked over at Kayla and the Doctor. "Well, it seems I owe you an apology Mr. Smith. You were telling the truth." He crossed his arms. "But what makes you sure that they will come here?"
The Doctor blinked and then started to scratch at the back of his head and look down slightly. Kayla blinked. She had never seen John act in a such a way, though this was true for many of the things he had done this night, but John acting awkward and…and shy? No, this was something very different. Though she hadn't known him as the 'Doctor' for very long, Kayla had already figured out that he was very energetic and very confident. Qualities that Kayla had, now that she thought about it, always wished that her husband had.
Seeing that the Doctor wasn't going to answer anytime soon, Kayla answered the Headmaster. "They threatened John and I," she informed him.
The man who had come in earlier nodded. "That's exactly what happened," He agreed. "The nerve to threaten a pregnant woman! So…barbaric and disgusting!"
The Headmaster bristled slightly and then straightened out his jacket. "Quite," he agreed. He looked over at the room of boys, who were watching the exchange with interest, and nodded to himself. "Very well. You boys, remain on guard. Mr. Snell, telephone the police." He looked around and seemed to relax slightly at the sight of another older man entering the room. "Mr. Philips, with me. We shall investigate."
The Doctor took a hurried step forwards. "Headmaster, let me come with you." At the look he was given for this statement, the Doctor added in a softer tone, "They threatened my wife."
The Headmaster swallowed hard. "You may come," he agreed.
Turning away, the Doctor whispered something to Martha, which made her nod and head over to Kayla. "We need to find the Doctor's watch," she hissed.
Kayla blinked. "What is a watching going to do? We need to help the boys get set up-"
Sighing, Martha grabbed Kayla's arm and tugged her out of the room and up the stairs. As they turned the corner, Kayla paused and looked around sharply. Martha looked back at her, about to complain, only to see Kayla starting to walk behind her once again. Shaking her head in annoyance, Martha pressed on.
Outside the school, the Doctor stood and glared at Baines, Mr. Clark, and Jenny the maid. Beside them, there were several scarecrows, clearly moving despite the straw coming out of their weak seams. The Doctor frowned and took out his sonic screwdriver. He quickly scanned them and then looked at the results only to frown even more. "Molecular fringe animation in the shape of a scarecrow," he murmured to himself, which drew odd looks from the Headmaster and Mr. Philips.
Looking away from the Doctor and to the trio, the Headmaster seemed to almost deflate at the sight. "So, Baines and one of the cleaning staff. There's always a woman involved. Am I to gather that some practical joke has got out of hand?" he asked in the way that someone would ask something if they were hoping the answer would be a firm 'yes.'
The answer, however, wasn't a firm 'yes.' Baines reply, in fact, was the furthest thing possible from a firm 'yes.' "Headmaster, sir. Good evening, sir. Come to give me a caning, sir? Would you like that, sir?" He sneered.
The Headmaster drew himself up to full height and bristled at the reply. "Keep a civil tongue, boy," he demanded. But from the look the Doctor could make out on Baines' face, he clearly was not impressed by what the Headmaster would consider 'harsh.' And, if the Doctor was be fair, he felt the same. Kayla's harsh voice was far scarier. And she would do this look and threaten to withhold kisses…the Doctor shivered at the thought of not getting a kiss from his Bonded.
Mr. Philips looked at the Headmaster and then at Baines and sighed. "Now - come now everyone. I suspect alcohol has played its part in this," he suggested in a calming voice.
The Doctor nearly snorted. "Oh I would disagree," he said in a soft voice.
Mr. Philips seemed to have heard him. Giving him an annoyed look, he spoke up once again towards Baines. "Let's all just calm down. And who are these friends of yours, Baines? In fancy dress."
Baines laughed. "Has the good Doctor not told you?" As both the Headmaster's and Mr. Philips' eyes went to the Doctor, Baines walked over to one of the scarecrows and held up its arms. "Do you like them, Mr. Philips? I made them myself."
In the darkness, the Doctor could just make out Baines eyes the arm like it was an interesting piece of meat. "I'm ever so good at science, sir. Look—" Not actually surprised, the Doctor watched as Baines pulled, more of ripped, the arm off of the scarecrow. "-molecular fringe animation fashioned in the shape of straw men.-my own private army, sir. Ever so good, sir."
"Baines, step apart from this company and come inside with me," the Headmaster ordered in a voice sharp with something that sounded a great deal like fear.
Baines let the arm drop from his hands and turned towards the Headmaster, his head tilted and his eyes firmly placed on the man next to the Headmaster, the Doctor. "No, sir. You, sir—You!" He pointed to the Doctor, his arm not shaking at all. "You will go and get your lovely pregnant wife. That's all we want. You, her, and whatever she has done with her Time Lady consciousness."
Moving his eyes onto the Headmaster, he smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile at all. His smile resembled something that a cat would give to the mouse hanging from his claws. "Then we'd be very happy to leave you alone."
The Doctor took a firm step forwards. "Is there anything left in that body of Baines? I know he wasn't kind…well I say not kind…" the Doctor shook his head. "He was very not kind. Not cruel though. Not like you."
Baines seemed to sniff in the air before he answered. "We are the Family of Blood. We are cruel."
"Not as cruel as I can be. You seem to have forgotten how the Time Lords dealt with those we didn't like. I can give you a history lesson. I'm very good at history."
In the darkness, it was hard to tell. But the Doctor could almost see a slight twitch at his words. He couldn't help but grin some. He really didn't like it if someone even threatened to touch his Bonded.
"You've killed people, innocent people. That puts you on the wrong side with me. You don't want to be on the wrong side with me."
"They were good deaths," Baines said in a casual voice.
The Headmaster was the one who replied to that. "Well, I warn you, the school is armed."
Baines snorted. "All your little tin soldiers. But tell me, sir, will they thank you?"
"I don't understand," the Headmaster said, glaring at Baines.
"The Doctor understands. He's good at history. He knows about next year, but what do you know about it?"
The Headmaster looked over at the Doctor, clearly trying to get him to answer and explain what Baines was talking about. But he stayed silent. So the Headmaster turned towards Baines. "You're not making sense, Baines."
Baines laughed at that. "1914 - sir. Because the Family has travelled far and wide looking for the Doctor 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?"
The Headmaster seemed to almost grow in anger and fury and in vengeful pride. "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!"
Baines did not look as impressed as Mr. Philips. He seemed bored by the Headmaster's speech. "Et cetera, et cetera. Child's play compared to the wars that a Time Lord has seen."
Taking his gun out, he shot Mr. Philips, disintegrating him. The Doctor's shout of, "No, don't!" came too late out of his mouth. He could only turn to Baines and the family and shout at them, "He was innocent! He did nothing wrong!"
Baines just laughed. "Run along Doctor. Run along with the Headmaster to that little school of yours and bring us your wife!"
Grabbing the Headmaster, who clearly didn't want to follow, the Doctor dragged the man with him inside the school.
As soon as they were inside, the Headmaster yanked himself out of the Doctor's grip and glared at him. "Mr. Philips has been murdered, Mr. Smith. And Baines seems to think that you're a 'Doctor' of some sort. Can you tell me why?"
"Headmaster, you need to understand that Baines is gone. He's a good as dead. And so are those kids who you're going to send out with…with tin guns!"
The Headmaster shook his head. "I have no idea what you are referring to Mr. Smith! You have trained these boys for months now and I expect you to lead them out there to fight. 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 defenses. Gentlemen, in the name of the King, we shall stand against them."
The boys, who had been watching the exchange, all chorused, "Yes, sir!" And as the Headmaster stormed out, the boys filed out to help with the defenses, leaving the Doctor breathing hard and alone.
While the Doctor got roped into helping out the defense, Martha was searching the Doctor's study while Kayla leaned against the wall and watched.
"I know it sounds mad, but when you and the Doctor became human, you both took the alien part of yourselves and stored it inside a watch. It's not really a watch, it just looks like a watch. And when the Doctor became human, your alien part jumped into his watch."
"And when you say 'alien' you mean not of this place? Of this…world?"
Martha nodded. "You guys are from some planet. Gal-a something."
"Gallifrey," Kayla corrected, and then slapped her hands over her mouth. "I don't know where that word came from."
Despite how scared Kayla seemed, Martha was thrilled. She nodded, beamed, and took a step towards the pregnant woman. "But that's right, Kayla!" She said in a voice that was probably trying to be comforting, but it did little to soothe Kayla's fears.
Sighing, Martha took another step forwards and took Kayla's hand. "It's okay Kayla. Seriously. I'm still simple Martha Jones, the maid."
"Who are you to the Doctor and…and me?"
Martha blinked at the question. "I'm your friend. The Doctor liked me because I'm training to be a doctor-not an alien doctor-a proper doctor, a doctor of medicine." She paused and then, with a small smile, she joked, "I'm certainly not your maid though. I don't just follow you guys around. We're a team. Or at least trying to be."
"What do you mean 'trying to be?'" Kayla asked rather sharply.
Martha let go of Kayla's hand and twisted her apron, thinking hard for her answer. "We've had some…troubles. A few things came up and I decided to leave the TARDIS-"
"The blue box?" Kayla interjected, her eyes wide as she saw in her mind the image of it, just how the Doctor had described it.
Martha nodded. "The blue box," she agreed. "But the Doctor ended up convincing me to come back. He was worried about you and the baby-" Martha cut herself off hastily, seeing Kayla's eyes widen and her hands go frantically to her stomach, as if checking that she was still pregnant.
"Why was he worried about the baby? Martha? Martha!" Her voice going more and more shriller, Kayla frantically demanded an answer from Martha.
And Martha, poor Martha, she knew the Doctor would never, never want her to explain this to Kayla. But the way she was looking at her, the frantic expression on her face and the fear in her voice, made Martha's heart break.
So she took a deep breath, and started to explain. "We couldn't see the baby when we did an ultrasound. And since you were human at one point we don't know if the baby is going to be human or a Time Lord or some combination of both."
Martha's voice was very rushed, and she had not looked up at Kayla's face once when she was speaking. So she did not see the heartbroken expression on Kayla's face until it was too late to take back the words she had spoken.
"So if I change back to being an…an alien, there might be something wrong with my child?"
Martha quickly shook her head. "Don't look at it like that!" She protested. "Even if there's something wrong, the Doctor will be able to fix it. And so will I."
Kayla breathed deeply and ran her hand through her hair. "May I go check on John?" she asked. "This is obviously a lot to take in and I just…seeing him," her voice broke and she looked down. She could feel tears welling in her eyes and she knew, and hoped, that seeing her husband's face would make her feel calmer.
Martha frowned some. "Do you need help getting there?" She asked quickly. Kayla was, after all, not in the best state.
Kayla shook her head. "I'll be alright Martha."
Taking Martha's following silence as an okay, Kayla walked out of the door and started to head down the hallway, her heart beating fast as she rubbed at her stomach. She honestly had no idea what she was going to say to her husband besides how scared she was. And even that, upon recollection, felt almost selfish. He was probably worried about the children that she had armed but hadn't she been armed young as well? She could almost see herself as a young child standing in front of a group of far older men and training them on how to hold their gun so that they didn't 'shoot themselves in the head because that had happened before and the Time Agency was so tired of losing people like that.'
Kayla shook her head, trying to dispel the memory…no, fantasy. It was only a fantasy. It could not be real because if it was real then that meant everything that Martha was saying was also real.
It took her a bit, but Kayla finally found the Doctor. He looked in place, speaking to the children and ordering them about, but Kayla could tell just from his body expression how uncomfortable he was. When he saw her, Kayla could see his expression change to one of both giddy happiness and concern. He hurried over to her and took both her hands.
"Kayla, it's not safe," he warned. "The Family could come at any time and they have guns, you've seen them. If one of them hit you-"
Kayla cut the Doctor off. As nice as it was to feel worried about, it was hard to follow the Doctor's words considering how fast he was speaking. "It's fine, Joh-Doctor."
Letting go of one of her hands, the Doctor looked down at the ground. "You can still call me John, if it makes you more comfortable." He mumbled.
"How can I call you John if you are no longer him?" Kayla pointed out.
"I'm still him. Truly. I can show you."
Kayla looked at him, her brow furrowing in puzzlement. "Show me?"
Taking both her hands once again, the Doctor drew her close and leaned down and kissed her gently. "When I was John I was in love with you. And as who I am now, I am still in love with you. I will always be in love with you."
Kayla looked up at him. They were still close together in a horribly rude way, but she couldn't help but smile. There was something very nice about feeling cherished. It made her feel warm and it made all the worries evaporate from her.
"I love you too, Doctor." Kayla said in a soft voice. But then she pulled away, making the Doctor frown. He could tell that something was off.
"I have memories, though. So many memories of being a child. Growing up in Nottingham and seeing your family every Sunday. Wading through the River Leen with you and then getting yelled at by our mothers. Our first kiss underneath a willow tree and the way you smiled at me when we got married. It was the same smile you gave me when I told you I was pregnant."
The Doctor, throughout the entire time, had been listening patiently and with a melancholy expression on his face. Kayla looked over at him and then sighed. "John would have interrupted me. He would have pointed out that our first kiss was under an oak tree. And that he had stayed on the bank instead of going into the River Leen."
Instead of saying anything, the Doctor just nodded. Which made tears well up in her eyes. "How can I not be real and human if I have all these memories?"
The Doctor rubbed the back of Kayla's hand with his thumb, hoping to calm her down. "The TARDIS put in backstories to make us appear more real. So that even we wouldn't suspect." He paused and then added in, as if it would help, "This wasn't how this was supposed to go."
"Then how was it supposed to go? Would Martha just open up the watches and we revert back?"
"After three months, yes," the Doctor agreed. "It would have been so quick. Like waking up from a dream. I never would have put Martha through this, or you, or this place, if I known the Family would have found us."
Before Kayla could reply, the Headmaster called out, "Mr. Smith, if you please!"
Looking back at the man and the at Kayla, the Doctor sighed. "He won't let up until I go over there…"
Kayla nodded. "That would be like him," she admitted.
The Doctor smiled gently at her and then kissed her quickly. "Go back up to Martha. I don't like the idea of you wandering about."
Kayla blinked at him, unsure of what to say. She watched as he walked over to the Headmaster, and then she turned away. As she walked into the building, she swayed momentarily, memories flashing through her mind. She could see herself facing down some horrible creature, her eyes lit with golden light. And then she could see herself with two other men, the three of them standing before a bright object.
And then the memories were gone. And she felt the Doctor's hand on her waist and heard him distantly frantically asking her questions. She looked up at him and felt her mouth move to shape a word she didn't recognize, but the Doctor did.
But then the world faded away…
I am so, so sorry this is late. I just fell asleep way too early and forgot to update...but here it is! I am back to my regular updating schedule of every Saturday! And I have also added a new story called: The Deadpool! It's a fanfiction that's a Deadpool/OC and follows the events of the Deadpool movie.
As for this chapter, I was really happy with it. I felt so bad for the Doctor in this episode, so I hope that some of that went over to Kayla. I'm really excited once we get to Utopia because Jack and the Master!
Also, we just hit 100 reviews for Dancing with the Doctor, which makes that the most reviewed story I have! And we're 1 review away from 50 reviews on this story! If we reach 50 reviews I'll give you guys a 1 line hint of something that will happen to the next story in this series!
And now...review time:
NicoleR85: Thank you! I hope you liked this update!
PlacentiaBayBookWorm: Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying this so far!
Miriam Who: I have not abandoned it!