Thank you, dudes and dudettes, for reviewing and favoriting, love you all! Okay so in this episode Abi and the Doctor's relationship is at a cross roads, they will either pursue it or not but there is still Jack to consider so what will happen?...
The Doctor, Martha and ran into the Tardis, closely followed by a blast from an energy weapon.
"Get down!" The Doctor screamed, ducking, Abi rushed in and closed the door,
"Did they see you?" He asked both of them,
"No, they couldn't have" Abi seemed sure, she turned to Martha, "What about you?"
"I don't know."
"But did they see you?" The Doctor insisted,
"I don't know. I was too busy running." Abi came up to her, lightly taking her shoulder,
"Martha, it's important. Did they see your face?"
She hesitated then nodded "No, they couldn't have."
The Doctor immediately jumped to the console, "Off we go!" The girls gripped the edge of the console whilst it tossed and turned, he looked at the console and growled
"Argh! They're following us."
"How can they do that? You've got a time machine."
"Ugh, I don't think it's theirs" Abi stumbled next to them,
"Yup. Stolen technology. They've got a Time Agent's vortex manipulator. They can follow us wherever we go, right across the universe. They're never going to stop, unless. I'll have to do it. Martha, Abi, you trust me, don't you?"
"Of course I do." Martha replied instantly but Abi narrowed her eyes, guessing what he was going to do,
"You're not serious?"
"But I've got to because it all depends on you", She nodded, Martha looked at both of them frowning,
"What does? What are we supposed to do?"
He held out an ornately decorated pocket watch.
"Take this watch, because my life depends on it. This watch, this watch is-"
He blinked into reality and breathed in the air to calm himself, stepping out of bed, he put on his slippers and got up, a knock interrupted his musings,
"Come in"
Martha came in with a breakfast tray but hesitated seeing him not fully dressed,
"Pardon me, Mister Smith. You're not dressed yet. I can come back later." She made for the door but he stopped her,
"No, it's all right, it's all right. Put it down. I was er. Sorry, sorry. Sometimes I have these extraordinary dreams."
Martha set about her morning duties, feigning interest in the man's supposedly fictional life,
"What about, sir?"
He had a look of amusement whilst explaining as if his dreams were as silly as they would be to someone else, "I dream I'm this adventurer. This daredevil, a madman. The Doctor, I'm called. And last night I dreamt that you were there and Miss Jones, both of you as my best friends and companions"
Martha kept her head down, "Miss Jones maybe but a teacher and a housemaid, sir? That's impossible."
"I'm a man from another world, though."
"Well it can't be true because there's no such thing."
"This thing. The watch is," He picks up the watch and seemed lost in thought for a while, "Ah, it's funny how dreams slip away. But I do remember one thing; it all took place in the future. In the Year of Our Lord two thousand and seven."
She brought over his paper, pointing to the date, "I can prove that wrong for you, sir. Here's the morning paper. It's Monday, November tenth, nineteen thirteen, and you're completely human, sir. As human as they come."
"Mmm, that's me. Completely human." He smiled, oblivious to everything.
Martha was walking down the school corridor, down the stairs to the scullery, when something covered her mouth and dragged her into a cupboard, her scream was muffled but it died down when she saw who it was,
"Why the hell..you scared me half to death" She hissed at Abi, though she didn't seem uncomfortable with that, she was fussing more over her dress, she hated dresses,
"Never mind that, this thing is so, uncomfortable, ugh" She twisted, when Martha had enough she slapped her arm,
"What is it?"
"Oh right, how's he doing?"
"He's fine, it's weird though, seeing him act so normal, apparently he had a dream about his old life, we were both there"
She sighed, rubbing her eyes, "Yeah, yep, a forced memory rewrite will leave the subconscious confused, we just can't let him believe it, so", she stepped out pointing a finger at her, "No outburst, yes?"
She bowed slightly, "Yes Miss Jones"
Abi rolled her eyes, "Shut up"
She turned and bumped into the man himself, Mr Smith, he grinned at her stumble but said nothing,
"Oh excuse me Mr Smith, I apologize"
"Not to worry, sometimes the mind wanders from time to time"
She smiled politely, "Quite", she blinked, he was looking at her funny and smiling a bit too much, "Uh I have classes, literature does not rest"
He nodded, "Of course"
They went there separate was, she walked off, blowing out her cheeks, "Weird" she sighed to herself.
Mr Smith walked up the stairs passing by Martha and Jenny, who were at work scrubbing the floor, they were in mid conversation when she greeted him,
"Morning sir"
He flickered his gaze to her, "Yes, hi" He refocused his thoughts and continued walking. Jenny scoffed at him,
Head in the clouds, that one. Don't know why you're so sweet on him.
Martha shrugged, "He's just kind to me, that's all. And Ab- Miss Jones, not everyone's that considerate, what with me being", she pointed to her hand,
"A Londoner?" They both laughed,
"Exactly. Good old London town.!" She cackled louder but stopped immediately, seeing two seniors looking down at them,
Baines eyed them "Er, now then, you two. You're not paid to have fun, are you? Put a little backbone into it."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." Jenny cowered before them,
"You there, what's your name again?" Hutchinson indicated to Martha,
"Martha, sir. Martha Jones."
"Tell me then, Jones. With hands like those, how can you tell when something's clean?" They went to walk off but stopped when they saw Miss Jones who looked at him with disgust, scoffing she walked up to them,
"Tell me, both of you, is Martha a person?"
"Yes mam"
"And if you were to, say hit her, would she feel it?"
"Yes mam" They looked on with slight confusion,
"And if you were to cut her skin would she not bleed the colour red?"
"Of course mam"
"So tell me, in what way are you better or different to her, internally?"
They blinked and looked down, "In..in no way, mam",
"Good boys, now although this world has led you to believe skin shade matters, it would do you good to remember that anyone and everyone has the capabilities to be brilliant, and you are not to turn your nose up at others, do you understand?" She snapped out the last question,
"Yes miss" They nodded,
"Go on" She dismissed them harshly before winking at the two girls and walked off. The girls snickered, Jenny nudged her friend,
"You've got a loyal one there"
Martha nodded, proud of her friend, "Yeah, she's brilliant"
Jenny shook her head,"Just think, though. In a few years time, boys like that'll be running the country."
Martha looked up, thinking about the future, "Nineteen thirteen. They might not."
A neat woman in starched nurses uniform met Mr Smith, who was carrying a stack of books,
"Oh, good morning, Mister Smith."
He dropped some of the books.
"Oh, There we go."
"Let me help you."
"No, no, I've got it, no. Er, how best to retrieve?" He frowned, "Tell you what. If you could take these",
She took the books from him as he picked up the fallen ones, Abi walked past them and smiled, nodding her head at them both, which caused Mr Smith to drop the books again, he picked them up again,
"Good." Joan smiled,
"No harm done. So, er, how was Jenkins?"
"Oh just a cold. Nothing serious. I think he's missing his mother more than anything."
He frowned, "Oh, we can't have that."
She looked at the pile of books in her hand, "He uh he received a letter this morning, so he's a lot more chipper and I um appear to be holding your books."
His eyes widened and he immediately went to help her, "Yes, so you are. Sorry, sorry. Just let me."
"No, why don't I take half?"
"Ah, brilliant idea. Brilliant. Perfect. Division of labour."
"We make quite a team."
"Don't we just."
"So, these books. Were they being taken in any particular direction?"
"Yes. This way."
He lead them down a corridor,
"I always say, Matron, give the boys a good head of steam, they'll soon wear themselves out."
"Truth be told, when it's just you and me, I'd much rather you call me Nurse Redfern. Matron sounds rather well, matronly.", she smiled sheepishly
"Ah. Nurse Redfern it is then.
"Though we've known each other all of two months, you could even say Joan.
"Joan?", he frowned,
"That's my name."
"Well, obviously." He stuttered, mentally scolding himself,
"And it's John, isn't it?" They walked down a flightbof stairs, stopping at a notice board on the edge of another staircase,
"Yes, yes, it is, yes."
"Have you seen this, John? The annual dance at the village hall tomorrow. It's nothing formal, but rather fun by all accounts. Do you think you'll go?" She overserved the board with a noticed sadness
"I hadn't thought about it." He mumbled, feeling nervous.
"It's been ages since I've been to a dance, only no one's asked me.", her implications were not unoticed,
He started backing away nervously.
"Well, I should imagine that you'd be, er, I mean, I never thought you'd be one for. I mean, there's no reason why you shouldn't. If you do, you may not. I,I probably won't, but even if I did then I couldn't. I mean I wouldn't want to-" He reached a flight of stair tha. Abi was climbing up, Joan seeing this warned him,
"The stairs."
"What about the stairs?"
"They're right behind you."
He went down in a flurry of books and papers, a scream from behind him muffled by his body.
Joan tended to the back of Mr Smith's head, whilst Abi fiddled with her bandage, he was still apologizing,
"Miss Jones, I have to repeat my sorry, I really didn't want to cause you harm"
She laughed at his worry, "Believe me, I have gotten a lot worse from a lot more, this is barely a scratch"
He frowned then winced at the pain, Joan tutted at him,
" Stop it. I get boys causing less fuss than this. "
"But it hurts.", he whined, Abi slightly chuckled at this, causing him to give her a playful glare. Martha burst in ,panicking,
"Are they all right?"
" Excuse me, Martha. It's hardly good form to enter a master's study without knocking."
"Sorry. Right. Yeah.", her apology didn't seem sincere, she walked back and mockingly knocked on the door, then came back in with the same expression,
"But is he all right? They said you fell down the stairs, Abi?"
She smiled, feeling warm at her friends worry, "I'm fine" she reassured, Mr Smith frowned,
"Who's Abi"
"Me, Abigail but I prefer Abi"
Now Joan frowned turning to Martha, "It isn't appropriate to address a teacher by their first name" she scolded, Abi turned to her,
"But I want her to, she my friend she's allowed"
Martha shook her head, attempting to refocus the attention, "What about him, are you alright, Sir?"
"No, it was just a tumble, that's all."
"Have you checked for concussion?" She addressed Abi but Joan answered,
"I have. And I daresay I know a lot more about it than you." Joan answered slightly rude, Abi looked at her,
"I refuse to believe that you honestly think that she isn't capable of doctoring a patient, you cannot be that shallow", the comment didn't have a snarky or rude tone, it appeared that Abi was generally curious, Martha however didn't seemed fazed by it at all,
"Sorry. I'll just tidy your things."
Mr Smith cleared his throat, "Uh I was just telling Nurse Redfern, Matron, about my dreams. They are quite remarkable tales. I keep imagining that I'm someone else, and that I'm hiding." He looked at Abi, also addressing her,
"Hiding how?" She smiled, almost forgetting that he wasn't the Doctor right now,
"They're almost every night. This is going to sound silly.", This time he looked at Joan, who was very interested,
"Tell me."
"I dream, quite often, that I have two hearts."
"Well, then. I can be the judge of that. Let's find out.",
Abi had to move out of her way as she approached Mr Smith, she walked over to where Martha was standing, still listening to their conversation with slight amusement. Joan took a stethoscope and placed it on Mr Smith's chest moving it around to check for abnormalities,
"I can confirm the diagnosis. Just one heart, singular."
He smiled sheepishly, "I have er, I have written down some of these dreams in the form of fiction. Not that it would be of any interest."
"I'd be very interested."
"Well, I've never actually shown it to anyone before." He turned to hand her a small book with drawing and writing scrawled all over it,
"A Journal of Impossible Things." Joan read aloud, whilst rifting thought the pages, "Just look at these creatures. Such imagination", She was looking through many different aliens like Daleks, Cybermen and Ood, whilst she was both Abi and Martha glanced over more than a couple of times to see what he dreamt about neither saying anything,
"It's become quite a hobby.", He read the book with her, smiling at her interest,
"It's wonderful. And quite an eye for the pretty girls.", She referred to the picture of Rose,
"Oh no, no, she's just an invention. This character, Rose. I call her, Rose. Seems to disappear later on.", Abi looked up at this sparing him a sad glance, as much as she liked Martha, and she did like Martha, she still missed Rose. Maybe not as much as the Doctor did, but she loved her. The pair continued looking through the book, she turned to see the Tardis amongst a sea of words, Mr Smith smiled,
"Ah, that's the box. The blue box. It's always there. Like a like a magic carpet. This funny little box that transports me to far away places."
"Like a doorway?"
"Mmm." He nodded,
Martha leaned over to catch Abi attention, whispering, "He remembers so much, but what if he starts believing it?"
"He won't, as long as we don't give him a reason to believe it"
"But you can see, he's doubting if it really is fake" They both turned back to Joan and Mr Smith, who were still talking,
"I sometimes think how magical life would be if stories like this were true."
"If only."
Abi turned to look at Martha again, realizing what she meant, she sighed and shrugged, not knowing what they'd do if he ever found out, Mr Smith looked longingly at his creations,
"It's just a dream."
Martha went to run after Matron, leaving Abi to speak with Mr Smith, she felt slightly uncomfortable, being with someone who looked like her best friend but wasn't,
"Martha, she told me that you dreamt of me?"
His eyes widened and he began to stutter, "Uh.. well..not..not..in that way..it was purely appropriate uh.." He trailed off, finally aware of her amused expression, "Well I'm glad you find this funny, not many women would"
"Not many women are like me" She stated, he nodded, appreciating this truth,
"Quite"
"And anyway, I just wanted to know what it was about, so...?"
She sat on the sofa, placing her hands on her knees, feigning mock attentiveness, he shook his head at her behavior and sat next to her,
"Well, we were running into this uh ship, unworldly ship and something was firing at us, I, somehow was able to pilot the ship and you sort of helped. We were devising a plan, to escape the creatures and then I woke up",
She looked at his sadness when he said 'I woke up', "You want it to be true?"
"The one thing that Doctor was missing was love, not love of a friend, because he had you. True love with a partner, I don't want to be like that", Abi looked up, smiling devilishly,
"The Doctor loves me? As a friend?"
He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, "Uh, yeah, very much actually",
"That's good to know", she stood up and held out a hand for him, he took it but was hesitant,
"What?"
When he touched her hand she pulled him up, "Well, you're going to the village dance, right?",
"No...I've got no one to go with",
She placed his hands on her waist and wrapped hers around his neck, "Yes you do, Joan" He looked down, regretting his hopefulness for wanting her to go with him, he didn't know how he felt about her, she wasn't like Joan, but he couldn't work out whether that was good or bad, at least with Joan he knew where he stood,
"I haven't asked her",
She looked up at him, almost gasping, "Well, why haven't you, you so clearly like each other, I mean come on, do I have to set you up every time?"
He frowned at her, "When have you set me up before?" Her eyes widened at her little slip up,
"No, it was just a figure of speech, anyway come on, you do know how to dance, right?"
"Weeeelllll", She leaned back to look at his face, amused,
"You're joking, oh wow, well, let's see what you've got"
She let him take the lead, guiding him through the steps but he wasn't looking at her or his feet, he was more focused on her eyes, he wanted to know what was behind them, because he knew there was something different about her, something special. Now, he knew that the Doctor loved Abi as a friend but he also knew it was turning into something more but something was holding him back, or someone. His feelings were prevented from evolving because she was taken, but it had changed recently so the Doctor's feelings started up again. In the dream he knew Abi had no idea but in this real life he wanted to pursue those feelings. He was not the Doctor. She looked up to see him looking at her with an unfamiliar expression.
She had noticed the change from the Doctor and Mr Smith, aside from him changing species, he reacted differently around her, more weird than normal, and she had this fear that this human version had feelings for her, but if this was true then what did the actual Doctor felt. She knew that he loved her, only as a friend, but she didn't know how John Smith felt, and if the Doctor would remember if John Smith did anything...surprising. He gazed into her wide eyes, she smiled nervously. She looked down to their feet and when she looked up he was an inch closer, his lips almost touching hers, after a moment he leaned in and pecked her lips. Immediately she jumped out of his embrace, and started frantically pacing around the room, trying to form words.
"Umm, I, uh what?!" He ran a hand through his hair,
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that, I just, thought..."
She flopped down on the chair, "But why, I mean what about Joan? How do you feel about her?" He sat next to her but the proximity didn't change anything,
"I like her, very much"
"And me?" She toned down in her confusion, but she was still wondering on whether it was the Doctor feelings bleeding through,
"I don't know, I know I like you very much as a friend, I just didn't know if I felt anything more or not, I wanted to find out so I..." He left the sentence unfinished, it didn't matter because she knew how it would've ended,
"And what did you find out?"
She was genuinely scared, she couldn't believe it if the actual Doctor felt anything then that would be bad, and awkward, bad and awkward. He could only shrug, and look down, she smiled at his face, it was unbelievably cute.
"Well", She got up and headed for the door, "While you ponder on that", Turned to him, smiling brightly, "I have classes to teach"
He got up and smiled, before turning to look at his watch, he stared at it for a couple of seconds. Once she left his sight she leaned on the door, closing her eyes momentarily.
In the dorms the boys were on the beds, chairs and windows, chatting except for Latimer, who was sitting on his bed minding his own business. One of the boys, Hutchinson,
"Ah, Latimer. Here you are, Latin translation.", He threw a book on the floor beside his feet
"Blasted Catullus. I want it done by morning."
"Yes, sir.", he bent down to pick up the book,
"And no mistakes. I want it written by best handwriting",
"Listen, Father says he's been promoted. That means more money. Might end up in a better school."
Latimer crouched down to polish a pair of shoes, "Ah, he should enjoy it, sir. My uncle had a six month posting in Johannesburg. Says it was the most beautiful countryside on God's Earth.", he didn't look up whilst he was talking,
"What are you talking about?", Hutchinson frowned at him and got up,
"Africa. Your father." Latimer got up in confusion,
"You been reading my post?", He approached him, quickly getting angry,
"What?"
"You said Africa. I've only just read the word myself. How did you know that?", He forced the boy against the wall, gripping his blazer lapels,
"I haven't.",
"Have you been spying on me?",
"No. I just guessed."
"What's that supposed to mean?", his grip loosened and he calmed down,
"I'm good at guessing, that's all.", Hutchinson decided he had enough of the boy, he pushed him away forcefully and walked away mumbling to himself,
"Idiot."
"Sometimes I say things and they turn out to be correct. Just little things. Tiny things. I can't help it. It's just some sort of luck.", He stared at Baines for a while, to which he looked away, feeling uncomfortable,
"Right, well, never mind that little toad. Who's for beer?", he got up, addressing the boys,
"You've got beer?", Hutchinson asked,
"No, but Baxter's hidden a secret supply in Blackdown woods.", Hutchinson perked up,
"What are you waiting for?", Baines turned to open the window,
" A bottle for everyone, is it?"
"And none for the filth. And hurry back, Baines, I'm parched.", He dismissed him, rudely.
Martha brought out pints to Jenny and Abi. When Martha told Jenny that Abi was invited for the drinks, she had to admit she was annoyed and shocked at her friends behavior, it's all well and good having teacher friends but having drinks and gossiping wasn't what she looked forward to, but as she got to know the teacher she realized how much she was like her,
"Ooo, it's freezing out here. Why can't we have a drink inside the pub?", she sat on the brown benches,
"Now don't be ridiculous. You do get these notions! It's all very well, those Suffragettes. but that's London. That's miles away.", Jenny giggled at her friends, Abi looked at the stars and back at her friends, grinning,
"Ohh, but don't you just want to scream sometimes, having to bow and scrape and behave. Don't you just want to tell them?"
"I don't know. Things must be different in your country. And anyway you have a strong opinion for someone who gets daily wages",
Abi shrugged, "I'm an empathic", Martha leaned in,
"Yeah, well they are different. Thank God we're not staying.",
Abi frowned, but nodded, hoping it wouldn't be for long. Jenny scoffed at the both of them,
"You keep saying that."
"Just you wait. One more month and we're as free as the wind. I wish you could come with us, Jenny. You'd love it.", Abi laughed, looking down to control her laughing and avoid her friends confused looks. When she collected herself, she smiled at Martha,
"Sorry, I could just imagine her, in our kind of situations" This time Martha got it, she looked at Jenny's frown and laughed with Abi, Jenny groaned,
"Where are you going to go?"
"Anywhere. Just look up there. Imagine you could go all the way out to the stars." They all looked up,
"You don't half say mad things." She smiled at her friends, thinking about how lucky she was to have both of them, two people who respected and understood her, and one of them being a teacher.
"That's where we're going. Into the sky, all the way out.",
Abi smiled at her friend, but it was a sad smile, because she had a slight doubt that everything would go to plan, Martha flinched back, staring at the sky,
"Did you see that? Abi?"
She shook her head, "No what?"
"See what?" Jenny looked up, trying to spot anything weird, Martha got up pointing at the sky,
"Did you see it, though? Right up there, just for a second.", Abi touched Martha's shoulder,
"Martha, what was it?"
Joan ran up to them, clutching her hat, looking frightened, Abi frowned at her, then came up to her,
"Matron, are you all right?"
"Did you see that? There was something in the woods. This light.", Abi nodded,
"Yeah Martha saw it"
Mr Smith came out of the pub, smiling when he saw his, dare he say it, friends?
"Anything wrong, ladies? Far too cold to be standing around in the dark, don't you."
The bright light appeared again, this time none of them missed it, Abi's eyes widened, knowing that she wouldn't be able to contain herself for long,
"There, there. Look in the sky." Joan pointed, Abi turned to all of them,
"Where is it going?"
"Well, it appears to be going to Cooper's field but meteorites always look close, when actually they're miles off. Nothing left but a cinder. Now, I should escort you back to the school. Ladies?", Abi shook her head, smiling as she backed away from the group,
"Nope, actually, gotta check something out",
"Abi!"
"Abigail!"
She turned and sprinted off, the rest of them following, most of them not believing that it was really a meteorite as Mr Smith said. She was a couple meters ahead of them, she didn't look back. She slowed her pace as she reached the hill, she suddenly banged herself on something invisible and hard. Stepping back as she rubbed her nose, she looked back to see them catching up with her, Mr Smith the closest, he stopped next to her, missing the invisible thing by just an inch, and she had to keep it that way. She looked out,
"And that's Cooper's Field?", Jenny stood next to Martha, out of breath,
"As far as the eye can see, and no falling star.", Mr Smith nodded keeping Joan by his side,
"Exactly, and it is now getting late, are you sure you don't want me to escort you back, you seem flushed?" Abi turned to him and smiled, patting both Jenny and Martha's shoulders,
"Nah, I've got these two, helping me out, thank you Mr Smith, Matron" Joan smiled back as he took her hand.
Abi turned back to the ship that only she was aware of. Jenny groaned,
"Come on, I'm frozen to the bone, let's go. As your Mister Smith says, nothing to see."
Martha and Abi cycled out to and old barn, deep in conversation,
"It's their ship, definitely"
"So, what do we do?"
Abi sighed, "Well, I know what I would do but seeing as he's given us rules then we should try and follow him. God it's like school, with books and pens and health and safety" She used a mocking voice, then entered the barn and both of them smiled when the saw the familiar box. When they entered, Abi ran up to the console, fiddling with it, whilst Martha slowly walked up the ramp,
"Hello", she laughed at herself, "I'm talking to a machine", Abi looked up and smiled at her,
"Not as mad as you think"
Flashback - Tardis
They can follow us wherever we go, right across the universe. They're never going to stop, unless. I'll have to do it. Martha, Abi, you trust me, don't you?"
"Of course I do." Martha replied instantly but Abi narrowed her eyes, guessing what he was going to do,
"You're not serious?"
"But I've got to because it all depends on you", She nodded, Martha looked at both of them frowning,
"What does? What are we supposed to do?"
He held out an ornately decorated pocket watch.
"Take this watch, because my life depends on it. This watch, this watch is me" Martha took the watch and frowned at Abi but she wasn't looking at her, she was looking up at she headset thing with clear fear, Martha shook her head and looked back at the Doctor,
"Right, okay, gotcha. No, hold on. Completely lost."
"Those creatures are hunters. They can sniff out anyone, and me being a Time Lord, well, I'm unique. They can track me down across the whole of time and space."
He tampered with the Tardis, "Right, but what about Abi?", Abi perked up and helped the Doctor,
"I've adapted to hide myself naturally, if I believe I am human, I am human, if I don't, I'm Time Lord, but he can't"
"Huh. And the good news is?"
The Doctor circulated back to them, looking at the head harness than Abi was looking at, "They can smell me, they haven't seen me. And their life span'll be running out, so we hide. Wait for them to die."
"But they can track us down."
"He's gonna stop being a Time Lord. He's going to become human."
Martha blinked at them and finally looked up at the headset that the Doctor was lowering down,
"Never thought I'd use this. All the times I've wondered.",
"What does it do?"
"Chameleon Arch. Rewrites biology. Literally changes every single cell in a body. It's set to human right now.", Abi frowned at the contraption during her explanation as the Doctor put the watch into a circular slot,
"Now, the Tardis will take care of everything. Invent a life story for me, find me a setting and integrate me. Can't do the same for you two. You'll just have to improvise. I should have just enough residual awareness to let both of you in", Abi nodded in understand, she went up to him and kissed his cheek, whispering,
"Sorry"
"But, hold on. If you're going to rewrite every single cell, isn't it going to hurt?" Martha stepped up to both of them, Abi was worried but he was calm,
"Oh, yeah. It hurts.", Abi brought her away from him and they watched him scream and writhe and spasm in pain.
Abi turned on the scanner, to show a frozen picture of the Doctor, she called Martha over before playing the video,
"This working? Martha, Abi, before I change, here's a list of instructions for when I'm human. One, don't let me hurt anyone. We can't have that, but you know what humans are like. Two, don't worry about the Tardis. I'll put it on emergency power so they can't detect it. Just let it hide away. Four. No, wait a minute, three.", Abi laughed at his slip up, "No getting involved in big historical events, especially Abi, I know what she's like. Four, you. Don't let me abandon both of you. And fi
Abi fast forwarded it,
"Anything about invisible ships on this?" She stopped near the end of the video,
"And twenty three. If anything goes wrong, if they find us, then you know what to do. Open the watch. Everything I am is kept safe in there. Now, I've put a perception filter on it so the human me won't think anything of it. To him, it's just a watch. But don't open it unless you have to. Because once it's open, then the Family will be able to find me. It's all down to you. Your choices. Oh, and thank you." He smiled at them, Abi cut the video, smiling at Martha,
"Gotta do this thing on our own then"
Outside of the school, the boys practiced firing, Abi walked up to Mr Smith, greeting him and looking at the head as he came, smiling at him too. She had some grants she needed approval on. When she saw Joan coming she stepped on away from Mr Smith, knowing that she probably wanted to talk the him, she went up to the head, Mr Smith scolded the boys,
"Concentrate, Hutchinson, excellent work.",
The head spoke up, "Cease fire!"
Mr Smith and Abigail smiled at him,
"Good day to you, Headmaster."
"Good day sir", Abi said gently,
"Good day Miss Jones, I will get back to you on that approval, well done Mr Smith, your crew's on fine form today",
"Excuse me, Headmaster. We could do a lot better. Latimer's being deliberately shoddy." Hutchinson glared at Latimer,
"I'm trying my best.", Latimer defended himself,
"You need to be better than the best. Those targets are tribesmen from the dark continent." The head spoke proudly, though Abi scowled at him,
"That's exactly the problem, sir. They only have spears." Abi smiled at his opinion and thought it very good.
"Oh, dear me. Latimer takes it upon himself to make us realise how wrong we all are-"
"Oh I don't know, he seems to have a pretty good opinion, you have a good set of morals, Latimer, don't let any one tell you otherwise" Latimer smiled at her and turned back the guns, he seemed slightly dazed, the gun stopped firing and Hutchinson tried to alert the boy,
"Stoppage. Immediate action. Didn't I tell you, sir? This stupid boy is useless. Permission to give Latimer a beating, sir."
"It's your class, Mister Smith.", Abi turned to Mr Smith, hoping that him being human wouldn't change his morals,
"Permission granted.", Abi blinked at him and turned back to the boys,
"Permission denied, let him go", The teachers and men frowned at her but the boys listened to her, she turned to Latimer, "Go to my office and wait outside for me, I won't be long" Latimer went away and the boys resumed their work, she turned back to Mr Smith, "Just because he doesn't want to be part of a killing machine doesn't mean he deserve a beating, where has violence gotten anyone?" She whispered so only he could hear but he only stared at her, sighing she excused her self and went after Latimer, passing Joan on the way.
She approached her office, and Latimer standing beside it looking at his hand, seeming scared of it, she observed him quietly before walking up to him,
"What that?", She snapped him out of his thoughts and he immediately hid the object, she frowned,
"Nothing" She raised her eyebrows at him and unlocked the door, walking in with him behind her. She walked up to her closet telling him to give her a minute, he sat on a chair in her office, looking at the room quietly. She stepped out wearing her usual clothes, denim jeans and a short dress over it with a denim waistcoat. He got up immediately and shielded his eyes,
"Miss!",
She smiled, and walked over to her dress, sitting on it, "It's fine, Latimer, really, where I'm from, this is normal attire",
He hesitantly removed his hand but averted his gaze, "Really? But where are you from",
"I'm not answering you till you look at me and realize there is nothing to be embarrassed about",
He blinked and looked directly at her eyes and nowhere else, she laughed at his behavior, and soon, he was laughing too. When they calmed down she spoke, "I think if I tell you where I'm really from you'll believe me easier than anyone else, would I be right?"
He frowned but nodded, she repeated the nodded,
"Okay well, I'm not from this world, and I think you know that Mr Smith isn't either", He nodded again, slightly more calmed because she acted better around him, and she did save him a beating. "If you want to say anything, you can."
He nodded once more, but he then felt the watch in his pocket burning up, he couldn't think of anything else to do, so he ran out of the room. She sighed and slumped back onto the chair rubbing he eyes, she was thinking of how she would explain herself later when Martha burst in somewhere on the verge of crying and laughing,
"He wa - he was kissing Joan, I ran in, then ..then I ran out"
Abi frowned, slightly confused at Martha's hysterical expression, she couldn't ask about it because Martha took her hand and dragged her out of the school. Not stopping or turning or giving Abi any chance to question her until they got to the barn where the Tardis was. Whilst she was trying to unlock the Tardis door Abi finally got a word in,
"Marth, what exactly happened?"
"They were kissing and I burst in without knocking, and he told me to stop bursting in without knocking and then I ran out" She looked at Abi and bit her lip to stop herself laughing, "I kinda ruined their moment",
Abi laughed at her awkwardness but was also happy that Martha got to thestage where she could be happy and laugh about the Doctor's love life instead of being jealous. "Yes, yes you did, but", they ran into the box and over to the scanner, "We've gotta do something about her, because John Smith isn't gonna be alive for long, and she might get attached", Martha nodded and turned on the screen, running through the recording of instructions,
"Four. You. Don't let me abandon you."
"Well that's no good. What about the stuff you didn't tell us? What about women? Oh no, you didn't think of that" They sighed simultaneously,
"Thank you." Abi scowled at the recording and switched it off, Martha laughed at her,
"Oh wow, he had to didn't he, he had to go and fall in love with a human", she shook her head in amusement,
"This was bound to happen, how did we not know?"
Martha set the table as Abi came in with a cake on a tray, Martha looked up at her and smiled,
"You didn't have to you know",
Abi smiled and shrugged, "It would've gone to waste",
Jenny entered with a different kind of walk and an unreadable expression, Martha however didn't notice this,
"There you are. Come and look what I've got. Mister Poole didn't want his afternoon tea so Cook said I could have it. And Abi us her cake again, aaaand there's enough for three of us. What are you standing there for?"
Jenny took a deep breath, cauising Abi to narrow her eyes at her,
"Martha.."
"Are you all right?", Jenny blinked and seemed to return back to normality,
"I must have a cold coming on.", She came up to them and placed herself on the chair opposite Martha, Abi just leaned against the windowsill, analysing Jenny's behavior, Martha was still oblivious to any change and continued taking,
"The problem is, I keep thinking about them, but I don't know what to do."
"Thinking about who?"
"Mister Smith and Matron. Because it's never going to last. He's going to leave in a few weeks."
"Why?"
"It's like his contract comes to an end. And she's going to be heartbroken.", Abi looked down, silently regretting having to tell Matron anything,
"Leave for where?", Abi stood up straight from the windowsill an stood next to Martha incase Jenny did anything odd, because she believed she might,
"All sorts of places. I wish I could tell you, Jenny, but it's complicated."
"In what way?"
"I just can't."
"It sounds so interesting. Tell me. Tell me now.", Martha liked at Abi, now realising what she meant, Abi took a deep breath and smiled at both of them,
"Actually, I think I might have some mutton in the kitchen, do you wanna come get it?", Martha nodded and got up, faking nonchalance,
"Hold on Jenny be right back",
Once they left the room Martha began to run but Abi stopped here, conscious of the noise they would've made, but when they go the bottom of the stair they heard Jenny stir upstairs and made for the door, narrowly missing one of Jenny's shots.
Martha ran straight to the school, heading for Mr Smiths office, Abi stopped when she saw her office door open, she let Martha go and when to check inside, she sawyer tables overturned and shelves checked from top to bottom. Wen she heard commotion coming from Mr Smiths office she ran back out, she burst in the room only to see Martha slap Mr Smith hard on the face, She shook her head, scolding Martha internally for her believing things that only happened in movies, But when Mr Smith started shouting at her and dragging out she decided to intervene,
"Hey! Let her go!",
He frowned at her, "She-she just slapped me", but he let go of Martha'a arm,
"I know, not really the way to go Martha, that never works in real life", she leaned into her and whispered, "Sonic". Martha nodded left. Abi turned back to the shocked pair,
"Sorry about that, though the slap was-" Se saw the teachers red cheek and upset face and decided to stop right there, "Anyway, sorry John but I'm gonna need to borrow you old fob watch", She looked to the mantlepiece but found it without the watch, she frowned and looked at him,
"Where is it?"
"What..what has a fob watch got to do with anything? Why is it important, I didn't even have one", Abi sighed, rubbing her temples,
"Right no, course you didn't, don't know why I asked, I uh have to.." She motioned to the door and left swiftly.
Abi went to her office hoping that Martha would come back here and give her the sonic but when she saw her state she had a suspicion that Martha would do something drastic. But she didn't have time to wonder about that, because was currently looking like a crime scene, and she believed that it may have been the family, if this was right then they might think Abi was the Time Lord or that she had a connection, which she did. She began routing through her messed up stuff when she heard movements in the hall, she poked her head out but immediately saw Baines and Jenny walking up stairs heading for Mr. Smiths room, she kept a look out until she saw Mr Clark coming up the stairs and ripping the Village dance poster from the notice board. when she thought about it Joan and Mr Smith did look dressed up. Her eyes widened when she realised that not only will Martha be there but now the Family will too. Once she knew it was safe she faced out of the school and cycled down to the village hall. When she burst she saw none of the family that she knew, she smiled but her smile faded when she saw Martha holding the sonic up to Mr Smith, she went up to her and took it from her. She gripped her shoulders gently and made her look up at her,
"Martha listen, if it was that easy to switch back to Time Lord then he wouldn't have changed anyway, we just need the watch",
"We don't have it", Abi looked down thinking for a moment,
"Okay, the Family are coming soon so I'm going to create a distraction, you get both of them out of here, I'll find you, don't worry",
"But what will you do?", She glanced at Mr Smith and Joan who were frowning at them, Abi took a deep breath,
"I'm going to believe I'm a Time Lord", Mr Smith sucked in a sharp breath and all three girls looked at him, Abi blinked at him, believing that might've been the Doctors reaction,
"What?"
"Nothing"
Abi frowned at him and she knew very well that it wasn't nothing but Joan had started questioning him and she turned away. Mr Clark entered followed by Jenny and Baines, they made quite a racket, instinctively Mr Smith pulled Martha and Abi behind him but then he saw what he was doing and let their hands go. Abi smiled at Martha but their moment was interrupted by Mr Clark,
"There will be silence! All of you!" The people screamed as sinister scarecrows entered,
"I said, silence!"
A man came up behind Mr Clark,
"Mister Clarke, what's going on?", The alien immediately turned back and shot him, the crowd gasped but Abi advanced on the family,
"You didn't have to do that"
Baines glared at her, "We asked for silence! Now then, we have a few questions for Mister Smith."
A little girl from behind the group, smirking at Mr Smith,
"No, better than that. The teacher. He's the Doctor. I heard them talking.",
"You took human form.", The family all smirked at him, tilting their heads. Mr Smith frowned deeply and unconsciously and unintentionally took Abi hand, though she didn't say anything,
"Of course I'm human. I was born human, as were you, Baines. And Jenny, and you, Mister Clark. What is going on? This is madness."
"Ooo, and a human brain, too. Simple, thick and dull."
Jenny glared at Abi and she instantly let go of the Do- Mr Smith's hand, if her plan was going to work she had to seem like she had nothing to do with him or she might be a hostage,
"And her, she's got something to do with it", Jenny nodded to Abi who's eyes widened,
"We need a Time Lord.",
"Easily done",
Baines reached for the girls but Martha was the closest, Abi tried to reach out for her, "Martha!", He held a gun to her head,
"Change back."
"I don't know what you're talking about.!" His eyes widened as they took away Martha,
"Change back!", Abi sighed knowing he couldn't help, she had hoped that the Family's method would bring her Doctor back but it was clear nothing was clicking in his mind,
"I literally do not know"
Jenny walked up to him and indicated to Martha, "She's your friend, isn't she? Doesn't this scare you enough to change back?"
"I don't know what you mean!" Jenny stepped back, eye lighting up,
"Wait a minute. The maid told me about Smith and the Matron. That woman, there." Clark immediately reached for her too,
"Then let's have you." He put a gun to her head, then he aimed a second gun at Abi though no one restrained her, "Or her"
Baines smirked as Mr Smith realized the impossible situation he was in, "Have you enjoyed it, Doctor, being human? Has it taught you wonderful things? Are you better, richer, wiser? Then let's see you answer this. Which one of them do you want us to kill? Maid, teacher or matron? Your friends or your lover? Your choice."