Shareen vs the Universe

The Family of Blood

"Make your decision, Mr Smith." Jenny demanded, pressing her gun into Martha's cheek.

"Perhaps if that Human heart breaks, the Time Lord will emerge." Baines goaded. He suddenly turned his head, distracted by something. "It's him!"

Martha took advantage of the distraction and broke free of Jenny's grip, then she grabbed Jenny's gun and aimed it at her. "One more move and I shoot." Martha growled

"Oh, the maid is full of fire." Baines smirked

"Not just her." Shareen snarked, "Try anything and we'll kill all of ya!"

"Careful, Son of Mine." Mr Clarke cautioned Baines. "This is all for you so you can live forever."

But Baines wasn't concerned. "Shoot you down!" he sneered, aiming his gun at Martha.

"Try it." Martha said bravely, "We'll die together."

"Right with ya, Martha." Shareen agreed

"Would you really pull the trigger?" Baines goaded Martha, "Looks too scared."

But Martha wasn't going to back down easily. "Scared and holding a gun. It's a good combination." she said defiantly, "You wanna risk it?"

Baines looked at John, who looked completely out of his depth, then he lowered his gun while Mr Clarke let Joan go, who moved to stand beside John.

"Doctor, get everyone out." Martha ordered John. "There's a door at the side. It's over there. Go on!"

John stood undecisive. "She means you, you idiot." Shareen barked at him. "Get on with it!"

John was too shell-shocked to do anything so Joan took charge. "Do what she said. Everybody out now." she said as she began to usher everyone out. "Don't argue, Mr Jackson. They're mad. That's all we need to know. Susan, Mr Cooper, outside, all of you."

John finally snapped out of his shock and helped. "Move yourself boy." he urged Timothy Latimer, "Back to the school, quickly."

"And you." Martha called to him. "Go on. Just shift."

"What about you two?" John protested

"Huh, why do you care?!" Shareen scoffed, "Just get ya girlfriend outta here, we'll be right with ya!"

John looked to the door, then to Martha and Shareen, back to the door, then back to the women again before running out with Joan. Once they were outside, he began directing the villagers. "Mr Hicks, go to the village. Get everyone out. Latimer, get back to the school. Tell the headmaster..."

"Don't touch me!" Latimer hissed, stepping back from him. "You're as bad as them!" And he ran off.

~8~

Inside the hall, Martha pushed Jenny away and held her gun with both hands. "Don't try anything." she growled. "I'm warning you, or sonny boy gets it."

"She's almost brave, this one." Baines smirked as he and his accomplices began to advance on the two Humans.

"I should've taken one of their forms." Jenny said. "Much more fun. So much spirt in both of them."

"Just you try it!" Shareen snarled

"What happened to Jenny?" Martha demanded, "Is she gone?"

"She is consumed. Her body's mine." Jenny crowed

"In other words, you murdered her." Shareen scowled

"Yes. And she went with precious little dignity." Jenny taunted. "All that... ahh... screaming!"

A scarecrow then tried to grab Martha from behind, causing her to drop the gun. "Get the gun!" Baines ordered the scarecrow.

Martha managed to duck under the scarecrow's arm then she and Shareen made a break for it and ran outside to find John and Joan still standing there. "Oh, for God's sake, don't just stand there, MOVE!" Shareen barked.

"God, you're rubbish as a Human." Martha grumbled to John, "Come on!"

Martha and Shareen ran off and John took Joan's hand and they followed the two young women. Baines and his gang came out of the hall at that moment and fired at them, but the group were fortunately out of range.

Once they were a safe distance from the hall, the four Humans stopped for breath. "Now do ya believe us?!" Martha panted

"I know what I saw: your connivance!" John snarled. "You're both in league with them!" he accused. "The same tricks, the same... the same language. The same fantastic stories!"

"Oh open ya eyes, ya backwards moron!" Shareen snapped. "They tried to kill Martha! And what about those guns that can make people disappear? How could we make them up, eh?"

"Perhaps you should listen to them both, John." Joan interjected

"You can't believe them!" John stared

"I don't know, but... those people... inhuman!" Joan blustered. "They killed Mr Chambers right in front of us! They dissolved him!"

"This whole life of yours, it's made-up!" Martha told John. "That's the fantasy! All we need to do is find that fob watch and we can turn you back."

"Into what?" Joan asked

"The Doctor." Martha replied

"And what would he do?" Joan probed

"Save us." Martha replied

"How? What's so special about him?" John asked, "Is.. is he better than me?"

"Right now, yes!" Shareen retorted

"He'd stop people from dying, is that it?" John continued

"Yes." Martha said softly

"So the death of Mr Chambers is all my fault." John surmised. He turned on his heel and strode off towards the school, the three women following him.

~8~

John, Martha, Shareen and Joan soon reached the school, all four rather breathless from the running. John slammed the heavy wooden front doors shut, grabbed a bell and started ringing it loudly. "What're you doing?" Martha demanded

"Maybe one man can't fight them, but this school teaches us to stand together." John replied. "Take arms! Take arms!" he shouted as boys began coming out of their dormitories.

"Are you insane?!" an appalled Shareen stared

"You can't do that!" a horrified Martha agreed.

"You ladies want me to fight don't you?" John retorted. "Take arms! Take arms!" he ordered the boys.

"I say sir, what's the matter?" Hutchinson asked as he arrived

"Enemy at the door, Hutchinson. Enemy at the door!" John told him. "Take arms!"

"You're gonna get them all killed!" Shareen told John. "You saw what these guys can do!"

John paid her no attention and entered a room where the boys were busy preparing guns. "You can't do this, Doctor!" Martha protested as she and Shareen followed him. "Mr Smith!"

But John wasn't listening. "Redford, maintain position, faster now, that's it!" he ordered

Shareen grabbed John and turned him to face her. "They're just boys!" she shouted at him. "You can't get them to fight your battles for you! They don't stand a chance!"

"They're cadets, Miss Costello." John told her. "They are trained to defend the King and all his citizens and properties."

Just then, Mr Rocastle came storming in. "What in thunder's name is this?" he demanded, "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?"

"Headmaster, I have to report, the school is under attack." John explained

"Really? Is that so?" Mr Rocastle replied sceptically, "Perhaps you and I should have a word in private."

"I promise you, sir. I was in the village with Matron. It's Baines, sir. Jeremy Baines and Mr Clark from Oakham Farm. They've gone mad, sir. They've already murdered people in the village. I saw it happen."

Mr Rocastle turned to Joan. "Matron, is that so?"

"I'm afraid it's true, sir." Joan confirmed

"Murder?" Mr Rocastle raised a brow, "On our own soil?"

"I saw it. Yes."

Mr Rocastle turned back to John. "Then perhaps you did well, Mr Smith. What makes you think the danger is coming here?

"Well, sir, they said, um..." John stammered

"Baines threatened Mr Smith, sir." Joan explained. "Um, said he'd follow him. We don't know why."

Mr Rocastle considered all this for a moment. "Very well. You boys, remain on guard. Mr Snell, telephone the police. Mr Philips, with me. We shall investigate."

The headmaster and another teacher moved to the door but Martha ran up and blocked their way. "No, it's not safe out there." she protested

"Mr Smith, it seems your favourite servant is giving me advice." Mr Rocastle sneered, "You will control her, sir."

"I'll control you in a minute, ya pompous tw*t!" Shareen glared, blocking the headmaster's way. "Martha's tryin' to save your life! Those guys out there have weapons more powerful than you can ever dream about and they won't hesitate to use 'em on you if ya get in their way, so you can bloody well shut up and listen to us!"

But Mr Rocastle had no intention of listening. "How dare you speak to me like that!" he spluttered pompously. "You are dismissed, Miss Costello."

Shareen decided she'd had enough of this pompous, self-opinionated idiot. "Dismiss this!" she snarled, and punched Mr Rocastle square in the face, knocking him to the floor. "F*ck this school and f*ck you!" Shareen spat, and she stormed off, Martha following her.

Mr Rocastle picked himself up , fixed his askew glasses and made for the door with Mr Philips, trying to maintain his dignity.

~8~

Rocastle and Phillips went outside where Baines, Jenny and some of the scarecrows were standing patiently, while John watched from the window. "So, Baines and one of the cleaning staff. There's always a woman involved." Mr Rocastle sneered, "Am I to gather that some practical joke has got out of hand?"

"Headmaster, sir. Good evening sir. Come to give me a canning, sir? Would you like that, sir?" Baines jested

"Keep a civil tongue, boy." Mr Rocastle glared

"Now, come on everyone. I suspect alcohol's played it's part in this." Mr Phillips, one of the few teachers at the school with any common sense, spoke up, "Let's all calm down. And who are these friends of yours, Baines? In fancy dress?"

"D'you like them, Mr Phillips?" Baines replied, "I made them myself." He walked over to one of the scarecrows. "I'm ever so good at science, sir. Look!" He pulled the arm off the scarecrow. "Molecular fringe animation. Fashioned in the shape of straw men. My own private army, sir. Ever so good, sir!" he finished proudly

"Baines, step apart from this company and come inside with me." Mr Rocastle ordered

"No, sir. You sir, you will send us Mr John Smith." Baines retorted, making Mr Rocastle flinch slightly at his tone. "That's all we want, sir, Mr John Smith and whatever he's done with his Time Lord consciousness. Then we'll be very happy to leave you alone."

"You speak with someone else's voice, Baines, who might that be?" Mr Rocastle questioned

"We are the Family of Blood." Baines answered proudly

"Mr Smith said there had been deaths."

"Yes, sir, and they were good, sir!" Baines grinned

"Well, I warn you the school is armed."

Baines wasn't concerned about that. "All your little tin soldiers." he scoffed, "But tell me, sir... will they thank you?"

"I don't understand."

What d'you know of history, sir?" Baines questioned, "What do you know of next year?"

"You're not making sense, Baines." Mr Rocastle frowned

"1914, sir." Baines continued, "Because the family has travelled far and wide, looking for Mr Smith, and, oh, the things we've seen. War is coming. In foreign fields, war of the whole wide world, with your boys falling down in the mud. Do you think they will thank the man who taught them it was glorious?"

"Don't you forget, boy, I've been a soldier." Mr Rocastle retorted, "I was in South Africa. I used my dead mates for 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."

"Etcetera, etcetera." Banines cut in. He promptly whipped out his gun and fired at Mr Phillips, completely vaporising him. John had seen all of this and could only stare wide-eyed in horror. "Run along, headmaster." Baines goaded Mr Rocastle, "Run back to school and send us Mr & Mrs Smith!"

Mr Rocastle finally gained a bit of common sense and legged it back into the school while Jenny cackled callously.

John and the boys were waiting when Mr Rocastle came back in. "Mr Phillps has been murdered, Mr Smith. Can you tell me why?" Mr Rocastle questioned

"Honestly, sir, I have no idea." John replied, "And the telephone's been disconnected. We're on our own."

"Well, if we have to make a fight of it, then make a fight of it we shall." Mr Rocastle swallowed. "Hutchinson, we'll build a barricade within the courtyards. Fortify the entrances, build our defences. Gentlemen, in the name of the King, we shall stand against them!"

"Yes sir!" the boys all chorused

And so, the boys got to work. Three of them barricaded the doors with a wooden beam while the rest hurried around the courtyard building a barricade with sandbags and setting up a machine gun, while John and Mr Rocastle gave orders.

~8~

Meanwhile, Martha and Shareen had gone to John's study to try and find the missing fob watch. Joan had followed them and stood watching them. "I know it sounds mad, but when the Doctor became Human, he took the alien part of himself and stored it inside the watch." Martha explained to her, "It's not really a watch, it just looks like a watch."

"And alien means... not from abroad, I take it?" Joan probed

"Yeah, the Doctor's a Time Lord from a planet called Galifrey." Shareen told her. "John Smith's just an alter ego he created so he could hide."

"A different species." Joan surmised

"Yeah." Martha confirmed

"Then tell me, in this fairy tale... who are the both of you?" Joan questioned

"Two people who travel with him." Shareen answered briskly.

"You're both Human, I take it?"

"Yes, Human, don't worry." Martha replied, "And more than that, I don't just follow him around. I'm training to be a doctor. Not an alien doctor, a proper doctor, a doctor of medicine."

"Well, that certainly is nonsense." Joan scoffed. "Women might train to be doctors, but hardly a skivvy and hardly one of your colour."

"Alright, that's it." Shareen growled, turning and making to advance on Joan, ready to knock the snooty matron's lights out.

Martha quickly stopped her. "Shareen, it's alright. I'll prove it." she said and turned to Joan. "Bones of the hand." She held up her left hand. "Carpal bones, proximal row; scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform. Distal row; trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate. Then the metecarpal bones extending in three distinct phalanges; proximal, middle distal." she listed off, pointing to each bone in question.

"Well? What d'ya think of that, Lady Muck?" Shareen smirked

"You read that in a book." Joan blustered

"Yes, to pass my exams." Martha laughed, "Can't you see this is true?"

Joan turned to Shareen. "And about you? What do you do?"

"Oh, this and that." Shareen shrugged. "I play football, I play music and I used to work in a department store."

Joan decided she'd heard enough. "I must go." she said, turning to leave.

"If we find that watch we can stop them." Martha told her

"Those boys are going to fight." Joan said. "I might not be a doctor, but I'm still a nurse. They need me." And she walked away, leaving Martha and Shareen alone in their futile search.

~8~

Joan had soon changed into her uniform and walked into a room where John was giving orders to some boys. "You're with Armitage and Thwaites." he told one, "They know the drill." He then noticed Joan. "Joan, it's not safe."

"I'm doing my duty, just as much as you." Joan told him briskly. "Fine evening we've had together."

"Not quite as planned." John agreed

"Tell me about Nottingham." Joan said suddenly.

"Sorry?"

"That's where you were brought up. Tell me about it.

"Well, it lies on the River Leen, it's southern boundary following the course of the River Trent which flows from Stoke to the River Humber." John recited factually.

"That sounds like an encyclopaedia." Joan remarked. "Where did you live?"

"Broadmoor Street, adjacent to Hotley Terrace in the district of Radford Parade."

"But more than facts." Joan pressed. "When you were a child, where did you play? All those secret little places... dens and hideaways that only a child knows? Tell me, John. Please tell me."

"How can you think I'm not real?" John stared, "When I kissed you, was that a lie?"

"No, it wasn't. No." Joan assured him

"But this Doctor sounds like some... some romantic lost prince. Would you rather that? Am I not enough?"

"No, that's not true. Never."

"I've got to go." John sighed, feeling crushed.

"Martha and Shareen were right about one thing, though. Those boys, they're children. John Smith wouldn't want them to fight, never mind the Doctor." Joan said. "The John Smith I was getting to know, he knows it's wrong, doesn't he?"

"Mr Smith, if you please." Mr Roscastle called from outside.

"What choice do I have?" John sighed regretfully.

~8~

When John stepped out into the courtyard, he found the boys at their guns and watching the main doors which were beginning to buckle, as if something was trying to force it's way through. "Stand to!" Mr Rocastle ordered and everyone took aim, including John.

"Enemy approaching, sir." a boy reported as the pounding on the doors continued.

"Steady. Find the biting point." Mr Rocastle continued to order. The wooden bar on the doors gave way and the doors burst open, allowing the scarecrows to gain entry. "Fire!" Mr Rocastle ordered

The boys opened fire and some of the scarecrows fell but more kept appearing to replace them. John didn't fire. As he looked around at the boys, he saw that they looked terrified and he just couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger. Every fibre of his being told him this was wrong.

"Cease fire!" Mr Rocastle ordered when the last scarecrow fell. He stepped forward to investigate the bodies. "Just straw." he noted, "Like he said, straw."

"Then no one's dead, sir?" Hutchinson asked John hopefully, "We killed no one?"

Before John could answer, everyone heard footsteps. "Stand to!" Mr Rocastle ordered, heading back behind the boys. Lucy Cartwright came out of the darkness. "You child, come out of the way." Mr Rocastle called to her, "Come into the school, we don't know who's out there." He began to walk towards her. "It's the Cartwright girl, isn't it? Come here, come to me."

"Mr Rocastle, please." Martha begged as she and Shareen ran outside, "Don't go near her."

"You were told to be quiet." Mr Rocastle sneered

"Oh, will you just shut up and listen, you idiot?!" Shareen snapped. "She's one of them! Look, you don't believe us? Ask the matron, she was there." She turned to Joan. "Oi, Lady Muck. Tell him."

"I think... I don't know. I think you should stay back, Headmaster." Joan said

Martha turned to John. "Mr Smith?"

"She was... She was with... With Baines in the village." John confirmed

"Mr Smith, I've seen many strange sights this night, but there is no cause on God's Earth that will allow me to see a child on the field of battle, sir." Mr Rocastle scoffed then turned back to Lucy. "Come with me."

"You're funny." Lucy remarked dryly

"That's right. Now take my hand."

"So funny." Lucy said, and promptly pulled out a gun which she used to vaporise the foolish headmaster. "Now who's going to shoot me?" she taunted the crowd, "Any of you? Really?"

"Put down your guns." John ordered, having seen enough mayhem this evening.

"But sir, the headmaster..." Hutchinson protested

"I'll not see this happen, not any more." John said firmly, "You will retreat. In an orderly fashion, back through the school. Hutchinson, lead the way."

"But sir..." Hutchinson continued to protest

"I said, lead the way." John ordered just as Baines walked into the courtyard.

"Go on, then. Run!" Baines smirked, firing his gun into the air, "Soldiers, reanimate." And the scarecrows came back to life.

"Come on!" Martha urged the boys, ushering them into the school while John, Shareen and Joan did the same before they all retreated themselves.

~8~

The boys ran through the school with the scarecrows in close pursuit. John, Joan, Shareen and Martha ushered the boys through a door into the stables. "Let's go! Quick as you can!" John urged

"Don't go to the village, it's not safe!" Martha added

"And you, ladies." John said, making to usher Joan, Shareen and Martha out.

"Not until we get the boys out." Joan told him

"Now, I insist." John said as the last of the boys went out, "The pair of you just go. If there are any more boys inside, I'll find them." He opened the door to the school, only to find scarecrows on the other side. He hastily slammed the door shut and bolted it locked. "I think... retreat." he urged, and he and the women made their escape.

~8~

The quartet crept crept through the woods outside the woods when they heard Clarke calling out in a sing-song voice: "Doctor!"

They peered through the trees to see Baines, Jenny, Clarke and a scarecrow standing in front of the TARDIS. Martha and Shareen paled. They both knew that the Family wouldn't be able to gain access to the box but it nonetheless made the situation more difficult.

"Come back, Doctor!" Clarke baited, "Come home. Come and claim your prize!"

"Out you come, Doctor!" Baines called, "There's a good boy. Come to the Family."

"Time to end it now!" Jenny added

Martha noticed John staring at the TARDIS. "You recognise her, don't you?" she said softly

"Come out, Doctor!" Jenny called, "Come to us!"

"I've never seen it in my life." John shook his head

"Liar." Shareen stated

"Do you remember her name?" Martha pushed John

"I'm sorry, John, but you wrote about it." Joan added. "The blue box. You dreamt of a blue box."

"I'm not..." John stammered, unable to comprehend how his dreams were somehow reality, "I'm John Smith. That's all I want to be, John Smith. With his life... and his job... and his love. Why can't I be John Smith? Isn't he a good man?"

"Yes, yes he is." Joan tried to sooth him

"No, he isn't." Shareen said abruptly, causing the others to stare at her.

"Shareen..." Martha began.

"John Smith is a sexist, misogynist dinosaur who thinks it's alright to treat women like dirt and get boys to fight his battles for him." Shareen said crossly. "Now the Doctor, he's no saint either, but he's the lesser evil compared to you."

An upset John ran off and Joan went after him. "Shareen..." Martha began

"Someone had to say it." Shareen defended

"Alright, we'll talk about it later." Martha said. "Come on, let's get after them." And they hurried off after John and Joan.

They caught up with them on a country lane on the outskirts of the village. Joan decided to take charge. "This way." she advised. "I think I know somewhere we can hide."

"We've got to keep going." John protested, wanting to get as far away from this madness as possible.

"Just listen to me for once, John. Follow me." Joan said and led them along a path.

~8~

Presently, the quartet arrived at a dark cottage. "Here we are." Joan said, panting heavily. "It should be empty. Oh, it's a long time since I've run that far."

"Welcome to our world." Shareen muttered

"Who lives here?" Martha wandered

"If I'm right, no one." Joan answered. She opened the front door and led them through the house and into the kitchen. "Hello?" Joan called, receiving no answer. "No one home. We should be safe here."

"Who's house is it, though?" Martha asked, seeing that the table was set for tea.

"Um, the Cartwrights." Joan replied. "That little girl at the school... she's Lucy Cartwright, or she's taken Lucy Cartwright's form. If she came home this afternoon and if the parents tried to stop their little girl, then they were vanished."

Shareen put her hand on the teapot on the table. "It's cold." she said gravely, realising that Joan was right and the Cartwrights had been murdered.

John sat down dejectedly on a chair, feeling as if he was carrying the whole weight of the world on his shoulders. "I must go to them." he sighed, "Before anyone else dies."

"You can't." Joan said, sitting beside him. "Martha, Shareen, there must be something we can do."

"Not without the watch." Martha shook her head.

"You're this Doctor's companions!" John snapped, glaring up at the two younger women. "Can't either of you help? Why does he need you two?"

Shareen promptly chucked the cold contents of the teapot at him. "Oi! Don't you dare try to blame us for this, you bastard!" she said fiercely. "If you hadn't have lost that watch, we could've sorted this out hours ago with no one dying!"

Just then, there was a knock at the door and Martha moved to investigate. "What if it's them?" Joan cautioned

"I'm not an expert, but I don't think scarecrows knock." Martha replied

She opened the door to find Latimer standing there. "I brought you this." he said, showing her the fob watch.

"Oh, I could kiss you, Tim!" Shareen laughed

Martha promptly took the watch and held it out in front of John. "Hold it." she told him.

"I won't." John protested, backing away.

"Oh, just do it, will ya?" Shareen snapped

"It told me to find you, it wants to be held." Latimer added

"You've had this watch all this time?" Joan asked Latimer. "Why didn't you return it?"

"Because it was waiting." Latimer replied. "And because I was scared of the Doctor."

"Why?"

"Because... I've seen him." Latimer replied, "He's like fire and ice and rage. He's the night and the storm in the heart of the sun."

"Stop it." John breathed

"He's ancient and forever." Latimer continued, "He burns at the centre of time and he can see the turn of the universe."

"Stop! I said stop." John blustered

"And he's wonderful." Latimer finished

"And an insufferable git at times." Shareen added. "Though right now, I'd welcome him back with open arms!"

Joan reached into her coat pocket and produced the journal. "I've still got this." she said.

"Those are just stories." John said, desperate to cling onto his life.

"Now we know that's not true." Joan told him, resigned to the truth. "Perhaps there's something in there we can..."

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion from somewhere nearby, causing the house to shake. "What the hell?" Martha stared, and they all looked out of the window to see what looked like meteorites falling to the ground.

"It's them. It's the Family!" Shareen realised, "They're gonna destroy the village to flush us out!"

"Watch." John said to Martha. She handed it over to him and he walked over to the other side of the room with the watch in his palm.

"Come closer." a voice whispered from within the watch.

"Can you hear it?" Latimer asked John

"I think he's asleep." John said, "Waiting to awaken."

"Why did he speak to me?" Latimer wandered

"Oh, low-level telepathic field." John said in the Doctor's voice, "You were born with it. Just an extra synaptic engram causing..." He gasped as he realised what he had just said. "Is that how he talks?"

"That's him!" Martha grinned, "All you have to do is open it and he's back."

"You knew this all along?!" John accused her, "And yet you watched while Nurse Redfern and I..."

"We didn't know how to stop you!" Martha shot back, "He gave us a list of things to watch out for but that wasn't included."

"Falling in love?" John stared, "That didn't even occur to him?"

"No."

"Then what sort of a man is that?! And now you expect me to die?!"

More explosions sounded from outside, rocking the house. "It was always going to end, though." Martha told John, "The Doctor said the Family's got a limited lifespan. That's why they need to consume a Time Lord. Otherwise, three months and they die. 'Like mayflies', the Doctor said."

"So your job was to execute me?!" John stared

"Oh, for God's sake, you're not real!" Shareen nearly exploded, fed up with John Smith. "You're just an alter ego the TARDIS made up so you could hide from the Family. So don't you try takin' the moral high ground with us!"

Yet another explosion sounded, this one much closer than the others. "They're getting closer." Latimer warned

"I should've thought of it before... I can give them this." John said, holding up the watch, "Just the watch. Then they can leave and I can stay as I am!"

"You can't do that!" Martha protested

"If they want the Doctor, they can have him." John insisted

"Over my dead body." Shareen glared

But John wouldn't give in. "If they get what they want, then.. then..."

"Then it all ends in destruction." Joan spoke up, having been reading through the journal while all the arguing had been going on. "I never read to the end but those creatures would live forever to breed and conquer. War across the stars... for every child." She could see that John was on the verge of tears. "Martha, Shareen, Timothy, would you all leave us alone, please?"

Martha, Shareen and Latimer all left the house. "Martha, you still got the sonic screwdriver?" Shareen asked once they were outside.

"Yeah, right here." Martha said, producing the device from her coat pocket. "Why?"

"Cos' I'm gonna go deal with those parasites." Shareen said

"You what?!" Martha stared

"Well, since John Smith's refusin' to help, someone's gotta be the Doctor." Shareen reasoned, taking the screwdriver.

"But they'll kill you!" Martha protested

"Yeah, I know but I've got no choice." Shareen said resignedly. "I don't particularly want to die in 1913 but I don't see any other way out of this."

"Then I'm coming with you." Martha said. "Maybe we'll survive if we go together."

"You've got ya family, Martha." Shareen told her. "They all care about you. I can't let you die here. I'll go myself. Ya never know, I might actually beat 'em!"

"Good luck." Martha said, horrified that Shareen had been driven to this but also impressed by her friend's selfless bravery.

~8~

Shareen arrived at Cooper's Field and held the sonic screwdriver out in front of her. She switched it on and the green outline of a spaceship appeared ahead. "Invisible ship, eh? Very clever." Shareen muttered and approached the ship. "Come on, then!" she called out, "I know ya in there! Open up!"

The outline of a hatch opening appeared and Shareen entered to find herself inside a room lit with creepy green lighting. Baines, Clarke, Jenny and Lucy were all waiting for her. "Well, well, if isn't Miss Costello." Baines smirked, "Come to teach me a lesson, Miss?"

"Oh, yes, a very good lesson." Shareen retorted. "I'm gonna teach you parasites what happens when ya mess with a London girl!"

The Family all laughed at her threat. "So feisty." Baines chortled. "And yet, so foolish. Do you really think you can stop us with that tiny sonic device? We are the Family of Blood. No one can stop us, least of all a silly Human child like you! Now watch as your primitive little world burns." He turned back to his accomplices. "We'll blast them into dust, then fuse the dust into glass, then shatter them all over again!" he crowed

Then, they heard a noise and looked round to see John stagger into the ship. "Just..." He clumsily leaned against a wall, accidentally knocking a few buttons. "Just stop the bombardment." he begged, "That's all I ask. I'll do anything you want, just... stop."

"Oh, you idiot!" Shareen growled

"Say please." Baines smirked

"Please." John pleaded

Jenny flipped a switch, stopping the bombardment, then she sniffed John. "Still Human." she noted

"And still stupid." Shareen scowled, fixing John with a death glare.

"Now, I can't pretend to understand, not for a second." John blustered, "But I want you to know, I'm innocent in all this. He made me John Smith. It's not like, I had any control over it." He accidentally hit more buttons.

"He didn't just make himself Human, he made himself an idiot." Jenny sneered

"Same thing, isn't it?" Baines smirked. "At least this one showed some promise." he remarked, casting a look at Shareen.

"I don't care about this Doctor, and your Family, I just want you to go." John whimpered, "So I've made my choice." And he held out the fob watch.

"Don't you dare!" Shareen glared

John ignored her. "You can have him. Just take it, please, take him away." he said to the Family.

"At last." Baines crowed, taking the watch, then grabbed John by the lapels. "Don't think that saved your life." he told him, then threw him aside, causing him to hit more buttons.

"Leave him to me." Shareen said. "I'll kill myself!"

Baines turned to his accomplices. "Family of mine... Now we shall have the lives of a Time Lord." He opened the watch and they all breathed in deeply. Nothing happened. "It's empty!" Baines snarled

"Wh.. Where's it gone?" John whimpered

"You tell me." Baines growled, tossing the watch back to him, which he caught single-handed.

"Oh, I think the explanation might be you've been fooled by a simple olfactory misdirection." the Doctor said as he got to his feet.

"Doctor..." Shareen stared, surprised and relieved at hearing that familiar voice.

"Little bit like ventriloquism of the nose." the Doctor continued. "It's an elementary trick in certain parts of the galaxy. But it has gotta be said..." He put on his glasses and eyes some gauges. "I don't like the look of that hydroconometre. It seems to be indicating you've got energy feedback all the way through the retro-stabilisers feeding back into the primary heat converter... ah." he hissed through his teeth, "Cos' there's one thing you shouldn't have done, you shouldn't have let me press all those buttons. But, in fairness, I will give ya one word of advice... run!" He grinned manically, grabbed Shareen by the arm and they both bolted from the ship.

"Get out! Get out!" Banes hollered, and the Family ran from the ship as alarm blared.

"Glad to have ya back, Peacock!" Shareen laughed as she and the Doctor ran to a safe distance across the field.

"Glad to be back." the Doctor replied. They then stopped and watched as the Family's ship exploded in a massive fireball, knocking the Family to the ground. They looked up to see the Doctor standing over them, an impassive impression on his face, but his eyes blazing in absolute fury.

~8~

"He never raised his voice." Baines recalled to himself in retrospect, "That was the worst thing. The fury of a Time Lord. And then we discovered why. Why this Doctor, who had fought with gods and demons, why he'd run from us and hidden. He was being kind."

~8~

Clarke fell to the floor in a dingy corridor, wrapped in chains. The Doctor stood behind, watching impassively. This was one of the excellent and endless series of punishments he'd devised for the Family.

"He wrapped my father in unbreakable chains, forged in the heart of a dwarf star."

~8~

The Doctor stood in the TARDIS, watching coldly as Jenny was pulled out of the doors and into a collapsing galaxy outside.

"He tricked my mother into the event horizon of a collapsing galaxy to be imprisoned there... Forever."

~8~

The Doctor walked into a room with an ornate mirror.

"He still visits my little sister once a year every year. I wonder if one day he might forgive her, but there she is... can you see?"

The Doctor looked into the mirror. In the reflection, there was a door cracked open behind him, and Lucy was peering through the crack.

"He trapped her inside a mirror, every mirror. If ever you look at your reflection and see something move behind you, just for a second, that's her. That's always her."

~8~

Baines was stood in a field, dressed as a scarecrow and that arrogant smirk permanently etched on his face.

"As for me, I was suspended in time. And the Doctor put me to work..."

The Doctor stood in front of Baines. He produced a sack from his coat pocket and placed it over Baines' head so that no one could see his arrogant face ever again.

"... standing over the fields of England... as their protector. We wanted to live forever, so the Doctor made sure that we did."

~8~

Next morning, Martha and Shareen were stood in front of the TARDIS which was parked in a field outside Farringham. Both women were back in 21st century clothing and were waiting for the Doctor to return from visiting Joan Redfern. Presently, the Time Lord approached, dressed in his trademark brown suit and coat. "Alright. Molto bene!" he said

"How was she?" Martha asked

"Time we moved on." the Doctor replied briskly

"If you want, I could go and..."

"Time we moved on." the Doctor repeated firmly.

"Well, before we go anyway..." Shareen began, "I've just got a little present for you, Peacock." And she slapped the Doctor hard across the face.

"What was that for?!" he squeaked indignantly

"That was for all the crap we've had to put up with for the past two months!" Shareen told him angrily.

"That wasn't me, that was John Smith!" the Doctor protested. "And the TARDIS chose 1913, not me!"

"It was your idea to become Human." Martha said briskly. "And the last two months have been the worst of my life. I mean, you were John Smith, the mighty teacher and I was just a skivvy." she said scornfully. "A black skivvy."

"Martha..." the Doctor began

"No, you don't get to excuse your way outta this, Peacock." Shareen said. "While you an' Lady Muck were gettin' all cosy, Martha here was being treated like dirt just cos' she was black! And you were in on it! Wasn't much easier for me either. I didn't get all the racism Martha got, but I had to listen to all those pompous twits banging on about how glorious war is and they wouldn't even let me join 'em in the staff room just cos' I'm a woman. And people say things were better in the old days? Huh, bullsh*t!"

"Alright, I'm sorry." the Doctor said. "I don't know why the TARDIS chose 1913 as the time to hide in, and I'm sorry you both had to put up with so much hardship. I'll make it up to you both, I promise."

"Yeah, well, you'd better." Shareen said

"And I never said thanks for lookin' after me." the Doctor continued

"Just don't make us do anything like that ever again." Martha said, and she and the Doctor hugged each other.

When they pulled apart, Shareen approached the Doctor. "Welcome back, Peacock." she said, patting his shoulder and smiling warmly at him.

Just then, Latimer came running up. "Doctor, Martha, Shareen." he called

"Tim-Timothy-Timber." the Doctor greeted in his usual cheerful way.

"I just wanted to say goodbye." Latimer said, "And thank you, because I've seen the future and I know now what must be done. It's coming, isn't it? The biggest war ever."

"You don't have to fight." Martha told him

"I think we do." Latimer replied

"No, you don't." Shareen said. "Remember the song I taught you? War is good for nothing."

"I understand, Miss, but I know my duty." Latimer said bravely. "Things might be different in your time, but here and now, I know what I have to do."

"But you could get hurt." Martha pointed out. She knew from history lessons at school just how terrible the First World War was and how many lives it claimed.

"Well, so could both of you, travelling around with him." Latimer countered, "But's it's not going to stop you both."

"Tim, I'd be honoured if you'd take this." the Doctor said, handing him the fob watch.

"I can't hear anything." Latimer said

"No, it's just a watch now." the Doctor told him, "But keep it with you. For good luck."

"Look after yourself." Martha piped in, hugging the boy.

"Good luck, Tim." Shareen finished, patting Latimer's shoulder.

The Doctor then unlocked the TARDIS' door and gestured for the women to get inside. "You'll like this bit." he said to Latimer then entered the box himself.

Latimer smiled as he watched the TARDIS dematerialise then he turned and walked away.

~8~

One night, right in the heat of the First World War, two British soldiers struggled through the mud of the trenches, bombs whistling overhead. Latimer opened the fob watch the Doctor had given him. "One minute past the hour." he noted, "It's now, Hutchinson, this is the time, it's now." He heard the whistling of a bomb coming straight for them. "To the right! To the right!" he urged and he and Hutchinson jumped into a muddy ditch just seconds before the bomb struck the spot where they'd just been. "We made it." Latimer smiled, "Thank you, Doctor. Come along, chap." he said to Hutchinson

"Leave me." Hutchinson groaned, having injured his leg during the jump, "I'm not gonna make it."

"Oh, yes you are." Latimer countered, "Didn't I promise you, all those years ago? Now, come on, and that's an order!" He helped Hutchinson up and they trudged off towards safety.

~8~

Both Latimer and Hutchinson survived the war, with Latimer being decorated for his heroics. He subsequently served in the Second World War too, earning himself further commendations. In his later life, Latimer retired to the village of Leadworth, Gloucestershire, where he regularly attended Remembrance Day services. During one such service, the now wheelchair-bound Latimer was listening to the female vicar read For the Fallen when he suddenly saw something in the corner of his eye. He turned to see the Doctor, Martha and Shareen standing there with poppies on their lapels. Latimer smiled at them and looked down at the watch in his hand.

Author's notes: And that's this two-parter wrapped up. I actually got this chapter finished pretty quickly which I'm pleased about. Incidentally, I've got some holiday from work coming up so I can hopefully get the next few chapters done pretty quickly. Regarding this chapter, Shareen's profanity meter is once again through the roof but given her personality that's only to be expected. I enjoyed writing her punching the headmaster and her and Martha confronting the Doctor over putting them both through that experience. The Doctor got off lightly with what he put Martha through so I wanted to address that. As I mentioned last chapter, we tend to gloss over the negative aspects of the past and look back with rose-tinted glasses. This two-parter didn't do that and instead painted a more cynical and accurate picture of 1913. It's one of it's strengths. To sum up, I hope you like this chapter and hope to see ya next time for an encounter with the dreaded Weeping Angels. Bye for now.