Thea slowly followed the Doctor as Amy eagerly dragged him up the stairs of the Musee D'Orsay and to the Vincent Van Gogh exhibit, far too excited to see the mans works as an older man in a bowtie discussed the painting to a small group.
"...months of his life were probably the most astonishing artistic outpouring in history. It was like Shakespeare knocking off Othello, Macbeth and King Lear over the summer hols." a few people in the group laughed, "And especially astonishing because Van Gogh did it with no hope of praise or reward. He is now..."
"Thanks for bringing me." Amy smiled at the Doctor.
"Surprisingly you're not the only Van Gogh fan." Thea gave a small laugh.
She had seen his artwork in the Academy back on Gallifrey, instantly drawn to his work, there was just something about it that she had been drawn too. It wasn't like the Mona Lisa that was just brown...and kind of evil. Van Goghs work just seemed to always make her smile. That and he was the first painter Clyde had introduced her too. As soon as she had shown interest in his art hobbies he had introduced her to as many Earth artists as he could, Van Gogh being the first. Maybe that her been her 'feelings' or whatever it was coming out all those centuries ago.
That honestly scared her.
"You're welcome." the Doctor replied.
"You're being so nice to me." Amy eyed him, "Why are you being so nice to me?"
"I'm always nice to you."
"Not like this. These places you're taking me. Arcadia, the Trojan Gardens, now this. I think it's suspicious."
"What?" he scoffed, "it's not. There's nothing to be suspicious about."
"She was joking." Thea mumbled, wandering off, seeing a painting catch her eye.
Amy nodded to her, looking at the Doctor, now a little suspicious, "Why aren't you?"
Instead of fumbling for an excuse he turned and wandered after Thea seeing her staring at 'The Chruch at Auvers', tilting her head at it.
He could admit he was being nicer to Amy after Rory died and was now forgotten, he couldn't help it. He often caught Amy staring, a sad look in her eyes, like she knew she was forgetting something, but didn't quite know what.
"Is this one your favourite?" he asked Thea quietly.
"I can believe its the actual one." Amy remarked, joining them before the painting, holding the guidebook up to compare.
"Yes." the Doctor agreed with a small smile, "You can almost feel his hand painting it right in front of you, carving the colours into shapes..."
"Creatures not from this world." Thea murmured.
"Yes..." the Doctor nodded before her words hit him, "what?"
Thea pointed to the corner window of the church, seeing a small dark creature painting it, its face snarling, "that."
"What?" Amy frowned, not seeing anything.
"There!"
The Doctor leaned closer, squinted at the creature, "Well, just look at that." he glanced at Thea, "was that a feeling?"
She shrugged, shifting from foot to foot, "maybe."
She couldn't be sure. She didn't know how it worked, she probably could have done if she hadn't spent most of her childhood pretending she didn't have these 'feelings.' It was like she was drawn to things that seemed wrong, the words just slipping past her tongue and she didn't even know half the time.
"Something very not good indeed."
"What thing very not good?" Amy frowned.
"There," Thea pointed again, "in the window of the church."
"Is it a face?"
"Yes." The Doctor nodded, "And not a nice face at all. I know evil when I see it and I see it in that window."
"How?" Thea called as he turned to speak with the tour guide.
He spun back to her, "sorry."
"Why you assume its evil by its looks? Do you know what it is?"
"Well...no, but..."
"Maybe its lost its way."
"No," he sighed, "you're right, I shouldn't assume, when I don't know what it is."
"Assumption makes as ass of you." she recited, getting a snort from Amy and odd look from the Doctor.
"Its a saying." Amy rolled her eyes at him.
"Right," the Doctor nodded slowly before making he way over to the tour guide in the bowtie, the girls following, "Excuse me. If I can just interrupt for one second." he held up the psychic paper, "Sorry, everyone. Routine inspection, Ministry of Art and Artiness. So, er..."
"Doctor Black." the man introduced.
"Yes, that's right. Do you know when that picture of the church was painted?"
"Ah, well, ah, well, what an interesting question. Most people imagine..."
"I'm going to have to hurry you. When was it?"
"Exactly?" he frowned.
"As exactly as you can. Without a long speech, if poss. I'm in a hurry."
"Well, in that case, probably somewhere between the 1st and 3rd of June."
"What year?"
"1890." Thea answered for him, holding up the guidebook, her finger under the date.
Dr Black nodded, "Less than a year before, before he killed himself."
"Thank you, sir." the Doctor smiled, "Very helpful indeed. Nice bow-tie." he learned closer to Thea and Amy, "Bow-ties are cool."
Thea rolled her eyes.
"Yours is very..." Dr Black started.
"Oh, thank you." the Doctor grinned, "Keep telling them stuff. We need to go."
"What about the other pictures?" Amy pouted as the Doctor pulled them out the room.
"Art can wait. This is life and death. We need to talk to Vincent Van Gogh."
"Which, to be fair, is much better." Thea remarked.
Amy couldn't really argue with that.
~.~
"June 1st, 1890." Thea commented as they stepped out the TARDIS in an alley way late at night.
"Right, after you." the Doctor gestured for her to lead the way.
She rolled her eyes at that. Since he found out about her Precognitive 'feelings' he started to try and get her following them more, despite she kept insisting they just came and she had no idea how to force them out (if she even could). She didn't know now if it was the right way but it was either one way on the other down the cobblestone path.
"So, here's the plan." the Doctor began as they walked, "We find Vincent and he leads us straight to the church and our nasty friend."
"Easy peasy." Amy nodded.
"Well, no. I suspect nothing will be easy with Mr Van Gogh. Now, he'll probably be in the local café. Sort of orangey light, chairs and tables outside."
Thea stopped, seeing the café a few feet before them. She looked at Amy, the girls eyes widening at the sight, looking at her guidebook seeing 'The Café Terrance on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night,' come to life right in front of them.
"Like this?" Amy held her book up to him.
He snapped his fingers, "that's the one."
"Or indeed like that." she lowered the book.
The Doctor laughed at the sight of the painting in realise before their eyes, "Yeah, exactly like that." he smiled at Thea, squeezing her shoulder as she led them to the café, "well done."
She opened her mouth to tell him that it hadn't been a 'feeling' or whatever it was, it had been a coincidence, walk one way or the other. She shut her mouth again, shaking her head. Honestly, was there really a point in telling him that?
"Good evening." the Doctor grinned, walking over to a member of staff wiping down a table, "Does the name Vincent Van Gogh ring a bell?"
"Don't mention that man to me." the man snapped and went back inside.
Thea frowned at his reaction, turning to the young waitress, "excuse me, do you know Vincent Van Gogh?"
"Unfortunately." she muttered.
"Unfortunately?" Amy blinked, not sure how anyone could find it unfortunate to meet the man.
"He's drunk, he's mad and he never pays his bills."
"Good painter, though, eh?" the Doctor smiled...only to get laughed at by everyone in the café.
The Doctor pouted, sitting down at an empty table.
"Come on!" a voice called inside the café, "Come on! One painting for one drink. That's not a bad deal." a man with orange hair was shoved out the door by the first man they spoke too, a canvas under his arm.
The trio shared excited looks as they realised exactly who the ginger man was.
"It wouldn't be a bad deal if the painting were any good." the man huffed, "I can't hang that up on my walls. It'd scare the customers half to death. It's bad enough having you in here in person, let alone looming over the customers day and night in a stupid hat. You pay money or you get out."
"I'll pay, if you like." the Doctor spoke up.
Thea snorted at that. He never had any money. He actually had a lot of money, thanks to UNIT, he was technically still on pay roll, not that he seemed aware of that, or the bank account the Brigadier had set up for him.
The man looked over at them, "What?"
"Well, if you like, I'll pay for the drink." the Doctor offered, "Or I'll pay for the painting and you can use the money to pay for the drink."
"Exactly who are you?" Vincent eyed them.
"Oh, we're new in town."
"Well, in that case, you don't know three things. One, I pay for my own drinks, thank you." he glared at the patrons as they laughed, all too aware he never paid for his drinks, "two, no one ever buys any of my paintings or they would be laughed out of town. So if you want to stay in town, I suggest you keep your cash to yourself. And three, your friend's cute, but you should keep your big nose out of other people's business. Come on, just one more drink. I'll pay tomorrow."
"No." the man refused.
"Or, on the other hand, slightly more compassionately, yes?"
"Or, on the other hand, to protect my business from madmen, no."
"Or...?"
"Oh look, just shut up, the pair of you." Amy huffed, stepping between them, looking at the owner, "I would like a bottle of wine, please, which I will then share with whomever," she gave Vincent a pointed look, "I choose."
"That could be good." Vincent nodded.
"That's good by me." the owner agreed.
"Good." Amy smiled heading inside, the owner following, stopping to shove the painting to Vincent before stepping inside after her.
Thea smiled seeing 'Self Portait with a Straw Hat' in Vincents arms as he turned to follow Amy inside, "if they had kids they'd be the ultimate ginge."
~.~
"That accent of yours." Vincent was saying as they sat at a table, the humans drinking their wine, while the Time Lords sat besides them, "you from Holland like me?"
"Yes." the Doctor answered at the same time as Amy, both with different answers, "No."
"She means yes." the Doctor continued, "So, start again. Hello, this is Thea."
"Hi." she smiled widely. Oh, Clyde would be so jealous.
"And I'm the Doctor."
"I knew it!" Vincent cried, jerking back as the Doctor reached to shake his hand.
"Sorry?"
"My brother's always sending doctors, but you won't be able to help."
"Not that kind of, doctor." Thea assured him. "he just likes to be called it," she leaned closer to him, whispering, just loud enough that the Doctor could still hear her, "thinks it makes him sound impressive."
The Doctor rolled his eyes as Vincent gave a small chuckle, spotting 'La Meridienne' besides the man, "that's incredible, don't you think, Amy?"
"Absolutely." she smiled at it, "One of my favourites.
"One of my favourite what's?" Vincent frowned, "You've never seen my work before."
"Ah yes. One of my favourite paintings that I've ever seen, generally." she quickly corrected.
"Then you can't have seen many paintings, then. I know it's terrible."
"I think its lovely." Thea commented.
He smiled at her in thanks, reaching and patting the back of her hand, "It's the best I can do." he looked across the table at Amy, "your hair's orange."
Amy leaned in, "Yes. So's yours."
"Yes. It was more orange, but now is, of course, less."
"My hair is red." Thea cut into what she assumed was Vincent's bad attempt of flirting. She couldn't be sure.
"So. Er, Vincent, painted any churches recently?" the Doctor asked him, "Any churchy plans? Are churches, chapels, religiousy stuff like that, something you'd like to get into? You know, fairly soon?"
"Well, there is one church I'm thinking of painting when the weather is right..."
"That is very good news."
"Maybe the weather will be perfect for it in the next few days." Thea murmured, only to frown, glancing down the ally.
"Everything alright?" the Doctor asked her.
Before she could answer an older woman came running over, screaming, "She's been murdered! Help me!"
"That, on the other hand, isn't quite such good news. Come on, Thea, Amy, Vincent!" he jumped up, running down the ally to see the body of a young woman laying on the cobblestones, a group of locals already gathered.
"She's been ripped to shreds!" a man gasped.
"Please, let me look." the Doctor forced his way through the crowd to knee besides the body, "I'm a doctor."
"Who is it?" another woman tried to look.
"Oh no, no, no." the Doctor breathed as he and Vincent knelt besides the body, Thea and Amy standing before the crowd.
"Is she dead?" another man asked.
A woman shoved her way through the crowd, "Away, all of you vultures. This is my daughter. Giselle!" she dropped to her knees, caressing the young womans face, "What monster could have done this? Get away from her!"
The Doctor and Vincent backed away, "Okay, okay."
She glared at Vincent, "Get that madman out of here!" she picked up a people throwing it at him, "You bring this on us. Your madness! You!"
The rest of the crowd followed her lead, throwing stones at the group, all of them blaming Vincent for the death, forcing them to run down the alley away from them.
"Vincent, are you all right?" Thea asked him as they stopped to catch their breath.
"Yes, I'm used to it." he waved her off.
"Has anything like this murder happened here before?" the Doctor looked at him.
"Only a week ago. It's a terrible time."
"As I thought. As I thought." he mumbled, "Come on, we'd better get you home."
"Where are you staying tonight?" Vincent asked them.
"Oh, you're very kind." the Doctor patted his back, as though he had offered them to spend the night.
~.~
"Dark night." the Doctor remarked as Vincent led them down to his cottage, "very starry."
"It's not much." Vincent sighed, "I live on my own. But you should be okay for one night. One night."
"One night is enough." Thea mock saluted, waiting until he turned his back to her and snapping a photo of him before his cottage.
"We're going to stay with him?" Amy whispered
"Until he paints that church." the Doctor nodded.
Vincent lit a lamp, removing his hat and hanging it up as he pushed open the door "Watch out. That one's wet."
"What?" Amy turned to see 'Bedroom in Arles' drying behind her.
"Sorry about all the clutter."
"Some clutter." the Doctor breathed.
"I've come to accept the only person who's going to love my paintings is me."
"I love them." Thea called, "you can see how much love you've put into every stroke, I mean...such dedication."
"Wow." Amy gaped, catching sight of all the painting around the place, "I mean, really. Wow."
The Doctor examined the paintings near him, 'Blossoming Almond Tree,' and 'Prisoners Exercising (after dore)'
"Yeah, I know it's a mess." Vincent sighed, disappearing into the small kitchen area, "I'll have a proper clear out. I must, I really must." he called back through the doorway, "Coffee, anyone?"
"No thank you." Thea murmured, looking in awe at the paintings. She and coffee didn't mix, the caffeine just went straight to her head, and at this time of night she didn't want to be the reason Amy or Vincent didn't sleep.
"Not for me, actually." the Doctor agreed.
Vincent set down the coffee pot on a painting 'Still Life: Basket with Six Oranges.' Thea gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
"You know, you should be careful with these." the Doctor commented as Vincent wiped the coffee ring away, "They're precious."
"Precious to me." he muttered, "Not precious to anyone else."
"They're precious to me." Amy called, moving to the doorway.
"Well, you're very kind." he smiled at her, "And kindness is most welcome."
"Right, so, this church, then." the Doctor began, "Near here, is it?"
"What is it with you and the church?"
"Oh, just casually interested in it, you know."
"Far from casual. It seems to me you never talk about anything else. He's a strange one."
"Oh, big time." Thea agreed.
"Oi!" he pouted, poking her side. "I'm perfectly normal, I'll have you know."
"You're a madman."
"Okay, so, let's talk about you then." the Doctor turned to Vincent, "What are you interested in?"
"Well, look around." he gestured, "Art. It seems to me there's so much more to the world than the average eye is allowed to see. I believe, if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe than you could ever have dreamed of."
"Oh, I completely agree," Thea nodded eagerly.
~.~
Thea smiled as she looked at the painting drying outside in the open air, just admiring them with Amy as the Doctor stayed inside with Vincent, probably trying to get anything more about that church.
"So," Amy began as she admired the paintings, "what's with your little offhanded comments?"
"What?" Thea looked over at her.
"Oh, come on." she scoffed, "how many times have you said things that turn out to be true."
"Often enough." she murmured.
"Is it like some weird Time Lord thing? Where you know something that's going to happen?"
"I'm, um..." She rubbed her arm, she didn't like telling many people mostly because she never knew how people would react, some thought of her abilities as weapons while overs usually just laughed and didn't believe her.
"You do it a lot." Amy looked over at her, oblivious to her discomfort, "say things and they turn out to be correct or someone then says the exact same thing a bit later."
"I, um..." she rubbed her arms feeling the hairs starting to stand up, "I'm precognitive."
"What like psychic?" Amy frowned.
She didn't replied, instead shoving the woman aside, right as she was sent flying backwards, landing with a grunt, the wind knocked out of her.
Amy screamed for the Doctor and instantly both men were running outside, the Doctor dropping to Theas side as she groaned.
"Thea, are you alright?" the Doctor asked, cupping her face in his hands, "what happened?"
"We were just looking at the paintings and talking," Amy replied, "then she pushed me to the ground and went flying!"
"Its ok," the Doctor told her, "are you alright? Whatever it was, its gone now."
"No." Thea mumbled.
"No, you're not alright, or..."
"No, I just..." she shook her head, "felt like something bad was going to happen." The feeling of being watched. "I don't think its gone." she said instead. They had been talking and next thing she knew, she was running and shoving Amy out the way, taking the hit from whatever it was, herself.
Vincent looked around, feeling the same, his eye widening, staring at something, "No!" he shouted, backing away in fear.
"Take it easy." the Doctor called, holding his hands up, "Take it easy!"
"What's happening?" Amy asked quietly, seeing Vincent growing frantic and seemingly nothing, "What's he doing?"
Vincent picked up a pitchfork, holding it like a weapon, right at them.
"I don't know." the Doctor frowned when, with a cry, Vincent ran right at them, "Oh, dear." he quickly pushed the girls aside as Vincent ran past them.
"Run!" Vincent cried, "Run!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." he nodded, "That's not a bad idea. Amy, watch her," Amy pulled Thea back, despite having no clue what was happening, "He's having some kind of fit. I'll try to calm him down."
"No..." Thea muttered, as Vincent swung the pitchfork around, jabbing it at something that wasn't there, "its not..."
"Easy, Vincent, easy." the Doctor moved in front of him, "Look. Look, look, look. It's me, it's me, it's me. It's the Doctor, look. No-one else is here. So, Vincent..."
"Look out!" Vincent shouted.
"On you're left!" Thea cried...when like herself, the Doctor went flying.
"You really are psychic?" Amy breathed as she looked at Thea. The girl had warned the Doctor and if he had moved it time he wouldn't have been hit.
A roar sounded and three claw marks were dragged down a painting by the girls.
"I can't see anything." Amy cried, "What is it?"
"That is a good question." The Doctor jumped back to his feet, grabbing a stick to help Vincent, who apparently could see whatever was attacking, "Let me help you."
"You can see him, too?" Vincent turned to him.
But the Doctor ran to the other end of the yard, "Yes. Ish. Well, no. Not really."
The creature roared again and he was sent flying over a table, landing by Vincents feet.
"You couldn't see him?" Vincent looked down at him.
"No," he groaned, "Oi!" he got back to his feet again, swinging his stick around.
"No!" Thea shouted, running over as Vincent seemed to hit the creature as it let out a snarl, but retreating through the trees if the rustling was anything to go by.
"He's gone." Vincent breathed, glancing at the Doctor as he continued to swing the stick around.
"Oh, right." he nodded, tossing the stick away, "Yes. Of course. Back inside everyone," he called, turning to Thea as she stared in the direction the creature had run off, "do you think it'll come back?" he asked quietly.
She frowned, "not here."
He nodded at that, hearing between the lines, she didn't think whatever it was would return to the cottage, which meant they'd be safe for the night, but it was still lurking around and they would find it again.
~.~
"Right." The Doctor sat in a chair, running his hands through his hair, "So he's invisible."
"To most people. If you could draw it, it might help identify what species it is." Thea turned to Vincent.
The Doctor snapped his fingers at her, recalling something he had in the TARDIS which would help with that.
"I can do that." Vincent grabbed a painting of Ires and began painting over it with white paint.
"Oh, no, no!" the Doctor cried as Amy gasped.
"What?"
"That was beautiful." Thea told him.
"You liked that?" he scoffed.
"So much." she sighed, "never mind," she flashed a bright smile, "you'll just have to paint something even better."
It was heartsbreaking at how little he seemed to care about his paintings, he claimed he loved them so, but she could tell the jeers of the locals really got to him. He believed them that his art wasn't good enough.
It reminded her of Clyde a bit, he was embarrassed by his art, never wanting to share because he didn't think it was good enough. And yet his art work had saved the world once already and he would be a world known comic book artist. She had to keep encouraging him.
Vincent nodded, touched that she really did like his work and got to work quickly and roughly sketching in charcoal before holding it up for them to see. It was rather like a bird, with reptilian skin, with talons and claws.
"Okay. Right." the Doctor blinked, not recognising whatever it was, "Amy, make Mr Van Gogh comfortable. Don't let any invisible monsters in through the front door."
Amy stood up, "But it could be outside, waiting."
"Well, don't worry. I'll risk it. What's the worst that can happen?"
"You could get torn into pieces by a monster you can't see."
"Oh right, yes, that. Don't worry, Thea and I will have each others back, won't we?"
She bit her lip at his unspoken words. He was relying on her to know if the creature was going to be lurking around the corner. "of course."
"You mean she'll see it coming?" Amy guessed.
"Ah." the Doctor blinked, realising what the two had been talking about in the garden.
"Hopefully." Thea said.
"And we'll be back before you can say where have they got to now?" they headed out the door, the Doctor poking his head back through the door, "Not that fast!" Amy jumped, "But pretty fast. See you around."
"Come on." Thea huffed, pulling him along.
They stepped out the cottage, hearing a faint growling before walking off quickly back to the TARDIS.
"is it here?" the Doctor whispered as Thea paused down the alley where the TARDIS was parked.
"I don't..." she frowned, closing her eyes, trying to get a sense. These 'feelings' just came naturally, having him constantly asking what she felt was utterly useless, "no." she shook her head, glancing back as the Doctor unlocked the doors and hurried over to a chest in the back as Thea shut the doors behind her, unable to shake the feeling the creature was watching them.
"Right. You in here somewhere?" the Doctor mumbled, shifting through the chest, tossing things aside, "I can't apologise enough. I thought you were just a useless gadget. I thought you were just an embarrassing present from a dull godmother with two heads and bad breath. Twice. How wrong can a man be? Ha, ha!" he announced, pulling out a large harnessed device, with a mirror, he slipped it over his chest and connecting it to the console, sticking his tongue out at the mirror.
The device dinged, the TARDIS printing out his different regenerations in order, naming his species and planet of origin.
"Surprised it still works considering you've just dumped it with all this junk." Thea remarked, packing up the items that he had thrown aside and putting them back in the chest.
"Hey!" he pointed warningly at her.
"So you're a hoarder?"
"Just...shh. Now, see what you make of this. Who is that?" he held up the sketch from Vincent.
"A parrot?" Thea raised her eyebrows at the picture it showed.
"No, we know it's not that. There are thousands of them and you can see them plain as day..."
"Not a polar bear either..." Thea eyed the picture shown.
"No. Definitely not." the Doctor agreed, "This is the problem with the impressionists. Not accurate enough. This would never happen with Gainsborough or one of those proper painters. Sorry, Vincent. You will just have to draw something better."
~.~
Thea followed the Doctor of the TARDIS the next morning having thought better than heading back to Vincents in the dark with an invisible creature lurking around. She stiffened, rubbing her arms, unable to shake the feeling of being watched, which could only mean one thing...the creature was watching them, and likely had been all night.
The Doctor readjusted the mirror on the device he still had on, "That's better, old girl." the Doctor didn't notice the creature appear in the mirror as the device dinged, "Time delay, but you always get it right in the end. Good. Let's find out who this is, then." the device displayed the results.
"Oh, no wonder you lashed out." Thea breathed at the results, feeling sorry for the creature. "poor things."
"You brutal, murderous, abandoned thing." the Doctor corrected, "I hope we meet again soon so I can take you home."
"Why would you say that?" Thea huffed.
"is it near?" he glanced at her, wondering if that was a feeling that they would see it soon.
She sighed, shrugging as the Doctor looked back in the mirror to see the creature behind them.
Thea grabbed his hand and they took off down the alley, the Doctor knocking over tables to try to slow it down as they ran, stopping round a corner to catch their breath, able to hear the creature turning away from them.
"I think he's gone." Thea breathed.
"Yeah," he nodded, "come along, kiddo." he turned round the corner only to see Amy standing there, startling each other. "Never do that!" he shouted, "You scared the living daylights out of me."
"Sorry, I got bored." Amy huffed, "As much as you admire his command of colour and shape, it is hard to get fond of Vincent Van Gogh's snoring."
~.~
"That's him," Vincent nodded looking at the print out if the creature later that morning. "And the eyes, without mercy "
Amy had not been wrong about the mans snoring, they had opened the door and could hear him snoring away in his bedroom. the Doctor happily waking him up and letting the sunshine in.
"This is a creature called the Krafayis." the Doctor explained, "They travel in space. They travel as a pack, scavenging across the universe. And sometimes one of them gets left behind. And because they are a brutal race, the others never come back. So, dotted all around the universe are individual, utterly merciless, utterly abandoned Krafayis. And what they do is, well, kill, until they're killed."
"Which isn't often," Thea added, "seeing as others can't see them."
"But I can." Vincent frowned.
"Yes," the Doctor nodded, "And that's why we are in a unique position today, my friend, to end this reign of terror. So, feeling like painting the church today?"
"What about the monster?"
"Take my word for it. If you paint it, he will come."
"Okay." he stood, "I'll get my things."
"When you're ready." Thea called.
"And I promise you, we'll be out of your hair by this time tomorrow." the Doctor said, Vincent paused at the doorway, looking at Amy for a moment. "This is risky." he sighed.
"Riskier than normal?" Amy raised her eyebrows at that.
"If we're not careful we could get Vincent killed in the middle of his greatest year of painting." Thea told her, once sure Vincent couldnt hear, "half of his artwork will never have been created."
The Doctor sighed, sitting down, "And it will be our fault."
~.~
Thea slowly moved up the stairs after the Doctor had gone to check on Vincent, the man having taken far too long to gather his supplies. The Doctor just standing against the railing.
She winced at the painful sobs on the other side. She knew those tears, the ones that just came for no reason, right in the middle of a good time and they just kept coming until you had no tears left to try and you just laid there, unable to move, eyes red and puffy, too tired to even sleep the sadness away, just staring at nothingness until the feeling went away again and you soldiered on for another day.
"Are we leaving?" she called softly.
"Yeah," he nodded, swallowing, "everyone knows he's a delicate man. Just months from now he'll...he'll take his own life." he pushed away from the railing and headed down the stairs.
"Don't say that." Amy begged, "Please."
Thea took one last look at the door to Vincents room, biting her lip, wanting to try and offer him some comfort, but ultimately, she knew there wasn't anything she could say to him to get him out of bed. She sighed, following the Doctor and Amy down stairs, where they were taking a final look of the painting.
"Come on." the Doctor looked up as she joined them, "We have to do this on our own. Go to the church at the right time and hope the monster still turns up."
"I'm ready." a voice spoke behind them and they turned to see Vincent in his hat and coat, supplies in hand, "Let's go."
~.~
Amy walked besides Vincent, her arm tucked through his, a blank canvas under her free arm. Vincent had his easel and paint palette in his other arm. The Time Lords walking behind them.
"I'm sorry you're so sad." Amy spoke quietly to Vincent.
"But I'm not." he smiled at her, "Sometimes these moods torture me for weeks, for months. But I'm good now. If Amy Pond can soldier on, then so can Vincent Van Gogh."
"I'm not soldiering on. I'm fine."
"Oh, Amy. I hear the song of your sadness. You've lost someone, I think." he glanced back, "you all have."
"Yeah." Thea agreed quietly.
She and the Doctor never spoke about the ones they lost. But she carried them with her, everyday, soldiering on and living her life, hoping she would make them proud.
They couldn't continue so she would for them.
"I'm not sad." Amy shook her head, unable to bring herself to say she hadn't lost anyone.
"They why are you crying?" he resorted. Amy reached up and touch her cheek, finding she was crying and hadn't noticed, "It's all right. I understand."
"I'm not sure I do."
"Okay. Okay." the Doctor cut in, "So, now, we must have a plan. When the creature returns..."
"Then we shall fight him again." Vincent determined.
"Yeah," Thea agreed, "but not kill him."
"Yes," the Doctor pointed at her, "last night we were lucky. Thea could have been killed. So this time, for a start, we have to make sure I can see him too."
"And how are we meant to do that, suddenly?" Amy asked.
"The answer's in this box." He tapped the box he carried, holding the device from earlier, "I had an excellent, if smelly, godmother."
"Oh no," Vincent murmured, seeing a funeral in procession heading g their way, sunflowers on the coffin, "it's that poor girl from the village."
They stepped aside, standing respectfully as they passed, Vincent taking of his hat as the mother glared at him but didn't speak.
"You do have a plan, don't you?" Amy looked at the Doctor once they'd passed
"No. It's a thing." he corrected, walking off again, "It's like a plan, but with more greatness."
"More danger too." Thea had to point out.
~.~
It had been quite the morning watching Vincent painting the church all the while the Doctor seemed to be going mad as time passed 'slowly and in the right order'. He hadn't stopped talking about the various other painters he had met, how he helped influence them and save them from danger. It wasn't as interesting as he thought as both Thea and Amy kept shushing him, admiring Vincent as he worked.
As darkness fell, Vincent called out, "There, he's at the window."
"On the right?" Thea wondered aloud, recalling where it had been painted.
"Yeah."
"As I thought." the Doctor nodded, picking up his case, "Thea with me. We're going in."
"Well I'm coming too." Vincent determined.
"No! You're Vincent Van Gogh. No."
"But you're not armed."
"Yes, we are." Thea countered.
"What with?"
"Overconfidence and this," the Doctor tapped the case, "a small screwdriver, and Theas remarkable brain. I'm absolutely sorted. Just have to find the right crosactic setting and stun him with it. Sonic never fails."
"unless wood is involved." Thea reminded him.
"Anyway, Amy, only one thought, one simple instruction. Don't follow us under any circumstances."
"I won't." Amy huffed.
The Doctor gave her a thumbs up and the two hurried into the church, pausing at the door as the Doctor removed the device from the case and put it on.
Thea glanced back to Amy and Vincent, "she's going to follow."
"Oh, I know." the Doctor nodded before holding up a finger as they slowly and cautiously stepped into the church.
The creature growled.
"Stay behind me," the Doctor murmured, nudging Thea behind his back as she rolled her eyes, glancing around the room trying to sense the Krafayis as they moved to the window Vincent saw it at, but it didn't show up in the mirror, "Damn, he's moved." he muttered.
Theas eyes widened as she knocked the Doctor to the floor, both feeling the whoosh of air before them as the Krafayis tried to attack.
"Thanks for that." the Doctor breathed.
"No problem." Thea returned, distracted, trying to get a sense of where it was now, where it would next attack?
She spun to the main doors.
"Doctor!" Amy burst in.
The Doctor shouted, startled, "Argh! I thought I told you...never mind. We'll talk about it later. Quick, in here." he pushed them both into a confessional, booth as he went in the other side. "Absolutely quiet." they fell silent hearing the Krafayis prowling outside, "Can you breath a little quieter, please?"
"No." Amy hissed, "he's gone past..."
Thea shook her head, "no..."
The Krafayis swiped at their side, causing Amy to scream before swiping their side.
"That is impressive hearing he's got." the Doctor murmured.
"Why is his hearing so good?" Thea wondered.
"What's less impressive are our chances of survival."
"Hey! Are you looking for me, sonny?" they heard Vincent shout and the Krafayis turned away, "Come on, over here. Because I'm right here waiting for you."
They ran out the booths to see Vincent standing there, his stool out before him to keep the creature back, "Come on. Quickly. Get behind me."
They quickly ran behind him, the Doctor getting his sonic out in the direction Vincent was looking, "Doing anything?" they back out the room as Vincent held the chair out, "Where is he?"
"Where do you think he is, you idiot? Use your head."
"Anything?" the Doctor changed the settings on the sonic.
"Nothing. In fact, he seemed to rather enjoy it. Duck!" he called as they were forced apart, "Left."
"Right!" Thea corrected as the Doctor moved to the left only to get swatted against the wall.
"Right, sorry." Vincent winced, "your right, my left." he moved to stand defensively before them as Amy and Thea ran to his side.
"This is no good at all." the Doctor muttered, "run like crazy and regroup."
"Oh, come on, in here!" Amy shouted, leading them into another room. They tried to shut the door but it wouldn't close all the say, the Krafayis blocking it until Vincent stamped on its foot and it pulled bsck and the quickly slammed the door.
"Right. Okay. Here's the plan. Thea, Amy, Rory."
"Vincent." Thea corrected quickly.
Amy gave the Doctor a look, "Who?"
"Sorry." the Doctor winced, "er, Vincent."
"What is the plan?"
"I don't know, actually. My only definite plan is that in future I'm definitely just using this screwdriver for screwing in screws."
"No you won't," Thea countered.
"Give me a second!" Vincent shouted, rushing off, "I'll be back."
"We could talk to him."
"Talking to him?" Amy scoffed.
"Well, yes." the Doctor agreed, "Might be interesting to know his side of the story. Yes, though maybe he's not really in the mood for conversation right at this precise moment." the Krafayis banged on the door.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Thea countered.
"We could die!" Amy exclaimed.
"Well, no harm trying. Listen. Listen!" the growling stopped as the Doctor spoke to the Krafayis, "I know you can understand me, even though I know you won't understand why you can understand me. I also know that no one's talked to you for a pretty long stretch, but please, listen. Thea and I also don't belong on this planet. We are also alone. If you trust me, I'm sure we can come to some kind of, you know, understanding. And then, and then, who knows?"
"I didn't think he's there now." Thea murmured...when the window behind them smashed, the creature growling as it jumped in.
"Over here, mate!" Vincent shouted, rushing back in the room, his easel in hand.
The Doctor urged Thea and Amy behind Vincent, "What's it up to now?"
"It's moving round the room." he warned, backing them up to a sarcophagus for move cover, "Feeling its way around."
"He's what?" Thea frowned. Something about that didn't sit right with her.
"It's like it's trapped. It's moving round the edges of the room."
"I can't see a thing." Amy commented.
"Why is he feeling around the room?" Thea shook her head, "why not go out the door or the window he smashed...unless..." her eyes widened.
"I am really stupid." the Doctor groaned, realising the same thing.
"Oh, get a grip!" Amy rolled her eyes, "this is not a moment to re-evaluate your self-esteem."
"No, I am really stupid, and I'm growing old. Why does it attack but never eat its victims?"
"And why was it abandoned by its pack and left here to die?" Thea added.
"And why is it feeling its way helplessly around the walls of the room?"
"He can't see."
"It's blind. Yes, and that explains why it has such perfect hearing!"
"Which unfortunately also explains why it is now turning around and heading straight for us." Vincent cut in.
"Don't hurt him!" Thea called.
"Vincent, what's happening?" the Doctor asked as the man didn't back down.
"It's charging now." he replied, "Get back. Get back!"
"No, don't!" Thea jumped out from the sarcophagus, standing in front of Vincent.
"Thea!" the Doctor yelled as she stood right in front of the charging alien.
"Easy!" she held her hands up to show she meant him no harm, "calm down, now. We won't hurt you!" Vincents eyes widened as it came to a halt before her, "that's it! Good boy!" she reached out until she hit the creature, feeling his breath on her hand, "we will take you home, would you like that?"
Vincent blinked as the creature sat down before her with a thud, "it sat down." he realised just how scared the creature seemed to be, "he wasn't without mercy, he was without sight."
"He's far away from home with no one and he can't see." Thea murmured, stroking him, "he's scared and alone, but its alright now. I'm Thea and I'll call you...Geoff." she giggled as it snorted into her hand, "yeah, it suits you."
The Doctor smiled at Thea as she managed to calm the creature and stop it from attacking, saving Vincent from harming it. She reminded him of his youngest daughter. She had been quite the animal enthusiast. Always bringing home sick strays that always ended up lashing out at him but she had always calmed and soothed them and made them feel better.
The Doctor slowly walked over, reaching out to the alien as he calmed down, "there there, we'll take you home."
"He was frightened and I almost..." Vincent swallowed hard, "he lashed out. Like humans who lash out when they're frightened. Like the villagers who scream at me. Like the children who thrown stones at me."
Thea smiled over at him, "he says he's sorry he scared you, but you also scared him and please, put the easel down."
Vincent did so, "but...if you hadn't...I would have killed him." he breathed.
"But you didn't and he's alright."
"It looks like you're petting air." Amy commented.
"Come and say hello." the Doctor tugged her over to stroke the Krafayis herself.
~.~
Thea and the Doctor headed over to the field where Amy and Vincent were lying, looking up at the stars. They had taken the Krafayis home, seemed he did quite like Thea calling him Geoff and insisted to be called it. Barely two minutes had gone by as Thea helped the Doctor pilot the return trip, having been keeping Geoff calm on the way back home.
Animals and creatures just seemed to love her, she just had their way with her. The Doctor guessed it was because she didn't judge their characters. She hadn't automatically assumed he was evil because of how her looked. She had risked her safety just to try and help and despite how much his hearts had raced seeing her taking that risk, it worked out in the end.
Vincent beckoned them to join them and they laid down, Thea and Amy besides Vincent, taking his hands, the girls taking the Doctors, "Try to see what I see." he murmured, staring at the night sky, "We are so lucky we are still alive to see this beautiful world. Look at the sky. It's not dark and black and without character. The black is in fact deep blue," he pointed with Theas hand, "And over there, lighter blue." he let go of Amys hand to swipe across the sky, painting the image for them, "And blowing through the blueness and the blackness, the wind swirling through the air and then, shining, burning, bursting through, the stars. Can you see how they roar their light? Everywhere we look, the complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes."
Thea smiled able to see his envision of 'Starry Night.' It really was quite beautiful.
"I've seen many things, my friend." the Doctor smiled, "But you're right. Nothing quite as wonderful as the things you see."
Vincent sighed, taking Amy's hand back, "I will miss you terribly."
"I only wish I had something of real value to give you." Vincent sighed the next morning as he handed the Doctor his 'Self Portrait in a Straw Hat.'
"Oh, no, no, no." the Doctor shook his head, "I could never accept such an extraordinary gift."
"Very well. You're not the first to decline the offer. Amy, the blessed, the wonderful." he moved to hug her.
She kissed his cheek, "Be good to yourself, and be kind to yourself.
"I'll try my best."
"And maybe give the beard a little trim before you next kiss someone." she laughed, rubbing her cheek where his beard tickled her.
"I will, I will." he chuckled, "And if you tire of this Doctor of yours, return, and we will have children by the dozen."
"Eek!"
"Doctor, my friend." he shook the mans hand, "We have fought monsters together and we have won. On my own, I fear I may not do as well."
The Doctor hugged him tightly, patting his back.
"And Thea," he hugged her tightly, "thank you."
"Make the good days count." she whispered, knowing that no matter what, the man would take his own life. Nothing they could do would be able to change that. She looked at the Doctor over the mans shoulder as he gave a small nod and Thea pulled back to look at Vincent, "there's something we want to show you."
~.~
"Now, you know we've had quite a few chats about the possibility there might be more to life than normal people imagine?" the Doctor spoke as they led Vincent to the TARDIS, sighing as they saw the box covered with posters which he began to tear away to reach the handles and key hole.
"Yes." Vincent answered.
"Well, brace yourself, Vinny." he unlocked the doors, pushing them open and stepping aside the allow Vincent inside.
Vincent stepped inside, his eyes widening at the sight before stepping back out, circling the box in amazement, before going inside again, "How come I'm the crazy one, and you three have stayed sane?"
"I don't we have entirely stayed sane." Thea followed him to the console, "just...a different kind of insanity."
"What do these things all do?" he asked.
"Oh, a huge variety of things." the Doctor grinned, bouncing over as Amy shut the door behind her, "This one here, for instance, plays soothing music." he turned and knob and gently music played and he failed to slow dance by himself.
"This one makes a huge amount of noise." Thea added, pulling a lever and the TARDIS engines started up.
"And this one makes everything go absolutely tonto." the Doctor laughed as the room jerked as they took off with Vincent none the wiser.
"And this one?" Vincent pointed to a switch.
"That's a friction contrafibulator!" Thea cheered.
"And this?"
"That's ketchup." the Doctor said, "And that one's mustard."
"Mmm, nice. Come on, back to the café and you can tell me about all the wonders of the universe."
"Good idea. Although, actually, there's a little something I'd like to show you first."
The TARDIS materialised in Paris 2010 AD, before the Musee D'Orsay, the Doctor, Thea and Amy stepping out before Vincent.
"Where are we?" he asked, looking around in wonder.
"Paris, 2010 AD." the Doctor told him, "and this is the mighty Musee D'Orsay, home to many of the greatest paintings in history." he gestured to the museum across the street.
"Oh, that's wonderful." he breathed.
Two young boys walked past with portable electronics as Vincent stared at that.
"Ignore that." Thea laughed, "what you're about to see is so much better. Come on." she rushed on ahead.
Amy linked her arm though Vincent's as the Doctor followed, passing the Monets and Robinson, the Doctor tugging Vincent after them as she stopped at a painting of water lollies until they reached the Van Gogh exhibit.
Vincent stopped and started she his paintings displayed as famous pieces of art and people actually enjoying them.
"Dr Black," the Doctor walked over to the man speaking to another tour group, "we met a few days ago. I asked you about the church at Auvers."
"Oh, yes." he nodded, "Glad to be of help. You were nice about my tie."
Thea gestured for Amy to bring Vincent over, just knowing he would love what Dr Black had to say.
"Yes. And today is another cracker if I may say so. But I just wondered, between you and me, in a hundred words, where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art?"
"Well, big question, but to me, Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all." Thea squeezed Vincents hand as he teared up at the mans words, "Certainly, the most popular great painter of all time. The most beloved. His command of colour, the most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world. No one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived."
Vincent began to cry and Thea hugged him.
"Vincent." the Doctor frowned, concerned, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Is it too much?"
"No." he sniffled, "They are tears of joy."
"Happy tears." Thea smiled.
"Thank you, sir." Vincent kissed Dr Black on both cheeks, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." he blinked as Vincent hugged him, not having a clue who the man was or why he was being hugged.
"Sorry about the beard."
"Come on," Thea linked her arm though his, leading him out the room, "lets get you home."
~.~
Thea smiled sadly as she leaned against the TARDIS crossing her arms as Vincent stepped out in his own time again, a large grin on his face.
"This changes everything." he cheered, "I'll step out tomorrow with my easel on my back a different man. I still can't believe that one of the haystacks was in the museum. How embarrassing."
"I liked it." Thea offered making the man laugh as he turned and hugged her.
"It's been a great adventure and a great honour." the Doctor shook his hand.
"You've turned out to be the first doctor ever actually to make a difference to my life." Vincent remarked.
"I'm delighted. I won't ever forget you."
"And you are sure marriage is out of the question?" Vincent asked Amy.
"This time." she replied hugging him, "I'm not really the marrying kind. Come on." she dashed back to the TARDIS, "Let's go back to the gallery right now."
~.~
The Time Lords followed Amy as she rushed back to the exhibit, excited to see possible new paintings but they both knew their wouldn't be.
"Time can be re-written." she grinned, "I know it can. Come on! Oh, the long life of Vincent Van Gogh. There'll be hundreds of new paintings."
"I'm not sure there will." Thea sighed.
"Come on!" She ran into the room...
Only to see Thea was right, no new paintings.
"Here we have the last work of Vincent Van Gogh," Dr Black was saying, "who committed suicide at only 37," Amy closed her eyes at that, "he is now acknowledged to be one of the foremost artists of our time. of you follow me now..."
"So you were right." she murmured, "No new paintings. We didn't make a difference at all."
"I wouldn't say that." the Doctor countered, "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. Hey. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant. And we definitely added to his pile of good things. And, if you look carefully, maybe we did indeed make a couple of little changes." he led her to the church painting.
"No Krafayis." Amy realised.
"No Krafayis."
"You made quite the impression on him." Thea commented, dragging Amy over to 'Still Life with 12 Sunflowers', she pointed to the vase, where Vincent had written, 'for Amy.'
Amy smiled, "If we had got married, our kids would have had very, very red hair."
"The ultimate ginge."
"The ultimate ginge." She agreed, "Brighter than sunflowers."
"Come on," Thea linked her arm through Amys, wanting to offer some comfort, to try and cheer her up, "I'll buy you a cake from the cafe."