nevermoreraven

Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: Teen
DISCLAIMER: Other people have actually read this one before the internet. Yes, I know. It's weird.
Summary: This is a rewrite of the Human Nature/Family of Blood two-parter, because I really liked Latimer. It's long. I liked it pretty well at the time, as did the other readers, so let's see how well it held up. ...so far, so good. also I actually bothered to tab for once on this one.
Song lyrics included (only a few, but still present).
It's not finished, but it's fairly close.

Somehow, nobody’d noticed Daniel Winters sitting in the corner, legs crossed on the table. He was sipping just a touch of the champagne, though he’d actually went and dumped out most of it in a sink and watered it down. He wanted to keep his wits about him. The Family would attack the building. Hopefully, not before he’d gotten a dance with Martha. Few tables stood in the building-most of the area had been cleared for the dance floor. Nonetheless, most stayed away from his table-no one tried to stand around gossiping nearby or sit next to him. He was glad. It gave him a better viewpoint. He watched, somewhat sadly, as Mr. Smith and Joan Redfern waltzed past. And at this point, he really wouldn’t stand for human meddling-too much was at stake to put up with the idiocy of which humans were so capable.

He grinned widely upon seeing Martha show up and sit down opposite Matron Redfern, who looked flustered. ‘You deserve it,’ he thought. Everyone needed to have their worlds widened now and then.

He noticed Tim near the window, keeping an eye open. He had a sentry. Good ol’ Latimer. He might even be able to tell his friend someday. Tim would’ve made a good Time Lord, he reflected, taking another sip from his glass.

Even Daughter-of-Mine was there, in another corner. Why the lot of the young’uns hadn’t been turned out due to the profusion of alcohol in the establishment already was beyond him. He knew that, for the most part, watered down alcoholic beverages were the only safe thing to drink for ages yet, but he knew that they also didn’t let their kids get their hands on more than extremely weak alcohol. Humans were so oblivious sometimes. On that note, Tim hadn’t yet noticed the youngest member of the Family, thank goodness. He didn’t need to deal with hysterics, and the pieces weren’t quite in place yet. Close, though-the games of the Time Lord were about to begin.

Dan didn’t really notice, but he tensed up upon seeing Mr. Smith go to Martha’s table. He offered her silent encouragement. ‘You’ll be fine. Just hold in there for a bit longer.’

She’d gotten the sonic from somewhere-even he started at that one. But Smith pulled her from her seat, sitting down in it heavily instead. Guessing that it might be too much, for now anyway, Martha smiled at the Doctor. “You just think about what I’ve said.” He could hear her now. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but we need you. The real you, not just this shell.”

She drifted away from Mr. Smith, who was running his fingers agitatedly through his hair-without knowing it, doing probably exactly what the Doctor would have done. In an instant, Dan was on his feet, just barely short of running toward her. Her frustrated look turned into a big smile upon seeing him. “Could you convince him?” she asked without preamble.

He shook his head. “Why would he believe a person, especially me? I’ve been disgraced, remember. No, but it’s just a little longer ‘till…well, it’s not even the big finale, but the huge revelation?” Her Doctor thought a moment, then nodded, pleased. “Yup, revelation. Until then…dance?”

Her smile just grew, which he didn’t know was possible. “Of course, Dan.”

To his surprise, he actually knew how to waltz. Martha had picked it up somewhere. He wasn’t sure where from, but guessed her home-a far time away. She was brilliant, better than him-this body, he reflected, was just a touch clumsy, especially when he was in love. The nearness of her started warming his cheeks-but it was a good feeling, he was surprised to note. He caught a glimpse of Mr. Smith, whose face was a picture well worth it. They were across the room, and he’d have to push through, but the ugly look on his face probably meant he was thinking about it, anger spurring him on.

Some things, the Doctor reflected, he didn’t much like about mankind. Good thing they had a lot of good points to make up for that.

He could hear John, even from across the room. “So you’re the one putting these outlandish thoughts in my servant’s head. I can’t say I’m surprised.” Winters could feel Martha stiffen in his arms at the tone the schoolteacher had used. The worst thing for her, he guessed, was the slur he was putting on his 'cousin', not the abuse he was heaping on wonderful, fantastic Martha Jones. Sadly, she was used to that by now.

He saw, out of the corner of his eye, Latimer jump. He knew that meant they were here.

The Family filed in, appearance mostly that of normal humans except for the strange mannerisms and the anachronistic guns in their hands. Father-of-Mine screamed at them all, bully all the way through, “You. Will. Be. SILENT!” Someone stood up, head of the village dance probably, and asked what was going on. Dan would’ve warned him, but he knew like a lifetime ago, with the Cybermen, that it would do absolutely no good. Father-of-Mine turned around and shot him. Most screamed, but Martha and he were characteristically silent, searching for a way out of the situation. He noticed Tim didn’t either. That boy was as precious and rare as the majority of his companions. “Smith, everything I told you, just, forget it; don’t say anything.” That was Martha, at his side, protecting Dan, even though he was the Time Lord in this situation.

Son-of-Mine sneered, amused at the stupidity of these frail human beings. When he stated he had questions for Mr. Smith, he knew that none of these would try to stop him-they’d gladly hand him over to save their own skins.

Daughter-of-Mine stepped forward. “The teacher-he’s the Doctor. I heard them talking.”

Son-of-Mine almost broke into laughter. Turning himself into a human? How desperate was he, to escape? And now the Family had found them. Soon, they’d have the lives of a Time Lord.

After they got over their amusement, they realized that what they really needed was the Gallifreyan, not the thick human he’d turned himself into. They tried different tricks to make him change back, even grabbing Martha from next to him and Matron. “Which one do you want us to kill? Your friend, or your lover. Your choice.” Baines was, once again, the bully, finding complete joy in cruelty.

Daniel felt the awful drop as Martha was in jeopardy, but he knew that it would turn out all right, if the last time was any indication. He stepped forward. “I think that’s my cue. Sorry, Mr. Smith. I’m stealing your show.”

As he knew, Smith started to blubber, close to complete breakdown. “What’re you talking about, Winters? You’ve lost it, all of you.”

The Doctor airily waved a hand in his direction, hoping it would shut him up. Really, in stealing his show, he meant it, blathering and all. “Hello, Baines. Remember me? I told you I could stop you. And I meant it. ‘Is there a hero somewhere/Someone who will never walk away/Who doesn’t turn a blind eye to a crime…’ You’ve taken human bodies, so you shouldn’t be complaining about your quarry doing it. But never mind that!” He grinned enthusiastically at the expressions on the faces of the Family of Blood. “It does mean that, oh, whoops, you’re vulnerable. Not for much longer-you’ll have immortality then! But not now, which means-your plans are over.”

“Stop blathering, Winters,” John commanded. Dan shot him an annoyed look over his shoulder.

“But it’s what I’m so very good at, sir.” He turned back, grinning smugly, pleased with his little joke. “Did he scream, Baines, when he died? When you took his body? Of course, I’m no stranger to running around in new bodies. This one, even.” He cast a look down, appraising it with a half-smile.

“Son-of-Mine! What’s he talking about?” Even Father-of-Mine was getting disgusted at the distraction.

“This body’s memories are intact. Somehow, this boy knew what was coming, and comforted Jeremy with his last words. He knew of history-of what would happen.” Baines sniffed, eyes growing hungry and eager at the scent in the air.

The rest of the Family began smelling the air, lustful grins growing on their faces. “The essence of a Time Lord,” Mother-of-Mine purred, eyes latching onto Daniel’s like burrs.

“There was only one last Time Lord in existence, the Doctor,” Daughter-of-Mine objected, still clinging to her little balloon.

“But…it’s so similar….” Mother-of-Mine snapped, unwilling to believe that their goal was suddenly out of reach again.

“To distract us, Mother-of-Mine. He’s an interfering Time Agent, probably. And we know what to do then…” Baines’ eyes went cold, as his arm with the gun in shot up, pointing unerringly towards the Doctor.

His beautiful brown eyes widened slightly. Obviously, he hadn’t expected this. Martha let out a yelp of anguish as they shot Dan.

Unlike the others, his body didn’t disintegrate. Where the light beam struck his side, it opened a searing gash in the flesh, and he screamed loudly, falling to the floor, clutching at his side. Baines frowned, his weapon not being quite as successful as he’d like. “Now, as for you, Mr. Smith…”

In the corner of the room, Latimer opened the watch, the cool rush of yellow light calming him, reassuring him that all would turn out as planned. He made a run for it, as did the rest of the patrons. Martha seized the distraction to turn the tables on the Family, grabbing the gun from what used to be Jenny and holding her in a stranglehold, pointing the gun at Baines, who looked quite confused that a human had been able to achieve all this.

“Would you really pull the trigger?...Looks too scared.” he taunted. Frail, fragile mortals. They’d destroy them all, once they became immortal.

“Scared and holding a gun. It’s a good combination. D’you want to risk it?” She tried for the cheerful light banter, to make Dan happy and proud of her, while he was lying there, blood spilling out, staining the floor…

‘Don’t think about that,’ she told herself. ‘We’ll get out, the both of us, just you wait.’