nevermoreraven | Gallifreyan Nature: Chapter 25

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.
It's not finished, but it's fairly close.

The rest were still hiding in the Cartwright’s house, and almost attacked them as they entered. The Doctor held up his hands. “I’m unarmed-don’t hurt me.”

Martha followed him, grinning. “Don’t believe a word of it. Even when he doesn’t have his sonic, he’s always got a trick up his sleeve.”

Dan tried to frown, he really did, but he couldn’t manage it. The corners of his mouth just seemed to want to turn upwards instead. “Ooo, clever,” he remarked, grinning at her encouragingly.

Tim grinned at him. “I see you’re up and about. It worked then.”

Dan nodded, somewhat embarrassed, but unapologetic for his actions. “Yup. Thanks for believing that I had a clue of what I was doing.” Martha cast Latimer a glance, suddenly understanding. He hadn’t told her-because he was still trying to shield her from the worst he was capable of. He didn’t want to hurt her. And the Time Lord, though she didn’t think she could describe him as ‘arrogant’, certainly believed he knew what was best-for her, and for the universe. And the special knowledge he was entitled to-who knew whether he wasn’t right?

“Smith. I need to know how far you’re in. My plans may revolve around you-but don’t worry-you won’t get hurt. They’ll be confused enough that they won’t notice a thing. They want the body safe-they don’t think they can get it from the watch-which is good, ‘cause that way more people are on their not-kill list. The Family isn’t exactly bright-I mean, not compared to me. Last of the Time Lords, after all. Let’s see them beat that. And my brain-which is hard, ‘cause I’m a genius.”

“I’ll do anything,” John whispered fervently, ignoring the squeeze that Joan gave his hand. This was a time to fight, a time for action, a time for courage, and Smith wouldn’t run away from this. He’d been a coward before, and no excuses remained. He’d face what came, and he wouldn’t let his nephew face this alone, however confident he seemed on the outside. He wasn’t willing to let Daniel take this, especially because he detected doubts floating deep in Winters’ mind, where, he guessed, they’d been hidden from everyone else.

“I’ll look after him,” Joan promised, a longing look in her eyes.

Dan’s mouth twitched. “You can’t let them see you. They’d probably kill you. Just keep an eye on him-pull him out if it gets too dangerous.”

“Tim, you can pull off an impression of a Time Lord. That’s ‘cause you had the watch. It’s kind of like-it smelled, and the act of owning it rubbed that smell off on you. If anything goes wrong, do what I’d do-run for it. Just get going as fast as you can go. But I’ve seen you bluff-you can do it pretty well. I’m not too worried,” he winked, causing Latimer to laugh.

“Martha-you’ve got an important job. Maybe the most important of all. The watch. You get the watch.” By this point, catching random things the Doctor threw at her was reflex, and the watch was no exception. “They’ll smell the bits of Time Lord consciousness all over that little timepiece. They’ve got hints of Time Lord everywhere-which means they won’t try to kill you. At least, I’m hoping they’re not stupid-and I’m basing that on my rather brilliant observations and deductions on dealing with them for…well, short periods of time. We haven’t had the time, nor really the patience, to sit down for a nice cup of tea and have a good long chat. But I think they’re smarter than they seem. For one thing, there’s the fact that they figured out how to track down a Time Lord-traveling in a TARDIS in the Vortex, no less. That took some doing. I mean, it’s not just a secondhand trick that you can pick up in any random shop you walk into. That takes cunning, brilliance…especially when it’s me…”

Miss Jones cuffed him playfully on the shoulder. “You and your ego. That’d take effort two times over.”

He didn’t take offence at that one, instead letting that amazing smile light up his face. “My point exactly. Anyway, I’m probably the one in the most danger-I’ve got the most Time Lord to me, which makes sense, ‘cause I am one. Never mind that, though. It’s not enough for them to act rashly. They’re starting to get a bit desperate. But you can ignore that one too. Actually, I don’t know why I would…” he trailed off, lost in the incongruity of what he’d just spouted, then grinned, daring the world to try to stop him. “Let’s go and try to get them on horses riding off in all directions.”

Before anyone could ask what he possibly meant, he bounded out, full of enthusiasm and energy. Martha barely resisted rolling her eyes affectionately and followed, with Tim giving her an encouraging smile.