MEMORIES OF A BROKEN GIRL | {3rd - Stars Themselves Series}

{A TOWN CALLED MERCY - 3}

Night has fallen and the group are sat in the Marshal's office. The Doctor's leaning on the banister, staring at the door, as if waiting for something. Amy, Rory and Willow are in the corner, playing a game of Trumps with a cheap pack of cards The Doctor happened to have and Alex, Emily and Oliver were sat by the Marshal's desk, talking in hushed whispers.

Eventually, there's a harsh hammering on the door that brings everyone out of their quiet conversations.

"Come in," The Doctor watches as The Preacher enters

"Marshal," he greets before looking towards the group playing cards "Ma'am, Ma'am. Fella. You need to come outside,"

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Just come outside. And you should put that on," he points to a gun bet on a side table and Willow sighs, preparing herself for what was outside. Amy stands and her husband and daughter follow, walking through the front door where The Doctor and them watch the townsfolk gathering bellow the porch.

"What's going on?" The Doctor asks

"He in there?!" The boy from in the Saloon asks, gesturing to the office "Leave the keys and take a walk. By the time you get back, this'll all be done,"

"I promised Isaac I'd protect him,"

"Protecting him got Isaac dead. Tomorrow, it's going to be us all, dead,"

"We thought Isaac was right to fight, but it's different now. We've got to say, all right we lost, and give that thing what it wants," another man adds

"What it wants is to kill our friend!" The bartender at the Saloon shouts

"We don't got any ill feeling towards the Doc. We just thinking about our families. Hand him over and we all safe again," The boy insists

"You know I can't do that.,"

"Then we got us a problem," The boy moves his jacket back to show his gun in a gun belt.

"Please don't do this," Willow starts, looking at the young man sadly

"Why, reckon he's quicker than me?"

"Almost definitely not," Willow snorts "But this? Lynch mobs? A town turning against itself? This is everything Isaac didn't want,"

She goes ignored and the young man pulls out his gun, pointing it at The Doctor.

"How old are you?"

"Nearly nineteen,"

"So, eighteen then," Willow corrects as The Doctor slowly walks forward "Too young to have fought in the war,"

"So, I'm guessing you've never shot anyone before, have you?" The Doctor continues

"First time for everything,"

"But that's how all this started. Jex turned someone into a weapon. Now that same story's going to make you a killer, too. Don't you see? Violence doesn't end violence, it extends it, and I don't think you want to do this. I don't think you want to become that man,"

"There's kids here -"

"I know, kids who I can save if you'll let me,"

The young man pauses, looking at the office again "He really worth the risk?"

"Don't know. But you are," the gun stays pointed at The Doctor until it's slowly lowered, and the man is gone, the crowd following.

The Doctor turns back to Amy, Rory and Willow "Frightened people. Give me a Dalek any day," he walks back inside, giving the three a happy smile.

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Back in the office, The Doctor has removed the gun belt and is leaning on the desk, Willow is sat in the chair, legs up on the same desk.

"Fresh coffee, Marshal.," The undertaker enters, placing too cups of coffee on the desk "m=Ma'am," he nods to Willow before talking to The Doctor "For what it's worth, I know you're going to save us. Isaac made you Marshal for a reason, and if you're good enough for him, you're good enough for me. Reckon you should know that,"

"Thank you,2 The Doctor nods sincerely, however he catches Willow laughs as she looks behind him, he looks back and finds the caretaker taking his suit measurements.

"Oi.! Get out of it", The undertaker quickly leaves.

"I should probably check on Alex and the others," Willow stands, grabbing the two coffee cups "I'll pass these off to my parents," she looks at the cups in disgust.

"Thanks," The Doctor smiles and Willow leaves, glaring at Jex on her way.

----------&----------

a/n: although short, this is unedited so excuse any mistakes. Chapters may take longer from now on as UK Netflix decided to be twats and remove Doctor Who, so I have no real way of accessing the episodes. 

Also, I stared an AU book based of this series. It's called 'Invisible String' and you can find it on my profile. I'm so excited for all your reactions!