Thorn Bush (Doctor Who Story)

Chapter 45: Village of Angels

A/N: Kathy has been through War of the Sontarans and Survivors of the Flux and Vanquishers but she hasn't seen anything after season 12 and New Years special so is lost in this episode but remembers what she went through in 1851 and 1901-04.

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21st November, 1967 AD/CE

Kathy tucks her edition of Thomas H. Johnson's 1955 The Poems of Emily Dickinson deeper into her coat pocket. She taps away on her scanner, reading over the information Lizzie Dalton has sent her before shoving that too in her pocket.

She'd just recently felt with a case of Piggybackers in Bridgeport, US, psychic creatures with no form who need hosts to operate, spreading across worlds and making worlds into temples. The race had been difficult, getting to the teacher, Miss Harcourt, and forcing her to take over the town by hypnotising everyone into silent drones. Thankfully Kathy had been able to stop her along with the help of the Dalton family, Hank, Lizzie and Tommy, humanoid species who's species was immune to the Piggybacker's influence, as well as Abner J. Endicott, a respected friend of the teachers. It had all sadly led to the death of Miss Harcourt who'd fought against the creature's influence and rejected it.

She shivers slightly as she walks through the misty moonlight village of Medderton but not because of the cold, something which, due to her not-so-human genetics, doesn't really bother her, instead she shivers for a different reason. Her eyes are narrow as she takes in the ominous graveyard on the edge of the village as she passes it on her way to Professor Eustatius Jericho's house. The village around her seems as if it's deserted but Kathy doesn't trust it, something in her gut tells her there's something out there.

After her experiences with Yaz, Dan and Jericho in the early 20th century and 21st as they battled the flux, Kathy knew from what they'd said that she had (or will be) in 1967 (Jericho's original year and the year from which Yaz and Dan are sent back in time to 1901). So, after spending a short while in America and then Italy, more specifically Rome and Venice, Kathy travelled north, back to England.

The trio had also informed her of the mysteries of this village. Everyone vanishes in 1901 then again in 1967 as well as the mysterious and sudden expanding of the graveyard's headstones. She knows that according to Yaz, Dan and Jericho she's safe from the Angels as they hadn't done anything to her but Kathy knows how timelines can change and she'd rather not risk it.

With that thought in mind, she picks up the pace to cover the last stench of distance to Jericho's house. Kathy takes a breath and slumps against the door once she's in the hallway.

She is startled when Jericho pokes his head out of the doorway that leads to the kitchen. "Ah, Ms Davis, there you are. We were just about to get started."

Kathy flashes him a smile. "Of course, Professor."

It was strange to see Jericho again and yet he had no idea who she was. This Jericho hasn't been sent back in time by an Angel yet, he's not been stuck in the early 20th century with Kathy, Yaz and Dan trying to find out what is happening to the universe and get back to the right time.

Kathy takes the tray of tea he's offered her and makes her way down to the basement lab. The place is a dim cavernous place. A few pencil sketches on the wall, plans of the house. Records, diagrams, graphs, old house/architectural plans and equipment littered about. In the middle of it all, perched on the chair is Claire Brown.

Claire had given her a knowing look when they'd met. The percipient knew who she was even though they hadn't met (from Claire's pov) and why she was here. The woman had turned up on Jericho's doorstep, a little while before Kathy had gained the position as his assistant. She'd also explained how she's had visions of the Doctor and met her previously as well.