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By Root 325 0

so deeply so quickly, and once again was doubting his abilities to do anyone good. There was a slightly grey pallor to their skin, now, while the whites of their eyes were... well, they were just a little too bright, if anything. Mrs Kreiner was the same, sitting with Fitz on the couch next to them. Fitz held his arm around her, and she was squeezing his hand tightly.

To Roley's surprise, Mrs Kreiner suddenly piped up: 'What's happening to us, Doctor?'

He opened his mouth to reply, then realised she was talking to the Doctor, not to him. He was crestfallen for a moment, but knew he couldn't really blame her.

'Nothing's happening to us, 'Watson said.

'I'm afraid that's not true,' said the Doctor.

'Nonsense, man.'

'Please,' the Doctor said, 'I think you should hear me out.'

Watson stood up. 'I tell you, nothing's happening to us. We're fine, all of us, never better.'

Lucy and Russell looked at him, but Mrs Kreiner continued to look at the Doctor.

'The people that came here today took Taylor and Austen away for a reason,' said the Doctor. "They took my friend Sam, too.'

'Well, they never took us, did they?' said Watson. 'Now, I'm going to my room.'

'I believe they came here today because of certain things that are happening to all of you,' said the Doctor, his voice rising a fraction.

'Who's coming with me?'Watson continued, ignoring him.

After a couple of moments, Lucy stood up. 'I'm tired.' She yawned, noisily, as if to prove the point. 'I'm going to lie down.'

'Russell?' asked Watson.

The boy stared ahead, not looking at him. 'No.'

Watson tried again elsewhere, polite and calm. 'Mrs Kreiner. May I escort you to your room?'

'No, you may not,' said Fitz, slipping his arm round her more tightly.

'Very well. I dare say I'll see you all later.' He turned again to Russell. 'If you ever need to chat, boy, you come and find me, won't you?' he said. With a last glance at the Doctor, he left the room, Lucy close behind him. Roley felt thoroughly ignored once again.

The Doctor smiled warmly at Cynthia, who still seemed to be in shock, and walked over to Mrs Kreiner and Fitz.

"This man...' said the Doctor. 'You said his name was Tarr.'

'My maiden name,' said Mrs Kreiner, smiling.

'He looked like my granddad. I’ve seen pictures of him when he was a younger man, and this guy...' Fitz scoffed. 'But how can that be, anyway?

Granddad was an only child and he's six feet under in Highgate Cemetery.'

Mrs Kreiner nodded dolefully.

The Doctor looked at Roley. 'And you say the other man was carrying duelling pistols?'

'Yes, early nineteenth century by the look of them.'

'You're sure?' the Doctor demanded.

'Well, I'm no expert...'

"That's the same time Captain Watson went back to,' said Maria, slowly.

'Remember?'

Mrs Kreiner spoke up again. 'Your great-granddad's dad would've been around then, Fitzie. Him and his brother. Freddie and Neville, they went everywhere together.'

'Brother...' Roley said aloud. Everyone looked at him. 'It's probably nothing, but when we hypnotised Watson he mentioned his brother in 1820. An identical twin, a soldier, I believe...'

'You're right,' said Fitz. 'It's probably nothing.'

'No, wait,' said the Doctor, concentrating. 'Wait, wait, wait...' He turned to Mrs Kreiner as if about to ask a question, but she answered him before he could speak, nodding.

'Freddie and Neville were identical, too, in every way,' said Mrs Kreiner.

"Then Neville died. It's all in the scrapbook - it's a pity I can't show you.'

She looked suddenly glum. 'I wish I was back home.'

'It's all coincidence,' protested Fitz. 'Surely?'

'No. Anything but,' said the Doctor, leaping to his feet. 'Of course, of course...'

Roley nodded gravely. 'Doctor, it's their DNA, isn't it?'

'Precisely!' cried the Doctor. 'Identical twins share the same genetic information. No need to waste time duplicating DNA testings.'

'What about you, Russell?' asked Roley. 'Did your great-grandfather's father -?'

Russell put his head in his hands. 'I don't