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'Well,' said Watson. 'Dr Roley.'

'Watson’, acknowledged Roley. He was the doctor, they were the patients.

They were in his charge. It was vital they respect the divide between doctor and patient. You could never lose face.

'Your book got a new ending now, has it?' Watson asked, genially.

'I don't really care to discuss my work, if you don't mind, Captain.'

'Not like you, Dr Roley; said a voice behind him. It was Russell Waller. How old the boy looked in this dreadful light, and how vivid that dreadful tattoo of his was, even through the scarring, poor soul. 'You've always been so open. Encouraged us to be so open. All the questions, the group sessions, all those little dramas you made us act out...'

'All very liberating, it was,' said Watson, affably. 'Made new people of us, you have.'

'We heard a noise,' announced Roley, changing the subject. 'Some kind of commotion. What was it?'

'Didn't hear a thing, Dr Roley; said Lucy. Mrs Kreiner just stared at him, impassive.

'Maybe it was Cynthia,' suggested Russell, sucking a bead of blood from a cut on his finger.

'Cynthia?' Roley frowned. 'Where is Cynthia, anyway?'

'Gone,' said Russell, walking past him to join the others. 'Just like that.'

Roley frowned. 'She's left us?'

'You mean you didn't know?' Lucy sighed. 'I warned her, didn't I?' The others nodded, and she continued. 'I said, "You're throwing away your career, you know -"'she spluttered with laughter as she dropped the act of concern - 'right out of the window!'

While Lucy laughed by herself, Watson continued his address. 'What about you, then, Roley, hmm? Thinking of leaving your profession, were you?

Thinking of leaving us?'

Roley said nothing, trying to keep his face stern, trying not to give away how scared he was.

'Don't blame you, really,' Watson said. 'Have to be mad to stay in a place like this, eh?'

That set Lucy off again, while Russell and Mrs Kreiner just smiled.

'Is this leading somewhere, Captain Watson?' Roley looked at the door, standing in place again. It must be resting there, keeping out the wind that had started up. He tried to gauge how long it would take him to get to it.

'Well, it led me to that laboratory your friend the Doctor got set up in there.

Very interesting, that was. Do you know what I found? A brain in a box.'

Lucy cupped her hands, then opened them slowly as if peeking inside. She let out a squeal of excitement.

'Your brain, it was, Dr Roley,' Watson said.

Roley felt a chill run down him. His professional manner, the stern face, the whole act dropped. There was only the cowed expression of a wretched child, of the naturally bullied, to take its place. He felt rooted to the spot.

Watson smiled. 'Seemed quite fitting, somehow. You've done so many things to our heads, after all. Knocked on all the doors to see what was waiting inside.'

'Dragged it into the light,' said Mrs Kreiner.

'Made it feel at home,' Lucy added, smiling sweetly.

'And now it wants to feel at home in you ' Watson's voice dropped to a threatening whisper. 'Not just in some fancy box of tricks.'

'It might be in already,' said Russell, still sucking his finger.

'Shall we see?' suggested Watson. He reached out his knuckles and slowly knocked three times on Roley's forehead.

Roley bolted, then, charging over to the door. He grasped the iron handle, screamed and yelled and pleaded, but it wouldn't budge.

***

'Charles,' breathed Maria, as the screams floated through into Roley's office.

She was out of the door in seconds, leaving Fitz alone.

'Oh, terrific,' he muttered.

***

6.4

Sam was breathing deeply, trying to relax, but it was impossible. She longed just to stare idly out of the window, to watch the world go by outside as they drove along, just as she'd done in her dad's car as a kid.

Forget it, she thought. Not an option.

The Doctor's voice cut through her thoughts. 'Sam...?'

'What?'

'Are the Beast still clustered over you?'

She squinted at herself and shuddered. 'All over me, thanks.'