Chapter 6;

The moment he got to Merryweather he knew he was going to have do something about the Tyler girl. He still wasn't quite sure how she had managed to suppress the modified memory perception field he had set up, but she wasn't going to do it a second time. He waited impatiently until lunch, not paying attention in any classes and just generally behaving in a very quiet way, which was confusing Donna.

"Look, John, can you just tell me what's up? Because you're acting even more strangely than yesterday evening," Donna nudged him.

He let his arms tense and relax again, watching the wood of his desk studiously. He had hated extending the field to Donna as well but it was safest this way. And if she knew half the things he got up to she would definitely not want to be friends with him anymore.

"It's nothing," he said. Then he lowered his voice. "I've told you my name isn't John," he whispered quietly.

"I know that, bright spark, but while we're in a place where you've led everyone to believe you're called that I can't exactly say 'Doctor', can I?" She frowned at him.

He said nothing, and instead pulled down his sleeve. He didn't tell Donna that "Doctor" wasn't his real name either, because this was one of the things she accepted steadfastly, without questions. On his skin livid marks stood out – his full name, in Gallifreyan. He hadn't been quite himself when he had done it, but he was finding he liked having a reminder of who he really was. It was so easy to lose yourself amongst humans and their petty worries. He was nothing like his inmates in the prison they called earth, and once he got out of here he would show them all. His fingers traced the letters slowly, and he leant back in his chair. He could sense Donna rolling her eyes next to him, and he resisted telling her that they might fall out if she carried on. He wasn't in the mood for jokes anymore, because images of long red grass and silver leafed trees were filling his head and his hearts ached and ached-

"John?"

His head snapped up. Oh. The lesson was over. "I'm leaving," he said quickly.

"I'd like you to stay behind for a bit, please," the teacher said.

He stopped at the door and turned around, glaring. "What?"

"I've noticed you haven't been paying attention at all, and I was wondering if everything was ok?"

His expression turned darker, his eyes stormy. His life was his own business. He didn't need people questioning him about it. "I'm fine," he said coldly, and stalked out.

Now he needed to find the girl. It wasn't hard – she and those other two she hung out with were sitting at the same table as usual. A small voice in his head asked him how he knew where she usually sat, but it hadn't been listened to in over two centuries and that wasn't going to change now. He walked over, and cleared his throat.

"Tyler? I need to speak to you for a second."

The dark skinned boy next to her glared at him. "Go away, John. Just because you think you're so cool doesn't mean everybody has to do as you say. I'm not scared of you," he boasted.

He had to suppress a laugh. He could take a 20 year old human any day. But now wasn't the time, and as frustrating as it was, Wilf didn't approve of him beating up anyone who annoyed him. "I don't think I ever said anything to you." He turned to the girl. "Tyler?"

She looked at him curiously, and pursed her lips. "What is it?"

He gestured to everyone around. "Not here." If the worst got to the worst, he could wipe her memory here, but then he would have to erase everyone's who saw it as well, and things could get messy. He needed to get the target somewhere more private. And he had already planned out everything.

She now looked slightly unsure, but stood up. Her friend on her right pulled her down again, and said something quietly. "Don't worry, I can defend myself," she whispered, thinking that he couldn't hear. Again he had to fight a smile. Time Lords were far more advanced than this species, although they definitely had some bonuses, he thought, thinking of Donna and Wilf.

"Come on," he said, and led her through the tables and around the corner of the assembly hall.

She leant against the bricks and focused him with a stare. "This has got something to do with Anita, hasn't it?" she said defiantly, her chin jutting out.

He rolled his eyes. Humans made attachments so quickly. They should learn that everyone always went away in the blink of an eye – what was the point in bothering to know people anyway? "Sort of," he allowed, and bent closer, moving his face towards her. Her breath hitched and he knew she thought he was going to kiss her. This was the other typical thing about her species. They only thought about one thing, and one thing only. He put his finger tips on the sides of her head and closed his eyes. Just as he was about to begin, she wrenched herself out of his grip and ran backwards blindly. Had she sensed that he was about to do something to her?

He clicked his fingers, and the small force field he had set up that morning activated. She ran into it, winded, and looking at the air mistrustfully as she put her hands up and tested the barrier. He chuckled – he couldn't help it.

"What is that?" she demanded furiously. "What are you doing?"

He didn't reply, but quickly put his hands up again and smoothly finished extracting the memories from her mind. She was perceptive, he notice – the only one who had ever bothered to look past his leather jacket persona. That was probably why the mind perception hadn't worked on her. It hadn't been a very strong perception field anyway – he hadn't thought he'd need one.

The girl's eyes cleared and she looked around, confused for a second. He felt like he needed to step in. Thankfully he was a master at thinking of excuses. "Do you understand the basics of radiometric technology now? Or do you want me to go over it one more time?" he improvised, picking the subject they were currently revising in their optional geography class.

"No, no, it's fine," she said, and he could tell she still wasn't quite convinced, but he let it pass.

"Good," he replied, and settled back against the wall, lighting a cigarette from his pocket. She was still standing there, looking at him, so he blew the smoke, very slowly and carefully, into her face.

She took the hint, and hurried back to those two friends of hers. He smirked to himself. Now that was all sorted out. Well, this side of it was anyway – he could investigate further and find out where the spaceship of the rogue Sian which had stolen Anita's mind was, but he honestly couldn't be bothered. Sure as not, it had a perception filter on it anyway, so it wasn't really disturbing anyone here.

A/N This is possibly the shortest chapter in all of existence but I really have no time whatsoever – that's the cause of the horribly long pause – I've somehow unexpectedly managed to get into two musicals/showcases and I've been busy trying to juggle all the late rehearsals plus all the coursework I need to get done – at the end of next week one of them finishes though, so I will have more time and there will (hopefully) be updates galore.
Please review, you know, if you aren't holding a grudge against me now – I'm really very sorry but there's nothing I can do. I sacrificed one of my geography assignments to write this half-chapter, you know.