His resignation slowly faded once more into confusion as...as the Doctor didn't appear to be acting as he'd dreamed or as Latimer and Martha described. He expected some sort of swift death from the man, and yet the Doctor appeared bewildered and perhaps even outraged by his question.
Briefly he wondered if instead this was a specter come to torment him for eternity, but surely he would have had responses and a demeanor far more menacing and ominous if he were. Which left John with no explanation at all.
"B-but...the watch--the family--you...you have to stop them...and I--I'm--" he couldn't quite manage to finish that sentiment even now, and so stammered into silence (or what might have been a desperate squeak if his dignity allowed it).