"I could've handled it on my own!" the Doctor says to Donna and Martha, they could hear the pout in his voice. "Lord knows I've managed it over 900 years so far.." they hear him mumble
They were walking back to the TARDIS from one of their fulfilled adventures. After The Doctor and Donna helped Martha save Earth from the Sontarans and ATMOS, Martha was forced to come along with them in an unexpected override trip to the planet Messaline. During that adventure was when they had met Jenny, the Doctor's (unexpected) daughter. After that Martha had decided to come along for a couple more adventures. She didn't expect to be traveling back on the TARDIS in general, but now that she was, why not have a number of incredible adventures to give her memories that will last her lifetime before she left?
"Oh don't be so big headed!" Donna howls with laughter, walking with Martha hanging on to her back from laughing so hard herself "We all know here you would've been a gonner if Martha here didn't come in and save your skinny little arse!" Donna and Martha had clicked instantly, and were getting along better than he had ever expected.
They reach the TARDIS and the Doctor unlocks the door, letting the other two in first. Coming in himself and turning around to close the door, he turns the bolt lock himself, making sure that they were securely out of harm's way before they departed.
"Fine, maybe it was a little humorous." The Doctor says walking up the grating to the console. "However, I have no doubt that I would've eventually found a way to save myself before it was too late." The Doctor spits out quickly, beginning to turns knobs and dials, Flicking switches on and off in the little dance of glee he does that both of the passengers always enjoy watching. The hear the familiar sound of the TARDIS dematerializing
"I think the words you are looking for here are 'Thank You'" Martha says cheekily, still recovering from her laughing fit
The Doctor looks up at the both of them, and smiles. A contagious smile, that makes the other two comply with him. They knew that the smile meant that he had a grand adventure with some brilliant people, and he was ready for his next one.
"You even locked the dead bolt! Just because you don't how much trouble we are still in with these guys!" Donna says accordingly
The Doctor just sighs and give her and exasperated look of plea.
"Fine we'll change the subject" Donna says, hand up in surrender. "But you've got to give me and Martha here a half a second to reload before the next adventure. We don't have superior time lord biology unlike someone, my back is killing me!"
"No worries" the Doctor says with a sigh, starting to punch in coordinates to the next destination "I'll let the TARDIS drift around in the void for a while, so you guys can sleep and re-energize and whatnot"
"Thanks very much for mentioning that, Donna" Martha says "didn't realize till just now how much I need a shower. We smell like we've been rolling around in a sewer!"
"That settles it, I'm heading off for the night!" Donna calls over her shoulder, one hand raise in the air, as she's heading to her bedroom.
The doctor starts messing with a few switches on the console, when he notices a few seconds later that Martha is still there, just sort of staring at him. He looks up back at her. A few seconds of comfortable silence pass where neither of them really know what to say.
"Well" Martha says, messing with her hands "I guess that's my cue" she starts taking steps backwards. "Goodnight Doctor"
"Goodnight Martha" the doctor says warmly giving her a small smile. "See you in the morning."
With that she turns around and heads off towards her own room. Once she's out of sight the doctor turns his attention back towards the console with a sigh, prepared to do some tinkering and updates
"Alright old girl" he says to the TARDIS "let's see the damage this time"