Title: Both Ends of the Spectrum
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Doc Martin is not mine. I'm just playing with the characters for a bit.
Summary: Set after the end of the third series. Martin is in for a few surprises.
xXx
Pauline barely looked up as the youngster entered, her eyes instead trained on the screen in front of her, which showed the MSN conversation she was having with a friend in Delabole.
"Hi. I'm looking for Dr Ellingham," the girl began when she got no encouragement from the receptionist.
"Do you have an appointment?" Pauline asked, typing away.
"No, it's not a medical matter. It's personal."
Pauline stopped what she was doing instantly and turned her attention to the new arrival, "What kind of personal?"
The girl smiled and teased a stray lock of curly blonde hair back behind her ear, "The private kind."
Annoyed by the lack of forthcoming information, Pauline turned back to the computer, "He's with his last patient. You can wait if you want."
"Thank you." The girl looked around the sparse waiting room of the doctor's surgery, eying up the small collection of out-of-date magazines and the mismatch of furniture. Deciding on a comfortable looking leather seat and a two-year-old copy of OK, she sat down to wait. However, no sooner had she opened the glossy front cover, than the inner office door opened and an elderly woman was ushered out by a grumpy, suited man.
"Is that it, Pauline?" he asked, brusquely.
"That's it for patients. You've got a personal visitor," Pauline told him, stressing the word 'personal'.
Martin turned to face his visitor, "Who are you?"
Gulping at the stern look he was giving her, she spoke quietly, "Lucy Melville. You knew my mother, Jessica."
The doctor visibly paled at the mention of the woman's name, "You'd better come through."
"I'll be off then, doc," Pauline called as Martin and Lucy retreated to his office. Her only reply was the slamming door.
"I wasn't aware Jessica had a daughter," Martin said once he and Lucy were seated at opposite sides of his desk.
"She didn't when you knew her," Lucy replied, still unnerved by the man.
"No, I suppose not. It has been a long time since we spoke. How is she?"
Lucy looked him straight in the eye for the first time, "She's dead."
Martin visibly recoiled at the news, "I'm sorry to hear that."
The girl nodded, "It's actually why I'm here. You see, I've never met my father and it wasn't until my mother's will was read that I found out his name."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand why that's brought you here," Martin said when she paused.
"Dr Ellingham," Lucy smiled, "You are my father."