A/N: No smut just yet. Next chapter, I promise! This takes place from 42, AU after. Please review! Thank you BBC for the characters!
Martha never really registered the first time Riley Vashtee kissed her. She clicked her cell phone closed, having said what she thought would be her last goodbye to her mother, and let the fear wash over her. They were in an escape pod that has been jettisoned from the S.S. Pentallian, and were about to crash into the sun. They had escaped Ashton, possessed and hell bent killing them, only to be floating serenely to their deaths. Riley had pulled Martha into his arms and held her, placing a chaste kiss to her forehead. Martha let out a sob and swallowed down the rest of her panic, forcing it down with the thin hope that the Doctor would find a way to save them.
But every second that slipped by shaved that hope thinner and thinner. The air inside the escape pod was getting thicker with the smell of sweat and hotter as they descended toward the sun. Riley sat against the back wall of the pod and Martha perched on the edge of the seat, each trying to keep their composure. Riley knew that the sun's gravity would soon grab hold and pull them into itself. He tried not to think of his friends on the Pentallian, Korwin now dead and Ashton now overcome and possessed as well. What about Erina? Was Scannell ok? He might never know if the Doctor was able to save the ship. His greatest regret though, was that he had nothing with which to comfort the woman next to him. Under other circumstances, he would find her attractive, thrilling even. Her dark skin, her tattoo, her high-heeled shoes and the air of mystery around her and her companion were tantalizing. As they had worked their way through the deadlock sealed door pop quiz, he'd been too panicked to notice the way beads of sweat rolled down into her tank top, or the way she would lick the salt from her upper lip as she hoisted the lock clamp against the door.
With a jolt and a crackle of electricity, the doomed pair were thrown from their private thoughts. Riley jumped to the controls. "We're being pulled back!" Martha whooped, "It's the Doctor! I told you!" The entire pod changed course and began it's slow journey back to the Pentallian. Relief washed over them both, and as the Doctor turned to look into the sun, and as it seeped inside him, Riley Vashtee pulled Martha Jones into a toe-curling kiss. There was nothing like being seconds from death to make one's emotions spill over.
Neither Riley nor Martha had time to revel in their relative safety aboard the ship, as they found the Doctor possessed and threatening to kill the entire crew. Panic and fear rose to new levels as the ship's collision was being calmly counted down to by the computer. Riley ran to Scannell's aid and Martha dragged the Doctor to the stasis chamber.
Minutes later, as Martha ran the length of the ship to relay the Doctor's instructions, she admonished herself for wearing such insensible shoes. Scannell and Riley balked for a moment, when Martha told them to vent the engines and dump the fuel. But 42 minutes had quickly become 42 seconds and they either tried it or died. As the fuel was released into the sun's atmosphere, the ship was released from it's grip and the engines came back online. The Pentallian made a hard turn away from destruction, and away from it's Commander. As Scannell and Riley embraced, the full force of the computer having announced the opening of the airlock registered. Their five crew mates were dead. Allowing McDonnell to continue with fusion scoops had led to death of the people they had come to know as their family.
As Martha helped the Doctor out of his spacesuit, Scannell sent official Mayday and Riley logged the demise of the crew into the ship's computer. Neither man could let himself think of what was to be their fate. Fusion scoops were illegal, and they had been complacent. Prison seemed a likely outcome. After transferring the ships controls over to his command, Scannell made sure the heat vent chambers were cool before leading the Doctor and Martha in to survey the remains of their ship.
Riley tagged along and was as speechless as Scannell when they saw the blue box.
"This was never your ship!" Scannell said in awe. The Doctor petted the wooden box affectionately. Riley couldn't help but think that the TARDIS would be quite intimate, and tried to push away the disappointment he felt when he assumed he and Scannell would never fit inside. Four people could never travel inside that box for very long. He had misjudged Martha's relationship with the Doctor. Surely no man could be so close to this woman without feeling something for her. He should know.
The Doctor gave Martha a conspiratorial grin as he slipped inside the blue box. And while he thought he knew what the answer would be, Riley Vashtee had to ask.
"Don't suppose I'll ever see you again?"
"You're welcome to come aboard. There's room for two more in here." She spoke to both men, but her eyes were on Riley's
"What? In there?" Riley asked with a laugh.
"Yeah, in there, if you want."
Scannell was solemn and apologetic. "I can't. I'm the Commander now. I can't just leave the ship. I want to make sure this sun doesn't hurt anyone else."
"He's right. We have to stay." Riley let go of Martha's hand and bowed his head in regret.
"No, Vashtee. Go. You go on." Scannell pushed his mate's shoulder toward the TARDIS. Riley couldn't form words as his regret bled into hope. "That's an order, Vashtee."
Riley pulled Scannell into a hug. Martha slipped into the doorway of the TARDIS. "Thank you. Orin. Thank you." Riley was near tears as he held is friend one last time. Before he could change his mind, Scannell pulled Riley off him. "Go!"
Riley followed Martha into the TARDIS without looking back.
"Welcome, Riley Vashtee!" The Doctor beamed at the awestruck man as he floated up the gangplank. Martha watched with amusement as Riley took in the sight of the console room.
"But it's... No. This isn't possible."
"Yep." Martha confirmed. "Bigger on the inside."
"This is insane!" Riley pushed a hand through his filthy hair and spun around in wonder. The Doctor deftly worked the console and brought the TARDIS into the time vortex.
"Where to?" The Doctor regarded his two companions. "The red ice fields of Balhoon? Something nice and cool?"
"Ugh. I could use a shower." Martha sat down on the jump seat and pulled off her shoes. Riley stood at the console and watched the time rotor like a child at the aquarium.
"Right! Lets all get cleaned up and then get some food. I am starving!" The Doctor loosened his tie as he started toward the corridor.
Martha went to the very silent, very still Riley Vashtee and touched him gently on the arm. "You ok? I know it's a bit mad, the TARDIS. You'll get used to it."
Riley looked at Martha, a smile playing across his lips. "Right. Mad!" The both laughed, nervous tension that had been bottled for the last hour finally rising to the surface.
"I never said, but, it was nice." Martha moved into Riley's personal space. "Not dying with you."
Finally, Martha's words brought out Riley's true smile and his hard features softened into a handsome grin. "You are amazing, Martha." Martha barely let the words leave his mouth before her lips were on his. He had no time to close his eyes and enjoy the kiss before Martha was moving to pull away. But Riley was quicker than Martha and pulled her hips against his, deepening their kiss as he did so. His hand moved to the bare skin between the hem of her shirt and her jeans, pressing her against him. Martha found the sensitive spot at the back of his neck and buried her fingers in his hair.
"Very nice." Martha sighed as they came up for air. Her brazen kiss left Riley breathless, but Martha still had the reins. "Come. I'll help you find a room." She took Riley's hand and led him from the console room into the living quarters of the TARDIS.
Even as Riley marveled at how big the ship was, he was equally awed by Martha Jones. She deftly led him through several corridors and past a dozen doors, all of which looked the same to him. She pulled up to a nondescript door and stopped. "This is you." She said, taking both of his hands in hers. "I'm right across the hall." Riley looked to find another door, exactly like all the others.
"How will I find you?" Riley asked, incredulous.
"I'll wait. Just knock when you're ready."
"Are you sure you don't just want to join me?" Riley couldn't help himself.
Martha ignored the question. "The TARDIS will find you something to wear." Martha left Riley at his door and slipped into her own room. It took all her willpower to leave him there, covered in dirt and sweat and looking for all the world like he wanted nothing better than to eat her up. She gave him a coy smile as she closed her door and left him in the corridor.
Riley went into his room with a chuckle, adjusting himself as he closed the door, his jeans having grown a bit too small in the last five minutes.
As Martha turned to see her familiar bedroom, she sank down against the door, exhausted. She let herself get washed away in relief and began to cry in earnest. They were alive. Five people had died, the Doctor had been possessed by the mind of a sentient star and here she was, safe and sound. Her mum would never know how close she had come to losing her child.
With a start, Martha stood and pulled her phone from her pocket. "Mum! Almost forgot!" She found her mother's number and hit send, ready to gloss over their previous conversations.