Chapter 2

Martha delayed heading back to the console for as long as she could, until she finally felt she couldn't put it off any longer. She couldn't deny the suddenness of everything had thrown her off but they were friends were after all.

Martha walked the short distance back to find the Doctor fiddling with the Tardis controls. He heard her approaching and turned to watch her walk into the room. She wanted to smile but felt nervous, unsure whether the Doctor was going to push her to talk about her life again. She wasn't ready for that conversation and specially with him.

Martha stopped by the railings and they stood face to face.

Martha folded her arms in front of her and asked, "So now what?"

"You tell me," the Doctor said mimicking her by also crossing his arms.

So no pushing then, Martha thought, as she felt a surge of relief that he was leaving it up to her.

"Well, we could always go to my apartment," Martha offered playfully.

"Really, and what would we do there?" the Doctor asked as rested against the console

"Lots of stuff,"

"Hmmm," the Doctor said as if thinking. A smile spread across his face before he replied, "I guess I haven't seen your bedroom in a while."

Unable to stop herself, Martha blushed but rolled her eyes to try to cover it up.

"You would like that wouldn't you," Martha replied still teasingly.

"What if I would?" the Doctor asked which caught her off guard again.

She tried to laugh it off and the question, because flirting with the Doctor was exactly the conversation she should not be having with him.

"Very funny Doctor," Martha replied walking round the console as the Doctor's eyes followed her.

"It wasn't a joke," the Doctor said unfolding his arms and turning back to the controls.

Martha bit her lip wishing she hadn't opened up a discussion about their going to her bedroom. To change the subject she said the first thing which popped into her mind,

"So how long has it been for you?"

"How long?" the Doctor asked glancing up at her.

"You know, since we last saw each other,"

Shrugged his shoulders he replied, "It's hard to say."

"So it's been that long?" she asked surprised.

Looking up again he replied, "You know, time is relative, and for a time traveler it doesn't have the same meaning."

"Like leaving for a year when only days have gone by," Martha replied.

The Doctor studied Martha for a moment before replying, "Does it matter how long it's been?"

"I guess not," Martha said before looking down.

It was a simple question, she thought. Most people could give a simple straight answer but that would require them being ordinary and human, and the Doctor was neither. For all she knew the Doctor could have been away for a year or a decade or a hundred years and he wouldn't look a day older. She suddenly wondered how many more people the Doctor could have traveled with and whether he had forgotten her. This bothered her but she tried to chastise herself, because what right did she have to be upset. And it wasn't like the Doctor had sort her out, they just ran into each other by accident. And they were friends, free to do what they liked.

Absentmindedly Martha placed her hand over a lever within arm's reach. But before she can push it down she felt the Doctor's hand close over her own.

Martha looked up at him surprised. He had leaned over and was looking at her questioningly.

"We don't want you to blow a hole as big as Holland through time," he cautioned.

Averting her eyes, Martha looked back down at the Doctor's hand which completed covered her own. He hadn't let go yet so she pulled her hand away.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

The Doctor drew his own hand back and placed both hands in his pockets. He turned away before facing her again.

"What do you say we go to ancient Greece?" he asked.

"Greece?"

"Or Egypt. Yes Egypt, we haven't seen Egypt together yet," the Doctor said.

Smiling Martha said, "I could meet Cleopatra and see the pyramids."

"Egypt it is," the Doctor said removing his hand from his pockets, and clapping them with excitement.

The Doctor moved to touch the controls but the Tardis jerked and went silent. The Doctor's eye's moved to the console tower which had been moving up and down just moments before but was now still. He gave Martha a confused look and said,

"We've landed."

"I'm pretty sure this isn't how it works," Martha said. She remembered travelling with the Doctor in the Tardis, and it felt more like riding a roller coaster than a small bump in the road.

"No it isn't,"

"Any idea why we've landed?" Martha asked.

"Good question," the Doctor said.

He walked to the doors and swung them open as Martha joined him. Outside were grass fields and what looked like a town not too far away.

As they decided what to do next, they were both propelled out of the Tardis and on to the moist grassy ground. The Tardis closed her doors and the hum of the Tardis engines started up again as she began to disappear. Dazed by the sudden impact of hitting the ground the Doctor took too long to react. By the time he jumped back on to his feet and shouted for the Tardis to stop, she was a pale silhouette which faded as he tried to reach for the doors. With the Tardis gone, they could see rolling hills far into the distance and feel a strong cold breeze blow over them.

Martha stood up and pulled her jacket closer to her thankful she had it with her. She looked around again seeing the town in the distance. When she looked back the Doctor was still staring in shock at where the Tardis had been before tossing them both.

"Doctor?" Martha called.

He finally turned to face her.

"Any idea when and where we are?" she asked.

This was not exactly the start she had pictured but things never went to plan with the Doctor