AN: I'm so look sorry for not updating sooner, I haven't been feeling very well and I couldn't bring myself to post something.
I hope you like the last part of Smith, Jones and Brown. It's a bit longer to make up for the fact I didn't update sooner.
Enjoy! (REWRITTEN)
Smith, Jones and Brown: Part Two - The Return
The water cooler, which Thalia currently found herself crouched behind, shielded them all from view but was by no means comfortable. Her knees protested when she veered back and pressed her back against the wall to avoid being seen by the remaining Slab that was marching down the corridor.
It passed without incident and The Doctor peeked out to glare at the Slab's retreating figure, "That's the thing about Slabs. They always travel in pairs."
"What about you two?" Martha turned her head to look at the two aliens, mildly accusing.
The Doctor frowned, "What about us?"
"Haven't you got back up?" Martha rolled her eyes. She was being slightly insensitive but how was she to know it was a rocky subject for the both of them? "You both must have a partner or something?"
Immediately The Doctor froze and Thalia's hand slipped from where it was resting on the wall. The Doctor blinked while Thalia regained her composure and gave Martha an exasperated look, "You need to get your priorities straight! This isn't the time for personal questions," she snapped. The last thing she needed was someone reminding her of what she had done and lost. Already, Ava was sitting in a private ward with an oxygen mask beside her. Thalia wasn't going to put the innocent 5 year old in further jeopardy than she previously had.
The Doctor snapped out of his stupor, trying to appear nonchalant, "Humans!" he sighed, "Come on." Martha hadn't stopped with the questions yet, it turned out this time she asked the wrong one.
"I like that- 'Humans.' I'm still not convinced you're an alien," Martha scoffed as she stepped out into the corridor. Thalia only just managed to drag the unsuspecting woman back in time, The Doctor wasn't as lucky.
The Judoon now blocking their path flashed the scanner in his face. There was a second where no one moved, until the Judoon received the results of the scan and growled, "Non-human."
Martha gaped at him eyes wide, ultimately having the proof she needed, "Oh my God, you really are!"
"And again!" The Doctor hauled Martha down the hallway, headed for the stairs while Thalia followed with the Judoon tailing them.
Their shoes made an unpleasant squeaking sound on the tiled floor as they skidded around corners, the Judoon gradually falling behind. They would have continued running but soon Martha was dropping behind, gasping for breath and they started to slow. Thalia had used her enhancement legacy to overtake them all and was now directing them through a corridor that was a lot quieter. The Doctor had no idea how she had got ahead of him, but he didn't question her as he followed. All around them there were people, staff and patients, sinking to the floor, the lack of oxygen weakening them considerably. "They've done this floor," Thalia informed them as they halted, giving Martha a chance to breathe. "The Judoon are logical but a little bit thick. They won't go back to a floor they've already checked." She glanced around. "If we're lucky."
As she spoke Martha, having caught her breath, crouched down and spoke to a nurse who was pressing an oxygen mask to a woman's face. "How much oxygen is there?"
The nurse glanced at them apprehensively, "Not enough for all these people. We're going to run out."
The Doctor was concerned for Thalia, even if at the time he didn't know why, "How are you feeling? Are you alright?" he asked with a frown.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me," she said, quickly dismissing him. She regretted not being able to reassure him truthfully. Lorien was a sentient planet with a consciousness and life force and since she was the very last of the Loric, there was a fraction of Lorien running throughout her entire being. That power was wholly centred on keeping her alive and, in emergencies, did everything it could to help her survive. Her body was capable of using other gases to generate energy - she would be the only person left standing if the oxygen ran out. She was more concerned about Martha, who was still breathing slightly shallower than was natural, "How about you?
She simply smiled. "I'm running on adrenaline."
The Doctor flashed a grin. "Welcome to my world."
Worried about losing the alien that seemed to be their only ticket off the moon, Thalia asked, "Where's Mr Stoker's Office? It would be the best place to start."
"It's this way." Martha sobered and led them down the corridor.
When the Doctor entered the MRI room he was alone. They had found Mr Stoker sprawled out on the office carpet, dead. From there it hadn't taken him long to work out what the plasmavore was going to do. He had used a genetic transfer on Martha (ok, he had kissed her, but only because it would delay the Judoon for a few minutes), and Thalia was waiting outside for him – safe and out of harm's way.
He snapped from his thoughts when the MRI machine made a rather worrying sound, and a form of electricity sparked from it dangerously. The plasmavore was standing in a control booth, pressing buttons and flicking switches in order to carry out her plan. There was no other way to stop her without simply distracting her, "Have you seen - there are these things, these great big space rhino things," Mrs Finnegan spun around to face The Doctor with a mildly surprised expression, "and we're on the moon," he continued, "Great big space rhinos with guns on the moon. And I only came in for my bunions, look" He showed Mrs Finnegan his feet, "They're all right now, perfectly good treatment, I said to my wife, I'd recommend this place to anyone, but then we end up on the moon. And did I mention the rhinos?"
The Plasmavore sighed at the interruption and motioned to her Slab, "Hold him."
Grasping The Doctor by his shoulders, the Slab held him upright in a bone-crushing grip, effectively immobilising the struggling Doctor.
Thalia was glad no one could see her. As Mrs Finnegan had been speaking, The Doctor and Martha's kiss had been playing over and over in her head and it wasn't until the Slab had grabbed The Doctor that she had managed to snap out of it. She now needed to focus on coming up with a plan, from her now invisible status, without The Doctor or Mrs Finnegan noticing. She was considerably weakened by her attempt at healing Mr Stoker by pretending to take his pulse but she was sure her effort would be worth it and she still had at least twenty minutes of using her legacies constantly.
"That thing, that big machine thing, is it supposed to be making that noise?" The Doctor was still trying to stall the plasmavore.
"You wouldn't understand," Mrs Finnegan dismissed with a wave of her hand.
"Isn't that a magnetic resonance imaging thing? Like a ginormous sort of magnet? I did magnetics at GCSE. Well, I failed, but all the same."
"The magnetic setting is now set to 50,000 Tesla," Mrs Finnegan wasn't interested in the stupid human that just happened to stumble in on her.
All Thalia needed to know was that the plasmavore was planning on frying the earth and soon after, she tuned out of the conversation completely. There was an instruction manual next to a monitor, and she carefully picked it up. As soon as the cover came into contact with her skin, she felt her legacy expanding and she knew that to the naked eye, there would be no manual in sight. It didn't take her long to get a grasp of which buttons did what. She was feeling pretty confident about her plan, until the plasmavore started to step towards The Doctor with a menacing grin plastered across her face, "I must assimilate again."
The Doctor feigned confusion as a fear gripped Thalia, "What does that mean?"
"I must appear to be human."
"Well, you're welcome to come home and meet the wife. We can have cake, she's brilliant at cooking," The Doctor joked.
"Why should I have cake? I've got my little straw," Mrs Finnegan's grin grew wider, if that were possible.
"That's nice. Milkshake? I like banana," The Doctor continued.
"You're quite the funny man. And yet, I think laughing on purpose at the darkness. I think it's time you found some peace. Steady him!" Mrs Finnegan drew the straw from her bag.
Thalia was rooted to the spot, she couldn't do anything to stop Mrs Finnegan drinking The Doctor's blood without revealing her presence, and therefore exposing her secret.
Twisting him so his neck was facing upwards, the Slab angled the powerless Doctor so Mrs Finnegan could approach him and place the end of the straw on The Doctor's neck.
"I'm afraid this is going to hurt. But if it's any consolation, the dead don't tend to remember."
A sudden relief rushed into Thalia's mind as she worked out a way to save The Doctor. It would take a lot of concentration, but The Doctor came first and she could give the crackling MRI machine more thought later.
The Doctor's eyes started to close when the Judoon marched in, Martha close behind.
Dropping him quickly, Mrs Finnegan spat out an excuse, alarmed that she had almost been caught, "Now see what you've done! This poor man just died of fright."
The Chief Judoon gave The Doctor, who was lying on the floor immobile, a once over, "Scan him." Martha waited with bated breath as the Judoon pointed the familiar red torch at The Doctor, "Confirmation: deceased."
Thalia couldn't see what advantage she had remaining unseen now the Judoon had arrived so she slipped out of the room, returned fully visible and fell to her knees at The Doctor's side.
"Case closed," The Judoon made to turn away, satisfied with the evidence presented before them. Thalia had said they were stupid…
"But it was her. She killed him. She did it. She murdered him," Martha pointed at Mrs Finnegan, her glare met with an innocent expression that made Thalia's blood boil.
"The Judoon have no authority over human crime," The Chief Judoon growled.
"But she's not human!"
"Oh, but I am, I've been catalogued," Mrs Finnegan flashed her hand which the black cross was clearly visible.
"Scan her anyway." Thalia muttered, hands placed around The Doctor's neck, eyes closed, in a similar position to when she had attempted to heal Mr Stoker.
"Wait a minute!" Martha started to understand what Thalia was suggesting, "You drank his blood? The Doctor's blood?" She grabbed the scanner out of a reluctant Judoon's hand and pointed the blue light at Mrs Finnegan.
"Oh, all right. Scan all you like." Mrs Finnegan was relaxed and had no idea of the trap she had been led into.
"Non-human."
"What?" Mrs Finnegan's eyes widened fractionally as she tried to regain her cool.
"Confirm analysis," More blue lights joined Martha's, all pointed at a slowly panicking Mrs Finnegan, "Confirmed: Plasmavore. I charge you with the crime of murdering the princess of Patrival Regency Nine," The Judoon lowered their scanners.
Mrs Finnegan's eyes flashed, "She deserved it! Those pink cheeks and that simpering voice, she was begging for the bite of a plasmavore."
"Do you confess?"
"Confess? I'm proud of it! Slab - stop them," Mrs Finnegan ducked behind the safety glass, supposedly out of harm's way.
The Slab started to fire at the Judoon, only to be shot down within seconds, turning into a pile of burnt leather on the carpet. The Judoon then turned back to the defenceless plasmavore, "Verdict: Guilty. Sentence: execution."
That was when the warning sign lit up above the MRI scanner, reading 'MAGNETIC OVERLOAD'.
"Enjoy your victory, Judoon, because you're going to burn with me! Burn in hell!" she screamed as the Judoon aimed their lasers at the window, the beams piercing through the glass as she was disintegrated.
Martha moved to stand behind Thalia whilst the Judoon started to file out. "What did she mean 'burn with me'? The scanner shouldn't be doing that. She's done something." Martha said as she looked up at the energy that was coursing through the MRI magnet.
The Judoon shone the blue light on the machine, "Scans detect lethal acceleration of monomagnetic pulse."
Martha whipped around in a panic, "Well do something, stop it!"
"Our jurisdiction had ended," The Chief stated simply, "Judoon will evacuate."
"You can't just leave it! What's it going to do?" she cried.
"All units withdraw."
The Judoon began to leave the hospital to board their ships as if they had never been there at all whilst the magnet to continue to overload.
"You can't go. That thing's going to explode and it's all your fault." Martha shouted at the backs of the retreating aliens.
"Martha, I need you to stay really calm and try to save your breath." Thalia withdrew her hands from The Doctor's neck, and moved so she was above him. She felt for his heartbeats, but couldn't find them. She started to press down on his chest, making sure she pressed both sides. If she was being honest, she was struggling to find the energy to do the compressions. Her healing powers were by far the worst to use constantly. On top of healing both Mr Stoker, The Doctor and several patients from the children ward she had taken pity on, she had used her invisibility and her telekinesis to limit the amount of blood Mrs Finnegan had extracted from The Doctor. Although her legacies were powerful and useful, if used too frequently, they exhausted her and left her desperately needing sleep to recuperate.
Martha watched through drooping eyelids as Thalia took a deep breath and pressed her lips to The Doctor's, breathing for him.
After three more breaths, he woke with a start, eyes wide, shocked that he was being kissed. Thalia snapped back when she realised he was awake and then knelt by his ear to whisper, "Mrs Finnegan is gone, so have the Judoon. Martha is fine, just sleeping, and the scanner needs turning off... I can't…" she sunk to the floor and welcomed she blackness that eased her splitting headache, at least her fatigue could be mistaken for lack of oxygen.
When The Doctor walked into the TARDIS with a huge smile on his face, the first thing he noticed was Thalia, Ava in her arms, standing in front of a y beam with her back to him. The second thing was the silence that greeted him and he mentally reprimanded himself. She had just been to the moon and back and he had just shoved her in a box that's bigger on the inside without an explanation. She must be suffering from shock.
He was taken aback when Thalia whispered, "She's beautiful."
A loud hum resonated from the TARDIS console and Thalia turned around, a wide smile on her face.
"Really, you think so?" He was pleasantly surprised at her intuition - no one had ever reacted like that before, and no one, not even Rose, had been able to tell the TARDIS was a girl.
Thalia gently placed Ava on the captain's chair, and turned back to face The Doctor.
The Doctor walked up to her and said, "I just wanted to thank you for saving my life, back when Mrs Finnegan drank my blood."
"That's fine, I'm sure you would have done the same." But The Doctor didn't know how close he had actually been to death, and how much Thalia had really helped him. "First, before you take me home, would I be able to drop Ava off somewhere first please?"
"Of course. You might want to hold onto something," The Doctor told her whilst eagerly making his way over to the TARDIS console. With a grin, he yanked a lever towards him and the TARDIS disappeared from the hospital in London and sent them into the vortex.
Thalia found herself outside 13 Bannerman road, at night, with Ava in her arms and two letters tucked into her pocket. The first was a goodbye letter to Ava, she loved the child a lot but she was a danger to be around - she wouldn't be responsible for the innocent girl's death. The second letter was for Sarah Jane, thanking her for her help all those months ago and explaining the situation. She now knew who Sarah had been talking about when she had told her those wonderful stories of the man who had changed her life. In the letter she had told Sarah who she was to The Doctor, about the Tie and how The Doctor couldn't know who she was. She also had a cover story that would depend on Sarah-Jane and her ability to provide a sound alibi.
Thalia had asked The Doctor to drop her off near a school in Ealing, at night time. She had carried Ava, and the walk had taken a lot longer than it should have, but she was limiting the legacies she used in order to save her energy.
She stepped through the garden gate (a simple bolt had never stopped her from opening doors) and gently placed Ava on the wooden swing while she silently reached for the key Sarah kept hidden under a plant pot and opening the back door with no noise at all. Thalia then turned back to Ava and quietly carried her into the house, laying her on the sofa. She placed the two letters on the coffee table, kissed Ava on the forehead and whispered a goodbye in her ear.
She then left the way she had entered, locked the door behind her and turned around to take a last look at the house. With a jolt, she realised she had been spotted when she saw the boy, Luke, standing at his bedroom window. She waved and sprinted down the road as he turned and ran to fetch his mum, realising all too late who had just visited them.
Soon Thalia was presented with the already welcoming sight of the TARDIS and she slowed. With an audible creak, she pushed door open and slipped inside. She soon found The Doctor working on something underneath the console, completely oblivious to her presence despite her entrance, which had been a far cry from silent. She coughed and his head shot up, smashing on the underside of the console.
"Ah!" The Doctor fell back down as Thalia snickered. Clearly The Doctor was a magnet for accidents.
He eventually got up, coming to stand a few feet away from Thalia. Her smile gradually faded and her heart sunk when she realised he was going to ask her to leave
"So…" The Doctor started to say, shuffling his feet and staring at the ground. Seemingly unable to come up with what to say.
"I'm sorry, I've stayed too long and I should be going." Thalia said, successfully concealing her inner turmoil.
"No!" I just..." The Doctor realised he wanted to ask her a question and had done ever since that moment on the balcony. "I sometimes have... people, friends, who join me to travel through space with me..." He wondered what her reaction would be. He took a deep breath. "Would you like to come with me?"
"I would love to." She beamed at him and immediately he knew he had made the right decision.
"Is there anywhere you want to go? We have all of space and time..." The Doctor could usually tell what sort of person he was taking with him by their first request.
"Could I make two requests?"
"Of course!"
"I've… um… always had an obsession with the northern lights, but never had the time to see them."
The Doctor couldn't have asked for a more convenient request, he wanted to think for a bit, and he also needed an opportunity to ask her about her knowledge of aliens. "Ah… Aurora borealis - caused when oxygen and nitrogen particles mix with the charged particles in the atmosphere and absolutely magnificent… And the second request?"
"I want to take Martha on a trip to thank her for her help on the moon, without her I dread to think of what would have happened. We could pick her up just after that party she needed to go to."
The Doctor considered the offer. He had originally only wanted one person to come with him and he had been looking forward to taking a few trips with Thalia and getting to know her. But it was a reasonable request after all Martha had done to help. After all, it was only one trip.
Reaching a decision, he turned to the console and started typing in coordinates.
Thalia took a breath of the freezing night air and smiled at the spectacular light show above her head. The Doctor was lying next to her on the blanket he had spread out, not even an arm's length away, also staring at the range of colours that danced across the sky.
The Doctor turned to her, trying to find the best way to get answers from her. He knew being suspicious would make her defensive and less likely to divulge any information at all. Instead, he opted for a different approach. "You were brilliant on the moon today," he told her.
Thalia closed her eyes. "Thank you."
He studied her closely, looking for any signs of deception, "I was just wondering where you got all your knowledge of aliens from."
It took everything Thalia had to make sure she didn't tense. She already had a cover story she had thought out, she just needed to make it sound convincing. "I met an incredible woman, who taught me everything I know about aliens," she told him.
The Doctor frowned, "Who?"
"Sarah-Jane Smith"
The Doctor bolted upright at her words. "No!" he grinned and Thalia sat up, mimicking his position by stretching her legs out in front of her, "It really is a small universe. I used to travel with her a long time ago now. How did you meet her?" he asked.
She sighed, "I was a child genius. I hid it very well, an alien called the Bane found exams I had submitted anonymously and traced them back to me. They wanted to use my knowledge to power a machine and I was taken to a factory," she frowned, "It would have fried my brain, but Sarah rescued me. They killed my parents so Sarah took me in. When I was older, I worked in a care home and at night I would investigate aliens. Eventually I had aliens trying to destroy the care home and I had to leave. I decided to investigate any suspicious activity I came across - that's how I ended up at the hospital today." Thalia smiled, although she had lied, Sarah really had inspired her. Not only had she rescued her when she was at one of her lowest points, but the woman had made her realise she could do so much more to help and save people - to make up for what she had done.
The Doctor whistled, "That's some story…" he hadn't expected that.
"Yeah..." Thalia opened her eyes again and turned her attention to the lights above her head. She loved looking at them, it made her feel like she was closer to home... She closed her eyes again and searched The Doctor's memories. There was no doubt he loved Rose. It had been two months for him since he had lost her, and he was still hoping there was a way to get her back and Thalia just couldn't compete with the girl. The Doctor thought Rose was beautiful and funny and kind. Not only that, it was Rose who had been there for The Doctor when he had lost his people, not her. It killed her inside to know that when The Doctor needed him the most, she hadn't been there.
"Eyewitness reports from the Royal Hope Hospital continue to pour in, and all seem remarkably consistent. This from medical student Oliver Moregenstern…"
Martha looked up from the mirror where she was applying her makeup for the party to stare at the radio on her table.
Oliver's familiar voice took over from the presenter, "I was there I saw it happen. And I feel uniquely privileged. I looked out at the surface of the moon. I saw the Earth, suspended in space, and it all just proves Mr Saxon right. We're not alone in the universe. There's life out there: wild and extraordinary life."
The reporter continued with, "There was only one death reported from this morning's incident: Robert Daniels was executed by the aliens and his death was witnessed by a number of people. Our thoughts go out to Bill O'Neill's family – he will not be forgotten. On a more positive note, Mr Stoker is making a steady recovery after being found half alive, and drained of blood in his office. The doctors are calling it a miracle and we will be hearing his account once he regains consciousness..."
Martha paused when she heard the last sentence and she smiled, sometimes miracles can happen. Maybe she would get to see The Doctor again after all...
Annalise stormed outside, followed by Martha's Dad, Clive. "I am not prepared to be insulted!" she hollered as she stamped her foot.
"She didn't mean it, sweetheart. She just said you look healthy." Clive tried to calm his girlfriend down, only for his efforts to be ruined when Francine, Martha's Mum, marched out of the Pub, "No I did not. I said orange!"
"Clive, that woman is disrespecting me. She's never liked me," Annalise whined.
"Oh I can't think why, after you stole my husband." Francine retorted, her voice dripping with venom.
"I was seduced. I'm entirely innocent! Tell her Clive!"
"And then she has a go at Martha, practically accusing her of making the whole thing up!" Francine continued.
"Mum, I don't mind, just leave it," Martha tried, Tish and Leo behind her.
"Oh. 'I've been to the moon!' As if. They were drugged. It said so on the news," Annalise added.
Francine scoffed, "Since when did you watch the news? You can't even handle 'Quiz Mania'."
Tish turned to Martha, "Annalise started it. She did. I heard her."
"Trish, don't make it worse," Leo sighed. So much for his birthday.
"You're talking, Leo. What did she buy you, soap? A seventy-five pence soap?" she continued unhelpfully.
"Oh, I'm never talking to your family again!" Annalise stalked off across the road.
"Oh, stay. Have a night out." Francine shouted at her retreating form.
"Don't you dare. I'm putting my foot down. This is me, putting my foot down." Clive followed his girlfriend off, calling out to her.
"Dad!" Leo called.
"Make a fool of yourself! God knows, you've been doing it for the last twenty-five years! Why stop now?" Francine then stormed off, Tish following behind:
"Mum, don't! I asked the DJ and he's playing that song later..."
Martha closed her eyes. The evening was ruined again, she thought. She was about to open her eyes and cancel the party, but she was carefully pulled into a hug. Opening her eyes, she saw a mane of red hair and she smiled. Thalia was back and standing in front of her.
She turned around and noticed The Doctor leaning against a wall, turning into the nearby alley. Thalia pulled her over in the direction The Doctor had disappeared to and she followed, a sense of excitement rising up inside her.
She found him standing leaning against the TARDIS, Thalia then moved to stand next to him.
"I went to the moon today," Martha told them.
"A bit more peaceful than down here," The Doctor said, raising his eyebrows.
Martha frowned, "You never even told me who you are."
"The Doctor."
"What sort of species? It's not every day I get to ask that."
Again, with the questions, The Doctor thought, Thalia hadn't even asked him. "I'm a Time Lord," he said.
"Right! Not pompous at all, then."
"We thought because you helped so much on the moon, and things are a bit hectic round here," The Doctor pointed to the Pub, "Do you want to come with us for a trip?"
"He has a new sonic screwdriver he wants to try out," Thalia said as she rolled her eyes. The Doctor flashed a grin.
"What, into space?" Martha's eyes widened.
"Well..."
"I can't. I've got exams. I've got things to do. I have to go into town first thing and pay the rent, I've got my family going mad..." Martha's career meant a lot to her, she wasn't about to give it up for a trip to space, or whatever!
The Doctor tried to appear nonchalant, but a smile crept its way onto his face as he told her, "If it helps, we can travel in time, as well."
Martha shook her head, "Get out of here."
"We can."
"Come on now, that's going too far." She clearly didn't believe them.
"I'll prove it." The Doctor stepped into the TARDIS, closely followed by Thalia.
The TARDIS disappeared and Martha heard the TARDIS's engines for the second time that day.
Thalia sat on the floor, waiting for The Doctor to come back from showing Martha he could travel in time when an idea struck her. She had been worried about The Doctor scanning her two hearts and finding out she was a Loric Garde.
She stepped up to the monitor and spoke telepathically to the TARDIS. She told the TARDIS about her problem, and asked her if she could change the results if The Doctor ever scanned her. The TARDIS gave a hum of understanding, and Thalia flopped to the floor again, relaxed.
The Doctor found her in the same position, five minutes later, when he returned with his tie in his hand. "Why are you on the floor?"
"Oh!" She immediately sprang to her feet, almost too quick to be humanly possible. She laughed as she brushed her actions off, "Just an old habit of mine."
The Doctor laughed with her. "Let's go show Martha."...
"Told you!" The Doctor jumped out of the TARDIS with his tie in his hand, almost laughing at the look if amazement on Martha's face.
"I know, but... that was this morning! But - Did you... Oh, my God! You can travel in time!"
Thalia stepped out of the TARDIS and helped The Doctor put his tie on who was still smiling at Martha.
"But hold on, if you could see me this morning, why didn't you tell me not to go in to work?"
"Crossing into established events is strictly forbidden," The Doctor told her sternly.
"Except for cheap tricks." Thalia grinned.
"And that's your spaceship?" She pointed behind them, where the TARDIS sat.
"It's called the TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space." The Doctor explained.
"Your spaceship's made of wood," Martha then noticed the other problem, "There's not much room. We'd be a bit intimate. I doubt three people would even fit."
Thalia just pushed the door open, "Take a look."
Thalia and The Doctor followed Martha in, but she ran back outside muttering as she went, "Oh, no, no." She looked around the outside of the box, felt the sides, before she said, "But it's just a box. But it's huge. How does it do that? It's wood," she knocked on one of the wooden panels and ran back inside, "It's like a box with that room just rammed in. It's bigger on the inside."
The Doctor mouthed the last sentence at the same time as Martha, earning a laugh from a watching Thalia.
"Is it? I hadn't noticed," The Doctor said, absolutely buzzing with the prospect of a new adventure with his brilliant new companion...s. He ran up behind Martha and slammed the door shut. He then ran past her again to stand next to Thalia at the console, "All right, then, let's get going."
"But is there a crew? Like a navigator and stuff? Where is everyone?"
"Just me - well us now," He looked at Thalia, who smiled back in understanding.
"All on your own?" Martha asked innocently.
"Well, sometimes I have guests. I mean some friends, travelling alongside me. I had - there was recently a friend of mine. Rose, her name was, Rose. And... we were together. Anyway - I have Thalia now." He failed to notice Thalia stiffening at the mention of Rose.
"Where is she now?" Martha persisted.
"With her family. Happy. She's fine. Not that you're replacing her." He suddenly turned round to Thalia, but was shocked to find her face devoid of any emotion and looking indifferent.
The Doctor was a bit unsettled by Thalia's behaviour, so he continued half-heartedly, "And for you, just one trip to say 'thanks', you get one trip, then back home."
"You're the one that kissed me."
The Doctor gave her a look and scoffed, "That was a genetic transfer."
"And if you will wear a tight suit..." she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Now... don't!" The Doctor glared.
"And then travel all the way across the universe just to ask me on a date..."
"Stop it."
"For the record? I'm not remotely interested. I only go for humans." Martha smiled and laughed, but Thalia wasn't sure if she meant it.
"Good. Well, then." The Doctor visibly relaxed and decided to do a bit of showing of, "Close down the gravitic anomalizer. Fire up the helmic regulator. And finally - the hand brake. Ready?" he winked and spun around.
"No." Martha couldn't help but smile.
"Off we go." The Doctor pulled a lever, sending them all to the floor.
"Blimey, it's a bit bumpy." Martha said, struggling to stand up.
"I think it's perfect," Thalia added, her eyes practically vibrating across the levers and buttons in fascination.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Jones, Miss Brown," he reached out to shake their hands and the TARDIS sent them hurtling through the vortex.
AN: How are you guys getting on with this chapter? Please let me know if you don't like something. Otherwise I'll never know. I'll try to update as soon as I can.
Till next time!