Chapter 4

"Are you excited to go home?" Gwen asked as she helped Martha get ready to leave the hospital. She was always impressed with the way Ianto could make things happen. He had the nearest hospital set up a room for Martha to be 'discharged' from that looked a lot like the area where they kept the young doctor in Torchwood.

"I'd be more excited if I knew what it looked like," Martha replied.

Gwen sighed before smiling. "It'll come back to you. You'll see. Just give it time."

"I know," she told her friend. "Thanks Gwen."

"Did you know that John is having a welcome home dinner for you in a couple of days?"

"Blimey, I don't even know where home is," Martha grumbled.

"He's just…," Gwen started. "He's just really happy you're okay, that's all."

"I know," Martha conceded. "I can tell that John's a wonderful friend. And he means well." She sighed. "I just wish I could get my bearings first."

"I'm sorry."

Martha and Gwen quickly turned towards the door.

"John," Martha began.

"No," he interrupted. "I understand. I'm pushing."

"You're not," she replied. She walked a few steps closer to him. He was looking down at his trainers. She waited until he looked up again to continue. "You're brilliant."

The Doctor smiled a genuine smile as his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Thank you."

"So," she said. "What's on the menu for this welcome home dinner?"

"Well, Jack and Mickey love my sausage and cheese tortellini," he told her with a smirk.

"What about me?" she asked. "What's my favorite dish of yours?"

"Oh," he whispered. "That's a secret. But, I promise you it's been your favorite since the first time I made it for you."

"When was that?" she inquired, smiling.

"That was when you came to Cardiff to check out the job offer," he replied without hesitation. "Honestly, I think it's the reason you said yes so quickly to becoming flatmates." Martha laughed. "I missed that laugh. You should do it more." She tried to stop laughing, but continued smiling as they looked at one another.

"So," Gwen interrupted. "We should probably get going. I've got to get to work, and I'm sure you want to get home."

The Doctor cleared his throat. "Right," he said a little too loudly. "Let's get you home."

--

"We certainly have taste," Martha said as they stepped inside the flat and closed the door behind them.

"It didn't look like this until after you moved in," the Doctor told her. "Thanks for helping me decorate. It was a nightmare before you came."

She looked back at him and smiled. "How was it a nightmare?"

"Oh, it was extremely impersonal," he replied. "We brought it to life."

She chuckled humorlessly. "Why can't I remember?" she asked no one in particular.

"For starters," he told her. "You need to relax. Your memories will not come back if you keep trying to force them."

"I know," she said. "It's just so bloody frustrating." She started to pace. "I mean, why on earth would I not know my best mate?"

"That's why we're here, Martha." He stepped in front of her. "You'll get to know me again and we'll get into our old routine. Next thing you know, your memories will be back in no time at all." Martha was looking down until he lifted her chin and her eyes met his. "Why don't you have quick tour and a long bath?" Martha's eyes lit up at the thought of soaking and relaxing in a nice hot bath. "The magic words never fail!"

"Okay, let's get the tour underway so I can have my hot bath," she happily suggested.

"As you wish," he said with a bow. "Welcome to the home of Dr. Martha Jones and Dr. John Smith."

"Wait a minute," she interrupted. "You're a doctor?"

"I'm a research scientist at Cardiff University," he replied. "Molecular Biology is my specialty, although I have been called a science geek."

Martha chuckled. "There's nothing wrong with being a science geek," she said. "I happen to prefer the company of science geeks."

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up," he said. "That's why you're my best mate."

--

John took her on a quick tour of the flat before they ended up in her bedroom.

"And this is your room," he told her as he opened the door. "Why don't you get settled and I'll run your bath."

"Oh, you don't have to, John," she declared.

"Please," he interrupted. "I want to do this. Besides," he said with a wink and a smirk "I know where your favorite bubble bath is and you don't!"

"Okay, okay," she laughed. "Go on then."

John gave a wide smile that she had a feeling she really liked before and would really like for years to come. He ran to their bathroom and began to run the bath. Martha sat down on the bed with a sigh.

Home, sweet home, she said to herself.

--

The Doctor waited until he heard Martha moving around in her room before running up the stairs to knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in," she said.

He opened the door. "Hello!" he said. "What do you feel like doing for the rest of the day?"

"I…don't know," she replied. "I think the bath made me relax a bit."

"So…?" he encouraged her to continue.

"So," she went on. "Let's just sit around, watch TV and talk about anything except my memory loss."

"Dr. Jones, that's brilliant!"

--

Three hours later…

"Oh, come on, Martha!" the Doctor said. "Supernatural? Why?"

"What's wrong with Supernatural?" she asked laughing. "It's a very well-written program."

"But, you don't actually believe in all of that stuff, do you?"

"Of course not," she said. "But, it's still fun to watch. And I thought today was about having fun."

"It is!" he told her. "But, it's Supernatural," he whined.

"John, are you jealous of the gorgeous American men? " she asked. He arched an eyebrow. "So, shush and let's watch it. Or," she added with a sly grin. "We could always watch 300 or The Dark Knight."

"An actual 3 hour film with you drooling?" he scoffed. "I don't think that's going to happen."

Martha laughed. "Are you always this funny when your masculinity is threatened?" The Doctor's mouth opened into an 'O', but no sound came out. She laughed even harder.

"That is not funny!" he protested. "And I wasn't this way when Shakespeare kept trying to chat you up," he grumbled.

"Shakespeare?" She asked confused.

The Doctor's mind went to quite a few Gallifreyan curses that he did not voice. Think. Think! THINK! "Yes! Shakespeare! It's the town in New Mexico where we stopped when we were traveling across the States last year."

"Oh," she said. "We traveled across the States together?"

"Yes," he confirmed.

"The United States…of America?" she asked.

"We landed in Los Angeles and drove to New York City."

"Just because we wanted to?" she inquired.

"Yep," he said, popping the 'p'. "And, in Shakespeare, New Mexico, every man at the restaurant tried to chat you up. Same thing happened at the bar we went to later."

"Really?"

"Why wouldn't they?" he asked. "You're a beautiful woman. Anyway, I just started saying 'Shakespeare' because it's funnier than saying 'every man in Shakespeare'."

"It definitely got my attention," she agreed.

"Sorry," he said. "We weren't supposed to be talking about your memories tonight."

"It's okay," she quickly stated. "That was interesting."

"Right," he said sarcastically.

"No, really," she insisted. "It was."

"Why don't we just watch Supernatural?"

"No thanks," she answered. "I'd rather just sit and talk. Tell me about yourself, John."

End part 4