Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who...otherwise...BBC America would be showing more Copper! And Ripper Street...it's got my husband (as the main character)

Chapter 10

"Wow, this is my room?" Jenny asked. The blond knew the ship was apparently bigger on the inside because it was in another dimension. Martha had explained it better than her father had (not to mention her father pouted at Martha's rather simple, yet accurate description). She didn't have many expectations when it came to rooms.

The few months she had spent separated from her father in her tiny ship, had taken care of that.

A tiny ship, tiny room, and small amount of rations.

Now she had a giant room in various shades of blue.

"The TARDIS takes care of her residents." Martha reminded the blond as she gently transferred the fish from the prize bowl into the aquarium. The gold fish moved about the water, it swam down to the blue and red pebble covered bottom before floating to the top to eat.

Jenny watched her new pet move about. "You feed him at least twice a day." Martha informed her showing the fish food. "And this," She pointed to the filter, "needs to stay clean." The Londoner picked up a manual that sat innocently by the tank written in English, "The manual on how to upkeep the filter."

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"Showed Jenny to her room?" The Doctor asked as he played with a jammie dodger. He had every intention of eating it, just after he spoke with Martha.

Martha picked up one of the sweets, "Of course."

"I suppose the thing that dragged Jenny through the rift is back." He had plenty of time to come up with reasons on why Jack would need Martha. It made the most sense for the alien that dragged his daughter through the rift to be terrorizing Cardiff. Possibly leaving Jack with a medical mystery that required the skills of someone who's seen things...otherworldly things. The dark skinned beauty raised an eyebrow as she bit into the biscuit. "It makes sense, we've only been gone a day at least. Don't suspect something nice could be visiting?"

Martha chuckled, "Already on the case?" She teased as she prepared tea for them.

"Oh, well you know me Martha Jones." The Time Lord replied with a grin. "Never leaving a stone unturned."

"Or un-licked."

"Oi! Time Lord tongues are more efficient at identifying chemical make ups!"

Martha rolled her eyes, "Yes well, if you plan to keep kissing human women I'd suggest making sure to sterilize that thing."

"Sterilize th-?" His eyes widen as he processed her statement. "Doctor Jones!" He looked down at the human woman leaning against the counter in the kitchen. She smirked at him. "How many- why would you- do you think I-"

She couldn't stop herself, "What's the chemical make-up of cats?" The doctor ended up double over as the Time Lord's bony fingers tickled her. His biscuit was in pieces on the floor, "S-stop it!"

"Will you stop sassing me?" The Doctor asked. Those small fingers of Martha's dug into his suit as she laughed.

Martha's breathing was uneven as she laughed and taunted the alien, "Never T-Time L-Lord!"

"You should give up Jones." He replied. The alien's lip curved into a smile at Martha's relaxed body language. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to-

Cutting off his own thought process, he leaned forwards and captured Martha's lips with his own. His arms snaked around her, pulling her closer. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him in. The feeling of Martha's body against his, her heartbeat moving rapidly like his own hearts…he didn't want to let her go.

Yet, Martha pulled back from him. He rested his forehead against hers. Their brown eyes were locked; his reflecting the fact that he was old, tired and ready to step out of his comfort zone for her. Her eyes were tired, afraid and there was curiosity reflected at him. "Doc-" Martha was cut off by Jenny entering the room.

Jenny peeked into the kitchen and then stepped back out. It seemed like a private moment. Her father couldn't have looked more alive in that moment. And Martha...Martha had looked so relaxed, even as her father tormented her. The blond inwardly debated going to her room and waiting for them to call for her. Except, she remembered there was a problem on Earth. Jenny stepped back into the room taking care to make noise. Only when her blue eyes landed on her father and Martha, she could tell that her timing had been worse the second time around.

Her father's arms were around Martha's waist, Martha's arms were around his neck, his head close to hers, and it was obvious- they had been snogging.

"I'm interrupting." She pointed out needlessly.

Her father pulled away from Martha and ran a hand through his hair. "No, not really," He replied as he turned to face her. The woman behind him sighed softly.

Jenny knew he was lying, "Earth...we're supposed to be going there?" She resisted the urge to rub her trainers against the floor, she hadn't meant too. And besides- shouldn't her father focus on her more? She just came back!

It was always- Martha, Martha, Martha.

He needed a new tune.

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Martha could have banged her head, repeatedly, on some hard surface in the TARDIS. Teasing the Doctor- fine, friends did that.

Being tickled merciless- friends also did that.

Getting snogged after being tickled- friends did not do that.

Jack knew something was bothering her. Hell, she knew what was bothering her.

Though the 'what' was more a 'who'.

"There's someone out there for everyone," she had told him when they had been leaving Manhattan. Hell, she had meant him and herself. Them.

"Well, well if it isn't the lovely Doctor Jones." Martha was pulled from her thoughts at the sound of Mickey Smith's voice. She looked over at him and offered him a smile.

Mickey noticed Martha enter his domain- a sectioned off room that housed computers moved from Torchwood's hub. His laptop sat connected to the towers running various programs. The woman looked deep in thought and he could vaguely hear Jack talking with someone (presumably the Doctor) not far from behind her.

"Hello, Mr. Smith."

Mickey grinned, "How's that patient I heard about?"

"Alive and well," Martha replied. She approached the desk with her arms crossed. "I don't think the universe is ready for the two of them." She slid her jean jacket off. "Though to be honest," Martha leaned over and whispered, "I don't think they're ready for each other."

The black man laughed before pulling Martha into a hug. "Glad you're working with us."

"As if I'd let something harming people escape." She retorted returning the hug. Mickey was pleased the good doctor was wearing a tight v-cut shirt.

"Ahem."

The Doctor cleared his throat, loudly and obnoxiously. Like that Umbridge woman in the Harry Potter series. He was attempting to curve that emotion that threatened to flood him, again. Why the hell did Mickey Smith have to show some interest in Martha?

They had reconciled over their differences when it came to Rose.

He hoped he wouldn't have to show Mickey Smith that he was still better.

That like Rose, in the end Martha Jones would pick him.

She had too.

"I only go for humans."

There was no way being a different species was really going to cost him. Would it?

Jack watched Mickey and Martha interact. He had thought they got along pretty well after the stolen Earth mess. He even thought that if it weren't for Tom, Martha's fiancee at the time, he was pretty sure Mickey would've scored a date then. Now, Martha was -technically– single and he seriously hoped he didn't have to play the Great Wall of China between the Doctor and Mickey.

From what he understood and knew from experience- it could get ugly.

Very ugly.

The Doctor didn't deal with jealousy very well.

Gwen elbowed him and nodded towards the Doctor. Oh the Time Lord wasn't happy with what he was seeing. Part of it, Jack knew, is because the Doc thought of himself as being in a relationship with Martha. A one-sided relationship as Martha was unaware that she 'taken'.

"Mickey Mouse, why don't you get Nightingale the address to the hospital our victims are in?" Jack asked with a smile. "I'll drive you over Martha."

Martha leaned over Mickey's shoulder as she memorized the hospital name and address. "Shouldn't be too hard Jack," She replied standing up, "We've been there before."

The members of Torchwood exchanged glances. Martha didn't hold it against them, but Jack had been at fault when she ended up aged. "I feel like there's a pretty interesting story there." Mickey mumbled.

"With this tension, it has to be really good." Jenny agreed. The dark skinned male raised an eyebrow at blond woman. "I'm Jenny."

"There's a really good story behind you." The blond raised an eyebrow as she smiled at Mickey.

Martha covered her mouth as she giggled. Mickey was definitely silly.

Smiling slightly, Martha moved to the edge of his desk and took a seat. "Jenny, this is Mickey Smith. The cute Welsh guy across from you is Ianto Jones. Gwen Cooper is the charming Welsh lady next to Ianto and you know Jack. I wouldn't listen to a charming word that comes out of his mouth. He's given Casanova tips as far as I know."

Jack laughed at that. "Oh Nightingale, someone had to teach him how to charm the ladies properly."

"You did a fine job too," The Doctor retorted, "I owe him a chicken." Everyone looked at the Time Lord oddly before turning away chuckling. "Oi, it's not that funny!"

Jenny raised an eyebrow, "Dad...who's Casanova and why do you owe him a chicken?"

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After a group discussion on Casanova that left Jenny with the impression that her father was the man in question. The Doctor had disagreed and claimed the two of them only shared similar facial features. Martha had joked that Casanova sounded like the perfect combination of Jack's personality with the Doctor's looks. Mickey had wondered, out loud, if that meant Casanova was an alien…or 'you know the son of an alien and a human.' The Doctor hadn't been amused when the two Londoners high-fived each other.

Martha had gone back to the TARDIS, laughing, to change from her casual outfit into something more business-like. Mickey had promised Martha that he'd have food waiting when she got back from the hospital. Jenny watched Martha and Mickey's interaction with curiosity. The blond had been sure that Martha was going out with her father. Yet, her father seemed…to be ignoring Mickey and Martha. In fact he was now focusing his attention on the wreckage of her old ship.

Ianto had given the Time Lord the photos and offered to drive him to study the ship. Gwen had taken the car keys from Ianto and told him she was doing it.

Jack leaned against the black SUV that Torchwood used. The Doctor was making sure Gwen knew he didn't like the gun she carried. And Gwen told the Doctor she didn't care, as long as they captured the alien threatening their city. Captain Harkness laughed at them as they pulled off.

"What could possibly be that funny?" Martha asked as she stepped out of the TARDIS. The Captain gave her a dimple showing grin. The doctor was dressed in a black pantsuit with a purple cami visible underneath the buttoned up jacket and purple heels. Over her outfit she wore a knee length black peacoat. Her hair hung loose and was kept out of her face with a purple headband.

The kicker was the shades on her face. They were large black ones that completely covered her eyes. "Gwen and the Doc. So Doctor Jones, have you got a one-liner for me?"

"Oh shush you." Martha chided as she stepped towards him. Of course he would think of CSI at a moment like this. The black woman walked towards the car and when she finally reached the good Captain sent him a saucy wink.

"You are such a tease Martha Jones."

"So, Nightingale…how are things between you and the Doc?" Jack asked once they were in the car. He had no plans of beating around the bush with his Martha. She would see right through any of his bull.

Martha shrugged as she looked over the files Mickey had gotten for her. "The same I suppose. He's been a bit odder than usual lately." She looked up at Jack, he was definitely listening. "Do you suppose Time Lords were like humans when it came to relationships? Or that maybe they have this thing, like cats, where they're just-"

"The Doctor's been chatting you up and you're wondering if he's in some weird Time Lord version of heat?" Jack asked chuckling to himself. "Martha Jones, I love you! Alas, Time Lords were like humans, I'm afraid." At least, from what Jack understood they were and the Doctor was somewhat of an awkward duckling apparently.

Martha sighed and pouted slightly, "You couldn't just give me the one that I wouldn't have to worry about?"

"This is good Nightingale!" Jack replied with a slight grin that caused his dimples to show. "It means you've got a shot to sleep with the Doctor."

Martha crossed her ankles and rolled her eyes. "Jack, if that was all I wanted from the man I think I could've gotten it weeks ago." She placed her elbow on the arm rest and sighed as she glanced at the scenery passing by. Sometimes she missed the simpler things in life…

"Oh, so you do want to-"

"We'll be in a car accident you finish that sentence." Martha glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. "I didn't say I actually wanted anything from him. He can keep all alien parts to himself." Jack looked too amused with this topic and Martha wondered why she bothered to bring it up with him. The Captain was good for talks on everything except if you were looking for advice on- sex, the Doctor, oh and sex. Combine his two favorite topics and Martha wouldn't be surprised if he was thinking of ways to join them.

Jack stopped at the light and glanced over at Martha, "Does it really bother you though?" She raised an eyebrow at him, "The Doc, his attempts to flirt with you, his…'heat' mood." He was slightly serious and that's what mattered to Martha. Jack cared about her feelings on the matter.

"I," Martha paused as she closed the folder and turned to look at Jack as he drove. "It's baffling."

"Go on…" He encouraged as started accelerating again.

Martha looked passed Jack and tugged nervously on the seatbelt. "I suppose, I'm used to the flirting. He does that a lot. It's part of his charm, I suppose. Tish and I noticed what we've interpreted as signs the Doctor is serious this time about me. It's just…I don't want him to notice me like that. Not anymore! Jack, I don't want to misinterpret his intentions and then soon as another girl younger than me comes along, he tosses me out."

"Young and blond?" Jack teased with a dimple showing grin.

"Don't start that again." Martha retorted with a slight grin herself. "Besides, he's an alien Jack. What am I supposed to do with him?"

Jack's grin became a bit lecherous. "Introduce him to human woman properly. There's the Cow Girl, I've got a hat you can borrow, a T-Square or a Rusty Bike Pump…I'd love to see that one, of course if you aren't afraid of using that sexy mou-"

Martha's brown eyes stared at Jack. "Is your brain really located inside your head?" She asked cutting him off.

"Of course," He replied as he started pulling into the hospital's parking area. "I've just got a very good imagination."

Shaking her head, Martha placed the ignored files in the compartment underneath her seat. "I worry about that imagination."

"Oh, it's gotten me out of a few spots." Torchwood Three's leader informed her with a grin. "I didn't tell you about the time I was executed?"

Martha shook her head as she checked her jacket's pockets for her id. "Did you sleep with him?"

"To be fair it was the alcohol and it was a very nice last evening."

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The hospital staff in the Cardiff hospital excitedly chatted among themselves as a UNIT doctor and Torchwood member walked the hallways. Doctor Jones and Captain Harkness were escorted to the isolated ward that housed the victims of the unknown attack. "Doctor Jones, the patients are in this room." Martha peered over the nurse's shoulder and nodded.

The light skinned nurse with teal scrubs on opened the door and led them inside. Nurse Conner checked each patient before pausing by the door. Her dark brown hair was swept up into a ponytail and her glasses sat precariously on the end of her nose. "If you need anything at all Doctor, I'm here to help."

Martha nodded as she started looking at the patient charts. "Thank you."

Jack watched as Martha went through the charts one by one. He couldn't stand hospitals honestly. The sterile rooms, the beeping of heart monitors and the somewhat depressing scent of sickness and death. This room was actually a ward with ten beds, half of which were filled with comatose raven haired women. At the other end of the room was a window with curtains pulled back that allowed sunlight to pour in. Slowly Martha sat the third chart down with a frown. "Nightingale?" Jack asked with a curious expression.

Dark brown eyes looked up and met blue eyes. "His type is pretty obvious."

"There are plenty of black haired women in Cardiff though."

"Within the 25-30 age range?"

Jack cocked an eyebrow as he walked to her side, "Plenty."

That was the thing that bothered Martha the most. There were plenty of women that matched that description, so how had the alien known to attack these women in particular? And Jenny, why had it gone after her? She didn't fit the profile that she had formed. Perhaps there was something that she was missing, a link, something that all five women had in common with Jenny. That was the issue Martha couldn't offhand think of anything that the six could have in common especially considering one was an alien. "So why target these five?" She muttered out loud to herself.

Going back around, Martha looked at the women's blood work. There was nothing to explain the comatose state they were in.

At least nothing normal technology could detect. The human doctor knew UNIT's technology was advance enough that it would probably detect any trace elements.

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Jack followed Martha into the TARDIS. The doctor had taken samples of the women's blood before leaving the hospital. The staff had attempted to warn her against it, but Martha had been around the Doctor long enough to know how to talk people down. Captain Jack had been the perfect distraction against the female nurses. Jack had joked that Martha was pimping him out. His Nightingale had merely smiled and told him to work his magic.

This was how the two of them, half an hour later, were now inside the Doctor's ship.

"You know how to work that?" The handsome man asked her. Jack was pointing to the scanner Martha was standing over in the console room. He could tell that Martha had a clue, but he didn't want her to do something that could disturb the ship. Or anger the Doctor.

Martha nodded, "The Doctor showed me once. I've memorized it since." Was the distracted reply as she read the labels on the tubes of blood. She had the files Mickey had given her out and open as she examined the patients history. Nothing added up, the women came from different family backgrounds- some had siblings, some came from single parent homes, heck a few even had small children. Different jobs, different schools…the only thing in common were that they lived in Cardiff.

Five of the six victims lived in Cardiff.

"The most obvious thing Jack, is that excluding Jenny, our victims were all long time Cardiff residents." Martha gestured for him to join her side. "Mickey's found records of them having lived in Cardiff the entirety of their lives. They never crossed paths in school, they have different family backgrounds- if you ignore this right here." The dark skinned woman pointed out in one of the records the lineage of one of the girls. "Her family has been in Cardiff for ages."

Jack picked up another folder and examined the linage comparing it with the other girl. "Martha, they can't be the only Cardiff residents who can trace their history this far back." His blue eyes looked at the file of Guinevere Cooper, "Even Gwen's family goes back to the 15th century, maybe further back, in Cardiff." The Captain looked up and found Martha looking at him with an eyebrow raised. "She matches the description of the other victims."

Martha nodded, "We need to warn her."

"You find out what's keeping those women comatose." Martha nodded as she watched Jack grab his military peacoat and leave for the temporary Hub. "I'm going to get them." He called out over his shoulder.

She knew Jack would take care of Gwen and the Doctor. Sighing out loud, Martha turned to the scanners and started calibrating them. She may not be able to read Gallifreyan, but she could recognize the different symbols that made up its alphabet. Now, she just needed to find the cause of the comas and reverse it.

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Hoshi: I couldn't resist mentioning David Tennant's Casanova. ;) Did you guys read the fic where Ten took Martha back in time to meet Casanova actually? Boy was he upset when he realized Martha and Casanova had disappeared…together. The author was using David Tennant's version of Casanova for the fic as well. I sorta want to read it again now that I'm thinking about it. Hmm…also live journal! My live journal has a new Ten/Martha lemon. Actually that lemon's been up for a few months now. If you don't know my lj can be found at: ice-shinigami . livejournal . com

I meant to post this last week in honor of Freema's birthday...but I got distracted. (Busy with work and packing for spring break.)

Anyways expect another round of updates next month.

Please read and review!

Also...do you like my profile picture? That's my friend and I cosplaying as Ten and Martha!