Thanks to grapejuice101, Dark Conspiracy for following/ faving my story.
NicoleR85: thank you!
Approximately four hours later, Imogen started to stir. "Doctor", she said quietly seeing him sitting there when she opened her eyes. "What happened?"
"One of the Carrionites poisoned you", the Doctor replied. It sounded like he'd been crying "if it wasn't for Naiyah getting the antidote… I could've lost you".
"I'm sorry", Imogen said slowly sitting up. Her mind hadn't quite registered the fact that he mentioned the Time Lady, the one only she could see.
The Doctor looked up confused "why are you sorry?" he asked "It wasn't your fault".
"It might not be my fault but this is the second or third time I've nearly died", Imogen stated "I wouldn't be surprised if you took me home", she added in a mumble. But the Doctor still heard it.
"Imogen, I wouldn't take you home for that. I would only take you home if you asked me to", the Doctor said "is that what you want? To go home?" he asked, his hearts sinking at the prospect. He didn't want her to go home. He wanted her to stay with him. Yes, she was nearly killed again but that was all the more reason that she should stay. So he could do a better job of protecting her.
Imogen shook her head "No, I don't. I just thought that's what you wanted", she said.
"Never" the Doctor got up from the chair and gave her a soft kiss "I love you Imogen. I don't want you to go home".
"Then I'll stay", Imogen said. Then it finally registered in her mind that he mentioned Naiyah "wait did you say 'if it wasn't for Naiyah'?"
"Yeah I did", the Doctor confirmed sitting down on the edge of her bed.
"Was she a young ginger woman or a little blonde girl?" Imogen questioned.
"Neither, she was a blonde woman a little older than you", the Doctor replied.
"I'm surprised you could see any version of her, I thought it was only me who could see her", Imogen said.
"Well, I didn't see her until the Game Station. She's the one who saved me from the Daleks", the Doctor told her "when did you first see Naiyah?"
"I first saw her in the TARDIS just after the Gelth trip", Imogen answered "but she didn't interact with me until Satellite 5".
"Did she…tell you anything about why you two were connected?" the Doctor asked, hoping that the Time Lady had done so.
"I don't know how. And unfortunately the regenerations I've met don't know the reason either. All I know is that she saw me in the Untempered Schism when she looked into it. Along with 11 other women, all with the same eyes", Imogen explained "this connection is why I thought her locket was mine". She reach for it but her eyes widened when her fingers didn't connect with any metal "my locket its gone!"
The Doctor held it up "the Carrionites took it. Naiyah helped me get it back", he said. Imogen took it and clasped it around her neck. They glanced at the bedroom door when it opened and Martha stepped in.
"Hey Imogen", she said coming over and giving the girl a gentle hug "how are you feeling?"
"I'm a little tired but I'm alive", Imogen replied honestly "I actually could do with a cup of tea", she added.
"I'll get you one", the Doctor said. He kissed the top of her head, got up from the bed and left the room. The moment he was gone, Martha moved to sit down carefully next to Imogen.
"Imogen, if this isn't too much to ask, I was wondering if you could do me a favour", Martha said.
"Sure, what is it?" Imogen asked.
"Could you talk to the Doctor about letting me stay a little longer?" Martha asked "Meeting you and the Doctor has probably been one of the most exciting things that's happened to me in a while. And honestly, I don't want this to be just one trip. I want to see more".
"I understand Martha. I've been travelling with the Doctor for a while and it's still pretty exciting. Between you and me, I don't want you to go either", Imogen said "the Doctor and I aren't over losing Rose. And I think you might be what we need".
"As what?" Martha asked.
"A friend. We need a friend", Imogen replied. She glanced over at the door "the Doctor's coming", she informed Martha "I'll see what I can do about letting you stay but no promises".
Martha "Ok, thanks Imogen", she said giving the girl another hug as the bedroom door opened again. The Doctor entered with a mug of tea in his hand. Martha got up, exchanged a glance with Imogen who nodded. The black woman left the room.
The Doctor came over to Imogen and gave her the mug of tea. "Thanks", she said cradling the mug in her hands. The Time Lord sat down on the desk chair which he'd pulled up close to the bed. "Doctor we need to talk about Martha", Imogen said after taking a couple of sips of tea.
"What about her?" the Doctor asked.
"She wants to stay", Imogen replied "she doesn't want this to be a one trip deal" the Doctor opened his mouth to say something when Imogen stopped him "Martha is not a replacement for Rose. Nobody could ever replace Rose. But I do think we need her. We need a friend Doctor. That's what I think Martha can be, a friend".
The Doctor could see where she was coming from and for most part he agreed with her. He was just still hesitant to have someone else here for a long stretch of time. "I don't think I'm ready to have someone else here Imogen", the Doctor said "however, I am willing to give Martha one more trip. But that's it".
Imogen nodded. She tried but if he wasn't ready then he wasn't ready. She was not going to force him to let Martha stay. At least he did agree to give the trainee doctor one more trip. "Ok", she said agreeing with his terms.
The Doctor left Imogen's room so he could tell Martha the fairly good news. He found her waiting in the console room. "Imogen told me that you want to stay with us", the Doctor said and Martha nodded, eager to hear what the decision was. She hoped he was going to let her stay. "I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not ready to have someone else travel with us" Martha's heart sank at that but she tried to keep it from showing on her face "however, we're giving you one more trip".
"Really?" Martha asked. Ok she wasn't staying as a travelling companion but at least she was getting another trip.
The Doctor nodded "and as we've had one trip to the past, how about a trip into the future?" he asked flipping levers on the console. He had the perfect place in mind. Somewhere Imogen could relax and help her get better.
"Sounds good to me", Martha replied.
"How about a different planet?" the Doctor asked.
"Can we go to yours?" Martha asked. If she was only getting one more trip, the planet of the Time Lords would be an amazing second/last trip for her.
"Ah, there's plenty of other places", the Doctor said waving off that suggestion.
"Come on, though. I mean, planet of the Time Lords. That's got to be worth a look. What's it like?" Martha questioned.
"Well, it's beautiful, yeah", the Doctor replied. They were getting into a topic that he didn't really want to talk about.
"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?" Martha asked imaging what the home of the Time Lords was like.
"I suppose it is", the Doctor agreed.
"Great big temples and cathedrals!" Martha said excitedly.
"Yeah", the Doctor said thinking about his home. He wasn't really comfortable talking about what happened to his people. He hadn't really discussed it properly with Imogen. She knew that his planet was gone and that he was the last but he never told her about the war. It wasn't something he could easily talk about, even now. Then again, Imogen had never asked him about it which he was grateful for.
"Lots of planets in the sky?" Martha asked. She didn't know that it was a difficult subject for him to talk about.
"The sky's a burnt orange, with the Citadel enclosed in a mighty glass dome, shining under the twin suns. Beyond that, the mountains go on forever. Slopes of deep red grass, capped with snow", he replied picturing it clearly in his mind.
"Can we go there?" Martha asked now very interested in seeing his planet.
"Nah. Where's the fun for me? I don't want to go home", the Doctor replied dashing around the console tweaking the settings as he went. "Instead, this is much better. Year five billion and fifty-three, planet New Earth. Second hope of mankind. Fifty thousand light years from your old world, and we're slap bang in the middle of New New York. Although, technically it's the fifteenth New York from the original, so it's New New New New New New New New New New New New New York. One of the most dazzling cities ever built", he said "but first I need to get Imogen. Can't explore without her".
He left the console room, heading for Imogen's room. "Do you think you're up to going out?" he asked the brunette.
Imogen shook her head "not really, sorry Doctor", she replied.
"That's ok, you rest up", the Doctor said trying to ignore the disappointment he was feeling. Though he had to remember that she'd been poisoned not that long ago. She wasn't going to be able to bounce back straight away.
"Will do. Don't you go get yourself and Martha into trouble mister", Imogen said warningly.
"Trouble? Me? I don't get into trouble", the Doctor said defensively.
Imogen raised her eyebrows "uh, yeah you do. You're a trouble magnet", she retorted "and don't argue back. You know its true", she quickly added "Now, go show Martha something amazing", Imogen lightly ordered.
"Yes ma'am", the Doctor said giving her a quick kiss before he left.