A/N: The Chibi's Are Stalking Me, Cordelia-Lear, GSRgirlforever, Isis the Sphinx, Jessa L'Rynn, Kathryn Shadow, NewDrWhoFan, Olfactory-Ventriloquism, Rynne, SilverWolf7, andTardisIsTheOnlyWayToTravel are proud to present the Second Annual Doctor Who October Project.
Each author has one character assigned, in the mode of the Canterbury Tales. Jessa L'Rynn edits.
Disclaimer: Owner of Doctor Who? No, you want the BBC.
The Companionable Tales
Chapter 11: Time Lord Tea Party
Today's Author: Cordelia-Lear
Lucy was inconsolable, and Sarah Jane was trying to calm her down. Donna was filing her nails and comparing notes on hair-care with Jackie. Isleen was pacing fretfully between the fireplace and the chair where Mickey and Luke were discussing football and why Luke should enjoy it. Luke wasn't exactly agreeing with Mickey, but it seemed to be due to something about his mother's discouragement.
Martha sighed and settled back in her chair. She wanted a nap and she wanted out of here, not necessarily in that order. She wondered if Tom was missing her and assumed he probably was.
"Are you all right?" Isleen asked quietly, sitting down next to Martha and offering a gentle smile.
Martha nodded and smiled back. "I was just wondering if we were being missed by the people we were with. This place seems timeless, if Mickey's watch is anything to go by, but I'm not sure if that means we're gone for no time or not."
Isleen blinked. "You're very very clever," she said. "I was wondering when the Doctor would find me, but if time's not relevant..."
"Don't say it," Martha cautioned, gesturing at Luke quite nearby, and back at Sarah Jane. "It's not impossible, not yet. We'll figure it out, I'm sure."
"But the Doctor usually does things to help his companions, right?"
Martha smiled and tried not to be condescending. "Well, he won't let you die if he can help it," she said, truthfully.
"But he'd never just leave you in a difficult situation, would he?"
Martha snorted. "Isleen, you've either gotten a very polite Doctor or you're really new at this. Listen..."
The Doctor fidgeted in his chair, and shot Martha a sideways glance. She sighed then smiled encouragingly in his direction. Her mother glared at him from the end of the table.
"Mum, I thought you and the Doctor got off on the wrong foot last time. Thanks for letting us come to tea," Martha said carefully.
"You're always welcome," Francine said, still glaring at the Doctor.
The Doctor coughed politely into his hand, and Martha kicked him under the table. "Oi!" he protested too loudly.
"Something wrong?" Francine asked icily.
The Doctor opened his mouth, glanced at Martha, then thought better of it. "N-no," he said quietly.
An uncomfortable silence seemed to drown out everything else that Martha could think to speak about, and she shot the Doctor a curious look. He was never this quiet for this long.
"Martha, dear, Tish told me that she called you last week about her new job, and you never called back. Have you been able to check your messages?" Francine continued to stare at the Doctor who was busy carefully studying the table cloth pattern.
"Well, the Doctor and I have been busy. Saving planets."
The Doctor remained silent, and Martha knew something was about to happen. She didn't know whether she was worried or excited. Both probably.
"Yes, that's nice, dear. It's just too bad you missed your nephew's birthday," Francine said significantly.
Martha rolled her eyes. "Mum, he turned one. He's not going to remember this ten minutes from now, let alone ten years from now."
The Doctor cleared his throat and shifted in his seat.
"Yes?" Francine asked in a strained polite manner.
The Doctor looked up, startled. "Hm?"
"What?" Francine demanded.
"Did I say something?" the Doctor asked wide eyed. "Martha?" He turned to her.
"You cleared your throat," Martha clarified.
"Oh, that. It's nothing. Carry on." He coughed. "Continue sending veiled threats my way," he said quickly. He coughed again, and took a slurp of tea. He glanced between mother and daughter.
"Here we go," Martha thought.
"I'm sorry?" Francine demanded.
"For what?" he asked. Martha kicked him under the table again. "Ow! D'you think we need to get your reflexes checked, Martha Jones?" he asked quirking an eyebrow at her.
"They seem to be just fine," she replied, kicking him a bit more sharply.
He stood up abruptly, and moved into the chair next to Francine. "You won't kick me, will you?" he asked, turning his charm up to eleven.
Her lack of answer and hell freezing stare were answer enough, and he jumped to his feet with the loud pronouncement of "Biscuits!"
Martha and Francine both jumped with his surprise energy burst.
"That's what we need! Chocolate, preferably. Francine?" he asked expectantly.
She blinked at him.
"Right! I can get them. Through here?" He motioned to the kitchen, and didn't wait for her answer. The door swung after his abrupt exit.
"Martha," Francine pleaded with her daughter. "Why don't you come back home, study for you exams? It's not safe with him. What do you even know about him? He acts like he's on drugs!"
Martha closed her eyes slowly, as the sound of the TARDIS dematerialization sequence cut off her reply. Her phone rang shortly thereafter. TARDIS lit up the caller ID, and she sighed.
"Hello?"
"Is dinner over yet?" the Doctor asked warily.
Martha glanced at her mother. "Not yet," she said with false cheer.
"Right. See you in a week… Maybe two."
"Martha, is that the Doctor?" Francine pressed.
"Is she asking if it's me? She is, isn't she. Don't tell her it's me! Say it's… your dad! If there's anyone she hates more than me it's your dad!" The Doctor blurted out in a rush.
"Yes, Mum, it's him," Martha said.
The Doctor groaned. "What did you go and do that for? Now she probably thinks I'm some sort of coward!"
Martha snorted.
"What?" both the Doctor and Francine demanded simultaneously.
Martha realized, suddenly, that she was standing at a crossroad, at that moment. She could choose to take the peacemaking route, smoothing over the Doctor's sudden departure, or she could further damage the train wrecked mess that was the Doctor and her mother's relationship…
"Rose would know," she thought, unbidden. Okay, now SHE was doing it.
"Mum, the Doctor has decided that I'm not enough woman for him, so he's going to pick Tish up from work, take her for a spin, and then come back for me so we can all have a go," she said nonchalantly. "You can come, too, if you like, he says," she added.
Francine slammed her cup down, and stormed out of the room, as the Doctor made an incomprehensible sound somewhere between a groan and a squeal.
"That's what you get for leaving me here on my own," Martha said into the phone.