Martha was tired. Ridiculously tired. For two months, she had scrubbed floors and dealt with obnoxious, spoiled, racist teenagers while the Doctor ignored her more than usual. Jenny offered some comfort, Martha didn't know if she could have made it through these past couple months without her, but she couldn't be honest with Jenny. She had no one to truly talk to.
Martha and Jenny were scrubbing the floor of the main entry way when two of the more problematic students walked by, judging them for laughing while they worked.
"… hands like those, how can you tell when things are clean?" The boys laughed and continued on their way.
"That's very funny, sir." Martha said with an air of dignity and pain, though the boys were too far to hear her.
Martha and Jenny were too focused on their own conversation to notice a young-looking brunette enter the building and approach them.
"Careful, now, don't answer back." Jenny chastised, understandingly.
"I'd like to dump my bucket over his head." Martha replied, unaware of the additional ears in the hall.
"I'd suggest his shoes. It would be a little easier to explain away, but it would still upset a boy as spoiled as 'im." The two maids startled at the new voice.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't mean anything by it." Martha looked down at the floor.
"No need to apologize to me. I know how infuriating teenage boys can be." Rose reached her hand out to Martha. "I'm Marion Prentiss."
Martha hesitated but accepted her hand. "Martha, and this is Jenny." Rose shook Jenny's hand in turn.
"Would one of you be so kind as to show me to the headmaster's office? I'm supposed to meet him."
Martha rose to her feet. "I'd be happy to. Follow me." The two women began walking down the hall towards a staircase.
That was when Rose caught her first sight of the man she loves, standing at the top of the stairs, fumbling awkwardly as he talked to another woman. As he tripped over his words, Rose noticed him stepping too close to the edge of the step and hastened her pace up the stairs. She set down her travel bag and, just as he began to fall, grabbed the Doctor's shoulders and steadied him.
"Careful now." Rose could barely contain her laugh, and she noticed Martha similarly struggling. Rose released his shoulders with a quiet apology.
"Oh, no need to apologize. That you have been embarrassing and probably rather painful." The man finally looked her in the eyes, and Rose could have sworn she saw a brief hint of recognition as his eyes softened, and his smile grew. A genuine, though still timid, smile. "Ah, hello Martha."
"Hello, Mr. Smith, Matron."
"Well, we should probably bring these books back to the library before the new librarian arrives." The Matron stated, with little humor to be found in her voice. Someone's not happy to see us. Rose thought. What did we interrupt?
"That would be me. I'm glad the library is well used." Rose smiled, forcing herself to look away from Mr. Smith.
"Ah, well then it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss T-" Mr. Smith hesitated.
"Prentiss, Marion Prentiss." Rose felt a little more hope grow in her chest at the flicker of recognition.
"John Smith, and this is Matron Redfern. Forgive me for not shaking you hand." He lifted the stack of books a little higher. Rose nodded, not ready to hold his familiar hand while he didn't really know her.
"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid I must be on my way. I have a meeting with the headmaster. I imagine I'll be seeing you soon, though, if that stack of books is any indication." She smiled with her tongue between her teeth and stepped closer to him at the top of the stairs, retrieving her bag. He moved to make room for her and Martha, but he stayed only centimeters away from her. His eyes never leaving her person.
"Yes, I spend a fair amount of time in the library." He nodded and finally looked down towards the stairs. The matron clenched her jaw but smiled politely as she started making her way downstairs, Mr. Smith following a few steps behind her with one final glance at Rose.
Martha continued to lead Rose down the hall to the headmaster's office. Rose thanked her and knocked on the door. The headmaster was quick to answer.
"Hello, I'm Marion Prentiss, your new librarian." Rose greeted with a confidence she didn't truly feel.
"Ah, yes, I'm glad you were available on such short notice." He gestured for her to step inside. "Martha, is it?" Martha nodded. "Could you wait here to show Miss Prentiss to her room and the library in a few minutes?"
"Yes, sir. I'd be happy to."
Rose was grateful when her meeting with the headmaster was over, and Martha led her to her room. Bad Wolf had kept her promise, and she'd been able to answer his questions properly, but her nerves still had not yet settled from seeing someone else walking around in the Doctor's body. She set her bag down in her room.
"Thank you for being my guide today Martha." If she was the Martha currently travelling with the Doctor, then Rose should be trying to befriend her, even if she was still wondering if she had reason to be jealous. The thought struck Rose that she hadn't really felt jealous in the last 54 years. She had no one to be jealous over, but the second she was back in her home universe, those juvenile feelings returned. She just hoped they didn't show through as much as when she met Sarah Jane.
"My pleasure, Miss." Martha looked in her direction but didn't meet her eyes.
"You can call me Marion if you'd like."
Martha smiled genuinely this time. "I don't think the rest of the staff would take too kindly to that, but when it's just us, that would be nice." They walked the rest of the way to the library. "Here we are. Sorry, it's a bit of a mess. The last librarian wasn't the most organized, but not having her here the last week made it much worse. I think you'll have you work cut out for you."
"Well, at least I won't be bored, I suppose." Rose shook her head staring out at the mess. She spotted a familiar head of hair bobbing around the bookshelves.
"Dinner is at 6:00. I'll see you then, Marion."
"Thank you, again, Martha."
Martha left the room, happy to have been treated like a valuable person by someone other than Jenny. How low have my standards become these past couple months? That man better take me to a spa or something after this. I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind.
