Chapter LX
Mira's POV
As soon as they had been back at Earth they left the hospital, without saying goodbye to Martha. At least the Doctor had agreed to stay with Martha until she woke up – not that she couldn't understand his hurry, she hated goodbyes probably as much as he did – but that much time they should spare.
The way out of the hospital then had taken longer than expected; too many people, police, fire-brigade and such, rushed in, and it had taken them some effort to get past them. Once outside, he had waved at Martha, who had made it out as well by now. Then, after going back to the TARDIS, he had not lost one more second and left Earth.
If it was for her, they could have stayed on Earth a bit longer. Maybe had some more words with Martha, watch the policemen trying to figure out what had happened, getting into contact with Torchwood – anything so that she wouldn't have to deal with the Doctor alone in the TARDIS.
What the hell had she been thinking, kissing him like that? Not too much, obviously. She wished she could blame it on the lack of oxygen, but she couldn't. She had been only too aware of what she was doing. Well, maybe not fully aware. But certainly the lack of air hadn't played a role in it. She had acted like a jealous teenager, totally inappropriate for her someone of her age. She should have known better by now, she really should. Most of all, she should have had better control over herself.
All the time whilst thinking she had studied the console and now looked up for the first time, only to notice that the Doctor was watching her from the opposite side of the console. Had he been doing that all the time? Probably.
He was just standing there, his hands in his pockets, one eyebrow slightly raised, his eyes black and endless in the dim light of the console room. Not for the life of her she would have been able to tell what was going on in his head right now.
He on the other hand seemed very well able to do exactly that. She felt as if he was looking right through her, and even her looking away would not change that. For a moment all her pretending, all excuses, masks, lies and prevarications suddenly became useless; vanished into thin air. She almost felt naked under his gaze – naked in a more exposed way than the simple lack of clothes could have ever made her feel. And as much as she dreaded this feeling of exposure, she had to acknowledge that some part of her was actually yearning to embrace it. It was only him and her in the TARDIS right now, and everything else became unimportant, such as the Judoon scanning her as an alien, and even this strange universe which wasn't hers seemed a little less foreign to her for that moment. It was almost like when they had been in the Observatory, shortly after Rose was lost in the parallel world. When they had just looked at each other for a while. And she had done nothing between then and now to stay away from him; on the contrary. She had made it even worse, she suddenly realised, despite her intentions. She had tried to convince herself that he had no interest in her – that, even though she couldn't read his emotions - he just liked her, as a friend, a companion, nothing more. But now it dawned on her that most likely she was being wrong, knowing it all the time.
Knowing and accepting had always been two completely different things. If not complete opposites.
They had to talk. There was no way around it. Firstly, there was still a slight chance she was wrong and only seing things. Secondly, it just couldn't be, and therefore it was better they both knew it. She had loved - and she had lost. And, if it really was true that loving and losing was better than never to love at all, then that was enough for her, enough for one lifetime, no matter how long that would be in her case. She couldn't go through all that again; so better to clear things now.
"I-" she started, but at the same moment he opened his mouth to say something as well. "You first."
"Nah, wasn't that important. Well, it is, otherwise I wouldn't say it, and all I say is somehow important, but...," he said and scratched his neck. "You go first."
"Sure?"
"Yeah, go on," he said and cracked a not so convincing smile.
"Well...," she started, still searching for the right words. What should she say? Suddenly, her head felt completely empty. The only thing she could do right now was cursing his good hearing and her quickly beating heart. He couldn't hear it over there, could he? It wasn't really quiet in the console room, so probably not. But, even though it was anything but quiet with the ever-present humming of the TARDIS, silence had fallen heavy between them, filling now not only her head, but the whole room.
Just say it.
They had agreed on being nothing more than companions, and it shouldn't be too hard to just renew that promise, should it? She only had to hear it from him, just once more. She braced herself, tried to mentally phrase her thoughts into straight sentences – it shouldn't be too hard, should it? Just asking – no, stating – that nothing had changed between them. That nothing could ever change. She took a deep breath to steady herself and looked straight into his eyes.
"I-" she started, resisting the temptation to avert her eyes. Was he afraid now? It almost seemed like, but who could say that with him. "We-" she started again.
Are friends. That's it.
Why for all planets was it so hard? "We..Maybe we should ask Martha along?" she heard herself say, whilst mentally slapping herself. "The TARDIS does feel a bit empty now, doesn't she?"
Ouch.
She saw how his face fell, but only for a moment, then he turned his gaze to the console and said, "Sure. Why not? At least for some time. She's nice, isn't she?" He flipped a few switches and continued talking, "And she deserves it somehow, doesn't she?"
Martha's POV
She was at home, getting herself ready for her brother's birthday. Her mind was still occupied with the Judoon, the incredible view from the Moon's surface with the Earth floating above her head. And the man who had introduced himself at the Doctor, stated he was actually alien - Come on, you've heard his heartbeats. And his lips... - and had kissed her. Well, she could somehow see why he had done that, but nevertheless, it had been a kiss. And then he and Mira had vanished, waving at her at one moment, gone at the next. It could all have been a dream – if it wouldn't be for the announcer saying, "Eyewitness reports from the Royal Hope Hospital continue to pour in, and it all seems to be remarkably consistent. This from medical student Oliver Morgenstern." at the radio right now. And for the black cross she had scrubbed off the back of her hand. She only hoped she would see the Doctor again; it was unlikely, but she had a feeling that she could be lucky.
...
Her father had actually brought Annalise to her brother's party. And, of course, it hadn't worked. Now all she could try to do was some damage control, even though she knew with her mother obviously looking for a fight it might be in vain.
"I am not staying in here to be insulted!" Annalise yelled and stormed out of the pub.
"She didn't mean it, sweetheart. She just said you look healthy," her father made a poor attempt to console her.
"No, I did not. I said orange," her mother made very clear that it had indeed been an insult.
"Clive, that woman is disrespecting me. She's never liked me," Annalise whined now.
Oh, really? You're sleeping with her husband and she's supposed to like you now?
"Oh, I can't think why, after you stole my husband," her mother spoke out what Martha was thinking.
"I was seduced. I'm entirely innocent! Tell her, Clive!" Annalise said.
She really wasn't the brightest candle on the cake. But she was blonde and well- young, and that seemed to be enough for her father.
"And then she has a go at Martha, practically accused her of making the whole thing up," her mother spat at Annalise.
Oh hell, could she just leave her out of it? She knew all to well her mother was talking about her with the whole hospital being on the moon.
"Mum, I don't mind. Just leave it," she told her mother. But it was too late.
"Oh. "I've been to the moon!" As if. They were drugged. It said so on the news," Annalise spat back at her mother.
"Since when did you watch the news? You can't handle 'Quiz Mania'!"
"Annalise started it. She did. I heard her," Trish said now to Martha.
Now Trish wanted to get involved too? Great. Sometimes she really was just like their mother.
"Trish, don't make it worse," Leo tried to calm her down.
"You're talking, Leo. What did she buy you, soap? A seventy-five pence soap?" Trish replied.
"Oh, I'm never talking to your family again!" Annalise yelled and finally stormed off. If she would only stick to that promise...
"Oh, stay. Have a night out," her mother shouted.
"Don't you dare. I'm putting my foot down. This is me, putting my foot down," her father now said and started to chase after his girlfriend.
"Dad!" Leo tried to stop him.
What in hell had she done to deserve that, Martha thought to herself. Hern father just had to bring Annalise. It had been a disaster waiting to happen.
"Make a fool of yourself!" her mother yelled after him. "God knows, you've been doing it for the last twenty-five years! Why stop now?" Now she stormed off as well, Trish rushing after her.
"Mum, don't! I asked the DJ and he's playing that song later-"
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She was about to go back inside when her eyes fell on an all too familiar figure. Tall, dark haired, dressed in a suit. But he had changed, it was a brown suit now, and he was wearing a light brown, long coat. He just stood at a corner, looked at her for a moment and then went around the building.
Well, if that hadn't been an invitation to follow him...
She went around the building into some small alleyway. After a few steps she saw him leaning against a blue police box. She had seen those things occasionally, but she didn't know that one was standing right here. And no one was using them any more, were they?
His friend, companion, or whatever she was, was standing next to him. At least they weren't together, as he had kissed her right in front of Mira's eyes.
Mira had changed as well and was now dressed in a dark blue jacket that almost looked like a part of a uniform, with epaulettes and some symbol on the front she had never seen before. Well, could just be fashionable, at least it didn't resemble any uniform she knew. Her hair was braided into some beehive-like hairdo, with a part of it falling down over her left shoulder. It must be really long, or she was wearing a hairpiece. She would totally fit into one of the classic Star Trek episodes, Martha couldn't help to think. She was just a bit too skinny for that. Apart from that, she wasn't entirely sure yet if Mira was human, just as a part of her still didn't fully believe the Doctor wasn't human.
"I went to the moon today," she said with a smile, if only for the sake of saying something.
"A bit more peaceful than down here," he said.
"You never even told me who you are," she said, meaning both of them.
"She's Mira, I'm the Doctor. Travelling together."
"What sort of species? It's not every day I get to ask that."
"I'm a Time Lord."
"Right! Not pompous at all, then," she replied, stepping closer.
"She- We," he said, looking over to Mira and then back to her, "just thought since you saved my life and I've got a brand new sonic screwdriver which needs road testing, you might fancy a trip."
"What, into space?"
"Real space this time. Moon is nice, but well- It's only our own Moon," Mira said with a soft smile.
"I can't," Martha heard herself say. In truth she would like nothing more than just to go with them, with him, after all she had seen today, but- "I've got exams. I've got things to do. I have to go into town first thing and pay the rent, I've got my family going mad..."
"If it helps, I can travel in time, as well," the Doctor interrupted her.
Okay, now he was taking it a little bit too far. "Get out of here," she said.
"I can."
"He can," Mira confirmed. "Really."
"Come on now, that's going too far."
"Mira, wait here. I'll prove it," he said and went into the police box.
The other woman stepped away from the box and was standing next to her now. Before she could say a single word to her, the box suddenly started to disappear, making weird noises.
"What...," she started to say and turned her head to Mira, who was just standing and looking at the spot where the box had stood a moment ago, her arms crossed. "Where did he go? Will he come back?"
"Oh, he better will," Mira said, and just now she heard the weird noise again, and the box reappeared. The Doctor stepped out again, holding his tie in his hand.
"Told you!" he said with a wide smile, and suddenly it dawned on her.
"I know, but... that was this morning! But - Did you... Oh, my God! You can travel in time!" she said and watched how he put on his tie again. So, he had met her this morning, after all that had happened? Well, at least from his point of view. "But hold on, if you could see me this morning, why didn't you tell me not to go in to work?"
"Crossing into established events is strictly forbidden. Except for cheap tricks," he said with an absolutely adorable expression on his face.
"And that's your spaceship?" she asked. It was a box. A simple, wooden box. But she had seen it disappearing with her own eyes.
"It's called the TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space," he explained.
"Your spaceship's made of wood," she said after gently touching it. "There's not much room. We'd be a bit intimate."
Was she really just flirting with an alien who could travel in time? Well, maybe she was. But he had kissed her first. She shot Mira a quick look, and for a moment she got the impression the other woman was deliberately avoiding her gaze, with a sad expression on her face. But it could also be only her imagination.
"Take a look," the Doctor said, pushing open the door, and from that moment on everything else, including flirting with him, seemed to be absolutely unimportant.
It was huge. She took a step inside the box, only to find herself in a large, round room. The ceiling was supported by almost organic looking columns, and in the middle was a single console. All was bathed in green and blue light, and it really looked absolutely alien.
"Oh, no, no," she was saying, not able to wrap her head around all this. Time travel? Well, okay, he had proven that, even though it could still be some sort of trick. But what was that now? She went outside again, past the Doctor and Mira who were standing next to the door. "But it's just a box. But it's huge. How does it do that? It's wood," she said and knocked at the box again, just to be sure. Wood. Absolutely wood-ish. "It's like a box with that room just rammed in. It's bigger on the inside." She went back inside.
"Is it?" she heard the Doctor say and she didn't miss his mocking tone. "I hadn't noticed." He closed the door behind her and threw his coat over one of the columns. "All right, then, let's get going."
"But is there a crew? Like a navigator and stuff? Where is everyone?" she asked. She couldn't quite believe that he was flying that box all on his own. But then again, what did she know about spaceships?
"Just the two of us."
"Travel companions?" she asked and could have slapped herself for that. Not obvious at all, was it?
"Well, yes. Picked her up, so to speak," the Doctor said, looking at Mira, seemingly uncomfortable.
"My ship exploded," Mira explained. "So I'm a bit.. well, homeless now."
"Yeah, so she's staying here. Oh, and just recently, there was someone else, a friend. Her name was Rose. But she's at home now. With her family. She's fine."
She looked from the Doctor to Mira and back again. They had been together, hadn't they? Did they just brake up? Or was it just that she wanted to be with him, but he not with her? Well, not her problem, as it obviously was past now. But what sort of ship did she mean? Most likely not a sea-ship. But there were no spaceships on Earth. Where was she from?
"So, let's go then," he said again. "That's just one trip to say 'thanks', you get one trip, then back home," he added, looking at Mira even though he was clearly speaking to Martha. Mira looked as if she was about to say something, but then decided against it.
"You're the one that kissed me," Martha said provokingly and approached him. Why did he want to get rid of her so soon again?
"That was a genetic transfer," her said, all serious.
Really? Best excuse for a kiss ever.
And she would have never thought it could sound that hot. Yeah, right, she could see now why 'genetic transfer', but he hadn't had to kiss her for that, had he?
"And if you will wear a tight suit...," she continued, moving around the console.
"Now... don't!" he said, looking straight in her eyes.
"And then travel all the way across the universe just to ask me on a date..."
"Stop it."
"For the record?" she said and leaned in at him. "I'm not remotely interested. I only go for humans."
"Really? You've no idea what you're missing," Mira said dryly and flipped some switches on the console. All of a sudden, the whole ship seemed to come alive with the central column glowing brighter and the humming getting louder.
"Well, then," the Doctor said after clearing his throat, "Good. Close down the gravitic anomalizer. Fire up the helmic regulator. And finally - the hand brake. Ready?"
"No," she said after a second of consideration. Where would she end up? And – when?
Did he really just say hand brake?
"Off we go," he said and pulled a lever. Suddenly, the whole room shook and jolted, sending him falling to the floor.
"Blimey, it's a bit bumpy," she said and almost fell herself, if Mira wouldn't have supported her.
"I strongly believe by now he's doing that intentionally," Mira said with a smirk.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Jones," the Doctor interrupted them after he had pulled himself up again, holding out his hand to her.
"It's my pleasure, Mr Smith," she said and shook it.
OxxgeorgiaxXo, NeoMulder, Julia N SnowMiko, heroheroandaletotherescue, Ronin Kenshin, bored411, 10th Squad 3rd Seat and the unknown guest: Thank you for leaving a review :-)
