The Cafe of the Third Eye
Long, Long Time
by
Sabrina Lonewalker
The TARDIS landed and two people stepped out, a tall, lanky man with wild hair, squared off sideburns and a mega watt smile and a young woman with dark skin dressed in jeans and a red leather jacket. Martha Jones looked around curiously. "Where are we?" She asked the Doctor. He looked around, "Kalindra system, planet is called Nexus for some strange reason. Known mostly for this Cafe, called the Cafe of the Third Eye."
Martha looked at him, "Third Eye, as in the Third Eye of the Tao?" "Yes," the Doctor replied. Their resident singer, Allegra and yes, that is the only name she is known by, has a unique talent. She can pick out a song for a particular person at a particular time. It's like she can see into your soul to know what you need to hear. She's done it for me I don't know how many times in my lifetimes. She's always right however. Thing is, she never says who the song is for but somehow that person always knows she's singing for them. I think you'll like her."
They walked into the cafe and the Doctor led Martha to the usual table in the back corner that he always sat at when here. The waitress came over and took their orders and headed off. Martha looked around at the different races and species that milled around. She saw the band tuning up on the stage that ran across the entire back wall.
"Where's Allegra?" The Doctor looked around, "Probably still in her dressing room. She doesn't usually come out until just before time to start the set. You'll know when you see her."
Martha nodded as the waitress brought their drinks. The Doctor, as usual, had ordered tea. Martha had ordered something a little stronger. Then, a smattering of applause got them looking around and the Doctor smiled, "There she is." Martha looked up and saw a petite woman with waist length flame red hair, wearing black boots, leggings, a long sleeved sapphire blue tunic belted at the waist. She was barely five feet tall. She looked over the crowd and saw the Doctor, giving him a nod then, she flicked a glance in Martha's direction. She turned to her band and whispered the name of the song she was going to sing. The intro started.
"Love will abide, take things in stride
Sounds like good advice
But there's no one in my sights
And time washes clean love's wounds unseen
That's what someone told me
But I don't know what it means
Cause I've done every thing I know
To try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you
For a long, long time"
Martha's head snapped up and listened. She was thinking , "How did Allegra know that I'm in love with him? How did she know?" The song continued.
"Caught in my fears, blinking back the tears
I can't say you hurt me
When you never let me near
And I never drew, one response from you
All the world you felt
All the while you fell all over girls you never knew
Cause I've done everything I know
To try and make you mine
And I think it's gonna hurt me
For a long, long time"
Tears were threatening to spill down Martha's cheeks but she had to keep them hidded since he didn't know how she felt about him. All he talked about was Rose and it made her want to scream at him sometimes, scream, "Look at me, I'm here!" But, he never looked.
"Wait for the day, you'll go away
Knowing that you warned me
Of the price I had to pay
And lives full of loss, who knows the cost
Living with the memory of a love that never was
Cause I've done everything I know
To try and change your mind
And I think I'm gonna miss you
For a long, long time"
Martha nodded to herself, the Doctor had warned her before she agreed to travel with him but, she had come anyway and now, she wasn't sure she made the right choice but, she was here now and she would stay as long as she could.
"Cause I've done everything I know
To try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you
For a long, long time"
There was applause when the song was finished and people resumed their conversations. Martha picked up her drink and was sipping it as the Doctor finished his tea. He hadn't said anything since he knew this song wasn't for him. He didn't see the small smile Allegra flashed at Martha ss she left the stage.
Martha smiled back sadly. Allegra nodded and headed back to her dressing room to relax and think. Martha followed the Doctor back to the TARDIS and the two disappeared. Allegra watched from her window, "Good luck, Martha Jones, you're going to need it."
End