Martha's ears were ringing well before she had even entered Donna's room
Martha's ears were ringing well before she even entered Donna's room. She was surprised that the Doctor or Rose weren't up and complaining at all the noise. It seemed to Martha that entire hospital had to now know that Donna's back was hurting her and the nurse who was trying to help her was useless. Before braving that mess, Martha decided to check on her other, quieter, patients first. The Doctor was sleeping as soundly as he'd been earlier and Rose was in now in the same state. She'd chosen the moment had Martha approached her bed to overcome the anaesthesia and blink heavy eyes at her and Jack. She asked if everyone had made it in a voice that seemed to dissipate on the wind before reaching their ears and she'd promptly passed out after the affirmative response. Jack was worried at the sound of Rose's voice but Martha firmly dismissed them as unnecessary. She took Jack's arm and steered him out of Rose's room and down the hall to Donna's.
Donna was now shouting at the poor nurse about the rules that confined her to the bed, yelling which continued when Martha refused to be of any help after the nurse left the room. She demanded to know the state of both Rose and the Doctor, which was something Martha could do for her. The medical talk actually made Donna shut up and her voice returned to more reasonable volumes. "How much longer do I have to say in here?" she complained after a few moments.
"A day or two," Martha answered as she pushed a chair toward Jack and she settled into her own on the other side of Donna's bed. "Just to be sure everything's fine."
Donna opened her mouth, probably to remind Martha just how 'fine' she was, but closed it. "Thanks," she said suddenly, glancing at both the doctor and the captain. "For getting us all out, I mean."
"Hey it wasn't like we were ever gonna leave you behind!" Martha exclaimed. She reached out and squeezed Donna's hand. "We're TARDIS mates, remember?"
Donna opened her mouth but Jack quickly cut in. "I was tempted to leave her," he deadpanned, "if only for the sake of my sanity and my hearing." Martha chuckled but Donna did not find this funny. She pulled one of her pillows out from under her and tossed it. Her aim was off and it went sailing through the doorway, hitting a pyjama clad Time Lord in the chest with a small "oomph".
Martha was on her feet and rushed to support him as he staggered. "What on Earth are you doing out of bed?" she whispered harshly.
"Lovely to see you too, Martha Jones," the Doctor muttered. Martha glared at him but the light in those eyes and the smile on his lips, something that she'd thought she'd never see again, melted her annoyance and she hugged him tight. He grimaced but hugged back as best he could, which was a bit shy of the rib crushing hugs he was famous for.
"Seems you slept most of that concussion off!" Martha diagnosed brightly as she ushered him over to her chair. The Doctor saluted to Jack, who returned it half jokingly. Before he could sit down Donna grabbed his shirt sleeve and pulled him into her arms.
"Never do that to us again!" Donna scolded.
"A little air please!" he gasped and Martha knew that not all of it was show. "I'm a sick man you know!"
Donna finally released him and he all but fell back into Martha's chair. "Phew!" the Doctor sighed. "Remind me never to get you angry."
"You always forget that," Donna remarked.
"Oh, yeah…" The Doctor suddenly snapped to attention as he realised where he was and where everyone else was. "Blimey!" he shrieked. "What are you doing in a hospital bed, Donna?" He whipped his head to Martha. "Where did those bruises come from?" he asked as he caught glance of the bruises that remained on her temples, she thanked her lucky stars for her lab coat hiding the healing gashes on her arms. He tried to stand to get a better look at them but ended up falling back into a seated position again. "What happened to you all?"
"Doc, calm down," Jack said with his hands held out as if he were trying to calm a child. "What's the last thing you remember before waking up here?"
Martha watched as the Doctor silently scrolled through the memories of his time as a captive and felt her heart tense up at the expressions on his face. She wanted to discuss it all with him, help him ease the burden of his ordeal, but she knew that would only happen when he wanted it to.
"You charged them," the Doctor said in awe. The gaze he fixed on Martha was one of reverence and it made her blush. "You'd essentially lost, but you charged anyway." That same gaze was fixed on both Jack and Donna. Jack held the Doctor's eyes while Donna looked away.
Martha shrugged. "It was the last thing we could do. We weren't going to let you go without a fight." Nor had they wanted to die quietly, Martha thought but didn't say. He knew well enough what the risks would have been and she knew he wouldn't appreciate the reminder.
The Doctor was silent for several moments, long enough that Martha felt like she should go and assess his level of consciousness. Then the infectious energy that usually surrounded him seemed to course anew through the air. He bounded out of the chair and pulled Martha into a proper rib crushing hug. He said nothing for several moments, just hugged her tight before finally whispering "thank you" in her ear. The words were simple, something that'd she'd heard from him before, but it sounded as if he were thanking a deity instead of a friend. It also again made her heart clench at the thought of what he'd been put through.
"You're worth it," she whispered back, humbled beyond offering anything of greater depth.
"Yeah, what she said," Jack gasped out as the life was squeezed out of him. "And someone has to watch your back!"
Donna merely said "you're welcome" as she disappeared into the Doctor's arms. She gasped in pain, causing the Doctor to jump back and release her. The next few minutes consisted of Donna trying to arrange herself better on the bed while swatting the Doctor away from helping her. "I'm fine!" she assured him. "I mean I was almost paralysed but I'm sure I've had worse. Don't mind me."
The Doctor's eyebrows seemed to disappear into his hairline and Donna batted her hand in dismissal before any questions could be asked. "Oh some bloke just threw me into a wall…I think?" She looked to Jack for confirmation, who nodded his head.
"A bit more than that," Martha supplemented. "You gave as good as you got."
"And what a retreat!" Jack whistled, eyes shining with triumph. "Those guys were petrified!"
"I wish I could have seen it!" Donna whined.
"Why didn't you?" The Doctor asked.
"Because," Donna snapped. "Some fat ugly bloke smashed my HEAD into the WALL!" She swatted the Doctor's hand, who gave a theatrical yelp and accompanying glare.
"Hey, Rose was conscious," Jack teased lightly. "She had a worthless leg and a bullet hole in her side and she was still awake longer than you. And she was dragging his dead weight along!" He jerked a thumb at the Doctor.
Donna's retort died as everyone took in the Doctor's face. Colour had drained from it and his eyes were unfocused and distant. Martha moved to kneel by his chair quickly, asking if he was okay and trying to get a proper look at his eyes. He blinked rapidly and shook his head. Martha backed off. "Rose was actually there?" he whispered. "I didn't imagine her?"
Martha shook her head, cupped the side of his face and turned it to look at her. She waited until he was focused on her before speaking. "She was there." She held his gaze unblinking, hoping he would see the truth in her eyes as well as hear it in her words.
"How?" he breathed. "It's impossible, it's-"
"We're not sure," Jack answered. "We didn't get much of chance to ask her and she didn't say. All she did say was that she felt like having impossible for breakfast that morning."
Donna snorted. "She just popped out of thin air one day and started giving orders. Bit rude if you ask me, we'd only just met-"
"Shut up," Martha ordered and waited for the Doctor to assimilate that information. He looked back at her with the eyes of someone trying to hope despite better reservations. "Where is she now? Is she…?"
Martha shook her head furiously. "She's alive. She's two doors down and fast asleep." She continued to hold his gaze as she moved onto Rose's health. "She had surgery today to fix her leg and a few other injuries she had, she was shot twice you see," the Doctor winced but she kept going. "She'll live." Martha smiled lightly. "She won't be quite up to running for her life with you right away but she will be soon enough."
The Doctor's eyes closed and released a breath that he'd been holding throughout Martha's speech. He whispered something in some language she didn't recognise and then asked if he could see her. She nodded. "Two doors down," she directed again as she stood up and helped him to his feet. "Want to be alone with her?"
He nodded and Martha didn't object. By rights he should have someone in there with him, or at least be monitored, but she couldn't find it in her heart to do it. They'd all bought his freedom with their own blood and it was only fair to let him use it. Plus this was a moment that begged for privacy. The only other person who had known Rose beforehand had already had his moment with her. The Doctor had more than earned his.