Once down in the labs the Doctor set Martha to work mixing different chemicals to concoct an acid strong enough to burn through metal. The Doctor himself then set about hacking into more Torchwood files to track down where exactly the Dalek was.
"It's heading down a street called Blossom drive," the Doctor said typing quickly at the keyboard. "Any idea where it is?"
"About ten minutes walk from here," Martha replied, adding carefully measured amounts of different liquids. "Five if we run and take a few shortcuts."
"Right," the Doctor left the computer tracking the Dalek and went to help Martha make the solution up. After a few moment of awkward silence the Doctor spoke again. "So… tell me about yourself…"
Martha glanced at him for a second before measuring out another sample. She waited a few minutes before finally answering him.
"Well, I live with my Mum Francine, my Dad, Clive, and my brother and sister Leo and Tish. I'm a trainee nurse and until that Dalek showed up my best friend was Lexie Smith." She replied, keeping her voice level, though the Doctor could tell inside she was probably screaming for her friend, or blaming him for what had happened to 'Lexie'. "Although my mobile was broken in the chaos so my family might have been hurt or anything."
The Doctor knew the feeling. He'd had this problem with Rose; when she hadn't been able to use her mobile because it didn't work five billion years in the future.
"Pass it here," the Doctor said hand outstretched. Martha passed over her mobile and continued to add to the solution.
The Doctor pulled out the Sonic Screwdriver and removed the battery from the back of the mobile. He pressed the screwdriver to the back of the mobile as he fished for a spare intergalactic hyper battery.
"Just a bit of jiggery-pokery," he said smiling sadly as he remembered the time he'd said that to Rose.
"What?" Martha asked frowning yet smiling as she stirred the mixture.
"It's a technical term," the Doctor replied, putting the new battery in and testing the mobile. "I got flying colours in Jiggery-Pokery."
"Right," Martha said looking at him as if she thought he were mad. The Doctor tried to hide his slight disappointment and handed the mobile back.
"All working," he said quietly, taking the mixture from her and adding his own ingredient. Martha stared at the no working phone and grinned as she found her home number.
"Mum?" Martha stood up and started pacing as she talked. "Is everyone ok? Yeah? I'm fine. Don't go outside. No, it's not terrorists; it's an alien… look it's hard to explain. I'm sorting it though ok? No, I've got some help, there's this guy-"
She glanced at the Doctor
-"he knows exactly what he's doing. He's dealt with this kind of things loads of times before. No, look… Mum listen… no listen… Mum! It's fine. I'll be home later ok? Ok, ok, bye."
Martha hung up and pocketed the phone.
"Everyone's alright," she said wandering back towards the Doctor who was pouring the liquid they now had into a plastic container. "Mum didn't believe me about the Dalek."
The Doctor nodded as he screwed a top onto the container tightly and pocketed it.
"Well it'll take time and evidence before anyone believes you," the Doctor replied. "But it's best if you don't mention me. There are many people and aliens after me, it'd be better not to give them any leads."
"Kay," Martha replied. "How come that acid isn't burning straight through that tub?"
"It's a special concoction," the Doctor grinned. "Right, here's the plan. We find the Dalek, I throw the acid at it, the acid in theory should burn through the metal outing and the alien inside is revealed. Even if the acid doesn't burn the Dalek creature the harsh atmosphere and light should take care of it. In theory."
"You're relying on theory a lot there," Martha commented.
"Yup," the Doctor agreed checking the computer again for the Dalek's whereabouts. "But my theories are usually right."
"What happens on the rare occasion you're not?" Martha asked not sure if she wanted to know the answer. The Doctor looked up, his warm brown eyes full of dark anger and pain.
"Then people die," he said bluntly. "But I'm not going to let that happen."
Martha nodded shyly. Somehow the Doctor scared her even though she felt safe with him and completely trusted everything he said.
He held a hand out to her which she took without question. The pair of them headed up the stairs to the entrance of Torchwood Tower.
"Lead the way," the Doctor said and Martha showed him down several alleyways until finally they came out at one end of Blossom drive. The Dalek was rolling down the middle of the deserted street intoning;
"EXTERMINATE!" Over and over again it cried out, but everyone who lived on the street was hiding and those who turned onto the road didn't live long enough to run away.
The Doctor went to move but Martha grabbed his arm.
"You can't, it'll kill you!" She said noting that it was looking their way. "At least wait until you can sneak up from behind."
"Martha, the universe is a harsh place and sometimes waiting means you miss a chance and if I miss the chance to do something again I don't think I can carry on. You've got to let me go," the Doctor whispered mournfully, referring to his missed chance at telling Rose how he felt.
Martha knew it was silly to care about someone so much when she'd only known him an hour, but something told her that she needed to hold onto the Doctor. But another part of her made her let go and the Doctor started to walk towards the Dalek.
"DOCTOR IDENTIFIED." The Dalek screeched stopping a few feet away from the Doctor and looking at him intently. The Dalek's gun repositioned itself to point at the Doctor. "YOU ARE AN ENEMY OF THE DALEK'S. YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED."