Okay kids! Here's the not-so-thrilling (but sorta satisfying) conclusion to the story. If I'm honest, I think this story went on for 2-3 chapters too long, so I was eager to bring it to a close. I hope you don't find it too abrupt or cheesy.
Thank you for reading, sticking with me! Reviews are love :-)
TWENTY
They parked the TARDIS across town, and let Hodgekins go. The man seemed stern, seemed honestly to understand the gravity of the situation and that there were consequences for interfering with the timeline. The Doctor wondered if he now had another ally if he ever needed one. Only time would tell.
The four of them holed up in Martha's flat for the next two weeks, administering the antibiotics on a strict schedule. The morning after they arrived, Martha awoke. She was not herself, but she was not delirious, hallucinating or brain-damaged either.
During the day, Feeno stayed with her to care for her, while the Doctor and Jack did most of the errand-running and domestic odds and ends. Jack did the cooking (as it turned out, he could make more than waffles), while the Doctor tried to keep the place clean. They were still living with the plague, so he was obsessive about laundry, disinfectant and dust. Though, the dust fixation was a life-long thing, as Jack found out. Jack did the shopping, the Doctor paid Martha's bills for her. It was a happy little domestic arrangement that, frankly, by the end of the second week, threatened to drive them all insane. Even Martha.
When the Doctor was satisfied that she was well enough, they all went out to an abandoned heath up north, waited until nightfall, lit an enormous fire, and burned all of Martha's plague-contaminated clothing and sheets. That included two of the Doctor's suits, three of his shirts, Martha's jeans, pyjamas and undergarments, one of Jack's coats, all of the bedclothes from the TARDIS' master suite and two sets of sheets from home. Feeno was also obliged to give up his black Roy-Leman uniform and settle for a pair of jeans and a jumper from Primark (that had been Jack's job).
That night, they had something of a campfire. They all told stories, including all that had occurred since Martha had fallen unconscious in 1350 – the terrorist threat, Mr. Hodgekins, dropping off the Namuh on their home planet, and landing here. Jack finally recounted the painful story of being killed by a stray javelin, and Feeno talked about his childhood on Korr.
Eventually, Jack announced that he was sleepy, as did Feeno. The two of them retired to their quarters on the TARDIS, leaving the Time Lord and his human companion sitting on a log beside the fire. The orange light danced in their eyes as they locked into one another.
"How do you feel?" he asked her.
"I feel great," she answered with a smile. "Can't help it. Good friends, good drugs..." They both chuckled.
She sighed. "You know, it's funny. I look back now, and it feels like you and I, we've done everything together."
He smiled suggestively. "Well, I think there's a thing or two we haven't tried yet."
She blushed. "No, I don't mean that. Just mean... other planets, time travel, plague, terrorism, Feeno and Jack. Every time we land somewhere, it becomes harder and harder to imagine that we're going to get to see something new, do something we've never done before. And yet, we do."
"The universe is a vast place, Martha," he told her. "And there are an infinite number of them."
"Yeah," she said, wistfully staring at the stars.
"But," he said, getting to his feet. "I have something new for us to try right here on Earth!"
She looked at him exasperatedly. "I told you I didn't mean that!"
"No, no, no," he said. "Although..." he trailed off playfully.
She reached out and smacked his legs. "Come on, childish fiend! What are you on about?"
Grinning he said, "Wait here." He disappeared into the TARDIS and reappeared 30 seconds later. He was carrying sleeping bags. "Camping!" he announced.
"Camping!" she said, now getting to her feet as well. "That's brilliant!"
"I figure, all this time, and we've never camped out under the stars just for fun," he said, unrolling the two sleeping bags. "What do you say, Miss Jones? Care to be one with nature?"
She took two steps toward him and pressed against him. "I'd rather be one with you." She kissed him behind the ear, and worked her way down his neck.
"Well, yes, there's that," he said, awkwardly, putting his arms around her.
When she reached his starched collar, she began to loosen his tie. She undid the top button so she could have better access to the flesh beyond. He closed his eyes and let her reel him in. A low moan escaped him as he finally abandoned himself, for a little while, to the contentment of the moment.
She looked down at the ground, and asked, "Why did you bring two?"
He answered, "I have no idea."
The End
Thank you!
