Yes, hello there, how are you? Good, I'm glad, nice to see you too. First, I would like everyone to know of the beautiful TARDIS I drew for a French project, evaluating transportation systems. It is pretty damn fantastic.
"Where are you going?" Jack asked as the Doctor set off to the east of exit of Regent's Park. "The TARDIS is that way." He pointed back in the direction they'd come.
"We're not going to the TARDIS, we're going to the sewer." All traces of happiness and relaxation were gone from the Doctor's face. His demeanor now brought to Jack's mind the way he had been in London as they had run from the ubiquitous Harold Saxon. He stalked forward now with a frightening air of purpose.
"You realized it's a trap, right?" said Jack. "If we took the TARDIS we could just go in invisible, grab Martha, and get out of there before he'd even noticed us."
"No, that's what he wants us to do. I told you the Potay had Time Lord technology. If he could get back here without a vortex manipulator, it's more than likely he's got a vortex dampener of some kind, which would strand us." They came to a halt at a dirty manhole, facing each other. Jack looked down at it, then back up to the Doctor, confused. "Downstairs?"
"Well, maintenance tunnels. He doesn't-"
"Crap!" Without warning, Jack grabbed the Doctor's lapels, pulling him close, and pressed their lips together, at the same time spinning their entwined bodies around so they had switched places.
The Doctor's eyes widened in alarm. "Mmm!"
Jack released him, looking over the Doctor's shoulder. He was breathing distinctly harder than he had been a moment before. "Sorry. I saw one of the aids from the trailer, couldn't let them see my face. Might have something to say about my being alive."
The Doctor nodded, still looking extremely bewildered. "Right. Good." He adjusted his jacket and cleared his throat. "So, shall we?"
Jack grinned. "After you, Doc."
oOo
Martha awoke with a pounding headache, and in complete darkness. She turned her head, trying to see, and discovered that both her hands and feet were bound, and that she was propped against a cold concrete wall.
"Doctor?" she asked into the darkness.
"He'll be here," said a familiar voice.
"Spud! Thank God, are you okay? What's going on?" Martha struggled around, trying to locate the source of his voice. She didn't even register that it sounded rather different now, that it had lost its nervous quaver and was now strong and altogether pleasant.
"Soon I'll be much better," said Spud.
"What does that mean?" Martha asked nervously.
"Your friend's going to help me get my toes back," said Spud. His voice was growing louder, closer. "I didn't recognize him until I saw his sonic device, the Doctor." He rolled the name around on his tongue with a distinct streak of malevolence. "Oh yes, I know the Time Lords well, I know of their regenerative powers. His time machine can give me back my toes."
"He won't just give them to you!" said Martha. "He doesn't work like that."
"Isn't it?" said Spud. "What about when I refuse," his finger traced gently along Martha's cheek, and she jerked her head away, "to release his lovely friend until he does?"
"He doesn't work like that!" Martha repeated. She knew this to be true. The Doctor would come for her, he'd save her if she needed saving, but she wasn't the one for whom he would tear apart the universe. She knew there was one for the Doctor, a woman he would blow up a sun just to see one last time, and woman who would always be standing there, invisible, next to Martha every time the Doctor looked at her. It was Rose Tyler the Doctor would do this for, not Martha Jones.
Just as this thought filled her with misery, there was a metallic banging to her left. "Spud!" shouted the Doctor's voice. "Open the door! SPUD!"
Why was he knocking? The sonic screwdriver got through the door just fine. A hand closed over Martha's mouth and she jumped horribly. The blind fold was pulled down her face, and her vision was filled with Jack's intense stare. He raised a finger to his lips, and then pulled her into a tight hug.
"This way," he breathed in her ear. He helped her to her feet and they crept around the back wall, hiding behind a great rusting metal contraption that might have been an old tunnel burrowing machine. From the other side, they could hear the creak of the door, and then the Doctor's voice.
"Spud, you can't do this. Where's Martha?"
"Please, Doctor, come in." The heavy thud of the door closing. "It's been a long time since I've seen a Time Lord. Good to see one again. And never did I imagine at such an opportune time. Now you can help me grow back my toes. Oh, don't try it," he said, and Martha assumed the Doctor had begun to protest. "Potay and Time Lord genetics are compatible. Your regeneration capabilities will work on me, too. So, where is it?"
Martha peeked around the machine, trying to get a look at the Doctor. He stood in front of the door, speaking earnestly.
"Your toes were taken for a reason. I can't play judge nor jury in Potay affairs. You'll have to appeal to the council to get your toes back."
Spud's chuckle sent shivers running up Martha's spine. She shifted to the side, and got a view of his back. He resembled nothing of the attractive Ralph Lauren model, but now a giant brown lump, with a barely discernible head resting atop uneven, pockmarked shoulders. He looked like a giant potato. "The council is dead. All but I perished, collateral damage in your time war, and I saved only because of my banishment."
Martha watched the familiar misery crease the Doctor's face. "I'm sorry, but I can't give you back your toes."
Spud pointed back to where Martha had been tied up. She tensed and ducked back behind the drilling machine. "Then your friend will die."
"You won't be killing anyone," said the Doctor firmly.
Spud laughed cruelly. "Coming from the man who slaughtered millions. I know who you are, Doctor. You're the reason I lost my toes."
The Doctor blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?" Martha's stomach clenched. She knew what was coming. She knew that voice. That was the Doctor's voice when he knew he was about to be told something horrible that he had done, about some life he hadn't saved.
"So charismatic," said Spud. "So awe-inspiring. The Potay had vowed to stay out of Time Lord affairs. The Time War was not ours to fight. The Potay were peaceful. But you, Doctor. I heard tales of your exploits, I was enraptured. I wanted to find you, to fight at your side. I joined the fray, and killed many Daleks. But killing is strictly forbidden. The council saw fit to take my toes, and to cast me out to the cold end of the galaxy. I have been searching for them ever since, and for the regenerative technology to reconnect. But now I have found something better. I have found revenge."
"Spud, I know you're angry, but revenge doesn't help. Take it from somebody who's tried. Killing Martha won't bring back your toes."
"But I'm not going to kill Martha," said Spud, as though talking to an idiot.
"I- what?"
"No, I'm going to kill the person you truly love."
Ooh, cliffhanger! Happy day before Easter, everyone!