Chapter 10.
The walk through the snow after everything that happened gave her a chance to think things through one last time. Had the banality become so unbearable that she needed to, at least temporarily, run off with this unusual stranger that professes himself as Doctor? Just as the Doctor had once struggled to come to terms with his own identity, she was attempting to overcome her intrigue for this wanderer.
Martha felt that her absence for time being need not have any explanation. Well it IS a time machine…surely I could be gone 5 minutes here but have a good week to myself. Her selfish streak was certainly at a high. Perhaps that's what made Martha and The Doctor such an ideal team. Both running from something, both upholding a title but at the same time, no certainty of anything in sight.
But, she pushed those thoughts aside as she stepped into the TARDIS, relieved to finally throw her backpack down from the weight pushing onto her back.
The Doctor looked over the middle column to her, "bringing a companion of your own?"
Martha stood upright with her hands on her hips, "well I've never been out in space before. You never know what you'll encounter and what climates you'll face."
"Are you sure you're not jumping into this too quick? Especially while your boyfriend and family are overseas? It's not a problem to bring you back, but you seemed to have just done this at the drop of a hat."
"Oh, please. London is dead after New Years. Seriously, everyone either just stays home to avoid the cold or goes overseas. The movies on at the cinemas are boring, there's nothing on television and a lot of the shops I go to close over this period."
"Well, just as long as you know, anytime it becomes a bit much, just let me know."
Martha paced around the console, looking to the middle column as the Doctor set in the co-ordinates.
A smile growing on her lips, a thought occurred to her, "you know, this thing could really come in handy when I have exams because I could spend months revising and then just travel back when I feel I'm ready."
"It sounds a lot like The Beatles reforming to me, it'll never happen despite the love for it," he responded while in full focus of the controls he had his eyes and hands on.
Martha sarcastically pouted her lips to look sad, "not even for me?"
The Doctor looked up from the console as if it were matter of fact, mentoring that "especially not you since you lack the basics of patient care; ensuring that they remain in bed."
She laughed defensively, placing her hands on her hips, walking up to him, "excuse me but I can't be responsible for the stubborn, know-it-all patient that can't keep still."
The Doctor raised his eyebrow sarcastically, "customer is always right."
Martha shook her head in disbelief, "goodness you have an ego," she said with a look to the console, her grin returning as she flipped the lever on the console.
The Doctor looked to her, hinting at an impatient streak for stupidity, flipping the lever back to its original position he ordered, "don't do that!"
Yet Martha just did the same thing again to which the Doctor flipped the lever back, a tennis court style interplay that lasted for four or five flips which ended in Martha placing her hand on his as he went to flip the lever back. "You know, I get the impression that as a Doctor not only are you used to being the Captain around here but you seem to think of yourself as judge, jury and executioner. Would I be right?"
The Doctor held her stare and kept his hand beneath hers as they held eye contact that was half serious and the other in jest, "you forgot handyman."
Martha raised her eyebrow, shaking her head a little, "no maintenance man, robot assistant…maid?"
"Are you volunteering?"
Martha smirked, "I'm not a robot, handyman. I'm a Doctor. So, with two Doctors on board, I have a feeling things are going to get rather interesting around here, wouldn't you say?"
"Just remember who has the keys."
Martha then hit a button on the console which sent the TARDIS flying faster through the vortex causing some turbulence in the console room. With a chuckle and a wink she remarked, "the ship's handyman of course. And do I have some questions for you regarding everything that has just happened since I met you!"
THE END.