Martha glances up at the clock. Only half-four, plenty of time yet. The binding potion is thickening nicely, and the cleanser has come along well. With the herbs stewing, she finds she's ahead of schedule and makes a nice cup of tea. (No point getting worn out before the boys come back. They're going to need her tonight, and likely the others will as well, though knowing what Violet's like she'll just need something so as not to panic, and only then if the boys are hurt. Thank God there're three full bottles of brandy left over from brewing.)
Her hip is free tonight, the old arrow wound long recovered and feeling brilliant with all of the magic flowing free in the kitchen. She's reminded - just a little - of the time Sherlock got staked in the leg. It seems like only yesterday, but it's a good eight years ago. Funny how time is getting to fly by lately, though this night hasn't. (There are always some exceptions. If any of those slayers harm those boys, it won't just be Violet they'll have to contend with. Martha knows more than a few tricks of her own, and it's not only her boys from upstairs whom she counts as family these days. (The wards she put on everyone will have failed with their first kills, and she knows well enough no one's capturing slayers tonight, and so, she is ready to face almost any eventuality, because there are some things even she cannot save them from.))
There's always the chance, of course, that they won't be coming back. But that won't happen. That can't happen. (Feeling worried and apprehensive is perfectly fine on a night such as this. It doesn't mean that they're going to get dusted. Though, to be fair, the feeling didn't fail her when John carried a halfway-dead Sherlock home after the explosion at the pool. But no, she mustn't think like that. Everyone's going to be fine, if a little cut-up and wood-poisoned, and maybe needing some silver shards dug out from under delicate werewolf skin.)
Martha sighs, shaking her head to clear the thoughts, and goes back to her work, knowing she's needed here, but part of her wishing that she could be out there too, protecting this family of werewolves and vampires and clairvoyants. Wishing won't help anyone, and nor will worrying about all of the what ifs and maybes of things that could go wrong.