p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"span style="text-decoration: underline;"strongspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"CHAPTER 5/span/strong/span/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor felt an itch irritating his nostrils from the stuffy air in the dimly lit records room. He walked along an aisle lined with three steel filing cabinets on either side, each about ten meters wide. A nearby voice halted him in his tracks. "Are you lost?" a brunette woman asked, dressed in her nursing uniform./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He held still, stroking his head of dishevelled and scruffy hair, "This doesn't look like a cafeteria." /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She chuckled, stepping closer to him, "Are you on placement? I'm Tamara. I don't think we've been introduced."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha stormed into the room, gritting her teeth, "What are you doing?!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Tamara looked between the two, addressing Martha, "Hi, Martha."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Oh, you know my girlfriend?" The Doctor asked Tamara./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha folded her arms across her chest, her jaw set in a determined form./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You never told me that you had a boyfriend!" Tamara beamed./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha hesitated before blurting, "Do you mind if we have a moment? Personal."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Tamara smiled, "There are better places for you guys if you need to do...you know."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Her eyes flared at Tamara, "Leave us?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Tamara departed, seeing a fire blaze in the eyes of Martha./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha turned to the Doctor, "Ok, first thing – I am not your girlfriend."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He gripped her shoulders, "I mean no offence because you are gorgeous, but I wasn't thinking of you as girlfriend material. It was a cover story. If that offends you, I can compensate you with dinner. Chinese or French?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha shrugged away from the Doctor, shoving him on the shoulders with both hands. "I usually date guys who know their name."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""John Smith," he clarified./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha clapped sarcastically, "Cute pseudonym. Why are you in here?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I would have had a phone number had you not so rudely interrupted," he jested to conceal his real purpose for evading Martha in the corridor./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Listen, I don't care how many women your crass and unfunny routine works on because it's lost on me. You're nothing but a petulant child. You won't let me help you, I don't know anything about you, you break into the kitchen-"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor raised his hand to interject, "It was unlocked when I arrived."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha huffed and looked at his outfit, "AND THEN you have obviously entered the staff locker room and rummaged through someone else's locker since you were not dressed in these clothes when you were checked in to this hospital!" She kicked one of a nearby filing cabinet as her anger heated. "Is your plan to get me fired?" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The door sprang open, and Hirst entered, brandishing his sonic screwdriver, "Timelords are just my type too, Miss Jones," she beamed over the sound of a series of staccato taps from her boot heels./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Good timing. My last companion was blonde," he stepped forward vivaciously./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha muttered, "Brunette. You forgot Tamara."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I move on quick," the Doctor whispered./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha muttered and smirked, "Her loss." She cleared her throat, "I planned on letting you know, Professor Hirst. I found him sneaking about."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Gobsmacked, the Doctor remarked, "Way to sell me out, nurse!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst rolled her eyes, "Please, Martha, you're fired. Although, I must say that I do like the idea of sitting you both down for a treatment. You make quite the couple."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor announced with added animation, "That sounds like an occasion for wedding bells!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He slammed his fist against a nearby glass-covered wall panel and struck a button. A screeching fire alarm blared as Hirst clutched his ears, dropping the sonic screwdriver to the floor./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst spat, "Bastard!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha was suddenly conflicted as she glanced between them, noticing an unexpected vitriolic quality in Hirst. Her trust in Hirst was diminishing based on what she was witnessing./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor chastised, "Language, darling!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst moved toward the Doctor, her hand clawing toward his throat./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Shocked by seeing Hirst commence an act of violence against a patient, Martha pulled the Doctor back by his shoulders, stepping into his place before Hirst could grip his neck./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Get back!" Martha shrieked, raising her right leg and thrusting her foot into Hirst's chest, causing her to stumble./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The gold stilettos of Hirst's knee-high boots gave way beneath her weight. A shock shot through Martha's leg from the impact of her kick. She took a breath before deftly spinning on her ballerina flat-soled right shoe, then delivering a second kick to Hirst's chest with her left foot. Hirst slammed against a filing cabinet and fell to the floor, shooting Martha a glare amid a hiss of chest pain./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha squared her shoulders triumphantly as adrenaline surged through her veins. "You can't sack me when I've already resigned, bitch," Martha declared with a huff. /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor lunged forward and swiftly scooped up his sonic screwdriver from the floor. Instantaneously, his right hand quivered, triggering sudden flashes of his previous incarnations. Rapid flickering images flooded his mind: a man with cropped short hair and a Northern English accent, a Dalek, a curly-haired male in a long scarf, a blonde-haired male in a cricket jumper, a Cyberman, and a planet burning into an inferno./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He was further overwhelmed by screams, lasers, robotic voices, and overlapping voices of his other past incarnations. Barely making sense of his projections, his lifecycle flash was interrupted as he suddenly became aware of Hirst picking herself up from the floor. He immediately gripped Martha's hand, pulling her closer to him./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""HEY STOP! LET GO!" Martha screamed as she attempted to twist from his grip by stomping on his foot and shoving his chest to push him backward./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Gaining his balance, he looked to her pleadingly, "I need you to trust me!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Beside them, Hirst growled as her eyes shifted to an orange glow. Seeing Hirst's eyes shift, Martha felt sweat roll down her neck to a chill. Martha leapt toward the Doctor and clasped his hand, their fingers interlacing firmly. She sprinted toward the filing room door, pulling him along. They escaped to the corridor, which was teeming with an assortment of patients and staff shuffling in single file toward the emergency exit./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Amidst the chaos induced by the fire alarm, wardens stood along the corridor walls, ensuring safe passage to the evacuation assembly area. The Doctor stopped, looking at Martha, "Exit strategy, post-sacking?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She frantically looked in both directions of the corridor, which grew increasingly louder with bustling evacuation activity. Seeing Hirst emerge into the corridor, Martha asked, "Who are you?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Grinningly, he replied, "I'm the Doctor!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha stared at him incredulously, "It just gets worse with you!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It's about to get worse if we don't get moving. Which way?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha swallowed and took a breath, "Definitely this way!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha gripped the Doctor's hand, briefly locked eyes with him, and sprinted together toward the nearest fire escape./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"MORGUE/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle and Kate entered the chilly laboratory solemnly, dressed in surgical uniforms suitable for autopsies. Body lockers lined each navy blue wall of the morgue. They picked up their mouth coverings and plastic facial shields from a table to the right of the laboratory door. A coroner stood behind a slab where the body of Audrey James lay beneath a white sheet. He was dressed identically to Kate and Doyle./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Watching both approach him, he addressed them in a monotone voice, "Then you won't need to be reminded that what you're about to see won't be pretty?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"They both shook their heads as they watched him roll the sheet down to Audrey's hips. Her body was significantly less bloodstained after being cleaned since being found at the crime scene. The coroner began, "There are some strange anomalies with this body. Let's begin with Audrey's blood."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Using a scalpel, he made a horizontal incision along her upper chest, immediately revealing an oddity./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Notice that the blood beneath her skin is a bluish-grey. It's not crimson red."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle studied Audrey's body, asking, "Any sign of drugs? Poisoning?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner shook his head, "It's almost like she didn't have actual blood at all. According to the report I've read, her body was found alone in a park near her home. No bodily traumas suggest an attack. Instead, it seems that something from within killed Audrey."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What do you mean?" Kate shook her head as she asked./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner paused for a brief mental rehearsal before replying, "Her blood was seemingly undergoing a post-mortem metamorphosis. Which leads me to this." He sat the scalpel down in a medical tray and opened Audrey's eyes to reveal her sclera./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle leaned forward and observed, "Jet black."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner gently closed Audrey's eyes. "Forensics at the scene reported her eyes as being lime green."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Kate muttered hoarsely, stunned by what was being revealed, "What are we dealing with?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner looked to her as a matter of fact, "I don't know. But whatever happened to her body was morphing her into something other than human."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle asked, "Like what?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""A deceased person always has residual electrical brain activity shortly after death. Audrey was no exception, but her post-mortem brain activity was three times greater than those documented in peer-reviewed studies of deceased subjects."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Kate asked, "Is it possible that Audrey was still alive?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner shook his head, "No. Audrey's organ activity was consistent with a reading of zero life signs. Whenever a body in a suspected homicide or suicide is analysed, we test for a physiological response to determine a precise time of death. Despite being clinically dead, her residual brain activity was livelier than it should have been. From this, we concluded that her brain activity while alive was beyond that of any human. Three times more, to be precise."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Kate and Doyle exchanged uncomfortable glances, then nodded for the autopsy to continue./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"HERTFORDSHIRE HOSPITAL/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The fire alarm blared through the concrete stairwell as Martha tightly gripped the Doctor's hand. Her leg muscles burned from the adrenaline-fueled run after frantically escaping from several floors above. Together, they reached the emergency door on the ground floor, breaths ragged and hearts pounding./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha remarked, "I really should get back into kickboxing." She drew her right leg and kicked her foot against an affixed horizontal emergency release bar on the door./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor shrugged, "If this is you without training, you should reconsider professions."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"They sprinted into the car park and saw that the entrance was bustling with emergency staff. Martha sighed, releasing her hand from the Doctor, "How does Casanova plan on charming his way out of this?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Parked cars filled the lot. After a perfunctory glance at their surroundings, he devised a plan. 'Just let me think! Think-ety-think-ety-think!'/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He sprinted off toward the cars without announcement. Martha lost sight of him. "He just left me here." She took a breath before shouting, "JOHN! DOCTOR! Whoever you are?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, she heard an engine roar, followed by the screeching of tires skidding on concrete./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"A motorcycle sped from behind one of the cars and stopped beside her. The Doctor called, "Alonzi!" He waved his sonic screwdriver. "Hop on!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha crossed her arms over her chest as he tucked the sonic screwdriver away, shaking her head "Yeah, nah."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst shouted from the emergency exit door, "OVER THERE!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"On her command, two security guards sprinted toward the motorcycle./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha straddled the motorcycle, wrapping her arm around his waist with a caveat, "You can count on having to answer some questions VERY soon! Move it."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The bike engine roared with a raw, guttural sound as the Doctor pulled on the throttle, making an urgent exit./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"MORGUE/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner paced around the slab and stopped beside Audrey. Gently, he raised her slender arm, "Now for another thing which eludes me. Her fingernails." He continued, "Her nails are merely sitting on her fingertip surfaces. They slide off." Lowering her arm, he continued, "We also performed X-rays and have concluded that before her time of death, Audrey was developing a third heart artery."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"His statement stunned Kate./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Anticipating further questions, he continued, "Given how little we know about this girl, we would require her medical history, preferably surgical history. None of the tampering we are seeing could be a result of surgery. I cannot think of a medical tool capable of making alterations with such precision. Her transformation seems organic."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""We should visit Tina for the full details of Audrey's medical history," Kate suggested to Doyle./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"PARK/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The motorcycle wheels breezed through a sea of leaves that blanketed a wide garden path in the park, leading toward his TARDIS standing before a towering tree./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha unlinked her hands from around his waist as the bike slowed. "You owe me an explanation!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor looked over his shoulder as Martha climbed off. Before he could answer, Martha kicked the bike's front tyre, "Not only have you gotten me fired, but I am now a fugitive because I have a patient in my custody without having been discharged."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor dismounted the bike and leaned his back against the TARDIS, his tone softening, "Martha, I'm sorry."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha's expression remained aghast as she pressed her hands against her hips, shrugging in bewilderment./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He elaborated, "I can't expect you to understand right now. But you saw enough back there to know something isn't right. Hirst isn't who she claims to be. I could have died earlier, but you stood by me when you had no reason to trust me."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha shook her head, "This is so wrong!" She resumed pacing around the bike. "I don't know where to start. Are you even human?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor shook his head./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""So, it wasn't a mistake! You have two hearts?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor stepped toward the motorbike opposite Martha. "I'm a very long way from home. Just like Hirst."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hirst isn't human?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor swallowed, "I don't know. Not from what I've seen so far. Her namedropping of the Timelords, and this," he drew the sonic screwdriver from his pocket, "raises questions. Then there is her whole hypersensitivity to loud noises. That fire alarm drove her barmy."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He tucked away his sonic screwdriver and turned to face the TARDIS./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He inserted a key into the lock and twisted it, resulting in a faint click. Then, he slapped his hand against the door, "Still cooking!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha looked at the wooden box, "What's this?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It's my ship."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha threw her hands in the air, "Why do I keep punishing myself by hoping for an actual answer?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He spun sharply, shouting, "Do you think this is easy for me?! I collapsed out here, not knowing who I was while stranded alone. I'm still not one hundred percent on my memories. I've lost a dear friend of mine who, I can only assume, survived because I sent her home before I nearly died. Best of all, I have a hospital administrator who knows more about me than I do. That's even before mentioning Braxiatel therapy!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha swallowed, asking, "Why is Braxiatel therapy such a big deal?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Sadness filled his eyes as dry leaves brushed against the TARDIS in a passing gentle breeze. "Braxiatel…is my brother's name."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha gasped, "Here's here? On this planet?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor shook his head, "I don't know." He shrugged, "Doubt it."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha paced slowly around the bike as she kicked a stone. "Look, this is still really going over my head. But you saved me. It did seem odd that Hirst was overly invested in you. I've never seen her like that with any other patient."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""She now has your name added to her black book." He sighed, turning his back on Martha, "I didn't mean to bring you into this! I mean, really!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha clutched his arm and turned him to face her, "We're now a team. I'll help you."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He cautioned, "You've done everything you can. I've already dragged you into this far enough. Plus, I can't protect you."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She rested her hand on his shoulder, "Do you honestly think I can go back after everything that has happened? She fired me."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor laughed, "An incredibly dramatic sacking too! Most people kick the door on their way out, not the manager."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha stepped closer, "Even then, you're still under Doctor's orders."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He smiled, "Weeell, only for now."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She whispered, "Pending evaluation." Martha looked at the TARDIS, "Since your place is still undergoing renovations, my place for tea. If you don't mind your host being brunette?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I have made far worse compromises before. The Doctor is hiring."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well, Doctor, I'm Martha Jones. AKA -available." Holding her gaze, Martha noticed an unexpected glint in his eyes that intrigued her. She struggled to define the emotion it stirred. In any case, Martha knew she was learning to see beyond this eccentric man but, rather conflictingly, liked what she was discovering./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor felt an itch irritating his nostrils from the stuffy air in the dimly lit records room. He walked along an aisle lined with three steel filing cabinets on either side, each about ten meters wide. A nearby voice halted him in his tracks. "Are you lost?" a brunette woman asked, dressed in her nursing uniform./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He held still, stroking his head of dishevelled and scruffy hair, "This doesn't look like a cafeteria." /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She chuckled, stepping closer to him, "Are you on placement? I'm Tamara. I don't think we've been introduced."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha stormed into the room, gritting her teeth, "What are you doing?!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Tamara looked between the two, addressing Martha, "Hi, Martha."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Oh, you know my girlfriend?" The Doctor asked Tamara./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha folded her arms across her chest, her jaw set in a determined form./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You never told me that you had a boyfriend!" Tamara beamed./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha hesitated before blurting, "Do you mind if we have a moment? Personal."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Tamara smiled, "There are better places for you guys if you need to do...you know."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Her eyes flared at Tamara, "Leave us?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Tamara departed, seeing a fire blaze in the eyes of Martha./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha turned to the Doctor, "Ok, first thing – I am not your girlfriend."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He gripped her shoulders, "I mean no offence because you are gorgeous, but I wasn't thinking of you as girlfriend material. It was a cover story. If that offends you, I can compensate you with dinner. Chinese or French?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha shrugged away from the Doctor, shoving him on the shoulders with both hands. "I usually date guys who know their name."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""John Smith," he clarified./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha clapped sarcastically, "Cute pseudonym. Why are you in here?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I would have had a phone number had you not so rudely interrupted," he jested to conceal his real purpose for evading Martha in the corridor./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Listen, I don't care how many women your crass and unfunny routine works on because it's lost on me. You're nothing but a petulant child. You won't let me help you, I don't know anything about you, you break into the kitchen-"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor raised his hand to interject, "It was unlocked when I arrived."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha huffed and looked at his outfit, "AND THEN you have obviously entered the staff locker room and rummaged through someone else's locker since you were not dressed in these clothes when you were checked in to this hospital!" She kicked one of a nearby filing cabinet as her anger heated. "Is your plan to get me fired?" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The door sprang open, and Hirst entered, brandishing his sonic screwdriver, "Timelords are just my type too, Miss Jones," she beamed over the sound of a series of staccato taps from her boot heels./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Good timing. My last companion was blonde," he stepped forward vivaciously./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha muttered, "Brunette. You forgot Tamara."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I move on quick," the Doctor whispered./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha muttered and smirked, "Her loss." She cleared her throat, "I planned on letting you know, Professor Hirst. I found him sneaking about."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Gobsmacked, the Doctor remarked, "Way to sell me out, nurse!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst rolled her eyes, "Please, Martha, you're fired. Although, I must say that I do like the idea of sitting you both down for a treatment. You make quite the couple."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor announced with added animation, "That sounds like an occasion for wedding bells!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He slammed his fist against a nearby glass-covered wall panel and struck a button. A screeching fire alarm blared as Hirst clutched his ears, dropping the sonic screwdriver to the floor./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst spat, "Bastard!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha was suddenly conflicted as she glanced between them, noticing an unexpected vitriolic quality in Hirst. Her trust in Hirst was diminishing based on what she was witnessing./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor chastised, "Language, darling!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst moved toward the Doctor, her hand clawing toward his throat./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Shocked by seeing Hirst commence an act of violence against a patient, Martha pulled the Doctor back by his shoulders, stepping into his place before Hirst could grip his neck./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Get back!" Martha shrieked, raising her right leg and thrusting her foot into Hirst's chest, causing her to stumble./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The gold stilettos of Hirst's knee-high boots gave way beneath her weight. A shock shot through Martha's leg from the impact of her kick. She took a breath before deftly spinning on her ballerina flat-soled right shoe, then delivering a second kick to Hirst's chest with her left foot. Hirst slammed against a filing cabinet and fell to the floor, shooting Martha a glare amid a hiss of chest pain./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha squared her shoulders triumphantly as adrenaline surged through her veins. "You can't sack me when I've already resigned, bitch," Martha declared with a huff. /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor lunged forward and swiftly scooped up his sonic screwdriver from the floor. Instantaneously, his right hand quivered, triggering sudden flashes of his previous incarnations. Rapid flickering images flooded his mind: a man with cropped short hair and a Northern English accent, a Dalek, a curly-haired male in a long scarf, a blonde-haired male in a cricket jumper, a Cyberman, and a planet burning into an inferno./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He was further overwhelmed by screams, lasers, robotic voices, and overlapping voices of his other past incarnations. Barely making sense of his projections, his lifecycle flash was interrupted as he suddenly became aware of Hirst picking herself up from the floor. He immediately gripped Martha's hand, pulling her closer to him./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""HEY STOP! LET GO!" Martha screamed as she attempted to twist from his grip by stomping on his foot and shoving his chest to push him backward./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Gaining his balance, he looked to her pleadingly, "I need you to trust me!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Beside them, Hirst growled as her eyes shifted to an orange glow. Seeing Hirst's eyes shift, Martha felt sweat roll down her neck to a chill. Martha leapt toward the Doctor and clasped his hand, their fingers interlacing firmly. She sprinted toward the filing room door, pulling him along. They escaped to the corridor, which was teeming with an assortment of patients and staff shuffling in single file toward the emergency exit./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Amidst the chaos induced by the fire alarm, wardens stood along the corridor walls, ensuring safe passage to the evacuation assembly area. The Doctor stopped, looking at Martha, "Exit strategy, post-sacking?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She frantically looked in both directions of the corridor, which grew increasingly louder with bustling evacuation activity. Seeing Hirst emerge into the corridor, Martha asked, "Who are you?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Grinningly, he replied, "I'm the Doctor!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha stared at him incredulously, "It just gets worse with you!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It's about to get worse if we don't get moving. Which way?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha swallowed and took a breath, "Definitely this way!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha gripped the Doctor's hand, briefly locked eyes with him, and sprinted together toward the nearest fire escape./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"MORGUE/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle and Kate entered the chilly laboratory solemnly, dressed in surgical uniforms suitable for autopsies. Body lockers lined each navy blue wall of the morgue. They picked up their mouth coverings and plastic facial shields from a table to the right of the laboratory door. A coroner stood behind a slab where the body of Audrey James lay beneath a white sheet. He was dressed identically to Kate and Doyle./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Watching both approach him, he addressed them in a monotone voice, "Then you won't need to be reminded that what you're about to see won't be pretty?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"They both shook their heads as they watched him roll the sheet down to Audrey's hips. Her body was significantly less bloodstained after being cleaned since being found at the crime scene. The coroner began, "There are some strange anomalies with this body. Let's begin with Audrey's blood."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Using a scalpel, he made a horizontal incision along her upper chest, immediately revealing an oddity./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Notice that the blood beneath her skin is a bluish-grey. It's not crimson red."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle studied Audrey's body, asking, "Any sign of drugs? Poisoning?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner shook his head, "It's almost like she didn't have actual blood at all. According to the report I've read, her body was found alone in a park near her home. No bodily traumas suggest an attack. Instead, it seems that something from within killed Audrey."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What do you mean?" Kate shook her head as she asked./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner paused for a brief mental rehearsal before replying, "Her blood was seemingly undergoing a post-mortem metamorphosis. Which leads me to this." He sat the scalpel down in a medical tray and opened Audrey's eyes to reveal her sclera./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle leaned forward and observed, "Jet black."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner gently closed Audrey's eyes. "Forensics at the scene reported her eyes as being lime green."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Kate muttered hoarsely, stunned by what was being revealed, "What are we dealing with?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner looked to her as a matter of fact, "I don't know. But whatever happened to her body was morphing her into something other than human."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Doyle asked, "Like what?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""A deceased person always has residual electrical brain activity shortly after death. Audrey was no exception, but her post-mortem brain activity was three times greater than those documented in peer-reviewed studies of deceased subjects."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Kate asked, "Is it possible that Audrey was still alive?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner shook his head, "No. Audrey's organ activity was consistent with a reading of zero life signs. Whenever a body in a suspected homicide or suicide is analysed, we test for a physiological response to determine a precise time of death. Despite being clinically dead, her residual brain activity was livelier than it should have been. From this, we concluded that her brain activity while alive was beyond that of any human. Three times more, to be precise."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Kate and Doyle exchanged uncomfortable glances, then nodded for the autopsy to continue./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"HERTFORDSHIRE HOSPITAL/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The fire alarm blared through the concrete stairwell as Martha tightly gripped the Doctor's hand. Her leg muscles burned from the adrenaline-fueled run after frantically escaping from several floors above. Together, they reached the emergency door on the ground floor, breaths ragged and hearts pounding./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha remarked, "I really should get back into kickboxing." She drew her right leg and kicked her foot against an affixed horizontal emergency release bar on the door./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor shrugged, "If this is you without training, you should reconsider professions."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"They sprinted into the car park and saw that the entrance was bustling with emergency staff. Martha sighed, releasing her hand from the Doctor, "How does Casanova plan on charming his way out of this?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Parked cars filled the lot. After a perfunctory glance at their surroundings, he devised a plan. 'Just let me think! Think-ety-think-ety-think!'/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He sprinted off toward the cars without announcement. Martha lost sight of him. "He just left me here." She took a breath before shouting, "JOHN! DOCTOR! Whoever you are?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, she heard an engine roar, followed by the screeching of tires skidding on concrete./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"A motorcycle sped from behind one of the cars and stopped beside her. The Doctor called, "Alonzi!" He waved his sonic screwdriver. "Hop on!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha crossed her arms over her chest as he tucked the sonic screwdriver away, shaking her head "Yeah, nah."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Hirst shouted from the emergency exit door, "OVER THERE!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"On her command, two security guards sprinted toward the motorcycle./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha straddled the motorcycle, wrapping her arm around his waist with a caveat, "You can count on having to answer some questions VERY soon! Move it."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The bike engine roared with a raw, guttural sound as the Doctor pulled on the throttle, making an urgent exit./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"MORGUE/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The coroner paced around the slab and stopped beside Audrey. Gently, he raised her slender arm, "Now for another thing which eludes me. Her fingernails." He continued, "Her nails are merely sitting on her fingertip surfaces. They slide off." Lowering her arm, he continued, "We also performed X-rays and have concluded that before her time of death, Audrey was developing a third heart artery."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"His statement stunned Kate./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Anticipating further questions, he continued, "Given how little we know about this girl, we would require her medical history, preferably surgical history. None of the tampering we are seeing could be a result of surgery. I cannot think of a medical tool capable of making alterations with such precision. Her transformation seems organic."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""We should visit Tina for the full details of Audrey's medical history," Kate suggested to Doyle./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;" /p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"emspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"PARK/span/em/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The motorcycle wheels breezed through a sea of leaves that blanketed a wide garden path in the park, leading toward his TARDIS standing before a towering tree./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha unlinked her hands from around his waist as the bike slowed. "You owe me an explanation!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor looked over his shoulder as Martha climbed off. Before he could answer, Martha kicked the bike's front tyre, "Not only have you gotten me fired, but I am now a fugitive because I have a patient in my custody without having been discharged."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor dismounted the bike and leaned his back against the TARDIS, his tone softening, "Martha, I'm sorry."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha's expression remained aghast as she pressed her hands against her hips, shrugging in bewilderment./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He elaborated, "I can't expect you to understand right now. But you saw enough back there to know something isn't right. Hirst isn't who she claims to be. I could have died earlier, but you stood by me when you had no reason to trust me."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha shook her head, "This is so wrong!" She resumed pacing around the bike. "I don't know where to start. Are you even human?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor shook his head./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""So, it wasn't a mistake! You have two hearts?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor stepped toward the motorbike opposite Martha. "I'm a very long way from home. Just like Hirst."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hirst isn't human?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor swallowed, "I don't know. Not from what I've seen so far. Her namedropping of the Timelords, and this," he drew the sonic screwdriver from his pocket, "raises questions. Then there is her whole hypersensitivity to loud noises. That fire alarm drove her barmy."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He tucked away his sonic screwdriver and turned to face the TARDIS./p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He inserted a key into the lock and twisted it, resulting in a faint click. Then, he slapped his hand against the door, "Still cooking!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha looked at the wooden box, "What's this?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It's my ship."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha threw her hands in the air, "Why do I keep punishing myself by hoping for an actual answer?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He spun sharply, shouting, "Do you think this is easy for me?! I collapsed out here, not knowing who I was while stranded alone. I'm still not one hundred percent on my memories. I've lost a dear friend of mine who, I can only assume, survived because I sent her home before I nearly died. Best of all, I have a hospital administrator who knows more about me than I do. That's even before mentioning Braxiatel therapy!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha swallowed, asking, "Why is Braxiatel therapy such a big deal?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Sadness filled his eyes as dry leaves brushed against the TARDIS in a passing gentle breeze. "Braxiatel…is my brother's name."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha gasped, "Here's here? On this planet?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor shook his head, "I don't know." He shrugged, "Doubt it."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha paced slowly around the bike as she kicked a stone. "Look, this is still really going over my head. But you saved me. It did seem odd that Hirst was overly invested in you. I've never seen her like that with any other patient."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""She now has your name added to her black book." He sighed, turning his back on Martha, "I didn't mean to bring you into this! I mean, really!"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha clutched his arm and turned him to face her, "We're now a team. I'll help you."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He cautioned, "You've done everything you can. I've already dragged you into this far enough. Plus, I can't protect you."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She rested her hand on his shoulder, "Do you honestly think I can go back after everything that has happened? She fired me."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The Doctor laughed, "An incredibly dramatic sacking too! Most people kick the door on their way out, not the manager."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha stepped closer, "Even then, you're still under Doctor's orders."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He smiled, "Weeell, only for now."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She whispered, "Pending evaluation." Martha looked at the TARDIS, "Since your place is still undergoing renovations, my place for tea. If you don't mind your host being brunette?"/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I have made far worse compromises before. The Doctor is hiring."/p
p style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well, Doctor, I'm Martha Jones. AKA -available." Holding her gaze, Martha noticed an unexpected glint in his eyes that intrigued her. She struggled to define the emotion it stirred. In any case, Martha knew she was learning to see beyond this eccentric man but, rather conflictingly, liked what she was discovering./p