It’s a Ginger Thing…

A Bedroom, somewhere in Time and Space...

The couple lay on the large bed, spooned into each other.  Their bodies a connected mess of limbs, hair and bed linen.  The intimacy of their embrace was not matched by the couple's expressions.  As they were both facing the same direction, neither could see the other’s face…

She was slightly non-plussed as to how she’d ended up there, but content to curl into her erstwhile lover’s embrace.

He was a mix of terrified and bewildered.  How the bloody hell had he, the Doctor, ended up in bed with Donna Noble… and how on Earth would he get out of the situation without being killed where he lay?

The previous evening…

“I hope you don’t mind me staying on.  I’m way too wound up to go visit the family just yet.”  Donna was in the kitchen, calling out to the Doctor who strolled in from the main console room.  He entered to find her standing at the kitchen table with a liquidiser, a mountain of fruit and several bottles of alcohol.

“It’s fine.”  He stood with his hands in his pockets.  “Martha’s debriefing UNIT and helping with the casualties…  Besides, she has to bring back my coat, so we’ve loads of time before we head off anywhere.”

“So, what’s your poison?”  Donna asked.

“Aspirin, mainly.”  He replied casting a curious glance over the table.  “Could kill me in an instant!”

“I wasn’t speaking literally, Doctor.” Donna smiled.  “I’m about to make adult smoothies… Aspirin?  Really?”

“Yup!”  The Doctor popped the “P” as if to emphasise the point.

“Wow.  I better remember that the next time you have an ‘edache.  Don’t want to go bumping you off… Yet!”  She started slicing some of the larger pieces of fruit with an ominous looking carving knife.  “Seriously, there’s very little I know about you.  You’re an alien with a time machine and you’re the last of your people.  Gallifrey, you said it was called Gallifrey.”  Donna decided it was important that she remembered the name of the Doctor’s home planet.  It showed a bit of respect.  If people could remember Pompeii 2000 years later, then she could remember Gallifrey for him.  “So what do you say we share a pitcher of smoothies and learn a bit more about each other?

“Oh, I’m not big with questions.”  The Doctor scrunched his face.

Donna poured copious amounts of Bacardi and Tia Maria on top of strawberries, grapes, apple, banana, several different colour berries and a few bits the Doctor couldn’t quite make out.  Ignoring his protests, she switched on the liquidiser to create her smoothie, with a wide grin he was more than happy to reciprocate.. 

Minutes later, they were in the main console room, sitting side by side, leaning against the crash barriers.  The Doctor took a long slug, through a straw, from his drink.  “Good grief, woman!  What the hell is in this?”

“I know.  It’s good, isn’t it.”  Donna grinned.  “The trick is to throw some spice into the mix.  Gives it a bit of a kick.”

“A bit?”  he raised an eyebrow.  “And somehow, I think the litre of alcohol you threw in is contributing slightly more to the kick than a pinch of mixed spices!”

“I never said how beautiful it is in here.”  Donna sighed, biting into a luscious strawberry.  “Not that the floor couldn’t use a rug, or something.”  She shifted into a more comfortable position beside the Doctor.  “But it just feels… I dunno… safe in here.  I felt it even when I was on that Sontaran spaceship.”

“That’s the TARDIS.”  The Doctor smiled, raising his glass in a toast.  “She’ll look out for you.”

“You’ll have to give me more driving lessons.  Teach me to fly her back to you if we ever get separated like that again.”  The Doctor made some sort of non committal noise.  Donna refilled his glass.  “I’ll ask you again when you’re locked…  Or do you not get drunk?”

“Yes, I get drunk.”

“What about the hangover?”

“Not so much!”

Donna tutted loudly.  “Figures!  You get all the fun without any of the consequences next day.”  She looked at him.  “I mean, you don’t look like an alien.  The Ood and the Sontarans, they looked like aliens.  But you?  You may act like you come from another planet, but you look like a member of Duran Duran.”

“Duran Duran?”  he spluttered.  “Now I am offended!”

“What?  The big hair, the coat billowing behind you, the cheekbones… “  Donna prodded him in the arm.  “Pouting around the place like you’re in your own personal music video?”

“Could you have namedropped someone a little less… uncool?”  The Doctor had a look on his face like he’d walked in something foul.

“Hey, what’s wrong with them?”  Donna protested.

“Oh my god.  Oh.  My.  God!  You’re a duranie!”  he laughed loudly.

“Hello!  80’s teenager, of course I was.”

“And you’re not the least bit ashamed to admit it.”  He popped a grape in his mouth.  “Very brave of you.”

“Oh shut up!”  Laughing, Donna shouldered him.  “So what kind of embarrassing music did you listen to as a teenager?”

The Doctor’s smile faded a little.  “It was different where I grew up.  A bit more staid and dull which is why I left.”  His tone implied he wasn’t gong to discuss it further so Donna wisely changed the subject.

“Elvis.  Presley, or Costello?” She asked, refilling both their glasses, emptying the pitcher.

“There is only one Elvis, and he is the King.”  The Doctor raised his glass again. “Ah, huh, huh, huh, thangyewvurrymush!”

Donna rolled her eyes at his awful impression.  “Did you meet him?  Is he really dead, or did you do something to make him disappear?

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

“Knew it!”  Donna grinned.  “Any other conspiracies you want to own up to?”

“I had nothing to do with Shergar, Lord Lucan, or the rise of the Spice Girls.  I may have had some fun drawing crop circles a few years back, but nothing that will ever stand up in court!”

“That must have been the one time you were just gadding around the place and not trying to stop the end of the world!”  Donna’s playful tone had an underlying seriousness.  “The few trips you’ve taken me… I thought it would be more of a laugh and less of the running for our lives.”

He smiled at her. “Are you saying I’m jeopardy friendly, Donna Noble?” But his attempt to lighten the conversation failed.

“Joke all you like, but it’s true.  We were supposed to go to Rome, we ended up erupting a volcano.  Even today…”  She turned to look at him as if to impress upon him how serious she was.  “You were completely resigned to killing yourself by blowing up the Sontaran ship.  You throw yourself, unnecessarily, into these life or death situations without any regard for people who may actually care about you.” 

“But I didn’t die.  I’m still here.”  He said softly, taking her hand.

“Through no fault of your own, Doctor.  Boy genius hotwired  the teleport and sent you back and you’re acting like it was nothing.”

“And you thought you’d get me drunk by way of a therapy session?”  He had a hard tone to his voice.

“It’s better than ignoring it.”

“Look Donna, I’ve been doing this kind of thing for a long, long time.” The Doctor wanted to explain how wonderful his life was.  “Zipping back and forth through time and space.  I’ve seen and done so much.   Yes, occasionally, there are close calls… but I’d rather roam the galaxy, living my life, than stay still to avoid getting hurt.  Isn’t that why you wanted to come with me?  To live, to experience the adventure?”  She couldn’t help but notice how his eyes lit up when he spoke of celebrating his wanderlust.  His passion was infectious.

“It’s been incredible, you know that.”  She shook her head.  “But, I think it’s the danger you like to experience too.”

“I’d never consciously seek to put you or Martha in danger.”  He explained.  “I’ve had others on board with me, you know that.  Even before Martha and Rose.  Travelling with companions, with my granddaughter…”

“Now you’re just taking the piss!” Donna snapped.  She grabbed the empty pitcher and stormed out of the console room, with the Doctor in hot pursuit.  “You know what, this was a mistake!  I shouldn’t have bothered!”

 To be concluded...

Feedback welcome and appreciated.

Title: Ordinary World... Extraordinary Girl (2/2)
Author: idiotgirle
Rating:  PG
Characters:  Martha, Jack, The Doctor
Spoilers:  Post LotTL.  Martha works with Torchwood
Disclaimer: Blah blah blah cakes...I have nothing. I heart you RTD (most of the time anyway!)
Author’s notes: For the Martha Jones Holiday Fickafest.  Prompts:  Free Hugs Day and a broken picture frame.
Summary: Martha thinks she's coping with what happened during the year that never was.  Her friends think differently...

Chapter 2

Martha rubbed her eyes.  She couldn’t believe how stupid she had been to let herself nod off like that.  At least it was Jack who had found her and not Owen who was still asleep somewhere.  There was still half a pot of Ianto’s coffee nearby.  A couple of minutes in the microwave and it would be perfectly hot and drinkable and would keep her going until she could get out and sleep in her own bed and weather the recurring nightmares in private.

Martha watched the large mug spin around on the microwave’s turntable unaware of the figure leaning against the door frame behind her.

“What’s up, Doc?”  The familiar voice startled Martha out of her reverie.  The Doctor smiled warmly at her.  “I’ve always wanted to say that!” 

“Oh… Hello.”  Martha said flatly.  “What are you doing here?”

“Did you know that today is Free Hugs Day and I’ve dropped by to give you yours.”  He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in his tall frame.  Martha’s body stiffened, the reaction unlike any he’d ever had from her before.  She was usually so eager and welcoming in her embrace.

“At 5 in the morning?” Martha used the excuse of checking her watch to quickly extricate herself from him.

The Doctor was somewhat thrown by her tone. “I’m refuelling the TARDIS and I thought I’d drop in to say hello… I saw the lights on.  Besides, who keeps time in a time machine?”  His awkward attempt at conversation was abruptly stopped by the microwave beeping.  Martha moved back to the far side of the room to get her coffee.  It was obvious from her body language that she wanted to be nowhere near him.  “Congratulations, by the way, Doctor Martha Jones.”  His grin was met with silence, barely a reaction from her.  He had half expected her to jump over the table that separated them and into his arms.  Now it was a convenient barrier.  The “happy reunion” route hadn’t worked on her.  Time to be more direct.  “You never rang.  You gave me your phone, but you never rang.”

Martha shrugged.  “I didn’t need you for anything.”

The words stung.  “I didn’t think it was just for in case of emergencies dial D for Doctor. I thought you’d…”

“What?  Ring and invite you round for tea?  I’ve been kinda busy studying and working.  Haven’t really had the chance.” She pottered around the kitchen, putting milk and sugar in the coffee.  “By the way, how’s the Universe?  Picked up a new travelling companion yet?  Is she blonde?” 

“Stop, Martha.”

“Stop what, Doctor?  Carrying on with my life as normal as I try to forget what happened, like the rest of planet got to?”  Her hands were on her hips and her head was cocked to the side.  “Why don’t you go back to ice skating on the frozen lakes of Koor-Haan.  That way we can avoid this little heart to heart and I can get back to my job.”  Martha brushed past the Doctor without even looking at him and into the corridor.  Jack was standing a few feet from her and from the look on his face, Martha knew exactly how the Doctor had come to be in Cardiff at five in the morning and it had nothing to do with refuelling the TARDIS.  “You had no right!”  She yelled at him.

“He’s trying to help, Martha.  We both are.”

Martha spun around to face the Doctor.  “If you really want to help, go back to the hospital the day we met and say ‘goodbye and thanks’.  Don’t turn up after Leo’s party and don’t offer to take me on board the TARDIS.  That way I’ll never be in the position to know what a Chameleon Arch is, or that a Timelord can store his essence in a fobwatch.”

“Martha, you know I can’t do that.”  The Doctor said sadly.

“It makes perfect sense, Doctor.  That way, I’ll never bring the watch to Professor Yana’s attention, he’ll never open it and The Master will never manifest.”  Martha stopped to draw breath in order to fight back the tears that were forming.  “That way, my family, Jack and you won’t have to go through… Well, you don’t need me to remind you what happened.  You could forget you ever met me and I could have my ordinary life back.”   She knew it was wishful thinking (no crossing into established events) but it seemed like the simplest, most obvious solution. “If I’d just left well enough alone.”  She slumped against the wall, staring at the floor.  “If I’d said nothing about that watch, Professor Yana would have taken his people to Utopia and they’d have lived happily ever after.  But noooo!  I can’t leave well enough alone, so he opened his watch because I drew attention to it and…” Martha faltered.  “All that death… All that cruelty…  All because of me.”

The Doctor was shocked into silence at her revelation. 

“He was another Timelord.  Do you honestly think The Doctor wouldn’t have wanted to know?” Jack said edging close enough to place a hand on her shoulder.  “Martha, that watch would have been opened and the Master would have manifested anyway.” 

“We’ll never know though, will we Jack.”  Martha stood up and looked him in the eye.  “You can talk about all the what ifs you like, but it won’t change one iota of what happened.”

“I’m so sorry.”  The Doctor said quietly.  “There should be statues of you for what you did… Or  a commemorative portrait hanging in a gallery.  At the very least there should be a street named for you… but there’s absolutely nothing.  Nothing to indicate that the world needed saving in the first place and that’s because of you, Martha Jones.”  He reached out his hand.  “Come with me.”  She was initially hesitant, but took his hand. 

The Doctor brought her outside.  A cold breeze whipped her hair around her face as dawn broke over the bay.  “Do you see that sunrise?”  Martha nodded as a golden orange glow appeared low on the horizon.  Clouds had a deep mauve tint against a sky that was turning from black to blue.  “That’s there because of you.  Had you not inspired people with your story, that sunrise wouldn’t exist because there would have been no planet left.   Because of you there are sunrises and Tuesdays and traffic jams and bad coffee in vending machines.  Life goes on in all it’s wonderful mundane ordinariness because you saved the world.”  He took her by the shoulders and squeezed tight.  “And don’t ever labour under illusion that there’s anything ordinary about you, Martha.  You are extraordinary.  There’s not many who would have done… who could have done what you did.”  He kissed her forehead.  “If I could go back, I would, you know that.”

Martha nodded, tears leaving a cold trail down her face. 

“I could make you forget it.”  The Doctor said quickly.  “I could take the memories so they wouldn’t trouble you anymore.  And not just you…”

“No.”  Martha said.  “I had an idea that you could and that’s why I hadn’t called, why I was so rude to you back there.   I knew if I saw you, I’d ask for you to take all the nightmares and memories away… And I knew you’d gladly do it because that’s the kind of man you are.  You’d take our memories of it and you’d be the only one left who knew and I wouldn’t burden you with that.  It’s not something you should carry alone.”

Jack watched from a distance as Martha and The Doctor talked.  He couldn’t hear them, but from their body language, it was clear that they were making up.  After a couple of minutes, The Doctor hugged Martha tightly and then headed back to the TARDIS.  Before closing the door behind him, the Doctor saluted Jack.  They’d speak again soon, he was sure of it.  Once the TARDIS dematerialised, Martha made her way back over to Jack.  Without a word, she stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.  “What’s this for?”  He asked, his hands caressing her back as he held her close.

“Free Hugs Day.”  Martha said.  “I hadn’t given you yours.”

***

Jack sent Martha home soon after that using the excuse that she was too tired to be useful.  It was fully bright by the time she returned to her apartment, but after years of shift work in preparation to be a Doctor, Martha knew she’d be asleep a few minutes after she went to bed… for how long, she had no idea.

Four hours later, Martha awoke with a start after another vivid, horrific nightmare.  She took a couple of slow deep breaths to calm her rapid pulse and then picked up her mobile phone.  “Hello, Jack?”

“Martha, is everything alright.” 

“No, it’s not.  I… I think we both need to talk.”

“I’d like that.”

~Fin~