People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect...

[thatsortofaman]

Those passing by the Rift room might hear a loud thump. This is caused by a tall, lean man in a pinstriped suit and trainers tumbling through the rift and slamming into the couch, rather hard

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[smithnjones]

Martha Jones has not had the best couple of days. Lucy Saxon entered through the Rift, which ended up with Martha destroying portions of the Medical Room and going out to get right drunk with Des. Of course, her healing abilities mean that the hangover didn't stick around as long as it should have so she'd been in the Medical Room when Lucy approached and a cat fight involving fists ensued.

Now Martha has the Medical Room clean and she needs to get drunk again. It's not that she's an alcoholic, but the last few days have made it necessary.

She opens the door to the Rift and steps inside to tell the angels that if anyone new comes through they'll have to wait- and then she sees him and her heart practically stops in her chest.

"Doctor?" Maybe she's dreaming, but the bright smile that lights up her face doesn't seem to care. This can't be real. Six months of hoping... and here he is.

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor spins around at the sound of his name, and quickly moves past the irritation at having fallen through a rift to the sheer delight of seeing Martha Jones again after so long. Well, not so long, really, but long enough, after travelling with her for so long.

"Martha!"

He runs at her and all but tackles her, lifting her off her feet in sheer exuberance. He may cover her in purple alien goo in the process, but he means well, and he assumes she'll forgive him for it.

[smithnjones]

Martha laughs, still smiling brightly as she wraps her arms around his neck and makes a very happy noise that sounds a lot like a squee.

"You're here! You're really here!"

She is a bit ecstatic.

If anyone can find a way out of here, he can.

[thatsortofaman]

"Yes! I am!" He laughs and spins her around in the air before setting her down on her feet, practically beaming.

"Where is here, by the way, and what are you doing here? You could have called!"

[smithnjones]

"I was calling you. To tell you I was officially a doctor, but then I wound up here and the connection died. I tried calling again, but it didn't work. I dunno. The Rift must block the signal."

Martha is beaming, too.

She tilts her head to the side. "Oh, right. You're in the Conrad Hotel in Chicago. Basement portion of it. The Rift continues to expand and more people and creatures keep popping right through it so the Angels here decided to take matters under their own hands, bought the hotel to protect the Rift."

[thatsortofaman]

"Oh, now that's not fair at all," he says, seeming to direct the accusation at the Rift. Shame on it for not letting Martha get through to call him. Or something. But if she had called, he absolutely would have come running.

"Chicago?" He frowns a little, inclines his head to one side. "If I had to guess, I would have said London or Cardiff, but it is a nice change."

And then he focuses on Martha, looking vaguely concerned. "Angels? What're they?"

[smithnjones]

"Yes, Chicago. However, different world entirely than my own. 'less there's supernatural humans and demons and angels running about there that I don't know about."

Martha notes the vague concern in his expression and shakes her head to reassure him. "Not like the weeping angels or any such thing. They're good by nature. And a lot like humans, except for how old they get, the wings, and their... other abilities."

[thatsortofaman]

"Oh, no," the Doctor says dismissively. "Just the aliens, and you knew about that already."

He considers her words for a moment, frowning thoughtfully, and then lets out a long breath. "Well then. Guess there's nothing for it but to meet these angels, hmm? You'll have to introduce me, Martha. And for that matter, how long have you-"

He stops as he notices that in the process of hugging her, he got purplish... stuff all over her. "Oh. Dear. Sorry about that."

[smithnjones]

"Well. Technically I've got to give you a medical examination first. You see I sort of work for them. As the medical person. I've got to examine everyone who comes through."

Martha blinks looking down at herself and noticing the purplish goo for the first time.

"Blimey. What's all this then?" She raises an eyebrow looking up at him with a little smirk. "Or do I even want to know?"

[thatsortofaman]

"Yeah, you... really don't," he says slowly. "It's got to do with eggs and some aliens you never met and... I'm sure it'll wash right off."

His eyebrows go up as he registers the comment about the medical examination. "What? Oh, come on, now, Martha, you don't really need to examine me, do you? I'm the picture of health!"

[smithnjones]

"Right. It had better or... you owe me a new outfit."

She's joking of course. She would have hugged him no matter what he was covered with and she wouldn't have had it any other way.

Martha laughs. "But you don't know what the Rift did to you. That's why I have to examine everyone after they've come through, no matter how healthy they may feel. The Rift messes with your very make up."

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor stares at her blankly, rather not wanting to believe all that. It takes him a minute or two to respond, because he rather likes himself the way he is, and he doesn't want to change it, and by the way, since when did rifts ever do that to you, and he's wondering if perhaps Martha might just need a little education on that front...

"What." It's not really a question, but... it's all he can think to say just now.

[smithnjones]

Martha raises her eyebrows at him. She can tell he doesn't quite believe her. Or doesn't quite want to believe her.

"I've been here for six months. I think I'd know. Everyone who has come through changes. Somehow."

[thatsortofaman]

"Oh, well." He thinks a moment and waves his hand. "Humans. I'm a Time Lord. Different genetic structure, different... everything. Right? No cause to worry..."

He's going to be stubborn about this. And probably keep protesting even as Martha drags him to the medical room and forces an examination on him.

[smithnjones]

"Not just humans."

But Martha won't argue any more than that, simply, takes his hand and drags him with her to the medical room, which has been relatively cleaned since her mini explosion the other day.

Just half a beaker remains as evidence that it even happened.

"C'mon then, have a seat."

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor had not expected that, so he ends up getting dragged along behind her, making little half-syllables of protest the whole way, but somehow he never actually manages actual words. That's annoying.

He sits down, a little sulkily, at her insistence, giving her a slightly reproving look. Here he is, last of the Time Lords, the Oncoming Storm, the bloody Doctor... and Martha Jones is pushing him around. Something's not right about this scene.