Fic: Another Day
Title: Another Day
Author: Daxy (holo_daxy)
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Martha Jones, Romana
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, though I can dream right? The spelling and grammar mistakes on the other hand are mine.
Summary: "He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day!"
Thanks: To persiflage_1 who was my beta reader
"It takes a lot to survive in this universe."
*****
Romana pushes the doors to her TARIDS open and rushes over to the console with a determined stride. In contrast, Martha follows behind reluctantly almost as if she doesn't want to leave.
"Close the doors!" Romana snaps without looking up from the controls.
Martha does as she is told but not without throwing annoyed looks in Romana's direction. "Is that it? We're just going to run away? We're really not going to help?" Martha asks as she makes her way to the console; following the Time Lady around as she works.
"He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day!" Romana snaps, slightly distracted as she works.
"Is that your motto in life Romana?" Martha snaps back, her anger having taken over any rational thought. "It's how you survived the Time War, isn't it!"
No sooner are the words said than Martha regrets them due to the Time Lady's head snapping up with a dangerous look on the face and thunder in her eyes. Martha slowly starts backing away while Romana just looks at her; all attention now gone from what she was doing at the console.
"Romana -"
Martha can't help but flinch when Romana grabs the handle of a switch and slams it down without looking away from Martha. After what seems like hours later, but in reality is only seconds, the TARDIS lands with a shudder and Martha has to grab a nearby beam for support.
"Leave!"
"Excuse me?"
Romana dashes about picking up objects as she goes; mobile phone, stethoscope, UNIT ID card and finally Martha's jacket, before practically shoving them at Martha. "I want you to leave my ship. You're no longer welcome."
Martha just looks at Romana, but the Time Lady's expression remains unchanged; furious. In her haste to leave the TARDIS Martha misses the twitch in Romana's cheek as the thunderous look on her face finally crumbles to one of despair at Martha leaving, slamming the TARIDS door after her.
*****
"Your mother reminds me of a cat - a cat nun in fact - a cat nun, nurse actually - have you ever been to New Earth?"
"Yes."
"Oh…he took you there did he? We won't be doing that then."
"What are you doing here?"
"Sister Jatt was her name…sharp claws from all accounts -"
"Romana!"
Romana pauses looking around Martha's old bedroom and looks at the young doctor who is sitting on the bed. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I dropped you outside your flat, not your mother's house - I do hate dealing with mothers…always the mothers."
"Shouldn't you be running away from things?" It's a bitter comment and Martha almost regrets it when she sees Romana flinch, but she's still so angry at having been left behind that she almost can't bring herself to care.
"I…I'll have you know…" Romana starts casually trying to sound confident while examining an old Spice Girls CD single, "I ran straight back to that colony and dealt with the flesh eating aliens."
"Out of guilt?"
"No. It was my plan all along - you distracted me."
"I distracted you! You dumped me on Earth!"
"I did not dump you! I…well…" Romana puts the CD down realising she doesn't have much of an argument. "I might have dumped you back on Earth, but…I was angry."
"And you ran away -"
"Stop saying that!"
Martha can't help but dwell on the fact that she's never seen the Time Lady look so flustered and pulls her legs against her chest. Romana takes the unsaid invitation and sits on the edge of the bed but refuses to look in her companion's direction.
"I assure you Martha I didn't choose to leave Gallifrey at the end of the Time War…I was perfectly willing to stay till the end while the Doctor -"
Romana suddenly stops and closes her eyes and Martha moves next to her, taking her hand. If possible Romana's skin felt even cooler than normal and it sent a chill through Martha at the thought of just how far her comments had pushed the former president.
"That…stupid, reckless…brilliant man!" Roman's eyes snap open and she looks at Martha. "And I don't call him that often."
"I know."
"I shouldn't be annoyed really; a life on Earth in a fob watch isn't all that bad really…especially when I had a brilliant doctor to save me."
Martha smiles slightly. "Calling him brilliant twice in the space of half a minute; a record."
"I meant you Martha Jones. You’re my brilliant doctor…my Doctor Jones."
Getting nothing but a blush in reply Romana springs to her feet feeling awkward and needing a distraction. She pulls Martha to her feet with her and smiles slightly, "I've changed my mind about New Earth."
"You have?"
"Mmm…I'm sure I can beat your last visit there - were you put in mortal danger at all?"
"Yes."
"Excellent!" Romana pulls Martha towards the bedroom door but suddenly stops causing Martha to crash into the back of her. "Wait…" Romana spins around, "you do want to come, don't you? I'd of course fully understand if you didn't wish to set foot aboard my TARDIS ever again."
"Are you kidding? I can't wait!"
"Excellent!"
When Martha feels Romana tug at her hand again she stays rooted to the spot causing the Time Lady to turn around and look at her; the excited look on her face fading the longer Martha remains motionless. "I'm sorry…about what I said. I don't think I even believed what I was saying…I know you don't run away from things."
"Only important things - that's why I came back for you. You are very important to me."
"Really?"
"Don't ask that."
"Why not?"
"Because I think I'm far too much of a coward to honestly answer that question." At that Romana tugs on Martha's hand and she starts running again; this time knowing she won't be alone to fight another day.
Author: Daxy (holo_daxy)
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Martha Jones, Romana
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, though I can dream right? The spelling and grammar mistakes on the other hand are mine.
Summary: "He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day!"
Thanks: To persiflage_1 who was my beta reader
"It takes a lot to survive in this universe."
*****
Romana pushes the doors to her TARIDS open and rushes over to the console with a determined stride. In contrast, Martha follows behind reluctantly almost as if she doesn't want to leave.
"Close the doors!" Romana snaps without looking up from the controls.
Martha does as she is told but not without throwing annoyed looks in Romana's direction. "Is that it? We're just going to run away? We're really not going to help?" Martha asks as she makes her way to the console; following the Time Lady around as she works.
"He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day!" Romana snaps, slightly distracted as she works.
"Is that your motto in life Romana?" Martha snaps back, her anger having taken over any rational thought. "It's how you survived the Time War, isn't it!"
No sooner are the words said than Martha regrets them due to the Time Lady's head snapping up with a dangerous look on the face and thunder in her eyes. Martha slowly starts backing away while Romana just looks at her; all attention now gone from what she was doing at the console.
"Romana -"
Martha can't help but flinch when Romana grabs the handle of a switch and slams it down without looking away from Martha. After what seems like hours later, but in reality is only seconds, the TARDIS lands with a shudder and Martha has to grab a nearby beam for support.
"Leave!"
"Excuse me?"
Romana dashes about picking up objects as she goes; mobile phone, stethoscope, UNIT ID card and finally Martha's jacket, before practically shoving them at Martha. "I want you to leave my ship. You're no longer welcome."
Martha just looks at Romana, but the Time Lady's expression remains unchanged; furious. In her haste to leave the TARDIS Martha misses the twitch in Romana's cheek as the thunderous look on her face finally crumbles to one of despair at Martha leaving, slamming the TARIDS door after her.
*****
"Your mother reminds me of a cat - a cat nun in fact - a cat nun, nurse actually - have you ever been to New Earth?"
"Yes."
"Oh…he took you there did he? We won't be doing that then."
"What are you doing here?"
"Sister Jatt was her name…sharp claws from all accounts -"
"Romana!"
Romana pauses looking around Martha's old bedroom and looks at the young doctor who is sitting on the bed. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I dropped you outside your flat, not your mother's house - I do hate dealing with mothers…always the mothers."
"Shouldn't you be running away from things?" It's a bitter comment and Martha almost regrets it when she sees Romana flinch, but she's still so angry at having been left behind that she almost can't bring herself to care.
"I…I'll have you know…" Romana starts casually trying to sound confident while examining an old Spice Girls CD single, "I ran straight back to that colony and dealt with the flesh eating aliens."
"Out of guilt?"
"No. It was my plan all along - you distracted me."
"I distracted you! You dumped me on Earth!"
"I did not dump you! I…well…" Romana puts the CD down realising she doesn't have much of an argument. "I might have dumped you back on Earth, but…I was angry."
"And you ran away -"
"Stop saying that!"
Martha can't help but dwell on the fact that she's never seen the Time Lady look so flustered and pulls her legs against her chest. Romana takes the unsaid invitation and sits on the edge of the bed but refuses to look in her companion's direction.
"I assure you Martha I didn't choose to leave Gallifrey at the end of the Time War…I was perfectly willing to stay till the end while the Doctor -"
Romana suddenly stops and closes her eyes and Martha moves next to her, taking her hand. If possible Romana's skin felt even cooler than normal and it sent a chill through Martha at the thought of just how far her comments had pushed the former president.
"That…stupid, reckless…brilliant man!" Roman's eyes snap open and she looks at Martha. "And I don't call him that often."
"I know."
"I shouldn't be annoyed really; a life on Earth in a fob watch isn't all that bad really…especially when I had a brilliant doctor to save me."
Martha smiles slightly. "Calling him brilliant twice in the space of half a minute; a record."
"I meant you Martha Jones. You’re my brilliant doctor…my Doctor Jones."
Getting nothing but a blush in reply Romana springs to her feet feeling awkward and needing a distraction. She pulls Martha to her feet with her and smiles slightly, "I've changed my mind about New Earth."
"You have?"
"Mmm…I'm sure I can beat your last visit there - were you put in mortal danger at all?"
"Yes."
"Excellent!" Romana pulls Martha towards the bedroom door but suddenly stops causing Martha to crash into the back of her. "Wait…" Romana spins around, "you do want to come, don't you? I'd of course fully understand if you didn't wish to set foot aboard my TARDIS ever again."
"Are you kidding? I can't wait!"
"Excellent!"
When Martha feels Romana tug at her hand again she stays rooted to the spot causing the Time Lady to turn around and look at her; the excited look on her face fading the longer Martha remains motionless. "I'm sorry…about what I said. I don't think I even believed what I was saying…I know you don't run away from things."
"Only important things - that's why I came back for you. You are very important to me."
"Really?"
"Don't ask that."
"Why not?"
"Because I think I'm far too much of a coward to honestly answer that question." At that Romana tugs on Martha's hand and she starts running again; this time knowing she won't be alone to fight another day.