Eyes of Time: The Final Line ✓

Chapter 25: Gridlock

[TARDIS - Corridor Outside Martha's Room]

The Alchemist knocks thrice on the door and waits patiently with a soft smile. She's really enjoying having Martha along with them so far and it's only been one trip. The Doctor even confided in her last night that he's decided to offer her one more... which means she might be staying a while if she agrees.

The woman opens the door wide and grins up at her, "Good morning, Ally!"

"Morning Martha," she replies, "I figured I'd come to guide you to the kitchen. I made breakfast."

Martha's head drops back in relief, "Oh thank God! I'm so hungry."

She slips out of the purple bedroom, closing the door behind her, and the Time Lady offers her an arm.

"Miss Jones," she says, tipping her head, "Will you accompany me to this morning's meal?"

Martha laughs and links her arm to hers, "Happily, Lady Ally."

[TARDIS - Kitchen 2]

"The Doctor helped today," the Time Lady tells the woman as she sits on a stool, "I'm vegetarian and I don't care for cooking meat."

Martha smiles at that, "You didn't have to go through all of that trouble, then!"

She shrugs as she plates the dish, "Yeah, but we were all living off of my stock of meal replacement bars while in the 16th century. I figured you'd need a good home-cooked meal. Full English, if that's alright?"

"Oh, that's brilliant, thank you so much!" she says as the Alchemist places the full plate in front of her.

The Time Lady smiles softly, "You're very welcome, Martha. The Doctor and I already ate. We don't actually sleep much more than eight hours every three weeks so we tend to snack during the night but I do enjoy cooking."

Martha swallows her bite of beans on toast and smiles, "Right, aliens. Aliens that can sure as hell cook though, wow. These beans are amazing."

"Mm, they're called cranberry beans. I'm not fond of navy beans. These have better flavor with the herbs, peppers, and garlic, you know?"

She nods, "Yeah, I think I need to get this recipe off you for my Mum. She hates them too and just leaves them off the plate."

"I'll write it down then."

[TARDIS Console Room]

"Just one trip," the Time Lord states, "S'what I said. One trip in the TARDIS, and then home. Although I suppose we could... stretch the definition," he offers her a smile, "Take one trip into past, one trip into future."

"How do you fancy that?" the Alchemist grins.

"No complaints from me," Martha laughs.

"How about a different planet?" the Doctor suggests.

Martha hops off the jumpseat and skips over, "Can we go to yours?"

The Time Lords look down and away, both beginning to frown.

"Ah, there's plenty of other places," the Doctor mumbles.

"Come on, though," she grins, "I mean, planet of the Time Lords. That's got to be worth a look. What's it like?"

"Well, it's beautiful, yeah," he agrees, glancing at the Alchemist who's still silently staring at the console.

"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?"

"I suppose it is," the Alchemist whispers, grasping her husband's hand tightly.

"Great big temples and cathedrals!"