Chapter 2

            Madcoil

~Something lingers in the dark.

Waiting in a pool of shadow,

Something tainted leaves a mark

In the place it lies unseen.~

”Jack, I appreciate that you’re willing to come here but, no matter what Tom said to you,  it’s not necessary.”  Martha said into the phone perched precariously on her shoulder.  She had already begun packing away the files that would be sent to UNIT. “I am perfectly capable of getting myself to Cardiff; I have travelled a few places in the universe, as you well know."

    "Save your breath to cool your porridge.  I'm coming to get you, and there is very little you can do to stop me, Dr. Jones."

    "Save my breath to what?"

    "Yea,” Martha could almost hear his infectious grin. “I heard that in a chick flick once and I've waited all this time to use it on somebody.  You Win!"

 "You need putting away, insane man.”

"Ooooh bondage, Dr. Jones?  We'll be the talk of the tabloids."

“Why don’t you just save your airfare, I’m a big girl.”  She gathered up the manila envelope with the notes she had been working on.  There was very little inside of it.

“Yes, well it’s too late, because I’m outside your building, beautiful.  So, are you going to let me in, or will I have to break the door down.”

“Don’t you dare, I haven’t got my security deposit back yet.”  She reached over to the switch near her phone that would buzz him into the main entrance.

Jack took the stairs rather than the elevator to Martha’s 6^th floor apartment. Martha had barely gotten the door open before gathered her up and swung her around before sitting her on top of one of the many boxed stacked neatly around the living room.

“So, what can I do to help?”

She kissed his cheek, “Let me off this box for a start.  And explain why you’re here.”

He lifted her down.  “I’m not sure I care for your tone, Dr. Jones.  I have braved airplane food and rush hour traffic, I’ll have you know.  A little appreciation is in order.”

“I do appreciate you, Jack.  But I told you before it’s--”

“Not necessary.  You’re beginning to sound like a broken record.  Does anyone actually own records anymore?  I suppose it sounds a bit daft to say you sound like a broken DVD, or MP3.” He scoped her back down to the floor.  “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t just cross the pond to escort you to Cardiff.  So, there my, dirty little secret is out.  I was already in America when Tom called me.”

“So you didn’t brave airplane food for me?”

“Well, I did, but it was four days ago.  I was actually visiting.  But I was nearly killed in your very car park by some maniac who probably removed several feet of asphalt in his haste to get out.”  She looked at him as she made her way into the kitchen, pulled open the refrigerator and frowned at its nearly empty shelves.

“Jack, have you ever heard of the name Ureil.”

“No.  Should I have?  It sounds kind of kinky.”

She threw a dishrag at him.  “Jack, you think that cornflakes sound kinky. But other than the fact that it’s the name of an archangel, I don’t have much more information.”

“Archangel as in archangel network?” Old buried pain danced across his face for a moment. 

 “No…No…Archangel as in the bible archangel, of which there are seven: Gabriel, Raphael, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, barachiel, Jeremeil and--”

“Brother Uriel.”

“Yes.  Sometimes depicted as the Fire of God,”

“And what has the Fire of God, got to do with UNIT?  I suppose I shouldn’t be asking that and you shouldn’t be answering it.”

“There’s nothing to answer, really.  I have a name and a picture.  They might be the same person they might not.  There some vague pieces of information that could mean something, could not.  But it’s making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  The name just pops up in some very interesting places.  But nothing else.  No one’s ever heard of him, or her.   No one knows why suddenly the financial records of major corporate conglomerates are being sent to him.”  She shrugged her shoulders and placed the folder in the box.  “Well, it’s UNIT’s problem now.”

The universe and the building suddenly shifted, as explosions rocked the foundations and flames raced through its frame.

The Songs of Martha

Chapter 1

By Spicepress

  I will always love you

~we both know, I’m not what you need~

Dolly Parton

”>

“Martha, you promised.  You gave me your word,” said Tom sternly as he set two cups of coffee beside the uncut cake on the glass topped table.

She gave her face a quick wipe.  “I know, I’ll be better, I promise.  So who’s going to cut the cake?”

He picked up a cake knife and presented it with a flourish  across his elbow.  “I shall give you the honor, Dr. Jones.  But I get the first piece and I want that one of those roses.”

Martha very nearly laughed despite herself, but it was a sad shadow of the real thing. She looked down and willed away the tears that threatened to spill again.  She looked at the cake with ‘Happy Un-engagement written in large balloon letters surrounded by yellow icing roses.  Because Tom always remembered that she liked yellow roses.  She started to cut but couldn’t maintain the façade.   “Tom, I’m so sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry.  I guess my little party is a bust.”  He swept her into his arms, his face against her hair.  “It would be very easy, and very simple to make this all your fault, and let you claim all the blame.” He gently cupped her chin and tilted her head towards his own.  “It’s not that simple.  I won’t have it be that simple. I’m as guilty as you.  But the fact is that we both got caught up in it all.  I still remember our first date.  The most beautiful, intelligent woman in the world wanted to go out with me.  Me!  Tom Mullian.  And the way you looked, the way you looked at me; as if I had jumped in front of a bullet for you or something; like I was some kind of hero.” He cupped her chin in his hand.  “That’s pretty heady stuff, for a country lad.”

“But not the stuff, to make a marriage,” Her words were soft with regret as she lay her hands on his shoulders. The engagement ring on her finger seemed to accuse her even if Tom did not.   She pulled out of his arms to gently take the ring off and hold it out to him.

“No, I’m not taking that back,” he closed his fingers around hers folding the ring in both their hands.  “I don’t expect you to wear it, but I do expect you to bring it to our next anniversary.”

“Our un-engagement anniversary?” asked Martha. 

“Absolutely, to be celebrated every year at this time, and you are responsible for bringing the ring and the cake at least for the next one.  I warn you, I just may make you come all the way to Africa.”

“You know you’re not supposed to be like this, you’re supposed to be mad, angry and mean.”

“Kill them with kindness, that’s my motto.”  But he couldn’t hold on to the easygoing, carefree tone he has wanted this evening to be.   He pulled her into his embrace once more, and touched her forehead with his own.  His words fell like shards of broken glass. “Don’t think that this doesn’t feel like I’m ripping my heart out of my chest.” His voice slowed as the breath from his words swirled about her face.  “Don’t believe that this is easy.  Don’t image that I’m going to let you slip from my life just because we’re not getting married.  Every second I spent with you is worth more than I can tell you.”  He brushed her tears with his thumbs before capturing her lips in a deep kiss.”

“I think I must be completely mad to let you go.”

“Now, none of that, we’ve been through this too many times already.  Besides, you’re really going to be ticked at me in,” he looked at his watch, in about two days and thirty minutes.”

“And, why is that?” she arched an eyebrow at him.

“Because Jack will be here.”

“Why will Jack be here?”

“Because… I-told-him-to-come-spend-a-few-days-with-you-so-you-won’t-be-alone.”  That last came out as if it were one word. 

“Tom!”

“Look, Martha,” you’re going to be moving to Cardiff anyway to start work at Torchwood, right?” Before she could form any words, he continued.  “So, what’s it going to hurt for Jack to come here and escort you.”

“Tom, we’re in New York, not around the corner. And I still have things to clear up at UNIT.”

“Which you told me yourself, was just a matter of turning over the files you’re working on and then you would be leaving by the end of the week. I don’t want you here moping around beating yourself up and being miserable alone.”