He looked stricken at her words, and instead of a response, he simply stared at her. Of all the fears he had felt since that first day in his room when he had passed a mirror to her and told her he would come to her when she called, all the nightmare scenarios he had dreamed up, not one came close to this.
It took him a long time to make a decision - or, at least, it seemed like an eternity to him. How long would it take to remove the charms on himself? Would it matter? How quickly would she make for the door? And what would it accomplish, anyhow? If she didn't recognize his voice, his wand, the ring on his finger, what made him think she would know him by look alone? When he spoke, it was with the same level tone, but there was very real panic in his eyes. "I know you walked the Earth. I know you loved the Doctor and he didn't see you. I know you have a scar on your hip, that you sleep with your shoes on, that your nightmares are of Japan. You are William Shakespeare's Dark Lady. You gave your last breath on the moon to save the Doctor's. You hum when you brush your teeth and leave towels on the floor and when you're homesick, you want Francine's beef stew."
"Martha, I know you. I obviously know you. That must stand for something. If it means anything at all, if you have so much as a spark of recognition when you look at me, if you are willing to entertain the possibility, then you'll give me two minutes. I won't say a word to you, I won't harm you. I won't come near you. You need only wait and watch. If you still wish to walk out, I won't -"
He faltered, swallowing a very ugly emotion which threatened to rise like bile. One he had been fighting since the day he lost Lily. "I will never again trouble you. Two minutes of a lifetime and nothing more. Please."
no subject
It took him a long time to make a decision - or, at least, it seemed like an eternity to him. How long would it take to remove the charms on himself? Would it matter? How quickly would she make for the door? And what would it accomplish, anyhow? If she didn't recognize his voice, his wand, the ring on his finger, what made him think she would know him by look alone? When he spoke, it was with the same level tone, but there was very real panic in his eyes. "I know you walked the Earth. I know you loved the Doctor and he didn't see you. I know you have a scar on your hip, that you sleep with your shoes on, that your nightmares are of Japan. You are William Shakespeare's Dark Lady. You gave your last breath on the moon to save the Doctor's. You hum when you brush your teeth and leave towels on the floor and when you're homesick, you want Francine's beef stew."
"Martha, I know you. I obviously know you. That must stand for something. If it means anything at all, if you have so much as a spark of recognition when you look at me, if you are willing to entertain the possibility, then you'll give me two minutes. I won't say a word to you, I won't harm you. I won't come near you. You need only wait and watch. If you still wish to walk out, I won't -"
He faltered, swallowing a very ugly emotion which threatened to rise like bile. One he had been fighting since the day he lost Lily. "I will never again trouble you. Two minutes of a lifetime and nothing more. Please."