FIC: Touched (1/?)
Title: Touched (1/?)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG-13 (may go up in future chapters)
Characters/Pairings: Ten/Martha (apologies in advance), Martha/Jack, Rose (with slight Ten/Rose - but within reason. Don’t run away now…;))
Spoilers: AU! Post Human Nature/Family of Blood
Disclaimer: Don’t own Doctor Who, just playing with its characters.
Summary: The Doctor waited almost a year before he saw Martha again.
Author’s notes: This is an alternative ending to my one-shot ‘This Time Around’ Unlike that story, the Doctor waits longer to visit Martha after she leaves. This will get pretty dark and the idea popped up out of nowhere. I honestly don’t know what compelled me to write it like this, but the idea literally wouldn’t leave me alone. As to why Rose is in this - well, there are these drabbles I wrote where Rose and Martha were traveling with the Doctor at the same time and I’ve always liked the idea of the two companions being close. I know I’m in the minority, so don’t mind me…Hope you enjoy! Comments are love. :-)
The Doctor waited almost a year before he saw Martha again. He took to heart what she had said about having to leave.
What he wouldn’t admit to anyone much to himself is that his recent recklessness was a result of not wanting to face what he had done.
He had allowed a perfectly good companion - intelligent, brave and just brilliant - to leave. And the Doctor could do nothing about it. He had let things spiral out of control - asked tasks of her that he had hoped never to place on a companion.
So when Martha left him after Farringham citing that there was nothing he could do or say to change her mind…the Doctor was at a loss at what to do.
He did have companions during the past year. For a few adventures, then he dropped them off and moved on to another companion, another adventure.
The last companion was a clever 20-year old brunette who reminded him so much of his Sarah Jane Smith. She nearly died trying to save him in a trip that went horribly wrong.
She was in the hospital now - doing all right. Though she refused to see him when he went to check up on her. The Doctor did catch a glimpse from the room’s window of her crying silent tears as she spoke quietly to a friend - a boy her age. He vaguely remembered her mentioning that she was close to him - they were childhood friends.
But now he couldn’t wait any longer. He was at the door to Martha’s home. He had the TARDIS pinpoint her location and was surprised to find that she’d moved from her flat to a house. He wondered if that meant she had found someone…
The Doctor knocked on the door - best be polite - and heard a commotion behind the door.
“He’s expectin’ you!” A female voice which sounded too familiar exclaimed before the door was opened.
Martha smiled a little too tightly at him as she waved her hand to invite him in, “Hello, Doctor. Long time, no see?”
The Doctor noticed the look of scrutiny she was giving him as she said the last part. As if she were unsure of something.
Martha nodded to herself and then smiled a real smile this time and put her arms around his neck, hugging him. The Doctor grinned as he returned the hug, clinging to her.
“Oh it’s good to see you again. How have you been? All right, I hope?” She started after they pulled apart.
“Traveled a bit. Had a few companions. But I’ve missed you, Martha Jones.”
“Of course. I’m one to miss.” She smiled at him, winking.
“Now, I thought I heard someone--”
A baby crying interrupted him.
Someone who the Doctor thought he would never see again came out of one of the rooms - a nursery he guessed.
“Oi, Martha. Layla is gettin’ fidgety. Would you mind?” She said to Martha, not paying much attention to the Doctor.
“She always liked me better.” Martha smirked at her, sticking her tongue out at her playfully as she took the baby off of her hands.
“Oh, shut up.” But she smiled at her all the same.
“Rose…?” The Doctor breathed out, staring at her.
“Ya know, I think I like Jack’s reaction better. Gapin’ like a fish, wasn’t he?” Rose commented to Martha.
“Where is he anyway?”
“Takin’ a shower - he should be out soon.” Rose said.
“Took a peek, did you?” She teased.
“You know Jack doesn’t mind.” She said rather matter-of-fact, Martha rolling her eyes.
“Would you two please explain what is going on here?” The Doctor cut in, getting very impatient.
“Sorry, Doctor. I am glad to see you again.” Rose finally gave him her full attention, giving him a big grin.
He smiled back and held out his arms and she rushed into them, the Doctor sweeping her up in the process.
“Never say never ever.” Rose said, whispering in his ear.
“Quite right.” He said softly as he put her down, brushing back a stray strand of blond hair from her face.
“Explanations are in order.” Martha said as she directed them to the kitchen table.
“I’m going to put Layla down for her nap. You two can catch up in the meantime.” She said, talking more to Rose than the Doctor.
“Martha, I can do that.” Rose offered.
Martha shook her head and tilted her head in the Doctor’s direction - Rose and her having some sort of silent communication.
Rose sighed and nodded, “All right.”
The Doctor took a seat at the table whilst Rose sat down across from him, as Martha went into the other room, cradling the baby in her arms.
“What was that about?”
Rose blinked and just looked at him, “What was what?”
“Martha wanting you to stay here. It looked like it had something to do with me.”
“It’s not important.”
“She gave me an odd look when I first arrived, Rose. Like she was checking for some sign…”
Rose looked at him seriously and told him firmly, “Just forget about it, all right? And please don’t ask Martha about it. I mean it, Doctor. Some things are best left alone.”
He rubbed his face, defeated, “Okay, I’ll let it go. Now, where did that baby - Layla was it? - come from? She doesn't look like either of you...”
Rose smiled at him, “We found out that Layla is Cambodian. Martha and I - we found her abandoned inside of a dumpster. We thought she was dead - the poor thing. But we saved her - more like Martha did, of course. Did you know she’s on the fast track to qualifying to become a doctor? Anyway, we sorta adopted her - Jack and his team at Torchwood had some contacts to help with that. Since we’re not a proper family, are we? With no bloke and all…”
The Doctor asked carefully, “What are you two then? You and Martha?”
Rose wagged her finger at him, “It’s not what you think - get your mind out of the gutter, mister. Martha just offered to have me stay with her since this house is more than big enough. And she needed someone to help out with Layla anyway with her insane shifts at the hospital and all. It’s not like I have a family here…”
“I wanted you to be with her family, Rose. I told Jackie that I’d keep you safe - bring you back home when the danger was too great. How’d you manage to come back? It was supposed to be impossible.” He said, not looking happy about her being potentially permanently separated from her family.
At least Jackie wasn’t around to slap him, thank Rassilon for small miracles…
“Not impossible, just a bit unlikely.” Rose said lightly, but cleared her throat to begin the story of how she came back without the universes collapsing.
Neither noticed Martha softly make her way up the stairs.
She touched the slight bump on her stomach at the top of the stairs and tried to choke back tears.
Martha walked toward the guest room that was pretty much Jack’s room - he visited so often.
She stopped in the open doorway and just looked at Jack who seemed about ready to leave the room.
“Martha?” He only said when he noticed the sad expression on her face.
“I can’t do this anymore, Jack. I don’t know what to do. Seeing him - and it hasn’t happened yet. He doesn’t know. And I thought it would make it better, but it’s even worse…”
Jack went to her and put his arms around her, shushing her as she started crying quietly.
“You’ll get through this. You’re not alone, Martha. Look at me…”
He placed his finger under her chin so she was looking into his eyes, “You’re the bravest person I know. Voice of a nightingale. And I love you.”
Martha gave him a weak smile, “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He kissed her forehead and said, “You’re not just any girl.”