A/N: So I take it we're all happy Ten is back and you enjoyed my sneaky update then? hehe thanks for all the reviews folks, they mean a lot. Well here it is the last chapter. No point in putting it off. I've had an absolute blast writing this one just as I did with "all that's left behind" and that is partly down to all of you reading and reviewing (or just reading and hiding in the shadows) so thank you all. And so I here-by declare this fic officially finished. sniff
Chapter 23
"Uh…well.."
"Keish?" Rose's voice saved him having to answer.
"Rose?! Oh my god Rose!" the girl ran towards her almost knocking her off her feet. "They said you were dead! What about your mum and Mickey?"
Rose faltered slightly, her smile slipping from her face. "They're gone."
The Doctor walked over to them and smiled softly at Rose.
"Keish this is…"
"James McCrimmon. Nice to meet you. Heard a lot about you."
Rose frowned at the Scottish accent that flew from the Doctor's lips.
"I've seen you around a lot last year or so, never had the guts to come and talk to you though. Just figured seeing as they said Rose was dead that you might not talk to me."
"Ah," the Doctor nodded. "Well I wouldn't have been able to tell you much anyway. I didn't know she was still with us until a couple of weeks ago either," he told her in all honesty. "It was a bit of a shock when she walked back through my door I can tell you."
"Should've seen him," Rose said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Looked like he was ready to scream Almost literally ran away."
"Not surprised. Thinking your friend's dead and having her turn up on your doorstep. I still can't believe you're here. I'm sorry about Mickey and your mum."
"Thanks."
"Must be weird going back in there without them. So where have you been anyways?"
That was the question Rose had been dreading.
"Um well…" she looked at the Doctor for help.
"Well we were travelling," he said. "And when those robots appeared we got separated and it took her a very long time to find her way home. Security is still pretty tight coming into the country and I had her passport and everything. So she was stranded a long way from home." He looked at Rose to find her looking directly into his eyes.
'More true than she'll ever know,' he heard her say in his mind.
"Rose, why don't you take Keisha up for a cup of tea and see what's keeping the others while I take this to the T…car."
Rose nodded and guided Keisha away from the Doctor.
XxXxX
"Here these blokes of yours are a bit of alright!" Keisha gushed in the kitchen, sat down with Martha and Rose.
"Could be worse," Martha smirked.
"No wonder Mickey disappeared. The competition….well there ain't one really is there? That accent!"
"Oh Rose and Jack aren't…" Martha started.
"Oh I don't mean him… he's not Rose's type at all. I mean James. Where's that accent from anyway?"
"James …?"
"Scotland, can't remember where, we don't see his home much," Rose cut in, her eyes begging Martha to go with it.
"We ready to go?" the Doctor breezed into the kitchen with a very amused Jack watching on from the doorway.
"Where in Scotland are you from anyway?" Keisha asked as she stood.
"Uh….Paisley, well sort of, around there. Tiny little village, not even really on the map."
Martha sat staring at him, jaw dropped. This was a side of the Doctor she hadn't come across before. What happened to John Smith?
"Anyway. It was good to see you Keish." Rose stood and hugged her friend.
"You ever coming back here?" Keisha asked as they walked to the front door.
"Yeah, I'll be back. Look my number hasn't changed so call me yeah? We can go out properly."
"Sounds good. Nice to me you all," she smiled as Rose slammed the door, locking it behind them. "You look after my mate." She warned, poking the Doctor in the arm.
"Count on it," he nodded.
"You better," she warned before giving Rose another hug. "See you soon yeah?"
"Yeah. Bye Keish."
Rose watched her friend walk off towards her own flat.
"You okay?" Martha asked.
"Yeah. She'll let them all know I'm alive and kicking. Doesn't know we're kicking evil alien's bums but still. Good to see her though. Come on, let's go home."
XxXxX
"So Doctor what's with the whole Scottish James thing?" Martha asked finally as they closed the TARDIS doors.
"Well….just doesn't feel right being John Smith anymore," he shrugged. "Right then, where to?"
"Suppose I better get back to my exams. Any chance you can drop me off so I won't have missed much?"
"I should think so, if that's what you want"
"Well I don't want to be behind."
"That's not what he meant. You don't want to come with us, old times sake? Hasn't been much fun has it?" Jack asked.
Martha looked at Rose who just smiled. "I don't know…"
"Oh what harm can it do? One trip," Rose said.
"That's what he said last time."
"Well that's up to you this time."
"No. Thanks for the offer but I've got my exams and my family. This just isn't me anymore. You all make a difference out there," she pointed to the sky. "Time I tried to make a difference down here."
The Doctor merely nodded. "Right then. Question remains. Hospital or flat?"
"Um… hospital. Better finish my shift."
"How long did you have left?"
"'Bout an hour."
"Well give me ten minutes and you'll be there."
Martha nodded, following Rose out of the control room and to her bedroom, carry one of her bags..
"Can I ask you something?" she said finally.
"You can ask," Rose replied, a little cautious.
"What made you go with him in the first place? Your first Doctor I mean. Our Doctor is so different."
"I know," Rose sighed and sat on her bed. "My first Doctor….I didn't have anything really to lose I suppose. No A-Levels, he blew up my job. I guess I thought it would be a great experience."
"What made you carry on travelling?"
"It was all so mental. It's kind of addictive and scary and fantastic at the same time, if that makes sense. He had to ask me twice though. First time I stayed behind thinking it was the right thing to do, you know, Mickey and Mum relied on me. Instantly regretted it the minute he closed the door."
"What changed?"
"He appeared again five seconds later and said 'oh by the way it travels in time too'. That and the lonely look in his eyes. There was just something there. Reminded me of this song my mate used to play all the time. 'see the man with the lonely eyes, take his hand you'll be surprised.' Or something like that."
"'Give a little bit' Supertramp 1977," the Doctor said from the door way.
"How long have you been lurking there?" Martha asked.
"Excuse me I do not lurk, I hover. Not long, just came to say almost there." With that he turned and left, hands stuffed in his pockets.
"You sure you won't stay a while? He's going to miss you." Rose asked.
"I'm sure. I know I'm giving up a great opportunity and I loved travelling with him, most of the time anyway but I have a life here now. And if he taught me anything its make the most of what you've got. So I'm going to go home, be with my family, finish my exams and get on with my life."
Rose nodded and offered a small smile. "Tell ya what, give me your phone."
Martha handed it over.
"This is the TARDIS' number and I'll give you mine too. You ever get bored or fancy doing something a bit mental call us, yeah?"
"Why would you want me along? It hasn't exactly been happy families has it?"
"I was the same when I met Sarah-Jane just for different reasons. He had to leave her behind one day and never mentioned her so I thought that's what was going to happen to me. Must've driven you nuts hearing about me."
"A bit. Although I never really heard much about you until now. Just little fleeting comments and stuff, then he'd catch himself. I'm glad you found him again though. I wouldn't want him to be on his own."
"You're a good friend Martha Jones. I'm glad I got to meet you."
"Me too. And just for the record. He's better off with you anyway. He'll live longer for a start. No 'come on then, kill me' with you around."
"Bloody hope not!"
The two giggled.
"Seriously though. I'm gad he's got you. And if I have to lose out to anyone I'm glad it was you."
Rose nodded, unsure of what to say. "Thank you Martha. For looking after him, for being his friend. I know he doesn't make it easy sometimes."
"Got that right."
"But like he always says; he only travels with the best which makes you one of the best."
The TARDIS bumped.
"Looks like I'm home."
XxXxX
"Royal Hope Hospital car park," the Doctor called as the two girls entered the control room. "Last chance to change your mind."
"Not today Doctor, maybe one day but not today," Martha told him. "Well, suppose I better get back out there." She turned and hugged Rose causing both men to raise their eyebrows. "Thanks Rose. Look after him," she whispered.
"Forever," Rose whispered back. "Don't be a stranger yeah?"
"You bet." Martha turned to Jack. "Lovely to meet you Captain," she held out her hand.
"Oh Miss Jones, I think we're past that by now don't you?" He swept her up in his arms, bent her backwards and kissed her, eliciting chuckles from Rose and the Doctor. "See?" he said finally as he set her upright, "far more friendly."
Martha smiled, rolling her eyes. "How do they put up with you?"
"Well, the Doc generally just says 'stop it' and glares at me over the top of his glasses, although all that does is make him look even more irresistible." He waggled his eyebrows.
"Not without buying me a drink first," the Doctor called in a sing song tone walking towards the doors.
Martha laughed "bye," she smiled, following the Time Lord outside.
"Well Martha Jones. I suppose this is good bye," the Doctor sighed.
"For now anyway. You don't get rid of me that easily." She gave him a playful shove.
"Should hope not. Life with me in it is far too fun for that. It's good to see you again Martha."
"You too. You look after yourself and those two. You've got a good family there."
"I only travel with the best. Past and present."
"That's what Rose said."
"She's a smart girl."
"Yes she is. I'm glad she found you again. Anyway I better get inside. How long have I been gone?"
"'Bout ten minutes."
"You mean you actually got it to land where you wanted it?"
"Cheeky." the Doctor smiled.
"I meant to ask. The other you said that I don't really know you," she watched the Doctor wince. "No it's okay, he's right. I don't. But what does it feel like to be you?"
The Doctor regarded her for a minute before taking her hand. "It feels like this."
She closed her eyes against the sensation that crept up her arm. She felt dizzy, like when she used to spin round as a child then lay on the floor. The whole earth moving beneath her. She felt a tinge of sadness that she knew would never fully die; a hint of madness that borders on the right side of goodness and so much love for a planet that doesn't even know he exists.
"Wow, that's a weird trip."
The Doctor chuckled. "Try living it every day. Look I want you to have this. It's not the one we had obviously but it works, just don't open it while I'm still here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver pocket watch, placing it in the palm of her hand.
"Thank you Doctor. For everything." She reached up and hugged him tightly before pressing a light kiss to his cheek. "Bye."
The Doctor watched his friend walk away. At least this time there was no anger.
"I'll be seeing you Martha Jones," the Doctor whispered.
XxXxX
Martha walked across the car park, not daring to look back, the pocket watch gripped tightly in her hand. As she walked through the doors she ran to the locker room and sat on the bench.
With shaking fingers she opened the watch. A tiny hologram Doctor stood on the clock face, hand shoved in pockets as usual, a golden glow colouring him.
'Hello again Martha. Knowing you I probably won't have had time to leave the car park before you open this. I just wanted to say that you are fantastic. I know things haven't always been easy with me around and I didn't treat you as well as I should have. In fact at times I was down right cruel, didn't realise it at the time though so I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the times I hurt you, all the times I was mean and dismissive and for making you feel second best. I hope one day you'll forgive me. You know where we are if you ever need us. I'm sure Rose will have forced her mobile number on you by now, no escaping that one I'm afraid.'
There was a giggle in the background that Martha was sure came from Jack.
'Anyway. Thank you Martha Jones, for everything you've done. You made an ageing and broken Time Lord's life more bearable, even if he didn't deserve it.'
The picture faded and Martha wiped her eyes. Smiling she put the watch in her pocket and smiling, returned to the ward to finish the day she started so long ago.
XxXxX
"You alright?" Rose asked as the Time Lord stepped back in.
"Me? I'm fantastic," he grinned. "So where to?"
"Dunno, somewhere fun. No drama for a change. No torture just fun.Not for long though, I think we'll get bored after a day or so."
"Relaxed fun it is. Any preferences Jack? And if you even think about say the name of a certain pleasure planet I will disown you!"
"What's wrong with a pleasure planet?" Rose asked, her gaze flicking between Jack and the Doctor.
"The problem sweetheart is that on this particular planet you lose all you inhibitions, you're driven by the things that pleasure you," Jack explained.
"And the problem with that is?"
"A Time Lord with no inhibitions is a very dangerous thing," the Doctor told them.
"So he says. I think he just doesn't like not being in control." Jack whispered.
"I could comment on that but I won't," Rose caught her tongue between her teeth and smiled at her lover.
"Behave," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Right then, how about pot luck? Let the TARDIS choose."
"You're the boss."
"Oh really? That makes a change," the Doctor chuckled. "Oh wait, first we need to stop in Cardiff."
"Oh?" Rose stepped beside him.
"Need to let your mother know everything's alright. She has an uncanny knack of phoning right in the middle of things."
"Tell me about it! Right, look out Cardiff, here we come!"
"Hold on tight!"
Fin
TBC in "Possession"
"I can feel myself slipping." The Doctor was at the door now almost nose to nose with Jack through the small round porthole.
"When you say slipping…?" Jack saw the dark look flicker through the Doctor's eyes. When he looked closer he could see a cloud spiralling in each eye, it sparkled like space dust and Jack suddenly understood. "Doc, when you 'slip' what happens?"
"You don't want to know," the Doctor's voice had a tinge or laughter to it that caused Jack to pull back from the window.
He could see the corners of the Time Lord's lips curving upwards. Jack didn't think he'd seen anything so wicked looking in all the centuries he'd been alive.
"What do we do?" He saw the Doctor's expression return to concern momentarily.
"Keep the girls away from me. You too, stay away, just find that signal."
"What signal?"
The Doctor sank from view, sliding down to the floor giggling manically. "You'll never find it. They don't want you to!"
"Who's 'they'? What signal Doctor?" Jack yelled through, pressing himself up against the door trying to see the Doctor below. "Tell me, what signal? Who's doing this?"
Suddenly the Doctor slammed himself against the door, wide eyed with a grotesque grin, pressing his face against the glass. To Jack he looked like a crazed clown without the make-up and it scared him. The Doctor had gone completely mad and only the Doctor knew how.
A/N: That's all folks, I will start posting 'Possession' as soon as I can, possibly tomorrow night but no promises. Depends on how inspired I feel tonight!
Thanks for sticking with me for yet another epicly (is that even a real word?) long story, I hope it kept you all entertained. 151 reviews up to this point, that's nearly 30 more than 'All that's left behind'! Thank you all so much, I really can't express how happy it makes me to hear from you all!!! Until next time my friends, you've been fantastic!
"Catch ya on the flip flop!"