Here's the last chapter of this story! Please remember to review, even constructive criticism would be nice. Thank you!

Just a Bit Unlikely Ch. 11: An Unlikely Ending

The TARDIS landed on a small, desolate street corner in between a tall street lamp and a dirty green trash bin. The Doctor, sporting his cleanest and best-fitting suit, stepped out of the blue doorway and looked around the empty street. Everyone was probably afraid to go outside, thinking the Cybermen would return at any second. Quickly he turned to the house he knew belonged to Marvin and took a deep breath. He hated delivering bad news. Especially to mothers. His mind went back to that Dalek ship where he had left Marvin. He had heard the explosion of the ship onto Venus' moon many hours ago, but it still rang in his ears. He felt numb. He almost wished he'd just be sad or in pain; nothing was worse than feeling nothing at all. He guessed after 900 years, you don't even feel it anymore. His legs felt like lead as he approached the door and lifted his hand to knock. Something held his hand in mid air for some time before he actually rapped the door. His head dropped as he heard shuffling inside. Whoever answered the door would be very sad very soon. The door opened and the Doctor looked up. His jaw dropped at whom he saw, grinning, holding the tall oak door open wide.

There, not dead on some distant moon, was Marvin Cartwright, spectacles and all. They stared at each other for a whole minute, Marvin smiling at the Doctor's surprised face. Slowly the Doctor stammered, "H-how? You...I...I thought you were dead."

Absentmindedly, the Doctor stepped into Marvin's house without looking away from this mysterious teenager. Marvin shut the door and began explaining quickly, "A man appeared at the last second. He had a dead-lock key and we got out just in time."

This had brought up more questions than answers. "Who was he?" The Doctor began his interrogation. "How did you get out? Who even has a dead-lock key?"

Suddenly Jack Harkness walked into the room from the kitchen, peeling a banana casually as the Doctor gaped at him. "Jack!"

Jack looked up and grinned knowingly at the confused Time Lord. He bit into the banana and Marvin began laughing. "Jack...you...what?"

The Doctor was so puzzled, and yet he understood perfectly well how Jack could've saved Marvin. He quickly turned into more of an exhausted parent than an old friend. "Jack, you can't keep using that Vortex Manipulator! And where did you get a dead-lock key? Did you honestly rob the Time Agency again? Jack, put down the banana and talk to me."

Although he had said this in all seriousness, Jack began laughing full out. The Doctor glanced over at young Marvin, who had also begun laughing hysterically. "Ok, stop it. Look Jack, Marvin's as bad as you now."

Jack grinned slyly at the Doctor. "You once told me to always take a banana to a party. You said they were good."

The Doctor nearly smiled at that memory, but he caught himself. "This isn't a party, Jack. I thought Marvin was dead! I thought I'd have to tell his mum I let him die!"

The room grew solemn and none of them met the others' eye. Jack muttered softly, "Sorry I didn't tell you."

The Doctor looked around the room and asked suddenly, "Where's your mum, Marv?"

Marvin looked at the floor. "She was...I heard she was converted into one of those Cybermen."

The Doctor looked at him sadly once again. "I'm sorry we couldn't save her."

Marvin told the Doctor it was fine, that he had been luckier than most of his town. Jack finally said, "I better be off," and vanished with a click of his Vortex Manipulator. "I really wish he'd stop using that thing."

Marvin grinned at how the Doctor seemed to be everyone's overprotective father. They looked at each other and the Doctor sighed with finality. "I'd better be off as well."

He began strolling across the room, again not able to say goodbye. Marvin ran ahead of him and blocked the door. "Wait! Can I...come with you?"

"Come with me? It's too dangerous. I'm sorry Marvin, but a good kid like you can't be around me. You need to stay here, get a good education, fulfill your dreams, have a nice human life. I envy you lot a bit sometimes. Trust me, you don't want a life like I have."

The Doctor pushed his way to the door, but Marvin stopped him once again. "But I do! There's nothing for me here. I'll be sent to some school for boys and I'll never be happy knowing you're out there going on adventures, saving the universe. Please let me come."

"Marvin," the Doctor began, losing his patience, "I don't want to lose you again. I'd never forgive myself. Never. Stay here where I know you'll be safe."

Marvin retorted, "Even here on Earth it's not safe. I could be hit by a car tomorrow and that'll be it. But at least if I'm with you, I'll actually be living for once. You can show me the Renaissance, I've always loved Shakespeare. Or to Mars. Anywhere!"

The Doctor realized he couldn't say no to this kid. "Are you sure you want to come with me?"

"Yes."

The Doctor held out his hand. "Then welcome aboard."

They shook hands firmly and Marvin grinned. "You are impossible sometimes, you know that?"

The Doctor replied with a wink, "Not impossible. Just a bit unlikely."