Chapter Fifty-Seven

After the chaos died down, the guards departed the Valiant, using the helicopter to go back down to Earth to resume their lives. Eventually, the only people left were the Doctor, Rose, Martha, Jack, Martha's family and Lucy. While Lucy, Tish, Clive and Francine went to the bedrooms to lie down, the Doctor led Rose, Martha and Jack down to his TARDIS.

The Doctor opened the TARDIS doors and they walked inside and stared at the ruins of the control panel.

"Can it be fixed?" Rose asked looking at the Doctor.

"Yes, it'll take about a day, but the TARDIS can fix it." The Doctor replied. "We just have to close the door and let her do the work."

He ushered them back out and he shut the door. They heard the door lock and the Doctor nodded.

"It'll be done by tomorrow." He said.

He sighed.

"In the meantime, I have work to do." He said grimly.

He walked away as the three companions looked at each other.

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The Doctor looked dully at the Master's naked body as it lay on the tarp on the exam table in the med bay. He dipped the rag in the basin of water next to him and cleaned his body. As he worked, he sighed deeply. He should have known that the Master would never agree to be his prisoner for the rest of his life. But, still, he had held out a hope that he would do it. Even though they had been bitter enemies, he had hoped that in time they could work toward reconciliation. Despite all he had tried to do to him, he was still a part of his kind. But now he truly was the last Time Lord of this universe. All that was left of the Time Lords was a twisted version of himself and he would never accept him as his own kind. He was an abomination. A dark reflection of his own personality. He was a sick joke and an insult to what the Time Lords had been. He knew he was still out there somewhere and he figured they would meet again someday, but he would never offer the same forgiveness to him that he did to the Master.

He heard the door opening. He glanced up and saw Rose and Martha looking at him quietly. He smiled sadly at them.

"Come to me." He said.

Rose and Martha came inside and the Doctor went to them, put his arms around them and held them tight. They put their arms around him and returned the hug as he closed his eyes and thanked Rassilon that he still had them. Even if had lost the Master, he still had his friends and his companions. At least, he wasn't completely alone. He still had people who loved and cared for him and he felt blessed for that. He let go of them and without a word, his two girls moved towards the body with him and helped the Doctor prepare it for cremation.

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(The next night…)

Rose, Martha and Jack stood by the TARDIS doors watching as the Doctor stood by the funeral pyre containing the wrapped body of the Master. They listened as the Doctor said what sounded like a eulogy in Gallifreyan. The TARDIS hadn't bothered to translate knowing that the Doctor needed the privacy to say what he needed to say to his former foe. The words poured from his lips as he stared up dully at the body. Then, after about ten minutes, he stopped talking and grabbed a nearby torch. As the three friends huddled close together, the Doctor walked around the pyre lighting the wood at different places. When the wood was burning, he threw the torch on top and walked back to the TARDIS. He paused at the door and embraced his friends lingering there a moment listening to the sound of crackling wood and smelling the pungent smoke. Then, without a word, they went inside the TARDIS and a few moments later, it vanished from sight.

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(Two days later…)

The Doctor had taken Martha's family back home and Lucy had left as well after deciding to call her family and get back in touch with them. Martha had let her use her mobile and to their relief, the family had been searching for her and were anxious for her to come home. They had dropped her off, wished her luck and bid her farewell as Lucy headed towards her mother's house. To his delight, Martha had decided to take some flowers to Professor Docherty as a way of telling her she didn't blame her for what had happened. The Doctor tried to explain that she wouldn't have a recollection of anything that happened, but Martha wanted to do it anyway. She had delivered the flowers and, amused, told the others about her bewildered reaction. Now, the Doctor stood with his three friends looking out over Cardiff.

"Time was, every single one of these people knew your name. Now they've all forgotten you." Martha said.

"Good."

"Back to work." Jack said going under the railing.

"I really don't mind though, come with me." The Doctor said.

"I've had plenty of time to think over that past year, the year that never was and I kept thinking about that team of mine. Like you said, Doctor, responsibility."

"Defending the Earth, can't argue with that."

The Doctor grabbed his vortex manipulator.

"Hey, I need that." Jack protested.

"Can't have you walking around with a time traveling teleport. You could go anywhere. Twice. Second time to apologize."

"And what about me, can you fix that? Will I ever be able to die?"

"Nothing I can do. You're an impossible thing, Jack."

Jack laughed.

"I've been called that before."

He looked at Rose.

"Although, if Blondie here wants to look into the heart of the TARDIS again for me…"

"No, sorry, Jack. I like the Doctor as he is. I've already had to live with him being old and being a dwarf this past year. I don't want him regenerating again." She said.

Jack shrugged.

"Hey, had to ask." He said.

He walked a few paces, turned and saluted.

"Sir." He said to the Doctor.

The Doctor gave him a one finger salute.

"Ma'am." He said winking at Martha.

Martha saluted.

Rose put her arm up to salute when Suddenly Jack grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

"Blondie…" he said in a throaty voice as he stroked her hair.

"Oi!" the Doctor said as Rose pulled away from him laughing.

"Sorry, Doc, couldn't resist." He said winking at Rose.

He pinched her cheek.

"See ya around, Rose."

Rose nodded.

He took a step and turned around.

"But, I keep wondering," he said. "What about aging? Cause I can't die, but I keep getting older? The odd little grey hair, you know. What happens if I live for a million years?"

"I really dunno."

"Okay vanity, sorry, can't help it. Used to be a poster child when I was a kid living in the Boeshein Peninsula. Tiny little place. I was the first one ever to be signed up for the Time Agency. They were so proud of me. The Face of Boe, they called me."

The smiles fell off the Doctor, Martha and Rose's faces as they stared at him in shock.

"Hm, I'll see ya." Jack said pointing at them.

"It can't be." Martha said as Jack ran off.

"No way." Rose said.

She looked at the Doctor.

"He can't be…can he?" she asked.

"No, no…no way…definitely not." The Doctor replied.

The three of them looked at each other and laughed as Jack ran off towards the hub.

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(Later on in the day…)

The TARDIS stood outside Francine's house as Martha visited with her family. The Doctor stood outside watching them through the window talking and laughing with each other. Francine turned at one point and caught his eye and they smiled at one another before she turned back to Martha. The Doctor turned and went back inside the TARDIS.

Rose looked up from the captain's chair as the Doctor threw his trench coat over one of the support pillars and walked towards her. He smiled when he noticed Puff sitting on her shoulder singing. Rose had been terrified that he had died during the year, but the Doctor assured her that Zetays can live many months without food and will go into hibernation if it goes beyond that. Puff was dazed when he finally woke up, but after Rose gave him some milk and a carrot, he was back to his old singing self. The Doctor stoked his fur for a moment before settling down beside Rose.

"Martha still visiting?" Rose asked.

"Yup, as soon as he gets done, we'll head back out into the vortex."

"Thank God, I'm ready to leave Earth for awhile."

"Yeah, me too."

Rose stared at the Doctor.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I'm fine." He said. "Why do you ask?"

Rose bit her lip.

"Well, I mean, with the Master and all…"

The Doctor sighed.

"It's still painful for me, but I'll get over it." He said. "As long as I have my two girls traveling with me, I won't be lonely."

Rose smiled and reached up to fluff his hair.

"I missed doing this, this past year." She said. "I'm so glad you're back to normal."

"Yeah, me too. It's hell being an old man."

He smiled and kissed her lips. Rose glanced down at the jar sitting underneath the console.

"What are you gonna do with that?" she asked pointing to the hand.

"That…is getting destroyed. I don't want anyone else stealing it and using my DNA against me." He said. "I just haven't gotten around to doing it, but I will as soon as we get back in the vortex."

Rose glanced up at the central column.

"The TARDIS did a good job repairing itself. I can't even tell that a paradox machine was in here."

"Yup, she's really good at fixing herself when she has to. Course I'll have to do a few tune ups over the next few weeks, make sure everything is back to normal."

"Oh, gee, that'll be a real chore for you." Rose said poking his side.

The Doctor smiled at her.

"Yeah, I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it though." He replied.

He put his feet up on the edge of the console and Rose put her head on his shoulder as they listened to Puff sing.

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"I'll be right back." Martha said to her mum as she walked out the door.

She walked off the porch and headed towards the TARDIS. She regretted doing this especially after all that they had been through this past year, but she had done her duty for the Doctor and now she had her duty to her family. As she walked towards the TARDIS, she tried to get in touch with Tom Milligan, to her relief; he answered the phone, very much alive. She paused a moment listening to his voice and then hung up.

She paused outside the TARDIS door and taking a deep breath, opened it, and went in.

"Right then!" the Doctor said getting up from the captain's chair. "Off we go, the open road. There's a burst of starfire right now off the coast of Meta Sigma Folia. Oh, the sky is like oil on water. Fancy it? Or back in time. We could, I don't know, Charles II, Henry VIII. I know, what about Agatha Christie? I'd love to meet Agatha Christie, I bet she's brilliant!"

The Doctor paused and his hearts sank when he saw the all too familiar look in his companion's eyes.

"Okay." He said sadly.

"I just can't."

Rose stood up and walked around the Doctor's side.

"Martha? What wrong?" she asked.

"I can't, Rose, I can't go with you guys anymore. I spent all these years training to be a Doctor and now I've got people to look after."

Rose took the Doctor's arm when he lowered his head.

"They saw half the planet sorted and they're devastated, I can't leave them." She said.

"Course not." The Doctor said.

"We understand completely." Rose added.

The Doctor sighed and stared at her.

"Thank you." He finally said.

He came forward and embraced her. He let go and Martha embraced Rose.

"God, I'm gonna miss you." Rose said.

"Me too." Martha replied. "You've been a great friend."

She pulled back and looked at the Doctor.

"Martha Jones, you saved the world." He said.

"Yes, I did. I spent a lot of time thinking I was second best, but you know what? I am good."

The Doctor and Rose smiled and nodded.

"You guys gonna be okay?" Martha asked.

"Oh yeah, don't worry about us. We're pros at this."

She nodded.

"Bye," she said kissing his cheek.

The Doctor put his arm around Rose as she walked out the door.

Martha got outside the door. She turned and looked back at the TARDIS and suddenly, she flung herself back through the doors. The Doctor jerked his head up from the monitor and he and Rose stared at her in confusion.

"Yeah?" he said."Forget your toothbrush again?"

"Doctor, I…"

Martha sighed.

"I want…I want to still be a part of the gang."

The Doctor glanced at Rose.

"You'll always be a part of us, Martha. No matter what happens." He said.

"Then…I can come back?"

"You can come back anytime."

Martha smiled and reached into her pocket. She threw him a mobile.

"Keep that then, because I'm not letting you two get away." She said. "If that rings…when…that rings, you guys better come running. Got it?"

The Doctor and Rose grinned at each other.

"Got it." The Doctor said.

She started towards the door and turned back.

"I'll see you guys again." She said.

"Good, we'll be sure to keep some poi in the fridge for ya then."

He and Rose snickered as Martha eyed him. She shook her head and smiled.

"Yup, I'm definitely gonna miss this." She said.

Reluctantly, she turned away and forced herself to go back out the door. As she reached the front door of the house, she paused and her heart sank when she heard the familiar wheezing sound and felt the wind pick up around her. She brushed away a tear, put her hand on the doorknob and went back inside.

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The funeral pyre died down after several hours. the body of the Master was almost consumed. As it burned, something dropped off the pyre. It was the Master's signet ring. It lay on the ground for a moment and then suddenly a man's hand reached down and grabbed it. The man looked at it silently for a moment and then the alternate Doctor's laugh echoed through the night air as he put the ring on his finger and walked towards his TARDIS.

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"Right, where do you wanna go then?" the Doctor asked her.

"Wherever you wanna go, Doctor, is fine with me." Rose replied.

The Doctor looked around at her.

"Agatha Christie?"

Rose smiled.

"Sounds good."

"Right, Agatha Christie then."

He pushed a button. Suddenly, there was a enormous bang. The Doctor grabbed Rose and both of them fell to the floor as debris rained down on them. They lay there a moment and the Doctor finally sat up as Rose put Puff into her hand. Rose looked up and her eyes widened when she saw the bow of an enormous ship jutting into the TARDIS.

"Doctor, we…we crashed into a ship, how…"

"Not just any ship, Rose."

Rose looked at the Doctor who was staring at a life preserver. He looked around at her.

"THE ship." He said showing it to her.

Rose's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw TITANIC written on it. They stared at one another.

"I think Agatha Christie is gonna have to wait for the moment." The Doctor said grimly.

THE END.

A/N: The series continues in The Doctor's Triple Trouble.