![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
In My Time of Need (one-shot)
Title: In My Time of Need (Doctor Who / minor! Supernatural crossover)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Ten/Martha, Mary Campbell (Supernatural character), OC
Spoilers: Supernatural: Episode 4.03 | In the Beginning & Doctor Who Seasons 1-4
Disclaimer: Don’t own Doctor Who, just playing with its characters. The show Supernatural is property of The CW and Eric Kripke. No money being made.
Summary: “How long are you going to stay with me?”
Author’s notes: No knowledge of Supernatural is needed, to be honest. I just thought I’d use a character from the episode In The Beginning because the idea came to me that way. And also, there's a scene that's similar to a scene in Season 1's "Dalek". I credit that scene for my inspiration, though some details are changed. Also, a scene from Season 2's "Army of Ghosts" inspired another scene in this fic. Just to let you know and have my bases all covered. :-)
Comments are always appreciated. :-)
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The Doctor sat at Martha’s bedside, keeping vigil.
She opened her eyes and smiled weakly at him, “Come to make one last offer?”
He gave her a half smile, taking her hand in his, “How are you feeling?”
She sighed, “I hardly feel any pain. Jack helped.”
The Doctor nodded, “I wish I would have been there.”
“You couldn’t have done anything. The car was coming too fast – wrong place, wrong time. I’m just glad I got a little extra time. That’s more than most get.”
“It’s not enough. If I could change things…”
Martha looked at him, “Please, don’t do this. I’m glad you came.”
The Doctor didn’t know what to say, contenting himself with brushing a loose strand of hair from his companion’s face. He kissed her hand, his own trembling as it held hers.
“You look beautiful.” The Doctor said quietly.
Martha smiled at him, trying to keep the tears from falling down, “You’re impossible.”
There was a moment of silence, each lost in their thoughts.
Martha’s trips with the Doctor grew to be more frequent with Tom’s death only two months ago. But even before his death, Martha felt herself drifting away from him. Truthfully, she had realized that she found it harder than expected to tell him the truth about her job at UNIT and the other aspects of her life since she met the Doctor.
Jack sometimes joked and called Martha’s relationship with the Doctor ‘friends with benefits’. Martha chose to ignore the remark. It was Jack after all…
Even so, she could not deny how close to the truth it was. Though she would have liked to think it was more than ‘friends with benefits’. She could never quite tell with the Doctor either way.
“It’s funny, don’t you think? That after the sort of life I’ve had, that something as mundane as a car could do this to me. And I’m not even 30 yet.” Martha spoke up.
The Doctor smiled softly at her, stroking her hand in the process. Martha couldn’t bear to see the sad look on his face.
She gripped her bed sheet suddenly as she felt the pain hit her – in all its hot, red-white knife-sharp glory.
“Water,” She whispered, overcome with the onslaught of pain hitting all over her body.
She wasn’t expecting it to be so abrupt.
As the Doctor was about to hand her the glass, Martha’s eyes grew wide and she sat up straight in bed.
She looked to the Doctor and said firmly, “She’s coming. She’s coming, Doctor.”
“Martha?”
She didn’t say anything more as she closed her eyes, a peaceful look on her face. The machine monitoring her vitals showed a flat line. Martha was gone.
He stood up and leaned over Martha, kissing her forehead and then left the room, dreading the news he would have to deliver to those in the waiting room…
~ * ~
The Doctor was about to move the TARDIS into the Vortex after watching Martha’s burial from a distance. He was never good at things like this – luckily, he managed to leave before Jack got a hold of him.
Suddenly, he turned around at the sound of a woman’s voice.
“We have to talk.”
The person standing before him, looking quite calm and determined, was a young blonde woman wearing a white peasant blouse with a brown suede jacket over it and blue jeans. She looked like she had come straight out of the 1970s. But the Doctor sensed that there was something different about her. Not to mention not just anyone could get inside of his ship. And he had a feeling that Huon particles had nothing to do with this woman’s unexpected appearance.
The Doctor rubbed his face tiredly and though he wasn’t in the mood for conversation, he realized he had no choice in this case.
“What’s your name?” He asked.
She didn’t answer immediately as if she were unsure what to say, “You can call me Miss Smith.”
The Doctor shook his head, “No, that’s not going to happen. A close friend of mine goes by that name. Don’t think I can’t tell when someone is using an alias.”
She sighed in exasperation, “This woman’s name is Mary. Mary Campbell for a little while longer at least.”
“What are you then, Mary?”
“I’ve been sent here to offer you something. It would be in your best interest to hear me out.”
The Doctor was not dissuaded though, “Who sent you? And why do you refer to yourself as ‘this woman’?”
She sighed and a pair of wings appeared at her back.
“I thought you would realize it right away. You really have been spending too much time with humans. I’m an angel, Doctor, and I want to help you.”
The Doctor didn’t want to admit that she was mostly right on that count. He had met an angel once long ago – he’d almost forgotten of their existence.
“You’re using some poor girl’s body? How is that angelic behavior?” He accused.
She gave him a stern look, “This woman allowed me to do it. And inhabiting a human body is the only way to walk among humans comfortably. Most can’t handle our true form. Apparently not even the last Time Lord. Now, can you let me speak? Mary has a life to get back to and I wish to abide by her request.”
The Doctor motioned to her to sit down in the captain’s seat, himself leaning beside the console.
She smiled at him and took her seat.
“I’m giving you permission – well it’s really God; I’m just the messenger – to bring back your friend Martha Jones. She wasn’t meant to die. You can change things, we’re letting you.”
The Doctor shook his head, “Time doesn’t work like that. I can’t go back in time and save her. Things like this can have unpredictable results.”
She looked at him oddly, “Don’t you care for her? You sound like you don’t even want to try.”
“I can’t take risks like this. I’ve lived over 900 years and no matter how much I wanted someone to live; I knew it was wrong to resurrect a person by altering history. Don’t you dare think I don’t want to try. I just know it’s not the rational decision in this case.”
Mary nodded but then said, “The thing is, Doctor, I said that we’re allowing you to do this. We’re giving you the thumbs up. Martha Jones still has a life to live on Earth – someone wanted her down for the count and we have to rectify that, Doctor. Do you understand?”
He looked at her curiously, “Who wants her ‘down for the count’?”
She smirked at him, her hands below her chin and elbows at her knees, “There are some things that you’d be better off not knowing, Time Lord. You’re not the highest authority here anymore.”
The Doctor took a deep breath and let it out. He needed some time to think about this.
“I need to think this over – alone. You can go anywhere in the TARDIS you like in the meantime.”
“You’re more patient than I thought you would be. Mary Campbell made a deal with a demon to bring her boyfriend back to life. She loves him terribly – it’s almost overpowering. She’ll be Mrs. Mary Winchester one day soon. And yet, here you are, taking the cautious route.”
“I’m not human, remember. But I do know the desperation one feels when a loved one passes away. I know better than to act on what I’m feeling rather than what is the rational, the right thing to do.”
Mary stood up from her seat, giving him a disbelieving look as she exited the console room.
“Don’t worry about contacting me – I’ll know when you’re ready!” She called back to him from the corridor.
~ * ~
On a hunch, Mary opened the door to one of the rooms where light shone underneath the doorway. As far as she knew, the Doctor traveled alone. Currently at least – of course, he had a companion or two or more… But she knew that so soon after Martha’s death, he wasn’t up to finding a companion just yet.
She noticed that there was one person in the room. From the look of her, Mary was positive that it was Martha Jones. She was the reason Mary was down here on Earth carrying out this task after all.
Either way, the fact that Martha seemed to be flashing in and out suggested it was one of the preserved copies that the ship kept. Mary had heard stories from the angel who had visited a while back.
How there was a good number of echoes of different beings – mostly human – residing in the TARDIS, though they didn’t interact with the living. They barely communicated with each other actually. They kept to themselves with the Doctor none the wiser. Even the TARDIS kept some secrets from the Time Lord after all.
Mary was sure the only reason she was seeing this Martha Jones was because she was given permission to…
Martha looked up from her seat beside the window. She was cradling a bundled blanket in her arms.
“Just go away, all right?” She told her, sounding annoyed.
“You have shown yourself to me – there is no reason for me to turn away.”
Martha sighed, “So I get lonely sometimes. Please just leave. I don’t want to discuss it.”
“No, you want to say something, I know you do.”
The other woman ignored her request, saying, “You know, I could do without the incessant door banging at all hours of the night. It wakes up the baby.”
“Is that the baby you have in your arms?”
Martha gave the angel a strange look and then peered down inside of the blanket she was cradling.
“Curious, are you?” She asked the angel, inviting her to look inside the bundle.
With trepidation, Mary walked over to have a look. As she thought, she immediately regretted her decision. She gasped when she noticed the state of the baby.
The baby was most certainly dead – looking blue from the lack of oxygen. There was a wide opening in her (from what Mary could tell the baby was female) chest where two hearts were beating slowly though they weren’t connected to the rest of the body.
Martha tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair, her expression blank as the bundle and baby faded away after Mary got a look in.
“Isn’t Caitlyn a survivor? Hearts are still beating even after death. It was awful to only have her for a few short weeks and have her die just like that. And now here you are, an angel, playing the miracle card. What will you get in return, hmmm? You think the Doctor will be in your debt once you save Martha Jones?”
“You’re her. You’re Martha Jones as well.” Mary pointed out.
“Oh honey, I’m just a copy. It’s a cruel trick by the TARDIS to preserve copies of companions who’ve been on board the ship. I don’t feel like Martha Jones anymore. The others call me Doctor because of my profession. I’m the leader of “The Forgotten” as we call ourselves.”
“How did you become the leader?” She asked, interested.
“It doesn’t mean much. Every so often we change the leader to deal with any issues. You know, anyone who is disruptive…that sort of thing. I was the lucky pick this time around.” She explained dully.
Then Martha straightened up in her seat giving the other a sharp look as she said, “So what is your ulterior motive? Because I promise you -- I don’t care who you are -- I will stop you from bringing back Martha Jones if it means the Doctor will have to do your dirty work. I know everything that goes on inside of this ship and believe me; I’m capable of doing plenty of damage if provoked.”
“We don’t want anything in return. Martha Jones wasn’t meant to die. We need her on Earth. And it is not ‘dirty work’ as you call it.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. I suppose you won’t tell me what’s so special about Martha Jones? I don’t recall having any amazing super powers while I still had a point to my existence.”
“No, I can’t tell you. It is not for you to know.”
Suddenly, they heard someone banging on the door to the room adjacent to theirs.
“Doctor, she’s up to it again.” A disembodied voice rang out.
Martha looked to Mary, “Well, I have to take care of something. You do know it was a farce that the Doctor needed time to think about your offer?”
“Yes, I thought it would do him good anyway.”
“Well then – I’m sure you’re not surprised that he’s asleep right now. Now if you please…”
“Wait. I do have another question for you – does the Doctor know about the baby? About Caitlyn?”
Martha looked at her, puzzled, “Wouldn’t you know that? Aren’t angels all-knowing?”
“I want to hear it from the source.”
“The source is dead, in case you haven’t heard. I told you – I’m just a copy.”
“I just want to hear it from you. No matter what you may think, you’re still the same Martha Jones.”
Martha said quietly, “He doesn’t know. Caitlyn had complications from the very start – I knew she wouldn’t last long. I couldn’t bear to give him the news of my pregnancy only to see his hearts break when she died. Though I’m sure he would have realized that possibility, but anyway… so that’s how it is. Now, I really have to go.”
Martha stood up and moved to exit the room.
Mary nodded, “All right. Can I ask you one more thing though?”
“No.” She answered immediately.
But Mary went forward anyway, “Who is banging on the door?”
“Hear for yourself.” Martha said, waving her hand.
Mary abruptly turned around, momentarily startled to hear a woman’s voice magnified.
“That’s our lost companion. We each have our tragedies. Hers are just more amplified than most.” Martha explained.
Though she felt guilty at intruding, she couldn’t help but listen in on what the lost companion was saying.
“Let me in! Please – someone listen to me! Something has gone awfully wrong!” And then all they could hear was her sobbing.
Martha snapped her fingers and they couldn’t hear the voice anymore.
“Good luck. I sincerely hope that Martha’s second chance at life is worth it. Hopefully the Doctor has learned his lesson.”
“So you’re okay with this?”
“As long as I don’t hear anything about the Doctor doing your dirty work, then why wouldn’t I allow it? She is my better half after all.”
“I’m glad to receive your blessing, Doctor.” Mary said gratefully, using her adopted name to gain favor.
Martha smiled genuinely for the first time at her, “It’s always nice to have an angel show their gratitude since it’s usually the other way around.”
After Martha left the room, Mary decided to head back to the console room.
She was mildly surprised to see the hallway empty, though the lost companion had been in the vicinity. She deduced that they had wanted to keep it a private matter and Martha had taken her away.
~ * ~
The Doctor had only planned on taking a quick doze as he waited for the angel to come back. His decision to think about her offer was ridiculous since his mind was made up soon after she detailed the offer.
He’d be mad not to accept it. Though he knew he hadn’t given himself the proper amount of time to grieve over Martha’s demise and this was simply a knee-jerk, desperate reaction; the Doctor didn’t care. The angel had said that it wasn’t Martha’s time to die, right? Who was he to challenge that? To look a gift horse in the mouth?
And so he dreamed…
They stood in the rain, holding hands and grinning at each other with the knowledge that the TARDIS would come soon. Their time in 1969 would come to an end.
“We’re going to get sick, I’m sure of it.” Martha said over the pounding of the rain.
“Does it matter?” He gave her a coy grin.
She shook her head, “No, I guess not. You’re a bad influence on me, mister.” She commented, smiling all the same.
“Admit it, you like it.” He coaxed, and let go of her hand to place his hand on her waist; maneuvering her to face him completely.
Martha’s breath hitched at the sudden close contact, but she went with it anyway. She laid her head on his chest and sighed.
“Martha?”
She looked up at him, “Yes?”
“How long are you going to stay with me?”
She didn’t look at him, just played with the collar of his shirt.
“Martha? Did you hear me?” He asked, placing his finger underneath her chin so she would look at him.
She turned her head, “The rain hasn’t let up. I think we should go back inside.”
“Martha, please. Say something. Answer me.”
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she gave him a small smile.
“What do you want me to say? You know the truth.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“Doctor, even after all the adventures I’ve been on with you, I’m still uncertain of where we stand with each other.”
“I care for you, you know that.” He said, looking carefully into her eyes.
“Sometimes, I’m not so sure. I’m trying to be realistic here, that’s all. I have obligations – I can’t desert my family, my career.”
“But you’ll be deserting me…” The Doctor said, a note of hopelessness in his voice.
Martha looked at him sharply, “You knew I was going to leave from the very start. Don’t deny it. Please don’t make this any harder. You were the one telling me it was just ‘one trip’. Clearly that’s not the case anymore.”
She couldn’t miss the guilty look on his face.
Martha shook her head and disentangled herself from him.
The Doctor grabbed her arm before she could walk away from him.
“Martha, wait. I’m sorry. Just don’t go…” He said desperately.
Martha stopped and looked questioningly at him. Before she could do or say anything, the Doctor pulled her back in and kissed her on the lips.
“Lie to me,” He whispered into her ear after their lips parted.
The last thing he saw was the look of pity on his companion’s face.
~ * ~
“Have you decided yet?”
The Doctor nearly jumped from his seat at hearing the angel’s voice.
He scratched the back of his head, trying to look as if he had been deep in thought.
Mary wagged her finger at him, “I’m not blind you know. I always knew you would accept the offer. But there is one stipulation.”
“What is it?” He asked slowly, nervous.
“You have to wait six months in Earth time to go back to the past to save her. Any attempt to do so before that will be fruitless. We have insured that your ship will be incapable of doing so within the six month time frame. Just in case we can’t trust you at your word.”
“How can you do that? What do you expect me to do then?”
“You still could travel to any time after your companion’s death or other planets. You have to understand, Doctor, you need to have a period of grieving. It’s not healthy getting the dead back without having proper time to move on, to make a rational decision as you said earlier, remember?”
Mary could tell that the Doctor was on the verge of tears, “Please. It’s too long. I miss her. She was the best – I can’t wait that long. She never knew – never – how much I – she thought she was second best. Even after she left, I never got to tell her. I wasn’t brave enough…”
The angel seemed to almost tower over him as she spoke in a harsh voice, “Even after you made love to her? How dare you not tell her the truth when she allowed you to do that to her – how dare you! You can not behave like this, Time Lord. Now do you realize why we’re doing this? Get a grip, find another companion, do whatever you do and we’ll contact you at the end of six months’ time.”
The Doctor stared at her and when he moved toward her, he quickly backed away. He felt as if a hot flame had lashed out at him and burnt his hand. But when he looked, his hand was untouched.
“Are we clear?” She finished, crossing her arms and giving him a stern gaze.
The Doctor gave a small nod, but said, “I don’t want to find another companion. It’s too soon…”
Mary sighed, “Wait a few days or weeks, if you must, but you know that you can’t be alone for long.”
And with that, Mary faded away.
Six months later…
“Brooke! Get out of there! They’re right behind you!” The Doctor yelled frantically.
“I’m running as fast as I can!” She informed him on her mobile.
The Doctor heard her mobile drop to the ground and looked to the monitor.
He had to close the gate. He had no choice.
“Brooke, please! I can’t stall for much longer.”
There was no answer. She hadn’t picked her mobile up.
He closed his eyes, dreading doing this, but knowing he had to. He pressed the “Enter” key on the keyboard.
“Did you make it through? Brooke? Are you there?”
“I’m sorry, Doctor. I couldn’t make it. I’m really sorry.” She said quietly.
The Doctor could hear the sound of her breathing on the mobile. He wasn’t sure what to say. He wished he could do something…
“I don’t regret a thing. Don’t ever doubt that. It was the best. It’s not your fault, all right?” Brooke tried to assure him.
Before the mobile dropped for a second time, he heard the enemy shout a command to fire.
She was gone.
“It’s time, Time Lord.” A stranger’s voice shook him out his moment of disbelief.
He looked to see a man with dark hair and dark eyes; a shadow of wings appeared behind him.
The Doctor sighed, “Six months, is it?”
“Yes.”
“I just lost a companion.” He said, feeling powerless.
“Martha will understand,” The angel responded, placing a hand on the Doctor’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
He looked to the angel, “What do you want me to do?”
The angel told him.
~ * ~
Martha almost lost her balance as she found the TARDIS materialize around her. She was about to cross the street, but this was the most unexpected visit she had received from the Doctor yet.
“Back into the Vortex! Allons-y!” The Doctor exclaimed, navigating his way around the console.
“Doctor?” Martha questioned, still in shock.
The Doctor gave her a wide grin, rushing over to her and sweeping her up in a big hug.
“It’s so good to see you. You don’t know how much I've missed you.” He said, still holding her tight.
“I saw you a few days ago, Doctor. It wasn’t that long ago.” She told him, puzzled at this intense reaction.
“I’ve been on a different timeline. Trust me, it’s been much longer. I lost a companion recently.” He admitted quietly.
“Oh Doctor. I’m so sorry.” She said sympathetically.
“I haven’t seen you in six months.”
“Why that long? Needed a break from me?” She joked lightly.
He shook his head, “No, never. I needed time to reevaluate the choices I’ve made.”
“And what is your conclusion?”
The Doctor smiled at her and stroked her cheek, “I just want to be happy right now. I want this moment to stay like it is. You and me. The Doctor and his companion. Together.”
“Things aren’t that simple, Doctor. There is something I haven’t told you. I shouldn’t have waited this long, but--”
He put his finger to her lips, “Later, all right?”
“Okay, I won’t push. I can see you’ve had a bad time of it. Can I do anything to help, Doctor?”
He whipped one finger up in the air in a show of excitement, “Yes! You can come with me on one trip. I could use a brilliant companion like you.”
Martha placed her hands at her hips in mock disapproval, “One trip, you say?”
He grinned mischievously at her, “Okay, I’m sorry. I really meant five trips.”
“That sounds more like it,” She said teasingly.
He smiled at her and took her in his arms, spinning her around the console.
“I must call Jack though. Tell him where I am.” Martha said breathlessly.
“You do that.” The Doctor said and dipped her low, kissing her the moment after he pulled her back up.
“You’re something else.” She said, though she had gotten used to the Doctor’s manic enthusiasm. She knew it was a cover anyway.
It was all a part of his charm…
~ * ~
They ran, hand in hand, down the busy street trying to elude their pursuers. The Doctor started laughing and Martha couldn’t help laughing along with him.
The Doctor pulled her into an alleyway and grinned at her, “How long are you going to stay with me?” He asked her in a rush.
“As long as you need me, Doctor,” She answered right away.
Though it wasn’t forever, the Doctor didn’t expect any less from Martha. He would take what he could get.
A few hours later, the two were back in the TARDIS. They danced the night away in the console room. And the only thing on the Doctor’s mind was the beautiful purple dress in the Wardrobe Room that he wanted Martha to wear on their upcoming trip to an 18th century ball.
And it was going to be absolutely fantastic…
no subject
no subject
no subject
I really like that you let Martha give her answer to that question--very true to her character, I think--and I love that the Doctor had to wait before he could get her back. V. sad about red shirt Brooke, though.
no subject
Thanks. I'm glad I peaked your interest. The latest season of Supernatural has been amazing. The character in this fic was from an episode where Dean Winchester traveled back in time to 1973 via angelic assistance to learn the truth about his mother (Mary). They did a great casting job for young!John and Mary - they really nailed the likeness to their later selves. :)
I really like that you let Martha give her answer to that question--very true to her character, I think
Thanks! I almost had her not answer it, but I thought that would be unfair. And I would see Martha's response as being more realistic. I couldn't help having her give an answer that satisfied the Doctor though. I felt bad for what I put him through in this fic. :(
and I love that the Doctor had to wait before he could get her back.
I'm glad you liked that. It's important to have a period of grieving, imo.
V. sad about red shirt Brooke, though.
Yeah, I just wanted to put the Doctor through the emotional wringer. He can't have everything. I almost want to write a fic with Brooke as companion.
Just wondering though, what did you mean by 'red shirt'?
no subject
LOL--a character who is cannon fodder, basically! I watched a lot of Star Trek as a child.
no subject
In the Star Trek shows the person wearing the uniform with the red shirt would inevitably die. It became a running joke with the franchise.
Thanks for the clarifications, fourzoas and supremelurker. :) You learn something new everyday. I guess Brooke was wearing a red shirt then. LOL
no subject
I hope that Brooke looked good in red! ;-)
no subject
That's all right. I was just curious since it came out of the blue for me as I hadn't described what she was wearing. But I'm glad that I now know what it means.
I hope that Brooke looked good in red! ;-)
She definitely did. I see her wearing a burgundy or dark red shirt. :P I'm not a fan of bright red shades.
no subject
Anyway, I liked this fic. The idea of the Tardis storing copies of all the companions is creepy!!
no subject
Thanks - shows how uninformed I am. lol
Anyway, I liked this fic. The idea of the Tardis storing copies of all the companions is creepy!!
I'm glad that you liked it. :) That was the plan - to make the storing of copies seem creepy. I have an idea in mind that centers around the companion copies, though I have to figure out logistics for it. Not to mention I haven't seen any Old Who episodes, so I don't feel I could do them justice. :( Though I may not get to it for a while, I definitely want to give the idea a try.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Thanks. It's good to know you enjoyed it. :-)
I particularly liked that the TARDIS makes copies of the companions!
I wasn't too sure about going through with this, but I'm glad to see it worked out. I thought it would be ironic that the Doctor feels so alone while the TARDIS is keeping copies of his companions on board without his knowledge.
no subject
no subject
Maybe after I post updates for my multi-chaptered fics, I could get on that before I talk myself out of it. LOL We'll see.