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FIC: By Chance (Doctor Who)
By: dk323
Pairings: implied Jack/Martha, Ten/Martha friendship
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC.
Summary: Martha finally gets to meet Rose.
Takes place after Last of the Time Lords when the Doctor meets up with Martha post her becoming a doctor.
“
“It’s only three years ago for me. Compared to the 16th century…or New
They were walking down a sidewalk bordered by shops – the windows filled with Christmas decorations and winter-related items.
“What’s to say the near past doesn’t have its own share of excitement?” He said, poking her in the side playfully.
“When I said I wanted a relaxing trip, I didn’t mean this. I was hoping there was a vacation planet somewhere in one of the galaxies…”
“Nope…sorry. Although, we could go to a pleasure planet after this…” The Doctor breathed the last part into her ear.
Martha shivered involuntarily, “I’m with Jack, remember?” She reminded him.
“You know Jack…”
“He’ll be more than happy to come with then – that is – if you’re okay with that? You won’t possibly be jealous or anything…that’s not you.”
“No, no…whatever you want. We are celebrating your becoming a Doctor.”
“Good. Thanks for coming by.” Martha said sincerely, leaning her head on his shoulder.
After a several minutes of peaceful walking, the Doctor noticed some odd-looking Santas that were unfortunately, very familiar. He groaned and wondered why he always seemed to encounter them every Christmas.
“Martha, so sorry…but we have to run…”
She looked up sharply, instantly alert, “What do you mean?”
“Those Santas are armed…and they’re not exactly human.” He quickly explained, pointing over to the small group of Santas who were looking directly at them.
“This way!” The Doctor shouted as he grabbed Martha’s hand, and they both took off in the opposite direction of where the Santas were.
Right before they were about to turn a corner, Martha knocked into someone else.
Martha fell to the ground along with the other person. The Doctor stopped his attempt at helping Martha up, and stared at the other person. She was a pretty blonde woman who was a few years younger than Martha. Martha had a good guess as to who this person might be…it had to be Rose…the Doctor’s previous Companion. But if they were in the past…then it had to be before Rose had even known of the Doctor. After all, the Doctor’s Rose was stranded on a parallel world.
“Watch where you’re going, yeah.” Rose spoke first.
“Sorry. My friend and I were in a bit of a rush.” Martha apologized, and offered her hand to the other girl to help her up.
“Thanks. I’m Rose.” She introduced herself once the two of them were standing.
The Doctor was still in shock at what was happening before him. He didn’t know what to say. He had hoped that they wouldn’t encounter a past Rose…it would make things awkward on his side. But there was no avoiding it now…
“I’m Martha. Nice to meet you,” She smiled at the other girl.
“I’m always up for meeting people I bump into.” She said jokingly, laughing.
Martha couldn’t help but laugh as well.
The Doctor stepped up beside her and whispered, “Martha, we have to go. We can’t have Rose knowing me before she’s meant to.”
Martha nodded, although she wanted to get to know Rose better. She seemed like someone she would get along with it, a girlfriend to swap secrets or boy troubles with, and in a few months or so, someone who’d understand what it means to be the Doctor’s Companion.
Rose looked curiously at the Doctor standing beside Martha, “And who is your friend, Martha?”
“John Smith. He’s a doctor…” She used his alias -- being the most appropriate in this situation.
“Is he shy?”
Martha nearly choked from laughter, “Oh no…just around women.” How could she miss an opportunity to tease the Doctor? Time was precious after all.
The Doctor scoffed indignantly, “I’m not shy.”
Rose smiled at him, “So Dr. John Smith talks…you have good taste in men, Martha. He’s very handsome.”
The Doctor couldn’t avoid blushing.
“I would like to think so.” Martha told her.
Rose grinned, “Well, I’m afraid I have to go. Mum’s expecting me in about 20 minutes. It was lovely meeting you, Martha, and you, Dr. Smith.”
Rose offered her hand to Martha, but Martha pulled her into a hug instead. At that moment, she wished that the future Rose wasn’t stuck in another world. She would have loved to meet her. But this was good enough, it had to be.
Rose accepted her hug with no reservations. After a moment, they both let go of each other, and Rose stepped toward the Doctor.
“Nice to meet you, Dr. Smith.” Rose said, and boldly kissed him on the cheek.
“Something to remember me by,” She said afterwards, winking at him.
He put his hand over the spot that she had kissed him, in a bit of a daze.
“Thank you.” He said softly.
“Merry Christmas!” She wished them as she went on her way.
“Are you all right?” Martha asked once Rose was out of sight, hoping that seeing Rose had helped the Doctor rather than hurt him emotionally.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve had time to move on.” He said.
“She seemed like a nice person. I would have liked--”
“Please, Martha. All the would haves and what ifs…sometimes you can’t change things no matter how much you want to. But it was nice to see her again.” The Doctor sighed.
“Yeah it was. Like an unexpected Christmas present,” She mused.
“Well then…what do you say we find out what those alien Santas are up to, Dr. Jones?” He offered her his arm.
“It’s what we do after all.” She placed her arm through his once again, smiling up at him.
They had only walked a few feet when someone pulled Martha away from the Doctor and kept her from struggling against the hold.
“Let her go!” The Doctor shouted, but the person was not listening.
Martha tried to get a look as to the other person was, but she was kept facing forward.
“Don’t recognize me, Doctor?” said a voice that Martha found was distinctly female.
“Just let her go! I don’t know who you are, but she didn’t do anything to you!”
“I’m so sorry, but there’s no time to explain. I only have so little time.” She said quietly, and nodded to a man that Martha saw was standing, waiting, nearby.
The female holding her quickly covered her mouth to prevent her gasping in shock as the Doctor literally froze in his tracks – right after the mysterious man pointed his hand – fingers straight and stiff – at his back.
The man looked weary and uneasy as he walked toward them.
Martha bit the hand covering her mouth, and roughly pulled herself off of the other person.
She looked at the person’s face, wondering how she knew about the Doctor.
But Martha was at a loss as to who this girl was.
Her captor only smiled knowingly at her, “It’s a glamour trick courtesy of Torchwood. You know about them, I’m sure?”
Martha didn’t answer, just stared at her as if that would allow her to see past the illusion.
“Here you go,” She said, and with a snap of her fingers – her features changed – her hair went lighter – from the chestnut brown to blonde, her eyes that were a light blue turned a dark brown.
Martha stepped back in disbelief. How could it be?
The man came to stand beside his accomplice, and whispered something in her ear.
She nodded in response and looked at Martha whose need for answers outweighed her first instinct of running. Anyway the Doctor needed to be unfrozen, and she needed to figure out a way to get them to undo what they did.
“I guess you know me? Rose Tyler, used to be the Doctor’s Companion? He mention me?”
Martha laughed hollowly, “A bit. I thought you were stuck in the other world.”
“I was, but then something happened. I had this friend – we were really close – best friends and all. She died not too long ago,”
“Rose, you really have to leave now. The time window will close soon.” The man interrupted, the sense of urgency clear in his voice.
Rose sighed, “This is Will, by the way. You have to come with us. The Doctor will be fine – Will can unfreeze him.”
“Why do you need me?” Martha demanded.
“Because my friend – the one who died – her name was Martha Jones.”
“There’s another me in your world.”
“Not anymore. So you understand – I really miss her.”
“You want me to replace her?” Martha deduced incredulously.
“Go now!” Will commanded, and Rose hurriedly grabbed Martha’s hand.
“Hold on tight, okay?” She instructed. A thin stream of light flew at them after Will said a few nonsense-sounding words.
Martha felt the ground slip beneath her feet, but despite the sensation, she couldn’t help but be stuck on the thought of how Rose could possibly expect her to replace another person who she had never met, never even knew existed.
It was only a matter of time before the Doctor would find his way to her. But until then…
Martha Jones, meet Rose Tyler.