Summary: When the Daleks came for Hooverville, the Doctor jumped in front of the scared humans and yelled "KILL ME!" There was more to it than mere sacrifice or reverse psychology, though.
Rated: T
"Exterminate!"
The Doctor glanced around at the scared group of humans collected in the middle of Hooverville, weapons raised uselessly, faces cakes in layers of dirt smudged by tears. He sprang away from the group immediately after a Dalek terminated the brave man he had come to like in such short time.
"You want to kill somebody? Kill me!" he shouted at the metal organisms.
"Doctor!" Martha scrambled forward but he pushed her back with the group.
"Kill me but leave these people alone!" His hands were flailing around, muscles and veins standing out shockingly, eyes bulging. An anger like nothing else was building inside him fast, too fast; he couldn't keep it down. He couldn't rationalize what he was about to do, what he was already doing.
"The Daleks will exterminate their greatest enemy and concur the human race," one of them said mechanically.
"Then do it! What are you waiting for? KILL ME!"
These people were a beacon of hope for the Doctor, one more piece of evidence that humans were built to survive, to thrive on hope and refuse to back down without a fight. In a way, he needed these stupid, irrational beings. He needed their hope, their love, their strength, because who else did he have to look up to? His people were gone.
But there was so much more to this situation than that. Standing in front of the Daleks, sacrificing his own life, was something he'd never thought he'd do. He was sure that he would go down fighting, but this…He was giving up. The worst part was that a part of him wanted it so bad.
For a split second Martha's beautiful, human face evaded his mind. How would she get home? Would she be able to? Who would keep her safe? But he pushed that away quickly.
He was old. He had lived far too long for a man with little to live for, seen things he wished he hadn't, done things that would haunt him for eternity. Did he really want to keep living, knowing all that lay ahead was more pain, more sadness, more fighting?
He was tired of fighting. He was tired of falling in love and watching that love die, or grow old, or get lost, or leave. He was lonely.
He should be with the rest of his people, wherever they were now. The Daleks could give him that within seconds and he'd never have to look back.
"Exterminate." The Doctor kept his eyes on the creature and bid the world, the entire universe, farewell. He hoped Martha would forgive him for this. He hoped Rose would forgive him, and all the others. Most of all, he hoped that he would forgive himself, eventually.
"Wait…Order obeyed. You will come with us, Time Lord."
The Doctor released the breath he had been holding and shook his head slowly. He wanted…no, that didn't matter anymore. It wasn't an option anymore. He made sure the others would be safe, then followed the Daleks to their leader.
He would continue fighting, as was his purpose in life, it would seem. And one day, be it tomorrow or a thousand years from now, he would have his peace.
So yeah, my first Doctor Who fic! I know some of the lines aren't exact, my bad, just pretend they are! :D