A/N: First, and most likely only, attempt at Doctor Who fanfiction. Well, I have another in mind, but the main female character would be an OC (based on a dream I had). We shall see….

Burn With Me

Part One

"Burn with me, Martha!"

The roar ripped through the intercom, but also through her mind, this time. Hyperventilating, Martha glanced back over her shoulder. She could hear the Doctor – at least, what used to be the Doctor – approaching her, and fast. He wasn't him anymore. It, the sun, was in him, using him… and in all likelihood killing him. She knew he had been fighting it, but he hadn't been strong enough, which was an astounding thought in and of itself. He She knew he was coming for her, she could hear him stomping down the hallway behind the door she had just shut and locked. The door she fought currently refused to budge. A groan crossed with a whimper escaped her lips as she turned around, pressing herself into the corner as much as she could, her back sliding down the heated metal.

"Burn with me!"

She could hear his footsteps now, echoing hollowly down the narrow passageway towards her position. Maybe she could hide? Martha glanced frantically around, hoping for something, anything that might help her, and in turn help the Doctor. No hiding places, no trapdoors, no cooling pipes to give the Doctor some form of means to fight the being which was occupying his body. Nothing at all.

What if the Doctor was dead, and just his body remained, a tool of the, the soul of the sun? No. No, she couldn't think like that. She couldn't bear the thought that he was no more. Not the Doctor, not the man who had given her freedom from the confines of her life and family, freeing her from the cage that was her life, and allowed her to fly. Not the man who had shown her so many wonders, worlds, races, and peoples. The Doctor would never give up on her, and she'd be damned if she'd given up on him. Martha refused to do that.

She could see him approaching her now, steadily approaching. In all honesty, there was nothing she could do, not really. Nothing she could do to force the being out of him, or help him fight. No tools at hand, except for herself.

Perhaps that would work. It was a crazy idea, insane. It scared her to death, this idea, this mad plan that grew quickly in her head. But it was all she had left. She had promised that she would save him this time. It was a promise she meant to keep.

"Doctor?" she called out. "Doctor, are you alright?"

"Burn with me. Burn with me, Martha!"

Shakily, Martha got to her feet as he approached. "Doctor, it's me, Martha." She called. "Do you remember me? Do you know who I am?"

"Burn with me!" the Doctor's body halted stiffly a few feet away from her.

"Doctor, can you hear me? Please, I know you can fight this!" she pleaded. "Please come back to me!"

The Doctor took a step towards her. "Burn with me, Martha! Burn with me!"

Martha closed her eyes tightly for a moment. When she opened them, there were tears in their corners. "Doctor, I know you can fight this. I know you can! Maybe you just need the right motivation to fight harder."

"Burn with me, Martha!" he was reaching for her now. "Burn with me!"

"Alright," She whispered, and embraced him. "I love you, Doctor. Now, fight, and live. Please, Doctor."

Then the pain smashed into her, and she screamed.

OoOoO

He had fought it for as long as he could. Held onto himself, his mind, everything that made him, well him, for as long as he could. He told Martha to freeze him, but when that failed… all he wanted to do was tell her to run.

But then… it had taken over. The sun, the creature. Every time he fought, horrible pain lanced through him. But that didn't matter. Every time he fought, he was pushed further and further inside of himself, away from everything except his vision and hearing, and his thoughts. That did matter. If he couldn't control his actions, who knew what could happen.

"Burn with me, Martha!"

No! he thought, screaming at the being that had entered his body. Not Martha! Anyone but her! He'd already lost Rose, whom he loved. While Martha didn't hold the same spot she had, she still… she still mattered dearly to him! He had to keep her safe! Again and again he fought against the restraints that held him inside of his body. Nothing he did worked, no control was regained. His body still was walking, and he dreaded to think where to.

"Burn with me!"

It felt strange, his vocal cords working, his mouth speaking, and not being in control, his body moving without willing it. As… interesting as he found the situation, he'd much rather not be experiencing it at all, especially given who the sun appeared to be searching for. What do you want?! He demanded. Why do you search for Martha? Why her?

There was no answer, other than grim focus on finding the chosen quarry. His Martha.

Somehow, the being occupying his body knew where to find her. It walked his body slowly down the halls, opening door after door that she had undoubtedly closed as she ran from him. Gods, he thought. Please let her escape, or find somewhere to hide where this… thing can't find her!

Then the next door opened, and he caught sight of her, trying to hide as she crouched, shaking, in the corner. The door must've been locked or jammed, and she'd been unable to get through.

Leave her! He screamed. She's done nothing to you! She's not a part of the crew who were stealing from you! Just leave her, she doesn't matter! As much as he hated to, he added, Go after the others! They're the ones who stole from you not her! She just got here, with me! We're not a part of the crew! She's innocent!

But all of his pleas were for nothing. If anything, they seemed to… amuse, the sun creature. It headed towards his dear Companion. Maybe she has a plan, he thought wildly. She was such a fighter, and resourceful. Maybe she was going to knock him out, or at least shove him away somehow at the last moment and escape! He sure hoped so. She called out to him, pleaded with him… then he saw the tears in her eyes. No, he whispered. Please, no. Don't give up!

"Burn with me. Burn with me, Martha!"

She stood up, and closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, the look of resolve, of pain and sadness… and of love, shot through the Doctor like a physical thing.

"Alright," whispered Martha, and embraced him. "I love you, Doctor. Now, fight, and live. Please, Doctor."

One of his hands peeled her off of him, hand closed around her throat. He loathed that feeling. Even more so as he felt his fingers closed tightly around Martha's throat. Then the opposite hand opened the eye slot, spewing light, heat and pain onto Martha. As her screams rent the air, the Doctor shoved at the bonds that kept him away from the rest of his body, ignoring the pain they caused him. He had to get control back, he had to stop this! No matter he wasn't in control of his body, he was killing her! His own stupidity, lack of strength, his lack of smarts, his lack of… everything! Martha was dying because of him. She was dying for him because she believed her death would be the spark that freed him.

"Burn, Martha! Burn with me!"

Martha reached out a shaking hand to touch the side of his mask. Choking, she whispered, "Goodbye, Doctor."

Her back arched as pain shot through her. Then she went limp.

Nooooooooo!