A/N: Here is the final chapter of the Gridlock storyline! The next chapter (the beginning of the Daleks in Manhatten) I have already completed and will be posting that next week sometime.

Choices

Chapter Nine: Gridlock (part three)

"You can sit here," said Valerie, standing up and moving away from Brannigan. She gestured to the chair and implored that Martha should settle herself there. It wasn't fair that she had to stay standing while her friend went off on his own on what she thought was a hopeless quest. Valerie moved to the back of the car and inspected her children, leaving Martha and Brannigan to talk.

"That friend of yours, he sure is something," began Brannigan.

"Yeah, he is," replied Martha, wistfully. Even though it had only been ten minutes since the Doctor had begun his 'leap of doom', she had begun to wonder if she would ever see him again. Rose was lost somewhere in this vast, never-ending city, and the Doctor was gone as well, leaving her alone in the company of strangers.

"How did you meet him?" asked Brannigan. It was clear he was trying to stimulate a conversation with her.

Martha wondered how much she could say to him without arousing suspicion about the Doctor's time travel capabilities. "He helped me out of a situation at work one day and offered to take me travelling with his friend Rose. I've never been to an alien planet before…it iss not what I expected to be honest…"

"You're not from New Earth?"

Martha immediately realised that she had potentially said something wrong. "Erm…no."

"Then where do you hail from?" asked Valerie, walking up to the two chairs with a kitten in one of her arms.

Martha bit her lip wondering what to say. She could hardly say Earth, could she? She decided against it and went out on whim. "Cambodia." She knew it was the name of a country – it was quite possible that it could also be the name of a planet, somewhere in the universe.

"Hmm, never heard of that planet, I must say," said Brannigan, tilting his head to the side, "but then we've been travelling on the motorway for twelve years! So what do we know?" He shrugged, laughing merrily as he did so.

Martha grinned nervously, feeling lucky that her gamble had paid off. She shifted guiltily in her seat, wondering what she could say as a form of conversation, but nothing sprang to mind. Her thoughts were occupied on the Doctor and Rose and she hoped fervently that he would find her.

Lost deep in her thoughts she was startled by the sound of a creak from the top of the car, and then sparks began to fly from the ceiling, suggesting that someone was forcing entry into the vehicle.

"Just what we need – pirates!" gasped Brannigan, glaring angrily at the ceiling.

"You mean you have pirates?" asked Martha, bewildered. If the air was poisonous, how did they survive to raid cars?

Valerie shouted up at the ceiling. "I'm calling the police!" she yelled, obviously hoping this would intimidate them, but it did not as the hole they were making, fell from the ceiling. A cat poked her head through, her hands holding a gun to her chest and pointing it at Brannigan.

"The Doctor! Where is he?"

"He's not here," squeaked Martha, holding up her hands as the gun trained on her.

"Then where is he?" asked the intruder.

Martha pointed to the bottom of the car, where the Doctor had successfully lifted up the floor and jumped from. "He jumped out, going to the Fast Lane," she stammered feeling very scared.

The cat seemed quite annoyed at this prospect. "It's taken me a while to home in on him and to find out that he has gone further…" she sighed. "Looks like I'm going to have to follow him!" She jumped into the car and moved to the place Martha had pointed at. She quickly pulled up the floor and looked down.

"What do you need him for?" asked Martha. She was beginning to regret telling this cat where the Doctor had gone. What if she meant him harm? She did, after all, have a gun.

"There is someone in this city that has been waiting for the Doctor for a very long time. I need to take him there because time is running out. My master has waited so long for him to return here – and I cannot waste it. I must go."

Martha watched as the cat dropped from the car, landing on top of another one and proceeded to break into that one. Brannigan closed the hatch and looked questioningly at Martha.

"What was that all about?"

Martha shook her head. "I have no idea but I don't think that person means him any harm." She hoped she was right about that. Settling back into the chair the only thing Martha Jones could do was wait.

Rose was not having a good day. Being kidnapped by strangers was not what she had planned for her immediate future. Having been brought to the car they had forced her inside, telling her to sit still and be quiet allowing them to concentrate. Naturally, Rose Tyler had no such intention to do what they requested. They had taken her from the Doctor and Martha for a reason and no sane person would aid their kidnappers.

Unless you are the Doctor of course, thought Rose.

She sighed, sitting back against the seat. Her kidnappers were friendly – they had taken her for a simple reason: they needed three passengers to gain access into the fast lane. She had found out that the woman was pregnant but since the unborn child would not be an adult for eighteen years they had decided to take an easier option – acquiring someone who was of age, which would enable them to get to their destination faster. She had since learnt that it would take another six years before they reached where they were headed. She could do nothing about her circumstances as the "gun" they had put to her head earlier had in fact, turned out to be a hairdryer.

Rose snorted wondering why the Doctor had not noticed that.

"Are you okay?" asked the woman, who Rose had discovered was named Cheen.

"Oh, yeah, I'm swell…" muttered Rose, avoiding her eyes. "Being kidnapped is what I had planned when I came here…"

"Look, we're sorry…but we need you!"

"You didn't think of my interests did you? You didn't think that you could be ruining my life by bringing me along?" asked Rose testily. "I have lost the one person who I love and it is all down to you two!" She was almost yelling, tears welling in her eyes. She sometimes felt that the universe hated her and was trying to punish her for the 'crimes' of her past.

"You'll find your family again," added Milo, the driver. "After all everyone finds their family at their journey's end."

Rose crossed her arms, clearly not impressed. "You seem to think that I originate from this planet…"

Cheen turned round, staring at her with wide eyes. "You don't then?"

"No, I don't. I come from a whole different planet. I'm a traveller with my friends, and you've made a big mistake in taking me. You also seem to think that I have a family – well I do – but not in the conventional sense. The Doctor and Martha are my family and you've just ripped me away from them, for your own use without any thought to mine or their feelings."

She had a moment of satisfaction when both Milo and Cheen seemed very apologetic and saddened, but it was not enough to make her want to be friends with them or sympathise with their situation either. She knew it was wrong to victimise them. In any other situation she would be trying to help her captors to change their ways but this time she didn't want to know. She sighed, wondering if the Doctor was coming for her and whether he would find her soon.

It had been several hours since the Doctor had left Martha with Valerie and Brannigan. In that time Martha had learnt the history of their relationship, and she felt pleased that two people who didn't seem to be compatible to her, work past their differences and become a loving and devoting couple. Sometimes Martha wished she had a man like that – someone who was devoted to her. All her boyfriends in the past had not been what she had been looking for in a man and in the end their relationship had broken up.

And it was then that she heard it. A sound of something heavy and metallic opening. Sunlight burned in the view screen. Both Valerie and Brannigan flinched away from the bright rays of the sun.

"By all the cats in the kingdom!" gasped Brannigan, hardly daring to believe his eyes.

Martha moved forward from her seat and looked out the window staring above at the sky. A grin spread across her face as she realised what was happening. "The motorway is opening up! You can drive up! Get to freedom!" she shouted, glee evident in her voice.

"What is it?" asked Valerie, clearly stunned. Martha could tell that the woman had never expected to see daylight again. Perhaps had forgotten what it looked like. For so long they had been trapped in the dark and now they were free.

Brannigan was laughing like crazy.

"It's the sun!" said Valerie, awed. "Oh Brannigan!" She reached out to hug her husband and then turned to Martha, pulling her into one as well. She moved to the back of the car and took the basket of her children to the front and slowly took the blanket of them, allowing them to gaze out into the sunlight. "Children, it's the sunlight!"

And then the vid-screen at the front blazed into life. The Doctor's image could be clearly seen. Martha felt a big grin on her face. "Sorry, no Sally Calypso, she was just a hologram. My name's the Doctor."

"He's a magician," said Brannigan.

"He sure is!" added Martha. He was definitely right about that. Everything about the Doctor seemed magical.

"And this is an order. Everyone drive up. Right now," ordered the Doctor.

Brannigan traded looks with his wife, unsure as to whether this was the real deal. "Is he serious?"

Valerie was laughing in disbelief.

"Yes," said Martha, encouraging Brannigan to move his vehicle upward. "You're free! You can head home!"

The Doctor was explaining what he had done to entice people to drive to freedom. "I've opened the roof of the motorway. Come on. Throttle those engines. Drive up. All of you! The whole under-city. Drive up, drive up, drive up! Fast!"

"Here we go" yelled Brannigan, following the car in front as it ascended.

"We've got to clear that fast lane! Drive up and get out of the way!" instructed the Doctor.

Martha felt pleased. That meant Rose was still alive. If he wanted the fast lane cleared then she still breathed.

"Did I tell you, Doctor? You're not bad, sir. You're not bad at all!" He was clearly surprised that the Doctor had done so much for them. As they cleared the opening into the sky, Brannigan let out a yell of triumphant.

"You keep driving, Brannigan, all the way up! It's here, just waiting for you! The city of New New York. And it's yours to settle in and populate once more. And," The Doctor looked pointedly at them, "I would like Martha back and my coat."

"I reckon that's a fair bargain sir," replied Brannigan.

The screen switched off and Martha sat back in relief. "He did it. He really did it. He went to find Rose…and did this instead…Where is the Doctor anyway?"

"His transmission was coming from the Senate – I'll take you there," said Brannigan, elation still evident in his voice.

"Thank you," whispered Martha.

Martha arrived at the senate five minutes before Rose. Just as she walking into the tall ancient building, with the Doctor's coat in her arms, another car pulled up and out-stepped Rose. She smiled, relieved to see the girl safe. "How are you?"

"I'm alright," replied Rose, "you?"

Martha nodded. "I think the Doctor is waiting for us inside."

Rose walked ahead. Martha realised that the Doctor would need to know that Rose was safe more then her and was quite happy to walk slowly behind. However upon stepping into the senate, a sense of death came over her. She shivered in the coldness that enveloped her. She saw Rose walking round a corner and followed suit. She gasped as her eyes lay on the sight that was before her.

The Doctor was kneeling on the floor beside the cat woman who she had met earlier in Brannigan's car and in front of them was a large face. She frowned because she could clearly see that the face was breathing.

"Is that…?" Rose stepped forward. "The Face of Boe?"

"The Face of what?" echoed Martha.

"Boe," said the Doctor looking up at them sadness in his features.

Martha pointed at the face. "And that's the Face of Boe?"

"Yep," confirmed Rose, kneeling down beside the Doctor.

"It's all right," urged the Doctor. "Come and say hello. And this is Hame." He nodded to the cat who acknowledged her with a faint 'hello'.

"He's the one that saved you, not me," explained the Doctor, looking at Rose. "If not for him you would be stuck back in the fast lane with the Macra on your tail."

"Macra?" asked Rose.

"Oh, giant crab things…" replied the Doctor, waving his hand in an attempt to dismiss the explanation he would have to give.

"My lord gave his life to save the city," said Hame, softly, leaning forward and gently stroked the Face.

Martha knelt down beside the cat and took in the Face's features. Even from her position she could see wisdom in those old and dying eyes.

"And now he's dying…" finished the cat.

The Doctor frowned. "No, don't say that. Not old Boe. Plenty of life left in you yet!"

"It's good to breathe the air once more," whispered the Face of Boe.

Martha swallowed, feeling awe at the creature before her. "Who is he?" she breathed.

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "I don't even know. Legend says the Face of Boe has lived for billions of years. Isn't that right? And you're not about to give up now."

"Everything has its time. You know that, old friend, better than most," said the Face. The effort to speak was obviously causing him pain.

"The legend says more," enticed Hame, her eyes gliding from the Face's to the Doctor's.

The Doctor gently raised a hand. "Don't. There's no need for that."

But she continued, not heeding the Doctor's instructions. "It says that the Face of Boe will speak his final secret to a traveller."

It was clear that the Doctor didn't want to face the reality that the Face of Boe was dying and would soon leave this life to the one beyond, if there was one. "Yeah, but not yet. Who needs secrets, eh?"

Martha noticed that the Face of Boe was struggling to breathe even as he replied to the Doctor. "I have seen so much; perhaps too much. I am the last of my kind — as you are the last of yours, Doctor."

Martha gasped. She hadn't expected that, but in the back of her mind a tiny piece of information that Rose had told her back on the TARDIS flooded to the forefront of her brain: "but something happened to him that not even I can heal no matter how much I have tried to..." That was what Rose had meant! The Doctor was the last of his kind….and now she knew. She felt sorry for the Doctor and wondered if she could do anything to help, but if Rose had been unable to ease his heartache then what could she do? Not much.

The Doctor was breathing faster, obviously not wanting to know what the Face of Boe had to tell him. "That's why we have to survive. Both of us. Please, don't go." He gritted his teeth.

Martha felt tears welling up in her eyes. This was difficult for the Doctor. He was the last of his kind, and he was watching the last Face of Boe perish from the world – another species extinct.

"I must," began the Face of Boe, clearly intent on telling the Doctor what he had to. "But know this, Time Lord. You are not alone."

The Doctor was astounded – he was staring, uncomprehending the Face's words as the Face of Boe's eyes closed for the final time. Beside her Hame began to sob, clearly upset at the passing of a dear friend, and even though she had hardly know him, Martha felt tears slipping down her cheeks.

Rose moved beside her and pulled her into a hug. It was only then that she realised that Rose, too, was crying.

They were back in the alley where they had first met the pharmacists; where Rose had been kidnapped. They sauntered through. The Doctor had a grim smile on his face. He was clearly pleased that the pharmacists were gone. The Doctor had barely spoken a word since the Face of Boe's death.

"All closed down," said the Doctor, wondering round and inspecting one of the empty booths.

"Happy?" asked Martha.

"Happy, happy," replied the Doctor. "Happy that I've got my two favourite girls back." He walked up to both Rose and Martha and pulled them into a hug. He moved away looking upwards. "New New York can start again. And they've got Novice Hame. Just what every city needs — cats in charge!"

Martha giggled.

"Come on, time we were off!" said the Doctor, leading the way back to the TARDIS.

Martha was temped to ask what the Face of Boe meant but decided against it, realising that it might spoil the Doctor's cheerful mood. Rose followed her back to the TARDIS. Stepping into police box filled Martha with delight. She was sure she would get used to the dimensions at some point but when that would be, she had no idea.

The Doctor was standing by the console, looking at her. "So, where do you want to go?" A big grin was once more upon his face. He was clearly thrilled at the prospect of a new adventure starting.

Martha shrugged, walking over to him. "I don't know!" She lowered her voice so that only he could here what she said. "I know it's not my place to say this…but," she bit her lip unsure if she should proceed.

"Go on," he urged.

"I think you and Rose need to talk…" she trailed off, swallowing wondering if she had said too much. She was, after all just a human whereas the Doctor was an all-powerful Time Lord.

"I think we need to as well," replied the Doctor.

Startled by his admission Martha nodded. "I'll go then…" And she walked to her rooms in the TARDIS, hoping fervently that the Doctor and Rose would sort out the problems that had developed between them since that fateful day at Canary Wharf.

To be continued...

Yes, I know, I am evil for leaving you hanging. So...the beginning of the next chapter, the Doctor and Rose have a little talk about what happened at Canary Wharf...but the question is, is will they be able to work through their problems or not? Well, I'm not saying...yet.

Please let me know what you think! The feedback means a lot to me and helps me craft this story better the it originally was going to be.

the-writer1988