Martha knew before she opened her eyes that something was off. Her limbs seemed to be asleep. She immediately remembered the night before, and her eyes snapped open. When she opened her eyes, they were met by brown orbs, staring unfocused. The Doctor was fast asleep; she remembered the first time she saw the Time Lord sleeping. She nearly had a heart attack.
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i1969
Martha was tired. The Doctor got to sleep in all day while she had to work to earn the bread and butter. At least after they told the next landlords they were married, they got a place. The McDonalds were nice and they applauded them for realizing that love had no color and they were able to find each other. Although now she had no clue what they thought of her. They wondered why he never worked, so she told them he was hurt in the war. They witnessed him licking some things and now they wondered about his mental state. Mrs. McDonald spoiled him with sweets and invited him to play with her children. The Doctor was oblivious to it, he loved sweets and kids.
Martha just wanted to put her feet up and pretend to understand as he went on his rant of the morning. When she entered the small flat, she stopped in her tracks. His back was turned to her but it looked as if he had fallen asleep on the couch. They had been there a week and a half now and she had never seen him sleep. Come to think of it, she had never seen him sleep, period.
She went to cover him up, and she had screamed when she saw him. He had gone ashy white and his eyes were wide, but staring at nothing. "Doctor, can you hear me?" she asked as she lowered him to the floor. Martha searched his pockets for his scope to listen to his hearts. She was about to listen when the door opened.
"Good lord, what has happened?" Mary McDonald asked as she joined Martha on the floor near the Doctor.
"It's fine. Since the war this happens from time to time," Martha lied. She couldn't very well tell her she was scared out of her mind. Mrs. McDonald would call for a doctor, and no one needed that.
Shocking Martha, Mrs. McDonald drew her hand back and gave him a huge slap across the face. "John!" she shouted.
Martha let Mary assist her in helping the Doctor to bed, then Mary left to make him some soup. She kept saying the Doctor was shivering and after the third time, Martha let her go. She needed to talk to the Doctor anyways.
"What the hell was that?" she asked as she helped him back in bed.
"I don't need to sit here, Martha. I was only sleeping."
"Sleeping? Your eyes were wide open and you were catatonic, that's what you were."
"It's because here is new. When I sleep in an unknown place, my eyes will remain open. So, if there's a danger on a subconscious level, I am still conscious."
"So you were sleeping?" Martha asked.
"Yes, Martha, I'm fine. Now she is going to bring soup, and I'm going to have to eat it."
"She was worried! I was, too," she told him, joining him in bed.
"I'm sorry, Martha. I've trapped you here. I know what happens down at those shops. You are brilliant Martha. They don't know-"
"Its fine. You'll get us there," she smiled, and was very surprised when he leaned in and kissed her. A real, passionate kiss.
"Doctor?" she questioned.
"It's the bond. Sometimes I have to reach out and touch you.
/i
Martha was nearly thrown from the bed when the Doctor awoke. He was looking around wildly as if he had no clue where he was.
"Doctor?" she called, approaching him.
"The Master. He is in my head and I...I...oh," he softened.
"Are you alright?"
"It takes getting used to. It's been quiet for so long, but now two, Martha…two more Time Lords."
"I know. We have a lot to talk about, but first I have to call my folks or they will be here before I make it to work." Martha excused herself from the room.
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Lily Ambrose wondered why she had a crick in her neck before she opened her eyes. Then, it all came back to her. She had saved the world last night. Her name was now right up there with Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith. She had coffee with Martha Freaking Jones! After seeing everything that she'd seen, how could she do it? Easy, she was saving the world as well. Lily knew what Harold Saxon had done. Time Lords were destroyers of worlds. She would not forget the mission.
Jamie Nobleman knew that he had chickened out. He woke up in Martha's arms and his son's thoughts in his head. Oh, how he wanted to stay there forever. He couldn't though; if he stayed close she would see. Jamie couldn't let her see. He was a dad. Now things were falling into place.
hri
Back on the TARDIS
"That's incredible!" Rose beamed as she listened to the double heartbeat of the Doctor, her Doctor.
"It was easy, Rose," he explained as the original came into the TARDIS soaking wet, "Our bodies are going through the regeneration process. My body opened up and took the transfer." he explained as the original came into the TARDIS soaking wet.
"How is she?" John asked.
"She's Donna. The way she was, back to sleeping through all the excitement. She is oblivious to you or me. You can't contact her no matter what!" The Doctor warned the metacrisis.
"You don't have to tell us. We are returning to Rose's universe."
"That's not what we agreed. I gave you my heart because you would be here while my new one grew back. Rose Tyler in the TARDIS, as she should be. The three of us. A family," the Doctor smiled.
"Oh, but while he was recuperating and you were giving Donna her sendoff, he let me in on a few things," Rose smiled, taking John's hand.
"Really?" The Doctor questioned.
"Yes. Like first you can no longer be John Smith. That name is permanently taken, so find something else. Also, don't worry, we will be fine. You gave him your love for me, Doctor, and we're not going to waste it. You shouldn't either."
"Martha is married, and you know what I've done to her. I destroyed her family. She will run from me as fast as she can."
"She won't. You are going to need a doctor for a while. Martha's perfect for the job," his doppelganger told him as he slipped a watch on his wrist.
"Ah, perception filter. Oi, why does it seem like I'm losing my accent?"
"It's assimilating; you will have to play around with it. Martha's in the States, so maybe you want to be a new man."
"If anyone needs to be different it should be you. I am the one, the only, and the very best," he told John as he adjusted his tie.
"Maybe in this universe. So who are you going to be? Life in slow lane, at least for a couple of years. What are you going to call yourself?" Rose asked as she approached him for the first time since the beach.
"Jamie Nobleman?" he wondered.
"We approve," she told him as she adjusted his tie, and ran her hand across the familiar brown material of his suit, "I'm really going to miss this suit."
"What's the matter with blue? I like Blue," John replied as he set the coordinates of the TARDIS.
"Me too. I also like the new thing with the hair. Very mad rooster and the sideburns!" she giggled, "My mind just went to a naughty place, looking at the two of you."
"Really?" they both asked in unison.
"Yes, but I think I will leave that privilege to Martha when it comes to you."
"Martha…I-" he tried to explain.
"No worries, Doctor. I was lost to you. Martha kept you afloat and you were very cruel to her. She will forgive you, though, because she loves you. Now, you have to be happy, you are in for a wild ride," she smirked.
"See, that's not fair," he pouted, "From the moment I gave him my heart, he became a full Time Lord. He can see the timelines; he knows what's to come. I'm stuck being a stupid ape.".
"Stop being so dramatic," his brother told him as he passed him a piece of coral, "Take this and find Martha."
The Doctor took his things and left the TARDIS. He couldn't believe that he was doing this. He was leaving the old girl. He took one last look at his other self and Rose. "Rose…"
"Yes Doctor?" They both asked in unison.
"Be brilliant," he smiled and he left his oldest friend forever.
/i
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He wondered now if his other self remembered Julius. That would explain so much. He had so much more to tell Martha. For now, though, it was time to save lives.
"Mrs. Emily Mayer, I'm Dr. Jamie Nobleman. It says here you are having some terrible migraines. Let's see if I can help," he stated finally looking up from the file.
"Johnny!" she shouted, staring at him in disbelief.
"Oh dear," he sighed, immediately recognizing the patient.
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"And it wasn't the Doctor?" Tish asked for what had to be the seventh time.
"No. I haven't seen the Doctor since we all brought Earth home," Martha told Tish. It wasn't exactly a lie.
"So how is Julius doing? It has got to be pretty scary being in that kind of situation. I mean how did he get to the states so fast if it wasn't the Doctor?"
"A friend made sure he got here. He is fine I assure you." Martha looked up to see Jenny and Julius playing a complicated puzzle. She couldn't stop the smile. He was going to be brilliant.
"Martha, are you even listening to me?" Tish shrieked, bringing her back to reality.
"Yes I heard you. It is late there and I need to get to work. You guys have to come for Thanksgiving!"
"Oh, Martha, are you really going to do that? I mean, that is so American, and you are killer on a turkey."
"Tish, you guys have to come. I've got big news. It's the last Thursday of the month. I will talk to you later."
"Wait! What news-" Tish's question was cut off as Martha hung up.
Martha listened as Jenny sang a Gallifreyan lullaby to a dozing Julius. At least she knew who was going to baby sit. The intoxicating sound took her back to 1969...
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1969
"My word, what is that sound?" Mary McDonald asked Martha as they hung out the wash.
"Oh it's John," Martha explained as she saw the twosome huddled together, "He's on the back porch with Emily. They are making up songs."
"It won't be long now, Martha. My Emily is in love with your John. She calls him Johnny and hangs on to his every word. He tagged along with me today as we went to the shops. He helped me keep her in line up until around one o'clock."
"Oh? What happened then?"
"I took Emily to the park for being so good. I treated them both to an ice cream. They were on the swings, and somehow John fell. It took me about twenty minutes to get him to stop crying. People were looking, and he was so embarrassed. I told those nosies where they could stick it. He has such a gentle soul. What happened to him in the war?" she asked.
"He doesn't talk about it. There was some kind of ambush and everyone died, except him. He lost a brother and even his father."
"Really?" Mary asked, taking another look at John. He did look young, but other times he could look so old. "That's just awful. It's good that he has you. That man loves you so much. Why, you're practically glowing! Are you pregnant?" she asked hopefully.
"No, it's nothing like that. We are just enjoying each other. John has been a father, but he lost them so young. You never get over something like that," Martha explained. She really hoped Mary dropped the whole thing. She often wondered what a little Doctor would look like, but that was her business.
"That's when it happens. All that enjoying yourselves and then out pops a baby! That's why I have so many," Mary nudged Martha, laughing.
Martha looked back at Emily and the Doctor. She was five and he held her close and whispered softly too her. Emily was in awe of him. How could he not know the effect he had on people?/i
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"Martha, Dad wants you to come down to the hospital." Jenny told her, breaking her from her memories.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, totally accepting they were talking to each other telepathically.
"Yes, something about old friends and 1969. He's very excited."
"I better get there then. Shall I take Julius?"
"Please don't! He will be alright here. I promise not to break him. He is so small, and I can't stop myself from constantly wanting to cuddle or mess with his hair. We won't leave the house."
"Alright then," Martha leaned forward and kissed Julius, and without skipping a beat she kissed Jenny as well, causing her to blush.
"Be well children," she smiled, leaving the apartment. It took all the strength she had not to turn around when Julius uttered, "Bye, Mummy!" Really, how could she stay mad at a man who made her son come to life? She had a smile on her face the entire ride to the hospital.
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Lily Ambrose had been trying to get Jamie alone for hours, but he had taken a patient in for a private consult. She had nicked the file to give it a onceover. Nothing seemed out the ordinary, and then she saw it. Emily Mayer was visiting from across the pond. Really, were aliens all masquerading as the British? Then again, that would explain so much. She had calls to make, but first Part One of her plan. She quickly picked the lock to Jamie's locker. She took out his bottled water and quickly injected with the aspirin-based solution. Lily placed it exactly where he left it and replaced the lock.
"I'm sorry," she sighed as she went on with her daily duties.
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"I'm not losing my mind, right? It really is you?" Emily questioned.
"Yes it really is. It has only been a couple of years since we last saw each other," Jamie beamed.
"I'm nearly fifty now, Doctor. Wait until I tell Mum, she will hit the roof."
"Mary is still alive?" he asked, shocked.
"Aren't you? You are wearing a different suit though. Brown does not suit you. What happened to the blue? Why couldn't Malcolm be here? I told him all about you and that year," she told him proudly.
He was about to tell her that she was about to start a new adventure when the door opened and a very ticked off Martha barged in.
"What's the big idea with all the security? They did everything except a full cavity search before they let me come in here. You look extremely happy," she said before turning around.
"Martha, meet Emily Mayer, our brilliant patient!" he beamed. Martha immediately saw the problem. Emily seemed to be doing quite well, but what was he so happy about? Why was she staring at her like that as well?
"Martha, aren't you going to say anything?" Jamie asked.
"Doctor, have you told her?"
"Martha, we will get to that soon. Now it's reunion time. It is Emily Mayer, formerly Emily McDonald of 1969!"
"Oh, my God!" Martha said excitedly, but she quickly sobered, looking Emily in the eye, "I'm so sorry, Emily, but there's something on your back."
