Chapter Twenty-Five
The Doctor led Martha several meters away from the boulder and stopped. He glanced back once over his shoulder to check on Rose. Satisfied, she was resting comfortably, he turned his attention back to her.
"Now, I need to talk to you one on one, Martha, because I did make you my companion and I want a few things straightened out before we go any further."
"What things?" Martha asked.
"I want the jealousy stopped," the Doctor said, "and I want it stopped right now."
"Doctor, I…I'm not jealous."
The Doctor sighed.
"Don't give me that, Martha. I told you before I'm not blind. I can see the way you turn away from Rose and me. I've caught the rolled eyes and the snide tone whenever you mention her. You're still jealous of her."
He folded his arms over his chest.
"So, now I want absolute honesty from you. Whatever you have to say, say it, because I want this pettiness ended before it spins out of control. Because I'm pretty certain that when we get out of this mess, Rose will want to travel with me and if you are going to have a problem with that, then I will drop you off at your flat. I will not tolerate disharmony in my TARDIS, Martha. I will not allow backstabbing, catfights, or any other childish behavior. I deal with enough crap on a day-to-day basis without it being brought inside my home. So, here's your chance to vent, Martha. I'm listening. And don't hold anything back. Trust me; I can handle whatever you have to say."
He leaned his head forward and stared at her waiting for her to respond.
"Well…" he said, when Martha remained silent.
Martha sighed.
"Alright, yes, I am jealous of Rose, okay?" she finally said.
"Why?"
Martha was taken aback.
"Why?"
"Yes, why? Why does my relationship with Rose bother you so much?"
Martha bit her lip. She averted her eyes and stared at the ground when the Doctor's eyes bored into her.
"Well, out with it!"
"I just…I just…"
"You just wish Rose was still in the other universe so you can have me free and clear, is that it? You wish I would never have found her because all these fantasies you've had about you and me as a couple have been shattered, is that what you're trying to say?"
Martha squared her shoulders.
"Alright, yes, I…do wish she had stayed in the other universe, if you want the truth," she said.
The Doctor sighed and leaned back against a tree.
"When did it start?" he asked.
Martha frowned.
"When did what start?"
"This crush, when did it start?" he said
"I…I guess when we shared the bed that night," Martha said, hesitantly.
"I knew I should have slept on the floor," the Doctor muttered, as he ran his hand along the back of his head, "look, there was only one bed, and after what you had told me in the TARDIS about not being interested in me, I figured it was okay if I shared it because I really didn't feel like sleeping on the hard floor."
He sighed.
"And I suppose my mentioning Rose pissed you off," he added.
"Yes, it did."
"Why?"
Martha was silent.
"Why? I wanna know. You didn't even know her then, so I don't understand how you could have been so jealous of her."
He leaned in.
"I know this might come as a shock, but I did have a life before I met you," he said, "I have had many companions before you and most likely I will have many companions after you. Now, I have had many female companions and contrary to what you might think, I did not fall in love with all of them. I have cared for them just as I care for you and I considered them close friends just as I consider you a close friend. But, I do not fall head over heels in love with every woman that walks into my TARDIS."
"Then what makes Rose so different?" Martha said. "Why did you fall in love with her?"
The Doctor leaned back up. He looked up at Rose and smiled when he noticed her sleeping peacefully. He looked back at Martha.
"Truthfully, I really couldn't tell you why I fell in love with her. I know that when I first met her, I wasn't looking to fall in love with her. I just did."
He stared at Rose as he thought.
"I think it was because after the Time War, I was devastated. My planet and people had been destroyed and I figured there wasn't much point in going on. My friends and family were dead and I was by myself and I really didn't care if I lived or died."
He smiled.
"Then, Rose came into my life and I saw that there were some things in the universe still worth fighting for. She pulled me out of the darkness and helped me become the man I had once been and I was grateful for that; still grateful in fact, and I slowly fell in love with her and then she fell in love with me and suddenly I came to realize that she was my whole universe, and I couldn't bear the thought of being without her."
He looked at Martha.
"Now, if things had been different and it had been you I had met instead of Rose, would I have fallen in love with you? I don't know. If the Time War never happened, would I have still fallen in love with Rose? I don't know that either. The fact is it happened and whether or not you are happy she is back, I am ecstatic and I don't want to lose her again. Which leaves you in a very sticky situation, can you be an adult and travel with me as a friend and let me have my relationship with Rose? Or will you continue to act childishly and hate Rose because she's guilty of the crime of getting to me first and make me force you to drop you off? Because, like I said, I will not hesitate to do that if this is going to become a problem. So, what is your decision?"
"I want to travel with you."
"So, can you let go of these fantasies? Because I can tell you now, that's all they ever will be. I will never love you or anyone else the way I love Rose and nothing or no one will ever change that. So, can you do that?"
Martha nodded.
The Doctor smiled.
"Good. I just want to get that out of the way, okay? Because I want us all to be friends."
Martha nodded.
"Me too."
"Good."
He sighed.
"I'm sorry I had to do that, but I wanted things taken care of this instant. Rose has done nothing to you, Martha. She is a very sweet woman and the two of you have a lot in common. If you would just stop thinking of her as the other woman and get to know her, you could see it."
"I…I have gotten to know her and I do like her. It's just that I still have feelings for you and it'll take some time for me to let go of them."
The Doctor nodded.
"I understand, Martha, believe me. I'm glad you are willing to see Rose as a friend and not competition and if you are willing to let our relationship be platonic, then I will be happy to have you as a companion. Deal?"
"Deal."
The Doctor smiled.
"Good," he said, "now, that that's out of the way, I'm wanting to rest and you should too. We have to get our strength back before my evil twin rears his ugly head."
The alternate Doctor watched quietly through the trees and smiled when he saw the Doctor and Martha walk back towards the boulders.
"Too late, Doctor. I'm already here," he whispered, as he watched them climb the boulders, "so, rest while you can because soon I will destroy you."