Part 25

Martha walked into her flat and heaved a big sigh of relief. She was exhausted. Her mind rewound to the conversation she had with Jack just before leaving.

"I see it, you know," Jack told her.

"You see what?" she asked.

"I see the way you look at him," the Torchwood leader continued. "It's similar to the way you used to look at him."

"No, it's not."

"I said similar; not exactly," he explained. "Back then, it was more adoration than love. Now, it's what a person who is really in love looks like." Martha could feel her face heating up. "Why are you embarrassed? It's a beautiful thing, Nightingale. You should probably know he has that look when he sees you, too."

"What am I supposed to do?" she asked. "How do I handle this?"

"Are you still angry with him?"

"No," she said honestly. "I've forgiven him." She paused. "It doesn't mean I've forgotten what happened. It just means that I'm letting go of it. I'm sick of holding on to the anger. I mean, I still want to know why he did what he did."

"Do you think you'll be able to trust him again?" Jack inquired.

"I trust him, Jack," she said softly. "I trust him with my life; not with my heart. I can't just rush into this." She sighed. "But, he is doing all the right things." Jack smiled before enveloping her in a loving, understanding hug.

The conversation left her as mentally exhausted as the day left her physically. She also knew her Torchwood friends would take her out to celebrate her birthday tomorrow. Therefore, she needed a good night's sleep.

She had just walked into the kitchen to make a quick dinner for herself before going to sleep when her mobile rang.

"You have got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed into the phone.

"I take it you made it home," Jack said through the receiver. "I hope you haven't undressed. Wow, I never thought I'd say that to you."

"What's going on?"

"I'll be at your place in ten minutes," the handsome ex Time Agent said. "I'll tell you on the way."

--

Jack parked in an alley and headed towards a building with Martha following closely. They entered quietly through the back door. Martha noticed the TARDIS.

"Jack, where are the others?" Martha whispered.

Jack shushed her and silently walked down a dark corridor until he reached the TARDIS. Again, Martha followed. Jack opened the door with his key and crept inside. Martha didn't like the fact that it was dark inside the sentient ship. She was starting to worry that something bad happened to the Doctor.

"Surprise!" everyone screamed in unison.

"Jack Harkness, I'm going to kill you!" Martha said after the initial shock of her friends jumping out and scaring her.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea," the Torchwood leader quickly stated.

"It was mine," the Doctor announced as he walked up to her. "Happy Birthday, Martha Jones." He wrapped her in one of his gloriously wonderful hugs. Martha found it extremely difficult to be angry with him.

"Thank you, Doctor," she said softly. She then turned to her friends. "Thanks all of you."

--

"Thanks everyone," Martha told her friends. "Thanks for trying to give me a heart attack before my birthday."

The Torchwood team laughed.

"We knew you'd appreciate it," Mickey told her.

"You were surprised though, weren't you?" Ianto asked.

"I definitely wasn't expecting that," she answered smiling. "And thank you all for the wonderful gifts."

"Now for the even better news," Jack declared. "No one has to come into work tomorrow unless it's an emergency." Jack's announcement led to cheers from his team. "I'll see you all day after tomorrow." Jack approached the Doctor. "I'm sure you'll make sure she gets home." He walked out with Ianto close behind.

Soon, everyone was gone and the Doctor turned to Martha. "So, are you ready to go?"

"I guess that means you're in charge of getting me home safely," she said.

"Well, you have had lots of wine," he told her.

"So, get me home safely," she said, slightly flirting.

"Not yet," he stated. "In case you haven't noticed, Dr. Jones, I've yet to give you your birthday present."

"Oh, Doctor, you don't have to give me anything." She sat on the captain's chair. "I should think the protection medallion was my birthday gift."

"Nonsense," he told her. "I worked really hard on this," he insisted. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, nicely wrapped box that he handed to her. "Open it," he said excitedly. Martha noticed he was bouncing a little.

Martha pulled the wrapping paper from the box and looked at the Time Lord quizzically. Finally, she opened the box and looked inside.

"Oh…my…God!" she yelled.

"Does that mean you like it?"

"Doctor!" she exclaimed. "Is this mine?"

"Of course it's yours," he said matter-of-factly. "You deserve it. Happy Birthday, Martha."

Martha yelped and threw herself into his arms. "My very own sonic screwdriver!"

"It's all yours," he said as he caught her and twirled her around. "Do you like it?"

"Are you kidding? I love it!"

He set her down, but did not let go of her. Martha noticed this and looked up into his eyes.

"Martha," he sighed. "You're not making this easy for me."

"What am I not making easy?" she asked.

"I'm trying very hard not to kiss you right now," he admitted.

"Right," she said. "I should…"

"Right," he agreed.

Neither one moved. The Doctor caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her. He went slowly in case she decided to change her mind and pull away. He was happy to see that the stunning young doctor did not pull away. He softly brushed his lips against hers before resting his forehead against hers.

"That was nice," she said. Her eyes were still closed.

"Yes, it was," he concurred. Before he could get himself into anymore trouble, the Doctor decided to back away and prepare the TARDIS to take Martha home. He wasn't sure how much willpower he had left when it came to his doctor.

Before he moved to back away, Martha grabbed the back of his head and pulled him to her. She took his bottom lip into her mouth and sucked on it. The Doctor moaned. He pulled her flush against him and she gasped at his hardness. The Time Lord's tongue quickly gained entrance into Martha's mouth. The two tongues massaged each other and explored the other's mouth. Finally, when Martha needed to breathe, she pulled back just a little and rested her forehead against his. The Doctor was also breathing heavily.

"Martha, I want more," he declared.

"Doctor," she began.

"I don't mean I want more physically," he clarified. "Although, it would be nice…I mean I don't want this to be a one-time kiss to say thank you."

Martha took a step back and began gathering her things. "I'm sorry. I just don't think I'm ready."

"Tell me what I need to do…or say! I'll do whatever you need me to do!" The young woman from London could see the desperation and sincerity in his face; and, she could hear it in his voice. Suddenly, the Doctor turned and walked to the other side of the control room. "I'm sorry," he told her. "I don't mean to try and push you into anything. Tonight is probably not the time to have this conversation. You've been drinking. I'd rather the two of us were sober when discussing this. I'll take you home now."

Martha sat on one of the chairs that was brought into the control room for the party and put her head in her hands. The Doctor began to set the TARDIS controls for Martha's flat. She knew the Time Lord was right to take her home. She was willing to spend the night with him and she knew that would've been another mistake they would've had to deal with.

The TARDIS materialized just outside of Martha's flat. Martha walked towards the door.

"Thanks for the lift, Doctor," she said quietly.

"Martha," he called as he ran to the beautiful young woman. "I'll, uh…I'll show you all of the settings on the screwdriver tomorrow."

Martha smiled and pulled him to her for a hug. The Doctor was extremely grateful because he desperately needed to hug her at that moment.

"Come over around breakfast time…9:30 since we get to sleep in." He smiled and gave her a mock solute. "And thank you, Doctor." She walked out of the sentient ship and opened the door to her flat. She looked back at the Time Lord once more before closing the door.

"Anything for you, Martha Jones," he said as he closed the TARDIS door.

End part 25