"Can we go back to the metacrisis?" the Doctor asked a few minutes later. "If I put the energy of the regeneration into my hand, then I wasn't actually split into two? I take it the regeneration energy triggered regeneration of the tissues in my hand?"
"You weren't split in two," Martha confirmed with him. "For some reason when the TARDIS had been taken and Donna was alone in there she made physical contact with your hand. It was soaked in regenerative energy, but it didn't begin to regenerate spontaneously. It required Donna to touch it in order to trigger the regeneration event. That version of you grew out of a combination of you and of Donna. We think there must have been some sort of feedback from that process back into Donna. She received an electrical pulse from Davros's weapon and it was at that point the metacrisis kicked in for her and it became apparent that she had taken on your consciousness. The version of you that had been created from your hand also had a significant amount of Donna in him. He wasn't entirely time lord. He was part time lord and part human, but he was pre-dominantly time lord so was able to handle the metacrisis. Unfortunately Donna, your mum," she reminded Josh. "Was to all intents and purposes still human and she couldn't handle the metacrisis. It was going to kill her. You saved her life, Doctor, but in order to do that you were required to remove all her memories of you, of the TARDIS, and of the places that she went," Martha explained.
"If there was a risk of her remembering then I could only have hidden her memories from her conscious mind," the Doctor commented. "If I didn't remove them completely then there is a chance that I couldn't, and, that might be because there was a physical change. If the other Doctor was physically part human and part time lord, then there is a chance that Donna had some physical time lord in her, but not enough to maintain the metacrisis."
"Gramps said he couldn't tell me about any of it while Mum was still alive because she'd burn up and die," Josh commented.
"I'm very sorry your family died, Josh," Martha told him. "Your mother was an incredible woman. She was passionate and down to Earth. She gave the Doctor a run for his money, and, I get the impression that you're going to do the same while you're here. I also want you to know that we're your friends too," Martha suggested.
"The Doctor said that," Josh commented. "He said that if I was ever in trouble and he wasn't around that I could ring UNIT for help."
"He said that?" Martha commented surprised the Doctor would say something so sensible. "That's good, and that's right," she confirmed. "But, I'm not saying that as part of UNIT okay? I'm saying it as me. I'm a friend of the Doctor's even if he doesn't know me yet, and so is Mickey, so if you ever need anything at all, I'll make sure you know how to find us, okay?"
"Okay."
"Thank you, Martha," the Doctor acknowledged.
"Goes for me too, kid," Mickey confirmed. "If you like football, maybe when your ankle is better, we could have a kick around or something?" he offered.
"I don't really like football much," Josh admitted. "But thank you."
"What do you like?" Martha asked him. "We could arrange for some supplies to be brought over. He's not likely to go shopping," Martha indicated toward the Doctor. "And, you're not going to be able to live on peanut butter and banana sandwiches."
"She definitely knows you doesn't she Doctor," Josh commented and then laughed.
"You've already been feeding him peanut butter and banana sandwiches?" Martha accused the Doctor amiably.
"It's all I've got," the Doctor frowned. "He's had crisps and chocolate as well."
"He's a growing human teenager with a significant injury," Martha reminded the Doctor. "If he's going to stay here with you while he heals, then you're going to have to make sure he eats properly. When Mickey and I finish here for the day. When Mickey and I go off duty we can go shopping and pick some basics up. We can pick you up some clothes and things as well too Josh, if you'd like?"
"If it isn't any trouble?" Josh checked. "Now you know where I am I can use my bank account again. I can pay you for them."
"You don't need to worry about any of that," Martha assured him.
"Yeah, UNIT can pay," Mickey informed him, but Martha tapped him on the thigh. "Martha can pay," Mickey suggested and the Doctor smiled.
"We better report back for duty," Martha suggested. "It has been really nice talking to you, Josh," Martha commented and rubbed the teenager's shoulder. "And, Doctor, it's good to see you too. Josh, make sure he takes his antibiotics and painkillers okay? He'll forget."
"How is it going out there?" the Doctor asked.
"We're just maintaining the perimeter," Martha informed him. "Major Magumbo wants to get a better feel of what is happening down at the slaughterhouse, so they're going to be doing surveillance today, and then, the next time they arrive we will be in a better position to act. It is all under control."
"Good."
"I might not get a chance to come back in today, so we'll bring the supplies in the morning. We're staying locally rather than travelling back."
"Who has your kids then?" the Doctor asked.
"They're with my mum and dad," Martha reported. "Dad will be feeding them both with sweets and Mum will be wondering why they're not ready to go to bed," she commented and smiled. "When you're both up and about properly you should come over for a meal," Martha suggested.
"That would be nice," the Doctor commented more on Josh's behalf than his own. "One last question, before you go?" he asked and Martha paused. "You said something about Rose."
"Rose is in the other universe, Doctor," Martha informed him. "The one we spoke about which is running a year ahead. Peter Tyler didn't die in that universe, but Jackie Tyler did. Jackie and Pete were reunited. They remarried and they had a son. Rose is there, with her family," Martha told him. "And, the metacrisis Doctor."
"Right," the Doctor commented.
"He is identical to you in every way apart from one. He's part human. He only has one heart and he won't regenerate. When we found out that you'd dropped him and Rose off in the other universe we were all pretty surprised. I can't imagine how hard that was for you, Doctor, but Rose is able to live a life growing old and grey with you and her family in that universe."
"So, she's gone then," the Doctor commented.
"Yes," Martha informed him. "There are some very trying times to come for you. A lot of planets and a lot of people are going to need saving, but, there is also a lot of joy, a lot of incredible days, and a lot of fun to be had as well. I don't regret any of the time between where you are and where I am now. You've still got to live through all of that. It's going to be one Hell of a ride."
"It usually is," the Doctor suggested but then he smiled. "Thank you."
"Now, you should both get some rest," Martha informed him and Josh. "You're both looking tired. Have either of you slept since yesterday? I know it's early, but you should probably get some sleep," she stated. "Both of you," she insisted and looked to the Doctor. He nodded.
"Early nights all round," the Doctor confirmed. "Goodnight then."
"See you tomorrow, kid," Mickey suggested. "Laters Boss." Both Mickey and Martha left and went to let themselves out of the TARDIS. The Doctor sighed. He almost forgot and sunk back into his seat, but instead he leant forward to put his elbows on his knees. That stretched his back and it didn't feel any better.
"I need tea," the Doctor stated when he couldn't think about sitting comfortably. He got back up. "Do you want another hot chocolate? And, if we're not getting any shopping until tomorrow, do you want another sandwich and a bag of crisps or anything?"
"Could I try a tea?" Josh asked him.
"How do you want to try it?" the Doctor checked.
"Like you have yours."