TAILS' END

Mickey Smith checked his watch. He hated feeling rushed, but he knew he needed some quality time with her. He sipped at his lager and waited, vowing only another ten minutes. He was annoyed that she was late, but he knew he'd forgive her – it was in his nature to forgive the women in his life, even when they were inconsiderate.

Finally, just before he was going to get up and leave, her silhouette darkened the door. She looked about until she saw him, and then made a breathless beeline for the table where he was sitting.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she said, plopping down across from him.

"It's okay," he said, as he knew he would. "Don't you want a drink?"

"No, we only have a few minutes, don't we?"

"I suppose so," Mickey conceded. "Get stuck with a patient?"

"Yeah, a haemophiliac in the ER," she told him. "Blow to the head with a garage door. Gauze, bandages, sutures... nothing was doing the trick."

"Please stop right there," he requested. "I'm not a big fan of blood stories."

She smiled. She thought that was cute.

"I was a bit surprised to get your call," Martha said to him, shimmying out of her white lab coat.

"I couldn't go without saying goodbye," he told her. "But I was a bit surprised to be able to reach you."

"Well, here I am," she said, a bit sadly. "Earth-bound and totally reachable by phone."

"I assume you two had your own little melodrama after we all separated."

"Yes. Yes we did."

"Did he tell you he was sorry he'd been treating you so awfully, and ask you to give him another chance, promising he'd focus on you?"

She smiled weakly. "Yeah. Same story on your end?"

"Almost to the letter," he said. "I know she meant it, but..."

"I know he meant it."

"That's what made it so hard to leave. I think this time she really meant it."

Martha nodded in agreement. "God, I wanted to stay so badly, I could feel it working in my bones," she confessed, taking a deep breath to avoid crying. "And I did, I stayed one night. We went to bed together... and it felt... just really really good, you know? And miraculously, I think he actually was focused on me the whole time. But then the euphoria sort of wore off and I knew. I felt weak, like I had caved, like I was being obedient somehow. I just... wanted out."

"Same here," he told her. "We went home and went to bed, and it was good. Great, in fact. Better than since before... but then I guess I felt the same way as you did. I was still following Rose, still playing it her way, and I was tired. I'm just tired, you know. I need some distance."

"Did she understand that?"

"Sort of," he replied. "Did he?"

"Totally," she said.

There was a long silence. Mickey sipped his drink and Martha stared at the table.

"So, how much do you feel like you've jumped out of a plane without a parachute?" he asked her.

"Completely," she let him know, smiling. "It's taking all of my willpower not to call him back here to get me. It's so scary, thinking I had my chance with him and I gave it up."

"Me too," he said. "Four years, my life has revolved around that woman. Waiting for her, comforting her, trying to make her happy or whatever. I don't know what to do with myself now."

"Where are you going?"

"California," he said, decisively.

"What made you decide that?"

"Flipped a coin. Heads it was Melbourne. Tails it was Los Angeles. Tails won out."

"Interesting way to make a major life choice," she said, crossing her arms amusedly. "Why on this side of the void?"

"It's where I started out, I figure it's where I should end up," he shrugged. "What about you? What's next for you?"

"I need to concentrate on finishing medical school and passing my exams," she said, leaning on the table. Right now, the way she felt, the task seemed daunting. "After that, the Doctor suggested I might look into working for UNIT as a medical advisor."

"What's UNIT?"

"Sort of like Torchwood, I would think, only military," she said. "I don't know. I don't think I'm up for fighting aliens anymore."

"I know I'm not. I used to be just this normal guy, you know? I wonder where that guy went sometimes."

"Now you don't have to wonder anymore," she assured him. "He can come back anytime you like."

"Yeah, I hope."

"What time does your flight leave?" she asked.

"Four," he said. He checked his watch. "Whoa, I need to be going." He reached for his duffel bag under his chair.

"All right," Martha said, standing. She walked him to the door.

"It was very nice knowing you, Martha Jones. And I couldn't have made this decision without you."

"Likewise, Mickey Smith."

The two friends hugged, and then walked away in opposite directions.

END

WELL KIDS, THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER. MY MOTHER WOULD BE PROUD OF ME FOR THIS ENDING. SHE WOULD FEEL IT IS EMPOWERING AND REALISTIC. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT, FIND IT VALUABLE AS A MESSAGE AND DON'T FEEL CHEATED OUT OF A GOOD LOVE STORY. I THINK SOME OF THE BEST LOVE STORIES CAN BE ABOUT SELF-DISCOVERY. IT'S TIME MICKEY AND MARTHA FOUND A BIT OF THAT.

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO STUCK WITH ME. IT'S BEEN A FUN LITTLE JOURNEY. :-)