Title: Communication (3/?)
Author: Syreene
Characters/Pairing: 10Doctor/Martha
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: none yet
Summary: The Doctor shares his favorite memory with Martha…
Disclaimer: Don't own Doctor Who...just a copy of his scarf.
Author's Notes: Continuing after my story "Keeping Appointments" - Another plot bunny that's been nibbling at my ankles...I'm crossing my fingers that you guys will like this one too.

This time when they connected, Martha turned around to see that they were standing at the bottom floor of a large circular tower. As she looked around she could see that each floor held a vast number of doors, and when she looked up she saw...13 floors?

"I guess you're not a superstitious sort," Martha said to herself.

"Not in this life, anyway," The Doctor agreed with her as he leaned over her shoulder.

"This life...Martha muttered then turned around and pointed a finger into the middle of his chest. "When we were on the S.S. Pentallion, you told me that Time Lords 'did something' when they died. What did you mean?"

"When a Time Lord dies, their bodies undergo massive regeneration at a cellular level. We regenerate into completely new bodies with new personalities...but the memories remain." The Doctor could see the looks of surprise, amazement and then comprehension cross Martha's face. "Didn't get that far into the book yet, yeah?"

"No...but I'm going to next chance I get!" Martha replied enthusiastically.

"Chapter 23," The Doctor offered helpfully.

"Thank you," Martha said distractedly as she looked around the tower. "13 floors...so does that mean you've lived 13 lives?"

"Only 10 so far, actually," The Doctor replied as he stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. "Those last 3 floors up there haven't been filled yet. Goodness knows though Martha, without you I'd probably be up to..." he started to count on his fingers.

"16, at least."

"Nah...couldn't be," The Doctor replied in disbelief. Martha merely stared at him with a raised brow and her hands on her hips. "I was going to say 22, actually..." he muttered in admission as he ran his hand through his hair, random spikes left in its wake.

"Amazing..." Martha said in awe.

"I thought so too, because I mean...I've never been this careless with my life before, have I?" The Doctor replied before he realized Martha was already walking towards one of the doors.

"So this floor…is this your first life?" Martha asked as she walked up to a wooden blue door that looked like it belonged to the TARDIS…though it was in much better condition. As she reached up to touch it, the Doctor gently took her hand.

"Yeah…but I was a crotchety old fart back then…you don't want to see that." Martha looked at him pleadingly, and he smiled gently. "Someday…just…not yet."

Understanding yet slightly disappointed, Martha dropped her hand. "So…is there a door we can open?"

"In fact, there's a particular door that I think I should show you. It's one of my favorites..." he reached up to caress her cheek. "Considering all you've done for me and the Earth, Martha Jones, I figure it's the least I could do to show my appreciation."

Martha's breath caught in her throat as he led her by the hand to an intricately designed door with swirling carvings framing it from top to bottom. "Is this…"

"Gallifrey," he answered in a whisper. He cleared his throat before he continued. "Only way I can show it to you now…"

Hands crammed in his pants pockets, the Doctor was unable to bring himself to touch the door. He nodded at Martha, giving her the go-ahead to open it.

She reached out slowly as she swallowed hard, and when her hand touched the door it swung gently open to a scene that took her breath away.

"Go ahead…" he said softly into her ear as he nudged her with his hip. "It's okay."

Martha stepped out carefully through the door, her feet sinking into the soft red grass of the Doctor's home planet.

"Oh my God," she whispered as her hand flew to her mouth.

It was nighttime in the Doctor's memory…the skies turned a burnt orange. High in the sky what Martha assumed was the moon shone down, its copper hues turning the cool silver leaves of the trees into a warm gold. In the distance a mountain could be seen capped with snow.

"Pazithi Gallifreya…the Virgin Moon Goddess," the Doctor replied to her unspoken question as he nodded at the moon, its light reflecting in the tears welling up in his eyes.

Martha stretched her other hand behind her, blindly reaching for the Doctors as she couldn't turn away from the sight that she'd been longing to see ever since she met him. The Doctor quickly wiped his tears away with the back of his hand and took a deep breath before he stepped out into his memories of home, his hand slipping comfortably into Martha's.

"Come on…you'll want to see this." The Doctor said as he continued forward through a grove of trees, gently tugging on her hand.

As they broke through the grove of silver trees they came out upon the side of a softly sloping hill covered in what looked like daisies to Martha. The Doctor looked around him, sniffed, and then turned to her. "This should do it." He took off his coat and laid it gentlemanly upon the grass, motioning for Martha to have a seat.

Eagerly anticipating what the Doctor had to show her, she sat down cross legged on his coat and looked up at him eagerly. Her look turned to barely hidden surprise though when the Doctor sat down behind her, stretching out his long legs to either side of her. She straightened her legs but continued to sit up straight…so unsure of what to do when it came to the Doctor's feelings. It wasn't until she felt his arms reach around her waist and pull her closer that she sighed and leaned back into the Doctor's arms, her head resting comfortably against his shoulder.

"What are we waiting for?" she asked quietly as she scanned the sky.

The Doctor looked and then pointed a little off to Martha's left. "There they are…"

Martha's eyes followed his outstretched finger and her eyes widened as she saw the meteor shower begin. The sky lit up with streaks of color as the meteors burned in the sky: deep purples, emerald greens and vivid yellows. Martha's breath caught in her throat as tears welled in her eyes. "This is so beautiful…thank you so much…"

The Doctor didn't reply…he just held her closer.

Martha lost track of time as she gazed at the shower of colors above her. Eventually they subsided, and her thoughts turned inward again. She looked down at the Doctor's arms around her waist, sighed, and began to speak.

"I was reading about your people this morning…trying to think of what it must have been like; never being alone…always feeling their touch in your mind…how much it must hurt now that they aren't there."

Martha could feel the Doctor's hands clench around her as he sighed sadly. She gnawed her bottom lip with her teeth before she continued. "I guess…that's why I came up with my idea this morning. While I also thought it could be really helpful in our travels…I really just wanted to help you. I know I can't make up for an entire race or anything…but I thought maybe…you could use the company?" Afraid that if she didn't get it all out now she'd never say it, the rest of Martha's intentions came pouring out. "I know I'm not a Time Lord or anything…but I'd be willing to share what I've got…"

Martha heard a soft chuckle from behind her, so she turned around the best she could to see his face. The Doctor was wiping the tears from his eyes the best he could as he smiled at Martha. "You're never going to let me catch up with you…are you?" Martha's confusion was apparent to the Doctor, so he gently turned her around to face him. He cupped her cheeks in his hands as he continued, "Martha Jones… Doctor Martha Jones…I've been taking you all over creation in an attempt to impress you, but with a simple selfless action you've once again showed me what a fool I've been."

"What? No…Doctor, I…"

"Ssh…it's okay, Martha…it's more than okay." The Doctor reassured her. "I brought you here because I finally realized what's been staring me in the face. You are a star, Martha Jones. You are brilliant, strong, brave, compassionate beyond belief, and I am so lucky to have met you. I tried to pull the pompous Time Lord act, but you saw through it from the very start…even if I refused to." A tear fell down Martha's cheek and he rubbed it away with his thumb before he continued with a sigh, "I'm tired of lying, Martha. I've done it to so many people for so long…myself included…but I think I'm done. It's not going to be easy…and I've got quite a lot to come to terms with…" his hands slipped down into hers as he gazed around his memories of home, "…but this…here…this is me, and for better or worse, I wanted to give that to you. I figure it's a good start at least…"

Martha was struck speechless…tears of joy sliding down her cheeks unchecked as her face broke into a grin. Suddenly the Doctor found himself lying on his back in the field of flowers as Martha leaned over him. "'Bout time, stranger…"

She leaned down farther and brushed her lips against his in invitation. The Doctor reached his hands up into her hair to cup her head, and Martha tilted her head slightly to deepen the kiss. He moaned against her lips and properly encouraged she ran the tip of her tongue against his lips, seeking to taste him deeper. His lips parted and dueled briefly with hers before he rolled her over onto her back.

"Martha…" he said hoarsely as he pulled away from her kiss to look at her. "I want to touch you for real."