Three days later
The Unit
New Hope Hospital
London, England
Martha Jones carefully placed the tissue sample on the slide and slid it under the microscope. Since she began working for the Unit, she began cataloging the different alien species that were living on Earth. Martha was hoping to be done early, so she could get home to her fiancée. It was only three weeks to their wedding and Martha couldn't wait to get married. Simon was the perfect man for her. He was kind, loved her family and was a doctor himself. Best of all, he loved her in return. Martha had promised herself that she would never get into another relationship where she was pining after someone.
Even if that someone turned out to be as fascinating as the Doctor.
Martha smiled to herself as she remembered the Doctor and their time together. Although he did not love her in return and even had blamed himself for the destruction of her family, Martha still thought he was one of the most fascinating people/aliens that she had ever met. It was through the Doctor that so many amazing things happened to her. She met Shakespeare who wrote a sonnet about her; went to New New York and even to the end of time where she met another Timelord and the irrepressible Jack Harkness. Her parents got back together. Her brother, Leo, went into the service and her sister, Tish, had returned to school and was working on her law degree. Martha herself find her passionate calling in working with the Unit and using her medical skills to fight against aliens. Even better, Simon had come into her life and Martha knew that she would have never met him if he had not been for the Doctor.
Overall, Martha felt as though she owed the Doctor a great deal.
Concentrating on the slide, Martha did not notice as a man stood in her doorway and watched her work. Stepping back from the microscope, Martha stood up and turned to the doorway when she saw him.
"Doctor!" she cried out and ran toward him clasping him in a huge embrace.
The Doctor wrapped his arms around Martha and hugged her back as fiercely. Martha had been a great companion and he had missed her quite terribly when she was gone. Letting go of the Doctor, Martha gave him a once over. She smiled and shook her head.
"You never change do you?" she asked.
The Doctor smiled back. "You, Ms. Jones, have changed a great deal."
Martha took that challenge and put her hands on her hips. "Good or bad?" she asked.
"Actually," said the Doctor. "You look quite beautiful."
Martha grinned at him cheekily. "Why thank you." Cocking her head, she looked at the Doctor, "What brings you to this time and place?"
"Martha," the Doctor began, "I need your help."
"Anything," said Martha grabbing her stool and pulling it beneath her. "What do you need?"
The Doctor looked at her for a moment, sighed and pulled two handkerchiefs from his pocket. Hesitating, he held them close to his chest and then handed them to Martha. She cupped them in her hands delicately as if she could already sense their tremendous importance to the Doctor. Martha put them down on a metal tray and walked over to the sink to scrub up. As she did so, she asked the Doctor, "What are they?"
"DNA samples." replied the Doctor quietly.
"What species?" asked Martha, drying her hands.
The Doctor looked surprised. "What do you mean, what species?"
"Well," said Martha putting gloves on, "I know this has to be alien, so what species is it?"
Pointing to her computer, Martha told the Doctor, "I have been cataloging alien species for the Unit." "So far," she said, "I have managed to catalog over 1000 species."
The Doctor smiled. "Impressive work, Ms. Jones." "Now, you just have 990,000 more to go."
Martha's grin faltered slightly at the thought of all that work, but she managed to keep a brave front nonetheless. That, the Doctor admitted to himself, is what he admired about Martha. Her resourcefulness was great even in the face of insurmountable odds. The Doctor knew that he was alive because of that. After Rose, the Doctor had been reckless and Martha had been the person, for at least a time, to reel him in.
"So," said Martha pointing to the handkerchiefs lying in the tray. "What am I taking DNA samples of?"
"Me" said the Doctor. "And my daughter."
Surprisingly, Martha seemed nonplussed at the news the Doctor had a daughter. She merely nodded at the information and picked up the first handkerchief and several long strands of jet black hair fell out. The Doctor felt his throat tighten. It was Emily Smith's hair, and the Doctor was certain that she was his daughter. Martha unraveled the second handkerchief and it contained several short brown hairs. The Doctor snipped out some of his own hair for comparison.
Martha looked at the hairs for a moment and then up at the Doctor. He saw a great deal of compassion in her face. She knew how desperate he was for one of his own kind.
"Doctor," she began quietly. "How do you know this woman is your daughter?"
"The Face of Boe" said the Doctor.
Martha seemed surprised. "The Face of Boe is dead."
"No!" said the Doctor cheerily. "He's alive in cyberspace."
Martha smiled. "And the Face of Boe told you that you had a daughter."
"Yes." said the Doctor. "He told me where to find her."
Martha put the samples on a metal tray and picked up two tubes. "Who is her mother?"
The Doctor's cheery disposition faded. "Asha" he began, hesitated and then continued. "The Daleks came and I left her." Martha looked up at him. The Doctor was staring straight ahead. "I never went back."
"So she was pregnant when you left her?" said Martha.
"I think so." replied the Doctor "I don't know for sure."
"Hence the DNA test." said Martha.
"Yes." replied the Doctor.
Martha looked at the Doctor for a moment and then down at the samples. She seem to want to say something, but could not find the words. Finally, she looked up at the Doctor.
"Give me about 24 hours" said Martha. "I'll call you with the results." "Do you still have your phone?"
The Doctor tapped his breast pocket. "Always."
Martha smiled. "Have a good night Doctor."
"You too." said the Doctor. He turned to leave and then paused. "Martha?"
"I'm sorry." Said the Doctor.
Martha looked puzzled. "For what?" she asked.
"For destroying your family." said the Doctor. "For what happened between us."
Martha was stunned by the admission. The Doctor was not one for sentimentality. He must be really vulnerable right now, thought Martha. She smiled at the Doctor.
"Honestly," said Martha. "I owe you a thank you." "I wouldn't have the life I have now without you."
"Martha" began the Doctor. But Martha held up a restraining hand.
"Listen." said Martha. "My parents are back together and happier than ever. Leo and Tish have grown up and gone their own way. I have a great job and an amazing fiancée." She smiled at the Doctor. "That happened because of you."
The Doctor felt emotion well up in him. He knew that Martha saw his vulnerability and was being kind, but he also sensed truth behind her words. The Doctor couldn't find the words to express his gratitude to Martha, so he just hugged her instead. After a moment, he let her go and she smiled at him.
"Go on." Said Martha. "Get some rest and I'll call you tomorrow."
"Will do, Dr. Jones." replied the Doctor. "Will do."