A/N: Ty for all the reviews! (Feels loved) The last few weeks haven't been exactly brilliant so it was a bit of breath of fresh air, as you might say :D

And for anyone who hasn't read any of my Rose and Jack as companions stories before, I do Ten, Jack and Rose. I have this deluded fantasy that Jack travelled with Ten and Rose at some point... Yes, I love Jack, I love Ten, and I love Rose, so I always have the huge inclination to put them together :D

Chapter 5 – Birthdays Never Get Boring

Flashback…

When the Doctor, Rose and Jack entered the church, it became apparent they'd arrived in the middle of prayer time. People were kneeling in pews, down the aisle, in front of the statue of Mondrith – anywhere they could find space - with their hands together in prayer.

Rose and Jack followed as the Doctor quietly advanced down the centre aisle, hands in pockets. Many of the worshippers turned to look at them, and they instantly recognised one of them. It was Martin. He got to his feet, bowing courteously to each of them in turn.

"I thank you again," he said lowly for the benefit of the other worshippers. "My wife Elizabeth is currently resting well."

"Good to hear," the Doctor replied with an accompanying smile.

"May I ask, judging by your clothes and your way of speaking you're not from our surrounding lands?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nah, we've come a long way from where we set of. Just looking for adventure, that's us."

Martin chuckled gently. "Well, I'm not so sure you'll find anything here. We are peaceful community." He paused before adding, "Generally. Now and again we have our comeuppance for our sins. The plague has been our latest punishment."

"Plague?" Jack echoed. "What plague?"

"The plague travellers like you brought to our village!" another voice suddenly joined the conversation.

They all looked up to find a crippled old man, a cataract in one eye and a facial expression that children would scream and run away from. He was standing next to the statue of Mondrith, seemingly uncaring that all the worshippers were now staring at him, or that prayers had come to a standstill. The bags under his eyes were dark, his skin pale and the greying hair about his shoulders was thin, greasy and falling out. He was wearing clothing that may at one point in time have been half respectable, but now they were torn and dishevelled. He had a walking stick in his right hand, helping him through a limp.

"Matthew, please," Martin said, an apologetic expression flitting over to the Doctor, Rose and Jack. "They are my friends. Please, respect them. They have done me a great favour."

"No good'll come of them," Matthew snarled. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Martin." He turned and hobbled away.

Martin looked back at the three travellers, reinforcing his apologetic smile. "I'm sorry," he said. "That was Matthew Malum. He's been bitter since the death of his wife."

"The plague?" the Doctor asked.

Martin nodded. "There has been no signs of it for a few weeks now. We pray that it is over."

The Doctor nodded, reaching out to shake Martin's hand. "Well, better let you get on with it. We'll be off, then. Thanks, sorry to interrupt you."

"Thank you, Doctor, Rose, Jack. Farewell."

Rose smiled and Jack waved as Martin turned back, and the Doctor led his companions back out into the sunlight.

"Get anythin'?" Rose asked, and he nodded.

"The closer we got to the end of the church the more crazy it got," the Doctor explained as they crossed back over to the deserted area, once again getting out his gadget. "Vibrating like mad."

Jack's grin suddenly broadened, about to say something but Rose cut over him.

"So definitely alien then?"
"Without a doubt," the Doctor confirmed. "Can't tell anything until we get closer, we'll have to wait until nightfall and get back into the church, check that statue for any alien…" he suddenly trailed off in mid flow, brow furrowed as he stood rigid, eyes staring at the wall ahead of them. "…Can either of you hear that?"

For a moment, the three stood in complete silence.

"…Hear what?" Jack finally broke the stillness, exchanging a look with Rose, who just shrugged.

"Like… yelling… bloodthirsty. Battle cries…"
He looked past them, towards the horizon. Jack and Rose's eyes followed.

"Oh, that's not good," the Doctor muttered.

"What is it?" Rose asked, confused.

The Doctor paused for a moment, just watching the horizon. "Y'see," he began, pointing at the cluster of trees beyond the village gates. "There's a giant mass of angry-looking bandits brandishing swords and crossbows… and they're heading straight towards the village."

"Why did you not tell me it was the Doctor?!" Martin was yelling, positively infuriated. "If not for them this village would be a charred stain on the ground! I would never have my Joshua, Gabrielle would be dead…"

"Martin, please," Larec said calmly. "Father Jace and I thought it was best for you to not know that he had returned…"

"He is one of the heroes of our village!!!"

Joshua whimpered against Donna's leg, clutching the fabric of her trousers tightly in both hands. Donna dropped to the boy, hugging him tightly to reassure him. She knew she really should take him out of the room but the temptation of listening to Martin and Larec's conversation, or rather argument, was too great. They were talking as if the Doctor had been here before. Some of them were not happy that he had come back, and this man welcomed him. Just what, exactly, had happened the last time the Doctor had come here?

But the maternal instincts were too strong as Joshua buried his head into her shoulder. She stood up and took his hand, leading the boy out of the room and into Martin and Elizabeth's bedroom, where the Doctor was laid between the sheets, sleeping. She could now only hear the indistinguishable muffles of the heated conversation through the thin wall.

"Are they still going at it?" the Doctor's voice suddenly said.

Donna and Joshua were both startled. She sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Thought you were asleep," Donna said as the Doctor's eyes opened, flickering over to her.

"I was for a bit," the Doctor replied simply, holding his head and gingerly sitting up in the bed. The dizziness he'd since come to expect was now starting to recede. His eyes rested next on Joshua, who was sitting on the bed by the Doctor's feet, staring at him.

"Something on my face?" the Doctor joked, smiling reassuringly at the boy. The boy instantly looked away, hiding his eyes. "What's your name again? Sorry, bit rushed last time, forgotten."

"Joshua," the child said quietly.

Donna watched carefully as the Doctor seemed to freeze, his eyes widening in apparent surprise. After a moment the look faded, and he was once again smiling.

"Martin's boy?" he asked. Joshua nodded meekly. "Yeah, I remember. I was there at your birth." He thought on this for a moment. "Five years ago, must be almost to the day. When's your birthday?"

"Two days ago," Joshua answered, looking up at the Doctor.

"Late happy birthday!" the Doctor said with a grin.

Joshua seemed to brighten up somewhat, warming to this new man. "When's your birthday?" he wanted to know.

The Doctor pondered for a long moment, thinking hard. "Y'know," he finally said, looking back down at the boy, "I have absolutely no idea."

"You don't have a birthday?" Joshua surmised, disbelief and disappointment etched on his face. "But everyone's got a birthday."

"Well, I do, but I've had so many it got a bit boring."

Joshua seemed aghast at this comment. "But birthdays never get boring!"

"Of course not," the Doctor said, beaming.

"What's your name?" Joshua wondered next, bouncing up and down excitedly on the covers.

"I'm the Doctor," the Doctor replied and Joshua giggled loudly, hand over mouth. The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"It's funny," Joshua replied, still smiling.

The Doctor looked at Donna, lips pouted. "Is it funny?"

Donna nodded fervently. "Hysterical!" she decided, not really taking in what it was that the boy found so funny, except that she often found the Doctor to be an endless source of amusement - when he wasn't being all Martian.

"Joshua, it's time for your lunch," a voice suddenly said from the doorway and the three turned to see Martin standing in the doorway, looking at Joshua. Joshua was a blur of speed, gone in a second without even saying goodbye.

"Good to see you awake again, Doctor," Martin said with a smile, taking a seat on the bed by the Doctor's feet. "You and I certainly have a lot to discuss."

The Doctor nodded, turning to Donna. "You wouldn't mind going to help Elizabeth and Joshua eat their lunch, would you?"

Donna arched an eyebrow. This was one of those Martian moments. "Quite happy where I am, thank you," she stated, folding her arms.

The Doctor shot her a look that she certainly hadn't expected – it was a look of despair. He was pleading with her. "Please, Donna."

She sighed loudly. "Oh all right then," she said as she moved out of the door. "And only 'cause you asked nicely."

It was at least an hour before the door to the bedroom opened again and Martin emerged from within. He looked saddened, but Elizabeth had seemed to be expecting it. She comforted Martin as best she could, and Donna quickly moved into the room to check on the Doctor.

He had been crying.

It was such a strange sight for Donna to see the Doctor crying – he'd always been the strong one, never giving into his emotions no matter the amount of death and destruction was happening around them. Well, actually, some amount, but rarely openly, and never in front of others. Predictably, the moment he saw Donna he instantly looked away, trying to cover his face with his arms in shame.

She sighed, loudly. "You don't have to hide, y'know," she stated, standing over his bed with her arms folded. "It's all right to cry. There's no shame in it." She laughed cynically. "I mean, look at me, I break down every five minutes when I'm with you."

He turned his head to look at her, managing to muster a small smile with tear trails running down his face.

"Yeah," he croaked before falling silent.

Donna sighed again, pulling him into a friendly hug. After a moment they parted, and she pushed him back down to relax. There were questions in her eyes, and in his there rested the belief that he wasn't ready to answer them, not yet.

"Get some sleep, you look like hell," she stated bluntly and he laughed a little.

"Thanks, Donna," she heard him say as she shut the door behind her.