“Uhhhh…”

Martha Jones slowly groans, and then wakes up. She notices the Doctor, eccentric as ever, hopping about the TARDIS. She gives a little smirk.

The Doctor stops hopping, and helps Martha to her feet. Their eyes connect for a second; his lovely, mad eyes with her gorgeous, big brown eyes.

“Why, Miss Jones, I do believe you’re making quite a habit of this,” he tells her, while she’s dusting herself off.

Martha smiles, but rolls her eyes in the process. She tries to think of a comeback, but then realises the all-important factor to her; not knowing his name. She’s travelling with this tall, beautiful stranger, and yet she still feels somewhat safe. She can’t quite fathom it, but she feels safe. Of course, she is quick to remind herself that these are early days yet.

She reminds herself of all the things she’s missing in the process; her family, her friends and her job. Fair enough, her family are loud, and sure, the job isn’t as good as she hoped, but she loves these things for what they are; part of her life. Yet, there is this man, possibly one of the most brilliant men she has ever had the fortune of meeting, and all she thinks of is how lonely he must be. The Oncoming Storm. The Lonely Angel. The Doctor. All these names, and still, not a single one that she feels can connect them. She stops thinking about these factors that connect her to the now past, and remembers the one thing that is keeping her in the travelling game; the Doctor.

“So, where are we headed this time?” she asks, with an air of enthusiasm. The Doctor pauses for a minute, and then replies that it is a surprise. Martha’s suspicions are automatically aroused, as he is usually more upfront about the possible locations.

The TARDIS proceeds to shake vigorously, and then settles to a halt. The Doctor shoots a look at Martha, and then nods his head towards the door. Martha cautiously walks toward the door, with the Doctor holding it open. She finally approaches the doorway, and gasps in amazement. They’re back on the Moon, where they first met. The light captures her face, and the Doctor smiles. She sees him smiling, and looks at him, flirtatiously. The Doctor notices her looking at him, wide-eyed. He starts bustling and fumbling with his clothing, looking for his ‘sonic screwdriver’. Martha notices his discomfort; and is quick to turn her attention to the Moon.

She thanks him for taking her back to the Moon. The Doctor smiles awkwardly, as he is growing more and more attracted to her, but as Rose is ever-present in his mind, he is slow to act.

Martha notices the awkward smile, and turns to face him.

“Thank you so much for this opportunity, Doctor. I’ve had an amazing time, and I’ve seen things I can only dream of...”

Pause. The Doctor’s face has a new expression. Different girl, same situation.

Martha continues, in a soft, yet matter-of-fact way.

“…but I think it’s time for me to go back. I miss the old things that were present in my life. I mean, I never would’ve thought that I could miss music so much. The smell of grass. Christ, even the smell of the hospital! It’s such a distinctive smell, and I’m missing it.

I’m missing the patients, which overall, make my job worthwhile. I miss my family. God knows that they’re problematic, but not seeing their faces for this amount of time is saddening me. Deeply saddening me.”

Another pause. She grabs the Doctor’s hand. She looks deep into his eyes, and realises that the eyes really are the window to the soul. The Doctor’s eyes are empty, and yet, still expressive. He speaks, to her surprise.

“Martha Jones, I don’t want you to leave. You’re the type of person I need in my life. All my life, I’ve been lonely. I keep trying to fill this void. The truth is that I try to not get too close to someone. If I listed all the people I’ve had in here, you’d probably get tired. And yet, even with all these people in my life, I’m still as lonely as I’ve ever been.

I don’t want to make this sound like a cliché, but I do need someone. I need someone to try and fill this deep, empty hole. And I do believe, Martha Jones, that it’s you.”

She smiles, holding back tears. She’s known him for a few months now, but it’s a connection she’s never held with someone. A special bond. And yet, she still feels like she can’t replace Rose. She doesn’t want to, obviously, but she wants to feel like she’s there because she’s wanted. She doesn’t want to feel like she’s stepping into someone else’s shoes, because she knows, deep down, that she and Rose are two completely different characters. After all, that’s all she hears.

“I’m flattered, Doctor, but I know that nothing like this is going to work. I’m too headstrong. I don’t want to be constantly compared to Rose. We’re two separate people. Two different personalities.

I know that Rose’s loss was a shock to you, but loss and grief is a part of everyday life. Just like love. I know this is too quick for love, and you’re just looking for a companion, but I want to be here because I’m wanted. I don’t want to be here to fill a void that has been left by your previous love.

I have a life back there, Doctor. A life where I feel like I’m needed. So, I would like to consider this our final trip together.

Thank you, Doctor, for showing me adventures that I never would’ve seen in my everyday life. But I would like you to take me back tomorrow. And that’s final.”

They both look at each other, mournfully, but the Doctor knows that Martha is right, and reluctantly agrees.

They both look on at the Moon, and then go back inside the TARDIS.

She goes to collect her clothing, and he returns to the flight controls. As she goes to the wardrobe, she turns and inhales, as if to speak. He looks quizzically at her, and she exhales. She shuts her eyes to release one final, silent tear.

“Never mind.”