Choice -- 10/Martha

[A Moment In Subtext]

Doctor Who
Choice
By. A Moment In Subtext

"You didn't come." Martha said, the first thing she'd said since the Doctor had arrived.
"No."
"Why not?"
The Doctor shuffled his feet. "Gallifrey burned, and I chose cilibacy as my penance. Locked up all those emotions. But they I met Rose - don't grimace," he added, at her expression, "And I fell in love with her. Against all odds, against my better judgement, against everything."
"But I don't un-"
"Once she opened those doors, there was no closing them again. And then I met you, Martha Jones."
"You never even looked at me twice." Martha said in disbelief.
"More than twice. Too many times more than twice."
"Doctor. . ."
"I chose celibacy." He said fiercely. "Its the only rule I haven't broken. I couldn't."
Martha nodded, and laced their fingers together.
"I'm sorry." The Doctor offered after a moment.
"Me too."
He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers. Hers shouldn't have been the cooler of the two.
"Another. . .DNA transfer?" She joked weakly when he straightened.
"No." He denied, shaking his head. He slid his hand out of hers and used it to close her eyes.

Author's Notes:
Right. . .and I promised myself I wouldn't Ship them.
This takes place SEVERAL years after LotTL, in my messed up timeline where The Doctor ignored the call he was supposed to "come running" after. Martha is indeed dying, and I'm not sure why, make something up, disease or something, not old age.