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If the Winds in the Right Direction
by Bane Huntress
Chapter 2 – The HUB
Gwen flopped down on the sofa with the others, they had just finished
tidying up for the 2nd time, and now the pizza was being handed around the
nice clean coffee table.
“So” Owen said as he took a bite of his pepperoni pizza, “You sur’ Jack’
jus lef’ us?” they just about understood him with a mouth full of food.
“I don’t think he would leave that hand willingly.” Toshiko said as she
thumbed over her shoulder to the tube with the hand in it. “Not after
going tonto every time something happens to it.”
Gwen nodded, she knew that was right, but she couldn’t help the gut
feeling that he was gone… not in the conventional sense of ‘gone’ as in
just stepped out, but in the ‘gone’ as in not anywhere anymore, like he
had actually fallen off the face of the planet.
“I don’t know,” she said nibbling at some mozzarella, “It just doesn’t
feel right, I was just in his office, you guys came in the front way, and
whatever that noise was, it wasn’t the invisible lift…” She looked at the
other members of Torchwood; Owen had a slight frown on his brow, other
than that he was looking nonplussed. Toshiko looked like she was thinking
about something hard, but not making eye contact with anyone.
That left Ianto. He looked tense as he ate his slice of pizza
automatically. He hadn’t really said anything the whole time they’d been
cleaning. Gwen was quite sure that he must feel the same as she did, she
hadn’t missed the way that Jack had kissed him after he came back to life,
it would seem Owen had been right; they had had a thing going. She kinda
felt sorry for him, maybe she would hang back after or try and catch him
on his own and have a word.
“So you think he’s coming back then?” Tosh suddenly said to fill the
silence.
“Who the fuck knows.” Owen chirped up, “He can clean up the bloody mess
for a month when he does though.”
They lapsed into silence again, all munching on their pizza.
Gwen was just about to say something when a wind filled the HUB. Once
again everything was being thrown about, then the noise, just like before.
Gwen got to her feet, as did the others.
Suddenly in the far corner of the HUB a large blue old fashioned Police
box appeared out of nowhere.
They stood there in dumb shock.
Suddenly one of the doors was thrown open and a tall lanky man came
stepping out with a huge grin on his face, he spotted them and waved.
“Hello!” he said heartily, “I take it this is Torchwood 3?”
Gwen nodded dumbly.
“Ah great, was in a bit of a hurry the last time I was here so didn’t see
much.” Then he looked straight at her and frowned, like he was perplexed
over something. “Gwyneth?” he questioned.
“Umm… no.” she replied as much at a loss as he seemed to be.
“I could have sworn.” Then he grinned again, “, you look just like her…
well minus the maid’s outfit, and here, right on the rift… Ha, well who
would have thought!” he laughed to himself.
Gwen was just about to put him right about her name, when, before anyone
else could do anything; another figure came flying from the box.
It was a little girl, dressed in a pink frilly dress, her long light blond
hair tied up in pigtails with pink silk ribbons, she came charging past
the tall lanky guy who tried to catch her but she was to fast.
She ran up to Tosh and stared up at her with big light grey eyes. “Hello!”
she beamed. “You’re my dad’s friends?”
Tosh stammered as she bobbed down before the child. “Umm…”
“You’re Tosh!” the girl giggled, “My daddy told me about you, he says you
have a big brain, is that true?”
Gwen heard Owen snicker at her side and she elbowed him in the ribs.
“You don’t look like you have a big head?” the little girl frowned as she
then threw her arms around Tosh, then just as quick moved on to Gwen
herself.
“You’re the police lady.”
Gwen couldn’t help the grin as she got the full force of the girls smile,
she looked no older that six, she was also strangely familiar. “My name’s
Gwen, what’s yours?”
The girl was just about to answer when there was another yell from inside
the blue box.
“ROSE!... Rose where are you?”
Gwen’s attention was suddenly pulled away from the girl, who was now
holding her hand and chewing on the end of one pigtail.
“She’s way ahead of you!” the tall man shouted over his shoulder towards
the box. “She’s already making friends!”
There suddenly came the sound of running over metal, from inside the box,
it seemed to go on forever, that didn’t seem right, surely there wasn’t
enough space for running in such a small box?
Then her jaw dropped.
Jack skidded out the box looking a little breathless.
As Gwen looked, she began to assess him, Jack’s hair was a little longer
than it had been, and it now covered his ears actually making him look
younger. He was also dressed in casual clothes, black jeans, white t-shirt
and an open black shirt over the top. It was a stark contrast to the tall
guy in a pinstriped suit.
“Um.. Hi guys” he said with a smile that she had seen so many times
before, only this time his blue eyes shone with a light she had never seen
before. Then his attention turned to the little girl at her side. “Rose,
what did I tell you about running off?” he admonished as he walked toward
them.
“Dad left the door open!” she squealed, hiding behind Gwen’s legs.
Jack turned to the other man and gave him a cross look, before turning
back to them. “Come here little miss!”
Jack just made his way to the top of the steps to the seating area when
the little girl squawked with a giggle, ran past Jack and flung herself at
the tall man who scooped her up and kissed her then began tickling her
sides making her squirm.
“Well.” Jack said getting attention back to himself. “Did you miss me?”
Laughing filled the HUB, which was better than silence Gwen figured.
“We only just finished cleaning up the bloody mess!” Owen drawled, “So you
can fucking clean up this time.”
Jack winced, “umm, Language if you don’t mind… we only just got her to
stop swearing in French last week.”
Owen looked over at the girl and the other man and muttered something that
might have been an apology under his breath.
“I thought you weren’t coming back…” Gwen said finally as she smiled at
the man she respected. Then without thinking she threw her arms around him
and hugged him tightly.
He hugged her just as tightly, before letting her go, then moving onto
Tosh who also eagerly hugged him back, Owen was next, then Ianto who still
looked blank.
Gwen noticed how they didn’t kiss this time, Jack whispered something in
his ear before pulling away.
Jack clapped his hands together, “Right, so I think we should get on with
introductions shall we!” he motioned for the other man to come closer,
with the child in his arms.
“Right, this is Tosh,” he began the introduction.
“We’ve met” the Doctor interrupted smiling at Tosh and giving her a little
wave,
“Um?” Tosh looked confused.
“Ya, you were looking after the false pig alien that crash-landed just
before we blew up Downing Street.”
Gwen saw the light come on in Tosh’s eyes, “That was… it was…”
“Ah, yes that was the other me, the one before this one anyway, what a
small world… nice career move for you by the way.” The stranger grinned.
“Thanks.” Tosh blushed.
“Well anyway, to finish off, this is Gwen, Owen and Ianto. My little loyal
Torchwood team,” he pointed to each of them in turn. “Everyone, this is…”
he paused, and Gwen didn’t miss the look they shared, “is the Doctor, and
our little Rose.”
Gwen’s breath caught in her throat at what Jack had just said, the little
girl giggled as she held out her hands to be held by Jack, who obliged
instantly, also kissing her as he hugged her to him. She looked between
one man, then the other, then at the girl… She looked like both of them,
even if her ears were a little too large for her head.
She pointed between them, at a loss for words. “Oh my god!” she finally
exclaimed. “How?!”
Jack at least had the ability to blush as he shared a grin with the Doctor
guy.
“Well” the Doctor said with a slight upwards curve of his lips, “When two
people love each other…”
He wasn’t allowed to finish as Owen suddenly let out a shout, “No fu…” he
caught himself. “There is no way on gods earth that… that… that’s just
gross!”
“Well not in humans.” The Doctor pouted a little bit in a mocking sort of
way, “Not yet anyway… But in other species it’s quite normal if the winds
in the right direction.”
Jack gave a laugh, “Is that what they call it?”
The Doctor just winked back with a grin.
“I know who you are!” Tosh exclaimed suddenly, gasping a little in
excitement, “I’ve read about you when I was bored once, You’re the
Doctor!”
The Doctor just grinned and nodded at her, “That’s me!” he beamed at her.
“You’re an Alien…!”
“Yup.”
“Then…?” and she looked at Jack.
“Yes again… though he’s half a distant cousin of my race, we didn’t know
until about six years ago. So yeah,” he let out a pouty breath,
“Compatibility and all that.”
Jack bounced the little girl on his hip, “And that’s how we got this
little thing.” He tweaked the girls’ nose affectionately.
“But you… you travel in time…” Tosh pointed at the Doctor, “And Jack, you
always said you were human... and… and…” she trailed off at a loss for
words.
Jack shrugged. “I didn’t know, I thought I was.”
“Can I show them round the TARDIS!” Rose piped up as she wriggled and
bounced, “Daddy! You said I could!!!”
Jack grinned at them sheepishly, he had to put the squirming little girl
down as she grabbed Tosh’s hand then the Doctors and began pulling them
toward the big blue box.
Gwen looked at Owen who just shrugged and followed. As she passed Jack,
she noticed he was looking at Ianto who wasn’t moving from where he stood.
She nudged him, whispering, “I’ll talk to you later.” Before hurrying
after the others who were peeking into the box.
Jack didn’t break eye contact with Ianto as he heard everyone else gasp
over the TARDIS, then their voices faded as they moved further inside.
“I’m sorry…” Jack whispered as he moved a little closer. Ianto just stared
emotionlessly into his eyes.
“You used me…” was the soft reply.
Jack hung his head with a sigh. “As you used me…” then looked back up,
“Look, I used a lot of people for so many years.” He admitted.
“So I was just another.” Said through gritted teeth.
Jack shook his head as he sat down on the old sofa. “I was looking for
comfort in anyway I could… I can explain most of the story when the others
get back… but well, for a very long time all I was doing was waiting…”
“Waiting for him?” Ianto said looking over at the TARDIS.
Jack nodded, “Ya…” He chuckled softly. “I had something to tell him…
something that was suspended until I met him again.”
Ianto looked at him then, his eyes wide, mouth slightly open.
Jack knew all this was probably a little overwhelming, after all, to them,
he had only just left, but for him it had been almost seven years.
“You were… when we were?” Ianto stammered.
“Yup.”
“Did you know!?”
Jack nodded, “Something happened to me when I had to part company with the
Doctor, since then little Rose, who was about a three month old foetus
just stopped growing, she wasn’t dead, but neither was she alive.”
Finally Ianto sat down on the other end of the sofa, “Then how did it… she
start growing again?”
Jack shrugged, “The Doctor could bore you with techno babble, never really
got it myself.”
“You love him then?” Ianto whispered.
“From the very first moment I laid eyes on him…” Jack confessed as
quietly.
Ianto let out a large sigh, and Jack could hear the bitter emotion in it
as he watched tears fall down his face. He hadn’t realised the depth of
Ianto’s emotions until that point, and he felt ashamed. Without thinking
he moved and took Ianto in his arms and held him as the other man cried.
“It’s going to be alright.” Jack promised and he knew he meant it, “You’re
gonna see, before next years out… it’s gonna be alright.”
Ianto sniffed in his arms before righting himself, wiping his nose on a
handkerchief. “What do you mean?” he asked in his rich Welsh accent.
He pointed at the TARDIS, “It’s not just a space ship, it’s a time
machine… We’ve been away seven years, and across time and space, I had
time to look some things up.” He grinned, before standing and pulling the
other man to his feet. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Ianto went without argument, probably still perplexed by his last comment.
They stepped inside the TARDIS to find everyone standing around the
monitor on the control panel. All sporting looks of horror or amusement.
Then Jack heard his own voice come through the speakers and cringed.
Gwen stood in fascination as they all watched a very pregnant Jack
waddling about on a very strange planet, bitching that it was too hot,
then, she assumed the Doctor guy, turned the camera off.
Then the image flicked again, as it had done countless times with Jack
getting larger and larger round the midsection. This time it was Jack
faffing about in a large bedroom, fluffing pillows and smoothing sheets.
“You don’t look so good.” The Doctor’s voice came from behind the camera.
“You wouldn’t look so good either if…” he barked back then he stopped
speaking and clutched his swollen belly.
The camera was quickly placed on a table or something as the Doctor came
into view, guiding a stunned looking Jack onto the opulent bed.
“I’m not cleaning that up.” Jack growled, and they could see where a
steady wet flood was cascading down the bed where he sat.
“Crap,” the Doctor muttered as he made his way towards, then, passed the
camera and again the image faded.
Only to be replaced by a very white room, women wearing what looked like
white nuns habits hurried about the scene. Gwen recognised the Doctor even
if he was dressed in a white gown. He was holding Jack’s hand, who was
laid down on a bed, a white sheet obscured everything below his chest.
Jack’s other hand was holding a mask over his face.
She looked up as Jack and Ianto finally came thought the little doors at
the other side of the room, before moving her eyes back to the small
screen.
She listened to the bustle of the operating room, when they saw Jack
remove the mask.
“When I get out of here,” he gasped, then screamed. “I’m gonna fucking
kill you!”
“You said that last week too.” The Doctor chuckled before they watched his
hand turn blue as Jack squeezed.
“I think he needs more anaesthetic.” The Doctor groaned out as he seemed
to twist in pain. “I think I might need some too.”
“Fuck you!” Jack yelled.
There was a bustle of activity at the other side of the white screen.
“Did you have to show them the home movies?” Jack groused as he came to
stand beside the Doctor. “You show everyone that damn movie… how am I
meant to get respect when they see me like that?”
Gwen glanced at them and saw the Doctor slip his hand into Jacks with
nothing but a huge toothy grin.
Suddenly the sound of crying came from the speakers on the control column
and she whipped her head back round just in time to see a bloody wrinkly
little baby being bought round the other side of the screen, she was
squealing like a little trooper when she was finally placed into Jack’s
arm’s.
Who ever was holding the camera moved around to capture the proud parents’
faces as they looked down at their little child.
Gwen felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she watched the scene, Jack
looked tired, but his eyes were shining as he played with the little
girls’ fingers. The Doctor looked just as overwhelmed, one hand in Jack’s
hair, the other running his fingers over little toes.
“Thank you…” they heard the Doctor whisper, and there was more feeling in
them two words than Gwen had ever heard before from anyone.
She wanted to look elsewhere as the two kissed, but she couldn’t tear her
eyes away. As once again the movie changed to Jack holding a clean and
wrapped baby in his arms, beaming like an idiot as he moved his little
bundle around to face the camera.
The movie carried on, but Gwen looked back over to the two men.
The Doctor had moved one arm to around Jack’s shoulders, and Jacks’ was
about the Doctors’ waist. Jack’s whole posture screamed submissive, as he
looked up at the Doctor through his lashes.
Gwen wondered if this was actually the Jack she had known. Captain Jack
was a brash quick to action type of guy, who oozed cool authority, but on
top of all that, deeply unhappy and in so much pain nothing seemed to
penetrate.
The Jack who stood on the other side of the Doctor, was one she never
thought existed. Whoever this Doctor was, he had cowed Jack thoroughly,
and most of all, he had taken the darkness that existed within Jack and
bought out nothing but light.
At least she was thankful for that, even if she felt a stab of jealous
regret.
“I can’t believe I’m going though this again…” she heard Jack whisper so
quietly she barely caught it as something on the monitor made a lot of
noise.
“I would do it if I could.” The Doctor answered, nuzzling the side of
Jack’s head discreetly.
“Liar.” Jack retorted without conviction as he turned his head and the two
shared a surreptitious kiss.
“So where is the little terror?” Jack asked as the two pulled apart.
“I left her playing in our room.”
Jack’s eyes widened as he suddenly dashed off through the door the Doctor
hadn’t shown them.
Gwen heard the Doctor chuckle.
He was still grinning when Jack came back, Rose in his arms as she
protested strongly about something.
“You can play later, I promise.” She heard Jack tell her as he came back
to where they all stood, he cast a reproachful look at the Doctor that
promised a lot of talking later. Then he addressed them all. “So guys, I
see the Doctor isn’t being such a good host, who wants some coffee?”
Owen was the first to answer, “Thought you were never going to ask!” he
stood up straight and stretched, “Figured you were going to have us watch
home movies all night, with slides and everything.”
The Doctor raised his hand as if to say something.
“Don’t tempt him Owen.” Jack said with another look to the Doctor, as he
ushered them all towards the kitchen.
It was getting late when the Doctor guy finally picked up a half dozing
Rose and announced he was putting her to bed.
Gwen watched as the Doctor held the child just right, so that Jack could
also kiss her goodnight before leaving the room.
Owen and Ianto were watching some strange alien sport on the monitor in
the corner of the large but strangely cosy kitchen; Tosh was looking
though some books the Doctor had given her, so she was oblivious to the
world.
“So.” Gwen finally said, now that she had Jack to herself, as they sat at
the far side of the table to the others. “This is ‘that’ doctor you kept
hinting to me about, the one you were waiting for?”
Jack grinned and nodded slowly.
“Did he manage to help you?” she took a sip of her coffee, some alien brew
from the future Jack swore by, and she had to admit it was divine.
“In a way.” Jack hedged, before he sighed deeply and looked her in the
eye. “He gave me all the answers he could.”
“Can you die now?” she whispered softly so the others wouldn’t hear.
Jack grinned at that and shook his head. “Not yet anyway.” He shrugged.
“The Doctor is kind of the same too.” He scrunched up his face as he
thought about something before coming toa conclusion and started speaking
again. “It would seem that I have mostly my fathers’ blood in that
respect…”
Gwen frowned then and opened her mouth to say something before Jack
stopped her with a raised hand.
“Let me finish,” he insisted. “So anyway, my fathers’ people have the
ability to heal themselves faster than most races in this, or any other
galaxy, even a gun shot wound to the head is not really fatal.”
“You seemed rather fond of those.” Gwen grinned, and got an answering look
in return.
“Ya,” he chuckled. “But that whole debacle with that demon, now that
killed me, sucked the life right out of me… but that’s where my mothers
race stepped in.” he waved his hand in the direction the Doctor had gone.
“He’s the same race as she was, and when they die, they regenerate.” He
frowned then. “It’s like their core memories are the same, but their
bodies change, along with some of their personality, like a whole new
person, but not.” He rubbed his forehead, “It’s kind of hard to explain.
The Doctor I travelled with the first time, the Doctor who gave me Rose,
wasn’t physically the man you see now.”
Gwen’s mind was spinning a little before she pointed to her ears. “Did he
have big ears?” she said stupidly.
Jack laughed out loud at that as he nodded, “He also had a big nose, but
she didn’t inherit that thank god” he rolled his eyes dramatically making
her chuckle with him.
“So how does this explain you surviving after that big demon.” she asked
“That’s where it gets tricky.” He confessed. “I died before, with no
chance of survival when Rose brought me back after looking into the heart
of TARDIS.”
“Rose?” she frowned, images of a little pigtailed girl running though her
mind.
“Rose was the Doctor’s companion before I joined up with them.” She saw a
shadow enter his eyes at this memory. “She’s little Rose’s namesake.”
“ohh I’m sorry.” She said trying to be sympathetic.
He shook his head, “She’s not dead… She’s in a parallel universe now, and
we can’t get her back…” he trailed off, before physically shaking himself.
“Anyhow, she gave me life, but I didn’t change, another part of my fathers
race, we don’t regenerate like the Doctor would, we just fix ourselves, I
guess.”
“All sounds very complicated.” Gwen had to admit with a sheepish smile,
she didn’t really understand, but she was sure they would have more time
later. She reached out and squeezed his wrist, “Still, it’s good to have
you back, even if you haven’t been away for more than a few hours.”
“Ah…” Jack said as he looked away. “We only really came back to say hi
while we recharge the TARDIS.”
“But… what…” she couldn’t help but blurt out. “You have to stay! You’re
our boss!”
Jack shook his head, “I have a family now.” He whispered ever so softly.
“I can’t risk my life in adventures anymore, well, at least not right
now.”
Gwen didn’t miss the arm that he placed protectively around his belly.
“You’re pregnant again?” she gasped.
“Four months and counting.” He grinned. “Another happy accident. So you
see why I can’t just go gallivanting off into the path of the nearest
monster who wants to kill me.”
“I guess not.” She muttered taking another sip of her coffee.
Jack sighed then, “The Doctor is the last of his kind.” He whispered. “I’m
not saying we are Adam and Eve or anything, cos that goes against basic
husbandry.” He chuckled. “But I’m all he has… We, are all he has… and he’s
been alone for so long…”
Gwen couldn’t resist the pain in his voice and finally stood up and hugged
him hard.
“hey hey!” came an amused voice besides them. “Jack what have I told you
about flirting!”
Gwen was ready to pull away like some naughty school girl but Jack’s arm
about her waist just pulled her closer as he turned to the Doctor.
“Oww damn, and I was thinking of taking on a nanny!” Jack said with a
flutter of his eyelashes.
“I’ve told you,” the Doctor rolled his eyes. “Soon as you find a Eunuch
with a cork, you can have a nanny.”
Gwen blinked once, as she got a mental image of that, then burst out
laughing, she couldn’t help herself as she fell against Jack, her sides
heaving. “Cork!” she managed to blurt out as tear filled her eyes.
The rest of the evening and well into the night passed in light banter,
until finally Jack wished them all good night saying he would see them in
the morning, then, as politely as he could, kicked them all from the
police box and shut the door.
Gwen rushed into work earlier than she normally would in the morning, even
though it had taken her an age to get to sleep she still felt wide awake
and ready for anything as she rushed down to the HUB, noting that even
Ianto hadn’t been in yet.
As the big round door swung aside the first thing to greet her was a ball
of giggles, demanding to be acknowledged.
Smiling she bobbed down and hugged the little girl, her little smiles were
just infectious.
“So where are your parents this morning?” she asked looking around the
main part of the HUB.
Rose made a pet lip then pointed up to the conference room.
Gwen followed her little finger. Jack and the Doctor were stood facing
each other, Jack’s hands on the slightly taller mans shoulders, the
Doctor’s around Jack’s waist, pulling the two together at the hips
possessively. She blushed as they leaned together and shared what could
only be described as a passionate kiss that ended up with Jack’s back
being pushed up against the glass, hands everywhere.
Gwen covered Rose’s eyes then coughed loudly.
“I would ask if you guys would like some breakfast, but I see you already
have something to eat!” she grinned as she watched as Jack cringed from
behind. The Doctor just put his chin on Jacks’ shoulder and grinned down
at her.
“Always room for more.” The Doctor said happily, earning himself a swat
from Jack, taking the other mans’ hand they came down to meet her.
“We weren’t expecting anyone so early.” Jack apologised.
“That’s ok.” Gwen assured him as they made their way up to the sofas. “I
bought bacon and egg butties and hot fresh buttered muffins, along with
some coffee.” She placed the carrier bag with the box on the coffee table,
and wasn’t surprised when little hands started foraging.
“I want one!” Rose said demandingly as she poked at the paper bag, already
starting to seep grease. “Smells yummy!”
“Sit down then.” Jack said as he picked up one of the paper bags ripping
it open carefully to make a makeshift plate, he then picked up a knife,
and cut the dripping butty into four. Placing it all carefully into Roses’
lap, where she instantly picked up one corner clumsily and stuck it in her
mouth, making an instant mess, but enjoying it all the same.
Jack then gave one to the Doctor then sat down next to Rose with his own.
“Ho I’ve missed this!” Jack said with joy as he took another bite.
Gwen smiled as she tucked into her hot buttered muffin, then Tosh, Ianto
and Owen came bustling noisily into the HUB.
Gwen didn’t miss the way the Doctor looked up casually, placing himself
protectively between Jack and Rose and the rest of the crew, once he
realised who they were he relaxed again.
She looked at the Doctor with a new light then. When she had first
realised what was going on yesterday she was jealous of this man who had
taken her Jack away, jealous of the one who had put life into those blue
eyes. He was the one who had given Jack back his reason for being and
looking at them now, like a strange little family, she couldn’t help but
envy them a little for their happiness.
Her eyes met the Doctors as they looked at each other, all joy was gone
from his face in that moment as he looked at her solemnly with eyes that
were so old and full of things she couldn’t even begin to understand.
“Daddy I got egg on me!” Rose suddenly said to Jack, who began tutting and
dabbing at her top with a napkin.
She didn’t take her eyes off the Doctor as his attention was directed
towards his daughter. His whole visage change as a grin seemed to light up
his whole face and his ancient eyes became warm and indulgent.
That was when she realized that maybe Jack had been this man’s reason for
living too.
“How’s it going?” Jack whispered into the Doctors ear as he wrapped his
arms about the other man’s waist from behind.
“Not as fast as I thought it might.” The Doctor sighed as he fiddled with
a dial they had installed last year. “I’m afraid we are going to be here a
few more days at this rate.”
“Well you did promise to take Rose to a toyshop while we were here, now
you have the time.” He placed a kiss on the Doctors neck before going to
turn and step away, but found his wrist caught, spun round and enveloped
in his lovers arms. Where he found his backside pressed up against the
control column and the Doctors face mere inches from his own.
“I believe I also promised to take you out so I could wine and dine you in
style.” He purred, his brown eyes sparkling.
Jack laughed ecstatically, it wasn’t often the Doctor had his flirty
moments. “I’ll have to pass on the wine but you can certainly dine me all
you like.”
The Doctor moved his hands to Jacks’ stomach, laying them flat against the
material and making little circling motions. “At least I don’t have to
order a table for three… yet.” He pressed closer, forcing Jack to lean
back a little. “Think we can get one of your old team to look after Rose
for the night?” he said in a smouldering whisper.
Jack found his focus fixed on the Doctors lips. “I… I’m sure.” He had to
lick his own lips as his breath caught in his throat. “… Someone will do
it…”
“Good.” Was the other man’s only word as their lips met lightly.
“Excuse me?” came Toshs’ timid voice by the doors.
The Doctor growled as he put his head on Jack’s shoulder in annoyed
frustration.
“Over here!” Jack called as he gave the Doctor a squeeze then pulled away.
“You promised to show her the control panel.” He whispered to him, “I’ll
send Ianto to get some of that coffee too.”
The Doctor just waved his hand at him as he moved his attention back to
what he was doing earlier. “You can look after Rose when she wakes up from
her nap then.”
“Don’t I always?” Jack chuckled as he made his way out the door, “I’ll see
if I can book us somewhere for tonight, Italian I think!”
He got no reply as he smiled at Tosh on his way out, “He might be a bit
grumpy.” He warned her, “Just ignore it.”
She smiled widely at him before scurrying over to the Doctor, laptop
cradled in her arms like a baby.
Jack was just going out the doors when Ianto almost knocked him down.
“I thought I would make coffee for everyone, you said…” he left the rest
unsaid as he pointed inside the TARDIS.
“Ya sure get as much as you can carry, there’s always more.” He grinned as
he walked out into the HUB, looking around for Gwen, to see if she could
look after the kid for the night.
He was only a few paces away when he heard a cry from inside the TARDIS.
“NO!” the Doctors voice boomed.
Jack turned to see his lover grab Tosh and throw her away from the console
she was looking over… and he froze.
She had had her hand just where there was a small button even Jack knew
not to touch, one they had been meaning to cover over and seal years ago,
but never got round to after they found they couldn’t disconnect it from
the main TARDIS control system.
He started to move just as the Doctors eyes met his own in sheer horror.
Then the TARDIS’ door’s slammed shut and she began to disappear.
Jack found himself sucked into the wake of where the TARDIS had been, the
slight disorientation of the time vortex, it made him dizzy.
It was only after the sound of the engines had faded that he realized he
was screaming; he couldn’t stop as he fell to his knees.
It felt like his soul had been ripped out as he lost that small mental
attachment he had with the TARDIS’ self. Then the loss of the Doctor and
his own child, that intimate link that let him know where either of them
were at all times, the one that let him know if they were happy or sad, or
in pain… gone… everything he had come to rely on in the past seven years…
just gone.
He was eventually aware of Gwen holding him and rocking him, trying to
calm him down, she was stroking his hair and muttering soothing nothings
into his ear.
He knew also that Owen was hovering about, no doubt the Doctor in him
being concerned.
It took ages before he was able to respond to Gwen, as he was lost in
grief.
“It’s gonna be okay,” she tried to smile at him. “They will be back in no
time at all, you were gone for four year’s right, but it was only hours to
us… he’s gotta come back anytime now.”
He looked at her through the fog of his own tears that still fell as he
shook his head. “No… no not…” but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
They weren’t coming back, not today, not tomorrow… if ever again…
End - Chapter 2 – The HUB
Chapter 3 – Too Far |