Fic: Fortune's Hostage (2/2)
Title: Fortune's Hostage
Authors: Gillian Taylor (dark_aegis)
Characters: Donna Noble, Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, alt!Jack Harkness (James Shaw) (Nine/Rose, Donna)
Spoilers: Sequel to Hiding in Plain Sight, Lunar Larceny and spoilers for Doomsday
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just having fun with them
Summary: She's going to kill him.
Author's Notes: Written for wendymr who asked for "Nine, Rose and Donna run into alt!Jack who saves Donna in the Hiding in Plain Sight 'verse" as an incentive fic in the September Support Stacie auction. With many thanks to yamx and kae_nine for their invaluable betaing services. I've tried something different in my writing style for this story, moving timelines around. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1: All Trussed Up and Nowhere to Go
Chapter 2: Familiar Faces in Different Places
HALF AN HOUR AFTER:
It's Jack. Well, it's not Jack, not really, but he certainly looks and sounds like the captain she knew in her first universe. Just as cocky and carefree as before. Sure, there's a bit of darkness in him, but when hasn't there been? He's a soldier. She knows that.
"Are you a Time Agent?" she asks Jac-no, James. Remember that, James. Not Jack. Gingerbread houses.
James blinks at her. "Sure we haven't met?" he asks instead.
"Recognise that," she says, nodding at the vortex manipulator. "Time Agency issue, yeah?" One of the benefits of coming from a parallel universe, that. Some things might change, but others stay the same.
James nods. "Yeah, I'm an Agent. Captain James Shaw, at your service."
The Doctor gives her enough of a glance to tell her he'll be having some words with her later. She knows, yeah? This isn't Jack, this isn't her original universe. Hell, she never would've dreamed the Doctor would actually want to kiss her, let alone take her to bed, when she'd first met Jack in her old universe. She wished, yeah, but never dreamed it'd happen. And yet, here she is. The Doctor's lover.
Oh. Oh, that's why he's giving her looks. He's jealous. When she was younger, this would've been something she'd've milked for all it was worth. Now, though, she does nothing of the sort.
"I'm Rose Tyler," she says, giving him her full name. The Doctor omitted that bit when he introduced them both.
"Tyler? As in Torchwood's Rose Tyler?" Captain Shaw asks, shocked.
Well, at least it isn't 'Pete Tyler's daughter, Rose Tyler the Vitex heiress'. She nods. "One and the same."
"That explains it, then. You're that Doctor," James says. "Doctor John Smith."
The Doctor's jaw drops. "What did you say?"
Oh, hell. Her dad must've put his name in the secret archives. Or something. "Don't say anything else," she says quickly. "Our future, your past, yeah?"
James nods.
"Why're you even here?" she asks, trying to steer Jac - James - away from any more possibly telling questions or answers.
James shakes his head. "Got dropped off here for a mission. Problem is that my mission's over and the Agency hasn't come to pick me up. I'm rather stuck at the moment. This thing -" He taps his wrist. "-got zapped a few days ago. Teleport's the only bit of transport I've got now. That won't get me back home or anywhere else for that matter that isn't on this planet."
She knows what she wants. At least, what she'd like to do. She knows Jack Harkness. Surely this James version isn't any different? Her dad's the same. Yeah, her mum was a bit different. No. No, she can't risk it, can she? He did pull a weapon on Donna. But her Jack used to be not that honest, and he did have a certain fascination for guns…
God, what are they going to do?
ELEVEN MINUTES AFTER:
He's holding a gun on her. A gun! On her! Bloody hell, it's not like she's some sort of bad guy or anything. She's a former temp from Chiswick. "Wait just a damned minute here, sunshine! Put down that gun and let's talk. No need to start waving that thing around."
"Who are you, Donna Noble - if that's really your name?"
Right. He saves her life and now he doubts who she is? "Told you. Donna Noble. I'm from Earth, if you've really got to know."
"And the artron energy?" James asks.
"What's that when it's at home?" she retorts.
He looks at her in shock. "You don't know what artron energy is?"
"Just said that, didn't I?" He's not paying attention to her, is he?
"You're a time traveller," James says.
That's not something illegal around here, is it? "And if I am?" she asks.
"Who do you work for?"
"Don't work-" she starts.
"She works for me," the Doctor says, startling her with his sudden appearance. Shouldn't surprise her, that. He's always turning up when you least expect it. (And not when he's supposed to.)
James turns to look at the Doctor, but it's not James's reaction that catches her eye. It's Rose's double-take.
"Jack?" Rose asks, her face paling considerably.
"Do I know you? Or will I know you?" James asks, looking at Rose intently. Strangely, he doesn't deny the name.
What the hell?
"What happened, Donna?" the Doctor asks, steering the conversation away from Rose. The Time Lord's hand tightens noticeably on Rose's - if she can see it from where she stands, there's no doubt James can, too. Probably for that bloke's benefit. Nothing like holding hands to say 'mine'.
She spends the next few minutes trying to explain what happened - including a few choice words for the idiot who decided to bring her to this particular planet at this particular time. "He teleported us out of there and then James decided I'm evil or something 'cause I'm apparently soaked in artron energy."
"Course you are," the Doctor replies. "Happens when you travel through time. Now, then, James Shaw. Mind puttin' that down? Donna's not your enemy."
"And you are?" James asks.
"Nope. You saved Donna's life an' for that I'm thankful. Just be a bit easier to have a chat without worrying your finger's gonna slip an' kill us all."
James looks at the three of them and sighs, putting the weapon away. "Fine. Who are you, then?"
"I'm the Doctor. This is Rose," the Doctor says.
"Doctor -?" James asks, waiting for someone to fill in a last name. Like he's going to get anything else. She's known him for years, and the most she knows is that he's the Doctor, it's a chosen name, and he hated his nickname at the Academy - whatever that was.
"Just the Doctor. Nothin' following that." The Time Lord's lips stretch into one of his full-blown smiles.
ONE HOUR, TEN MINUTES LATER:
"Come with us," Donna says, turning towards James and mentally daring the Doctor to object. The poor bloke needs the help. His Time Agency or whatever it was has abandoned him and they can't just leave him here, can they?
James looks rather like he's been doused with freezing water. The deer in the headlights look isn't a good one for him. "What?"
"Seriously, come with us. The Doctor's got a ship. We can take you wherever you want to go. Or not, even. Maybe you'd like to stay."
"Oi!" the Doctor exclaims. "When did you get to do the invitin'?"
"Shut it, you. I'm still angry with you. Tinu is not a good shopping planet and I need a new pair - or several, for that matter - of shoes. Besides, been with you long enough that I don't see a problem with expanding a bit, do you? Might not be forever, you know. Could be just for a short hop."
"I don't run a taxi service," the Doctor grumbles.
"Didn't say anything about a taxi," she says. "Just said we can help him get off this planet. 'Sides, what's happened on this planet's a fixed point in time, yeah? Can't go leaving behind someone like James here. Might change something. Something that shouldn't be changed." James is starting to look outraged, so she waves her hand as subtly as possible. She's trying to convince the Doctor, not anger her friend, but, well, needs must.
"Maybe," the Doctor allows.
"Shouldn't you be asking me if I want to go with you before you go making assumptions?" James asks.
Donna turns towards him, blinking slightly. "You don't want to come?"
"Seems like you've got a good thing here, Donna. Thank you for the offer, but -" He shakes his head and starts to turn, probably intending on walking off.
Idiot. That's not what she wants at all.
ONE HOUR AFTER:
Another explosion sends flames and smoke rocketing into the sky. Rose shivers as she thinks about what almost happened to Donna, and to James. It's not right, this. None of it's right. A government that kills innocents, just to keep people they don't agree with quiet? That's complete bollocks.
"Is there anything we can do?" she asks, looking at the Doctor. "For these people. Maybe nudge things along a bit? Get the revolutionaries heard and help get this government overthrown a bit earlier?"
The Doctor looks sad, but amazingly it's James who replies. "Can't. It's a fixed point in time. Everything has to happen the way it's meant to happen, which means no interference. Had a bloke try to interfere already, that's why I'm here, but-"
Damn. She hates fixed points in time. "So that's it, then? Off we go, you've got your part, Donna didn't find any shoes, and that's it?"
"You owe me a shopping trip, Doctor. You know that. Trust you to take me to the one planet that has a problem with blowing up their shops. An' I did find a lovely pair of shoes. Gone, now," Donna says, narrowing her eyes as she looks at the Doctor.
The Doctor raises his hands and nods. "I know. We'll go to Crispallian. Whole shopping planet. Mind, I'm only doing this because of what happened today. Don't think this is going to be a standard or anything."
James starts looking uncomfortable, so she moves closer to him while the Doctor and Donna continue arguing about what does and doesn't constitute a 'standard'. "Ever been to 1940's Earth?" she asks.
"No," he says, shaking his head. "Never had the occasion. You?"
She grins. "Yeah, once. Let me tell you, you've never experienced London until you've been dangling over it courtesy of a barrage balloon."
James blinks at her and her smile widens. Vaguely, she wonders what he'd think if she told him that he'd rescued her? Well, not this version of him, but another one. What would he think if she told him about how flustered she was when she first met him, and how she said 'hello' several times? What would he think if he found out that he'd travelled with her in time and space in another universe with the Doctor?
What would he think if he knew just how she felt seeing him again? She sighs. He's never going to know if she has anything to do with it. He'd react the same way the Doctor did at first. Thinking she was trying to find a good substitute for what she had in the past. Doesn't matter that that's wrong. Sure, there's the temptation - boy is there temptation - but she's not going to do it.
"Barrage balloon?" James echoes.
She simply smiles and says no more.
ONE HOUR, THIRTY MINUTES LATER:
"You might be useful," the Doctor says again and it's all she can do not to smack him upside his head.
Rose sighs and moves to his side, murmuring into his ear, "He was useful in the other universe."
The Doctor blinks and looks at her like she's suddenly grown a pair of antlers. "He what?"
"Yeah, he went by the name Jack Harkness in the other universe. Former Time Agent and everything. This bloke's different, though, from his counterpart. Jack wasn't a Time Agent when we met him. But he was useful. Very useful," she replies. She's not going to say anything else about it, but this Doctor knows her too well. He knows there's more to it than that, but she's definitely not going to go into how the first kiss they received from Jack was when he went off to die.
"This isn't a taxi service."
She rests her hand on his arm, squeezing slightly. "No-one ever suggested you did. 'M not sayin' we have to keep him. Just take him off the planet." Though she certainly won't object if he stays. It's starting to become like the old days. The Doctor, Jack - okay, James - and Rose. With the added bonus of Donna.
The Doctor sighs. "D'you want to come with us?" he asks, looking at James.
"I don't want to be a bother," James says, looking pointedly at Donna's hand, which is still firmly attached to his arm.
"You're not. You saved Donna's life. Do you want to come with us? Not asking again, me."
James looked searchingly at all of them. She doesn't know what he sees when he looks at them. Does he see how things could be? Does he see how they feel? Doesn't matter, though, because he nods. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"Good. C'mon, then, you lot. Back to the TARDIS." The Doctor turns and leads them back home.
ONE WEEK LATER:
He's still here.
It's actually rather amazing when Rose thinks about it. The Doctor hasn't asked James to leave, and James hasn't asked to go. But, somehow, the TARDIS doesn't seem to be too small. It still seems to be just right. She's got her Doctor, her best mate in Donna and another mate in James.
"So where're we going now?" she asks, stepping up to stand beside the Doctor, leaning her head against his shoulder.
The Doctor grins. "Further than we've ever gone before."
ONE DAY LATER:
"You've got to be kidding me!" Donna says, groaning. "Doctor, that's it. Next time you take me shopping, James gets to select the planet. You, mister, have bad luck."
She peers outside the TARDIS at the devastated city, smoke curling into the air and fires still burning around them. Best shopping planet in the galaxy, apparently, and it's gone.
"Oi!" the Doctor exclaims.
"Don't you 'oi' me," she retorts. "See that?" She points at the burning city. "That's not a shopping planet, that's a war zone."
"Yerknaus," James says, moving to stand beside her. "They have a good selection of shoes."
"There. See, Doctor? Yerknaus. What year? Not that himself over there's gonna get it right."
"Stop insultin' the driver!" the Doctor exclaims.
"I will if you start learning how to drive this ship properly! James, the year."
"2456," James says.
"There you go, Doctor. Yerknaus, 2456," Donna says, giving the Time Lord her best glare. Rose isn't helping, though. She's too busy laughing.
With a much put-upon look on his face, the Doctor sets the coordinates as she shuts the doors.
TODAY:
This isn't exactly how James Shaw imagined his life would go. Sure, there'd be adventure, maybe a bit of excitement, and hopefully several warm bodies in his bed, but this? Knowing that he's needed - truly needed - isn't something he ever expected for himself.
He isn't a nice man. Never has been, actually. More a dangerous man; a desperate man if he's going to admit it to himself. Somehow, his past doesn't seem to matter to this lot. Who he is and what he does and would do now are more important.
He's not a Time Agent any more. Hasn't been since they left Tinu. They abandoned him there, but that's alright. He found something better.
"James, you coming?" Rose asks and he turns, dismissing his maudlin thoughts.
"Love to, are you offering?" he retorts, grinning.
Rose simply rolls her eyes. "C'mon, you lug. The Doctor's waiting. He says the mountains move here with the breeze! Imagine that, moving mountains!" She opens the doors and steps outside.
She's not who he expected either. Sometimes, she seems so old, other times like a child. This is definitely one of the latter times. "Coming!"
With one last look around the console room of the Doctor's frankly amazing ship, he hurries after her. No. This isn't how he imagined his life would go.
But, as he joins his friends on Felspoon, he knows even if he knew this would be where his life would lead, he wouldn't have changed a thing.
END
x-posted to: dark_aegis, time_and_chips, better_with_3 and hearts_in_time
Authors: Gillian Taylor (dark_aegis)
Characters: Donna Noble, Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, alt!Jack Harkness (James Shaw) (Nine/Rose, Donna)
Spoilers: Sequel to Hiding in Plain Sight, Lunar Larceny and spoilers for Doomsday
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just having fun with them
Summary: She's going to kill him.
Author's Notes: Written for wendymr who asked for "Nine, Rose and Donna run into alt!Jack who saves Donna in the Hiding in Plain Sight 'verse" as an incentive fic in the September Support Stacie auction. With many thanks to yamx and kae_nine for their invaluable betaing services. I've tried something different in my writing style for this story, moving timelines around. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1: All Trussed Up and Nowhere to Go
Chapter 2: Familiar Faces in Different Places
HALF AN HOUR AFTER:
It's Jack. Well, it's not Jack, not really, but he certainly looks and sounds like the captain she knew in her first universe. Just as cocky and carefree as before. Sure, there's a bit of darkness in him, but when hasn't there been? He's a soldier. She knows that.
"Are you a Time Agent?" she asks Jac-no, James. Remember that, James. Not Jack. Gingerbread houses.
James blinks at her. "Sure we haven't met?" he asks instead.
"Recognise that," she says, nodding at the vortex manipulator. "Time Agency issue, yeah?" One of the benefits of coming from a parallel universe, that. Some things might change, but others stay the same.
James nods. "Yeah, I'm an Agent. Captain James Shaw, at your service."
The Doctor gives her enough of a glance to tell her he'll be having some words with her later. She knows, yeah? This isn't Jack, this isn't her original universe. Hell, she never would've dreamed the Doctor would actually want to kiss her, let alone take her to bed, when she'd first met Jack in her old universe. She wished, yeah, but never dreamed it'd happen. And yet, here she is. The Doctor's lover.
Oh. Oh, that's why he's giving her looks. He's jealous. When she was younger, this would've been something she'd've milked for all it was worth. Now, though, she does nothing of the sort.
"I'm Rose Tyler," she says, giving him her full name. The Doctor omitted that bit when he introduced them both.
"Tyler? As in Torchwood's Rose Tyler?" Captain Shaw asks, shocked.
Well, at least it isn't 'Pete Tyler's daughter, Rose Tyler the Vitex heiress'. She nods. "One and the same."
"That explains it, then. You're that Doctor," James says. "Doctor John Smith."
The Doctor's jaw drops. "What did you say?"
Oh, hell. Her dad must've put his name in the secret archives. Or something. "Don't say anything else," she says quickly. "Our future, your past, yeah?"
James nods.
"Why're you even here?" she asks, trying to steer Jac - James - away from any more possibly telling questions or answers.
James shakes his head. "Got dropped off here for a mission. Problem is that my mission's over and the Agency hasn't come to pick me up. I'm rather stuck at the moment. This thing -" He taps his wrist. "-got zapped a few days ago. Teleport's the only bit of transport I've got now. That won't get me back home or anywhere else for that matter that isn't on this planet."
She knows what she wants. At least, what she'd like to do. She knows Jack Harkness. Surely this James version isn't any different? Her dad's the same. Yeah, her mum was a bit different. No. No, she can't risk it, can she? He did pull a weapon on Donna. But her Jack used to be not that honest, and he did have a certain fascination for guns…
God, what are they going to do?
ELEVEN MINUTES AFTER:
He's holding a gun on her. A gun! On her! Bloody hell, it's not like she's some sort of bad guy or anything. She's a former temp from Chiswick. "Wait just a damned minute here, sunshine! Put down that gun and let's talk. No need to start waving that thing around."
"Who are you, Donna Noble - if that's really your name?"
Right. He saves her life and now he doubts who she is? "Told you. Donna Noble. I'm from Earth, if you've really got to know."
"And the artron energy?" James asks.
"What's that when it's at home?" she retorts.
He looks at her in shock. "You don't know what artron energy is?"
"Just said that, didn't I?" He's not paying attention to her, is he?
"You're a time traveller," James says.
That's not something illegal around here, is it? "And if I am?" she asks.
"Who do you work for?"
"Don't work-" she starts.
"She works for me," the Doctor says, startling her with his sudden appearance. Shouldn't surprise her, that. He's always turning up when you least expect it. (And not when he's supposed to.)
James turns to look at the Doctor, but it's not James's reaction that catches her eye. It's Rose's double-take.
"Jack?" Rose asks, her face paling considerably.
"Do I know you? Or will I know you?" James asks, looking at Rose intently. Strangely, he doesn't deny the name.
What the hell?
"What happened, Donna?" the Doctor asks, steering the conversation away from Rose. The Time Lord's hand tightens noticeably on Rose's - if she can see it from where she stands, there's no doubt James can, too. Probably for that bloke's benefit. Nothing like holding hands to say 'mine'.
She spends the next few minutes trying to explain what happened - including a few choice words for the idiot who decided to bring her to this particular planet at this particular time. "He teleported us out of there and then James decided I'm evil or something 'cause I'm apparently soaked in artron energy."
"Course you are," the Doctor replies. "Happens when you travel through time. Now, then, James Shaw. Mind puttin' that down? Donna's not your enemy."
"And you are?" James asks.
"Nope. You saved Donna's life an' for that I'm thankful. Just be a bit easier to have a chat without worrying your finger's gonna slip an' kill us all."
James looks at the three of them and sighs, putting the weapon away. "Fine. Who are you, then?"
"I'm the Doctor. This is Rose," the Doctor says.
"Doctor -?" James asks, waiting for someone to fill in a last name. Like he's going to get anything else. She's known him for years, and the most she knows is that he's the Doctor, it's a chosen name, and he hated his nickname at the Academy - whatever that was.
"Just the Doctor. Nothin' following that." The Time Lord's lips stretch into one of his full-blown smiles.
ONE HOUR, TEN MINUTES LATER:
"Come with us," Donna says, turning towards James and mentally daring the Doctor to object. The poor bloke needs the help. His Time Agency or whatever it was has abandoned him and they can't just leave him here, can they?
James looks rather like he's been doused with freezing water. The deer in the headlights look isn't a good one for him. "What?"
"Seriously, come with us. The Doctor's got a ship. We can take you wherever you want to go. Or not, even. Maybe you'd like to stay."
"Oi!" the Doctor exclaims. "When did you get to do the invitin'?"
"Shut it, you. I'm still angry with you. Tinu is not a good shopping planet and I need a new pair - or several, for that matter - of shoes. Besides, been with you long enough that I don't see a problem with expanding a bit, do you? Might not be forever, you know. Could be just for a short hop."
"I don't run a taxi service," the Doctor grumbles.
"Didn't say anything about a taxi," she says. "Just said we can help him get off this planet. 'Sides, what's happened on this planet's a fixed point in time, yeah? Can't go leaving behind someone like James here. Might change something. Something that shouldn't be changed." James is starting to look outraged, so she waves her hand as subtly as possible. She's trying to convince the Doctor, not anger her friend, but, well, needs must.
"Maybe," the Doctor allows.
"Shouldn't you be asking me if I want to go with you before you go making assumptions?" James asks.
Donna turns towards him, blinking slightly. "You don't want to come?"
"Seems like you've got a good thing here, Donna. Thank you for the offer, but -" He shakes his head and starts to turn, probably intending on walking off.
Idiot. That's not what she wants at all.
ONE HOUR AFTER:
Another explosion sends flames and smoke rocketing into the sky. Rose shivers as she thinks about what almost happened to Donna, and to James. It's not right, this. None of it's right. A government that kills innocents, just to keep people they don't agree with quiet? That's complete bollocks.
"Is there anything we can do?" she asks, looking at the Doctor. "For these people. Maybe nudge things along a bit? Get the revolutionaries heard and help get this government overthrown a bit earlier?"
The Doctor looks sad, but amazingly it's James who replies. "Can't. It's a fixed point in time. Everything has to happen the way it's meant to happen, which means no interference. Had a bloke try to interfere already, that's why I'm here, but-"
Damn. She hates fixed points in time. "So that's it, then? Off we go, you've got your part, Donna didn't find any shoes, and that's it?"
"You owe me a shopping trip, Doctor. You know that. Trust you to take me to the one planet that has a problem with blowing up their shops. An' I did find a lovely pair of shoes. Gone, now," Donna says, narrowing her eyes as she looks at the Doctor.
The Doctor raises his hands and nods. "I know. We'll go to Crispallian. Whole shopping planet. Mind, I'm only doing this because of what happened today. Don't think this is going to be a standard or anything."
James starts looking uncomfortable, so she moves closer to him while the Doctor and Donna continue arguing about what does and doesn't constitute a 'standard'. "Ever been to 1940's Earth?" she asks.
"No," he says, shaking his head. "Never had the occasion. You?"
She grins. "Yeah, once. Let me tell you, you've never experienced London until you've been dangling over it courtesy of a barrage balloon."
James blinks at her and her smile widens. Vaguely, she wonders what he'd think if she told him that he'd rescued her? Well, not this version of him, but another one. What would he think if she told him about how flustered she was when she first met him, and how she said 'hello' several times? What would he think if he found out that he'd travelled with her in time and space in another universe with the Doctor?
What would he think if he knew just how she felt seeing him again? She sighs. He's never going to know if she has anything to do with it. He'd react the same way the Doctor did at first. Thinking she was trying to find a good substitute for what she had in the past. Doesn't matter that that's wrong. Sure, there's the temptation - boy is there temptation - but she's not going to do it.
"Barrage balloon?" James echoes.
She simply smiles and says no more.
ONE HOUR, THIRTY MINUTES LATER:
"You might be useful," the Doctor says again and it's all she can do not to smack him upside his head.
Rose sighs and moves to his side, murmuring into his ear, "He was useful in the other universe."
The Doctor blinks and looks at her like she's suddenly grown a pair of antlers. "He what?"
"Yeah, he went by the name Jack Harkness in the other universe. Former Time Agent and everything. This bloke's different, though, from his counterpart. Jack wasn't a Time Agent when we met him. But he was useful. Very useful," she replies. She's not going to say anything else about it, but this Doctor knows her too well. He knows there's more to it than that, but she's definitely not going to go into how the first kiss they received from Jack was when he went off to die.
"This isn't a taxi service."
She rests her hand on his arm, squeezing slightly. "No-one ever suggested you did. 'M not sayin' we have to keep him. Just take him off the planet." Though she certainly won't object if he stays. It's starting to become like the old days. The Doctor, Jack - okay, James - and Rose. With the added bonus of Donna.
The Doctor sighs. "D'you want to come with us?" he asks, looking at James.
"I don't want to be a bother," James says, looking pointedly at Donna's hand, which is still firmly attached to his arm.
"You're not. You saved Donna's life. Do you want to come with us? Not asking again, me."
James looked searchingly at all of them. She doesn't know what he sees when he looks at them. Does he see how things could be? Does he see how they feel? Doesn't matter, though, because he nods. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"Good. C'mon, then, you lot. Back to the TARDIS." The Doctor turns and leads them back home.
ONE WEEK LATER:
He's still here.
It's actually rather amazing when Rose thinks about it. The Doctor hasn't asked James to leave, and James hasn't asked to go. But, somehow, the TARDIS doesn't seem to be too small. It still seems to be just right. She's got her Doctor, her best mate in Donna and another mate in James.
"So where're we going now?" she asks, stepping up to stand beside the Doctor, leaning her head against his shoulder.
The Doctor grins. "Further than we've ever gone before."
ONE DAY LATER:
"You've got to be kidding me!" Donna says, groaning. "Doctor, that's it. Next time you take me shopping, James gets to select the planet. You, mister, have bad luck."
She peers outside the TARDIS at the devastated city, smoke curling into the air and fires still burning around them. Best shopping planet in the galaxy, apparently, and it's gone.
"Oi!" the Doctor exclaims.
"Don't you 'oi' me," she retorts. "See that?" She points at the burning city. "That's not a shopping planet, that's a war zone."
"Yerknaus," James says, moving to stand beside her. "They have a good selection of shoes."
"There. See, Doctor? Yerknaus. What year? Not that himself over there's gonna get it right."
"Stop insultin' the driver!" the Doctor exclaims.
"I will if you start learning how to drive this ship properly! James, the year."
"2456," James says.
"There you go, Doctor. Yerknaus, 2456," Donna says, giving the Time Lord her best glare. Rose isn't helping, though. She's too busy laughing.
With a much put-upon look on his face, the Doctor sets the coordinates as she shuts the doors.
TODAY:
This isn't exactly how James Shaw imagined his life would go. Sure, there'd be adventure, maybe a bit of excitement, and hopefully several warm bodies in his bed, but this? Knowing that he's needed - truly needed - isn't something he ever expected for himself.
He isn't a nice man. Never has been, actually. More a dangerous man; a desperate man if he's going to admit it to himself. Somehow, his past doesn't seem to matter to this lot. Who he is and what he does and would do now are more important.
He's not a Time Agent any more. Hasn't been since they left Tinu. They abandoned him there, but that's alright. He found something better.
"James, you coming?" Rose asks and he turns, dismissing his maudlin thoughts.
"Love to, are you offering?" he retorts, grinning.
Rose simply rolls her eyes. "C'mon, you lug. The Doctor's waiting. He says the mountains move here with the breeze! Imagine that, moving mountains!" She opens the doors and steps outside.
She's not who he expected either. Sometimes, she seems so old, other times like a child. This is definitely one of the latter times. "Coming!"
With one last look around the console room of the Doctor's frankly amazing ship, he hurries after her. No. This isn't how he imagined his life would go.
But, as he joins his friends on Felspoon, he knows even if he knew this would be where his life would lead, he wouldn't have changed a thing.
END
x-posted to: dark_aegis, time_and_chips, better_with_3 and hearts_in_time