Fic: Innocence Drowned 1/4?
Story: Innocence Drowned
Author: wmr / wendymr
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler
Rated: PG13
Series: Bigger Inside
Summary: An alien, an immortal and a human - who's the odd one out?
Here's where I start to cringe: this story is lindenharp's runner-up fic from the last Support Stacie auction. Yes, the one in March. More than six months later, I'm finally starting to post it. My deepest apologies to lindenharp, and to every other member of Wiggie's Posse who's still awaiting fic from me. You will get it, I promise.
Many thanks to my wonderful BRs, dark_aegis and yamx. Couldn't do it without you!
Innocence Drowned
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned
- From The Second Coming, by William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
Chapter 1: The Centre Cannot Hold
Loud music and drunken cheers drift up from the flats below, but the man standing on the roof barely hears any of it. All he’s hearing is the truth he inadvertently heard in the Doctor’s head earlier, as he cut in when the Doctor was dancing with Rose.
Wrong... so wrong... hurts! Get away...
It was cut off very quickly, and the Doctor took his hand with such a sweet smile he could almost have believed he’d imagined it... but he knows he didn’t. And it wasn’t just the words he heard; it was the instinctive recoil he felt in the Doctor’s mind.
Great. He’s immortal, going to outlive everyone he loves and still be alive at the end of the universe, and one of the two people who matter most to him in the universe thinks he’s wrong.
Across the city, the New Year’s Eve fireworks have almost died out; just a few stray bursts continue to light up parts of the sky. The party’s over.
Leaning his head back, he drains the second of the bottles of Grolsch he liberated from the party when he came up here, sneaking up the stairwell past the two guys wrapped around each other in the darkest corner - not that they’d have noticed him anyway, but it’s obvious that the reason they’re hiding is they don’t want to be seen by their very straight friends. God, he hates this century.
The Doctor and Rose are still down there in Jackie’s flat, probably snogging in some dark corner. Maybe they’ve missed him, maybe they haven’t. He’ll just come up with some excuse when they see him again - and it’s just as well he’s learned to block, otherwise the Doctor’d already know that he’s sitting up here brooding. Damn that latent psychic ability of his, anyway.
So what now? Up until twenty minutes ago, his future was clear: in a day or two, the three of them would take off again in the TARDIS, back to their carefree life. Not quite the same as before; Satellite Five shook them all up in more ways than one. Yes, they’ve had close shaves before, and he almost died on Chiron. But this time they were separated and he and the Doctor, at least, thought they wouldn’t survive. The Doctor might have regenerated. Rose almost died. He did die, and now he’s immortal. That changes things - just a little, he adds with a wry inner laugh, taking another swig of Grolsch.
It wouldn’t be the same, no, and that was understood between them over this past week that they’ve spent on Earth, with Rose’s mum and, for a few days, with his dad as well. Though the Doctor promised he’d find a solution to Jack being immortal. Then everything would be back to normal, just like before.
Except it’s not. He’s repulsive to the Doctor now. Still.
He knew the Doctor’d had that initial reaction to the way he’s been changed, but his lover told him, swore to him, that it was okay, that he’d got over it. Didn’t feel that way any more, that Jack is every bit as important to him as he was before, just as important as Rose is.
Right. He lied.
Jack tilts back his head, draining a third bottle. The sad part is that he doesn’t feel even slightly drunk, and this beer’s supposed to be strong stuff, so Rose said - and he put back a few earlier, too, at the party. What, does this immortality curse mean he can’t get drunk or sick either?
A loud and very out-of-tune rendition of Auld Lang Syne from the courtyard below shatters the quieter post-midnight lull. Jack stares down at the group of lads staggering across the flagstones, leaning on each other as they weave drunkenly towards the building opposite. Across the city, thousands of people are still out and about, doing whatever they do to celebrate. It would be so easy to run down the stairs - or even jump off the roof; he’ll revive none the worse for wear, won’t he? - and just disappear into the melting-pot that twenty-first century London is. He’d find a way to make a living, and the Doctor could just take Rose and go back to travelling. Right?
Except if he really wanted to disappear he’d have gone already. Have vortex manipulator, will travel. He wouldn’t have to stay in this century, three thousand years before his time. He wouldn’t have to live in linear time and on one planet. It’s not as if he needs the TARDIS to time-travel.
The thing is, though, he’s still here. He hasn’t even been tempted to use his manipulator.
He doesn’t want to leave them. That’s the problem. There’s Rose, who he still loves more than he ever dreamed he could love anyone, and the Doctor... there just aren’t words for how much he loves the Doctor. Which is why it hurts so damn much.
But if he stays, what then? No more intense, passionate nights in the Doctor’s bed - well, at least not for him. Rose, sure, nothing will have changed for her. For him, though, if the Doctor finds him repulsive then how can he bear to touch him? Kiss him, have him inside his body? So, what? Will it be a relationship of couples: him and Rose, Rose and the Doctor? Or does the Doctor’s allergy to him extend to anyone who’s been intimate with him?
What’s weird is that it hasn’t been like that over the past week. The nights they’ve spent together - which haven’t been every night, because of spending time with Jackie or letting Rose take them out on the town - have been pretty much like it’s been ever since the three of them became lovers. So, what? The Doctor’s been holding his nose and pretending it’s okay? Well, that can’t go on.
It’s not even the Doctor’s fault. Jack knows that. The Doctor can’t help the way he feels. His lover explained that to him after Satellite Five, when he examined Jack in the medlab and told him what had happened. And it was there in the Doctor’s head, too, along with the instinctive need to get away from him. He doesn’t want to feel this way. But he does.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
It would be easier for the Doctor if he did just disappear. Maybe he should look at it that way. But then what about Rose? She loves him, too. The Doctor told him how upset she was when he was so badly hurt on Chiron, and how she fought to stop the Doctor from giving up on him. How would she feel if he just walked away? She wouldn’t just forg-
“There you are, Jack!”
He turns slowly, schooling his expression, getting his emotions under control. “Jackie. Yeah, I was just getting some fresh air.”
“Fresh? Around here?” She comes closer, and in the light of the moon and reflected lights from nearby buildings he can see concern on her face. “They’ve been lookin’ for you.”
“I’ll be down in a minute,” he says. When he’s decided what to do.
“Doctor said he thought you were up above somewhere. Said you were blocking, too, whatever that means,” Jackie continues. “Can’t understand half of what he says sometimes. Understand enough to know that something’s wrong, though.” She comes closer still. “If you want to talk about it...?” She lays a hand on his arm, and there’s still nothing but concern in her expression.
For a moment, he’s tempted. But they agreed, the three of them together, not to tell Jackie or his dad about what really happened on Satellite Five: how Rose almost died, how he did die, and that he’s immortal now. Jackie’s already scared enough about the danger she thinks they’re in when they’re out there in space. If she knew the truth, she’d be terrified, and she’d do everything within her power to stop Rose going with the Doctor in future.
So he shrugs and smiles. “It’s nothing. Just memories.” Jackie’ll assume he’s talking about his family.
She does. “C’mere.” She steps in front of him and hugs him. He sighs and relaxes into her arms, letting his head drop to her shoulder.
And then he’s almost deafened when she stiffens and screeches, “What the bloody hell’s that?”
***
“If you know where he is, how come we’re not just going to find him?”
She’s finally cornered him in the kitchen, where she knows he went hoping she wouldn’t find him. The Doctor sighs, frowns, dips his head, then finally mutters something indistinct. She sighs louder. “Doctor?”
“Because he’s avoiding me. An’ if we go looking for him he’ll just go and find somewhere else to hide.”
“Hide?” Now she’s the one frowning. “Why’s he hiding? Doctor, what on earth’s going on with you two?”
Whatever it is, she hasn’t seen or heard any of it. Not that that’s anything new. Ever since Satellite Five, when Jack’s telepathic abilities apparently went into overdrive, the two of them have communicated in a way she simply can’t share. Oh, they don’t do it deliberately, and not all the time, either, and she knows the Doctor’s been teaching Jack to block so that he can at least have some privacy - and the Doctor doesn’t have to be exposed to his thoughts all the time either.
She’d bet her favourite hoop earrings that it’s got something to do with telepathy. Jack didn’t block something he should’ve, and now the two of them are avoiding each other. She knows exactly when it happened, too: when Jack cut in on the two of them and danced with the Doctor. He didn’t stay long, and she hasn’t seen him since then.
The only reason she hasn’t already gone after him herself is that she can’t be the mediator every time the two of them have a disagreement. It’s killing her not to, but if she keeps doing that they’ll never sort things for out themselves. They’ll never have to learn how to.
Typical blokes. What they should do is sit down and talk about it and make up. But of course, because they’re blokes, they’re avoiding the issue. It’ll be down to her to sort it in the end. It would save time all around if the Doctor would just listen to her now - but he won’t. Course not.
“Nothin’,” he says, but his mouth’s turned down at the corners and he doesn’t sound happy at all. Not nothing, this. No way. “Jus’ a misunderstanding. It’ll get sorted.”
“Won’t get sorted long as you two’re avoiding each other.” Hands on her hips, she glares at him. “Come on. We’re going to find him. An’ don’t tell me he’ll know you’re coming an’ he’ll just go somewhere else. You can block him - better than he can you.”
The Doctor shakes his head, reaching over to the counter to grab a bottle of beer. “Best not.”
She’ll shake him in a minute. “You’re actin’ like a pair of five-year-olds! Does it really matter who’s in the wrong? What’s important is sorting it out, right?”
This time, when the Doctor looks away, guilt’s on his face. “Wasn’t him, Rose. It was me. I hurt him. Didn’t mean to, but it happened. An’ he doesn’t want to talk to me. Now d’you get it?”
Oh. She’s about to grab the Doctor’s hand and just drag him off to find Jack, when the specific word he used hits her. Hurt. He hurt Jack. That’s not a word the Doctor uses - well, not in the emotional hurt sense. He just doesn’t talk about feelings. Too domestic for him. The fact that he’s actually said it now means it’s bad.
Not irreparable, though. Of course it’s not. The three of them can get through anything, can’t they?
“Come on,” she says firmly, taking his hand in hers and, with her other hand, grabbing the bottle she knows he doesn’t want and putting it back on the counter. “We’re going to find him. An’ you’re going to make sure he knows you didn’t mean it.” She frowns for a moment, thinking, then adds, “Anyway, you’re far better at this telepathy stuff than him, anyway - can’t you just convince him that way?”
The Doctor gives just one shake of his head. “Won’t do that to him. Wouldn’t be right.”
Men! But he’s right, she supposes-
A terrified scream drowns out her thoughts, and the noise of the party. The Doctor’s hand tightens around hers. “What was that?”
His eyes have lit up and she can see that his attention’s not on Jack or her any more. He’s found something more interesting.
Without waiting for her to answer, he takes to his heels, dragging her after him, and heads in the direction of the scream.
***
Jack’s gone from his mind as he rushes to discover what the screams are all about. Not forgotten. Just filed away to deal with later - and he will deal with it. It’s important, so of course he will. When the time’s right.
In the meantime, humans are panicking. Nothing unusual there, of course. Humans will panic about all sorts of ridiculous stuff: supposedly significant dates, hoax email virus warnings, killer bees, mad cows - all right, that one was real, but talk about an over-reaction. A few flakes of snow on the ground. This time - well, no idea yet, but everyone who was outside on the balcony, watching the fireworks or having a smoke, is running, pushing their way back inside the flat.
Holding onto Rose’s hand in a tight grip, he edges his way through the crush of people in Jackie’s hallway, all friends and acquaintances of hers and Rose’s invited to celebrate the New Year. All right now blocking his route to the door. And suddenly Jack’s voice is in his head. “Something in the sky. Looks like alien ships.”
Right. Jack’s up on the roof, so he’s got a clear view. “Might actually be a good reason for the panic,” he tells Rose. “Alien ships.”
She shoots him a startled glance. “How d’you know?”
He taps the side of his head. “Jack told me. He’s up on the roof.”
Her expression clears - and then turns worried. “Oh, my god! I think Mum went to find him. If she’s up there...” Rose starts pushing harder against the people trying to get inside.
“We don’t even know if they’re dangerous yet. Might not be.” All the same, he sends Jack a quick question.
“She’s here. Nothing’s happening - they’re just hovering in the sky, shining lights at us.”
And, yeah, he can see that. Outside’s lit up brighter than it was during the fireworks.
“Not dangerous? You’ve got to be kidding.” She gives him a disbelieving look. “Haven’t seen an alien yet on Earth that didn’t want to kill people or take over the planet or something else dangerous.”
“Oi!” he protests. “Non-dangerous alien right here?”
She snorts. “You, not dangerous?”
All right, he has to give her that. “Don’t want to take over your planet, me.” He takes a deep breath, then raises his voice. “Stand back and let me through!”
A couple of people press themselves back against the wall. Another - Jackie’s friend Bev, he vaguely remembers - gets right in his face. “You want to go out there? You’re mad, you are.”
“UNIT scientific advisor!” he retorts and shoves his way past, tugging Rose after him. Not that he particularly wants to bring her into this when he doesn’t know what the bloody hell this is, but he knows damn well that if he tries to go outside without her she’ll only follow him anyway. At least this way he’ll know exactly where she is.
The voice in his head’s been silent too long. “Jack!”
“Yeah, still here.”
“Know who they are yet?”
“Nah. Not close enough to get a visual. My wristcomp identified the ships as non-terrestrial, that’s all I’ve got.”
He nods. “All right. We’re on our way. Send Jackie down, will you? Need to get her inside-”
Abruptly, he cuts himself off. Jack’s mind’s completely open to him right now, and he knows what’s going on as clearly as if he were there. Jack’s trying to scan, to find out who these unannounced visitors are, but Jackie’s clinging to his arm, terrified yet not leaving. Refusing to leave.
“No can do,” Jack answers. “She knows you’re coming. Wants to...” Jack’s trying not to laugh. There’s one good thing, then; despite what happened earlier, the lad’s not so upset that he can’t see humour in his current situation. “...help!” He hears Jack’s choke as clearly as if his lover were standing next to him.
He can’t resist a smirk himself. Jackie, scared out of her wits, insisting on helping? Though, of course, that’s got so much potential to end badly. He shakes his head. “Tell her I said to go down. An’ that’s an order - to her, not you,” he corrects quickly.
A sharp tug on his hand makes him look at Rose. By the expression on her face, she’s been trying to attract his attention for at least a couple of seconds. “Sorry. Was talkin’ to Jack.”
To her credit, she doesn’t even look surprised that that’s why he’s smiling. One thing all three of them have mastered is the ability to put personal issues aside when there are bigger issues to deal with.
She points outwards. Oh. While he was distracted, she’s got the two of them out onto the walkway. A few people, neighbours and maybe one or two of Jackie’s guests, are leaning over the balcony and staring up at the alien ships. A couple of them have mobiles and they’re taking pictures. “Lot of good that’ll be if that lot starts shooting,” Rose comments.
“Thing is, they’ve been out there for a while without doing anything.” He peers into the dimly-lit night, trying to get a clear view of the ships. It’s difficult, though, given he’s staring into bright light in a night sky. All he can see is the glint of gold and silver, but no clear shape.
Nothing’s happening at the moment, anyway. “Come on. Told Jack we’d meet him on the roof.”
Sirens start to wail across the city as he and Rose reach the stairs. Ah. Now officialdom’s getting involved. Might be a good thing, if this is a friendly approach - but, as Rose already said, if it’s not... Good job he’s here, in that case.
The sky turns brilliant gold as light encompasses everywhere around and a loud, echoing voice booms, “People of Britain. You are surrounded and you are our prisoners. We will speak only with your official representatives.”
“Doctor.” There’s alarm in Rose’s voice, and he already knows what she’s going to say. “I can’t move.”
No. Neither can he.
Whatever’s in that golden light has immobilised every living thing in sight.
***
“I can’t move! Jack, what the bloody hell’s-”
“Immobilisation tech,” he informs Jackie, his words clipped as he raises his voice to be heard over the panicked screams. Good job they’re not standing much closer to the edge of the roof, or there’d be nothing stopping them falling if there was a gust of wind. Okay, he’d be fine, at least according to the Doctor, but Rose’s mum wouldn’t.
Yeah, they’re okay right now, but, assuming it’s not just the two of them, what about other people? Not everyone would have been in a safe position when the tech went into effect. Anyone driving a car... hell.
Is it just them?
“Doctor! You-”
“Everyone,” the Doctor answers before he’s had time even to finish his question. Just brilliant. Sure, because he’s talking to the Doctor again - because it’s important - the guy’s taking it as blanket permission to get right inside his head.
“Sorry.” The apology actually sounds genuinely contrite. “Didn’t mean to. Felt like you wanted information in a hurry.”
“What’s going on? Who are they?” Jackie demands.
“Dunno,” he tells her. “Can’t see the ships clearly enough to figure out if I can recognise them.” Silently, he adds, “You, Doctor?”
“Nope,” comes the immediate reply.
“How the hell can they speak with our official representatives when everyone’s damn immobilised?” Jack speaks aloud for Jackie’s sake; he knows the Doctor will hear him anyway. He would roll his eyes, only he can’t move.
“No id-” The Doctor’s reply is broken off abruptly, and Jack knows why. Because, suddenly, he can move again. Thank fuck for that.
Jackie screams, and starts to fall forward. He grabs her, catching her. “Come on. We need to get you back downstairs.” And he needs to get to the Doctor and Rose, before the Doctor runs off like a crazy maniac after these invaders, whoever they are.
The air’s still filled with screaming as he leads Jackie down the stairs. The Doctor’s waiting for him; he’s getting that message in his head loud and clear. And Rose is with the Doctor. That’s a relief, too.
Then the loud voice is back again. Impossible to tell its origin or its gender - or even whether it’s a sentient being or a computer speaking. “That was merely a demonstration of our capabilities.”
A demonstration? How many people were killed for the sake of their demonstration?
The voice is still speaking. “We require communication with your representatives. You have half an Earth hour for Britain’s representatives to communicate with us. If your authorised negotiators do not contact us within that time limit, there will be another demonstration. We assure you that you do not wish this to happen.”
Damn right. The sentiment echoes in his head. The Doctor’s still with him - or is it that he’s with the Doctor? He’s still getting used to the fact that his telepathic abilities have exploded.
“Half an hour,” the alien spokesman continues. “As you say on your planet, the clock is ticking.”
***
tbc in Chapter 2: Anarchy is Loosed
Author: wmr / wendymr
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler
Rated: PG13
Series: Bigger Inside
Summary: An alien, an immortal and a human - who's the odd one out?
Here's where I start to cringe: this story is lindenharp's runner-up fic from the last Support Stacie auction. Yes, the one in March. More than six months later, I'm finally starting to post it. My deepest apologies to lindenharp, and to every other member of Wiggie's Posse who's still awaiting fic from me. You will get it, I promise.
Many thanks to my wonderful BRs, dark_aegis and yamx. Couldn't do it without you!
Innocence Drowned
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned
- From The Second Coming, by William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
Chapter 1: The Centre Cannot Hold
Loud music and drunken cheers drift up from the flats below, but the man standing on the roof barely hears any of it. All he’s hearing is the truth he inadvertently heard in the Doctor’s head earlier, as he cut in when the Doctor was dancing with Rose.
Wrong... so wrong... hurts! Get away...
It was cut off very quickly, and the Doctor took his hand with such a sweet smile he could almost have believed he’d imagined it... but he knows he didn’t. And it wasn’t just the words he heard; it was the instinctive recoil he felt in the Doctor’s mind.
Great. He’s immortal, going to outlive everyone he loves and still be alive at the end of the universe, and one of the two people who matter most to him in the universe thinks he’s wrong.
Across the city, the New Year’s Eve fireworks have almost died out; just a few stray bursts continue to light up parts of the sky. The party’s over.
Leaning his head back, he drains the second of the bottles of Grolsch he liberated from the party when he came up here, sneaking up the stairwell past the two guys wrapped around each other in the darkest corner - not that they’d have noticed him anyway, but it’s obvious that the reason they’re hiding is they don’t want to be seen by their very straight friends. God, he hates this century.
The Doctor and Rose are still down there in Jackie’s flat, probably snogging in some dark corner. Maybe they’ve missed him, maybe they haven’t. He’ll just come up with some excuse when they see him again - and it’s just as well he’s learned to block, otherwise the Doctor’d already know that he’s sitting up here brooding. Damn that latent psychic ability of his, anyway.
So what now? Up until twenty minutes ago, his future was clear: in a day or two, the three of them would take off again in the TARDIS, back to their carefree life. Not quite the same as before; Satellite Five shook them all up in more ways than one. Yes, they’ve had close shaves before, and he almost died on Chiron. But this time they were separated and he and the Doctor, at least, thought they wouldn’t survive. The Doctor might have regenerated. Rose almost died. He did die, and now he’s immortal. That changes things - just a little, he adds with a wry inner laugh, taking another swig of Grolsch.
It wouldn’t be the same, no, and that was understood between them over this past week that they’ve spent on Earth, with Rose’s mum and, for a few days, with his dad as well. Though the Doctor promised he’d find a solution to Jack being immortal. Then everything would be back to normal, just like before.
Except it’s not. He’s repulsive to the Doctor now. Still.
He knew the Doctor’d had that initial reaction to the way he’s been changed, but his lover told him, swore to him, that it was okay, that he’d got over it. Didn’t feel that way any more, that Jack is every bit as important to him as he was before, just as important as Rose is.
Right. He lied.
Jack tilts back his head, draining a third bottle. The sad part is that he doesn’t feel even slightly drunk, and this beer’s supposed to be strong stuff, so Rose said - and he put back a few earlier, too, at the party. What, does this immortality curse mean he can’t get drunk or sick either?
A loud and very out-of-tune rendition of Auld Lang Syne from the courtyard below shatters the quieter post-midnight lull. Jack stares down at the group of lads staggering across the flagstones, leaning on each other as they weave drunkenly towards the building opposite. Across the city, thousands of people are still out and about, doing whatever they do to celebrate. It would be so easy to run down the stairs - or even jump off the roof; he’ll revive none the worse for wear, won’t he? - and just disappear into the melting-pot that twenty-first century London is. He’d find a way to make a living, and the Doctor could just take Rose and go back to travelling. Right?
Except if he really wanted to disappear he’d have gone already. Have vortex manipulator, will travel. He wouldn’t have to stay in this century, three thousand years before his time. He wouldn’t have to live in linear time and on one planet. It’s not as if he needs the TARDIS to time-travel.
The thing is, though, he’s still here. He hasn’t even been tempted to use his manipulator.
He doesn’t want to leave them. That’s the problem. There’s Rose, who he still loves more than he ever dreamed he could love anyone, and the Doctor... there just aren’t words for how much he loves the Doctor. Which is why it hurts so damn much.
But if he stays, what then? No more intense, passionate nights in the Doctor’s bed - well, at least not for him. Rose, sure, nothing will have changed for her. For him, though, if the Doctor finds him repulsive then how can he bear to touch him? Kiss him, have him inside his body? So, what? Will it be a relationship of couples: him and Rose, Rose and the Doctor? Or does the Doctor’s allergy to him extend to anyone who’s been intimate with him?
What’s weird is that it hasn’t been like that over the past week. The nights they’ve spent together - which haven’t been every night, because of spending time with Jackie or letting Rose take them out on the town - have been pretty much like it’s been ever since the three of them became lovers. So, what? The Doctor’s been holding his nose and pretending it’s okay? Well, that can’t go on.
It’s not even the Doctor’s fault. Jack knows that. The Doctor can’t help the way he feels. His lover explained that to him after Satellite Five, when he examined Jack in the medlab and told him what had happened. And it was there in the Doctor’s head, too, along with the instinctive need to get away from him. He doesn’t want to feel this way. But he does.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
It would be easier for the Doctor if he did just disappear. Maybe he should look at it that way. But then what about Rose? She loves him, too. The Doctor told him how upset she was when he was so badly hurt on Chiron, and how she fought to stop the Doctor from giving up on him. How would she feel if he just walked away? She wouldn’t just forg-
“There you are, Jack!”
He turns slowly, schooling his expression, getting his emotions under control. “Jackie. Yeah, I was just getting some fresh air.”
“Fresh? Around here?” She comes closer, and in the light of the moon and reflected lights from nearby buildings he can see concern on her face. “They’ve been lookin’ for you.”
“I’ll be down in a minute,” he says. When he’s decided what to do.
“Doctor said he thought you were up above somewhere. Said you were blocking, too, whatever that means,” Jackie continues. “Can’t understand half of what he says sometimes. Understand enough to know that something’s wrong, though.” She comes closer still. “If you want to talk about it...?” She lays a hand on his arm, and there’s still nothing but concern in her expression.
For a moment, he’s tempted. But they agreed, the three of them together, not to tell Jackie or his dad about what really happened on Satellite Five: how Rose almost died, how he did die, and that he’s immortal now. Jackie’s already scared enough about the danger she thinks they’re in when they’re out there in space. If she knew the truth, she’d be terrified, and she’d do everything within her power to stop Rose going with the Doctor in future.
So he shrugs and smiles. “It’s nothing. Just memories.” Jackie’ll assume he’s talking about his family.
She does. “C’mere.” She steps in front of him and hugs him. He sighs and relaxes into her arms, letting his head drop to her shoulder.
And then he’s almost deafened when she stiffens and screeches, “What the bloody hell’s that?”
***
“If you know where he is, how come we’re not just going to find him?”
She’s finally cornered him in the kitchen, where she knows he went hoping she wouldn’t find him. The Doctor sighs, frowns, dips his head, then finally mutters something indistinct. She sighs louder. “Doctor?”
“Because he’s avoiding me. An’ if we go looking for him he’ll just go and find somewhere else to hide.”
“Hide?” Now she’s the one frowning. “Why’s he hiding? Doctor, what on earth’s going on with you two?”
Whatever it is, she hasn’t seen or heard any of it. Not that that’s anything new. Ever since Satellite Five, when Jack’s telepathic abilities apparently went into overdrive, the two of them have communicated in a way she simply can’t share. Oh, they don’t do it deliberately, and not all the time, either, and she knows the Doctor’s been teaching Jack to block so that he can at least have some privacy - and the Doctor doesn’t have to be exposed to his thoughts all the time either.
She’d bet her favourite hoop earrings that it’s got something to do with telepathy. Jack didn’t block something he should’ve, and now the two of them are avoiding each other. She knows exactly when it happened, too: when Jack cut in on the two of them and danced with the Doctor. He didn’t stay long, and she hasn’t seen him since then.
The only reason she hasn’t already gone after him herself is that she can’t be the mediator every time the two of them have a disagreement. It’s killing her not to, but if she keeps doing that they’ll never sort things for out themselves. They’ll never have to learn how to.
Typical blokes. What they should do is sit down and talk about it and make up. But of course, because they’re blokes, they’re avoiding the issue. It’ll be down to her to sort it in the end. It would save time all around if the Doctor would just listen to her now - but he won’t. Course not.
“Nothin’,” he says, but his mouth’s turned down at the corners and he doesn’t sound happy at all. Not nothing, this. No way. “Jus’ a misunderstanding. It’ll get sorted.”
“Won’t get sorted long as you two’re avoiding each other.” Hands on her hips, she glares at him. “Come on. We’re going to find him. An’ don’t tell me he’ll know you’re coming an’ he’ll just go somewhere else. You can block him - better than he can you.”
The Doctor shakes his head, reaching over to the counter to grab a bottle of beer. “Best not.”
She’ll shake him in a minute. “You’re actin’ like a pair of five-year-olds! Does it really matter who’s in the wrong? What’s important is sorting it out, right?”
This time, when the Doctor looks away, guilt’s on his face. “Wasn’t him, Rose. It was me. I hurt him. Didn’t mean to, but it happened. An’ he doesn’t want to talk to me. Now d’you get it?”
Oh. She’s about to grab the Doctor’s hand and just drag him off to find Jack, when the specific word he used hits her. Hurt. He hurt Jack. That’s not a word the Doctor uses - well, not in the emotional hurt sense. He just doesn’t talk about feelings. Too domestic for him. The fact that he’s actually said it now means it’s bad.
Not irreparable, though. Of course it’s not. The three of them can get through anything, can’t they?
“Come on,” she says firmly, taking his hand in hers and, with her other hand, grabbing the bottle she knows he doesn’t want and putting it back on the counter. “We’re going to find him. An’ you’re going to make sure he knows you didn’t mean it.” She frowns for a moment, thinking, then adds, “Anyway, you’re far better at this telepathy stuff than him, anyway - can’t you just convince him that way?”
The Doctor gives just one shake of his head. “Won’t do that to him. Wouldn’t be right.”
Men! But he’s right, she supposes-
A terrified scream drowns out her thoughts, and the noise of the party. The Doctor’s hand tightens around hers. “What was that?”
His eyes have lit up and she can see that his attention’s not on Jack or her any more. He’s found something more interesting.
Without waiting for her to answer, he takes to his heels, dragging her after him, and heads in the direction of the scream.
***
Jack’s gone from his mind as he rushes to discover what the screams are all about. Not forgotten. Just filed away to deal with later - and he will deal with it. It’s important, so of course he will. When the time’s right.
In the meantime, humans are panicking. Nothing unusual there, of course. Humans will panic about all sorts of ridiculous stuff: supposedly significant dates, hoax email virus warnings, killer bees, mad cows - all right, that one was real, but talk about an over-reaction. A few flakes of snow on the ground. This time - well, no idea yet, but everyone who was outside on the balcony, watching the fireworks or having a smoke, is running, pushing their way back inside the flat.
Holding onto Rose’s hand in a tight grip, he edges his way through the crush of people in Jackie’s hallway, all friends and acquaintances of hers and Rose’s invited to celebrate the New Year. All right now blocking his route to the door. And suddenly Jack’s voice is in his head. “Something in the sky. Looks like alien ships.”
Right. Jack’s up on the roof, so he’s got a clear view. “Might actually be a good reason for the panic,” he tells Rose. “Alien ships.”
She shoots him a startled glance. “How d’you know?”
He taps the side of his head. “Jack told me. He’s up on the roof.”
Her expression clears - and then turns worried. “Oh, my god! I think Mum went to find him. If she’s up there...” Rose starts pushing harder against the people trying to get inside.
“We don’t even know if they’re dangerous yet. Might not be.” All the same, he sends Jack a quick question.
“She’s here. Nothing’s happening - they’re just hovering in the sky, shining lights at us.”
And, yeah, he can see that. Outside’s lit up brighter than it was during the fireworks.
“Not dangerous? You’ve got to be kidding.” She gives him a disbelieving look. “Haven’t seen an alien yet on Earth that didn’t want to kill people or take over the planet or something else dangerous.”
“Oi!” he protests. “Non-dangerous alien right here?”
She snorts. “You, not dangerous?”
All right, he has to give her that. “Don’t want to take over your planet, me.” He takes a deep breath, then raises his voice. “Stand back and let me through!”
A couple of people press themselves back against the wall. Another - Jackie’s friend Bev, he vaguely remembers - gets right in his face. “You want to go out there? You’re mad, you are.”
“UNIT scientific advisor!” he retorts and shoves his way past, tugging Rose after him. Not that he particularly wants to bring her into this when he doesn’t know what the bloody hell this is, but he knows damn well that if he tries to go outside without her she’ll only follow him anyway. At least this way he’ll know exactly where she is.
The voice in his head’s been silent too long. “Jack!”
“Yeah, still here.”
“Know who they are yet?”
“Nah. Not close enough to get a visual. My wristcomp identified the ships as non-terrestrial, that’s all I’ve got.”
He nods. “All right. We’re on our way. Send Jackie down, will you? Need to get her inside-”
Abruptly, he cuts himself off. Jack’s mind’s completely open to him right now, and he knows what’s going on as clearly as if he were there. Jack’s trying to scan, to find out who these unannounced visitors are, but Jackie’s clinging to his arm, terrified yet not leaving. Refusing to leave.
“No can do,” Jack answers. “She knows you’re coming. Wants to...” Jack’s trying not to laugh. There’s one good thing, then; despite what happened earlier, the lad’s not so upset that he can’t see humour in his current situation. “...help!” He hears Jack’s choke as clearly as if his lover were standing next to him.
He can’t resist a smirk himself. Jackie, scared out of her wits, insisting on helping? Though, of course, that’s got so much potential to end badly. He shakes his head. “Tell her I said to go down. An’ that’s an order - to her, not you,” he corrects quickly.
A sharp tug on his hand makes him look at Rose. By the expression on her face, she’s been trying to attract his attention for at least a couple of seconds. “Sorry. Was talkin’ to Jack.”
To her credit, she doesn’t even look surprised that that’s why he’s smiling. One thing all three of them have mastered is the ability to put personal issues aside when there are bigger issues to deal with.
She points outwards. Oh. While he was distracted, she’s got the two of them out onto the walkway. A few people, neighbours and maybe one or two of Jackie’s guests, are leaning over the balcony and staring up at the alien ships. A couple of them have mobiles and they’re taking pictures. “Lot of good that’ll be if that lot starts shooting,” Rose comments.
“Thing is, they’ve been out there for a while without doing anything.” He peers into the dimly-lit night, trying to get a clear view of the ships. It’s difficult, though, given he’s staring into bright light in a night sky. All he can see is the glint of gold and silver, but no clear shape.
Nothing’s happening at the moment, anyway. “Come on. Told Jack we’d meet him on the roof.”
Sirens start to wail across the city as he and Rose reach the stairs. Ah. Now officialdom’s getting involved. Might be a good thing, if this is a friendly approach - but, as Rose already said, if it’s not... Good job he’s here, in that case.
The sky turns brilliant gold as light encompasses everywhere around and a loud, echoing voice booms, “People of Britain. You are surrounded and you are our prisoners. We will speak only with your official representatives.”
“Doctor.” There’s alarm in Rose’s voice, and he already knows what she’s going to say. “I can’t move.”
No. Neither can he.
Whatever’s in that golden light has immobilised every living thing in sight.
***
“I can’t move! Jack, what the bloody hell’s-”
“Immobilisation tech,” he informs Jackie, his words clipped as he raises his voice to be heard over the panicked screams. Good job they’re not standing much closer to the edge of the roof, or there’d be nothing stopping them falling if there was a gust of wind. Okay, he’d be fine, at least according to the Doctor, but Rose’s mum wouldn’t.
Yeah, they’re okay right now, but, assuming it’s not just the two of them, what about other people? Not everyone would have been in a safe position when the tech went into effect. Anyone driving a car... hell.
Is it just them?
“Doctor! You-”
“Everyone,” the Doctor answers before he’s had time even to finish his question. Just brilliant. Sure, because he’s talking to the Doctor again - because it’s important - the guy’s taking it as blanket permission to get right inside his head.
“Sorry.” The apology actually sounds genuinely contrite. “Didn’t mean to. Felt like you wanted information in a hurry.”
“What’s going on? Who are they?” Jackie demands.
“Dunno,” he tells her. “Can’t see the ships clearly enough to figure out if I can recognise them.” Silently, he adds, “You, Doctor?”
“Nope,” comes the immediate reply.
“How the hell can they speak with our official representatives when everyone’s damn immobilised?” Jack speaks aloud for Jackie’s sake; he knows the Doctor will hear him anyway. He would roll his eyes, only he can’t move.
“No id-” The Doctor’s reply is broken off abruptly, and Jack knows why. Because, suddenly, he can move again. Thank fuck for that.
Jackie screams, and starts to fall forward. He grabs her, catching her. “Come on. We need to get you back downstairs.” And he needs to get to the Doctor and Rose, before the Doctor runs off like a crazy maniac after these invaders, whoever they are.
The air’s still filled with screaming as he leads Jackie down the stairs. The Doctor’s waiting for him; he’s getting that message in his head loud and clear. And Rose is with the Doctor. That’s a relief, too.
Then the loud voice is back again. Impossible to tell its origin or its gender - or even whether it’s a sentient being or a computer speaking. “That was merely a demonstration of our capabilities.”
A demonstration? How many people were killed for the sake of their demonstration?
The voice is still speaking. “We require communication with your representatives. You have half an Earth hour for Britain’s representatives to communicate with us. If your authorised negotiators do not contact us within that time limit, there will be another demonstration. We assure you that you do not wish this to happen.”
Damn right. The sentiment echoes in his head. The Doctor’s still with him - or is it that he’s with the Doctor? He’s still getting used to the fact that his telepathic abilities have exploded.
“Half an hour,” the alien spokesman continues. “As you say on your planet, the clock is ticking.”
***
tbc in Chapter 2: Anarchy is Loosed