FIC: Vampires, Demons and Torchwood, Oh my! (12/?)
Name: Vampires, Demons and Torchwood, Oh my!
Rating: R
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Spike/Buffy, Willow/Tosh, Xander/Anya, Martha, Owen, Faith, some minor OCs, the Doctor, Donna.
Summary: Sequel to Magic and Mayhem at the Rift. The Scoobie gang, now fully integrated into the Torchwood group and settled in to their new lives, discover there’s more coming through the rift than the odd demon and alien. This story is set post Exit Wounds, so there are minor spoilers. However, I have major problems with Exit Wounds and, as such, only some of the storyline happened (same goes for Reset which, although it happened, did not end like it did in the series in my head. Dead Man Walking and A Day in the Death DID NOT HAPPEN. I’m in my happy place now ...). Episodes like Adrift, Something Borrowed and Out of the Rain did happen, though (Like I said before: happy place) and may be referred to or even flash-backed to from time to time.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood or Buffy the Vampire Slayer … I do however own the cracked story idea - and proud of it, thankyouverymuch! I don’t own the title of this story either, however, that was thought up by the wonderful ickle18(I say wonderful because anyone who can come up with this title must be), the daughter of missthingsplace THANK YOU!
My other stories and links to the chapters of Magic and Mayhem (and Vampires, Demons and Torchwood) can be found here, at my master list.
Whereas Ianto's day threatened to take over 8000 words, Jack's day was moderately uneventful (unless you count kidnapping). But, it fit my 3000 word aim so :)
This chapter is dedicated to my best, best friend and almost-sister,
kat_sor, even though she never reads this fic (mean girl!) but reads paragraphs and stuff I copy/paste across MSN and makes it impossible to write a chapter whilest using skype. Damn her ;]
Enjoy the chappy.
Previous chapters: Ch.1, Ch. 2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8 Ch.9 Ch.10 Ch.11a Ch.11b
Chapter 12: Jack's Friday
Friday 8th August
09:29
Jack couldn’t sleep, although that was nothing new for him. He was lying in bed, watching the minutes tick by, Ianto wrapped in his arms, head resting on his chest, thinking of only one thing.
Cole.
It was his birthday today, or would be if he hadn’t ceased to exist. Jack closed his eyes and looked at the clock again; 09:30. Finally!
He carefully extricated Ianto from his arms, tucking a pillow under the young man’s head in his place, and climbed out of bed, grabbing his clothes from the wardrobe and walking into the bathroom. He glanced back at Ianto, sleeping peacefully, and smiled. He could have left earlier, but he’d learned in his long life not to fail to appreciate the simple things a loved one did. He lay awake many nights just watching the Welshman sleep and he never tired of it.
He was just too pretty while he was sleeping.
Jack grimaced as he heard Ianto’s voice in his head saying, “Pretty? What do you mean pretty?” He mentally amended; cute. “Cute?!” Jack rolled his eyes as he splashed water on his face from the sink.
Alright, Ianto, he thought, realising he was probably going insane talking to voices in his head, you’re handsome and sexy.
He suspected Ianto wouldn’t mind the latter two as much as the former.
Once he was done in the bathroom and was dressed, Jack went into the kitchen and made himself a few slices of toast, munching it as he grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a quick note for Ianto to find.
He was about to leave the flat when he realised he still had his mobile on him. Knowing Martha, she would probably call him to make sure he wasn’t doing anything stupid today of all days. He pulled it from his pocket and placed it on top of the note before leaving the flat.
10:19
The waves lapped up onto the beach as Jack sat on the bench gazing out at the blue waters. It was so peaceful here, so quiet … so easy to hear approaching footsteps.
“She told you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah.” The Doctor walked around to sit next to Jack. “She did.”
“Why?” Jack asked, glad he hadn’t been crying.
“She was worried about you,” the Doctor told him, quietly.
“Afraid I’d do something stupid, huh? Scared I’d kill myself?” He chuckled darkly. “Trust me; it doesn’t work.”
“Why didn’t you tell me yourself?” the Doctor asked, gently, wisely ignoring the suicide comment, even though it hurt him to hear.
“I …” Jack sighed and leaned back in the seat. “I didn’t want you to feel guilty.”
“I’m your friend, Jack. You should be able to talk to me.”
“So’s Martha. I talked to her. In confidence.” He paused, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. “Someone should tell her the meaning of the phrase.”
The Doctor sighed. “She was only trying to help.”
“I know.” Jack looked round at the Doctor. “So what are you doing here?”
“I came to make sure you were okay.”
“How did you find me?”
“The TARDIS. You have the Time Vortex in you. She tracked you easily.”
“Traitor,” Jack muttered, looking towards the blue box on the horizon.
“She was worried.”
“Well, she should mind her own business.”
“Are we still talking about the TARDIS?”
Jack smirked. “No.”
The Doctor smiled. “Didn’t think so.” He leaned back, mimicking Jack’s earlier actions. “So why here?”
Jack shrugged. “No reason.”
The Doctor leaned forward to be able to look Jack in the eye easier. “No,” he said, knowingly, “there’s a reason. Tell me.”
Jack looked out across the sand. “When I found out I was carrying him,” he said, his voice barely a whisper, “at first I was scared … I was scared of him coming into a world dominated by him” - he hissed the word, not wanting to say the name - “and scared that I wouldn’t be a good father.”
“You’d be a great father,” the Doctor assured him.
“Never got to find out, did I?” Jack sighed. “But then, as I felt him growing in me, I just … I realised I could be a great dad by bringing the world back to him.” Jack smiled sadly. “And suddenly … I could see my future with him.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah. I could see me teaching him to play football or celebrating his birthday as a family … I could just see Tosh’s face when I announced ‘this is my son!’ … and Ianto’s.” He smiled, sadly. “Owen’s reaction was always the funniest in my head.” He looked at the gently lapping waves. “I used to love swimming when I was a kid, and I know Ianto likes it too …” He held up a hand. “Don’t ask me about that,” he said, with a grin.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“So I was planning day trips to this beach. It wouldn’t be too far away from the rift so I could get back if there was an emergency … but it would be fun. It would be like we were normal. A normal family.”
“Where is your Mister Jones then?” the Doctor asked. He looked at Jack’s guilty expression. “You didn’t tell him.”
“It’s my burden to bear.”
“Come on!” The Doctor stood up and Jack looked up at him, quizzically.
“Come on what?”
“TARDIS. Got someone for you to meet. Friend of mine.”
“Is she blonde?” Jack asked, smirking.
“Redhead actually,” the Doctor told him with a grin. “You’ll like her. She’s feisty.”
“Is she the same one you left in the TARDIS on your last visit?” Jack enquired, standing up, feeling slightly more cheerful. The Doctor’s presence always made him smile.
“Um … yeah.” The Doctor had an awkward expression on his face. “Don’t mention that to her. After last time I, well … it took me a week to make it up to her. If you mention it was you I went to see … well …”
“Duly noted,” Jack said, with a laugh. “Come on, then. Let’s go and you can introduce me to your ‘feisty redhead!’” Jack started off towards the TARDIS.
“She’s not my feisty redhead!” the Doctor said, quickly. “She’s a feisty redhead.”
“Whatever you say, doc,” Jack replied with a grin.
The Doctor merely rolled his eyes.
10:36
The TARDIS door opened and Donna Noble turned from the console to see the Doctor and Jack walk in. The Doctor hadn’t told her what Martha had told him on the phone, but she guessed it was something bad by his expression and his command, “Stay here. I don’t need to be worrying about you today. Just today, Donna … stay here.” Donna had bristled at the tone, but had seen the underlying concern in his eyes and had backed down.
As such, she had found herself sitting in the silly chair the Doctor kept by the console and reading an incredibly boring book the Doctor had recommended.
She didn’t think it was even in English; but the TARDIS wouldn’t tell her.
“Hey,” she said to the Doctor and Jack, keeping her tone even. She didn’t want to be too jovial or too bad tempered.
“Oh yes, very feisty,” Jack commented, with a grin. He extended his hand to shake Donna’s. “Capt’n Jack Harkness,” he said, introducing himself.
“Donna Noble,” Donna replied, a slight blush tingeing her cheeks. “You didn’t say he was cute!” Donna told the Doctor, slapping him on the arm.
“He’s taken,” the Doctor informed her.
“Jealous?” Jack asked, with a grin.
“Oh, don’t start,” the Doctor said, with a grimace.
“The old you used to flirt back!” Jack grumbled. “Why is this one so much younger, so much better looking and so much grumpier?”
The Doctor ignored him. “So, Jack,” he said, “I’m taking it upon myself to cheer you up a bit! That and the fact Martha told me she’d kick my butt if I didn’t help you …”
“Oi, spaceman, bit of tact?” Donna said, irritably.
“Anyway … one trip. We can go anywhere you like!” The Doctor grinned manically. “Boeshane, the Pleasure Planet of Rix … although, that wouldn’t be so much fun without your Mister Jones …”
“Oh, I should have known you’d be gay,” Donna grumbled. Jack smirked at her, but didn’t comment.
“… Woman wept, Midnight … although that hasn’t been the same since I went there last …”
“You didn’t plant a banana grove did you?” Jack asked, with a groan.
“Nah!” the Doctor said. “Long story, Midnight … best left for another day!” The Doctor pulled a handle and Jack felt the TARDIS move beneath him. “I know where we can go! Somewhere to indulge your love of high places!”
“Doctor, you really don’t have to … I really don’t want to …” Jack stopped. He was only trying to help, and he’d be back within hours, right? He could hear Ianto’s voice in his head again, telling him he’d be in massive trouble when he got home. “Doctor, are you kidnapping me?” he demanded, realising he wasn’t being given a choice in the matter.
The Doctor grinned. “Yep!”
“I have to ask …” Jack said, after a moment of feeling the TARDIS spinning through space. “Is there a way? Is there a way of going back there?”
The Doctor looked round. “That would be a paradox,” he said.
“But if we go back there … then the paradox machine would still be there letting us, right? Because it would be before I destroyed it …”
“That world is gone, Jack. If I go back there it’ll rip a hole in the fabric of time and space. Just like if I went to the alternate universe to get Rose.”
Jack blinked away tears. “That’s different,” he said.
“Same principle.”
Donna looked between the two of them. “I get who Rose is … but who is Cole?”
“Take me home,” Jack said.
“Jack …”
“Now!”
10:49
“This isn’t home,” Jack said, as he looked out of the TARDIS. He turned back towards the Doctor, looking annoyed.
“No,” the Doctor admitted. “I decided I should get the yelling, hitting and cursing out of the way sooner rather than later.”
“You can’t swear in the TARDIS,” Jack said. “Trust me, I tried, remember? Everything becomes ‘bananas’.”
The Doctor shrugged. “I don’t like foul mouths.”
“Ianto likes my mouth.”
“I did not need to know that!” the Doctor and Donna said in unison. Jack rolled his eyes and stepped outside of the TARDIS.
“This is London,” he said. “Why are we in London?”
The Doctor stepped out behind him, pulling on his coat as he went. He pointed towards a large building nearby, from which Martha was running. “That’s why,” he said. “When I said the yelling, hitting and cursing … I didn’t mean from you.”
Martha flew down the path and launched herself at Jack, hugging him tight. “Are you okay?” she asked. He shrugged. She turned to the Doctor, who held out his arms for a hug. “I’m not hugging you.”
“Why not?” the Doctor whined.
“Because of what you told me on the phone!” She cuffed him round the back of the head. “I told you to cheer him up, not kidnap him, you insensitive banana!” Martha closed her mouth with a snap. “Why did I just say banana?”
“TARDIS language filter,” Jack and the Doctor said at the same time.
“Stops you from swearing,” Jack said.
“But we’re not in the TARDIS,” Martha pointed out.
“It’s got one hell of a range.” Jack glowered at it. “Bananaing thing.” He sighed. “And as for you…” He rounded on Martha, pointing his finger in her face. “You told on me.”
Martha held up her hands. “I was concerned. Where’s Ianto?” She looked at Jack’s guilty expression. “Jack!” she exclaimed, hitting him on the arm with the back of her hand, making him pull a face and rub the spot she hit. “You didn’t tell him?”
Jack squirmed. “Um … no.”
“Right. You!” She rounded on the Doctor. “Shove him back into your TARDIS and take him home. Make him tell that gorgeous Welshman of his what today is!” She poked the Doctor in the chest. “Go!”
“Yes, ma’am,” the Doctor said, huffily, herding Jack back into the TARDIS. “This is why I don’t do domestics,” he said, after a moment.
Jack chuckled and walked over to sit beside Donna, who was sulking, mumbling something about not sighing on for this. “I didn’t sign on at all,” Jack said, with a grin. “But I’m here nonetheless.” He looked up at the Doctor. “Kidnapper.”
The Doctor ignored him.
“Doc, I’m not telling him.”
Silence.
Jack rolled his eyes and leant back. “So how’d he pick you up?” he asked Donna. “Hospital on the moon? Exploding plastic? Gasmask monsters?”
“Walking fat,” Donna replied.
“Walking fat …” Jack mimicked, lightly. “I should have known.”
Donna nodded, smirking. “Though, I suppose you could say it was my wedding day.”
“You crashed a wedding, Doc?” Jack called out across the TARDIS. “Fun, isn’t it?”
“Oh yeah,” the Doctor replied on autopilot.
Donna glowered at him then turned to Jack. “You like crashing weddings?”
Jack grinned. “It did have a certain appeal to it each time. Well, except the last time. That was just horrible.”
“Oh?” The Doctor was fiddling with his console again. Jack wondered what he was doing.
“Yeah, Gwen woke up pregnant …”
“Nostravite?” the Doctor quizzed.
Jack nodded. “Yep. We didn’t realise at the time, though, so we didn’t realise that the mother was going to come and rip Gwen open to get its kid back.”
“Ouch,” Donna said, pulling a face.
“When we did realise, we had to crash the wedding to save her.” Jack shrugged. “Was a good wedding after that, though.”
The Doctor grunted and continued messing with his console. “I thought you were taking this one home as per Martha’s command?” Donna asked.
The Doctor peered at her. “How did you know that?”
Donna rolled her eyes. “I was eavesdropping using that monitor thing!” she told him.
The Doctor sighed. “I’m not taking him back just yet.”
Jack sighed. “I just want to go back to…”
“…moping on the beach?” the Doctor offered.
“Grieving,” Jack corrected.
The Doctor rolled his eyes and ran around the console, tapping more buttons and adjusting more dials. “What are you doing?” Donna asked.
“Just some calculations,” the Doctor replied, absently.
“Calculations?” Jack quizzed.
“Nothing to worry about,” the Doctor said. The TARDIS jerked. “Well … nothing to worry a lot about.”
Jack sighed. “How long have we been in the vortex?”
“Oh, about ten minutes. You two were chatting away and didn’t even notice the TARDIS moving.” The Doctor tutted.
“So how did he pick you up?” Donna asked.
Jack grinned. “He didn’t.” Donna gave him a perplexed look. “Well … I was in nineteen-forty-one and there I was, minding my own business, when I see a blonde girl in a union jack clinging to a rope hanging from a barrage balloon.”
Donna’s eyes widened. “In the middle of the second world war?”
“And an air raid, no less.” Jack smiled fondly. “That was Rose.”
“Oh! The Rose?” Donna looked at the Doctor who nodded, gruffly, but didn’t comment.
“The very one.” Jack grinned. “So I rescued her with my frankly magnificent spaceship …”
“Which he then got blown up,” the Doctor pointed out.
“I got it blown up saving you from being exploded by a bomb!” Jack argued.
“And who was it that caused us to be there in the first place?”
“Touché.” Jack turned to Donna. “Anyway, when he rescued me from my soon-to-explode ship, I went off with him and Rose.” He shrugged. “Never stood a chance - enigmatic Doctor with a timeship and a blonde hanging from a barrage balloon.”
“I can see the appeal,” Donna said, sarcastically.
Jack shot her a dazzling grin, then turned to the Doctor. “So, doc, planning to take me home sometime in the near future?”
The Doctor nodded again, distractedly, and Jack sighed.
16:21
Jack stepped out of the TARDIS and squinted up at the sky. “What the hell time is it?” he demanded.
The Doctor checked his watch, which always seemed to keep the time of the area they were in. “Half four in the afternoon.”
Jack grimaced and stepped away from the TARDIS, examining his surroundings. “I guess I should get home,” he said. “As it’s so late.” He glared at the Doctor.
“Sorry,” the Doctor apologised, “I couldn’t judge the landing right.”
Donna slapped him on the arm. “You could have aimed a few hours earlier!” she accused.
The Doctor shrugged. “Look at it this way, Jack; the day will be over sooner.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Jack said, with a sigh. “But thanks anyway.”
The Doctor smiled sadly. “I wish I could help, Jack, I really do,” he said.
“I know.” Jack looked at his surroundings. “This is miles from the hub … I better get going.” He looked at the Doctor. “Thanks,” he said. He meant it.
The Doctor nodded. “Let me know if you ever want a trip,” he said.
“Will do,” Jack replied. “I promise.”
The Doctor smiled at him as Donna dragged him back inside the TARDIS.
Jack smiled fondly as he walked away, heading for the main road nearby. It would take him hours to walk back, but it wasn’t like he was unfit or was in a hurry to get home.
Saturday 9th August
00:43
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ianto asked, softly, sitting up straight.
Jack grimaced. “I didn’t think …”
“You didn’t think what?”
“I just thought it would be better handled alone.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s how I handle everything: alone. Because I’m alone.”
“No, you’re not.” Ianto reached out and touched Jack’s face. “You have me.”
“Do I?”
“What do you mean?”
“I said I loved you but you … you didn’t.”
“Oh Jack.” Ianto sighed and kissed Jack’s forehead. “I didn’t have chance. Faith interrupted us, remember? Literally with our pants down.”
Jack smiled at the memory.
“I love you,” Ianto said, firmly. “More than anything or anyone in my life. Do you hear me?”
Jack met his eyes. “Really?”
“Really, you idiot,” Ianto said, with a smile. “I love you.”
Jack visibly relaxed. “I love you, too,” he said. “And next time I’ll tell you about Cole’s birthday in advance and we can spend it together.”
“I’m pretty sure he’d want it that way.”
“I wish you’d known him, Ianto,” Jack said.
“I wish I had too.” Ianto smiled. “But with luck we can know anoth-”
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
“I better get that,” Jack said, sadly. “Stay here and hold that thought!” He jumped out of bed, running from the room to answer his mobile.
Ianto buried his head in the pillow. Every sodding time, he thought, irritably. Every sodding time.
Back on the TARDIS
“Doctor, you’ve been trying this for four days straight. Give it up. You’re going to rip a hole in the fabric of the universe if you don’t stop!” Donna exclaimed.
“No, no, no. If I can get the calibration right I can get back there!” the Doctor insisted.
Donna sighed and sat down in his chair. “You’ve both lost someone,” Donna told him. “So you know how he feels … but he can’t see Cole again, just like you can’t see Rose.” She looked at him, sadly.
The Doctor sighed and sat down next to her. “There’s about as much chance of Cole turning up as Rose. You’re right.”
~Next~
Rating: R
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Spike/Buffy, Willow/Tosh, Xander/Anya, Martha, Owen, Faith, some minor OCs, the Doctor, Donna.
Summary: Sequel to Magic and Mayhem at the Rift. The Scoobie gang, now fully integrated into the Torchwood group and settled in to their new lives, discover there’s more coming through the rift than the odd demon and alien. This story is set post Exit Wounds, so there are minor spoilers. However, I have major problems with Exit Wounds and, as such, only some of the storyline happened (same goes for Reset which, although it happened, did not end like it did in the series in my head. Dead Man Walking and A Day in the Death DID NOT HAPPEN. I’m in my happy place now ...). Episodes like Adrift, Something Borrowed and Out of the Rain did happen, though (Like I said before: happy place) and may be referred to or even flash-backed to from time to time.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood or Buffy the Vampire Slayer … I do however own the cracked story idea - and proud of it, thankyouverymuch! I don’t own the title of this story either, however, that was thought up by the wonderful ickle18(I say wonderful because anyone who can come up with this title must be), the daughter of missthingsplace THANK YOU!
My other stories and links to the chapters of Magic and Mayhem (and Vampires, Demons and Torchwood) can be found here, at my master list.
Whereas Ianto's day threatened to take over 8000 words, Jack's day was moderately uneventful (unless you count kidnapping). But, it fit my 3000 word aim so :)
This chapter is dedicated to my best, best friend and almost-sister,
kat_sor, even though she never reads this fic (mean girl!) but reads paragraphs and stuff I copy/paste across MSN and makes it impossible to write a chapter whilest using skype. Damn her ;]
Enjoy the chappy.
Previous chapters: Ch.1, Ch. 2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8 Ch.9 Ch.10 Ch.11a Ch.11b
Chapter 12: Jack's Friday
Friday 8th August
09:29
Jack couldn’t sleep, although that was nothing new for him. He was lying in bed, watching the minutes tick by, Ianto wrapped in his arms, head resting on his chest, thinking of only one thing.
Cole.
It was his birthday today, or would be if he hadn’t ceased to exist. Jack closed his eyes and looked at the clock again; 09:30. Finally!
He carefully extricated Ianto from his arms, tucking a pillow under the young man’s head in his place, and climbed out of bed, grabbing his clothes from the wardrobe and walking into the bathroom. He glanced back at Ianto, sleeping peacefully, and smiled. He could have left earlier, but he’d learned in his long life not to fail to appreciate the simple things a loved one did. He lay awake many nights just watching the Welshman sleep and he never tired of it.
He was just too pretty while he was sleeping.
Jack grimaced as he heard Ianto’s voice in his head saying, “Pretty? What do you mean pretty?” He mentally amended; cute. “Cute?!” Jack rolled his eyes as he splashed water on his face from the sink.
Alright, Ianto, he thought, realising he was probably going insane talking to voices in his head, you’re handsome and sexy.
He suspected Ianto wouldn’t mind the latter two as much as the former.
Once he was done in the bathroom and was dressed, Jack went into the kitchen and made himself a few slices of toast, munching it as he grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a quick note for Ianto to find.
He was about to leave the flat when he realised he still had his mobile on him. Knowing Martha, she would probably call him to make sure he wasn’t doing anything stupid today of all days. He pulled it from his pocket and placed it on top of the note before leaving the flat.
10:19
The waves lapped up onto the beach as Jack sat on the bench gazing out at the blue waters. It was so peaceful here, so quiet … so easy to hear approaching footsteps.
“She told you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah.” The Doctor walked around to sit next to Jack. “She did.”
“Why?” Jack asked, glad he hadn’t been crying.
“She was worried about you,” the Doctor told him, quietly.
“Afraid I’d do something stupid, huh? Scared I’d kill myself?” He chuckled darkly. “Trust me; it doesn’t work.”
“Why didn’t you tell me yourself?” the Doctor asked, gently, wisely ignoring the suicide comment, even though it hurt him to hear.
“I …” Jack sighed and leaned back in the seat. “I didn’t want you to feel guilty.”
“I’m your friend, Jack. You should be able to talk to me.”
“So’s Martha. I talked to her. In confidence.” He paused, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. “Someone should tell her the meaning of the phrase.”
The Doctor sighed. “She was only trying to help.”
“I know.” Jack looked round at the Doctor. “So what are you doing here?”
“I came to make sure you were okay.”
“How did you find me?”
“The TARDIS. You have the Time Vortex in you. She tracked you easily.”
“Traitor,” Jack muttered, looking towards the blue box on the horizon.
“She was worried.”
“Well, she should mind her own business.”
“Are we still talking about the TARDIS?”
Jack smirked. “No.”
The Doctor smiled. “Didn’t think so.” He leaned back, mimicking Jack’s earlier actions. “So why here?”
Jack shrugged. “No reason.”
The Doctor leaned forward to be able to look Jack in the eye easier. “No,” he said, knowingly, “there’s a reason. Tell me.”
Jack looked out across the sand. “When I found out I was carrying him,” he said, his voice barely a whisper, “at first I was scared … I was scared of him coming into a world dominated by him” - he hissed the word, not wanting to say the name - “and scared that I wouldn’t be a good father.”
“You’d be a great father,” the Doctor assured him.
“Never got to find out, did I?” Jack sighed. “But then, as I felt him growing in me, I just … I realised I could be a great dad by bringing the world back to him.” Jack smiled sadly. “And suddenly … I could see my future with him.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah. I could see me teaching him to play football or celebrating his birthday as a family … I could just see Tosh’s face when I announced ‘this is my son!’ … and Ianto’s.” He smiled, sadly. “Owen’s reaction was always the funniest in my head.” He looked at the gently lapping waves. “I used to love swimming when I was a kid, and I know Ianto likes it too …” He held up a hand. “Don’t ask me about that,” he said, with a grin.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“So I was planning day trips to this beach. It wouldn’t be too far away from the rift so I could get back if there was an emergency … but it would be fun. It would be like we were normal. A normal family.”
“Where is your Mister Jones then?” the Doctor asked. He looked at Jack’s guilty expression. “You didn’t tell him.”
“It’s my burden to bear.”
“Come on!” The Doctor stood up and Jack looked up at him, quizzically.
“Come on what?”
“TARDIS. Got someone for you to meet. Friend of mine.”
“Is she blonde?” Jack asked, smirking.
“Redhead actually,” the Doctor told him with a grin. “You’ll like her. She’s feisty.”
“Is she the same one you left in the TARDIS on your last visit?” Jack enquired, standing up, feeling slightly more cheerful. The Doctor’s presence always made him smile.
“Um … yeah.” The Doctor had an awkward expression on his face. “Don’t mention that to her. After last time I, well … it took me a week to make it up to her. If you mention it was you I went to see … well …”
“Duly noted,” Jack said, with a laugh. “Come on, then. Let’s go and you can introduce me to your ‘feisty redhead!’” Jack started off towards the TARDIS.
“She’s not my feisty redhead!” the Doctor said, quickly. “She’s a feisty redhead.”
“Whatever you say, doc,” Jack replied with a grin.
The Doctor merely rolled his eyes.
10:36
The TARDIS door opened and Donna Noble turned from the console to see the Doctor and Jack walk in. The Doctor hadn’t told her what Martha had told him on the phone, but she guessed it was something bad by his expression and his command, “Stay here. I don’t need to be worrying about you today. Just today, Donna … stay here.” Donna had bristled at the tone, but had seen the underlying concern in his eyes and had backed down.
As such, she had found herself sitting in the silly chair the Doctor kept by the console and reading an incredibly boring book the Doctor had recommended.
She didn’t think it was even in English; but the TARDIS wouldn’t tell her.
“Hey,” she said to the Doctor and Jack, keeping her tone even. She didn’t want to be too jovial or too bad tempered.
“Oh yes, very feisty,” Jack commented, with a grin. He extended his hand to shake Donna’s. “Capt’n Jack Harkness,” he said, introducing himself.
“Donna Noble,” Donna replied, a slight blush tingeing her cheeks. “You didn’t say he was cute!” Donna told the Doctor, slapping him on the arm.
“He’s taken,” the Doctor informed her.
“Jealous?” Jack asked, with a grin.
“Oh, don’t start,” the Doctor said, with a grimace.
“The old you used to flirt back!” Jack grumbled. “Why is this one so much younger, so much better looking and so much grumpier?”
The Doctor ignored him. “So, Jack,” he said, “I’m taking it upon myself to cheer you up a bit! That and the fact Martha told me she’d kick my butt if I didn’t help you …”
“Oi, spaceman, bit of tact?” Donna said, irritably.
“Anyway … one trip. We can go anywhere you like!” The Doctor grinned manically. “Boeshane, the Pleasure Planet of Rix … although, that wouldn’t be so much fun without your Mister Jones …”
“Oh, I should have known you’d be gay,” Donna grumbled. Jack smirked at her, but didn’t comment.
“… Woman wept, Midnight … although that hasn’t been the same since I went there last …”
“You didn’t plant a banana grove did you?” Jack asked, with a groan.
“Nah!” the Doctor said. “Long story, Midnight … best left for another day!” The Doctor pulled a handle and Jack felt the TARDIS move beneath him. “I know where we can go! Somewhere to indulge your love of high places!”
“Doctor, you really don’t have to … I really don’t want to …” Jack stopped. He was only trying to help, and he’d be back within hours, right? He could hear Ianto’s voice in his head again, telling him he’d be in massive trouble when he got home. “Doctor, are you kidnapping me?” he demanded, realising he wasn’t being given a choice in the matter.
The Doctor grinned. “Yep!”
“I have to ask …” Jack said, after a moment of feeling the TARDIS spinning through space. “Is there a way? Is there a way of going back there?”
The Doctor looked round. “That would be a paradox,” he said.
“But if we go back there … then the paradox machine would still be there letting us, right? Because it would be before I destroyed it …”
“That world is gone, Jack. If I go back there it’ll rip a hole in the fabric of time and space. Just like if I went to the alternate universe to get Rose.”
Jack blinked away tears. “That’s different,” he said.
“Same principle.”
Donna looked between the two of them. “I get who Rose is … but who is Cole?”
“Take me home,” Jack said.
“Jack …”
“Now!”
10:49
“This isn’t home,” Jack said, as he looked out of the TARDIS. He turned back towards the Doctor, looking annoyed.
“No,” the Doctor admitted. “I decided I should get the yelling, hitting and cursing out of the way sooner rather than later.”
“You can’t swear in the TARDIS,” Jack said. “Trust me, I tried, remember? Everything becomes ‘bananas’.”
The Doctor shrugged. “I don’t like foul mouths.”
“Ianto likes my mouth.”
“I did not need to know that!” the Doctor and Donna said in unison. Jack rolled his eyes and stepped outside of the TARDIS.
“This is London,” he said. “Why are we in London?”
The Doctor stepped out behind him, pulling on his coat as he went. He pointed towards a large building nearby, from which Martha was running. “That’s why,” he said. “When I said the yelling, hitting and cursing … I didn’t mean from you.”
Martha flew down the path and launched herself at Jack, hugging him tight. “Are you okay?” she asked. He shrugged. She turned to the Doctor, who held out his arms for a hug. “I’m not hugging you.”
“Why not?” the Doctor whined.
“Because of what you told me on the phone!” She cuffed him round the back of the head. “I told you to cheer him up, not kidnap him, you insensitive banana!” Martha closed her mouth with a snap. “Why did I just say banana?”
“TARDIS language filter,” Jack and the Doctor said at the same time.
“Stops you from swearing,” Jack said.
“But we’re not in the TARDIS,” Martha pointed out.
“It’s got one hell of a range.” Jack glowered at it. “Bananaing thing.” He sighed. “And as for you…” He rounded on Martha, pointing his finger in her face. “You told on me.”
Martha held up her hands. “I was concerned. Where’s Ianto?” She looked at Jack’s guilty expression. “Jack!” she exclaimed, hitting him on the arm with the back of her hand, making him pull a face and rub the spot she hit. “You didn’t tell him?”
Jack squirmed. “Um … no.”
“Right. You!” She rounded on the Doctor. “Shove him back into your TARDIS and take him home. Make him tell that gorgeous Welshman of his what today is!” She poked the Doctor in the chest. “Go!”
“Yes, ma’am,” the Doctor said, huffily, herding Jack back into the TARDIS. “This is why I don’t do domestics,” he said, after a moment.
Jack chuckled and walked over to sit beside Donna, who was sulking, mumbling something about not sighing on for this. “I didn’t sign on at all,” Jack said, with a grin. “But I’m here nonetheless.” He looked up at the Doctor. “Kidnapper.”
The Doctor ignored him.
“Doc, I’m not telling him.”
Silence.
Jack rolled his eyes and leant back. “So how’d he pick you up?” he asked Donna. “Hospital on the moon? Exploding plastic? Gasmask monsters?”
“Walking fat,” Donna replied.
“Walking fat …” Jack mimicked, lightly. “I should have known.”
Donna nodded, smirking. “Though, I suppose you could say it was my wedding day.”
“You crashed a wedding, Doc?” Jack called out across the TARDIS. “Fun, isn’t it?”
“Oh yeah,” the Doctor replied on autopilot.
Donna glowered at him then turned to Jack. “You like crashing weddings?”
Jack grinned. “It did have a certain appeal to it each time. Well, except the last time. That was just horrible.”
“Oh?” The Doctor was fiddling with his console again. Jack wondered what he was doing.
“Yeah, Gwen woke up pregnant …”
“Nostravite?” the Doctor quizzed.
Jack nodded. “Yep. We didn’t realise at the time, though, so we didn’t realise that the mother was going to come and rip Gwen open to get its kid back.”
“Ouch,” Donna said, pulling a face.
“When we did realise, we had to crash the wedding to save her.” Jack shrugged. “Was a good wedding after that, though.”
The Doctor grunted and continued messing with his console. “I thought you were taking this one home as per Martha’s command?” Donna asked.
The Doctor peered at her. “How did you know that?”
Donna rolled her eyes. “I was eavesdropping using that monitor thing!” she told him.
The Doctor sighed. “I’m not taking him back just yet.”
Jack sighed. “I just want to go back to…”
“…moping on the beach?” the Doctor offered.
“Grieving,” Jack corrected.
The Doctor rolled his eyes and ran around the console, tapping more buttons and adjusting more dials. “What are you doing?” Donna asked.
“Just some calculations,” the Doctor replied, absently.
“Calculations?” Jack quizzed.
“Nothing to worry about,” the Doctor said. The TARDIS jerked. “Well … nothing to worry a lot about.”
Jack sighed. “How long have we been in the vortex?”
“Oh, about ten minutes. You two were chatting away and didn’t even notice the TARDIS moving.” The Doctor tutted.
“So how did he pick you up?” Donna asked.
Jack grinned. “He didn’t.” Donna gave him a perplexed look. “Well … I was in nineteen-forty-one and there I was, minding my own business, when I see a blonde girl in a union jack clinging to a rope hanging from a barrage balloon.”
Donna’s eyes widened. “In the middle of the second world war?”
“And an air raid, no less.” Jack smiled fondly. “That was Rose.”
“Oh! The Rose?” Donna looked at the Doctor who nodded, gruffly, but didn’t comment.
“The very one.” Jack grinned. “So I rescued her with my frankly magnificent spaceship …”
“Which he then got blown up,” the Doctor pointed out.
“I got it blown up saving you from being exploded by a bomb!” Jack argued.
“And who was it that caused us to be there in the first place?”
“Touché.” Jack turned to Donna. “Anyway, when he rescued me from my soon-to-explode ship, I went off with him and Rose.” He shrugged. “Never stood a chance - enigmatic Doctor with a timeship and a blonde hanging from a barrage balloon.”
“I can see the appeal,” Donna said, sarcastically.
Jack shot her a dazzling grin, then turned to the Doctor. “So, doc, planning to take me home sometime in the near future?”
The Doctor nodded again, distractedly, and Jack sighed.
16:21
Jack stepped out of the TARDIS and squinted up at the sky. “What the hell time is it?” he demanded.
The Doctor checked his watch, which always seemed to keep the time of the area they were in. “Half four in the afternoon.”
Jack grimaced and stepped away from the TARDIS, examining his surroundings. “I guess I should get home,” he said. “As it’s so late.” He glared at the Doctor.
“Sorry,” the Doctor apologised, “I couldn’t judge the landing right.”
Donna slapped him on the arm. “You could have aimed a few hours earlier!” she accused.
The Doctor shrugged. “Look at it this way, Jack; the day will be over sooner.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Jack said, with a sigh. “But thanks anyway.”
The Doctor smiled sadly. “I wish I could help, Jack, I really do,” he said.
“I know.” Jack looked at his surroundings. “This is miles from the hub … I better get going.” He looked at the Doctor. “Thanks,” he said. He meant it.
The Doctor nodded. “Let me know if you ever want a trip,” he said.
“Will do,” Jack replied. “I promise.”
The Doctor smiled at him as Donna dragged him back inside the TARDIS.
Jack smiled fondly as he walked away, heading for the main road nearby. It would take him hours to walk back, but it wasn’t like he was unfit or was in a hurry to get home.
Saturday 9th August
00:43
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ianto asked, softly, sitting up straight.
Jack grimaced. “I didn’t think …”
“You didn’t think what?”
“I just thought it would be better handled alone.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s how I handle everything: alone. Because I’m alone.”
“No, you’re not.” Ianto reached out and touched Jack’s face. “You have me.”
“Do I?”
“What do you mean?”
“I said I loved you but you … you didn’t.”
“Oh Jack.” Ianto sighed and kissed Jack’s forehead. “I didn’t have chance. Faith interrupted us, remember? Literally with our pants down.”
Jack smiled at the memory.
“I love you,” Ianto said, firmly. “More than anything or anyone in my life. Do you hear me?”
Jack met his eyes. “Really?”
“Really, you idiot,” Ianto said, with a smile. “I love you.”
Jack visibly relaxed. “I love you, too,” he said. “And next time I’ll tell you about Cole’s birthday in advance and we can spend it together.”
“I’m pretty sure he’d want it that way.”
“I wish you’d known him, Ianto,” Jack said.
“I wish I had too.” Ianto smiled. “But with luck we can know anoth-”
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
“I better get that,” Jack said, sadly. “Stay here and hold that thought!” He jumped out of bed, running from the room to answer his mobile.
Ianto buried his head in the pillow. Every sodding time, he thought, irritably. Every sodding time.
Back on the TARDIS
“Doctor, you’ve been trying this for four days straight. Give it up. You’re going to rip a hole in the fabric of the universe if you don’t stop!” Donna exclaimed.
“No, no, no. If I can get the calibration right I can get back there!” the Doctor insisted.
Donna sighed and sat down in his chair. “You’ve both lost someone,” Donna told him. “So you know how he feels … but he can’t see Cole again, just like you can’t see Rose.” She looked at him, sadly.
The Doctor sighed and sat down next to her. “There’s about as much chance of Cole turning up as Rose. You’re right.”
~Next~