bPrologue/b
iJune 2007/i
"It's not a good idea, Jack," the Doctor said. "You were a Time Agent. You know how badly things can go wrong when you change the past."
"It's just one small change," Jack argued, "and it's something that happens anyway just a few months later. I could argue that it ishould/i have happened that day. I'm just fixing a mistake."
"But it didn't happen that day. She survived, at least sort of. You're considering changing someone's personal timeline."
"You do it every day."
"Jack…" the Doctor warned.
"He's suffering so much," Jack sighed. "He doesn't need to, shouldn't have to. I go back and make this one change and he can live his life as he should, without all the guilt."
"Are you sure you've really considered all of the consequences of what you want to do?"
"Yes," Jack answered immediately. "I want him to be happy and I can give him that by doing this. I'm not asking you to go along, or to help. Just fix this, before I leave." Jack held his arm out toward the Doctor and pointed to his wrist with the other hand.
"Only use it for this," the Doctor said, pointing his sonic screwdriver at the wristband. "Don't abuse this, Jack. Remember if anyone sees you…"
"I'll be careful," Jack grinned. "I'll only change this one thing. It's not as if I don't know the damage that can be done when you play with time."
The Doctor and Martha watched Jack walk across the Plass until he disappeared around a corner.
"Do you really think he knows what he's doing?" Martha asked.
The Doctor shook his head. "I think he means well. I think he truly wants to help and believes this will do it. I just don't think it'll turn out the way he wants."
"Why?"
"Because Jack is so focused on one incident and a singular effect he's forgotten that many things can be affected by one small ripple in time."
"The Butterfly Effect?" Martha asked.
"Exactly. Now we just need to hope Jack doesn't do more harm than good."
TBC