The Doctor was in shock. He had seen and heard a lot in his years of travelling this universe, and sometimes other universes, but he hadn't felt shock like this in a long time. The colour had long since drained from his face and he had to take several deep breaths to calm down enough so he could process the information that Jack had just told him.
The time traveller had just got in the door of the tardis when the phone rang.
"Hello? Who is this? How did you get my number?" Few people ever called the Doctor, or maybe he was just never there to pick up the phone.
"Doctor, it's me, Jack." The Doctor rolled his eyes, when Jack Harkness is involved, there will be trouble. "I just thought you would want to know that Lake tried to blow up parliament. Again."
"Lake?" Odd name, the Doctor thought, as far as he was aware he didn't know anyone called Lake, who apparently liked to attempt blowing up parliament.
"Lake, your daughter, five foot two of pure rage, enjoys shooting stuff, ringing any bells." Jack sounded kind of exasperated, but the Doctor wasn't focusing on that, he was focusing on two specific words that came out of the mans mouth. His daughter. A daughter that apparently was his. No. NO. He couldn't have a daughter. Well, he physically could, but that wasn't the point. Jack was still talking but the Timelord wasn't listening. He must have gotten something wrong, he must have. The Doctor wasn't fit to be a dad. No, Jack must have gotten something wrong.
The Doctor nervously took a breath and interrupted the immortal man at the other end of the phone. "What do you mean daughter? I think you've gotten something wrong. I can't be a dad."
There was a swear at the other end of the line and a nervous, "Um, spoilers." Then, Jack hung up leaving the Doctor with all he needed to know.
Was it true? After all this time, he was going to have a child again? He thought back to Jenny, they hadn't known each other long but meeting her had caused so many emotions. Fear, panic, nostalgia, a very brief moment of happiness where he thought that they would be able to travel together and then a crushing sadness when she died in his arms, because of him. It would probably be better for Lake, whoever she is, if he left her alone and didn't interfere with, or mess up, her life.
The Doctor paused for a moment to consider the other things Jack told him. Lake attempted to blow up parliament, and it seems that it wasn't for the first time! What kind of a person was she? A very violent one apparently. He wondered how old she was, what she looked like, what her non-violent hobbies were (if she had any). No, stop wondering, the Doctor told himself, you're never going to meet her, so just let it go.
On the other hand, from what Jack had said it seems like he will know her in the future.
Who is her mother?
What planet was she raised on?
Does she know who her father is?
How was she raised?
The thoughts kept spinning through his head, his brain was going at a hundred miles per hour. One small visit wouldn't hurt. STOP! He needed a distraction, an adventure. He didn't care what he was doing. Trusting the tardis to take him somewhere, he pulled the lever and a familiar hum filled his ears.
The Doctor all but ran out the door when the time machine landed. He kept on walking, taking twists and turns without really looking. Usually, he would be smart enough to look for any danger but he was too distracted, in his own world, and he stayed like this until he heard the word he hated most.
"Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!"
His head turned in horror to the Dalek and he ran, only just avoiding getting shot. Of all the places he could go, it had to be near Daleks. There was an explosion behind him. He looked back to see the Dalek that was just behind him bursting into flames. It was shot by a young woman with ginger curls. The girl grabbed his hand and urged him to run. It was odd being the person pulled along instead of pulling others along.
"Who are you?" He shouted.
The girl huffed in annoyance, "My name is Lake Song. Who in the hell are you?"