See Chapter 1 for disclaimer and AN
WHY WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE?! The Doctor empathically demanded of his recalcitrant time-ship.
He is needed. It is no mistake that we detected that void stuff. I realize you think this will destroy the timelines, but check them. No matter what happens to him when we arrive it will not negatively impact the timeline of any version of our reality. In fact it could stand to right quite a few wrongs along the way! she replied.
That was the most that his TARDIS had ever spoken to him in words since he first stole her centuries ago during the fall of Gallifrey. It was this fact alone that gave him pause and allowed himself to carefully consider his next actions.
During this silent fight between Time Lord and TARDIS, Jordan stood in barely controlled shock in the middle of the control room. The Doctor seems angry. I think we just traveled. I'm traveling with the Doctor?!
As soon as this question entered his mind a million more clamored to be heard. Are we still in my universe? Are we still on Earth? When are we? Can I get home? Forget that… do I even want to go home? This last question shocked him. He believed himself to be happy with his lot in life, but recent experiences had just opened his world few by several million degrees.
I don't know if I could go back. Finish my masters in computer programming before taking some dead end job sitting in a cubicle for forty hours a week for the next forty years. Suddenly being yanked out of his life didn't seem to faze him as much. He had no family except a few distant cousins that he rarely spoke to, everyone else was dead. He had almost no friends, and absolutely no friends that would try very hard to find him should he turn up missing. His job at Starbuck's would be filled within the hour of them realizing that Jordan would not be returning for his next shift. All in all, he was feeling much better about this situation than he should be.
He knew that the TARDIS was sentient and could communicate telepathically so he attempted to block out the angry mutterings of the Doctor and the concerned chatter between Jack and Rose and listen. It didn't take long for him to become aware of a gentle hum at the back of his mind. The TARDIS noticed that he was sensitive enough to hear her, and sent a feeling of happiness and contentment into his mind.
Smiling, he opened his eyes. "Doctor"
The Doctor spun around and looked at his unwelcome companion.
"Am I correct in assuming that the reason you are so angry is that we've left my universe?" Internally he was completely elated to be on this amazing adventure, but he allowed panic and confusion to thread itself through his tone. It had the intended result and the Doctor's anger melted at this sight of the young frightened man.
"Yes. And I am so completely sorry. The TARDIS acted without my permission or instruction. She made a spur of the moment decision based on this THINNEST of timeline possibilities, the results of which could be catastrophic. The void stuff we encountered that allowed us to travel to your universe has dissipated, and I do not expect another anomaly of that kind to happen again. I'm sorry" he finished before hanging his head.
"Oh that's quite alright Doctor. I didn't have much of a life for you to rip me away from. No family, not many friends, shitty job. All in all I think that gallivanting around the universe with you; saving civilizations, destroying Daleks, meeting Lady Cassandra and the Face of Boe. It all sounds like an amazing time." Jordan replied with a smirk.
Knowing he had been had, the Doctor began to feel his anger rise again, but when it passed into his mouth to tell the young man off, he found himself laughing raucously instead.
"Good one, you! Not many people can pull one over on me… I'll have to watch you more carefully."
"I'll help you watch him, carefully." Jack felt the need to add.
Realizing that something about what the young man had just said had struck him as odd, he ignored Jack's incessant flirting and turned his mind to what Jordan had just said. …civilizations, destroying Daleks, meeting… The color drained from his face as he turned again to the young man, this time in horror.
"I'm sorry Jordan, but did you just say… dalek?" He added the last bit under his breath. As if simply speaking their name was enough to resurrect them from the dead.
Jordan sighed as he realized his mistake. It seems you aren't the only one who is going to have to watch me Doctor. I've been here less than five minutes and I've already messed with their timeline. DAMMIT.
"Yes Doctor. I said Dalek. I cannot tell you more. I'm sorry."
"But… but that means that I'll meet them again. If it was my own past you wouldn't be TELLING me anything. I demand to know what you're talking about. NOW!"
Jordan cringed. He did not want to anger the Doctor further, but he knew he would have to be very careful about what he revealed.
"Yes Doctor, you will see them again. The Time War isn't over. I'm sorry. But please, please don't make me say anymore. Everything will play out just fine. Thanks in no short part to your two brilliant companions." He said, turning to Rose and Jack on the last bit.
At this the TARDIS got angry and sent Jordan a mental cut-down.
I have brought you here so that you can change things. Things on Satellite 5 will happen no matter what you say. And play out in exactly the same way. Go there now, go there in two years. Either way we will still arrive in 200,100 to find an invading Dalek army.
Shocked that the time-ship would actually speak to him in words, he had been flattered enough by her allowing him to hear that hum in the back of his mind, it took a moment to realize what she had said. I'm supposed to change things? But how? The Doctor changes things, but he can see all of time and space. How can I possibly know what to reveal and what not to? The slightest change could level planets. It's too much responsibility. Too much. Just too much.
The Doctor took in the sight of the young man in front of him. Despite how he had fooled him earlier, the Doctor now saw genuine fear emanating from his eyes.
"Jordan, what's wrong?" Rose could feel the fear pouring off of him as she moved closer to him to catch him should he faint.
"Th… the TARDIS, she spoke to me, she said I could… but I cant. I just CANT!" he practically screamed all the while moving backwards away from Rose.
"The TARDIS spoke to you? Directly?" This was from the Doctor.
"Yes… she said she brought me here to change things. But I can't Doctor. You can see all of time and space and know what alterations in the timeline can and will do. Well… most of the time anyway. I'm flying blind. I'll collapse your universe and kill us all!"
What're you upto old girl? The Doctor thought at the TARDIS. He wasn't expecting a response, but he got one anyway.
Fixing things she replied shortly.
Fixing what exactly?
I cannot yet reveal that to you. Something unexpected is about to happen, and it will send ripples through all of time. Jordan will stabilize a part of that timeline. A very specific part. Tell him he need not worry. He will know when to act. It is only the large action that will change things, not his everyday interaction with Torchwood.
Torchwood? We're sending him to Torchwood? When?
All will be revealed. For now I know you are itching to engage the Daleks. Let us go to Satellite 5. Jordan must not participate in events there, or help Rose in any way. He will understand this message.
You've yet to steer me wrong TARDIS, but if the universe collapses and you only have me for company for all of eternity, on your own head be it!
He could still feel her chuckling in his head as he turned to Jordan.
"There are things I must inform you of Jordan. I've just been in contact with the TARDIS and I will explain everything to you. Probably in conjunction with her since she wont tell me what unexpected event will happen on Satellite 5. As if a Dalek army weren't surprise enough." He locked eyes with Rose and nodded his head towards to hallway which lead to the bedrooms. She understood the message and dragged a protesting Jack out of the room.
Sitting on a couch Jordan was waiting for the Doctor to join him.
"Jordan, from what I can gain from the TARDIS, she does want you to change things. But only certain things. She said you would know when to act. She would like to take you to Torchwood. Why she wants to take you to THAT god-awful place I'll never know…"
"T-Torchwood? Which Torchwood?"
"Which Torchwood?" parroted the Doctor. Seeing he was confused he thought he would clarify.
"Yes… there is Torchwood 1 in London. Torchwood 2 is in… Glasgow I think. Torchwood 3 is in Cardiff. Torchwood 4 disappeared and no one knows where or when it is…"
After consulting with the TARDIS a moment, he got a more precise answer.
"Torchwood 3 in Cardiff. As far as when she would only tell me 'shortly after their leader returned'. Whoever that is and where they were are apparently state secrets!" he grumbled this last bit, which was entirely for the benefit of the TARDIS.
Jordan got decidedly paler. After Jack gets back from here? From the year-that-never-was? He shuddered again, realizing that the still very much mortal Jack Harkness was in his room just a few yards away. He turned his concentration on the TARDIS. He had questions only she could answer. The Doctor sensed his shift in awareness and sat back to allow the two to talk. She hardly speaks to me in words at all he thought jealously. Only because I've known you so long that words aren't important anymore Doctor she soothed in return.
TARDIS thought Jordan
Hmm?
You're sending me to Jack's Torchwood. After the year-that-never… wait. How do you know about the Master? And Jack. Didn't you react instinctively from his fixed-pointedness when you flung everyone to the edge of the universe?
I never act instinctually as I have no instincts. It was/will be quite a deliberate act. One I'm extremely sorry for. Especially because of what Jack had to go through. It was the only safe way to flush out the Master. All of the other timelines end with his victory.
I understand he sagged under the weight of her words.
I see that you do and that is why I chose you. You know why preservation of the timelines are important and not something to be trifled with. This will cause you to walk carefully in your new time. But there are things for you to do there. People for you to save.
Tosh. Owen. Oh God… Ianto.
Precisely. The longer that Ianto Jones is in Jack Harkness' life the stronger the timeline gets. Once Jack becomes immortal he will affect all possible timelines. The more mentally sound he is the better it is for the universe. Ianto's early death will seriously impede this aim. Also his guilt toward allowing his brother to be the death of two of his teammates isn't going to help. These three things you have to change. Other things will change because of your presence, but do not worry about this shift. I have calculated it and the impact you will make immediately will be of no consequence when weighed against the betterment of the whole universe.
A great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Jordan absolutely trusted the time-ship and her great knowledge. He would no longer worry that he would eat a cookie that was destined to save the life of a young diabetic who grew up to save the world. Apocalypse by cookie he chuckled inwardly.
What about Suzie? Jordan continued.
The TARDIS sighed before answering. You will not be going back far enough to save her. Gwen Cooper is also important.
I'm sure she'll cause me nothing but problems on the Ianto front. If I am to help Jack's future stability… then shouldn't I also help his present stability? Get him to admit his feelings for Ianto? Get him to back-off of Gwen?
He must realize things in his own time… but a swift kick in the ass is sometimes apropos.
He choked back a laugh, which drew the attention of the Doctor.
"Yes Doctor I believe that the TARDIS has explained enough to me for me to get on with."
"Good! Good. She told me to tell you that you aren't going to be participating in anyway with the events on Satellite 5, nor are you to help Rose in any way. She said you would understand that last part…" he trailed off looking at Jordan.
Before replying he sent the TARDIS a mental image of Rose with the Time Vortex swirling in her eyes with an unspoken question mark attached. Receiving an affirmative from the time-ship he told the Doctor that he understood.
The Doctor smiled at him before moving to the TARDIS controls.
"Jordan, could you fetch Jack and Rose for me while I get this baby ready to fly? We have Daleks to destroy. Best lock yourself in somewhere after that. Rose wont be happy when you can't help her with whatever it is she'll be doing.
He nodded before moving off to find the bedrooms. He couldn't help but feel an air of destiny surround him as he took his first steps on his new quest.
God it's like a dream come true. I get to fix all the things that made me sob like a child whilst I watched them play out on TV.
So… yeah. Pretty much the most blatant Mary-Sue storyline ever, but it's a guilty pleasure of mine. Also, I'm not going to be doing any research for this fic, all of the info I'm going to be pulling from the show will be from my memory only. I figure that is the boat Jordan is in, so I should put myself there with him. So if there are any errors, feel free to point them out and I'll either fix them or ignore you if it involves rewriting whole parts of the story. It's AU anyways…