Toshiko sighed, knowing that that fact should be reassuring, but on this occasion, didn't feel like it so much. She let herself be led to the bar by Jack. Maybe something to take the edge off was just what she needed.
In the background, the band was playing Melancholy Baby and the woman singing, Tosh was forced to admit, was quite nice to hear. She had seen Jack eyeing her already, and wondered if there was really anyone who didn't catch his eye.
She heard Jack ordering a water and brandy, even as someone was talking to her. He looked dapper in his uniform – perfectly polished.
"I haven't seen you in here before."
The bartender set the drinks on the counter and turned to Jack, bar rag still in hand, "Three and six, please sir."
Jack patted his pockets as if searching for his wallet before turning, panicked, to Tosh. "Uh…I…" he managed to stammer before the soldier stepped in.
"I'll get 'em." He pulled the bills from his own pocket.
Jack was trying to thank him, but the man's eyes never moved from Tosh. "One on condition."
"What?" Jack asked – the other man's eyes flicked over for the first time to acknowledge him, then, without warning, yanked Tosh onto the dance floor. She was shocked, but adapted incredibly fast, causing Jack to stand back and laugh. From somewhere nearby, a woman made a rude remark, causing Jack to shoot an unpleasing look in her direction. Now, if ever there was one, was the time for Jack to rescue his colleague, his friend. He walked to where they were dancing and attempted to cut in. "Do you mind?"
The man Tosh was dancing with became defensive and turned to Jack face-on. "I'm only borrowing her, mate."
Jack set his feet for a fight. "Maybe she doesn't want to be borrowed."
The soldier moved closer. "You want to make something of it?"
Jack gave him a wry smile and made a suggestion, "You can always dance with me if you like."
That was all the other man needed to hear. He used both hands to propel Jack backward with surprising strength. Jack had not expected him to be so aggressive and easily lost his footing. Jack hated to lose his footing.
With a small chuckle, Jack advanced. "Okay. I'll lead; you follow." Suddenly, his hands were on the boy he once thought a man. When he caused him to stumble back, he briefly turned. "Come on, Tosh."
That one break in contact was what the soldier was waiting on and he used it to his advantage. He managed to spin Jack around and catch him in the jaw with a well-aimed punch. Jack went into autopilot and came back at the boy with all his anger, pushing him backwards like an angry third-grader at the playground.
Tosh was on him, reminding him, "Jack. Jack, we're meant to be blending in…"
The boy, still reeling from Jack's reaction, scrambled to his feet. Another man in a uniform stepped between them and spoke to the boy. "Cut it out, kiddo."
He turned to face Jack after setting the boy straight. "Sorry about that. The men are a bit lively tonight. It's the last day of OTI tomorrow."
Jack found himself searching this man's face. Something about it was familiar. Jack started to wonder if someone had retconned him and done a bad job of it. Had he been here before?
The man turned back to the boy. "Apologize to the gentleman, George."
The boy, now identified as George, was humbled. "I was only dancing."
"I think it was your fist in his face he didn't like, not your foxtrot."
"I'm sorry," George offered.
Jack found it hard to look at the man who had broken the fight up. "It's okay. You barely got me."
There was a collective sigh as all seemed to be well again.
George then apologized to Tosh, who accepted and then headed off for a drink with a couple of friends.
The man who stopped Jack from pulverizing someone in the name of Toshiko's honor turned and walked over to Jack.
"Hey, are you a volunteer too?" His tone was warm and friendly as he offered a hand.
"Yeah," Jack managed. He was sure he knew this face from somewhere, but couldn't quite place it.
They joined hands in a shake and both began to talk at once. "I'm Captain…"
Both stopped to laugh, still holding hands tightly.
Jack spoke. "You go first."
The other man puffed up proudly, "I'm Captain Jack Harkness, 133rd Squadron."
Jack's face froze. His heart began to beat faster. There was no way. No way in the whole of Earth that this could be the man whose name he had taken so long ago. He could see Tosh out of the corner of his eye, every bit as shocked as he was.
Suddenly, there was a voice instructing them to look their way and a bright light. Someone had taken their picture.