Here's Chapter 2, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who"You can't be serious." Jack said, staring into the Time Lord's eyes.


"I didn't have any other choice." The Doctor explained, as he placed his now dry jacket back over his thin frame.

"Yeah, but Doctor; to erase her memories. That's just...harsh." Jack told him, not really believing that Donna he had met was gone.

"She was dying, Jack." The Doctor defended as he sat down on a chair. He rested his elbow on a desk and his head laying in his open palm.

"Are you sure…"

"Yes, Jack. There was nothing else to do."

Jack sighed, not liking the look in the Doctor's eyes, he was not use to seeing the Doctor like this.

"So what do you need from me?" Jack asked.

"I don't know, if I'm honest." The Doctor said, looking up to meet Jack's gaze.

Sighing, the ex-time agent walked over to his desk, he came back with a bottle and two shot glasses.

"What is that?" The Doctor asked pointing to the bottle.

"Whiskey." Jack answered, "Do you want some?"

The Doctor didn't shake his head 'no', so Jack pour two drinks and slide one of the glasses towards his friend.

The Doctor stared at the caramel colored liquid, he never drank, but now he was willing to make an exception. Picking up the shot glass, he drowned the liquor in one quick motion and his mind reeled around Donna. He mused how the stinging sensation that burned down his throat reminded him of her.

She was all fire, and warmth. And she, just like the feeling, had lingered for a moment and then was gone.

The Doctor closed his eyes, setting the glass back down.

Jack watched as the Time Lord sank further into his chair.

Nothing was coming to Jack as well. He had only just met Donna, he liked her; and somehow, even in those very short moments after meeting her, he knew that she was good for the Doctor.

And now, with the Doctor all depressed only proved that he had gotten to know a true friend that could never be replaced.

However, if what the Doctor said was true, Jack didn't know if there could be anything to do to save her. One tiny memory remembered would kill her.

"So what are you going to do?" Jack asked.

"Watch over her."

"What like a stalker?" Jack asked seriously.

"No! No, I just…can't leave her." The Doctor told him.

Jack drew out a long breath, "She's different, isn't she?"

The Doctor nodded immediately, "Yes."

Jack stood up, "So, we've got a woman who doesn't remember anything to do with you, and if she does she'll die. And there is nothing to do about it, except that she lives without you."

The Doctor exhaled loudly, "I know that bit."

"I know." Jack defended, "I just want to make sure I've got all facts."

The Doctor stood up, placing his hands on his hips, wishing that the alcohol could have any affect on him.

"So, you blocked the memories, or what?" Jack asked suddenly.

"I set up a mind block, they are all still there, just locked away." The Time Lord said, not looking at Jack.

"Can't you, like somehow, go into her head and take the memories out?" The captain asked.

The Doctor turned his head, "What?"

Jack shrugged, "I don't know, is there a way to absorb the Time Lord part out of her head?"

The Doctor stared into Jack's eyes, and was happy that this man was a part of his life.

"That's it!" The Doctor shouted without meaning to.

"What?" Jack met his friend's eyes.

"That's it!" The Doctor exclaimed again, hugging Jack tightly before running towards the TARDIS, Jack at his heels.

Jack found the Doctor underneath the grating in the console room.

"What are you doing?"

The sound of the sonic screwdriver buzzed for a moment, and the sound of breaking rock thumped.

The Doctor emerged a second later, in his hand was a lump of coral.

"What is that?" Jack asked.

"A piece of the TARDIS." The Doctor replied.

Jack stared down at it, "Is that going to help Donna?"

"It should." The Doctor said truthfully.

"Well, how's it going to work?"

"The TARDIS is like a sponge anyway," The Doctor said, as he got up out of the hole in the floor, "She absorbs the energy from the Vortex and even some of my Time Lord essence."

"Why does she do that?"

"It helps sustain her form, in a way. The TARDIS runs on fuel created by the vortex and the rift, but with me, she feds off me when her energy is low."

Jack stared down at the fist full of rock, "So a hunk of the TARDIS is…"

The Doctor looked up to Jack and shrugged, "Hopefully, it'll suck the Time Lord part out of Donna."

"Yeah, but Doctor, in order to do that you're going to have to release those memories, that'll kill her." Jack said.

The Doctor took a shaky breath, "Not if I do it quickly, she should be fine." He nodded confidently.

"But, you can't just go up to Donna's family and say, 'Yea, I'm going to put Donna in danger to suck the Time Lord essence outta her with a chunk of my spaceship.'"

"I have to, it's the only way to get her back." The Doctor said firmly.

Jack was quiet for a moment, "I guess she's really worth it, eh?"

Smiling sadly, the Doctor nodded, "Yeah, Jack, she really is."

"Do you love her?"

There was silence for a moment, the Doctor unsure how to answer; until the memory of him and her together when they had traveled to the Library. The moment she had come back to him from being trapped in the computer, their embrace was fond and more than friendly. And he knew then that he feelings for her that went beyond the term of friendship.

"Yes." The Doctor responded, "Very much."

"Okay then, off to Donna's now?" Jack asked.

The Doctor shook his head, "No, not yet."

"But, you've got the TARDIS piece, and a plan, you've got your girlfriend to save. Why not go?"

"First off, she's not my girlfriend. And secondly, we can't go because like you said, I can't just walk into her house and do this. Her mother was upset that I was even there. I have to convince them, and myself, that this won't kill her." The Doctor explained.

"Will it?"

"It could. Nothing's for sure."

"So what does that?"

"It means that it's this or nothing." The Doctor said softly.

"Now or never." Jack added.

The Time Lord smiled, "Exactly."

"Well, let's go get your Donna back."

The Doctor smiled wider, he was sure that this was going to work. Donna Noble was coming back to him.


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