Chapter 3
"Why is it so important to go see her?" Jack asked as the TARDIS landed inside the old warehouse.
"Because I'm going to need all the help I can get…" The Doctor replied, stepping though the doors and smelling the fresh air.
She smiled and closed her eyes before snapping them open and studying Jack up and down with a growing frown on her face.
"I feel shorter…am I much shorter…?" She asked.
Jack walked up next to her and it was the first time she noticed the height difference.
"What are you…? 1.8 meters…?"
Jack shrugged.
"I can't be more than 1.7…I feel short" She replied, standing up straight.
Jack just laughed and started walking towards double doors leading out of the warehouse.
Suddenly, a young man in a uniform and red beret appeared and pointed his gun at them.
"Whoa!" The Doctor exclaimed, "There is no need for that! Look," She reached for her psychic paper.
"Don't move, lady!" The man yelled, "Who are you?" He asked, addressing Jack only.
"I'm the Doctor…" She said, calmly.
The man shot her a rude look, "Was I talking to you?"
"I'm Captain Jack Harkness…" Jack began, drawing his attention back. "We are here to see Dr. Martha Jones…this is UNIT headquarters isn't it?"
"Yes, how did you get in?" The man continued, not letting his guard down.
"We dug a hole from China," The Doctor replied, snidely.
The man's eyes darkened but she didn't turn away.
"Look, can we see her or not? We're friends of Dr. Jones and I personally Lieutenant Davies…do you want to call him up and check?" Jack challenged.
The man paused a moment, his eyes wandered over to the Doctor who was still giving him a death stare.
"This way…" The man backed down and led them towards the main building at the heart of the base.
Upon entering the building, all of the uniform-clad men and women turned their heads as the two walked past. A few men in lab coats talking over a coffee machine became quiet and one pointed towards Jack and the Doctor. Jack seemed to be enjoying the attention wave that crashed over the workers; he even smiled at one particularly muscular armed man, who, the Doctor swore, blushed a little. The Doctor herself was feeling very uncomfortable. She was never comfortable with the stares and recognition she had gotten for being the Doctor but this was entirely invasive. Many of the soldiers were whispering among themselves with cheeky grins and one even winked as she walked past. She felt disgusted and suddenly wished she could be in a room with all of her previous companions to tell them she was sorry that this ever might have happened to them.
When the show was over, the workers resumed their task and Jack and the Doctor were mercifully hidden away behind large double doors. Just as they entered the room, the Doctor recognized Lt. Davies and the man next to him, Sgt. Walker.
"Davies!" Jack exclaimed, pulling him into an embrace.
"Jack!" He responded as enthusiastically. "How are you?"
"Oh I'm great, haven't been up to see you guys in a while! Oh Corporal Walker!" Jack continued.
"He's a sergeant now, Jack…" The Doctor joined in, smiling.
Sgt. Walker smiled at the Doctor before turning his attention to Jack.
"It's true. Although, I was not expecting to have such a beautiful fan…"
The Doctor turned away, flushing with embarrassment.
"I often have that effect on women…" Walker joked, grinning at the Doctor.
"Oh, I hope not, Jim…pay her no attention, she doesn't swing that way…" Jack began with a wave of his hand.
The Doctor's face drained of color but she had no idea how to counter that. She supposed he was doing her a favor, but only just.
"Awe, what a shame…all the prettiest ones are, aren't they?" Jim Walker asked Jack.
"You could say that…" Jack laughed.
"What's your name?" Davies cut in.
"Jo-Joan…Joan Smith…" The Doctor replied.
"Joan? I know a Joanie, she's a great girl…" Davies faded away in thought.
"Joan." The Doctor added quickly. "Not Joanie…"
No one was paying her any attention though but continued swapping stories about the past several years. After a good twenty minutes of chatter, the Doctor finally grew impatient.
"So!" She loudly interrupted, "When is Martha Jones due in?"
The men stopped talking and Davies shuffled around, acting like a scolded child.
"I'll call her down," Walker pulled out his walkie and called someone names Thompson to see if Martha was available. Thankfully she was.
"Now, back to that trip to Mumbai…" Walker continued.
"Where's the loo?" The Doctor cut in.
The three turned their attention to her and Davies stepped up.
"This way," he gestured, heading out the door.
She was thrilled to no longer be shooed away while the others talked of adventure. Many of which were extremely dull compared to the list of excitement she had had. Davies turned on a light and stood aside to let her enter but before she could shut the door, he was practically on top of her. Their faces were inches apart and while the Doctor tried to back up, she found herself pinned up against a cabinet.
"I don't buy the story about you only going for women…someone this pretty…" He leaned in to kiss her.
Shoving his face away, she immediately tried to explain.
"Davies…I swear, Jack was telling the truth…"
"You lie," he smiled, running his tongue over his teeth.
He hearts sped up like a freight train when he leaned in again.
Despite her pleading, Davies wasn't going to stop.
"I…I'm dating Jack Harkness!" She cried, pressing the back of her head against the cabinets, as far away from him as she could get.
Davies stopped, his lips still puckered.
"…wait…what…?" He pulled back, allowing the Doctor to exhale with relief.
"Yes! We are dating! He didn't want anyone to know because he doesn't usually do steady relationships…and well…we are engaged…so I can't be…this…"
Davies took a step back and let his face fall into his hands.
"Oh…god…" Davies muttered into his hands, "Jack is going to kill me…I didn't know you were his girl!"
"It surprises me a bit as well…" The Doctor replied, sliding over to the side, creating more space between them.
"I'm so sorry, Joanie!" Davies reappeared from behind his hands.
Ignoring the name, the Doctor took a deep breath as Davies began again.
"I read the signals all wrong…I thought-"
"Signals?!" The Doctor spat, "What 'signals' were you picking up?!"
"I thought the bathroom was a cover!"
The Doctor allowed her mouth to open as she walked out of the room, leaving Davies without another word.
When she came back to the room, Jack noticed her traumatized expression and grew more concerned when he saw Davies, pale as a ghost, slink away down the hall. Jack quickly ran to the Doctor and tried to read her eyes for a clue of what had just occurred.
"What happened…?" Jack put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder.
"Davies cornered me in the john and tried to kiss me…apparently I was giving him 'signals'…" she made the quote sign with her hands.
Jack was caught between feeling bad and laughing.
"Maybe you are wishing you were slightly less good looking now, huh?" Jack grinned.
The Doctor couldn't help but laugh.
"The only nice thing is I may have traumatized Davies, and now he thinks you will kill because the only way to get him to back down without violence was to make him think we were dating. He's convinced you will hate him now."
"Well, he can suffer with that thought for a while…" Jack added with a sneaky grin.
"Jack?" A familiar voice broke though their laughs.
Both the Doctor and Jack turned and saw Martha Jones standing in the doorway.