Chapter 4: The Call

A/N: I was looking back and realized why you don't publish stuff while you're half asleep. Sorry about that guy. Promise I'll be awake for this one! Also, I don't watch Torchwood at all (although I wish I did), so for the sake of us all, I'm gonna keep it to what they had in the show.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who or "In the Mood".

Enjoy!


Jack held the napkin in his one hand, and his phone in the other. He couldn't stop thinking about what the Doctor said. He didn't want to burn her mind, but if the Doctor was able to be around her in his old form without burning, then why wouldn't it work for him? But the Master! The Master burnt her head…

Jack took in a deep breath and slowly breathed out. Luckily for him, Torchwood was empty. He fiddled with the strap on the teleporting device on his wrist – the one the Doctor used his screwdriver one was broken. Jack took another deep breath. I'll do it. If she remembers, I'll back off. If she doesn't, I might stick around. Yeah, that was it. That's what he was going to do. He dialed the numbers and held the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hi Donna, it's Jack." He froze for a split second. What should he say now? "How are you?"

"It's nice to hear from you after so long." She replied sarcastically.

Jack thought for a moment; he knew he had been busy with Torchwood – really busy – to the point where he hardly got any sleep - but exactly how long had it been? "What do you mean?" he wondered.

"Usually when you ask for someone's number you don't wait two weeks to call."

Jack bit his lip, embarrassed. He recalled the other women he had been with in his previous years during time travel and whatnot: he learned to call three days later, or not at all. Two weeks wasn't even in the question. "I'm really sorry Donna, I really am. I just had a lot of cases to do at the firm. It's a big… suing season right now…" It was the worst lie he ever told, yet, he couldn't think of anything else. He couldn't tell her he was hunting down aliens.

There was a pause at the other end of the phone.

"How about I make it up to you? Are you busy tomorrow night?" Jack bit his lip, nervous about what she would say.

It had been a while since the divorce, and she could use a fun night to get her mind off work. But really, two weeks? "I'm not sure..."

Jack hoped she was just playing hard to get. "I promise you'll enjoy it. And if you don't, that's fine."

Donna sighed. If he was going through the trouble of trying to convince her – which he wasn't doing very well – it might be worth it. "Sure."

"Great! How about 6 o'clock? We can meet at the Churchill Gardens in London." Jack had it all planned out; this would defiantly impress her. "And dress to impress."

"Alright. I'll be there." Donna hung up the phone.

At lunch Donna, Narris, and Suzie sat around a table at the diner between the three buildings where they worked.

"I think you should've declined; if he's waiting that long to call you, who knows how lazy he is." Narris took a bite of her salad.

Suzie rolled her eyes. Although she and Narris were friends, she'd like to give her a taste of her own medicine once in a while. "Don't listen to Narris. What if he really was busy? He could've been nervous. I think you should give him a chance. You never know what's bond to happen."

Donna sighed. "Well, I already told him I'd be there, so I can't turn him down now." She pushed around the fries on her plate. "He was nice enough to pay for my lunch though."

"Go for it!" Suzie couldn't keep in her excitement for Donna. "You never know, he could be the one! Think of all the guys that've hurt you before. This could be something great!"

"Or not." Narris mumbled.

"Just do it!" Suzie exclaimed.

Donna thought for a moment. "Alright, I will."

Donna sat outside the gardens on a bench, waiting for Jack. She smoothed out the black pencil skirt and blue button up blouse she wore.

"Hi."

Donna jumped at the sound, not expecting it. She turned around to see Jack, dressed up in a black sports jacket, blue button up dress shirt, and slacks. She couldn't help but admire him. He looked better than he did in the coffee shop. "Hi." Donna mustered, still admiring him.

Jack held out his arm for her to take. "Shall we?" he grinned.

Donna made her way beside him, heels clicking on the path as she walked. She reluctantly took his arm. Jack led her through the gardens, deeper than she had normally gone with her friends. The gardens were dimly lit up by little garden lights in the shape of lanterns on either side.

"This is lovely." Donna finally complimented, finally after a while of walking in silence.

"Yeah." Jack agreed. "I thought you might like it." Jack was mentally kicking himself for not saying more.

As they ventured further, Donna spotted a white gazebo just off in the distance, lit up by little white lights on a wire. As they came closer, there was a table for two with a little tea candle and two plates set. The two walked up the stairs in unison, and Donna then noticed the picnic basket and radio.

Jack pulled out a chair for her, letting her sit in it, pushed her in, then sat himself down. "I hope you like pasta." Jack pulled the basket up onto his lap and set the contents on the table. Inside was a Mediterranean pasta salad, garden salad, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and cheese sandwiches. He set the picnic basket to the side

Donna wasn't exactly sure how to take this, but it was still a sweet idea. After collecting the food they wanted onto their plates, Jack grabbed a little remote from the basket, pressed a button, and set it back in. Set on a low volume, Donna could hear orchestra music – or was it jazz? Maybe swing? – possibly from the 1910's, maybe 20s? A small smile crept onto her face.

"You like the oldies too?" Jack spotted her smile.

Donna pierced some of her salad with her fork. "Brings back some good memories. My Gramps loves this kind of music. When I was little, I would step on his feet, and he would move them, dancing us around." Donna got lost for a moment in the memory.

"Well, looks like we have something in common, don't we?" he smirked.

Donna felt a tingle at the sight of his smile. Oh he was gorgeous, she couldn't deny that. "I guess we do."

As they finished up with dinner and dessert, Jack stood up, walked next to her, and held a hand out to Donna. "Your Grandfather helped you dance before, let's see how good you are now."

Donna shook her head. "Oh, I can't –"

Jack cut her off. "I bet you can."

"No, I –"

" What? Can't dance without his help?" Jack teased.

Donna took the napkin off her lap and tossed it onto the table. She rose from her seat and in almost of a challenging voice replied, "I can dance. Much better than any American bloke." She countered, placing her hand in his and led him away from the table.

Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" came on. Jack placed his hand on Donna's waist as she on his shoulder. A tingle ran up her spine, starting from where his hand touched her. Jack took the lead, doing some basic swing moves; taking triple steps as he moved the two of them twice to the left, twice to the front, and back three. Donna was having a bit of a hard time imitating his feet, however she tried her best to keep up.

"Looks like you could use some help." Jack teased, spinning her around.

"I'm just getting started." She spun out, then returned to their former stance.

Jack couldn't help but admire her. The way her red hair twirled, the graceful movements of her legs, her ability to keep up. We should go dancing more often.


A/N: Alright guys, sorry if it was too long of a wait. School's starting soon and I want to be completely ready for it this time around. Hope you enjoyed it! Please review.