Well, I think most of you guessed correctly as to who the man was. Good job. I give you all a round of applause, and a cookie, which is also round.
Chapter 4:
The previously quiet diner explodes with action. The Doctor is kneeling over the man, illuminating his face with his screwdriver. Amy is asking a thousand questions, Rory is checking for a pulse, Rose is peering down at the man with worry, and John is looking over her shoulder.
"I can't find a pulse," Rory says softly.
Suddenly the man's eyes jerk open and he sits up. He blinks once and then looks around before saying, "Where the hell am I?"
Rose and John both gasp. They know who this is, and they also know that he shouldn't be here.
"Jack!" Rose squeals, kneeling down and hugging the man tightly.
Jack smiles widely and says, "Rose!" He looks up at John, "And you too, Doctor?"
"Excuse me," the Doctor says indignantly beside Jack, "I'm the Doctor."
Jack turns to the Doctor. His eyes widen and he says, "Wait." He looks at John, "Meta-crises Doctor, right?" John nods. Jack turns back to the Doctor. "And you're…"
"I'm the Doctor, pleased to meet you, Jack was it?" The Doctor shakes Jack's hand warmly.
Jack looks concerned. "Don't tell me you don't recognize me, Doctor? Or does regeneration come with a side of amnesia?"
The Doctor thinks for a moment before exclaiming, "Jack! Of course! Captain Jack Harkness! Hard not to forget you!" He pulls Jack in for a hug, which Jack tries to prolong, to no avail.
"So, regeneration does change a lot of things," Jack muses. He looks the Doctor up and down. "A bit thinner, and your hair's crazy, but," he grins mischievously and winks, "I like it."
Amy steps in between the Doctor and Jack. "Not to spoil this moment, Doctor, but who's this?" she points to Jack.
"Oh yes, more introductions!" the Doctor says waving his arms about. "Ponds this is Captain Jack Harkness. He traveled with me for a bit back when I looked like John and for a little bit before that, ninth reincarnation and all." He points to Amy and Rory, "And Jack, this is Amy and Rory. The Ponds. New companions, I think you'll like them."
Jack looks Amy and Rory up and down, his eyes lingering on Rory. "I think I'm liking them already." He offers a hand to Rory. "Captain Jack Harkness. How do you do?"
"That's enough introductions," John says, stepping quickly between Jack and Rory.
Jack makes a face. Then he turns to John and says, "I see that you haven't changed much. You're almost exactly like him. Little bit shorter perhaps." Jack stands up straight looking John in the eye. "Not that height matter to me." He grins wickedly.
John looks at Jack sternly, "Jack, stop it. Now's not the time for that kinda thing."
"It most certainly is not," the Doctor pipes up. He looks at Jack, "How did you get here?"
Jack sighs and sits down on a nearby chair. "I was trying to time jump with this thing," he points to the device on his wrist, "But the dang thing's busted."
"You've still got that vortex manipulator?" John interrupts. "I thought I, well the Doctor, the past Doctor, shut that thing down."
"I fixed it," Jack says quickly, before then saying, "or I thought I did. Instead of time traveling I was pulled through a crack and into the Void. That crack closed but I came out through another crack and ended up outside this place." He crosses his arms, "And, apparently, humans can't survive a journey through the void. Trust me, it wasn't fun. Not a good way to die."
"So he died, and came back to life?" Amy questions, her eyes wide.
"Jack is, well, he's immortal," the Doctor explains, "long story. He can't die, he just comes back."
"I know how he feels," Rory says quietly.
Rose cuts in. "But Jack, you're not supposed to be able to come here. This is a parallel universe. It's not supposed to cross with yours."
"Yeah, I know," Jack says, getting up. Suddenly a thought dawns on him and he says, "Wait, is there a parallel me here?"
"I suppose so," Rose says, unsure of what Jack is getting at.
Jack claps his hands together. "Oh god. I wonder if I could find him. The stuff we could do."
"You're not doing anything," John says.
"No one is doing anything," the Doctor cries, pacing back and forth, "None of us are supposed to be here. The only people who belong here are Rose and John. So the question is, how did Amy and Rory, and me, and Jack get through into this universe?"
"I think I can answer that."
They all turn to face the person who spoke. It's the woman who had been in the diner. She removes her hat and lets her golden hair poof out around her head like a halo. Then she turns to the Doctor and says with a wink, "Hello Sweetie."
And here's River! I had to bring her in. Wouldn't be the same without her.
Chapter 5 will be coming soon...
