A/N: My apologies for the delay of this chapter! Added hours at work plus having to map out things on two stories can take away chunks of time! (Not that I'm complaining!) But here is a nice juicy chapter in recompense. So hopefully I'm forgiven!
Since a good portion of this chapter occurs in Rose and James's flat, I would like to point out that most of the front area is all open floor plan. So imagine that the front door, stairwell, living and dining area are in one big room. Before leading to the kitchen archway. Because we can't have our beloved TenToo in anything than an open spaced home, now can we? ;)
As always, I don't own squat from Doctor Who.
"Clara! James! Come on you two! Breakfast has been on the table for five minutes!" Rose stood at the foot of the stairs, her hands on her hips as she looked towards the bedrooms. Every Monday morning, it was the same routine. Luckily, Rose had off this particular Monday, so the flat wasn't a complete madhouse. However, getting a six year old and James off onto their days was trying enough. In any other household, the parents would work together to reign the children in.
In this household however, much to the frustration of Rose, one parent only helped to encourage the child half the time. James was sometimes a child in a man's body. And while she loved his personality, sometimes it could be frustrating when she was trying to make sure things get done.
James had promised Arthur that he would be in to look at that piece of metal. Normally, James spent most of the week consulting from the office in their flat. It was currently ten after eight in the morning. He was due in by nine, and Rose had to drop Clara at school by eight forty five.
"Mum! Mum! Mum! I can't find my cardigan!" Clara ran down the stairs frantically, her socks and school shoes in her one hand.
"It's on the back of your chair at the table. Why aren't your shoes on yet, Clara? You are going to be tardy again, and it will be your fault this time." Rose ushered Clara into the dining room, as she yelled up the stairs again.
By the time Rose returned to the dining room, and sat down to her own meal; Clara had finished slipping on her socks and shoes. She was telling Rose more about the sleepover in between bites, as James came scrambling into the dining room.
He was hopping on one foot as he was trying to tie his other trainer. Rose tapped her fingers against her lips, as she noticed it was blue suit and red trainer day. It was her second favorite combination, after the pinstripe suit he had gotten when he arrived here. Along with the pinstripe suit, James had also had a replica of his blue suit made. Saying how much he loved blue. The actual original suit was lovingly preserved in the wardrobe. It was after all, the suit he arrived in. Rose bit her lip, trying to hide an amused smile as he was muttering about laces, while trying to balance on one leg.
Clara, on the other hand, was giggling as she watched him. Rose snorted into her coffee as Clara helpfully said he was doing it wrong. James straightened himself as he finally got his trainer situated.
"I'm glad you two think this is so entertaining. I'm so pleased to serve not only as the man of this house, but your morning entertainment as well." James gave a playful eye-roll as he straightened his tie.
"Yeah, well you're the only person qualified for the position, James." Rose winked at James as he waggled his eyebrows in response. Announcing he was late, he gave Clara a kiss on her head before moving around the table.
He leaned down to give Rose a goodbye kiss. Then in one quick motion, he nicked the buttered piece of toast off her plate as he dashed into the living room.
"James! That was my toast! You had yours on your plate!" Rose crossed her arms as she watched him grab his satchel out of the closet, plunking it down next to the suit jacket that he had brought down with him. It was still warm outside, so James was going to forgo his normal brown coat. It wasn't exactly like the one he had in the other universe, but it was an acceptable replacement.
"Awwww! But, Rose… Yours was much closer! Just take mine!"
"You are so rude!" Rose teased him as her tongue peeked out of the corner of her mouth.
James grinned as he headed to the front door after shrugging on the suit jacket, forgetting his satchel on the couch. Toast hanging out of the corner of his mouth, he opened the front door. He proceeded to call out in a cheeky manner, just as he stepped out into the bright morning, "And still not ginger!"
The door closed behind him as Rose let out a snort. Clara turned to her mother confused. "What's James talking about, Mum?"
Rose shook her head chuckling as the brief memory of when he said that, many years ago on a Christmas Morning. "Don't worry about that, Clara. It's an inside joke between me and James. Finish your breakfast so we aren't late."
James flashed his Torchwood I.D. to the front desk as he walked into the building. He never liked being here, and he wanted to leave as soon as he was able to. As he checked his mailbox for any messages or parcels, he felt the distinct prick of awareness that comes when you are being watched.
And he was being watched. He was currently in the direct line of sight of one Jenise DeRosier, who was the assistant to his department head. James wasn't bothered by the stares, as they were an every day occurrence. An occurrence that he had begun to ignore, as asking her to stop was of no use. James left the mail area, making his way across the lobby towards the lifts. He grumbled as he could hear clacking of high heels behind him.
Quickening his stride, he made it to the lifts. Jabbing his finger on the call button, he slide into the lift as it opened. Looking up, he saw Jenise hurry after him. "Hold the lift!" she had called out. James clenched his jaw as he pressed the 'close door' button repeatedly, muttering how today was not going to be his day.
Jenise slid into the lift as the doors had begun to close. She gave her most flirtatious smile to James. Thanking him for holding the lift, as she reached in front of him to press her floor. She heard James clear his throat as she began to slowly invade his personal space. She also swore she heard James mutter a 'I didn't'.
She had set her eyes on him from the moment he was introduced to her department. Jenise was growing frustrated however, as day by day, her best flirts and pick up lines had gone unnoticed by the man. She heard rumors that he was involved with the Assistant Director's daughter, Rose Tyler. Why he would go for her, she could never understand. The woman had a kid at home, and couldn't possibly have time to go out and do things. And she heard that Dr. James McCrimmon enjoyed an adventure. No, he and Rose Tyler were not compatible at all.
James shuffled to his right as Jenise brushed up against his shoulder. "How was your weekend, James?" She had asked as her eyes gazed his profile.
James sighed as his eyes glanced at the display at the top of the button panels. "Six more floors," James thought as he cringed, shoving his hands into his pockets. He gave a casual shrug as he replied he had a date. He left it at that as he preferred to keep his business personal.
Jenise sighed as she fixed her best eyes on him. "So, when are you going to let me show you the best night of your life, James?" She gave him her heaviest sultry look.
James scowled as he turned to face her, his patience now gone. "Cut it out, Jenise. Not only is this highly inappropriate, but I am seriously involved with someone," James emphasized the 'seriously' in hopes to get the message across. Pushing the button for his floor harder, he turned to Jenise. "Even if I wasn't involved with someone, you aren't my type," James spat out as the lift dinged announcing his floor.
Jenise smirked, her arms crossed as she watched him stalk out of the lift. She liked a challenge, and James was proving to be a challenge. She wasn't looking at him for marriage or long term material. She wanted some fun, something new to satiate a fancy. Her fingers vainly swept a few stray hairs back into her up-do. She decided to swing by his house later, maybe he was more calmer on his turf. Maybe she'd find out more about this 'serious involvement' as well. She suspected it was the one and only Rose Tyler that James was referring to. Maybe she would show him exactly how she excelled over the Tyler woman.
To Jenise, Rose Tyler extruded low class and unsophistication. The woman had appeared mysteriously in London a little over six years ago, along with a woman that was an exact duplicate of Jackie Tyler. There were of course, rumors and speculation about these two, and how close Pete Tyler was to them. "You can take the girl out of the Estate, but you can't take the Estate out of the girl," Jenise mused as she finally reached her floor and stepped out. Her determination apparent as she started to make her plans.
James ran his hand through his hair as he opened the door to Laboratory 3G. Sliding his access card back into his jacket pocket, his eyebrow hitched as he took notice of who was waiting. Jake and Arthur were bent over a table, looking intensely at something on the table.
Jake and Arthur looked up as they heard him approach. "Good Morning!" James greeted them both as he reached the table. Looking down, he noticed the oddly shaped piece of metal was sitting on the surface.
They greeted him in kind, before Arthur pursed his lips as he raised his head to look at James. "Brought this down early, been giving me bad vibes all morning. Figured you guys would have more luck than myself." James furrowed his eyebrows as he pulled his specs out of his inner jacket pocket. Sliding them onto his face, he looked between the object and Arthur. "What sort of vibes?"
"I don't know how to explain it, James. Almost like it is saying that it doesn't belong in this universe."
James raised an eyebrow at the statement as he heard Jake add, "I felt it as well. To put it another way, James. Only other time I got this exact feeling, I was standing near that bleedin' breach years ago. But with this thing, it's like double the intensity." Jake shuddered involuntarily as he recalled that sick feeling. He was glad when that thing was sealed tight.
Arthur looked between Jake and James in surprise. "You were involved with that breach? You both are so young!"
Jake nodded as he scratched his neck. "I was one of the team leaders that jumped over after those Cybermen into that other Universe." Arthur nodded as he listened, "And what about you, James? Did you lead a team as well?"
James cleared his throat roughly as he picked up the object. Turning it over repeatedly, trying to figure it out. He had made it a personal policy to not discuss Canary Wharf, especially on this side. Caused too many questions about his origin, and how he came to arrive here. He knew the story that Pete had devised to explain not only Jackie being alive and well, but her sudden change in attitude. But also the appearance of a fully grown daughter that shared his last name.
Jake made a face, as well as a 'hand across the throat' motion. "James doesn't like to talk about it, Arthur. Can we just concentrate on this thing, so we can lock it up and never look at it again?"
James was still analyzing the object. "You both are correct that something is wonky here." James was extremely uncomfortable as he examined it, his specs sliding to the edge of his nose before being pushed back up. He was getting the same vibes as described by Jake and Arthur. His instinct was screaming that something was wrong, that there was more to the picture than was visible.
James fished his sonic out of his jacket pocket, his attention moving from the object to the sonic. After finding the correct setting, he waved it over the object. The only sound in the room was the quiet buzz of the sonic, and the occasional foot shuffle. "What are you?" James asked the object as the sonic took a full scan. "Why do you make everyone believe you don't belong here with us?"
James swallowed as he put the object down, his scan finished. He was already dreading the readout, and he didn't even see it yet. He got that same gut twisting feeling that Jake was describing. "That breach was sealed years ago, Jake. Did it myself, not that I care to remember it, mind you." James inhaled as he scratched his sideburns, looking to his friends. "I have a feeling that this is bigger than the breach."
Arthur looked between the two men, before his eyes rested on the device that James was just using. He'd never seen anything like it! In a curious voice, Arthur inquired about the device, "Say James, what is that anyways?" Arthur motioned towards the sonic.
James crooked a small smile as he held it up, holding it almost with a loving reverence. "Something of my own design, Arthur. It's kind of complicated, and it took me a few tries to get it where I wanted it to be. However it has always seen me through, helped me out of a few pickles as well." James twirled it in his fingers in a good natured manner. He was trying to delay looking at the results, but he knew he couldn't hold off for long.
Arthur opened his mouth to ask more questions as his curiosity was indeed piqued. Things like this always stirred the natural curiosity in him, and he personally relished the feeling when he got to explore something. To see how things worked, and how to improve them. Molly had told him that no wonder he and James became good friends. They both liked seeing what made something tick, and James had given him quite a few tips for when he would tinker in his cellar.
Jake had put his hand on Arthur's shoulder, with a shake of his head that suggested to leave the questions for later. Jake wanted to find out what this thing was, and he wanted to know now.
James puffed his cheeks, the smile still on his face as he began to read the results from the sonic. He then froze as his fingers gripped the tool tighter. James stared at the sonic as he re-read the results. A soft 'No No No' escaping from his lips.
"James, what's the matter, mate?" Jake asked as he observed James's stance. The man stood frozen and rigid. The smile had morphed into a look of horror.
"No No No…. This can't be right! Not right at all! Damn impossible! The walls have been closed for two years!" James snatched up the object and his sonic. He made a straight dash towards his work station. Dropping the object and his sonic onto the surface, James began to root around in his drawers.
"James! What is going on?! What the hell are you looking for?" Jake and Arthur had caught up to James. Jake was starting to feel apprehensive, and he never felt as nervous as he did right now.
"Arthur, I'm so sorry, but I'll need to keep this for a while longer. Run some more… Where the hell did I put them! I'll need to run some more tests on it," James said as he continued to root through his things.
"Not a problem, James. Just let me know when you are finished with it. If you two don't need me anymore, I should get back to my office now." Arthur gave a smile to them both as he made to leave the area. He called back that they should definitely tell him what they find, as he is curious. Arthur then disappeared through the door towards the lifts.
"Okay, Doctor. What the hell is going on here." Jake leaned against the table, as he observed the man in front of him slam drawers in his frantic search. He knew calling him by his preferred moniker would get his attention, even if only for a moment.
James looked up in surprise for a moment, not many people called him Doctor. Well outside of Rose and Jake for the time being, Pete and Jackie had called him Doctor once or twice when Clara wasn't around. They all decided to keep that title in private for the meanwhile. "That object is giving off strange readings, readings that shouldn't even be relevant. You were correct in that it doesn't belong here, Jake."
Jake blinked a few times. "So, what did the sonic tell you then?"
"HA! Found them! Though why they were in that drawer, I wouldn't know…" James stood triumphantly, holding what looked like a pair of old-school 3-D glasses. James had found them in a vintage shop three months after he arrived here.
Jake crossed his arms as he watched James pull off the black rimmed specs, replacing them with the flimsy paper glasses. His specs being dropped into the jacket pocket. Jake really wasn't liking where this was going. Last time he saw James use those things, it was on the other side of the void. And James was the Doctor.
He watched as James held the object up at eye-level. The expression on his face darkened, as he saw something he thought he would never see. The Doctor in a budding state of panic. Jake raised an amused eyebrow as he heard James mutter a few curses in a language that he never heard before. He suspected it was his native language, the one that Rose said wouldn't translate. Unless the Doctor told you what it said, or you had Gallifreyan in you.
"This is not good at all, Jake."
"That's real helpful, Doctor. Could have seen that for myself," Jake responded in a sarcastic tone, one that normally prodded the Doctor into banter. He was trying to defuse the situation, so that it could be handled with clear heads. But the raised eyebrow he got told him that now was not the time.
"Okay, in all seriousness. What is going on, did you figure it out?"
"Yeah, I did." James drew in a deep breath as his breath hitched in his throat. "This thing is teeming with void particles, Jake. That's why it was giving off those vibes. It isn't the object itself, but what was on the object."
James put the object down, and pulled the glasses off his face with a shaking hand. This was not good at all, not one bit of it.
Jake noticed James's shaking hands, how the color had drained from his face. "Blimey! How the hell did this thing get that stuff on it, Doctor? You told us the breach was shut!" Jake's voice raised a few octaves as his hand rubbed his forehead. "What the hell does this all mean?"
James looked up as he noticed people starting to shuffle in for their work days. He gave Jake a look as he said in a low tone, "Keep it to just James, Jake. We've got company."
Jake nodded as he ran his hands through his hair. "Okay so, what do we do now? Could there be more of these things? Have you ever seen them?"
James sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Go get Pete, Jake. Tell him to drop everything! Bring him down here, now."
He heard Jake's hurried footsteps retreat as he leaned on his arms. His hands were tightly gripping the edges of the table, his eyes closed as his head dropped into his chest. He was worried, properly and completely worried. Unless this thing was here when the walls opened last time, then there was a breach somewhere. And he didn't know if he would be able to find it. He had no TARDIS to locate it. Just a nicked sonic screwdriver and Torchwood.
What was he going to say to Rose? Nothing about this pointed to anything positive. They were heading into a possibly chaotic situation, and he knew it was going to be him that everyone looked to. It was going to fall on him to figure out how to stop it. And he had to do it fast, as he had his family to keep safe. Not only Rose and Clara, but Pete and Jackie as well. He knew Rose and Jackie were always going to be a package deal, knew it from the moment he met Jackie.
He knew he would find a solution, he always found a solution. What he feared however, would be the cost. There was always a cost, and it wasn't normally one in his favor.
James was broken out of his thoughts at the sound of the door opening. He looked up as he saw Jake and Pete come through the door. Pete had gotten stopped for a second by a technician needing a signature.
"Alright, James, what is going on." Pete strode towards James's station. Jake was on his heels, a worried look still on his face. Pete knew this had to be serious. James never requested him to drop everything and come down. That plus the uneasy look on Jake's normally calm face told him everything. This was going to become a top priority for him.
"There's been a development, Pete," James spat out as he was looking at the object menacingly. His face had tensed, his eyes growing dark. "You know those cracks of light?"
Pete nodded with his arms crossed. His face hardened into business mode, waiting to hear where James was going with this. "What about them, James?"
"They are child's play compared to what I just saw on this object." James held up the metal piece, twisting it slightly so that Pete could get a full look at it.
"Show me," Pete commanded as he came closer to the table. He had heard briefly about the strange object, Arthur had asked him a few days ago about who could help him identify it. Which is how Arthur had come to ask James, as Pete couldn't think of anyone better than the Doctor.
James held out the 3-D glasses, saying to put them on then look at the object.
"You're shitting me! Am I really seeing—"
"Yeah…You are, Pete." James stared at his hands as he cut off Pete. "That's void particles, and before you ask. I don't know how it got here. I just know it's impossible."
"Have you ever seen anything like this before, James? Were you able to identify it?" Pete put the object down with a sigh. He pulled the glasses off, handing them to Jake. Jake put them on his face and looked at the object as well.
"No, Pete. I've never seen it before. But that isn't the worse of it."
"What could be worse than void particles, James? Are you going to say that the breach is open again?"
James pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth, as he looked straight at Pete. There was no light or playful mirth in James's eyes as he replied, "Something is open, Pete. I don't know what nor do I know where, but I wouldn't be surprised if it has something to do with those cracks. But that still isn't the worse."
Pete and Jake's eyebrows rose high as they looked to him. Jake still had the glasses on, the object still in his hand.
James's voice was strained as he carefully took the object from Jake. "Even if some breach is open, and regardless where it came from. You can't just toss something like this across the void."
"The Cyberman lobbed that sphere across the void!" Jake spat out as he pulled the paper glasses off his face, letting them fall from his fingers onto the table.
"The sphere made it across because of the force that was put behind it, but it's size and mass did most of the work. However, this is small and lightweight." James paused as he exhaled. "This had to come across on someone. And I don't mean in a pocket or bag. Someone was wearing this. And this doesn't tell me anything about the intent of the person wearing it. And I don't know if that bothers me more or not. "
"Then that means…" Jake cut in, disbelief in his voice as he got what James was getting at.
"Someone came across the void," Pete finished for them. "How the hell can that even happen?"
"These aren't just cracks of lights anymore. Whatever they are, apparently they are starting to bridge gaps. And it's allowing travel between universes." James stared at the wall, his knuckles were white as he gripped the table. "What happened at Canary Wharf could be seen as a routine day compared to this."
Pete swallowed as he immediately went into team leader mode, he turned to Jake. "I want details, Jake. In less than ten minutes, I want the preliminary reports on this thing. Where and when it was found. What it was found with. Tests that were performed, the results and who performed the tests. And then, by the end of the day, Jake. I want all information available on this thing. I will get you whatever additional clearance you may need to get that information."
James had plunked down into the stool that he had dragged up to the table. He dropped his head into his hands, he was feeling stressed. He had a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had a feeling this wasn't just going to be some strange thing from another planet.
"Already on it, Pete!" Jake was already pulling up reports on his device. James could see how Jake became Pete's right hand man. Pete had told him how Jake and Mickey had been his second in commands. He knew Mickey was smart deep down, and his street smarts plus the smarts Jake had, Pete was set. Then after Mickey returned to the other Universe, it seemed that Jake took on both jobs easily.
"Object was found two weeks ago by team 1272 in London. It was recovered during their response to a citizen complaint of strange occurrence in a public area. Occurrence was described by the citizen as a blinding flash of light, accompanied by ear shattering screeches. It was unidentifiable by personnel on site, so it was tagged and delivered to the alien technology investigative unit for classification." Jake had begun to read from the initial recovery report.
"Where in London was it found?" James's head raised quickly, London was huge and there could be more of these things scattered about. He and Pete exchanged a glance, as if they both had the same thought. The mention that this was found after an appearance of one of those flashes of light, it caught the interest of Pete and James quickly. Both men cringed inwardly.
Jake froze as he read the location. He swallowed nervously as he looked at Pete and James. He was about to have two very angry men in front of him.
"Jake…"
"It was discovered in Mayglen Park, just outside that tiny grove of trees by the entrance." Jake's fingers tightened around the device, that park was mere blocks from Rose and James's flat. He considered Rose, James and Clara to be as close to family as you could get. This made him apprehensive, he didn't know what was going on. He wanted to make sure Rose and Clara were safe, he wanted to solve this mystery so they could all get back to their lives.
"Are you sure, Jake?" James stared at Jake, his eyes intense and dark. "Clara and I go by that park every Friday. We take her to play there on the weekends!" James's chest was rising and falling rapidly, as he took all the information in.
Jake could only nod. "Maps and coordinates don't lie, James. I really wish they were wrong, or that it was found clear on the other side of London."
CRASH
"James! Calm yourself!" Pete shouted as he reached out to grab his arm. James, in his rightful anger, had picked up a metal orb; throwing it against the wall with a shout.
It was then that Pete noticed that everyone in the room was staring at them.
"Everyone out!" Pete pointed to the door, his face warning everyone to not question him. He did not miss the look of shock on everyone's face as they filed out. Everyone knew Pete Tyler to be a kind hearted man, someone who always had an open door. Even if he did not agree with you, he respected you. The only exception being is if you were evil, or posed a threat to himself, his family or the population of England.
"How the hell can you tell me to be calm, Pete!" James's hand slammed against the table, the stool he was sitting on was still on it's side from when James stood quickly.
"There is something or someone STALKING us. Something or someone is stalking MY CHILD, my innocent six year old child. Your GRAND-DAUGHTER! And you want me to be CALM?" James pointed his finger at Pete as he shouted his frustrations, his fears. He was venting all his stress in the open. He knew Pete wouldn't take any of this personally. And he knew that under that calm exterior, a fury that could only match his own was beginning to brew.
"Yeah, I kinda got that memo, James. I'm just as angry as you, but throwing things isn't going to make it go away!" Pete hissed as he brought himself closer to James. "Cooler heads need to prevail here. Costly mistakes could be made if we don't remain level. Now, our first course of action will be to decide on protection for Clara and Rose. I'll assemble my best agents for protection detail, James."
James let out a bitter laugh as he leaned against the table. "You know what Rose would say to that, Pete."
Pete sighed as he knew James was right. Rose could easily hold her own, but when there was a threat with so many unknown variables, Pete preferred the safe route. "Oh yeah, I do. Probably along the lines of what Jacks would say if she was in Rose's shoes."
"For the time being, Pete. I'm going to consult from the flat full time. That way I can keep Clara and Rose with me at all times. There is a connection between those things you told me about and this piece of metal. I can feel it, I just can't figure it out." James scrubbed his hands down the front of his face, he was beginning to calm himself as Pete was right. They all had to remain calm, because they had to keep Rose and Clara safe. He had to protect his family. A thought crossed his mind, one that Rose might go for in a last resort. "What about going into hiding, Pete? Taking Rose and Clara, and just…run? Either to a Torchwood safe house or somewhere remote."
Pete had raised an eyebrow as his arms crossed. "You know that takes considerable time to set up. Constructing identities, making sure that we can integrate a team close by in case it's needed."
"What are our other options, Pete? Other than sit and wait for this…band of psychos…to knock on our front door? You know Rose won't go for the protection team idea. She's going to hate the idea of those guys shadowing her and Clara every time they step out of the house."
"And you think that she'll prefer just dropping everything and running? Just disappear, no warning to friends? Leave everyone to wonder what happened?" Pete leveled his voice as he regarded James. "When have you known Rose to run from a fight?"
Jake watched the two men argue back and forth. He knew both had valid points, and they both had best interests in mind. "You know, it isn't really fair for Rose to not be included in this debate."
"She will, eventually. I just don't want to worry her until we have all the facts." James sighed as he rested his hands on his hips.
"Don't worry, James. We will get to the bottom of this, and the people behind this will be sorry. You don't threaten the daughter of Rose Tyler and the Doctor, then walk away. Especially when that child is my grand-daughter. I'm going to put my best people on this, as this will come to an end." Pete stepped forward, placing his hand on James's shoulder. He saw the fury growing in James's eyes, and he fully understood how James was feeling. The man's daughter was being stalked and threatened. Neither of them could let that pass. He knew if the person was ever caught, that James wouldn't be able to be left alone with it.
James was looking at the object again, as if he was daring it to spill it's secrets. Pete pulled James back from the table. "Go home, James."
James snapped his head towards Pete, he started to sputter how he needed to figure this damn thing out.
"Go home to Rose, tell her what is going on. You two are the best protection for Clara, and she'll be safer if both her parents are on the same page." Pete had interrupted James's ramblings as he started to guide him towards the door. "I don't think that thing is going to tell you anymore than it already has. I will call you if I find out something."
James strode out of the room, shutting the door more loudly than he intended. He saw a few technicians milling about the hallway. They were all looking at him, some in pity. Some were confused as to why they were all kicked out of the lab by the Assistant Director.
"What?" James spit out as he slammed the button for the lift. He sighed as he saw a few step back in surprise. "I'm sorry, everyone. Rough day, and I really shouldn't be having a go at you lot."
The lift doors opened, and as he stepped inside, he could hear replies of acceptance of his apology. He even heard a few wish him a better day. As the doors closed, James let the smile slide off his face as he slumped against the wall. What was he going to do? How was he going to explain this to Rose? He couldn't take it anymore. Everything was going so well, then this shit had to start.
"We were supposed to have a SIMPLE life!" James's face contorted in a display of rage, as his hand slammed against the wall of the lift. "This shit isn't supposed to happen! Live together in absolute fucking happiness, until we die of old age. That was supposed to be the plan! It's NOT FAIR! All I've done for this fucking Universe, and this is the thanks I get. A life with Rose Tyler, but someone is still after us. After my child who hasn't done ANYTHING to ANYONE!"
James pounded the wall until his palm was red and sore. His hand and arm were lightly throbbing from the exertion. He felt slightly better as he looked to the panel. He tightened his lips as he pressed the floor he wanted. It wasn't for the lobby, he wasn't leaving yet. He had to do it, he had to visit the one floor he purposely avoided for the sake of his emotions.
James took a deep breath as the lift doors opened. His hands in his pockets, he strode down the hallway towards the door at the end of the hall.
As he reached it, he took out his sonic and unlocked the door. After overriding the alarm mechanism, James looked over his shoulder as he slipped inside. He didn't want to use his I.D., nor alert Pete that he had detoured.
The door closed softly behind him as he swallowed hard. His eyes wandered over the landscape of the clinically whitewashed room. He really really REALLY hated being in this room. The memories it invoked. The feelings of watching the woman you love get yanked away right in front of your face.
He had only been in here once voluntarily, and that was out of pure curiosity after he arrived on this side. The room was in a better state than the time he saw it during Canary Wharf. The stray wires and things had been cleaned away. In the center of the room, stood the Dimension Cannon. It was still aimed at a platform against the wall. It was like the room was frozen in time, as if it stood monument to the role it played in getting Rose Tyler across the Void. The role it played in getting everything back where it was supposed to be.
He recalled asking Rose why this room. Out of all the rooms in the building, why build it and house it there. She had smiled to him, replying that it seemed fitting that she leave through the same door she came in.
She had intended to stay in the other universe, after stopping whatever it was causing the stars to go out. Even had a plan to retrieve Clara after it was safe, as she knew there would be a small window of time to slip through, meeting her parents who had Clara. But then the Meta-Crisis changed all that. Rose never blamed him, and eventually he stopped feeling guilty. James knew that if he had to be anywhere for this one life, he wanted it to be with Rose Tyler.
Blinking back a few emotional tears, James sniffed as he strode towards the wall. His eyes carefully scanned every inch of the wall. Looking for anything out of the ordinary. Something that would tell him how close the threat was, some hint as to what he could do to stop this.
Not seeing anything, James stepped back as he pointed his sonic at the wall. Using setting 528-A, he scanned the wall.
Nothing registered.
James sighed as he pocketed the sonic in his left inner pocket of his jacket. "Of course not, wouldn't make it that easy, would you?"
James turned to walk towards the door, his chirping mobile dragging him from his thoughts.
"Rose! Thinking about me as much as I'm thinking bout you right now? Listen, I'm on my way home. Perhaps we can get so—"
"James, why did I just get a phone call saying you were trying to sign Clara out of class?" James froze as Rose's blunt question interrupted him. He felt his chest tighten as he trying to form coherent sentences.
"I'm not at Clara's school, Rose. I'm still at Torchwood, what do you mean someone called you saying I was trying to sign Clara out." His fingers tightened around his phone.
"I don't know, you tell me! Mrs. McGrady from the school called me, saying that a man calling himself James McCrimmon was there to pick up Clara Tyler. She was suspicious and called me." James heard Rose explain what was going on.
"Rose! I swear, I am not at Clara's school. I think I would remember if I was going to take her out of class. Look, tell them that I am coming to the school. I'll straighten this out, and then I'm coming home." James started walking swiftly towards the doors. As he exited, he made sure to put everything back the way it was to avoid detection.
In his haste James missed the tiny shimmering light in the corner of the wall. He missed the hissing of the small crack that was beginning to grow.
James hung up with Rose as he reached the lift. As he frantically pressed the button, he pressed the speed dial button for Pete. "Pete! Rose just called, said someone just tried to sign Clara out of class using my name," James hissed out as he stepped into the lift.
"WHAT?"
James held the phone away from his ear as he heard Pete's shouts. "No, she wasn't given a description. I'm on my way over to the school now to clear it up with the front office."
"I'm sending an agent over to get a full report from the receptionist. Don't argue with me on this." James heard Pete shout something inaudible at someone. "Jake is already heading towards the lobby. I'll look into this James, believe me on that."
James was striding through the lobby as he hung up with Pete. He could feel the fury start to build again. Whoever was behind all this was playing with fire, tempting the Oncoming Storm. Once he found out who it was, they were going to get one chance. Once chance to leave and forget about Clara Tyler. After that, it was fair game.
"James!"
James spun around on his heel at the voice. Rushing across the lobby was Jake. "I'm a bit in a rush, Jake. Make it quick," James muttered as he began walking again.
"Whoa, take a breath, mate. I know you're brassed off, and I totally understand. But keep cool, okay? Especially around Clara. I just wanted to know what Rose told you, so I have something to go on when I get there." Jake held up his hands as he caught up to James. Matching his stride, the pair walked towards the doors. Occasionally side stepping one or two people who were just standing about. James had even held a hand up to Jenise as she came towards him, only giving her a simple 'Don't have time for this' as he walked.
"Rose said that someone came into the front office claiming to be me, and said they were there to sign Clara out for the day. You want to talk to a Mrs. McGrady in the front office. She's the one who called Rose." They reached James's car as he pulled out his keys.
Jake nodded as he thanked James. Telling him to remember a cool head and drive carefully. As James sped off, Jake sighed as he went towards the Torchwood owned vehicles.
"Does Mum know you signed me out, James?" Clara swung her feet against the seat as she looked at James. She then looked at her lunch box sitting on her lap.
Her class was just about to head to lunch, when she was told to report to the front office. She was really looking forward to trading snacks with Ginny again. Rose had given Clara a cut up pear, despite knowing Clara despised pears. Ginny loved pears. So every time Clara got a pear, she would trade it for Ginny's grapes.
Clara was confused when she entered the office to find James standing there. Saying that he was busting her out early, that the day was too beautiful to spend indoors. She grinned as she hugged him before he took her hand, leading her out to the car. She had not noticed his looks of relief that she was safe. She waved to uncle Jake as he entered the school, and he had responded in kind. She wondered why he was there, he didn't have any kids. He looked all business like as he went straight for Mrs. McGrady.
"Yes, she does," James had replied tensely as he kept his eyes firmly on the road. He looked angry, and that confused Clara even more. James was never really angry around her, he was normally in a positive attitude. Clara was starting to ask if Mum and him got into a fight, when she noticed they had pulled into the driveway.
"Did your Mum give you a pear again today, Clara?" James had leaned over, giving her a playful look as they got out of the car. He was holding her school bag in his hand. Whatever was on his mind, he must have forgotten it or something.
Clara nodded as she opened the box, her fingers plucking out the bag of cut up fruit. A look of disgust was on Clara's face as she held the bag with the tips of her fingers. "I don't know why she gives these to me, I don't like them one bit."
"That's my girl!" James smirked with pride as he took the bag from her, tossing it into the rubbish bin in the alley. If he ever had any doubt if Clara was his child, her dislike of pears would have vanished any doubt immediately.
James sighed as he opened the front door, ushering her inside. He gave a quick glance over his shoulder, as if he was trying to catch the person stalking his family.
Rose was giving Clara a hug and a kiss, as he came in after locking the door behind him.
"Why don't you take your lunch and go into the living room, sweetheart. I put your favorite movie on the coffee table. After I talk to James for a moment, we'll come join you. Sound good?" Rose took Clara's cardigan and draped it over the banister. James then dropped the school bag next to the stairs.
Clara grinned as she skittered off to the living room. Being allowed to eat outside the dining room was a rare treat that she wasn't going to refuse.
Rose grabbed James by the arm and dragged him into the kitchen. "Alright, James. Spill it!" Rose had let go of him, crossing her arms and giving him that stare. The one that warns you that you get one shot to tell the truth.
James however decided to invoke Rule Number One.
"I got worried, Rose! What if the guy came back with a better disguise?" James looked directly at Rose, willing her to believe the lie. He knew it was a long shot, Rose was smart. After spending close to seven years with him, counting that three year separation in the middle, Rose normally knew when he was being less than honest.
And he hated lying to her, absolutely hated any time he ever had to lie to his Rose. Usually it was who drank the last of the milk, or why his socks didn't always make it to the hamper. He promised himself that he would be more truthful with her, and on a whole, he was. It was just times like this, that he had to stretch that promise.
"Are you guys coming?! I'm going to start the movie without you!" They heard Clara call from the living room, as the opening notes of 'The Circle of Life' began to drift into the room. Another way he knew Clara was his child, their shared love for 'The Lion King'.
"We're going to talk about this later, James. You are hiding something, and we promised to tell each other the truth on big things. Especially if it involved Clara." Rose wagged a finger at James as she kissed his cheek. She knew he was holding something back, and she knew when to push further. And when to step back momentarily. For the past seven months, he and Pete have been holding private conversations. Refusing to let her in on it.
She followed James out into the living room, sighing as he vaulted himself over the back of the sofa. Plopping himself down next to Clara. "Yep… like raising two kids sometimes," Rose thought as she shook her head, moving to sit on the other side of James. His arm immediately went around her shoulders, and she leaned into his side. She wouldn't lie though, part of her thought this was nice. All three of them home, watching a movie as a family.
She peeked into Clara's lunch box as it shifted when Clara moved for her juice box. "Clara, where is your pear?" She momentarily held hope that she got her child to consume a pear. However what she heard next promptly dashed that hope.
Clara and James shared a guilty look, before they dissolved into a fit of giggles. Rose sighed as James snorted out while giving her the straightest and serious look he could muster, "in the rubbish bin where it belongs!"
Jenise stepped out of her car after parking in front of the flat belonging to James and Rose. She straightened her designer jacket as she stepped up the stoop. After ringing the bell, she primped her hair as she waited for the door to be answered.
"I got it! I got it!" Jenise crinkled her nose, as she heard a little girl's voice as small foot steps barreling towards the front door.
"Clara! Will you wait a tic?"
The door flew open, and Jenise looked down wards. In front of her was a little girl, flour stuck in her hair. She was smiling broadly as she waved.
Jenise crinkled her nose again as she took in the appearance of the little girl, as well as the woman who appeared behind her. The woman was chiding the girl about opening the door without an adult. Jenise cleared her throat and put on the flakiest smile she could muster. She had to admit that she was surprised to see Rose Tyler answer the door. The woman had smudges of flour on her cheek, as well as splotches of flour and what looked like batter on her beat up t-shirt.
Rose inhaled deeply as she came up behind Clara. She recognized the woman from James's department, though why she was here, she didn't know why. Rose smiled as she greeted Jenise.
"Oh, Rose! I didn't know you lived here! I was wondering if James was home? He ran out of the building earlier, before I could give him this," Jenise lied through her perfect teeth, as she peered over Rose's shoulder into the flat. Her hand held up a file folder between them. She was slightly disappointed that James didn't answer the door.
Rose narrowed her eyes as she noticed the looks of derision that the woman was giving her and Clara. James had mentioned in passing about some woman flirting with him, and how she couldn't seem to take a hint. Rose suspected that she was finally meeting her. She placed a hand on Clara's head as she began to wipe at the flour with the small towel. "Clara sweetheart, go tell James he has a visitor from work, please."
Clara shot down the hall, her play shoes slapping against the hardwood floor, yelling down the hall for him. Rose and Jenise stood in an awkward silence for a few moments after Rose invited her inside, closing the door after Jenise. Clara had then come skipping back down the hall, saying that James said he'd be right out. Jenise raised an eyebrow as she listened to Clara refer to James by his given name. She began to consider that perhaps he just lived here as Rose's friend.
"Well, I'm sure James will be right out. If you will excuse us, I have to get this one in the bath." Rose gave Jenise a strained smile as Clara waved goodbye. Jenise merely sniffed, keeping her chin raised proudly as she watched Rose usher Clara upstairs. She had heard Clara say that she didn't like the lady downstairs.
Jenise then began to look around the small living room. It was modestly furnished, simple even. Her eyes gazed over the framed photos on the one side table. She recognized an older couple as Pete and Jackie Tyler. She had only met Jackie once or twice, mainly at Torchwood events. The woman had always been pleasant towards her, so she really didn't dislike the woman. She just saw herself as more superior intellectually compared to Jackie or Rose Tyler.
She continued looking at the photos. Family vacations, trips to the zoo and museums, birthdays and family occasions. Her interest caught what looked to be a more recent photo. The flour drenched girl she had just met was sitting on a stool. A birthday cake in front of her, and it appeared the photo was snapped just as the candles were blown out. Behind the girl stood James and Rose. They were standing side by side, each resting a hand on the back of the stool. James's free hand was resting around Rose's shoulders comfortably. Everyone was all smiles and cheer.
Well so much for the idea that James and Rose were just platonic, as the photo clearly showed there was something more.
James came around the hallway corner, coming to a halt when he caught sight of his visitor. He really wasn't in the mood for this tonight. "What do you want?" James crossed his arms as he ground out the question. His jaw was clenched as he had to remind himself to be cordial to the blasted woman.
Jenise looked up from the photo, flashing her best smile. Holding up a folder, she sauntered over until she was right in front of him. "I forgot to put this in your box earlier, so I figured I would deliver it to you personally."
James held out his hand for the folder, not saying anything. Jenise handed it to him, making sure her fingers brushed his before dropping them to her sides. It was one of her best moves, it always made the bloke in front of her shudder. A glint was in her eye, as she awaited the response that she conceitedly believed was coming.
James cleared his throat as he opened the file, looking at the page briefly. "This didn't warrant a drive to my home, Jenise. This could have easily waited until tomorrow." He closed the file, before turning and carelessly plopping it onto the table behind him.
Jenise leaned into James's personal space again, as she closed the distance between them. She gave a flirtatious smile as she reached forward, her fingers running the length of the tie that was loosened and slightly askew. The collar of his shirt was open, the top of his vest peeking out, and she could see the hollow of his throat. Oh, the things she could do to that little spot to drive him bonkers. "Well, maybe I wanted to see you. Continue the conversation we had begun in the lift this morning."
James stepped back as he felt her fingers trail down his tie. He had to stop this once and for all. She had crossed the line between a simple crush to borderline obsession with him. "You really need to stop this, Jenise. I am completely serious. I am in a serious and exclusive relationship with Rose, and she is the only woman I want.
Jenise scoffed as she stepped back slightly. Her arms were crossed as her nose scrunched. "Seriously? Rose Tyler may be the daughter of the Assistant Director, and perhaps she has a few more brain cells than a mutt. But she is just so common! Why lower your standards? When you could have a lover who is sophisticated and accomplished? A proper match for your intelligence."
James clenched his hands at his side as he listened to Jenise insult his Rose. While he knew Rose may have had a human flaw or two, she was still just so perfect to him. Therefore, he would hear no insult against her. Nor would he accept any harsh or degrading criticism on his Rose. "You will mind your tongue in my home, Jenise," James spoke low in his attempt to keep control on his growing fury.
He narrowed his eyes as he heard Jenise scoff indifferently as her hand raised to vainly check her hair. His anger subsided slightly, as he felt Rose's hand rest on his arm in a comforting way.
Rose had come back downstairs after helping Clara to wash the flour out of her hair. She heard the insults, she shook away the emerging memory of the last time someone called her common. She couldn't help put leave a small smirk on her face as she approached them. The smirk grew slightly as she heard James's response. She wasn't threatened at all by this woman, she not only knew that James had no attraction to her. But she felt secure in her relationship with James. She knew she had his heart and his love, as he had hers.
"It's okay, James. It's not like I haven't heard it all before," Rose had murmured to James, her tone telling him she wasn't taking offense. James's eyebrow hitched as he took the hand on her arm in his, interlacing his fingers with hers. "I know, Rose. However there is no excuse for it."
Rose squeezed his hand before continuing with a smile, "Clara will be back down shortly. She says it's her turn to pick the telly channel tonight."
Jenise, not happy with being ignored, snapped at Rose, "You and the little heathen can do as you please. You interrupted our conversation after all."
Rose's brows furrowed as her mouth stood agape. She took a breath, ready to give this little bint a piece of her mind, when James beat her to it.
"Now that was extremely uncalled for, Jenise," James hissed out, his patience all but gone for this woman. His finger pointing between Jenise and his front door, emphasizing his next point. "You come into our home after being welcomed by Rose. Then you proceed to not only insult the woman I love, but to insult my precious little girl as well." James took a deep breath as his hand slipped from Rose's hand, moving to her waist. "This is your final warning, and I've already given you enough chances. So I advise you to heed this one well. Cut. It. Out. I want this ridiculous infatuation and undesired flirting to cease immediately. Else, I will be making a formal complaint to the department head."
Jenise was stilled by the man in front of her. His eyes were dark with an anger she had never seen before. While she knew he was not one to raise a hand to harm a woman, she knew he would not hesitate to throw her out of his front door. And that would be before anything that he did at work. He was close to the Assistant Director, as well as on good terms with their department head. If he was feeling vindictive enough, he could have her transferred to some obscure office, where the only exciting thing that happened was you didn't get covered in mystery goo.
Jenise knew she was bested. She wasn't going to get her way with this man, so she wasn't going to waste her breath. However, she didn't like not getting her way. And when Jenise DeRosier didn't get her way, she got catty. Something in the back of her head warned her not to do it, but her arrogance made the words tumble out.
"I really don't see what you see in her. You really could do so much better than someone from the Estates. Who doesn't even know what a root touch up is, mind you. So go on, James. Enlighten me, tell me what she has that I don't."
Rose gave a small huff of annoyance as she opened her mouth to tell her exactly how she was better. She felt James reach over with his free hand, enclosing it in his. "Where do you want me to start, Jenise? Maybe with the fact that she not only focused on the good in me, but she made me better from the day she walked into my life. She reminds me of the good that is still in this world, and keeps me fighting to preserve that good."
James paused for a moment to hug Rose close to him before he let the next sentence come free. After kissing her hair, he turned back to Jenise. "We've been through the best and the worst. We once were forcefully separated for years, and the mere knowledge that she was safe kept me going. And in case that wasn't enough for you, consider this fact. Rose is the mother of my daughter, which is hands down the best and most precious gift I could ever receive. And she did it without me. She raised our daughter for three years before we were reunited."
James paused again as he looked to Rose, pride replacing fury in his eyes at this fact. "That, Jenise, makes her better than you. Because you have insinuated plenty of times that you don't want children. You dislike them! Now, if you do not have anything of a work related nature to discuss, I believe it is time for you to leave."
James let go of Rose as he moved to the front door. As Rose saw Jenise move to follow, Rose moved towards the kitchen to finish cleaning up. A satisfied smile still on her face. She was proud of James for keeping his anger in check. Despite the blatant and repeated insults to not only his family as a whole, but to his choice of life partner. Oh, how she wanted to tell that bint exactly what she had seen and done with him. The worlds and civilizations they either saved from a threat, or helped from the brink of extinction.
Her smile faded into one of shock when she came to a halt as she moved to pass by the stairs. Knowing the stairs were in earshot of where they were standing, Rose lightly cleared her throat as to keep the meaning of her question light and non threatening.
"Clara sweetheart, how long were you standing there?"