Whew there were a lot of characters to keep up with in this chapter! I have actually never watched Torchwood, so please forgive me for any OOCness. I watched a few episodes to kind of get an idea of the characters, so hopefully I did alright. I also apologize for the lateness of this update. I had a ton of stuff to do and when I finally got time to write, I was hit in the face with writer's block. :(
But enough with excuses. Here it is at last. :)
"So, explain it to me again?" James asked, watching as the Doctor sat on his swing, messing with the TARDIS's underside, sonic-ing wires.
The Doctor sighed in exasperation. "Which part?"
"The Silence bit."
"What don't you get? They want me dead. They thought I was and then I told them I wasn't so I could save you."
James rolled his eyes at the passive aggressive statement. "No, not that. Why did I lose all that time?"
"Didn't I say? They use post-hypnotic suggestion."
"How is it that you can remember them?"
"I don't remember them, per say. I couldn't describe them to you, but I know they're there. I'm aware of them, more like, than actually remembering them. Plus, I have some help," he said, digging a hand into one of his pockets and pulling out a marker. "Here."
James took it. "What's this for?"
"Every time you see one of the Silence, mark yourself. Keep track of how many you've seen."
"Like you did at the hangar?"
The Doctor nodded, letting his arms drop to rest on his thighs and swinging in the swing a little, pushing himself with one foot.
James pocketed the marker, then looked towards the staircase. Amy and Rory were still asleep. James hadn't slept much, so he decided to just cut his losses and have a look around. The TARDIS had added rooms since he had last seen her. There was now a tennis court, a ball room, and a room brimming with slides. James had remained in this room for a while, just marveling at how child-like the Doctor's new persona was.
The strange thing was how much of an illusion it was. Even as the Doctor swung himself in his seat, James could see that familiar, dark light in his eyes. The same light that could be seen in his own.
The Doctor looked up at him contemplatively for a moment, then slapped his hands against his thighs and stood up. "I have something for you," he announced.
James' eyebrows rose. "Really?"
The Doctor nodded and then hopped up the staircase. He stopped before the corridor and turned to James, raising his hands in a halting gesture. "Wait here."
James obliged, taking a seat on the Doctor's swing. As is instinct when one sits in a swing, he used his foot to swing himself back and forth, looking up at the corridor for the Doctor to return.
It was a good ten minutes before the Doctor reappeared, holding a large brown wad under his arm. When he saw James watching him, he pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Ah! Don't look! You'll spoil the surprise!"
James quickly squeezed his eyes shut and listened as the Doctor hopped down the stairs and came to stand in front of him.
"Hold out your hands."
He did and immediately felt a soft lump of material fall into them. It felt intimately familiar. He opened his eyes and beheld his old trench coat. He beamed at it, standing up and letting it unfold so that he could get a good look at it. "My- I mean... your-"
"Your coat," the Doctor said, smiling. "It looks better on you."
James shrugged the coat over his shoulders and looked down at it affectionately. "I've looked everywhere for this coat, you know. Couldn't find any like it."
The Doctor smiled, fixed the collar and then wiped off imaginary dust. He stood back and looked him over. "It really does look better on you. I prefer tweed," he said, touching the elbow patches of his own coat.
James smiled. "Yeah... I really couldn't pull that off."
The Doctor laughed.
"Pull what off?" Amy asked, appearing in the corridor's entrance beside a yawning Rory.
The two pointed at each others coats.
Amy gave them a quizzical look as she came to the bottom step and sat down, Rory doing the same. "Well, if you boys are finished your fashion show, maybe one of you could tell us where we are?"
"Orbiting earth," the Doctor said. "I thought it would be safer if we didn't land anywhere just yet. I don't know enough about Mr. Boots to know what all he's capable of."
"He's in league with the Silence. I think we can assume he's willing to do just about anything," Rory said.
"Willing and capable are two different things," James corrected.
"That's all fine, but don't we need to think up a plan?" Amy asked.
The Doctor clapped his hands together and hopped up the stairs to the console. "Right you are, Amy! Right you are. Now, before we do anything, I want to know a bit more about Mr. Boots. I don't like going up against strangers."
"And how do you intend to find out about him? He's a hit-man. I doubt he has information about himself just lying around for everyone to see," Rory said.
"Nothing personal, no, but he did leave some of his more professional background lying around."
"Why would he do that?" Rory asked.
"To brag," James said, paused and pursed his lips in thought, then added, "Or deter potential enemies... or both."
"For example, we know he's ex-military special forces, he was a Time Agent now rogue, and is a successful professional hit-man. A very good resume and an effective threat. Now, normal people would hear all of that and run for the hills, but seeing as there are no hills in space and I am not a people, I'm going to do more digging; starting with his Time Agency affiliations," the Doctor declared, then spun around so that he faced the computer. "And I know just the person to ask."
James, Rory and Amy all leaned forward to take a look at the screen.
The Doctor pressed a few buttons and finally a face appeared on the screen, the expression puzzled.
"Hello?" a woman's voice said.
James and the Doctor's eyes lit up and they spoke at the same time, "Gwen!"
Gwen looked at the Doctor and then at James. "Doctor?"
James shook his head. "Not the Doctor. I just look like him," he explained as simply and quickly as he could.
"But... you look exactly like him..."
"Bit of a long story that I don't have the time to go into," the Doctor said, "I'm the Doctor. He's not. And you just look lovely, Gwen Cooper. It's a been a while." He smiled at her.
Gwen looked extremely confused, but smiled back anyway. "Yeah, it has. Was there um... a reason you're on my computer?"
"I need to talk to Jack. Is he around?"
Gwen nodded and turned around, addressing someone outside the computer screen's detection and asked them to fetch Jack.
Gwen remained at the computer, glancing between James and the Doctor, still trying to figure out who was who.
The Doctor smiled awkwardly. "How's... life?"
"Fine..." she bit her lip, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
The Doctor nodded, drummed his hands on the console awkwardly and then began looking around the screen again. "Where's that other fellow? Ianto..."
Gwen's eyes lowered with sudden grief.
"Oh. I'm sorry," the Doctor said softly.
Gwen nodded and was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "You're the Doctor?"
"That's me." He grinned at her.
"And he's not?"
James shook his head. "Nope."
"But you look like him," Gwen said.
"How observant of you."
"But how is that-"
"Oi, you look like Gwyneth, but you didn't see me badgering you with questions, did you?" James groused, his impatience growing.
"So you are the Doctor!" Gwen exclaimed.
"No! I am not the Doctor! He's the Doctor. I am not. I am James. James. Not John. Not the Doctor. James. Completely different person. Can you all wrap your thick heads around that please?"
Amy and Rory exchanged startled glances and Gwen was staring at him in stunned silence.
"Oh, don't be so sensitive," the Doctor told James. "You can't really blame everyone for getting confused."
"I'm just trying to work this out," Gwen said apologetically.
James looked at her and sighed regretfully. "Sorry. I know. That was rude of me."
Gwen smiled. "It's alright. I'm sure its confusing for you, too. I mean... I guess. Honestly, I'm still lost."
"Just go with it," the Doctor said, winking at her.
"Go with what?" Jack asked as he appeared the screen. His eyes scanned each one of them and -naturally- froze on James. "Doc?"
James smiled. "Hello, Jack. It's been a while... well about two months for me, at any rate. I don't know how long it's been for you."
"I haven't seen you since... well, never mind. Why are there two of you?" he asked.
The Doctor was about to answer, but stopped when he realized Jack was addressing James, which really shouldn't have surprised him as much as it had. Technically, James was Jack's Doctor, the one he knew and recognized. The Doctor's current persona was still new to him.
James didn't answer. He stood, waiting for the Doctor to explain, apparently unaware that Jack was talking to him.
"You don't remember Handy here? You spent quite a few months with him in a jar. I thought you'd recognize him," the Doctor said.
Jack's brow rose in surprise and he looked at James with recognition. "The Meta-crisis?"
James grinned with joyous relief. "Yes! Finally. That's me!" he exclaimed happily.
Jack smiled. "You're looking good. You been working out?" he asked with a smirk.
"Still not interested, Jack, but thanks for the compliment," James said.
Jack laughed and then leaned forward, putting his hand on the computer desk to hold himself in the position, eyes settling now upon Amy and Rory. "And these two are your new companions."
The Doctor grinned and nodded, turning around so that he could point to each of them as he introduced them. "Captain Jack Harkness, this is Amelia and Rory Pond. Amy, Rory, meet Jack."
Amy attempted to keep her jaw from dropping. "Wow. Hello. Amy."
Rory waved stiffly. "Rory. Her husband," he said, inclining his head to Amy.
Jack greeted them with a toothy smirk and nodded. "Hey. Good to see you two safe and sound. Thought we'd lost you."
Rory blinked at him and then his expression became angry and indignant. "Wait... you're who the Doctor was talking about. About people watching us. You've been keeping tabs on us."
"For your protection," Jack said. "There are more than a few baddies who'd like to exact some revenge on you."
Rory turned a little pale. "Really?"
Jack nodded and then smiled pleasantly. "So, glad to be traveling with the Doctor again?"
"Actually, we're not really supposed to be here," Rory said.
"We sort of... retired? Would you call it retired?" Amy asked Rory, who only shrugged in response. She returned her gaze to Jack. "We don't really do this anymore. Now that we're here though... I didn't know I missed it as much as I do."
Jack laughed. "I know the feeling. The TARDIS doesn't really like me, though. It's not easy being a handsome time-anomaly. And speaking of the TARDIS, it looks... different," he said, looking around with interest.
"I did some remodeling."
"It looks like a kid's play place," Jack stated dryly.
James stifled a laugh.
The Doctor frowned in confused upset, looking behind him. "What do you mean? No, it doesn't!"
"Yeah it does. It's colorful, the walls kind of look like slides, the windows look like you got them from submarines, there aren't any sharp edges... it's a playground."
The Doctor turned again, looking around with a troubled expression. After several seconds, he finally said, "Oh..."
James couldn't keep the chuckle from bubbling up from his throat. He quickly stifled it when the Doctor flashed him a hurt expression.
"Well, I think it's beautiful, Doctor," Amy said comfortingly.
"It does suit you," James said.
The Doctor's eyes scanned the TARDIS once more and then nodded. "I quite like it this way. Did you see my big window?" he asked Jack, then spun the screen around to show him.
"Yeah, that's great," Jack said sarcastically.
The Doctor nodded, that child-like expression of joy making his features brighten. He returned the screen to where it had been and looked at Jack and Gwen.
"So, what's up, Doc?"
"Right! Yes. Couple things, actually. As you can see, James is here" -James waved- "Mr. Boots abducted him from the other universe."
"Is that possible? I thought you said travel between dimensions isn't possible?"
"Rule number 1; the Doctor lies," Amy said.
The Doctor turned to her and blinked. "Who told you that?"
"Who do you think?" Amy replied evenly.
The Doctor frowned. "Oh. Right."
"Hold on, how in the hell did he get to the other universe?" Jack asked.
"It's not something just anyone could do, but it can be done with the right equipment. Mr. Boots must have had the right equipment," the Doctor explained.
"So... Rose could come back?"
"Could. Shouldn't," the Doctor said, his voice becoming quiet. A shadow seemed to pass over his features and he looked down at the glass floor of the TARDIS.
"But why-"
"She's where she needs to be. Her family is there," James answered. "It's just better that way."
"Wait, but you're here," Jack said. "What's stopping her from coming after you?"
"The portal closed," James answered. "And they don't have the kind of technology it would take to open up another one."
"Then how are you going to get back?"
"We'll work that out later," the Doctor said. "We have other things to worry about right now." He then explained everything at length, trailing off occasionally on random rambles that someone had to break him off of in order to complete the story.
Jack listened quietly and attentively, nodding, making a few comments and asking questions at different intervals. When the Doctor finished, Jack suddenly snapped his fingers as a thought struck him.
"Doc, the disturbances I showed you! The one in Cardiff. It was the portal your hit-man opened. The other ones were just a lure to get Torchwood out of the way."
The Doctor nodded. "Right! They needed to distract Torchwood so that they could get to and back from the other universe without drawing attention to themselves and to keep James hidden."
"Why'd he take him, though?" Gwen asked. She had been following along fairly well and had accepted that the Doctor was indeed the Doctor, though there were a few things that were still hazy. "If he had just wanted a hostage, he would have gone after one of those two." She gestured at Amy and Rory.
"That's been bugging us, actually," James said and then shrugged. "We don't know why he took me."
"We're working on that right now. Which is why I called," the Doctor said. "I wanted to see if you found anything else on Mr. Boots."
Jack shook his head. "Not really. I got a list of some of the hits he's behind and whoo-boy it's an extensive and impressive list. You wouldn't believe some of the hits he's done. He's good. Shot a Sontaran right in the sweet spot of his back over two thousand yards off. Oh, and apparently Hitler didn't commit suicide."
Gwen looked at Jack in disbelief.
"That was him?" Gwen stated.
"Apparently," Jack said with a shrug.
Gwen looked at the Doctor. "That's bad. You're in trouble."
The Doctor waved a hand dismissively. "I've been through worse."
"What are you going to do?"
"Well, first things first," the Doctor said. "Jack, I need you to contact the Time Agency and see what kind of background information they have on Mr. Boots."
"A real name would be a nice start," James said. "We've got too many names being thrown around and its starting to get confusing."
"Right. What else?" Jack asked.
"Like I said, information about him, as much as you can get your hands on, and keep watching everyone else. I don't want Mr. Boots going after any more of my friends."
"You got it, but I doubt he'd try for anybody else," Jack said. "If he went to the trouble of opening up a portal to James' dimension, then he probably wants James for something else, too."
"That's what we were thinking," the Doctor said. "Although, honestly, I can't imagine what he could want him for. He's a pain in the-"
"Oi!" James protested.
The Doctor waved a hand at him to shush him.
"Information?" Gwen suggested.
"No, if that was all, he could just as easily get it from the Doctor," James said.
"Well, what do you have that the Doctor doesn't?" Gwen asked.
James pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "One heart."
Gwen's brow furrowed. "Huh?"
"I've got two hearts," the Doctor said dismissively. "There's really nothing that James has that I don't. We're essentially the same person. Same memories and knowledge... up to a point that is."
"Well, could it be something after that point?"
"Unless Morgan wanted something from the other Torchwood, I doubt it," James said, crossing his arms. "Which, again, is unlikely, since he was walking around the other Torchwood yesterday like it was his backyard. If he had wanted something, he could have just taken it there."
Jack looked at him in disbelief. "He was just walking around Torchwood? And nobody stopped him? They've got better technology over there, don't they? Security-"
"I don't know how he did it, but he said something to Pete to make him trust him. Not completely, but enough to leave him alone. Not only that, but he seemed to know the ins and outs pretty well. He got into Pete's mansion without getting spotted by any of the guards or alarms. And trust me, that's not easy," he said. He'd tried it on multiple occasions, but Pete didn't really trust James (hence the agents following him around everywhere) and had gotten close a few times, but never actually succeeded.
It wasn't as though James was sneaking out to do something sinister. He just didn't like feeling trapped, and in Pete's universe, he had been absolutely drowned in the feeling. He was never given time to be alone, to think, to breathe and everyone seemed to regard him with a bit of suspicion... even Rose.
Which wasn't exactly her fault. The Doctor had left her with the impression that James was a ticking time-bomb ready to blow at any given minute. Rose had eventually told Jackie, just to relieve some concerns and frustration, and naturally Jackie had told Pete.
He felt pity and understanding touch the corners of his mind. The Doctor had heard and seen all of that and it hurt him.
"He's a professional. He doesn't do anything he's not fully prepared himself for," the Doctor said. "He makes sure he's a step ahead. Which is why I need all the information you can give me."
"You got it, Doc," Jack said with a wink and a smirk. "What else?"
"See if you can find where he is. I'd really like a word with him. Meanwhile, the four of us are going to go visit the Silence."
Amy, Rory and James all looked at the Doctor.
"W-what?" Rory asked. "Are you mad?"
"Maybe a little," the Doctor said with a playful smile. "I need to talk to Madame Kovarian."
The blood in Amy's face seemed to all but disappear and her eyes became hard and hateful. Rory looked much the same.
"I won't go anywhere near that woman," Amy seethed through a clenched jaw.
"You won't have to," the Doctor said. "You're going to be staying in the TARDIS with James. Make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
James' head snapped up at that in indignation. "What?"
"I will go see Madame Kovarian and have a nice chat with her," the Doctor continued obliviously. "See if I can get her to cancel her contract with Mr. Boots. I don't think she likes him anyway, so it shouldn't be too hard."
"You've really lost it if you think I'm just going to sit around here and do nothing," James protested angrily.
"You're safer here," the Doctor said.
"I'm not a child," James said. "I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."
"There are going to be Silence there and there are going to be people with guns, all of whom hate me and will kill me if they see me and wouldn't hesitate to do the same to you if they saw you. More than likely, they know your face as one of my past regenerations. And wouldn't it just be handy if they could kill me before I became a major problem for them?"
"Oh, come on! They wouldn't kill me if they thought I was you and you know it. Now stop treating me like-"
"Why would you say that?"
"Say what?"
"That they wouldn't kill you."
James sighed in irritation. "It's like you said. They've been around for a very long time. If they wanted one of our past regenerations dead, then they would've killed them. They probably had plenty of chances and didn't take them."
The Doctor blinked at him as two and two were put together in his mind. "Oh... I never even thought of that."
"Meta-crisis brain in action," Jack said and looked at the Doctor. "He's got a point."
James watched him for a moment. "I can help."
The Doctor looked up at him, opened his mouth, ready to protest, to argue, but stopped himself as he saw the expression on James's face.
He had expected anger, indignation, resentment, even annoyance.
He wasn't expecting the pleading look in his eyes.
He felt James' emotions creep into his conscious again; felt the want -no, the need to help. He wanted to prove himself. He felt the hurt and pain that plagued him in knowing that the Doctor didn't trust him. But more over all of these, he felt loneliness again, but it was deeper than that. It was aloneness.
He had to blink several times to focus and banish the emotions from his mind. He hadn't been prepared for it. Not only that, but the emotions themselves troubled him.
Why would James feel alone? He had Rose. He had Pete and Jackie and a life in the other universe.
He should be happy.
The Doctor stared at him for a long time, thoughts whirling around in his head. After a good minute and a half, he cleared his throat. "If you run into anyone, you're me. If anyone suspects otherwise, you run."
James' face lit up, nodding his agreement.
The Doctor pointed a warning finger at him. "And keep contact the whole time! Stick with me. Like psychic bread and butter."
James gave a brisk nod and a lazy salute. "Why bread and butter though? I don't like that analogy."
The Doctor frowned. "Me neither. My analogies aren't coming out right today."
"Maybe..." he squinted his eyes and bobbed his head from side to side in thought. "Peanut butter and jelly?"
"No, that's rubbish... hmm... tea and jammy dodgers," the Doctor suggested.
"What about noodles and cheese?"
"No, no, I've got it! Fish and custard!"
"Fish and custard?"
"Have you had it?'
"No."
"It's delicious! You should try it. Want to get some?"
"I'd love to."
"Excellent! We'll get some fish and custard... and did you say noodles and cheese?"
James shrugged. "I suddenly got a craving."
"We should get some of that, too. And some jelly babies!" he exclaimed, eyes brightening with excitement.
The conversation was abruptly and rudely interrupted by four people's throats clearing. James and the Doctor looked up at find the others looking impatiently at them.
"We were making plans?" Jack supplied.
"Hm? Oh, right! Yes! Okay, noodles, cheese, custard, fish, talk to the Silence, get information on Mr. Boots... that was it, yes?"
"Do you need anything from us, Doctor?" Gwen asked.
"Yes. Help Jack. That's the best thing you can do for me right now. Oh, and can you look after Amy and Rory for me?"
Amy's head snapped up at that, a fiery look coming over her features. "What? No, you are not dropping us off."
"Amy-" the Doctor began.
Amy shook her head fervently. "We're going with you. You'll need our help."
Rory nodded in agreement. "We can watch your back, Doctor."
"Really, James and I should have it covered," the Doctor insisted.
"Doctor, we understand you're trying to help," Rory began slowly, "But honestly... I want to go. See, these people stole my little girl. I never got to pay them back for that."
The Doctor frowned.
James gave Rory a bewildered look. "They stole your baby?"
The Doctor sighed. "Alright. But the same rules go for the two of you," he said, pointing his finger at them and looking at them severely, like a parent might to a child.
Amy and Rory nodded in understanding.
"Doc, we'll take care of things on this end. We should have something for you by the time you've dealt with the Silence," Jack stated.
"Thank you, Jack. It was good seeing the two of you again," the Doctor said with a warm smile to both of them.
Gwen smiled. "And you."
The Doctor turned the screen off and then turned to the three people behind him. He clapped his hands together and looked at James. "Come on, James. Let's go see the Silence."
James grinned and the two of them began working the controls of the TARDIS, setting a course for the Silence headquarters.
I hope to start updating faster. It really depends on whether writer's block will rear its ugly head at me and how much time I have. I'm going to try really hard though to get these chapters up more quickly.
Comments and critiques will each be rewarded with a brown paper bag of jelly babies. :)
