I apologize for the wait on the update. My house had experienced one hell of a nasty stomach virus that put some of us in the Emergency Room. So that is the reason behind the delay of the post.
As a forewarning, the rewrite for this chapter has been changed completely from its original form. This means that the chapter that will follow this will also be completely different from the original. Then it will be back to the rewriting the original chapters with a few new additions. I chose this change partly due to the fact that I am currently working on the third story of this series. There are some things in that story that will be explained in this one, the second story of the series, and vice versa. So please don't hate me if you were a fan of the previous story line for this second story.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own Doctor Who!
Torchwood Hub…
It was night in the hub and nearly everyone was asleep. Gwen is sleeping on the floor, and next to her is Jenny. Both of them had pulled out a few sleeping sacks from storage and were using those as a bed. Meanwhile, Ianto had gone back into Jack's office to sleep on the couch in there. As for Luke, he is currently lying on the autopsy table in the morgue fast asleep. The only ones left awake are Captain Jack and the Doctor. One standing in front of a computer, while the other was sitting in a sleek black, modern office chair with a small boy in his arms.
Little Jack had enjoyed the banana split ice cream earlier and for a while had been bouncing off the walls thanks to the sugary treat. But now that the sugar had worn off, the little boy was now fast asleep against Jack Harkness's chest. The older of the two Jacks had his arms wrapped protectively around his charge.
"You look good with a kid, Captain." says the Doctor, who is typing away at the computer that Luke and him had hooked up to the Tardis console earlier.
"Thanks Doc." Harkness replies softly so that he doesn't wake the sleeping child. "I still don't understand something though."
"Oh?" The Doctor pulls out his black framed glasses from his pocket and places them on his face. Then he continues reading the information that the Tardis and Torchwood sensors are giving on the computer screen.
"Why doesn't he shy away from me like you do. Or did?"
The Doctor looks over his left shoulder to where the Captain is. He gives a shrug of his shoulders before looking back at the computer screen.
"I don't know how he can stand you. You are a fixed point in time. Right now, I am trying my hardest not to run away from you. Might be it's because Rose was the one that made you immortal, and maybe he can sense it. Probably makes him think that he is closer to Rose."
The child in Harkness's arms lets out a sniffle and grabs a fist full of the Captains shirt. Jack rubs the side of his face against Harkness's chest before letting out a sigh as the constant thump-thump reassures the child that he is safe.
"Uh Doc? What is he doing?" asks the Captain with a slight panic in his voice. "Not that I mind, but I would prefer the person to be at least over the age of consent."
The Doctor looks back at Harkness and Jack to see what the older of the two is fussing on about. Seeing his son clinging to the older man causes the Doctor to shake his head in amusement with a smile on his face.
"Just like Rose. He likes to listen to either Rose's heartbeat or my own two if he is frightened or scared. Don't worry Jack, he won't wrinkle your shirt, or at least not too badly." The Doctor says before removing his suit jacket. Then he walks over and lays it over his sleeping son.
Suddenly a small beeping noise echoes out from inside of the Tardis. This captures both the Doctor and Harkness's attention and leaves them itching to run into the ship. However, one of them is reluctant to move.
"Go ahead, Doc." Jack Harkness tells the Doctor with a quick nod. "I'll stay put with your spawn."
The Doctor looks as if he is torn between going into the Tardis and staying with his son. Yet he knows that he can't let this opportunity to find Rose pass him by. Reluctantly the Doctor leaves his son with the Captain, and heads into the Tardis.
Running up to the console, the Doctor circles it while watching the screens scroll the information for him. Then he comes to a stop at one of the screens and begins reading what the Tardis has been able to discover.
As the Doctor is busy in the Tardis, Harkness watches the doors of the Tardis from his chair. They had closed behind the Doctor when he entered, and now the former Time Agent is wondering what is going on inside of the time ship. However, something very peculiar was about to take place in the Hub.
A quick flash of a bright white light fills the area before revealing a young man, with a mop of brown hair and dressed in tweed, standing only three feet away from the Tardis doors.
"What? Who are you and how did you get in here?" Jack Harkness cries out in surprise and moves quickly out of the chair while pulling out a small hand gun. He has already tightened his hold on Jack with his one arm.
"Captain Harkness!" The man in tweed exclaims with a big smile on his face. "Long time, no see."
"I don't know who you are, but you are not to take another step." The former Time Agent keeps his gun trained on the man, even as the man slowly comes towards him.
"Come now, Harkness, we don't have time for all this showy business. Flourishing your gun about is not being a good example for my son." The twee dressed man heads towards the computer that the Doctor had recently been using.
"Your son?" Harkness asks as he looks confusedly at the man.
"Yes, Harkness. My son. Now, I am sure that my past self is currently searching Rose. He isn't going to be able to do it on his own though. Even I couldn't when I was him, and that is saying something about how hard this puzzle is to solve." The man says before pulling out a sonic screwdriver and aiming it at the computer. The sonic buzzes and begins to glow green.
"What are you doing?" Harkness slowly lowers his gun and tucks it into the back waist area of his pants.
"Giving my former self a little more information. Very important information that he doesn't have, yet."
"Why is it so important?"
"Because it is information about Rose. I used, well he is currently using, information that is outdated, and it is crucial that he has the correct, up-to-date information. Tell me, has he told you what information he is using to find Rose?" The man turns his head away from the computer and looks directly at Jack Harkness.
"He said he was using her DNA that he has on the Tardis."
"Yes, but from when? I know that he only has her DNA from before Canary Wharf because Mister I-Wear-Sandshoes hasn't given any thought about getting a new sample from her."
Harkness couldn't believe what he was hearing from this version of the Doctor. Oh yes, he knows now that this mysterious man is most likely a later version of the Doctor that is currently inside of the Tardis.
"Has something happened to Rosie that would make an old DNA sample invalid?" Harkness asks as he feels the little boy shift a little bit in his single arm hold.
"Yes, Jack. Something that will put her life in danger." This other version of the Doctor says with such sad eyes. "And that of our unborn daughter."
"Unborn daughter? Future or present tense, Doc?"
"Present." This version of the Doctor puts his sonic away and walks up to Jack before continuing to speak. "There are those out there in the universe who would love to get their hands on me or any other Time Lord. However, any child of mine with Rose would be even more sought after."
With his eyes widening at the words left unsaid by the Doctor, Harkness decides to say it. "The Vortex changed Rosie, didn't it?"
"Yes, but how much? Even I don't know in this regeneration. But right now, in this time, someone wants Rose." The tweed dressed Doctor breaks eye contact with Jack Harkness to look at the sleeping child. "I've forgotten how young he was."
This causes Jack Harkness to give the Time Lord a questioning look. "You mean that he isn't this young with you now?"
"No. Just had his first regeneration a while back. I forgot how small they are at this age." Gently the Doctor brushes his fingertips against his son's temple. "I have to leave now."
Practically running away from his son and friend, the Doctor comes to a stop where he first appeared. Then he gives Harkness a wink before brandishing his wrist, where a certain vortex manipulator was strapped. With a tap from a finger, the future Doctor disappears a mere second before the current Doctor opens the Tardis doors.
"Who just tried to enter Jack's mind?" The Doctor asks while rushing up to where Jack is standing with the child. Whipping out his sonic screwdriver, he has it check over his son.
"No one, Doc. Just has been me and the kid out here." Harkness blatantly lies, hoping that the Doctor won't push the issue.
Looking at the sonic screwdriver's readings over the scan of his son, the Doctor decides to let his friend off the hook for the lie. Giving the older Jack a skeptical look, the Doctor jumps in surprise when the computer behind him sets off the Torchwood alarm. Turning to look at the computer, the Doctor moves closer and his eyes get big as he reads the new information.
"Ha. I've got a lock on Rose's location."
"Where?"
"The planet Khitomer." The Doctor almost has to do a double take at that information.
"Khitomer? But the inhabitants shouldn't have any space technology till the 34th century."
"Something, or someone has altered their history or is using their planet to hide. But why Khitomer? There is nothing special about that planet or where it is located in the universe." The Doctor muses as he tries to think about what had changed from the time he went into the Tardis and then came out.
"Well what are we waiting for. Let's go get Rosie." Harkness says to the Doctor as he moves to gently set down the Doctor's son onto the office chair.
"I'll go alone." The Doctor says to Harkness with a hard look on his face.
"No." Harkness answers back as he pulls his gun back out again. "Someone has to go with you. I don't think your family would enjoy having you regenerate so soon."
Hearing his friend's concern causes the Doctor to rethink his strategy on retrieving Rose. If someone has influenced the acceleration of the Khitomer inhabitants' technological ability, then they may not want to be found out. This would mean that they could be dangerous, and even the Doctor would not be willing to put Rose's life at risk. Especially when she is carrying their child.
"Very well, Jack. Let us go get Rose back before anyone notices that we have gone." The Doctor says to the former Time Agent before heading to the Tardis with Jack following behind.
As the Tardis begins to disappear from the Hub, another bright flash of light happens and the Tweed dressed Doctor watches as his younger self goes after Rose. Once the Tardis is gone, a small whimper catches this Doctor's attention. He looks over at the curled up form of his son on the office chair. Slowly this Doctor walks over and kneels before the chair.
"Hey little buddy, it will be alright." He whispers to the sleeping boy. "I'll keep you company while they are gone. Younger me obviously forgot that you need your parent's telepathic link to keep you from reaching out to others. I was so foolish back then to leave you. Now and in the future, which I am so sorry for all those years I wasn't there for you, your mum, and your sisters."
Letting a small smile appear on his face, this Doctor places a kiss against Jack's forehead. Then he whispers against the boy's skin.
"My time is coming to an end, you know. I can't tell future you or your mum that I know this. I've been running for so long now, but time has caught up to me." Leaning back, this Doctor takes note of how sound his son is sleeping.
"I want to tell you a story, and I want you to remember it. Promise me you will it when the time comes."
Jack lets out a soft sigh in his sleep and the Doctor smiles before pressing on with telling Jack the story.
"There once was a little Scottish girl by the name of Amy Pond…"
In the Tardis…
Jack Harkness is holding onto the console of the Tardis while watching the Doctor fly his ship. He can't help but wonder just how long this Doctor be around before he turns into the one that had been in the Hub, dressed in tweed. 'If retrieving Rose is so important is this what causes the Doctor to regenerate?' This is the sentence that is echoing in Jack's mind, and he isn't sure if he can stop that kind of a set-point in time.
"You're awfully quiet, Jack. Something you need to say?" The Doctor asks his friend.
"No. Just anxious to get our Rose back."
The Doctor isn't sure if what Jack is telling him is true, but he isn't going to press the matter. Yet the Doctor can feel Jack's worry via some of the telepathy that Jack has. So something is bothering the former Time Agent. 'Hopefully it won't affect him during our trip to get Rose back.'
The rest of the trip is a quiet one for the two males, and it isn't till the Tardis lands that the Doctor steels himself for what he is about to face. Sending gratitude to his ship for landing quietly, the Doctor is the first one to reach the doors. Opening them up slowly, the Doctor cautiously steps outside with Jack following closely behind.
"Still looks primitive." Jack says as they slowly walk down the dugout hallway in the rock bed of the planet. "Is this the correct time?"
"Yes. The Tardis is adamant that Rose is here." The Doctor pulls out his sonic and begins using it to take him to Rose. "See, even the sonic is picking up on her signature."
They keep walking through the many hallways, which are empty and devoid of life. This has both of them on edge since this planet is supposed to have over 7 million inhabitants on it. For the hallways to be empty either signifies that the Doctor and Jack were expected to arrive or something much worse has happened. It isn't till they turn a corner that they see two tall, white creatures that neither have ever seen before.
"Hello. Can you tell me where one might find a Miss Rose Tyler?" The Doctor asks as he approaches the two aliens.
The two aliens let out a few clicks and creeks but other than that neither alien speaks. Yet there is something about these aliens that has the hair on the Doctor's neck raised in caution.
"Doc. What are those? I've never seen them before."
"No idea, but they do not belong on this planet."
The two men look at each other before looking back at where the aliens are. Yet the two aliens are no longer there, and the two men don't notice the missing aliens.
"Why have we stopped? Did the sonic find Rose?" Jack asks wondering why they were no longer walking when he remembers that they were walking moments ago.
"Down here." The Doctor replies and begins to move quickly towards the end of the hallway. Turning to the right, the Doctor gets a clear view of the medical room that has his wife in it. "Rose."
Both the Doctor and Jack hurry into the room. As the Doctor begins to remove small circular sensors from Rose's body, Jack keeps point guard near the door. Once all of the sensors have been removed, the Doctor places two of his fingers to each of Rose's temples. Being as careful as he can the Doctor tries to reach out for Rose's mind, but it isn't Rose's mind who responds. It is a small, inquisitive mind that is still developing within Rose's body.
"Oh you are brilliant." The Doctor whispers out loud in amazement at feeling his unborn child's mind. "Now where is your mother?"
A scuffle at the door of the room causes the Doctor to detach from the small life and leave Rose's body. Looking over at the door the Doctor can see Jack's dead body lying on the ground with a familiar face standing over him.
"Hello Doctor. I'm sure you remember me." a man in all black with a gold collar says with sneer while entering the room.
"Black Guardian. Morbius." The Doctor's voice is cold and hard as he replies.
"You never change Doctor, though your face does. You look a lot younger than I ever remember seeing you." The Black Guardian moves further into the room and towards the wall on the other side of Rose's bed.
"You haven't changed. What do you want?"
"Well I wanted to know if the rumors were true. And I couldn't believe it when I found out that you and your mate here, were expecting a child." The Black Guardian replies gleefully as his eyes lock with the Doctor's before looking down at Rose. His eyes focus more so on the white, dress covered bump that is on Rose's abdomen.
"Don't you dare touch her or my child." The Doctor growls out as he begins to circle the table that Rose is lying on. He keeps his eyes focused on his foe as the two keep moving around the table.
"Now Theta, where is the fun in that." Morbius says from where he is standing over Jack's body. "I have to applaud you on finding a mate to procreate with. Especially one that has the time vortex inside of her, which as a human should have killed her. Yet here she is. A living, breathing human with vortex energy flowing inside of her."
"Leave Rose out of this. You have me now, so let her go." The Doctor pleads while still keeping a hard expression on his face.
"Why would we want you, Theta?" Morbius asks with the want of bloodshed evident in his eyes. "Especially when it is your child we want."
"No!" Jack cries out all of a sudden as he discharges his gun multiple times.
Morbius stumbles back out of shock at being shot by a man that is supposed to be dead. That is when he feels the weirdest sensations through his time senses. This man who had come with the Doctor was immortal. A fixed-point in time.
As Jack continues to unleash the barrage of bullets into Morbius, the Doctor moves quickly to protect Rose from the Black Guardian. Yet when he looks to where his opponent is, there is nothing there. This doesn't surprise the Doctor in the least since the Black Guardian is one of only two omnipotent presences in the Universe.
Not missing a moment, the Doctor scoops Rose's prone from up from the table and watches as Morbius falls out the door way. Stepping foot outside of the medical room, the Doctor looks at where Morbius has dragged his bleeding body down the hallway, away from Jack who is still firing off his gun.
"Jack, we need to go now." The Doctor calls out as he tries to jog while carrying Rose. Turning the corner, the Doctor doesn't witness what happens next.
Jack, focusing more on harming his opponent, doesn't see a woman who has stepped out of a medical room that was two room past the corner that the Doctor had turned. Nor does Jack see that the woman is pointing a gun right at him.
A pop sound is all Jack hears before feeling the burning sensation of a bullet entering his body from behind. Twisting around to see who had just shot him, Jack recognizes the woman immediately. A woman from his past.
"You." Jack says in surprise at seeing her curly blonde hair.
"Yes, Jack. It's me." the woman says as she slowly walks towards the man. Her tight, black colored pants hug every curve of her legs. Her white, three quarter sleeved blouse is also a bit form fitting; but it is mostly covered by a black dress vest which hides many secret weapons.
"Why? How? Are you here to take me back to the Time Agency? I was told it was destroyed by a friend of yours." Jack huffs between breaths as he realizes that this woman shot him with the intent of causing a long, painful death.
"No, I'm not here to take you back. And yes the Agency was destroyed, but not by my friend. He was your friend if I remember correctly." The woman says before turning her gun at Morbius. Then she fires several rounds, insuring that he will die with no chance of regenerating.
"He was a friend to us both. So why are you even here? Last I heard you were supposed to be serving a life sentence for killing a great man." Jack groans as his knees give way and he falls to the ground.
"I was, or rather still am. It is so confusing trying to differentiate between which thing happens at which time, so confusing. And by the way, I was asked by a very special friend to be here to ensure that certain events take place." The woman says to Jack as she kneels down next to him. "I am sorry sweetie, but you can't interfere with what is about to happen. The Doctor and Rose need to go through with what happens now, by themselves."
Jack gives a few chuckles as blood begins to enter his mouth. "Never were one to give direct answers."
"Spoilers." The woman says with a smile on her face. "But I have it on good authority that Bad Wolf and the Oncoming Storm will survive the encounter."
The sound of a Tardis landing draws Jack's attention, and the woman steps over Jack to make her way over to the ship. This takes Jack by surprise that this woman knows who owns the ship. The doors open and an older looking gentleman is standing in the doorway with a smirk on his face.
"Is that anyway to leave our friend, Professor?" the older man asks with a small hint of a Scottish accent.
"Sorry, but you didn't tell me not to shoot to kill." The woman replies back to the man. "Besides, your son will forgive me for shooting his godfather and namesake."
"That he will." The man says as he lets the woman enter his ship. Then he gives Jack a sad look. "Sorry but I can't help you, Jack. I shouldn't even be here, but you know how Rose is."
The older man closes the doors, but not before giving Jack a wink. The Tardis disappears, leaving the dead body of Morbius and of a dying Jack in the hallway. However, it is the immortal who is left wondering if he had just imagined the whole thing.
"I'm going to kill him the next time I see him." Jack spits out with his last breath of life.
So have I got your attention now? Wondering what this big event is that the Doctor and Rose must go through? You will find out in the next chapter.
Reviews are loved, cherished, and sorely missed. So please leave a review, I love hearing what you all have to say about this story.
Selene