Chapter 10: Timely Arrival

"No, No, No!" The Doctor raced around the TARDIS console hammering his hand down on several different segments of it. "Don't do this to me! Come on Sexy!" he pleaded, nearly slipping to the floor as a sudden change in movement unbalanced him.

River glanced up at the errant Time Lord from her position above in amusement. "She's just angry at you for leaving the swords lodged in the front of her" She stated with a sly smirk.

"And who's fault is that?!" he looked up at his wife, hands falling to rest at the juncture of his hips. "I told you not to flirt with Caesar. I told you it would end badly. She would be completely unscathed if you had kept to that one rule."

"Relax Sweetie." River said as she stood and made her way down the steps until she too stood at the console and lifted the handbrake out of habit, sighing in relief when the sound of the engines was dimmed.

The Doctor frowned and stepped up behind her, flicking it back on. "I like the sound of the engines" he pouted, moving her away before she could take it off once more. "Now. Back to Stormcage before they send out a pursuit"

"Must we really?" She groaned, leaning back against the console. "I want to meet the legendary Captain Jack Harkness."

The Doctor shook his head quickly from side to side. "Not even a chance. I am not letting you two in the same room together. That is more chaos than time could handle." he stated, inputting the time and co-ordinates into the now settled ship.

"Spoilsport." River rolled her eyes and stepped up to The Doctor, kissing his cheek lightly. "Tell Mum and Dad I said hi" she said as she turned and walked to the door, opening it just as the ship landed.

"How do you always know?" he asked incredulously.

"Spoilers" With a smirk she opened the door and slipped out.

The Time Lord stood to ponder the thought for a moment before he hurried back to the console, inputting the destination. Cardiff 2013. In his many years he'd come across thousands of species stranded in timelines which weren't there own but never ones as famous as the Mythical King Arthur and Merlin. Lore had suggested that they didn't exist, admittedly he hadn't thought so too. At least until he headed down to the TARDIS library to research the subject. The pair weren't of this universe. But there was a parallel universe in which they did exist. This was worrisome. If there was damage to the walls between the universes he had to find them fast. And most definitely to try and not think of going back for hereven if a part of him longed to.

As the TARDIS span through the vortex he headed towards the monitor and pulled up the scan he'd had the ship undertake. The tear which had brought the pair through to this world was still visible although it was ever shrinking, like an outside force was controlling its movements. The who could wait he decided. The priority had to be getting Arthur and Merlin through that gap before it closed.

The sound of the engines was unmistakable to the ears of Jack Harkness. The moment he heard them he leapt from his chair and raced down from his office, nearly knocking over a passing Tosh as he ran. A wide smile rose upon his lips as he burst out onto the plaza just in time to see the ship materialise itself fully, the familiar sight spurring him onwards. Though the man who stepped out was unrecognisable. He pulled to a stop barely a yard away, gaze running over the strange man's frame. "Doctor?" he asked curiously.

The Doctor raised his hand and waved happily. "Hello Jack" He smiled, stepping up to hug his old friend a moment later, patting his back lightly yet awkwardly.

"So it is you? You're...different. Again. What happened this time? And what's with the bowtie?...And the chin for that matter" Jack queried, a smile forming upon his own lips as the shock made way.

The Doctor's face fell into a pout. "Why does everyone always comment on the chin...And bowties are cool I'll have you know." he answered, deliberately evading the question of his change. The event itself came about because he was hoisted by his own petard, he'd rather not broadcast that. Nor the fact that he caused the loss of his own kind even if it was to save the earth, the pain still lingered. "Now. Let's get to work. Time is going wibbly and we have little time to fix things before it goes wobbly."

Jack laughed at the phrasing but made no comment on it as he turned and led the Doctor towards the hub. "There's more than too now. Two of the knights turned up this morning. We've got Owen and Gwen out by the location of the tear in case anything else spills out. Though this is the first time we've had two from the same spot, surely three would be bad luck."

"This tear is different. It didn't happen by chance. Somebody made it and somebody is controlling it Jack. And it isn't just a regular portal...it's taking people through alternate universes."

Jack stopped suddenly, spinning round to face the Time Lord, the pair nearly bumping into one another. "Doctor. How is that possible. You closed those off...you closed Rose off..." He winced at the phrasing noting the similar but more intense ache upon the Doctor's face. "Couldn't you go and get her...? Take advantage of the situation..."

"It would be for personal gain Jack. I can't." he stated quickly and simply, starting to hurry on again He couldn't put time at risk thinking only for himself as he had once before. "She must stay in Pete's World. She needs to keep the duplicate under control. Besides, she is happy with him..." He hoped so at least, even though he felt jealous of himself. As he glanced to the side he caught sight of a protest starting upon Jack's lips. Distraction was necessary. Besides River wouldn't be thrilled for me to be travelling with Rose again. She may be fascinated with her but jealousy would linger."

"River?" Jack asked, his eyebrow raising. "Is that your new companion? What's she like?" he asked. "And when do I get to meet her."

"River is my wife. And never. You two could flirt until the sun explodes"

Once more Jack's eyes widened. "Your wife? When did that happen and where was my invite? Never had you down as the marrying type I must say."

"Long story. Alternate timeline involving her circumventing herself killing me as time should've happened." he glanced once more at the now shocked Jack. "It wasn't her fault, she was brainwashed from childhood to do so. From the very moment she was taken from Amy."

"Amy?

"Amelia Pond. She travels with me. Her and Rory. They are River's parents."

Even with his wealth of age and experience Jack grew confused. "You travelled with the parents and then married their daughter?"

The Doctor waived his hand dismissively. "Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey" he answered. "Besides, we have more important things to attend to." Without any prompting from his friend he stepped upon the hidden step, the stone descending as soon as Jack joined him. "Like I said, we have a small window to do this. The portal is already shrinking fast. I may need to tap into your resources to do a scan of the rift. Coupled with the power of the TARDIS we may be able to locate any more potential tears forming."

"What's mine is yours Doctor" he glanced back as the step stopped to see the Time Lord glancing up at Myfanwy. "Magnificent creature isn't she?"

"I had a Triceratops briefly" he mused quietly following the flight of the Dinosaur until he eventually hopped off, turning his head to take in the sight of Torchwood Three. "Now, where were we?" Ah time to get started."