Chapter Eleven
"So now where?" Jack asked as they headed down the street.
"Someplace safe." The Doctor replied looking back at him. "This Widow is probably back in her nest now, but she'll be back and she'll be looking for us. We need a place that's safe and secure while we come up with a strategy."
"How 'bout the TARDIS?" Jack asked.
He raised his hands when the Doctor shot him a look.
"I know what you said about TARDIS's having the same reactions as Time Lords, but can't you just talk to her? I mean it's me, for Christ's sake. You got used to me, so can she."
"The TARDIS probably is the safest place for us." Rose said.
The Doctor glanced down at her and looked back at Jack.
"Alright, I'll talk to her, but I can't guarantee she'll go along with this." He said. "Just stay out of sight of her in the meantime, okay?"
"Fine with me." Jack said shrugging.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Wait here." The Doctor said to Jack as he stopped him around the corner from the TARDIS.
Jack shrugged. He leaned up against the wall and waited while the Doctor and Rose went to talk to the TARDIS.
"Hey girl." The Doctor said as he and Rose walked up to her.
The TARDIS burbled happily and Rose and the Doctor stroked her side.
"Been behaving yourself?" the Doctor asked her.
The TARDIS burbled in reply.
"Good."
He glanced at Rose.
"Um…listen girl, I gotta ask a favor of you. A really big favor."
The TARDIS was silent and the Doctor sensed she was waiting for him to continue. He rubbed the back of his head not sure how to continue. The TARDIS burbled at him when he remained silent urging her friend to speak.
"Well, um…it's like this." He said hesitantly. "Um…Jack found Rose and me and he…wants to come inside ya."
He and Rose gasped as the TARDIS visibly shook. The Doctor put a hand on her side and rubbed.
"I know girl." He said soothingly. "I was uneasy around him too, but you know Jack is a friend and we're in trouble and we need someplace safe so we can plan our next move. So how 'bout it? Will you let Jack inside ya?"
The TARDIS was silent and the Doctor sensed she was thinking it over. For a moment, he thought she would refuse, but then he heard her give a soft grunt and a smile spread over his face.
"Thanks, girl." He said patting her side fondly.
He glanced at Rose and she nodded. She walked around the corner and a moment later returned with Jack.
Jack's eyes widened as the TARDIS let out an enormous shudder.
"Steady, girl, steady." The Doctor said as he rubbed her side.
The Doctor put out his hand and Jack stopped a few feet from the TARDIS.
"Just stand there, let her get used to you a moment." The Doctor said.
He looked at the TARDIS as he continued to stroke her side. Jack smiled at her.
"Hey, girl, remember me?" he said cheerfully.
The TARDIS let out another shudder.
"Um…I'll take that as a yes." Jack muttered.
Jack fell silent and stood waiting as the Doctor continued to rub the TARDIS's side and murmur reassuring words to it.
"Geez, if I didn't know any better, I'd think the two of you were married." Jack muttered.
The Doctor looked at him.
"We are…well, as married as a man and a machine can get. TARDISes bond with their owners and form a lifelong link with them. She's as much a part of me as I am of her." He said. "Don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her. It's been so long since I first "borrowed" her and we've been through so much since then. Haven't we old girl?"
The TARDIS burbled affectionately as the Doctor smiled.
"So, is she gonna let me in then?" Jack asked.
The Doctor patted her side.
"How 'bout it? You wanna give it a try?"
The TARDIS grunted and her doors swung open.
"Slowly," The Doctor said to Jack. "No sudden moves just let her ease into this."
Jack nodded. He walked slowly towards the TARDIS.
"Is there any way she can freak out and kill me?" he said as he was walking towards her.
The Doctor frowned.
"How'd you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, does she have a death ray or something that she can shoot intruders with?"
"Um…no, she doesn't. She does have a force bubble that she can trap you with, but it won't kill you, just imprison you."
He paused.
"'Course she could drain the bubble of all oxygen, I guess. But she won't do that to you."
"Are you sure?" Jack said pausing just outside the door.
"Yeah, pretty sure."
"Pretty sure?"
"Well, she's a sentient being, Jack. I can't always tell what's going through her circuits, but I know that she listens to me and will do what I say…most of the time."
"Thanks, Doctor, that makes me feel so much better." Jack said as Rose giggled.
He hesitated a moment and then put a tentative step onto the TARDIS's ramp. The TARDIS let out a slight shiver.
"Easy, girl, easy. It's alright," the Doctor soothed. "Just fight the impulse, you can do it."
Jack hesitated and then stepped completely inside the TARDIS. He stood on the end of the ramp for a moment half expecting death rays to start blasting him from every direction. He let out a sigh of relief when nothing happened.
"Is she cool with me being in here?" He asked the Doctor.
"You okay, girl?" the Doctor asked.
The TARDIS grunted.
"She's fine. Go in, Jack." The Doctor called to him.
"Thank God." Jack said breathing a sigh of relief.
He walked up the ramp taking in the familiar and comforting sight of the console room as Rose and the Doctor entered behind him.
"Ah, it's been way too long." He said looking around. "I missed this ship so much."
He reached out a hand to touch the console and paused.
"Can I touch you?" he said looking up at the ceiling.
The TARDIS grunted. Jack looked back at the Doctor.
"What'd she say?" he asked.
"She said yes." The Doctor replied.
"Good, just checking. I don't want to touch her and have her freak out and throw me back out the door."
He put his hand gently on the console as the TARDIS closed her doors.
"Hey, TARDIS, great to see ya again." He said softly.
The TARDIS burbled at him.
"Seems happy to see me." Jack said to the Doctor.
"She is." The Doctor said shrugging. "She just needed a little time to adjust to your presence. But, she did miss ya, Jack."
"Is she the only one?" Jack asked staring at the Doctor.
Their eyes met for a moment and then the Doctor looked away.
"So, let's get down to business," he said hurrying past him. "We need to find out where the Widow came from, so I'll check my database and see if we can find any clues there."
He busied himself with imputing data while Jack walked over to Rose.
"What was that about?" he whispered to her. "I thought the Doctor was glad to see me too once he got over my immortality."
"He is, Jack, it's just…"
She glanced over and noticed the Doctor was busy checking his computer and ignoring them completely. She pulled Jack over towards the wall.
"Look, I've known the Doctor a lot longer than you have and I'm pretty good at reading his thoughts."
She sighed.
"Jack, before the Widow attacked us last night, he and I had a little talk about ya and your wanting to travel with us again."
"Yeah?"
Rose looked at the hopeful expression on Jack's face and her heart ached for him.
"He doesn't want you to come with us, Jack." She said softly.
Jack frowned.
"Why?"
"Because…"
She sighed.
"Because he and I have been alone for awhile now and he prefers it that way."
"Rose, I'm not asking to come with you permanently. I just want to take a few trips with you is all."
"I know that, Jack, but the Doctor hated it when Mickey traveled with us."
"Why, because he kept interrupting the two of you having sex on the console or something?" Jack said angrily.
"No, we never had sex on…"
She shook her head.
"Look, it's none of your business where we've done it, but yes, Mickey was always poking around trying to catch us doing something and it drove the Doctor crazy. When Mickey left with this guy Jake so they could fight Cybermen, he was so relieved because he was finally able to do and say what he liked without him breathing down our necks. He didn't answer you about missing ya because he doesn't want to get your hopes up about traveling with us again."
"And what about you? Do you want me to leave you and the Doctor alone?"
Rose hesitated.
"Jack…I…You're a great friend and I really am glad you found us---"
"But, no you wanna be alone." Jack spat out.
Rose sighed and shook her head.
"Not that I don't like spending time with ya," she said quickly. "It's just that---"
"You don't have to explain, Rose. I understand." Jack said holding up his hand. "I will help you defeat this Widow and then I will be on my way and I won't bother you or the Doctor anymore."
"Jack, wait…Just understand…"
"No, it's fine Rose, really. I understand. If I were in the Doctor's shoes, I would want to be alone with Ianto. I promise I won't overstay my welcome. I'll help you like I promised and then it's back to my team and that's that."
"Jack, please…"
But, Jack was turning away and looking towards the back entrance.
"I'm assuming my room is still in the same place, so I'm going back to have a nap. I didn't get much sleep last night." He said.
He looked at her.
"See ya later, Rose. Let me know when the Doctor needs me...if he needs me."
"Jack…"
He took the backpack off his shoulder and handed it to her.
"Here, give him this before I forget. I won't be needing it once I leave here." He said.
Rose took it from her and let out a sigh as he turned and without another word headed out of the console room.
