A/N: So I'm going to be really busy the next couple of days mostly because my best friend had a health scare so I'm hanging out with her in my free time.

Also, yes, this is shorter than usual. I planned on having two parts to this chapter, but having two major conversations in one go felt too crammed together. The main, long discussion with the Doctor takes place in the next one. I think that'll be up either today or late Wednesday. Maybe, if I have time.

And number three: I've been told that some reviewers wanted to see the scene in the last chapter where the Dalek kills Statten. I didn't think it was necessary when I originally wrote the thing, but now that I look back, it was a crucial piece of information I don't know why I left out. However, in order to keep the story going until school starts next Monday, I'm not going to write it any time soon. Would any of you be interested in it if I put it in a story for deleted scenes? I'd update it throughout the book if I forget something. As I go, if there's a moment that you want to see, let me know and I'll add it to my list.

Main story's first, though!

A Phone Call

"What did you do this time?" Rose yelped as we were all thrown against the sparking console. The TARDIS' usual breathing sound had turned sour, causing us all to cringe.

The Doctor shoved the new guy, Adam, out of the way as he lurched around, pressing buttons and yanking on bits and pieces. "Don't look at me! I wasn't touching anything!" With an annoyed grunt, he kicked the base of the column.

Just like that, our crazy ride came to a screeching halt. I lost my grip and lurched to the side, coming so close to falling over. I collided with an immovable wall of leather. We sprang apart. Our barriers slammed shut, sealing themselves away in a deliberate recoil. I retreated to the other end of the room, clenching my teeth.

One solid day and we still didn't talk to each other. I wanted to so badly, but all I had to do was look in the Doctor's direction to know he didn't feel the same. The only way I knew we were in the same room would be to keep him in my sights. I couldn't pressure him like that again. Make him open up so we could talk about it. While his lack of trust stung me to no end, I knew I deserved it. I'd sided against him with an alien he hated.

How could he ever forgive me for that?

"… and we're stuck. That's just lovely." Rose made a face as she righted herself. "Do you think you can fix it?"

"Not quickly," came the Doctor's grumble.

Great, so we'd be stranded on the same ship for who knew how long. Nothing could go wrong, could it?

Rose didn't seem the bit fazed by it. "Come on, then. What can we do to help?"

Already half-way beneath the smoldering mass of the console, the Doctor's grunt came out muffled and more than a little annoyed. "Not unless you know how to rewire a time circuit. No? Then just stay out of my way and I'll get done faster."

Even Rose picked up on that one. Her eyebrows crept upwards, but I stopped her from saying anything with a shake of my head. I already ran the risk of getting kicked off. I didn't want her to be put in the same boat and leave the Doctor all by himself. "All right then. Adam, I think that's our cue to start exploring. You coming, Jessie?"

I made a face, but kept my voice low. "No thanks. I haven't had my cappuccino yet. Trust me, I'm not a decent person to be around until that happens." More like I didn't want to act like everything was normal when I knew it wasn't.

I all but slunk out of the room before anyone could talk to me. Only a couple of corners brought me to the kitchen. I smiled. "Thanks, girl. At least you're understanding." I didn't receive any response. Perhaps even the TARDIS knew I had to be alone.

My hot late had only started to cool when my phone rang. It … rang.

Only one person knew my number. To call when I needed help.

"H … hello?" I could barely choke out the word. My hands shook as I waited the long seconds for someone to respond. "If … if this is the person I think it is, just think before saying anything."

"Um …." For once, Jack's voice sounded unsure. "Wow. I … I haven't heard … I mean …." He sighed so forcefully, that I had to hold the phone away from my ear. "Time checks, right. When did you see me last?"

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I struggled to keep from falling completely apart. "Weeping Angels in my apartment and getting sucked into a Vortex Manipulator thingy for the first time." The very beginning of my mess-ups.

"Shit. Too early again."

I frowned at that. "I'm sorry. Do … do you want me to hang up so you can try again?" Why wouldn't he want to talk to me even if he'd called "too early?"

"What? No, no, no." At least the panic reassured me that Jack still behaved like Jack. "Don't hang up, please. I just … needed to hear your voice and I didn't expect to be re-directed this far back. I'm sorry."

"No, I shouldn't have said that," I sighed, planting my head on the counter. Cool and refreshingly hard. "So, I guess you can't tell me what made you get all sentimental?"

"Unfortunately not. You, on the other hand, can tell me why you sound like … well, like shit?"

That startled a laugh out of me when I didn't think I could even imagine one. "Am I that obvious, Jack?" Oh, the ease of having a conversation with him! It made my chest ache even more until it felt ready to explode.

"Unlike the Doctor, I'm not oblivious and you're avoiding. Stop it."

Detail by every little detail, I managed to tell Jack about the disaster of a first adventure. He didn't interrupt. Didn't lecture on what I should or shouldn't have done. He just encouraged me to keep talking until the words came pouring out on their own. Tears came too, but I didn't try to stop them. I'd resisted for so long, tried to remain strong so the Doctor wouldn't see how much of a mess I truly had become.

Eventually I ran out of things to say and the energy to feel sorry for myself. Well, I still felt like a failure, but I wouldn't burst into tears again any time soon. "What do I do, Jack? How can I fix this?"

"Simple: by doing what you do best." The confidence in his voice made me stop breathing. "Talk to him, Jess. Listen to him. You're an empath. You can reach parts of him other companions don't even know exist." Jack paused, a smirk carrying over the line. "Hell, you got through to me, didn't you?"

"Um …." I cleared my throat, scrambling to regain an emotional foothold. "Spoilers, much?"

"Not for too much longer."

For a few moments, we just sat in comfortable silence, like we were in the same room. As with any conversation, it felt natural as if I'd known him much longer than the nine months and change.

Which brought up a fear that I hadn't allowed myself to consider until then.

Swallowing a dry throat, I steeled myself for the worst. "Um … I don't know if you can answer this, but …."

"You can ask me anything, Jess."

"The version of you I left. The Jack Harkness that I fell in love with and spent nine amazing months with. He's …. Will I see him again?"

Only silence this time.

I shuddered as part of my heart finished shattering into a thousand pieces. A tear leaked out of my eyes when I squeezed them shut. I swiped it away. I'd pretty much feared that since the moment I was snatched away. "I see. I think … I think I'd better go."

"Will you talk to him?" Jack's voice had gone rough in a way that squeezed the air from my lungs. "Jess, promise me you'll make time to talk to the Doctor?"

"Don't worry. I'm not planning on talking to anyone else until I do." I tried picturing what Jack's face would be at the moment … and failed. He'd always been smiling. "Thank you for calling. Even if you wanted a future me."

"No," Jack's voice firmed up with a certainty that I couldn't question. "I always find the right Jessica Gale. Even if it isn't the one I expect."

He disappeared into the void with a simple beep.