In these chapters everyone learns a bit more about one another

Chapter 21: Chatting

Everyone had questions to ask but no-one quite knew how to start. The four other Jacks had been moved by Jack 4's explanation, each looking forward to a closer friendship with The Doctor. The revelation about a Dalek invasion had shaken them and also Ianto who remembered them with dread from their attack at Canary Wharf. Everyone was pleased and proud to know that Torchwood would become the focus of all alien contact. Jack looked across to Jack 5 and realised why he had developed a hard exterior; leading the world-wide organisation, especially in its early years, would be challenging to say the least.

It was Jack 3 who broke the silence, with a question that surprised some of the others. "What happened to the TARDIS?"

Jack 4 smiled briefly. "She died too. When The Doctor died she communicated with me and as requested I placed his body in the TARDIS. When I was clear, she left and flew into the sun. It seemed a very fitting end." Another silence fell, the Torchwood team aware of the Jacks' sorrow and grief and not wishing to intrude upon it.

Finally, Jack decided they needed to focus on the here and now, not the future. "Okay. I presume you'll use the screwdriver on the teleports," he said, looking at Jack 4.

"Yes. I can enable each of them to work for the one trip to get us home to the time and place we left it. And before you ask," he held up a hand, "I am not going to make the teleports work for longer than that." There were a few wry smiles at this.

"When? Do we do it straight away?"

"We could, though there's no rush. We could get to know one another, if that doesn't sound too absurd. I'd suggest we return to our times in the morning, say 10am. That is," he said looking at Jack, "if you're willing to have us that long?"

Jack smiled. "More than happy. There's a few questions I'd like to ask you and Jack 5 here. I expect the others have questions too." He looked round the table and saw confirming smiles and nods.

Ianto cleared his throat. "If you'll be staying that long, shall I order some food?"

"Good idea." Jack glanced at the clock, "It's 7.15 and I feel hungry so I expect the rest of you do too. If we order in now it'll be here by 8ish. Ianto, check with everyone about what they want to eat please." Orders were given and Ianto went off to place the order: pizzas had won out over Chinese food. The others got up from the table and moved around, talking among themselves.

Toshiko looked curiously at the sonic screwdriver and Jack 4 saw her interest. "Want to see?" he asked, holding it out to her.

"Yes, please," she answered enthusiastically and took it in her hands. She explored the mechanism and with Jack 4's nodded agreement, opened it. "It's so unlike anything I've seen before. It doesn't appear to be of any particular or coherent design."

"It isn't. The Doctor used many different technologies, adapted over the years. He used whatever was available or just appealed to him." He took it back from her, "It's unique."

"As he is," said Jack, coming up to join the two of them. "I'm glad he's going to be around when Torchwood expands. That sounds like one hell of a big job."

"It is. I always like the days I can get out and meet the aliens. Dealing with human politicians is a nightmare. Worse than anything you've experienced up to now."

"Worse than Saxon?" asked Jack smiling wryly. He couldn't imagine anyone worse than The Master.

"Perhaps not," agreed Jack 4, also smiling. "I think it's the sheer numbers that got me down. Eventually I managed to get all communications channelled through the UN Secretary General which helped a bit."

"Sounds like it'll be fun," said Toshiko. "I'm looking forward to it." Jack caught the fleeting look of regret on Jack 4's face which he hid almost immediately. He was saved from having to reply by the arrival of the food.