A/N: Looooong! I'm serious., 3.2k words. Almost as long as David's... err... ruler...? :o
Chapter 28 – Sit! Sit!
Jack whistled a happy tune as he made his way to the Doctor's room in Torchwood the next morning, a bounce in his step. He bounded up the stairs and reached the door, about to go in when he heard Rose and the Doctor's voices from within...
"Rose, stop doing that..." the Doctor's voice said.
"You don't like me playin' with it?" Rose's voice asked.
"I love you playing with it, but this really isn't... Ow!"
"Am I pullin' it too hard?"
"You're gonna rip it off!"
Jack's eyes widened, were they...? He pressed his ear against the door, listening a little harder.
"Sorry, it's just never been this long before..."
"Well this is what happens when you don't touch it for two months."
"Believe me, it's all I thought about."
"Really?"
"I really wanted to just get my hands all over it..."
Jack wondered just how exactly the Doctor had mustered the energy to do this, debating whether to go in or not.
"Is it hard?" the Doctor's voice asked.
"It is a little bit. How did you do it before you met me?"
"I did it myself."
"Is there an alien thing to make it better?"
"No, just grab and go."
Jack decided enough was enough. He grabbed the door handle and pushed it open, expecting to catch them right in the middle of sex, but to his utter surprise, he found the Doctor sat in a chair in the clear area of the room dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, and Rose cutting his hair.
"Hey," Rose said to Jack, smiling.
"Right," Jack said, glancing between them. "Sorry, thought you were talking about his knob. Rose, you want something to eat?"
The Doctor and Rose simultaneously blinked.
"It's bacon butties," Jack said helpfully.
There was a momentary pause before the Rose spoke, "um, yeah, okay. Thanks."
"Okay, I'll bring some up," Jack said, before turning to the Doctor. "Martha says I'm not allowed to feed you anything too heavy right now because you'll probably puke it back up again," he said, shrugging. "Do you want me to make something light?"
"Yes, please. Thank you."
"No problem," Jack replied, and walked casually out the door.
The Doctor and Rose looked at each other for a moment, and then both burst into sniggers as Rose finished up his makeover.
"There," she said, running her hands through his hair, checking the length. Then it became a massage. Then it became slightly more intense as she moved around to the front to check the fringe, kissing his now shaven face. Then she moved down to his lips, her fingers entwined in his hair...
"You were talking about my knob," the Doctor realised.
She giggled, kissing him again. "If you want me to do anythin' for you, my hands are ready and willin'."
His eyes bulged slightly at the mere thought of what she was offering. "No, I'm fine."
"Okay," she said, and rummaged through the makeover bag she'd bought, holding up a mirror. "What do you think?"
He took the mirror, staring at himself for a moment, hand running down his chin. "I can see my face," he said dumbly.
"Pretty, isn't it?" she replied, smiling.
He beamed, then looked up at her. "Thank you."
"Pleasure," she replied, taking the mirror back. "Can you get back to bed?"
He pulled a face, considering the pain and effort it had taken to move the metre to the chair an hour previously. "I don't really want to try."
"Okay, we'll wait for Jack," she said, stealing yet another kiss from him. They both needed it.
"Will you stay with me today?" he asked quietly.
She suddenly looked a little winded. "Oh, no, I'm sorry. Me, Leah and Gwen are goin' out shoppin' in a bit."
"Oh," he said, looking a little miffed.
Rose frowned. "Sorry, do you want me to get you anythin'?"
The Doctor thought for a moment. "No, thanks. Just make sure Leah gets whatever she wants."
Rose nodded. "And we need to do somethin' else for her birthday. I'll pick a few things up but I think she deserves a lot more than presents."
"Yeah," he agreed, then paused for thought. "I think she just wants us all to be together again. Maybe just us three go somewhere nice for a while together."
Rose nodded. "Yeah, and I think we all need a break before this one arrives," she said, gesturing to her belly. "But where?"
"I'll think of something," he said, just as the door opened to reveal Jack holding a tray, shortly followed by a very annoyed-looking Leah.
"You left me!" she accused her Mum, very irritated indeed.
Rose laughed, gathering the girl into her arms. "I'm sorry, you looked happy playin' on your own."
"Don't leave me again!" she insisted, clinging tightly onto Rose as Jack placed the tray on the side table, looking at the Doctor's restoration of sticky-uppy hair and sideburns.
"Oh, pretty," he said, grinning.
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Can you move me?"
Jack opened his mouth to reply, but the Doctor quickly held up his hand.
"Hey, little ears," he pointed out, indicating Leah.
Jack obediently closed his mouth again, looking a little disappointed before he picked up the Time Lord in both arms, trying to navigate around the IV lines. The Doctor was obviously trying to not cry out in front of Leah and resorted to shaking slightly as Jack laid him gently back on the bed. He recovered his senses in time for Jack to gave him a banana, some marmalade on toast and a cup of tea.
He beamed. "Thanks," he said, peeling the banana and taking a hearty bite, before looking down at Leah and offering a smile. "Hello, you."
She looked up at him, obviously wanting to hug him as tightly as she was hugging her Mum, but the bed was a bit high. Jack took pity on her and grabbed her, lifting her onto the bed beside her Dad where she quickly moved to hold him, careful not to hurt him.
"Gwen says to meet at the Hub door when you're done," Jack told Rose, who nodded as he left the room.
"Are you gonna be fine now?" Leah asked the Doctor.
"Yep, I'll be tickety boo in no time." He paused, frowned. "... Did I just say tickety boo?"
Rose giggled through mouthfuls of bacon sandwich.
"Will you come with us today?" Leah asked.
He shook his head. "No, sorry, Leah."
"Daddy's gotta stay in this room for a while," Rose said gently. "He's not very well."
"Can I stay, please?" Leah asked.
"No, you go with Mummy and have some fun," the Doctor said, stroking her hair. "You can get whatever you want from the shops, okay? If you see something you like, you let Mummy or Auntie Gwen know straight away and they'll get it for you."
"But please, I wanna stay and talk to you, Daddy," Leah said pleadingly.
"You can talk to me when you get back," he said with a smile, kissing her forehead.
"Promise?" Leah asked.
He nodded, but was cut short of anything else he might have said as the door opened to reveal the Master, propped up on a crutch. Leah took one look at him, quickly turning to hug her Dad even tighter for protection.
"Good morning, Leah," the Master greeted, smiling.
She huddled more into her Dad, tears erupting in her eyes.
"But that was my most genuine-looking smile!" the Master exclaimed, surprised.
Rose quickly moved across the room to join her husband and daughter, considering any potential weapons she could use if he dared to take one step closer.
The two Time Lord's eyes met, and instantly the atmosphere tensed incredibly.
"Please leave," the Doctor said simply.
The Master seemed a little surprised, to say the least. "Not even a chat?"
"If you want to talk to me, come back later. Now please leave, because you're upsetting my daughter."
The Doctor half expected him to retort, but to his complete surprise, there was only a nod in response. The Master made to turn, but stopped halfway and looked at Leah.
"Bye, Leah," he said, then left.
As his shuffles faded away, they relaxed again. The Doctor glanced at Rose before looking down to Leah, thumbing tears away from her eyes.
"Hey, he's gone now," he said gently, kissing her forehead.
"I don't like Uncle Harry," she said quietly.
"Don't call him Uncle Harry anymore," the Doctor said quickly. "His name is the Master, and I am never going to let him near you ever again, so don't worry about a thing. Now you two go."
Rose nodded, leaning forward to kiss him before he kissed Leah good bye and Rose picked her up, holding her close. The good mood had been successfully slayed by the Master's surprise appearance.
"Hey, smile you two," he said, offering them a grin. "While you're off having fun I'm gonna be sat here alone for hours."
"I'll send Jack up to play with you," Rose told him, giving him a cheeky smile in return.
"Please don't," the Doctor said quickly, looking a little horrified.
She laughed. "Bye," she said, and he sketched a wave as she and Leah left. He sighed, and reached for the cup of tea.
The Doctor was lost, and completely alone.
Everywhere was darkness, pain, and rage. He was running down a metal corridor consumed in darkness, a million doors spread either side of him. There was someone screaming a bloodcurdling scream, begging for help, calling out his name... But he couldn't find them. Which room were they in?
He kept running. He had to find them, had to help them. But he couldn't, and it was getting worse and worse. The horrific screaming was becoming louder, and louder, and louder, and...
"Doctor!" a voice said and he was wrenched from the dream to find Jack standing over him, hands resting on his shoulders.
The Doctor blinked, looking around with wide eyes to find himself lying in the Torchwood medical room as always. His eyes connected with Jack's, who looked a little relieved to say the least.
"You all right?" the ex-Time Agent asked.
The Doctor blinked again a few times, sitting up slightly. "Yeah. Bad dream."
Jack nodded, understanding. "Are you all right to get up?"
The Doctor noticed the sense of urgency in his voice. "What's happened? Are Rose and Leah okay?"
Jack nodded quickly. "They're fine, it's just... There are some Judoon standing in the Hub, asking for you."
Jack didn't need a telescope to see how fed up the Doctor was. Frankly, if Jack were in his shoes, he'd be pretty fed up as well. The Doctor was in fact so sick of it that as Jack supported him as he approached a thicket of Judoon and a woman in a black dress he was already off on one.
"Thought I told you to leave me alone?" the Time Lord spat, thoroughly annoyed.
The woman shifted, seemingly slightly uncomfortable. "You are still a prosecuted felon, Doctor, we cannot simply let you go."
"Oh, so after you've stolen my child for no reason, tortured me, encroached on my wife's rights, threatened my wife, shot the last Gallifreyan with no premise, orchestrated a unfair hearing, taken jurisdiction over a level 5 planet, caused possible untold damage to an unborn child and neglected the welfare of your prisoners I'm still the bad person?"
The woman nodded, still very wary. "We admit we have acted in breech of our own law and are prepared to give you and your family compensation for any physical or mental trauma that resulted as a direct consequence of..."
"I don't want your compensation!" the Doctor interrupted rudely. "I just want you to leave me and my family alone."
"You are still a prosecuted felon, Doctor, the law demands that we..."
"I have abided by your laws my entire life, and this is how you have chosen to repay me," the Doctor interrupted again. "I will continue to live by your laws, but I have no interest in the activities of the Shadow Proclamation anymore. I don't want to be associated with you."
"Perhaps we could compromise?" the woman proposed quietly.
"Oh, I've got a compromise," the Doctor spat. "If you don't get in my way, I won't get in yours. Leave and never ever contact me again."
"We do not have the power to simply dismiss the case against you, you must serve a sentence..."
Jack had heard enough. "So you're going to lock an innocent man up in Volag-noc for 500,000 years?" he interrupted. "That's the solution?"
"Perhaps a better compromise can be found..."
"I'd love to hear it," the Doctor said sarcastically.
"A banishment to Earth for ten years, or one year in Volag-noc."
"I'll take the banishment," the Doctor replied. "Now get the hell out of here and don't bother me again."
"That is confirmed," the woman said. "You have chosen ten Earth years..."
"Sorry," the Doctor interrupted, finger in the air. "You stated 'ten years' in your original clause, which I accepted. You failed to state the specific measurement of a year, which gives me the right to chose. You don't have the right to retract that statement, and I have chosen ten years in the time of the Western Neblax Cluster 34, which I will happily serve. Now get lost."
The woman looked at him, smiled slightly. "Farewell, Doctor," she said simply and stepped back, her and her Judoon guards teleporting out.
Jack looked at the Doctor. "How long is that in Earth time?"
"Four hours and 56 minutes," the Doctor replied.
Jack just laughed, and he made to pick up the Time Lord to take him back to bed. But before he could make a move suddenly the Master appeared, as ever propped up on a crutch and hobbling towards them. The temperature in the room almost seemed to drop with his presence.
"Doctor," he said.
"Master," the Doctor acknowledged.
"How about that chat, now?"
"Okay."
The Master glanced at Jack, who was listening intently. "In private?"
"We can do it here," the Doctor said casually.
The Master glanced at Jack standing next to the Doctor, holding him up. "Fine. I'd just like to know. Where do we stand?"
The Doctor stared at him. "What are you expecting me to say? I forgive you?"
"That's usually how it goes, isn't it?"
The Doctor couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You expect my forgiveness? You sold my entire family out. You put my daughter in danger, my wife in danger, me in danger. You stabbed me in front of Leah, then you stood by and watched as they tortured me, and did tests on my daughter. She's only a toddler, Master, and you let them do what the hell they liked with her. You didn't even try to stop them from potentially harming my son. You must've known what was going on, but you did nothing. Because you are sick. I am never going to forgive you."
The Master stared at him. "Why did you save me, then?"
"I was going to kill you and I would've happily let you die, but I've realised since that death's too good for you, Master," the Doctor grated. "I'm just going to let you live with it, and see how it turns out. Because you actually like Leah, don't you? She's grown on you. Why don't you just chew over the fact that you made all that happen to her, and now she's so scared of you that she won't even look at you." He paused to let that sink in, before he continued, "you can stay here for as long as it takes you to recover, then I'm sure Jack can arrange transport for you back to Daufor. But as soon as you walk out that door, you are completely dead to me. And you know what? I don't even hate you. I nothing you. You aren't worth knowing and you've been a part of my life for far too long. You are not going to be a part of Leah's life any longer and my son will never even hear your name. Go and find someone else to annoy, because I'm done with you."
"You're cutting me out," the Master realised. "You can't cut me out! What about Gallifrey, Doctor, the last Time Lords..."
"Gallifrey has been gone for a very long time, Master," the Doctor grated. "Move on. I have. I'm happy, I've found a new home here on Earth, and it's a whole lot better than how I was forced to live on Gallifrey. I have amazing friends and a beautiful family, I have free will, no debt to pay to men in dresses. What do you have? A dog. A dog who you've forgotten about and left in Daufor to fend for himself. If you're lucky he might still be alive when you get back."
The Master, for once in his life, didn't have a retort of any kind. Not even a mildly insulting one. And as it happened, he couldn't even think of a final word to finish on, so he just turned and left.
Jack and the Doctor just watched him go for a moment, before he disappeared around the corner.
"Cujo's not dead," Jack suddenly said.
"What?"
"Well I couldn't leave him there, could I?" Jack pointed out. "Cujo! Here boy!" he called, and within moments Cujo appeared from seemingly nowhere, bounding up to them and commencing running circles around them both, his tongue hanging out, tail waggling.
"Cujo!" Jack called again. "Sit!"
The dog continued running circles around them, completely ignoring Jack.
"Sit! Sit! Cujo! Sit!"
Cujo barked happily, still running around.
"Cujo, shush!" Jack urged, glancing at the direction the Master had gone. "No barking, sit! Sit!"
Cujo blatantly ignored him once more, but stopped in front of the Doctor, still not sitting.
"He did it earlier," Jack said lamely.
"Are you keeping him?" the Doctor wondered, reaching down to stroke the dog.
Jack nodded. "I'm gonna train him up to find injured people and smell out aliens. He's gonna be the Torchwood dog."
The Doctor paused to consider his own alien self, standing there injured in front of the seemingly oblivious dog. "He's not very good at it," he said.
"Well, not yet, but I'm working on it," Jack insisted. "Sit! Sit!"
The Doctor realised very quickly that he was going to be there for a very long time.
A/N: Oh you thought I forgot Cujo, didn't ya! :P
