"Who the hell are you?"
Amy, who was lounging on the jumpseat reading a book, raised her head to see Jack poking his head out the TARDIS door. She shared a look with Rose, who fidgeted nervously.
"What do you mean, who the hell am I?" came a very familiar, defensive voice. Amy couldn't help but smile. "Who the hell are you?"
"Captain Jack Harkness," Jack drawled casually. "Whatever you're selling, we're not buying."
"Get out of my way!" Mickey Smith barged past Jack and entered the TARDIS. Amy noticed Rose's fidgeting ceased as soon as she laid eyes on him, and a wide grin spread across her face.
"Don't tell me, this must be Mickey," Jack guessed.
"Well, it wasn't gonna be Minnie, was it," Amy said sarcastically. Rose giggled at the joke, while Jack stared at her as if she'd said something inherently confusing.
"Here comes trouble!" the Doctor said good-naturedly. He was at the top of a ladder, fixing a TARDIS light.
Amy watched the glowing red headpiece perched on the crown of his head. It looked ridiculous, but fondly reminded her of her own Doctor whizzing about the control room with similar obnoxious gear.
"How you doing, Rickey boy?" he continued, snapping Amy out of her ruminations.
"It's Mickey," replied Mickey with an irritated scowl.
"Don't listen to him, he's winding you up," Rose assured him.
"Yeah," Amy added with a smirk, "it makes him feel better about himself."
"Oi!" the Doctor crowed.
Rose pointed and laughed at him. "That told ya!"
"You look fantastic," Mickey said honestly. Rose grinned and pulled him in for a hug. Amy smiled at the scene. Even though they'd broken up, they were still good friends, and that made her happy.
"Aw, sweet," Jack said, looking up at the Doctor accusingly. "How come I never get any of that?"
"Buy me a drink first," the Doctor responded without missing a beat.
"Such hard work," Jack said with mock-exasperation.
"But worth it." The Doctor grinned comically. Jack rolled his eyes and turned to Amy expectantly.
"Sorry, Captain. I'm spoken for," Amy said airily, automatically holding up her ring finger.
"I can never catch a break with you, Red!" Jack exclaimed.
"Ah, listen to the lot of you," Rose chuckled. She turned back to Mickey. "Did you find it?"
"Yeah," Mickey smirked, "but I don't have it."
Rose's smile faded. "What?"
"He does." Mickey turned to the TARDIS door. The TARDIS crew followed his gaze. For a moment, nothing happened, and Amy wondered if he'd lost the plot when –
Chase Jackson stumbled unceremoniously into the TARDIS, struggling to support a large backpack strapped to his shoulders. "Oh, god," he said loudly. "I forgot how massive this place was."
"Chase!" Rose gasped, frozen to the spot in surprise.
"An American!" Jack cried out. "And a handsome one at that."
Amy rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Jack." She dropped her book, hopped off the jumpset, ran down the ramp, and pulled Chase into a hug. "Hey, you!"
"Hey," Chase chuckled, reciprocating the hug. "Been a while."
"Yeah, sorry," Amy said sheepishly as she broke away. "We've been a bit busy. How are you finding life in 2007?"
"Oh, it's been great," Chase grinned. "Jackie's been great, but she's still a bit… full-on."
"You're telling me." Rose strode over and practically jumped on the boy. "Oh, it's good to see you!"
"You too," Chase grunted, his arms flailing slightly. "But could you get off me?"
Rose pulled away, glowering. "What're you trying to say?"
Chase froze. "Nothing."
"You callin' me heavy?"
"No!"
"You sure?"
"Yes – ow!" Chase rubbed his shoulder when Rose smacked him, staring at her in disbelief.
"So you are calling me heavy?"
"Yes – I mean no! I mean…" He turned to Amy for support, who merely grinned at their familiar antics and shrugged. It was good to see the pair together again, bickering like they'd never been separated.
Rose's stoic glare finally cracked, and she couldn't help but giggle and playfully shove his shoulder. "You're such a dork."
"But a good-looking one," Jack interjected, weaving his way into the trio's circle. Amy stared at him, unimpressed, but his gaze was fixed on Chase, a broad grin on his face. "Hi," he extended a hand. "Captain Jack Harkness."
Chase stared at him, transfixed. "Hey," he squeaked, holding out a limp hand, missing Jack's extended hand entirely, flailing, and then finally holding onto it like a lifeline. "I'm single – I mean Chase. I'm, er, Chase."
Amy and Rose shared a fond smile as the boy stumbled over his words. Some things never changed.
"Ah, you're the mysterious Chase I've been hearing about," Jack hummed. "And you are certainly more than I hoped you'd be."
"Oh, a captain's work is never done," the Doctor sighed exasperatedly, hopping off the ladder and playfully swatting Mickey's shoulder, who recoiled with a glare. The Doctor merely smiled, and turned to Chase with extended arms. "Chase Jackson!"
"Doctor!" Chase grinned. "It's been ages!"
"Yeah, never mind him," Rose interrupted impatiently. "Have you got it?"
"Oh!" Chase's eyes lit up, and he rummaged around in his pockets. A few seconds later, he looked at Rose gravely. "Er…"
"What?" Rose asked nervously. "What is it, what?"
"I might have left it on the train…"
"You what?" Rose cried in disbelief. "Are you serious?!"
Chase cracked a grin. "'Course I'm not serious!" He pulled a passport from his pocket, handed it to her, and ran to hide behind Amy before he could be whacked for his joke.
"Oi," Amy huffed. "I'm not a meat shield!"
"You're meant to be looking after me," Chase protested.
"You're a big boy, I'm sure you can handle it," she replied coolly, before returning her attention to Rose. "What do you need your passport for, anyway?"
Rose pointed the document in her direction, before grinning at the Doctor. "I can go anywhere now."
"I told you, you don't need a passport," the Doctor said.
Rose shrugged. "It's all very well going to Platform One and Justicia –"
"Oh, I remember Justicia!" Chase said off-handedly.
"– and the Glass Pyramids of San Kaloon, but what if we end up in Brazil?" She grinned smugly, poking her tongue through her teeth. "You see, I'm prepared for anything."
"I was dressed for Rio," Amy grumbled under her breath, for the umpteenth time. She'd never really gotten over that incident.
"So, just to confirm," Chase spoke, tentatively moving away from Amy. "You're definitely staying?"
Rose pondered on the question. "Yeah, I suppose I am."
Chase grinned suddenly. "I knew it!" He turned to the silent Mickey, who looked crestfallen. Amy wondered if he was disheartened by Rose's choice, when Chase proclaimed, "You owe me ten dollars!"
"I don't even know what ten dollars is!" Mickey protested childishly.
"Sorry, what's going on?" Rose asked. Amy and Jack shared a confused glance.
Chase grinned smugly. "Mickey and I made a bet. I thought you'd be staying in the TARDIS full-time, but he thought otherwise. So now he owes me ten dollars."
"That's extortionate," Amy said teasingly.
Chase merely shrugged. "I need the money!"
"A valuable business enterprise. But, you know, that's just typical of you," the Doctor said, jabbing Mickey's shoulder. "Mickey the idiot."
"Oi!" Mickey growled in annoyance. He turned back to Rose and quickly changed the subject. "So, what're you lot doing in Cardiff? And who the hell's Jumping Jack Flash?" he gestured towards Jack, who glanced up from the console, grinning salaciously at the blushing Chase.
"Yeah," Chase said meekly. "Who's he?"
"I mean, I don't mind you hanging out with Chase or big ears over there –"
"Oi!" the Doctor protested.
"Look in the mirror! And I don't mind Red Riding Hood, either –"
"Oh, spoken like a true kid," Amy interjected.
"See what I mean?" Mickey said rhetorically. "But this guy… I dunno, he's kind of..."
"Handsome?" Jack suggested without a trace of modesty.
"Nah," Amy snorted at the thought.
"Yeah," Chase sighed. Amy got the horrible, distinct impression that he was swooning.
"Yeah, more like cheesy," Mickey scoffed.
Jack strode forward, contemplative. "Early twenty first Century slang – is 'cheesy' good or bad?"
"It's bad," Mickey informed him.
"But bad means good, isn't that right?" Jack countered.
"Aw, look at him getting all confused," Amy said mockingly, patting one of his broad shoulders. Jack shot an exaggerated eye roll in her direction, making her smile. They had all been travelling with each other for a while, simply getting to know each other after they'd picked Jack up from 1941. The ex-con-man-slash-Time Agent had found his feet in the crew, and now Amy couldn't imagine life on the TARDIS without him. She was sure the Doctor and Rose felt the same.
"Are you saying I'm not handsome?" the Doctor asked accusingly. The room fell into an awkward silence. Rose coughed nervously, and whirled around to face to Mickey, explaining the situation that'd led them to take a pit stop in Cardiff, with the Doctor and Jack jumping in at several intervals to explain technical details.
Amy stood back, her arm resting on Chase's shoulder, smirking at his and Mickey's baffled stares as the Doctor, Rose and Jack rattled on. The trio finished their explanation, and started high-fiving each other.
"It's like The Shining," Chase whispered to Amy. He looked slightly terrified of the three time travellers.
"I swear they practise when I'm not looking," Amy agreed.
"Bit different than when I was here, then," Chase said jokingly.
"Just a bit," Amy nodded.
"My god, have you seen yourselves?" Mickey spluttered, looking at the three with wide eyes. "You all think you're so clever, don't you?"
"Yeah," the Doctor said.
Rose nodded. "Yeah."
"Yup!" Jack said jovially, moving over and smacking the irate Mickey on the cheek.
"Well, this has been… weird," Chase decided upon, "but I'm starving. Can we get something to eat?"
"Yeah, I am feeling a bit peckish," Rose realised.
The Doctor shrugged. "Don't see why not."
"Awesome!" Chase cheered. "Lemme just put my bag down… somehow."
The group watched Chase stumble across the console room, struggling to slide his shoulders out of the straps.
"Any day would be nice," the Doctor said dryly. "I may be a Time Lord, but even I'm feeling myself get old watching you."
"Your sarcasm is not appreciated," Chase huffed.
"What's with the bag?" Amy asked.
"Clothes and stuff," Mickey explained. "He's got a job in some office here. He's staying for a few days."
"Oh, nice work," Rose complimented.
"Thanks," Chase managed to grunt before he fell onto the floor in a tangled heap. The group watched him awkwardly flop on the floor, trying to stumble onto his feet again. He looked like a flailing fish. "Sorry," he murmured aloud. Despite everything, he retained his impeccable manners.
"Maybe it's best you leave it here," Amy muttered.
Jack tilted his head to the side, roaming the boy's lithe body appreciatively. "Mind you, not bad. Not bad at all."
Amy reached over and swatted Jack's shoulder.
"Should take another twenty four hours," the Doctor revealed once they'd all finally stepped outside, "which means we've got time to kill."
Amy looked around. They were in Roald Dahl Plass, and it was a beautiful day. The sun beat down above the bright blue sky, but not uncomfortably so, and the Millenium Centre shone like a beacon. People milled around, going about their everyday lives. It was a magnificent sight.
"That old lady's staring," Mickey said worriedly, pointing at the crowd.
"Probably wondering what all those people could do inside a small wooden box," Jack said suggestively, winding an arm around Chase's shoulder.
Amy rolled her eyes. "Down, boy."
"I was only being friendly," Jack protested.
"For you, that's a cause for concern," the Doctor said.
"Yeah, what are you captain of, the Innuendo Squad?" Mickey added.
"Ooh, told by a kid." Amy laughed and folded her arm on Mickey's shoulder. Jack laughed sarcastically at them and flashed the 'whatever' sign, turning to catch up with the Doctor, who was already starting to walk away with Rose and Chase, deeply immersed in a conversation about something or other.
"Wait," Mickey called out, halting them. "The TARDIS – we can't just leave it. Doesn't it get noticed?"
"Yeah," Jack agreed. "What's with the police box? Why does it look like that?"
"Took you long enough to ask," Amy said. Jack rolled his eyes at her.
"It's a cloaking device," Rose said mockingly.
"It's called the chameleon circuit," the Doctor explained.
"It analyses its surroundings, calculates a twelve-dimensional data map and decides which outer shell would best fit its surrounding environment," Amy paraphrased what her Doctor had told her, long ago. "Or something like that."
Jack furrowed his brows. "So, why's it always a police box, then?"
"Broken," Amy said simply with a shrug.
"I landed in the 1960s once. It disguised itself as a police box, and the circuit got stuck," the Doctor elaborated.
"Broken," Amy repeated with a teasing grin.
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Oh, all right. It's broken."
Rose narrowed her eyes in puzzlement. "Hang on a minute, how'd you figure that out?"
Amy shrugged noncommittally. "He told me," she said casually, trying to play it off, although her heart was thumping wildly in her chest, the old fear of being caught out slowly crawling to the surface. She hadn't told Rose anything yet. She'd meant to, but it had been lost in the craziness.
"Oh," Rose said quietly. She was probably still trying to figure out where she'd been during this supposed explanation.
"So it copied a real thing?" Mickey said, mercifully distracting everybody. "There actually was police boxes?"
The Doctor nodded, leaning against the TARDIS with folded arms. "Yeah, on street corners. Phone for help before they had radios and mobiles. If they arrested someone, they could shove them inside till help came, like a little prison cell."
"We never had anything like this back home," Chase mused, patting the TARDIS thoughtfully.
"America's another planet," the Doctor said.
"Why don't you just fix the circuit?" Jack asked.
"I like it!" the Doctor said defensively. "Don't you?"
"I love it," Rose beamed, patting the box lovingly.
"It's alright," Amy said, winking at the TARDIS to let her know she was only joking.
"But that's what I meant!" Mickey exclaimed worriedly. "There's no police boxes anymore, so doesn't it get noticed?"
The Doctor uncrossed his arms and strode forwards. "Rickey, let me tell you something about the human race. You put a mysterious blue box slap-bang in the middle of town. What do they do?" Mickey opened his mouth to answer, but the Doctor cut across him. "Walk past it. Now stop your nagging – let's go and explore."
Rose linked arms with the Doctor and leaned into his side as the group started walking. "What's the plan?" she said excitedly.
"I don't know," the Doctor replied. Rose let go and bounced ahead with Chase. They looked like a pair of excited teenagers. Amy realised that was exactly what they were. "Cardiff, early twenty-first century and the wind's coming from the east. Trust me, safest place in the universe."
"Famous last words," Amy hummed knowingly.
"Aw, c'mon. A beautiful day like this? What could go wrong?" Chase asked.
The Doctor winced. "I hope you're right."
After half an hour of exploring, the group stumbled across a quaint restaurant on a small jetty. After settling and ordering drinks and food, Jack decided to indulge them in a story that soon had them all laughing.
"I swear, six feet tall and with big tusks –"
"You're lying through your teeth!" the Doctor said between his chuckles.
"I'd have gone bonkers!" Rose said between her hysterical giggles. "That's the word – bonkers!"
"You're already bonkers!" Chase exclaimed, making everyone laugh even more.
"I mean, it turns out the white things are tusks and I mean tusks," Jack continued energetically. "And it's woken, and it's not happy."
"You're mad, you are," Amy managed to say between her laughter, holding onto the table to support herself.
"How could you not know it was there?" the Doctor asked.
Jack continued, "And we're standing there, fifteen of us, naked –"
"Naked?!" Rose spluttered, and that set her off again.
"I'd have liked to see that," Chase exclaimed, and everyone hooted, attracting annoyed glances from other customers. They had all come out of their shelves, and were enjoying themselves. Amy couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed herself so much. No Psycho. No time hallucinations. Just her and some friends having a good time. If only Rory were there to complete her day.
"And I'm like, 'oh, no, no'. It's got nothing to do with me. And then it roars, and we are running. Oh my god, we are running! And Brakovitch falls, so I turn to him and I say –"
"I knew we should've turned left!" Mickey dropped the punchline, and the entire table erupted in laughter again.
Amy leaned to the left, where the Doctor was sat, so she could steady herself as she regained her composure, but the Time Lord had disappeared. She looked up and saw him with a newspaper in his hands, a grave expression on his face. Rose was saying something, but it sounded like background noise.
"Doctor?" she asked nervously. Everyone fell silent, and followed her gaze.
The Doctor looked up at them morosely, and held up the newspaper. "And I was having such a nice day."
Amy felt her stomach drop. Printed on the front page of the Western Mail was a picture of Margaret Slitheen, with the heading 'New Mayor, New Cardiff' in bold across the top.
A/N: Chase is back! Amy, the Doctor, Rose and Jack are back! Everyone's back today.
Thank you Hurricaneclaw and Biidule for sticking by me and this story! Good to have you back!