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Chapter 47 - Return of an Old Friend

Jake was walking with the Doctor, Shakes and Sam down the hallway at Torchwood.

Jake spoke. "We're finally getting some information about that explosion in New York. They should be able to identify the body that was found with our friend there within the next 24 hours. Maybe we can figure out who the other person was based on what Pete told you."

"I hope so. Finally get some answers to this mess." the Doctor agreed.

"Your least favorite weapons developer heard about it. Somehow. And he has offered to help. He's got some sort of...thing... that can reconstruct a crime scene."

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair. "Ugh. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. He makes me crazy. But, be nice in case we have to call him. He's in New York anyway. He probably just wants permission to go see the scene."

Jake agreed. "Noted."

"Where are we going now? Why all of the soldiers with us?" the Doctor asked.

Jake looked around. He had ten men behind them. "Well, those little peppershakers not only appeared on the floor we went to, but also up on the 21st floor. Four of them."

The Doctor was confused. "What happened to them?"

"Someone came through the Void with them and neutralized them. Unfortunately, they also hit him. We thought he was a casualty. But as they loaded him into a body bag, he attacked some of my guys." Jake told the Doctor.

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair and smiled. "Brilliant!"

Jake continued to explain. "In this situation, we have to take them to the med unit to ensure they are alright. Then they have to meet with the Director. Lucky you, huh?"

The Doctor continued to smile. "Indeed. It could very well be my lucky day! Who else knows about this?"

"No one. We're keeping it quiet. We're not sure who he is." Jake said.

"I'm pretty sure I already know who it is." the Doctor smiled and raised his shields to keep Rose from feeling his excitement.

"Really? Enemy?" Jake asked as they continued to walk down the hall.

"No. An old friend." the Doctor told him.

They rounded a corner and Jake opened the door to the room. Five of his soldiers walked in the room, then Jake, Sam and Shakes.

The Doctor stood behind Shakes. Jake said, "We have Director Smith here to meet with you."

The Doctor heard the unmistakable voice. "Well, which one of you is him? I've not had this much attention in weeks!"

The Doctor patted Shakes on the shoulder as he stepped out from behind him. "It's alright, guys. I think I know this man."

As soon as he saw the Doctor he jumped off the table. "Holy shit! You!? Here?! Where the hell am I?"

The Doctor smiled, "Captain Jack Harkness, meet Jake Simmonds." The Doctor pointed at Jake. Then he pointed at other men. "This is Shakes and Sam."

"You?! With a beard?!" Jack shouted in disbelief.

Jack ran up to embrace the Doctor. Shakes and Sam caught him.

The Doctor looked embarrassed. "Umm... those are my body guards."

Jack looked surprised. "You? You have body guards?!"

The Doctor put his hands in his suit's pockets. "This is a strange sort of place, Jack. I'll answer your questions of course."

The Doctor turned to the soldiers and dismissed them. When they left, only Jack, the Doctor, Jake, Shakes and Sam remained in the room.

"Alright. We can speak freely now, Jack. But, first answer me this. When did we first meet?"

"Well, I met Rose first. She had me convinced you were both Time Agents during the Blitz. I was trying to hustle a ship." Jack explained.

The Doctor smiled. "Remember the child?"

"Hard to forget him. Little zombie with a gas mask." Jack laughed.

"What did he keep saying?" the Doctor asked him.

Jack laughed. "Are you my mummy?"

The Doctor laughed and embraced him. The two men laughed, so very happy to see one another.

The Doctor leaned back and looked at Jack. "I'm so happy you are here. Let's go upstairs to my office to chat. We have a lot to talk about."

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Jack wandered around the office looking out over London with a drink of the damn whiskey in his hand. "Director Johnathon Smith. I should have figured that was you. Damn, it's been a long time! And with this face! With a beard! It looks good on you!" Jack told the Doctor.

The Doctor, Shakes and Jake sat around the coffee table in the Doctor's office. The Doctor back in his chair drinking his damn whiskey. Jack was a live wire. He couldn't sit still. Jake poured himself another drink. Shakes sat with his arms crossed, looking at the Jack with suspicion.

The Doctor rubbed his beard. "How long has it been? I wonder if you know who I really am?"

Jack smiled back at him. "Of course I know. I traveled with you with nearly three, no four different faces by now."

Jake looked strange at the Doctor.

The Doctor spoke to Jake. "That's something I'll explain to you later, my friend. Don't worry about that now."

The Doctor looked back at Jack. "Remember when we fought the Daleks? They took the Earth and twenty-six other planets to make a reality bomb."

Jack nodded. "Yeah. Hell, everyone was there for that one."

The Doctor rubbed his beard. "Yeah, and another one was made. Donna touched that hand you had carried around, and I grew out of it."

"You are the duplicate!" Jack realized. "Wow! Where are we? Where did you go?"

"He left me here. In an alternate dimension. Away from him. Away from my TARDIS. I'm here now." the Doctor said.

Jack covered his mouth in surprise and then drank his whiskey. He walked over and sat on the sofa. "That was over 700 years ago for me!"

The Doctor looked shocked. "Wow! Time is a funny thing! It was just a month ago for me!"

Jack laughed. "Damn! Just a month? And you are already the Director of Torchwood?"

The Doctor pointed at him as he got up to buzz Michelle on his phone, "That is just a favor for a friend. Michelle. Could you order us up some fish and chips? Get yourself some as well. Cheers."

The Doctor rejoined the group, and poured himself some more whiskey.

Jack sat back. "What happened to Rose?"

The Doctor smiled. "She's here. She's fine."

"Uh oh. I know that look." Jack said as he smiled.

Jake and Shakes smiled.

Jake said, "You should just tell him, Doc."

Jack asked, "Tell him what? Oh come on! You've only been here a month. What could you have done in a month?"

The Doctor bit his lip and laughed. "Oh, you'd be surprised. Tell me about you. What got you into the Void?"

"I was chasing some Daleks. They blew out some sort of bomb around me. My shielding spun me around and the next thing I knew, I was in the hallway fighting four of them."

"Your shielding? You were in a ship?" Shakes asked.

"No. I have personal shielding. It broke at some point though. That's the reason the damn Dalek got me downstairs. But, not before I got him." Jack told them.

The Doctor looked at Jake. "Malcolm get all of that closed up?"

Jake nodded. "Yes. I've told him to completely shut it down. He has enough to get on with his research."

The Doctor nodded. He heard Rose's voice in his head. 'What are you keeping me from? Are you alright?'

"Ugh. I'm in trouble, boys. Rose is wondering about me." the Doctor told the room.

Jake laughed at him. "I don't think I'd like that at all."

Jack looked confused. He watched as the Doctor ran his hand through his hair and smile. He looked like he was daydreaming. "What's he doing?" Jack asked Jake.

"Talking to Rose. They do this weird thing where they can talk anywhere." Jake explained.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Rose spoke to one another.

'Nothing, sweetheart. I'm fine. Jake hasn't shot me again. I'm in a meeting though. Are you going back to the hospital?' The Doctor told Rose.

'Yes, Genie is asleep and Tony is kicking the ball at the window with Lewis.' Rose told him.

'Well, don't leave yet. I want Shakes to go with you. I'm sending him now.' he told her.

"Shakes. Can you please go escort Rose to the hospital to see Pete? Stay with her and make sure she's alright? Don't tell her about Jack. I want it to be a surprise." the Doctor asked Shakes.

"Of course. Don't worry about your Nehyta." Shakes told him as he disappeared.

"Nehyta?" Jack asked. "That's a Quauhtin word. From that legend of theirs."

Jake looked surprised. "See, how do you know that?"

The Doctor told Jake, "Jack is a very old friend of mine. He's originally from the what... 51st century?"

Jack nodded his head. "You pick up stuff. But a Quauhtin? Don't tell me you have Quauhtin body guards!"

The Doctor looked around the room embarrassed. "Okay, I won't tell you."

Sam said something in Quauhtin to the Doctor.

The Doctor tossed his hand up and answered in Quauhtin.

Jack pointed at them both and laughed. "Holy shit! Are you kidding me! Quauhtin bodyguards? Who did you piss off in order to have to have them? Or, have you also became the King of England?"

Jake laughed. "Oh, I have a great story about that! You're going to want in on that!"

The Doctor waved his hand. "No! No! No! There's no royal family here. None of that."

Jake laughed as he continued. "Yeah, but apparently the Doc here has been very friendly in the past with the royal family. We all have a bet about how many he has had in the sack. He won't tell us the number."

Jack laughed. "Well, hell. I know of at least six. No seven. Or does that one count?"

The Doctor pointed at Jack. "Stop it! None of that! You are not helping!"

Jack asked Jake quietly, "Is this just the royal family of Great Britain or any royalty? Because that number is way higher if it's any royalty. I know of at least... eighteen."

"Eighteen!?" the Doctor exclaimed.

"Well, no. Nineteen. There was Cleopatra, too."

Jake was laughing. The Doctor shook his head.

"Oh, the gods! Out of everyone Bad Wolf could have sent me. Don't believe anything he tells you, Jake." the Doctor demanded.

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