Poor Theodore looked like a deer caught in headlights as he's asked about his dating life while Lila and David waited for his answer. It said a lot when he's willing to go into another meeting just to get out of answering, seeing this caused Lila to step in and move the conversation away from the topic, giving Theodore breathing room.
"So, what do you expect us to do?" Lila inquired what David wanted from them in his plight.
Thinking quietly, David then answered that he doesn't know, this isn't a normal problem for him. 'Normal' the operative word, but the point being's that he's out of his element. If it were his life on the line or someone else's he'd have plans out of the woodwork.
This, he doesn't know what to do without risking upsetting Jenny.
"Well, we could start why her father doesn't like you," Lila suggested that they find the root of why Jenny's father dislikes David and he winces as he's unsure how to go about it.
Theodore asked the story of when David met Jenny and when he met her father, if anything happened that might've made him think less of David.
Frowning as he ruffled his chocolate hair, David tells Theodore that everything went smoothly, a little too well, but that's his persona talking, but he never said or did anything that might've set Jenny's father off, when they first met, Jenny's father seemed cordial with David.
Only when it looked as though there's something between David and Jenny did that cordial melt into forced cordial and the side gazes started.
"Nothing funny's going on, I made sure of that," David stressed that he checked every avenue before settling on the idea that Jenny's father detested him.
Lila and Theodore exchanged looks as they tried coming up with an idea for David to smooth over the perceived slight with Jenny's father.
"Well, have you talked about it with Jenny?" Lila asked David as she turns her head towards him.
If there's anyone to ask about it, it'd be Jenny, and there's a solemn look on David's face as he sat quietly in his chair, before he finally told her that he didn't ask Jenny about her father directly.
Just small comments here and there, he learnt from her that her father's protective. She thinks he's only doing it because of her mother.
"What happened to her?" Theodore asks David.
As he frowns, David replied, "Brain aneurysm. Jenny said it happened a few months after she was born. Her father said her mother went to check on her because she was crying one night. Something unusual for her. When her mother didn't come back to bed, he got up and went to look for her, and found her lying dead on the ground near the nursery. Almost gave him a heart attack when he didn't hear Jenny."
Theodore and Lila learnt that Jenny's father's a widower who lost his wife to a sudden aneurysm. The effects of this remained with him long after her death. Never remarried, either, held his wedding vows close to his lapel, and raised his only daughter alone.
"Is he worried that the same might happen to Jenny?" Lila asks if the reason he's protective of Jenny's because of his fears she too suffers the condition, unknowingly.
Shifting in his spot, David replied that he wouldn't be surprised if Jenny's father worried that his daughter suffers the same fate, but he's not sure that's entirely the reason, at least with him.
"He just has this look in his eyes whenever we meet, something about that look, I think he knows something," David crossed his arms as he wondered more about Jenny's father.
Can't describe the look, but it almost looked as though Jenny's father knew something, and when David tried to peak into his mind to see, he gets a brick wall.
When asked for an elaboration, David replied that he couldn't describe it, it just was, and it wasn't like he could've compelled an answer from Jenny's father.
Sitting quietly as they shared looks, Theodore spoke up finally with concerns that they're not up to task, since this isn't something that they normally encountered.
Gesturing, David asked for them to try, he doesn't know who else to turn to, and seeing the desperation in his brown eyes, Theodore frowns as he pondered their plight before silently concluding with Lila.
He told David they'll help, don't know how they'll do it, but they'll help David win favour with Jenny's father and get to the bottom of his disdain for David.
... After work.
Looking at Lila's wristwatch, Theodore said they needed to go back to work, and when they get off shift, they'll help David.
He hugged them so tightly, Lila mistook him for Hamon for a minute until he unhandled them as he thanked them profusely for helping him.
Excusing himself, David left the staff room while Theodore and Lila exchanged looks.
"I really don't know how we're supposed to help him. If there was a Dalek, at least it's something familiar with," Lila doubted themselves as Theodore exhaled sharply as he crossed his arms at their predicament.
Not something they ever done, aside from helping a suicidal teen correct the wrongs of his past, but that was an emergency. This wasn't, as much as it pained Theodore to categorize this adventure.
However, he gave David his word and as the Doctor, it's a word he must abide.
"We'll think of something, come along, dear Watson, we have work to do," Theodore stood up from his chair as Lila did and they left the staff room, returning to their duties until the end of the shift.
Upon leaving the library and making sure Hammond didn't want them for anything else other than annoying Theodore, David's there waiting for them, pacing in front of a statue, and stopped when he saw them going through the doors.
He joined them and went with them walking down the street as they went over the little plan, they came up with in hopes of smoothing whatever slight Jenny's father had with David.
Lila brought up a concern as they're walking.
"What'll happen if we can't smooth things over with him, Dave, going to be some awkward Thanksgivings," she mentioned the chances of David's plan not working and afterwards it's awkward holidays with Jenny's father for now until otherwise.
His eyes staring straight, David replied that he doesn't expect things to end peachy, just enough that there's no visible friction between them, for Jenny's sake.
"Not healthy for a relationship," Theodore pointed out that hiding their friction wouldn't help David's case with Jenny.
As he frowns, David admitted that he knew that, but he just wanted some sort of peace between him and Jenny's father, even if it's considered unhealthy. An understanding why Jenny's father doesn't like him, at most. Something.
"Let's start with a name," Lila asked for the name of Jenny's dad and David replied that it's Peter. Around close friends, he lets them call him Pete. For David, it's Mr. Pratchett. No exceptions. Ever.
Theodore inquired more about Mr. Pratchett, learning that he's a mild-mannered man in his fifties. Keeps himself busied by working as a clerk for a bookstore and easily identified by his cream-coloured jacket with red trims, white dress shirt underneath, cream-coloured trousers, and his trademark cream coloured hat with a red band. Straight blonde long hair that went a smidge below his ears, well-brushed, and those judging caramel eyes.
"He'd easily stand out more than you two!" Lila remarked about Mr. Pratchett's appearance.
They learnt more about him as they walked with David until Theodore suggested they get together with Mr. Pratchett and discuss things as rational adults. Jenny's not a part of this discussion and everything they discuss is between them and them alone, no one else.
"That means you have to get Mr. Pratchett," Lila pointed at David as he turned paler than a mouse at the prospect at talking to him about a simple lunch and discuss the elephant in the room.
David showed hesitance at the idea and Theodore reminded him that it's the only way for him to come out, he wouldn't if it's Theodore or Lila, he knows David. All David needed to do's tell him that he doesn't want to fight, he just wants to talk, that's it.
"What if he refuses?" David asks what if Mr. Pratchett refused the lunch and Theodore assured him that he'll agree. Sweeten the pot if David must.
Blinking with his chocolate eyes, David asked what Theodore wanted him to suggest to sway Mr. Pratchett and as he walked with his large hands in his pockets swaying, Theodore tells him that David pays for lunch.
"That's it?" David looked at him, shocked, and Theodore nods, his wild hair bouncing, that yes, if Mr. Pratchett won't come out, then maybe a free meal would've made him inclined.
Theodore topped it off with, "By all means, tell him you're the Doctor."
If David's left with no choice, he'd have to tell Mr. Pratchett the truth and force his hands, that meant he'd have to tell every nasty thing he keeps off the airwaves.
"Are you mad?" David called out to Theodore as the aloof giant walked.
Yawning, Theodore casually replied, "You heard me, David, you get him to the table, we'll work things out. Toodles."
Motioning with his giant hand, he called for Lila and she joined him as they departed, leaving David as he's flabbergasted.
"You sure this' a good idea?" Lila asks Theodore as she walked with him, arm in arm, down the street.
Scratching his nose with his free hand, Theodore tells her that his father preferred direct confrontations. Forcing hands himself, rather than solely meditating conflicts. Sometimes the best medicine's making them see the error of their ways if they're forced to see firsthand.
"That explains Hammond," Lila mentions as they departed further down the sidewalk, passing people.
Hours past and Theodore receives a message from David, saying he managed to broach the subject with Mr. Pratchett and curried the idea of taking him out to lunch, paying his portion. Somehow, it's enough for the man to accept the idea, and they're going to a café, details attached.
Theodore doesn't know if David informed Mr. Pratchett about him and Lila appearing at the lunch, but they'll find out tomorrow, as it's time for him to sleep, and by morning he readied for the surprise, before leaving his flat and picking up Lila along the way.
In their causal wears, they arrived at Café Lenore, early enough they grabbed the table big enough for all four.
"Really hope you know what you're doing, Theo," Lila looked at him as he lightly dabbed the tea bag in the hot water in his teacup.
As he dabbed the tea bag in the water, tea slowly seeping out, Theodore responded that they'll learn if he made good judgement.
Wearily as she sipped her coffee, Lila hoped that he did, she doesn't want to know how badly it'd turn out otherwise.
They waited around, sipping on their respected drinks under a soft light, until they saw David appearing in front of them, dressed presentable as he's able, exhaling sharply as he sat adjacently from Lila.
Mr. Pratchett would've sat across from him once he arrived.
Nervous, David fretted as he checked himself in the reflection, looking at his teeth, fixing his red tie, and grimaced as he noticed one half's shorter than the other.
"You'll do fine, Dave, come on, just think of this as a misadventure without things trying to kill you," Lila tried cheering him up as he nervously looked at himself in the reflection.
David looked unconvinced as he looked at himself closely, silently judging himself, doubt weighed heavily on his mind as he tried desperately to come up with reasons why Theodore and Lila were here with them, without looking like an idiot.
Seeing this, Theodore remarked, "You must really love her."
There's a smile on David's face as he responded that he loved Jenny more than anything in the world.
Funny, loving, a very good person, just the sunshine anyone needed on a gloomy day, her kindness, the warmth her smile brings, and David questioned how he managed to woo her of all people.
"So, she knows about your dynamic duo?" Lila asked if David told Jenny about his two hearts and everything else that came with it.
Shifting in his spot, David admitted that he's open with Jenny, it wouldn't be right to lie to her, especially how serious their relationship's getting. He rather cleared the air now than have deepest regrets later and surprisingly, Jenny took it well, which shocked him despite what he told her.
She made it clear that she figured something was off about him, especially how meticulous he was about the stories on the show. The way he made sure everything fit the episodes, it wasn't like he took his art seriously, he was trying to recreate events he experienced.
It helped tipped her off when he discussed episodes with the cast and crew, the kind of details that even the most creative couldn't come up on the spot.
David broke down and told her everything over dinner, admitting the truth, and just the way she looked at them with those green eyes of her, he just knew in his two hearts that she believed him.
"Does her dad know?" Lila asked if the cause of the friction came from Mr. Pratchett finding out that David's part alien.
Shaking his head, David replied that Jenny never told her father, don't think he'd believe her, but maybe she wanted him to broach the subject with him on his own terms.
"Could be the cause, David," Theodore suggested that Mr. Pratchett sensed the unusual nature of David and took it as a possible threat to Jenny.
The teabag falling to the bottom of his teacup, David responded that if it's true, Mr. Pratchett would've justified it enough that he forbids their relationship.
"Ah yes, I read this before," Lila frowned as she saw where David's coming from as he worried that once Mr. Pratchett found out, he wouldn't let David near his daughter.
Calming David, Theodore reminded him not to stress over the 'what-ifs' and focus on the 'what-is' it won't help him if he can't.
The three waited for the arrival of Mr. Pratchett, must've felt like eons for David, until they caught sight of a man walking towards them, his cream-coloured jacket with red trims wavering in the breeze.
He stared at David immediately, but shifted his eyes towards Theodore and Lila with a quizzical look.
Approaching the table, he looked at them closely as he reached out and grabbed a seat, sitting across from David.
"Who're they?" Mr. Pratchett started off with asking a question and his eyes focused on David as he waited for an answer.
Chewing on his inner lip, David shrugged as he told Mr. Pratchett that they're the friends he told him about that were joining them today.
The answer didn't satiate Mr. Pratchett and he eyed Theodore with a look before shifting towards Lila.
"Mr. Pratchett, I don't want to fight. I just want to talk. That's it," David began as he laid the groundwork for their conversation.
Sitting with his arms crossed on the table, the gold cuff links reflecting the soft light, Mr. Pratchett accepted the terms and began the back and forth between the men.
Theodore and Lila quietly sat as they watched the ongoing conversation that remained civil for the most part.
It continued until it shifted towards something interesting with Mr. Pratchett saying, "I know what you are."
David sat quietly as he processed what Mr. Pratchett said to him and he sheepishly asked what he meant, only for him to see Mr. Pratchett turning his head towards Theodore as he said the same thing, emphasizing 'you.'
"Um, context?" Lila sheepishly spoke up and Mr. Pratchett revealed to them.
Eying them both, Mr. Pratchett responded, "I know you're both the Doctor."
Raising their brows at this, David and Theodore shared looks before looking back at Mr. Pratchett staring back at them as they processed what he said.
"How'd you figure?" Lila raised a finger and Mr. Pratchett told her. He knew by the way they looked and acted, they're the Doctor, in their own way.
Stunned, David remarked that of course he's the Doctor, he plays him!
"Nobody describes Daleks like that unless they've had personal run-ins, much less know their names," Mr. Pratchett eyed David as he tells the man that he's not green. He knows.
The realization came as David sputtered, "You... you're one, too?"
He's shocked at this until Mr. Pritchett exhaled sharply, saying that he gave up that life a long time ago so he'd raise Jenny in peace. Even it's been years, he knows the signs, and caught on the moment they met that something's off about David.
"H-hold on, how'd you end up as the Doctor?" Lila wanted answers how Mr. Pratchett ended up as the Doctor in the first place and the wearied man told her that it happened one evening on a stroll.
He'd won his latest cricket match and wanted to work off the excitement on a walk around a park. On his way around a corner, he spotted something peculiar near the duck pond. Curiosity drew him in and he found the TARDIS, couldn't understand why something like it ended up near the duck pond in the first place, and his first instinct's trying to phone somebody, but the door opened on its own.
Mr. Pratchett ended up going through that door and that was that.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" David asked him and he replied stiffly that he wasn't sure until he saw the third Doctor, Theodore.
Looking at him, David's surprised at the revelation that Mr. Pratchett once was a Doctor and he asked if him being the Doctor's the reason Mr. Pratchett doesn't like him.
Seems that's the case as Mr. Pratchett settled into his chair as he stated that he didn't want his daughter falling in love with the Doctor.
For a good reason.
"You two are too young for this, get out of it while you still can," Mr. Pratchett warned them against continuing their duties as the Doctor and he turned his head towards Lila, telling her, "You especially."
He wanted them to abscond from the whole thing while they still can, claiming it's dangerous to stick around for too long.
"We knew the risks going in, sir," Theodore tried to tell him, but it wouldn't work, and Mr. Pratchett vehemently disagreed that they knew all the risks attached.
Frowning as his fine lines receded around his mouth, Mr. Pratchett wearily told them they don't know what they're going up against and if they valued their lives and loved ones' they'd get out.
His chocolate eyes reflecting the soft light above them, David asks Mr. Pratchett if he ever told Jenny what he was in life, and he replied that he never told her a thing. She didn't need to know it and it's for her own protection.
With David in the mix, he worried that he couldn't protect her.
"I already lost her to him. I'm not losing Jenny," Mr. Pratchett gruffly said to David.