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Chapter 75 -The Return of Jack and Jake

They popped back into their flat's sitting room. The diamond was blue, then white.

The Doctor pointed at it, "Now that makes me very happy to see."

Rose took off her jacket and smiled. "I need to go over my notes for this speech. Can you get along without me for a bit?"

He smiled, "I'm going to run on the treadmill. I need to go change."

She laughed and followed him down the hall. "This I want to watch. I'll work in the living room."

"Ha! You won't get anything done! Handsome bloke, all sweaty and randy for you all of the time! You won't last ten minutes! I dare you, woman!" he laughed as he went into the closet and took off his jacket, jeans and changed into shorts. He took off his jumper and put on a different t-shirt. He turned around and saw Rose watching him.

He smiled, "Enjoying the view again?"

She smiled, "Oh yes. That was lovely." She walked away smiling.

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Rose sat on the sofa with her speech and paper. She was attempting to make notes for her speech, but the Doctor's prediction had been right. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him running on the treadmill. He had been running for a bit, and hadn't even started sweating yet.

"Don't try to do too much, you'll make yourself sore." Rose fussed at him.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." he told her.

Someone rang the doorbell. They both yelled, "Come in!"

Jack and Jake came in looking tan and really happy.

"Hey! The time travelers are back!" Rose exclaimed.

Jack sat next to her on the sofa, put his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek. Jake went to the kitchen and got a bottle of water and sat down in a chair next to the sofa.

Jake asked, "How the hell long were we gone? Your leg?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No, I got sick of it and healed it up. Should have done it earlier."

Jake asked, "You can do that?"

Jack smiled, "Regeneration energy is great stuff, huh?"

The Doctor said, "Yep! Did it to my arm, too. You are getting those eyes checked today Agent Simmonds!"

Jake rolled his eyes at him. "Oh, the fuck. Yeah, we're back on the right day."

Rose looked at Jack. "You two look tan."

Jack smiled and nodded, "Yeah, it took us a while to get some answers. We also had to find a beach for a bit of R&R."

The Doctor rolled his eyes.

Jack looked at Rose's paperwork. "What are you doing? Going over your speech?"

The Doctor continued running on the treadmill. "That's what she's supposed to be doing. I told her it was worthless. She has four minutes left."

Jack laughed, "I don't know if I want to know, do I?"

Rose laughed, "He thinks I can't get anything done because I want to just sit here and watch him because he's so handsome."

Jack looked at the Doctor. "Yeah, I can see his point. He's not even sweating."

Jake asked, "How long have you been on there, mate?"

The Doctor laughed, "Six minutes and thirty-two seconds."

Jack looked at Jake. "See. I told you!"

Jake smiled, "Yeah, I see what you mean. I've never noticed that."

The Doctor shook his head. "I'm not even going to ask."

Rose spoke up, "Dad is awake!"

Jake smiled, "Awesome! How is he? Is he alright?"

Rose smiled, "Just fine! He even spoke on the phone with Mum right after he woke up. Seems fine."

The Doctor shook his head. "No, he doesn't. He thinks I'm the Director of Torchwood. He's confused that our agreement was not a permanent solution. Ugh! I hope he remembers. I'm ready to give it back to him."

Jack shook his head. "Nah, I don't know what sort of job this Pete guy was doing, but I'm sure you will do a great one, Doc'. You've always hated how it was run. Now you can do it the way you want to!"

The Doctor agreed, "Yeah, I'm starting that this morning. I've got to go in and piss off some scientists. Do you know they have pieces of Cybermen that they are trying to reverse engineer? For weapons?"

Jack shook his head. "Are they crazy?"

"I just don't think they understand what the risk is."

Rose and Jake were confused. Rose asked, "What is the problem?"

Jack explained. "A Cyberman is a soldier. It can be reactivated at any time. Start another invasion."

Jake reasoned, "Yeah, but it's just a piece of a Cyberman."

The Doctor shook his head. "Doesn't matter. It just takes a bit. How are you doing Rose?"

Rose smiled at his teasing. "I'm just fine, love. You worry too much about me."

He laughed, "One minute, woman!"

Jack asked, "Alright. What happens in one minute?"

"Apparently, that's when it's supposed to be too much for me and I'm going to make him stop. Get his exercise in other ways." Rose explained.

Jack laughed, "Lucky girl!"

Rose pointed at him, "And no weird words, Old Man! I bet that's what is on your damn mind!"

He laughed, "Damn, so close! I was only 42 seconds away from that."

Jack asked Rose. "Him working out isn't making you feel out of breath? With the two of you joined?"

Rose shook her head. "No."

The Doctor explained, "I'm shielding that. Like I did when I ate the Jelly Babies."

Rose asked, "That's the reason my eyes didn't water!"

He nodded as he continued to run. "Shielded my taste. Nothing tastes right, still. I lost that bet with you at the right time, Rose!"

Jack waved his hands, "Really don't want to know. Well, I have information for you, Director Sinatra!"

Jake stopped him, "But first..."

Jack agreed. "Oh yes! Sorry, Jake. First. Jake and I got you and Rose a wedding present."

The Doctor looked confused. "I hate to ask. Rose ask. I'm not."

Rose smiled, "What is it?"

Jack looked at Jake who said, "Tell her."

Jack laughed and whispered something in Rose's ear.

Rose laughed hysterically. She covered her face and kissed Jack on the cheek. She got up and kissed Jake, too.

The Doctor looked puzzled, "Oh, I need to be worried about this gift. What is it?"

Rose laughed. "I'm not telling. It's hilarious! Wow!"

The Doctor tossed up his hands and continued to run. "Whatever. Okay, out with it, boys. Where have you been? You've jumped about a dozen times. Even into the future. That's not what we agreed."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Daddy. Relax. It was all for good reasons. You've made yourself an enemy here who might be almost as clever as the Master."

Jake nodded, "Calls himself the Time Weaver. He's human. Lost two sons in the Cyber invasion. He woke up to see one being converted. The story is he tried to save his young son while he was in the beginning of the conversion. His arm was cut off in the attempt. His son died in his arms. Well, arm."

The Doctor stopped running and got off the treadmill. "That's what Shakes thought. Wow. Shakes should hear this."

Jack shook his head. "He knows everything already."

Jake agreed. "We briefed him as soon as we got back last night. We discussed some stuff together to help improve security. These people have someone working with them to help improve their defenses."

Jack said, "That's the reason you couldn't put them to sleep with your telepathy the other night. They have this liner in their gear. Torchwood is investigating it now. We popped in the future and they still haven't talked about anything. I really don't think they know anything."

Rose looked confused, "Why Time Weaver?"

Jake sat up in the chair and rubbed his hands together. "He said he doesn't want to forget the time that has been taken from him and his sons from the alien threat. He has weaved a very good army and support staff, sleepers and the like into everything."

The Doctor asked, "He said? You spoke to him?"

Jack nodded, "I did. Barely got away. Well, honestly didn't. He killed me. He believes I'm dead now. He has an...artificial arm that can shoot."

The Doctor put his hands on this hips. "What does it shoot, Jack?"

"A beam. Like a Dalek. Very similar. Are you sure he's not the Master? Seems like his style?" Jack asked.

"Nah. He couldn't be here. He's more clever than this, too. We'd all be dead by now. Plus, I'd know." the Doctor said.

"You didn't know before! And do I need to remind you of the hell we all went through? Martha isn't here to save us!" Jack exclaimed.

"He had turned himself into a human! As soon as we got back, I knew Harold Saxon was him!" the Doctor demanded.

"Only after Martha told you! Think about it!" Jack said.

Jake asked, "Is this Mickey's Martha?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah."

The Doctor shook his head. "Wait, what? Mickey's Martha? What?"

Jack rubbed his face. "Yeah, I hadn't told you guys. Mickey Smith and Martha got married. Lovely couple. Best agents I ever had. Granted, they worked more...freelance. Last time I saw them, was when Luke left for college."

"Luke? Sarah Jane's son?" the Doctor asked.

Jack nodded, "Yes. Went to Oxford."

The Doctor smiled. "Wow! I didn't see that coming. Mickey the Idiot and The Girl Who Walked the Earth. Wow!"

Rose asked, "Any children?"

Jack shook his head. "No. Never had any children."

"Huh." the Doctor said and got back on the treadmill to run again. "Guys, this is interesting. I was told an idea needed to be changed."

"Yep!" Jack said. "The idea is that aliens are going to kill us all. Rose popped up right after the Cyber invasion. No one really knows who she is. Has a shitty PR story and no one believes it. She's smarter than your average cookie, too. That's the reason she became the target. Why didn't Pete and Jackie just say she was a daughter they had lost or something? A long lost relative? Have you seen what the tabloids print about the pair of you?"

The Doctor sighed. "Didn't I tell you that story wasn't the best one in the world, Rose? Ugh. That's the problem here? I can fix that!"

Rose looked surprised at him. "You think you can?"

He nodded. "Oh yes! I can fix that! That's an easy fix! I'll take care of that today! Well, arrange that today."

Jake looked at him, "How are you going to do that?"

The Doctor smiled, "Using Martha's trick! She was brilliant. Whatever did she see in Mickey Smith?"

Rose pointed at him, "Hey! I dated Mickey Smith!"

He continued to run on the treadmill. "Yes, and I'm happy you came to your senses and married Johnathon Smith, Rose Tyler."

She smiled, "Yeah, me too."

Jack shook his head and stood up. "Gross. Too gushy for me. What do you have to eat in here, Doc'?" Jack leaned down and rubbed Jake's shoulder. "Jake, you hungry? I'll cook us something."

Rose smiled, "Help yourself. But, if it smells good, I might want some."

The Doctor laughed at her. "Rose. What do you think about getting a piano? Could we get one delivered today?"

"Today? Are you mad? Where would we put it?" Rose exclaimed.

Jack got excited. "I can play the piano! Oh, hell yeah! Get one! We'll have a party tonight! Celebrate Rose's speech!"

Jake laughed and joined Jack in the kitchen. "Get a microphone, too. Doc' might sing to us all!"

"I'll talk to Michelle about it. She can get us a piano today. Put her mutant powers to good use!" The Doctor said.

Rose smiled at him. "I'm glad you are going to keep yourself busy while I'm giving my speech."

"I can cancel it all, sweetheart. I'll be there if you want me there." he told her.

"Nope. I'll be fine. I've got Marines and Quauhtins. I'll be fine."

Jack raised his hands, "And me! I'm worth something, here!"

"Alright. If you find you need me, just let me know." The Doctor told her as he sneezed. He got off the treadmill and sneezed repeatedly.

Rose grew concerned. "Are you alright?"

She could smell something wonderful cooking in the kitchen. The Doctor pulled his shirt up over his nose and sneezed again. "Oh, I hate you Jack! Damn it!"

Jack was laughing. "Still bothers you, huh? Why do you have it in here?"

He rolled his eyes at Jack and stormed off down the hall. "Now my entire flat is going to make me sneeze for days! I'm going to get dressed, Rose." He sneezed ten times before he got to the end of the hallway.

Jack was hysterical with laughter. "Oh, I love this. He's so much fun!"

Rose came over and looked, "How did you make him sneeze? What are you cooking?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Eggs. With some spices."

Rose raised her eyebrow at him. "Spices?"

"Rosemary! It makes him sneeze. So funny! Ha! And he marries a Rose! Your middle name isn't Mary is it?" Jack laughed.

Rose laughed, "No, it's Marion."

"Oh! So close! It's a wonder you don't make him sneeze! Marion, like John Wayne?" Jack asked her.

Rose tossed her hands up and walked down the hall.

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