Journey Amongst the Stars

By Lumendea

Chapter Thirty-Five: Temple of Truth: Outside

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

AN: I want to warn you now that there will not be an update next week. I will be traveling next week and won't have easy access to a keyboard. So, I'm really happy that I was able to wrap this episode up before leaving. I'll be back on October 5th.

…

Unseen air vents pumped air down throughout the pyramid allowing the group to leave once Jo and Rose were back on their feet. Stones within the pyramid had reset themselves, opening passages up and letting them out. Without the use of slides, the foursome had to work a little harder to find their way out and climb up several different staircases.

The Doctor knew that eventually, the pyramid would reset itself again and wait for the first lie. He stayed quiet on the way out and let Jo's soft chatter about her family wash over him. He didn't even mind when she started recounting on of her adventures for Jack. At least it wasn't about the time she met three versions of him at once. He wasn't ready to field those sorts of questions from Jack.

If the pyramid hadn't made him fear for the life of his companions, he would have been much more fascinated by it. As it was, he really just wanted to get away from it. He didn't do vulnerability well anymore. He'd never been great at it, but now, in this body after everything that had happened, he couldn't handle having his control stripped away.

Rose had stayed close and hadn't tried to talk with him. They'd ended up holding hands, and she asked questions of Jo from time to time during the story. She laughed a few times along with Jack and the sound soothed some of his nerves, but made others bristle. How was she so calm? Why wasn't she trying to talk about it?

Her words replayed in his head. The pyramid had accepted them as truth, but how- The Doctor couldn't understand it. Something tugged at him, memories that he'd forgotten and couldn't reach. He thought he might find the answer there, but couldn't get to the solution. It was denied him. How could someone as bright, kind, and strong as Rose be happy with him?

Stumbling out into fresh air, the Doctor watched Rose tilt her head up towards the sun as Jo laughed happily. Members of Jo's team rushed over, worry and confusion clear on their faces. They hadn't been gone long, but their relief told part of the story. The Doctor supposed that the pyramid sealing the entrance and exit was something that was going to cause alarm. One of them was a woman with Jo's nose, and the Doctor drew back, not wanting to be sucked into anything more domestic today. He was at his limit.

"We should scan the pyramid with the TARDIS," the Doctor said. He coughed lightly as Rose raised an eyebrow. "Just to be careful."

"Why didn't you do that before?" Jack asked. The Doctor barely kept himself from flinching.

"Worth a shot," Rose said. "Probably won't work, but it might tell us more."

"The TARDIS sensors are limited," the Doctor explained. "And she's telepathic, so those stones might cause a problem." It wasn't really the reasons he hadn't scanned before, that just wasn't his style, and Jack would learn that soon enough.

"Talking of that," Jo interrupted as she rejoined them. "How are you, Rose?"

"I'm fine." Rose raised her right hand to show off her bracelet. "It was only temporary. The fresh air is helping."

"Still, that had to hurt," Jack said gently. "I'm not telepathic myself, but in my time, humans are certainly more sensitive to telepathy."

"And have better lungs," Jo added. "When are you from?"

Jack glanced at the Doctor, who nodded. "Fifty-first century," he offered.

"Wow. You're a long way from home."

"Apparently." Jack appeared overwhelmed for only a moment. As usual, he recovered quickly. "But I have to say that I'm liking the early 21st century."

"It's home," Jo said simply. "I've always been revealed to know that we have a future at all." She tutted softly and shook her head. "I should go and reassure my daughter and the crew that I'm alright. It gave them quite a scare."

"Sorry about that," Rose said gently. "We weren't trying to get you into trouble."

"I called you, remember; I knew what I was getting in for." Jo started to turn away only to stop suddenly. "Oh, and you can tell Ace that I know she and Oliver are dating."

Rose froze, her eyes widening and the Doctor's head snapped to look at her. His eyes narrowed, and Rose's amusement almost overcame her fear of Jo. She looked at the petite woman nervously. Jo might be older than her, but she'd heard about the woman's combat record in UNIT especially since Rose knew that she wouldn't fight back.

"Uh…" Rose wasn't sure how to respond, and Jo laughed.

"Oliver has managed to make many trips to New York over the past year." Jo shook her head affectionally. "Let me guess, they're worried that I'll start planning the wedding."

Rose glanced at the pyramid, wondering if you had to be inside for it to activate. "I might have promised not to confirm any detail that you might suspect."

"Typical." Jo shook her head. "I expected as much from Ace, but I would have hoped that Oliver would have had more sense."

"Oliver?" the Doctor asked. "As in your son?"

"Yes, my son." Jo grinned at him. "Oliver hasn't stayed in a hotel the last few times he's gone to New York, so I daresay that it is serious."

"If I slipped up at any point, please don't tell Ace," Rose pleaded. "Please, she knows way too much about me and could probably kick my butt."

"Only because you wouldn't fight back," Jo tutted. "And as for planning their wedding, I know that they're going to elope. It's in their natures." Jo fixed her eyes on the Doctor. "And I know that Ace will alert you, so you have to come and get me, do you understand."

"Jo-"

Jo stepped forward and gripped the lapels of the Doctor's leather coat, pulling him down to her level. "You will come and pick me up, Doctor. Even if I'm dead by the time they get around to it. I have no intention of missing my son marrying a member of the Companion's Club. It's Sarah Jane and Johnny all over again."

"Let's hope not," Rose muttered. "Though… if they do Vegas, I could probably ask Section 13 to provide security."

"So, Doctor. Do you understand?"

"Jo that's not-"

"This isn't a discussion," Jo said.

Jack was trying and failing to hold back his laughter.

"I'm far too old to be in awe of you, and I am quite capable of putting my foot down," Jo continued. "So, if Ace contacts you or Rose about her wedding to Oliver, you will come and get me."

"Yes, alright," the Doctor said. Jo released him, and he stepped back. "They might wait until you're dead," he grumbled.

"Hence my cunning plan."

The Doctor blinked at Jo and slowly nodded. He didn't remember her being that manipulative when she was younger. Maybe he'd just missed it, or maybe it had come with age. He remembered being a parent, but Jo had raised far more children than he ever had or ever world. It was possible that it was a defensive reaction.

The Doctor nodded towards the TARDIS, drawing back from the gathering group of people. Rose jumped forward and gave Jo and tight hug that the older woman happily returned. After kissing Jo on the cheek, Rose wandered after the Doctor, catching up with him quickly. It only took a moment for their hands find each other.

Jack watched them head towards the TARDIS and wondered if he was supposed to join them or not. Were they about to leave? He wasn't sure.

"They're a silly pair," Jo said. She sighed dramatically and pouted.

"I'm not sure what I'm doing with them," Jack admitted. He chuckled softly and shook his head. "They're… I'm not sure."

"I'm not going to pretend that I understand what it's like traveling with the Doctor when he's in love," Jo said. She patted his cheek and smiled. "But trust me, when things go bad, having someone who stays calm and cares matters. Rose clearly likes you a lot."

"Not the way I'd like," Jack whined dramatically.

Jo rolled her eyes at him and shook her head fondly. "Don't try to get in the middle of that, sweetheart. Trust me on that. The others and I have been watching that soap opera unfold for years now." Sighing dramatically, Jo fixed him with a serious look. "Give me your phone."

Jack handed it over without a protest. "It's a bit weird for me," he admitted. "Primitive tech where I'm from, but I'll be honest. The size and design aren't bad. You can find it when you misplace it."

"I suppose they'll only get smaller in the future," Jo said. She was eagerly entering numbers into the phone. "These are the numbers that I can remember… I can never remember the Jacksons' number in India. Anyway, this will get you started."

"Started?"

"If you need to talk," Jo said. She leered a little. "Or have any new developments to report."

"New developments?" Jack repeated. Despite feeling like he'd been hit by a lorry, he couldn't help but be very amused. "Really?"

"I'm an old woman," Jo whined. "And they really are adorable. Even if the Doctor would bristle like a hedgehog at that description."

"I haven't known him long, but that sounds about right." Jack was grinning at the phone now.

"Or, you can call if you just need to talk," Jo offered more gently this time. "I know you've got the training of a Time Agent and all that, but life on the TARDIS has it's hard days too. So if you need to vent and don't want to talk with Rose or the Doctor, you're welcome to call me, sweetheart."

The term of endearment caught Jack off guard. It wasn't romantic or flirty. It was just warm and kind. Jack hadn't heard that tone in a long time. After his brother- well, things with his mother had never gotten better. He blinked at her, and Jo laughed a little at his expression.

"Are you trying to adopt me?"

"Maybe a little," Jo admitted. Then she nodded in the direction of the TARDIS. "Go and remind them that they didn't properly say goodbye. Don't let them leave without me getting another round of hugs."

Jack saluted, smiling warmly at Jo and basking in her grin. He really liked this woman and could only imagine what the others were like. Giving one more look at the pyramid, Jack headed back down the small trail they'd used to get here and searched for the TARDIS.

The blue of the TARDIS was extra vibrant against the lush green of the trees and ferns behind it. Around them, the soft sounds of the rainforest were muted by the thick layers of vegetation, and the warm, humid air filled Jack's lungs. A dull ache was still haunting him, and he had to admit that he'd been only moments from going down himself. Suffocation wasn't a death he'd ever foreseen for himself and not one that was an attractive option.

The door was shut, and Jack knocked sharply on it. He exhaled again and dragged in a low slow breath, letting his lungs fully expand as he waited. For an instant, he was worried that no one would open the door; that after whatever confessions had to be made in the pyramid, the Doctor and Rose would just take off on him.

But then the door opened, revealing a smiling, but exhausted looking Rose Tyler. In the light of the pyramid, he hadn't properly noticed how worn down she looked. Still, she smiled at him and started to step aside. The Doctor was leaning over the console and messing with the small screen. Judging from his shoulders, he hadn't had any luck so far.

"Jo recruited you as a spy, didn't she," Rose asked in a soft voice. She couldn't help but smile at the way that Jack was clutching his phone.

"No! Of course-"

"Jack, we literally just left a place that trapped us for lying."

"She… might have." Jack gave her a wide smile, clearly hoping to dazzle her into confusion. "She and the others just want to know that you and the Doctor are okay."

"Oh, I highly doubt that's all they want to know." Rose rolled her eyes affectionately. "They are a bunch of gossips."

"If they're anything like Jo then I'd have to agree."

"To be fair, Jo is the worst of the gossips and busybodies."

"She's great."

"She's bloody brilliant," Rose said. Glancing at the phone, she smiled again. "Just… try not to embarrass the Doctor too much."

"Right." Jack smiled at her. "Did you find anything?"

"No," Rose answered. Turning back to the Doctor, she called over. "Let it go, Doctor. Let's go and say goodbye to Jo! She'll never forgive you if we just take off."

The Doctor grumbled, but left the controls, all but stomping over to them. Jack watched in a mixture of amusement and amazement as he mellowed as soon as Rose smiled at him. He felt a tiny jolt of sorrow that he'd never have a chance with either of them, but he could see what Jo and apparently the others saw. Rose beamed at him and nodded for the doorway. The three of them stumbled back out of the TARDIS and headed back for the camp.

"We were able to get a lock of the pyramid," the Doctor explained. "But even the TARDIS couldn't find that telepathic heart and I didn't want to risk activating another defense."

"Do you think that's possible?"

"It's always possible," the Doctor said. "Though… we didn't find bodies."

"Why did you have to point that out," Rose whined. She shuddered at the thought. "Let's hope that no one ever died."

Jack and the Doctor exchanged a disbelieving look over her head, both of them on the same page, but not saying anything about it. Holding back a laugh when he glanced down at Rose and found her pouting, Jack had to quickly avert his eyes and cough. A soft chuckle from the Doctor made Rose huff.

Jo was waiting for them near the end of the path. Her team were lingering nearby, and Jack noted quickly that her daughter was a very attractive woman. It was too bad that they were getting ready to leave. He had the feeling that the sexual tension in the TARDIS was only going to get worse.

"Find anything?" Jo asked.

"No," the Doctor said. He shook his head. "Sorry I can't give you more information. Odd to find something like that abandoned."

"Pyramid that exalted the truth to the point of trapping liars," Jo shook her head. "No wonder it got abandoned." Rose snorted and put a hand over her mouth, so she didn't laugh too loudly. Jo's eyes twinkled. "And sadly, that probably means that it needs to be sealed off. I can't imagine modern humans faring any better in there."

"Still, I wonder why they built it in the first place," Jack said.

"Maybe they were testing humanity." Jo chuckled and sighed. "I doubt it took long to fail it if that was the case." She looked at the Doctor. "Are you sure there's nothing else? I still think it could be a defense system."

"Nothing else stood out," the Doctor said. He nodded toward the sod covered sides. "But alert UNIT anyway, Jo. Have them clean off the sides and warn them to be very careful around it."

"And maybe take oxygen tanks in with them," Jack added. Looking at the Doctor, Jack smiled and added, "You know, Doctor, we could go back and find out why they build this thing."

The Doctor shivered at the idea. He wanted to run. Every instinct wanted to get away from this place that had made him so vulnerable. Shaking his head, he gave Jack a grin. "Nah, where's the fun in solving every mystery."

Jack and Jo didn't look convinced, but Rose nodded with a soft smile. He doubted that she believed him either. Without thinking about it, he reached over and took her hand, drawing her a little closer. The action was immediately followed by a rush of guilt. Surely, he was leading her on every time that he did this, making her hope that someday things would be different. The Doctor knew better. If he was a stronger man, he'd let go of her hand and put some distance between them. He didn't.

….Coming Soon…

The Forest of Cheem