The Adventures Of Captain Jack - Part Three: Doors.

AN: Anyone else still entirely speechless from last night?

AN2: This is developping a lot more than it was supposed to. It was going to be a light two-parter, but I have so many ideas for it I can't see an end to it any time soon... unless it's written so horribly you all stop reading it, heh. Let me know. (please)

"Well?" the large man hissed. "Is there any news? Have you been doing your job? Or am I paying you to trail the streets like a common prostitute?"

Jeyanna kept her eyes fixed firmly on the floor. She could practically feel Liatia's gleeful, silent laughter; the woman was standing by the door, safe in the knowledge that she could do no wrong in The Boss' eyes. Not today, at least. Not today was the best that anybody could hope for around here. Anybody apart from Jeyanna, who would never quite be good enough, but who tried anyway because what else could she do?

"No one's…" she started, and was interrupted by his glare. "Sir, no one's shown any interest yet, but if you just give me one more day…" her voice took on a desperate tone.

"Could that be because you're not trying hard enough? You have until five am." There was an icy pause, and then, "Liatia!" he barked suddenly.

The slim red head slunk into the room, her face the picture of seriousness. Jeyanna scowled and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans, letting her dark blonde hair fall over her face.

"Yes sir?"

"Show Jeyanna how to do things properly, will you?"

"Yes sir," she smirked. "Come on, Jey." She took the younger woman by the elbow and dragged her out of the room, crimson smirk still firmly in place.

As soon as they were out in the hall, Jey yanked her arm out of Liatia's grip and folded her arms.

"Oh, stop being so childish." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Wait 'til you see this one, he'll be worth every penny, I bet." She paused for a moment, looking prettily wistful, before leading Jey through the maze of dark corridors and into the room where the human was being kept.

Jack could hear whispering, he was sure. Voices hissing urgently. Someone sighed exaggeratedly and high heels clicked off into the distance. A heavy door fell shut.

He opened his eyes, carefully. It was a shock to discover that he'd been asleep; he knew better than to let his guard down in a situation like this. And he didn't even remember being tired.

He looked around; the room was darker now, the fire lower. Red was still absent – probably who he'd heard walking off, he realised – but there was another woman in the room now. Younger, standing in the corner looking both awkward and extremely pissed off.

"Hello," he smiled humourlessly at her.

She stared at him, obviously unsure of what to say or how to act, and Jack considered for a moment. This one looked a whole lot more approachable than Red and the two had obviously been arguing; she looked about as happy with the situation as he himself felt. Definitely worth a try, he decided.

"Don't supposed you feel like telling me what I'm doing here?"

She bit her lip.

"Seriously, I have no idea what's going on. Please?" He pulled the sweet pleading face that usually worked with any woman.

"What's your name?"

"Jeyanna," she told him, walking slowly, cautiously across the room towards his cage. She stared at him through large silvery blue eyes and he smiled, a genuine warm smile that he found he couldn't keep back, in spite of his predicament.

"That's a pretty name. I'm Jack – Captain Jack Harkness – " he flashed her his trademark cheesy grin. "I'd shake your hand, but…" he lifted his arms to indicate the heavy chains that restricted him.

"Do they hurt?"

"A little." He grinned again. "I've had worse."

He watched as her gazed flickered up to the chain from which his cage was, presumably, hanging.

"So you treat all your guests like this or am I just special?"

"I'm sorry. They're so archaic," she said scornfully.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You don't approve?"

"How could I? You haven't done anything wrong, it's disgusting, what they do."

"What… do they do, exactly?"

"They'll sell you, if they can. If not they'll find a use for you round here."

"What kind of use?"

"Could be housework, chores like that but… mostly they use prisoners for training the new recruits," she told him quietly, staring at the ground.

Jack swallowed, the nerves re-materialising in his stomach. This didn't sound good.

"Training?"

She looked up and met his eyes. "In combat and, torture, and… things," she finished lamely. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." His voice was emotionless.

"But I was supposed to find a buyer for you; it was my job." Her eyes filled with shimmering tears. "I can't do anything right."

In spite of who she was, and what her job was, he felt a painful twist of sympathy in his chest.

"Why do work for them, then? Why not leave?" he asked softly.

"I can't," she said darkly. "This is all I've ever known. You could say it was the family business."

"What –"

But he was interrupted by the click of heels on the stone floor outside.

"Jey! Out here, now."

With a final apologetic glance and a small smile at Jack, Jey hurried out of the room. She did not look back.

Jack let out a shaky breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He had to get out of here. He started pulling at his chains, ignoring the slight rocking of the cage and the creaks from up above him.

Then he stopped and wondered why he'd just decided that, when he got out, he was going to take Jey with him.

They waited for what felt like hours. The rain fell harder, pounding the pavement, filling the air around them with thunderous noise that made it difficult for them to talk. Rose was still shivering inside the jacket he'd lent her, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly, earning a warm smile from her.

And then the great doors before them were opening and he pulled her inside and out of the rain. There was a woman standing there, arms folded, expression unreadable. She had red hair and wore a tight red dress, and the Doctor recognised her. He almost swore out loud, but he kept his mouth shut. She was the woman who had gotten hold of Jack. He frowned. If he stayed neutral, didn't remind her, maybe she wouldn't recognise him; her attention had, after all, been directed elsewhere at the time.

"Heard you've got a human for selling," he said gruffly. No point in beating about the bush, after all.

The woman raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Did you now? Who from?"

Shit. He didn't reply.

"Some butch guy, common accent. Didn't ask his name," Rose said indifferently. She flicked a nail into the Doctor's palm, the closest thing she could do to elbowing him in reproach.

The eyebrow remained raised, but she seemed to accept what Rose had said. She turned abruptly and headed down a long corridor.

"This way."

With a brief glance at each other, they set off after her.

The corridor stretched on and on; they passed countless doors, antique pieces of furniture, large paintings that hung severely on the walls. Eventually the woman stopped outside a door and knocked. The Doctor let go of Rose's hand and stepped forward.

"Yes?" a harsh voice called out.

"Sir, I may have a buyer for the human."

"Enter."

She did so, indicating that they should follow. When Rose made to enter the room, however, she held up a hand.

"Not you," she smirked. "Wait here."

Rose opened her mouth to protest but the woman was already inside the room, and the door slammed shut in Rose's face.

"Charming." She shoved her hands into her pockets and leaned back against the wall next to the doorframe, trying to hear what was going on. The room must have been soundproofed since they'd entered it though, for she heard nothing.

She waited. She paced up and down, she sat for a while on a rather delicate looking couch, she studied a few of the paintings that hung self-importantly nearby, and still nothing. She was about to knock on the door and find out what was going on when she heard the soft thud of approaching footsteps, muffled by the thick carpet. She ducked behind an ornate and rather tasteless vase that was resting on a wooden plinth, not hidden, but obscured at least as the footsteps grew louder.

The girl that was approaching looked so unthreatening that Rose stepped out into the middle of the hall and blocked her path. They were the same height and build, and about the same age, Rose thought. The other girl, dark blonde hair falling over a shy and startled face, was dressed in jeans and a hoodie not unlike those that Rose wore.

"Hello." She folded her arms and assumed the sort of determined posture that always made the Doctor laugh.

"Can I help you? I don't think you're supposed to be here…"

Rose took a deep breath. If the Doctor knew what she was doing he'd be furious.

"You have a prisoner, human, goes by the name of Jack Harkness."

The girl blinked.

"Y'know, tall dark and handsome, usually wears nothing but a cheesy grin? You can't miss him."

Still nothing.

"O..kay," Rose said slowly. She softened. "Look, he's a good friend of mine, right, and I really need to get him back. Please?"

"Well I… I was just talking to him actually…"

Rose grabbed the girl's hands, desperation taking over. "Is he okay? Where is he? Is he safe?"

"For now." Her eyes darted around nervously, and Rose knew she only had to ask.

"Take me to him?"

"I can't! If they find out they'll –"

"They wont," she said confidently. "The Doctor's in there talking to them about getting him back, he'll handle it."

"The Doctor? Who's that?"

Rose smiled. "He's…" she shrugged. "Just the Doctor."

The girl looked around again, obviously scared; Rose felt more than a little guilty, but she wanted to get to Jack more than anything.

"Come on then. Hurry."

Thanks for reading.