Chapter 9

Doctor in Disgrace

"Well, that's that, then." The Doctor stood back, wiping his hands on a rag and admiring the new compression chamber. All the tests had been carried out successfully, and Jack was preparing to go back to the past to keep watch on Jackie's flat in the days leading up to the break-in. Rose had given the Doctor the exact date and approximate time when the crystal was stolen.

"OK, Doc. I'll get going, then." Jack put out a hand and the Doctor shook it.

"Good luck, Jack. Give me a ring as soon as you have some news. Oh, and by the way, one more thing. I want you to make me a promise."

"What's that?"

"Promise me that if you go back and find it's me that took the crystal, then you'll come straight back here and shoot me like a dog, paradox or no paradox."

Jack grinned. "Will do, Doc... I've got the very thing right here..." Jack reached up and took down his sonic blaster off its hook, patted it fondly. "This'll do the job nicely."

-

Deep in thought, the Doctor wandered off in search of a hotel. Suddenly, turning a corner, he was brought back to reality by a familiar voice.

"You!"

He looked up to find Jackie standing in front of him, hands on her hips.

"You... are a very naughty boy." She wagged a finger at him in mock disapproval.

"Er... Jackie! Hello! How are you?"

"It's no good trying to get round me. The havoc you caused at my daughter's wedding! The rows! The fights! Not to mention flinging me round the dance-floor like a man possessed."

The Doctor looked sheepish. "Sorry. You're right. I probably shouldn't have turned up at all."

"Too right, you shouldn't! Anyway, the damage is done. You ought to learn to control your passion on the dance-floor, though. You'll impress no-one with that sort of approach. So, where are you off to? Up to no good, I'll be bound."

"Nothing much," said the Doctor innocently. "Just trying to find a bed for the night. Do you know of any good hotels round here?"

"Hotels? You mean you don't have anywhere to stay?"

"Not just at the moment. My usual accommodation is... er... temporarily unavailable."

"Oh!" Jackie thought for a moment. "Well, you know, I wouldn't normally suggest this, but as you're a good friend of Rose's, I'm sure I can trust you... even though you are a bit of an animal with a drink inside you..." Jackie winked at him.

The Doctor smiled. "What are you getting at, Jackie?"

"Well, I'm alone in the flat at the moment. Rose and Mickey get back from Brighton in a couple of days, but then they're moving straight into his place. So, there's plenty of room for the two of us... It'd be quite cosy..."

"Er... Thanks, Jackie, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think it's a good idea..."

"Why ever not?"

"Well, people might talk. Your reputation..."

"Oh, let them talk. I've always liked to live a bit on the dangerous side, Rose'll tell you that. And anyway..." Jackie added playfully. "What could you possibly give them to talk about, Doctor?"

The Doctor continued to protest but to no avail. Jackie insisted that he come back with her.

"Where are your things?"she asked.

"Things?"

"Your luggage?"

"Oh, that. I don't have any. I like to travel light..."

"UGGH!" Jackie winced. "I've noticed you're always in that same old smelly leather jacket. We'll have to get you kitted out! I can do my 'Trinny and Susannah' on you."

"Trinny and what?" asked the Doctor, bemused.

-

Jack had arrived safely just two days before the date of the break-in. He'd parked the TARDIS in the usual place, and was checking out the housing estate where Rose lived. Facing her block was another one. Jack took up a position on one of its upper walk-ways, where he had a perfect view of the door of Rose and Jackie's apartment – aided by his digital cell binoculars. There was an enclosed glass corridor which led down the whole block on every level, and the doors of each flat led off from this. Apart from the windows on the other side of the block, there was no other way in. At either end of the block was a communal staircase.

Unfortunately, Jack found he was attracting unwanted attention, hanging around the same part of the building with a pair of binoculars, so he had to keep moving around the estate, always on the lookout for something unusual. But nothing caught his attention, and on the morning of the break-in he resumed his original position in the block opposite. After just ten minutes, he saw the door of their apartment open, and out came Jackie and Rose. They walked eight doors down and knocked on Betty's door. Jack saw them both disappear inside. Within a matter of seconds, something on the far left of the block caught his eye. A tall figure, clad in an overcoat and hat, emerged from the communal staircase and began striding purposefully down the corridor towards Jackie's apartment.

-

"Jack! How's it going?"

The Doctor and Jack both sat in the back bar of 'The Moon' with their pints and mobiles, only separated from each other by a matter of weeks. Reception today was good.

"Well, Doc. I saw him. I saw the guy who broke in."

"Yes? And? Are you coming back to shoot me like a dog?"

"Not on the evidence I've got. If it was you, you'd taken the trouble to hide yourself pretty well in an overcoat and hat. He broke in within minutes of Rose and Jackie going out, so he must have somehow been watching. He used something interesting to open the door with. It looked a little like your sonic screwdriver. I zoomed in on it with my binoculars. It was bigger than yours. It looked kinda like an old- fashioned Swiss army knife – you know, with the different appliances which can be pulled from the side..?"

"Wait..." interrupted the Doctor. "Was it black?"

"Looked like it from here."

"And the appliance he used for opening the door... Did it emit a green laser beam?"

"That's right. Oh, no, Doc. Don't tell me it's yours. Am I gonna have start loading up my sonic blaster?"

"No. But I only know of one person – if you can call him that – who owns one, and he's no friend of mine... Did you see him come out with the crystal?"

"Sorry, I tried to be too clever. I was watching from the block opposite. If I'd stayed there I wouldn't've had a chance in hell of following him when he came out. So I moved down and hung around at the bottom of the staircase that I saw him go up. But he must've gone down the other stairs. I was surprised – it was a longer distance and it meant going past Betty's flat, but there you go. I blew it. Anyway, I filmed him breaking in on the binoculars so you can take a look when I get back. And I guess I'm coming back pretty soon. Folk round here are getting pretty suspicious of me, and when they hear there's been a break-in..."

"Well, there's no point in you hanging around. And I want to see that film. Anyway, Jack, cheers!" The Doctor raised his glass to his lips.

"Cheers, Doc. Oh, and how's the new hotel?"

"Er... I'm not actually in a hotel."

"Oh? Where are you staying?"

"Well, Rose's mum kindly offered me a room, and..."

There was a spluttering from the other end of the line.

"Hell, Doc, don't do that! I nearly choked on my pint. Don't tell me you're staying at Jackie's place? Say, is there room for a threesome? Hold on, I'm on my way!"