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Chapter 16 - Pete and the Doctor

Ryan had left with Howie. Jake got called into another meeting, so Pete and the Doctor sat alone in the Doctor's office.

The Doctor's head was swimming. He sat in the same chair with his feet propped up. Pete lay on the couch with his hand over his eyes.

"When will we learn?" Pete asked the Doctor.

The Doctor laughed, "I ask Rose that every time I drink that damn stuff. Hopefully, I won't make a fool of myself with it today."

Pete didn't remove his arm from his eyes. "I have a swell idea. Let's summon Thomas in here."

"Oh, I don't think I can take him today! I will make an ass of myself." the Doctor said as he rubbed his face in his hand.

Pete laughed at him. "What if I give you a raise?"

The Doctor threw up his hands. "You pay me too much anyway!"

"Oh, the hell." Pete complained.

"Pete. Rose told me you have never taken Jackie anywhere."

Pete tossed his free hand up. "She never wanted to go anywhere."

"Oh, bull Pete!"

"That sounds like Howie, there!" he pointed at the Doctor.

"She's not going to ask! You need to ask! Well, ready don't ask... just tell her you are taking her. Don't give her the option. Women love that."

"Where would I take her?" Pete asked.

"You really are thick, Pete. Take her to Zakynthos Island in Greece. The water there is so clear, it looks like the boats are floating in the air. Or, take her to Panana. It's the only place on Earth where you can see the sun rise on the Atlantic and set on the Pacific."

Pete uncovered his eyes and looked at the Doctor. "Damn. You are good."

"Though this be madness-" the Doctor started.

"Yet there is method in it!' Tony has me reading Hamlet to him. Did you know he can recite Hamlet's soliloquy?"

The Doctor laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "Yep. I know who taught him that."

"Who?" Pete asked.

"I'm really running out of subtle quotes." the Doctor complained.

"You? Well, that really doesn't surprise me." Pete said.

"Pete. I can take some of these meetings. I feel like you need a hand with this. It's exploded into something bigger than we imagined."

"I got those plans today. Brilliant stuff!" Pete said as he sat up and rubbed his head. "I don't want to ask you to start going to meetings, too. That was our deal from the beginning. I'll handle that side, and you just create."

"Pete, you need my help now! You end up calling me through most of these meetings anyway! If I take some so you can take Jackie out of town...hopefully, let you fix this mess with her, would you let me?"

"How are you at negotiations?" Pete asked him.

The Doctor laughed and walked over to a small refrigerator in the corner. He took out two bottles of water. He walked over and handed one to Pete. He sat back down and propped his feet up.

"You really forget who you are talking to, don't you?" the Doctor said as he drank his water.

Pete chuckled. "Yeah, I do. Sorry. But honestly, what I really need you to do it to take over as Director of Torchwood in my absence. I figure if Jacks agrees for us to go someplace, we'll be gone for about four weeks, but I'll pop us in to see Tony. If she won't go, I'll be gone at least three."

The Doctor looked surprised at him. "You've really drank too much."

Pete laughed and shook his head. "No, I've had to think about it for a bit. Jake is great, but isn't as level headed as you are. Jake can help you, of course. But, I want to make sure you are the one making the final call."

The Doctor shook his head. "I don't know, Pete. I don't even know if I want to work at Torchwood."

Pete exclaimed. "You're already doing it! Helping figure out what these messages are! I know if a ship breaks orbit, you will be right here. I haven't forgotten you going to help out those aliens that crashed here. That went so much smoother with you there. Probably saved all of their lives. I went ahead and made you employee on paperwork instead of a consultant. Even though, you are really just still a consultant. Thomas fought me about it and said unless you were an employee, he would argue about it."

The Doctor looked at Pete questionability. "And that kept him from arguing?"

Pete laughed and shook his head. "Not a damn bit. But, let me make this very clear. I need you here. Maybe twice a week, not even all day. I know that you don't like to stay in one place too long and I don't want this to get on your nerves. You've always turned your nose up at how Torchwood was ran. Now is your chance to run it the way you want. You can be as involved as you like. I just want to be able to give these people someone to contact if something big happens and someone needs to make a choice. So, in your mind...just the same thing you have been doing. But, with more authority. Are we clear?"

"What about Rose?" the Doctor asked.

"She's now a consultant. I really don't want her in here. She's stubborn like Jacks though, and I figure she'll do what she wants. But, at least as a consultant, she won't be in here all of the time. She will also have time to go speak at these universities and such that are begging for her. But, if something happens, she will have the necessary authority to do whatever needs to be done. Just like I've given you."

The Doctor rubbed his beard and stared at Pete. "Huh."

"Huh? That's all you want to say? I figured you would cuss me out! I realize I did this without talking to you about it, but I really just don't trust anyone else. You are here in London now. Just try to come in a couple of times a week. Make an appearance. That's all I ask."

"And when you come back? You'll take this back off my hands?" the Doctor asked.

Pete nodded his head. "Unless you want to keep it in yours. I've got to make some choices here. The business you and I have now is making me way more money than I ever saw being a Director here. Try it out while I'm gone. If you hate it, just do it as a favor to me until I return. If you love it, we'll make all official once I get back."

The Doctor rubbed his hand through his hair. "Ugh. Pete. You don't make things easy for me. I'll do it, temporarily. But, as a favor to you. Plan on taking it back over when you return. It's just ... too much for me to agree to."

Pete laughed under his breath. "I'll accept that answer. Enjoy the raise that comes with it!"

The Doctor groaned. "Seriously? You already pay me too much!"

Pete laughed. "Ha! If you only knew how much money you are making me! If Jack's agrees to go with me, could you and Rose take Tony?"

"And Zeus! Anytime, as long as you need. You know I'll keep them safe."

"There is no doubt in my mind." Pete said honestly.

"Tell you what. Let me call Jackie now and -"

"No! Sit down, Pete Tyler! There's a few things we need to go over first before you screw yourself up even worse. I'll talk to Jackie and tell her you will call her when I go over there this afternoon. Let her wonder what it is. It will make her want to hear what you have to say, rather than you call and she scream at you now."

Pete looked at him, "Right. That's true. You are good at this."

"I'm telling you, I've been through this before, mate. I'll help you out of it. Second thing. What does she know about Rose? The kidnappings, car accident?"

"Nothing. She thinks she was hurt on assignment. She has no idea."

"Well, normally I would tell you to come clean with her. But, knowing this woman, I would advise that you keep all of that to yourself. Especially that car accident. That would be the worse."

Pete looked confused as he drank his water.

"Well, why would that be worse than the kidnappings? I had honestly thought about telling her the truth about that."

"No! No! Hell no!" the Doctor told him. "Pete. You died in the other dimension when Rose was an infant. Has no one told you how you died?"

"Car accident. That's what Jackie told me."

"No, you were hit by a car. The never found the driver. Granted I saw it happen. Three times in fact."

"Then why didn't you save me?" Pete asked.

"Rose did. But, it was a fixed point in time. See, with time travel, there are things you change and some things you can't. Your death couldn't be changed."

"Yeah, but Rose saved me." Pete tried to understand.

"Yeah, and nearly destroyed the fabric of time and erased all of history. When you found that out, you threw yourself into the car. It was extremely brave. Rose, well... 19 year old Rose that was traveling with me, held your hand as you died. Jackie never knew it was her. I don't think she ever told her. Trust me. Getting hit by a car probably bothers Rose worse than anything does in her past because of that happening to you."

"Damn. I had no idea." Pete said.