-The Present-

Rather than leave the next day as planned, the Doctor instead had disappeared into the TARDIS again and Jack let him be alone for a little while. It was clear he was frustrated by the lack of progress they were making in forming a group of people they could trust to help take down the Master. So Jack let him be alone until it was time to collect their daughter once more for the night. The Doctor seemed more relaxed as they went about their nightly routines and the two of them made love before falling asleep in each other's arms. The next morning as they sat eating breakfast the Doctor turned to Jack.

"Rather than go to Torchwood, I want to take you to the island that the Master controls," the Doctor informed him. Jack looked at him confused.

"Won't our going there alert the Master to the fact that we are onto him?" Jack asked and the Doctor shook his head no.

"While he influences the island and the inhabitants as long as we are careful he will never realize we are there. I will park the TARDIS in an unused office I found the last time I was there. From there we can move around the island and talk to the citizens in order to gain information that will allow us to take down the Master. They may even be able to help in the revolt as many are terrified of the day it is there turn to walk down the golden roads," The Doctor explained to Jack.

"I don't want to put innocent people into harm's way," Jack answered.

"They are already in danger, Jack. We are just giving them an option to help fight for their freedom rather than being forced to go quietly," the Doctor replied.

"Alright, I will ask Martha to pick Emily up from daycare and she can spend the night there as well just in case we don't make it back in time," Jack agreed. The Doctor nodded as he handed Emily one of his uneaten slices of toast. She took it happily and the Doctor pushed the rest of his food around his plate eating very little. It was clear he was worried about something but Jack didn't push for answers figuring he was thinking about the island. He would make sure the Doctor ate later but for now, he finished his own breakfast, and then the three of them headed out to the SUV. The routine was normal as he dropped Emily off at daycare and informed the carers that Martha would be picking her up that afternoon before the two of them went to Torchwood. The Doctor left Jack to talk to Martha as he made his way up to Jack's office. He prepared the TARDIS to leave and she hummed at him. He smiled at her sadly reaching out to gently run his hand along her console.

"It's the only way," he told her. She hummed again offering him comfort as he stood there with his head hanging down.

"Are you alright?" Jack asked startling him. He looked up quickly seeing Jack standing at the end of the ramp staring up at him.

"Fine," the Doctor lied putting on a fake smile. Jack narrowed his eyes staring up at him a moment then closed the doors before moving closer. The Doctor ran his eyes along Jack's body as he approached, settling them on the gun that was strapped to Jack's side like normal. "The people of the island are peaceful and don't allow weapons of any kind to be brought into their borders so you are going to have to leave your gun behind."

"What if we get into trouble?" Jack wondered.

"Then we run like we always do," the Doctor answered holding out his hand for the weapon. Jack sighed loudly not reaching for it. "I know I have a way of finding trouble, even when I don't go looking for it, but I promise you, Jack, that this is just a scouting mission. You won't need the weapon and having it puts us into more danger than if you just leave it behind for a couple of hours."

"I will remind you of this conversation later on when we are sitting in a jail cell," Jack told him.

"I look forward to it," the Doctor answered. Jack took a deep breath then unhooked the gun passing it to the Doctor. He watched as the Doctor slid the gun into a nook under the console before turning away to hit a button on the console. The two of them began a familiar dance of piloting the TARDIS for what was a short trip to the island. The Doctor made sure that the TARDIS landed quietly and with her safely on the ground they made their way to the doors. As the Doctor passed the nook in the console he reached in taking the gun out and quickly tucked it into the back of trousers without Jack noticing. Going to the coral he grabbed his coat and put it on before opening the doors.

They exited the TARDIS into a small room. The room was more than likely an office with a desk to one side of it and a large chair behind it but there were no shelves or books or anything else that gave any indication of where they were. The Doctor reached behind him pulling the door to the TARDIS shut as the steel door on the other side opened. Two men entered the room wearing black suits and earpieces and standing on either side of the door. Jack glanced quickly at the Doctor but he seemed to be at ease as he continued to stand in one place with his hands in his pockets. Jack could tell he was waiting for something so he turned back to the door just in time to see a thin man with blond hair enter the room.

"You," Jack hissed but both Time Lords ignored him as they took a step towards each other.

"Ah, Theta you're right on time," the Master greeted the Doctor cheerfully. Jack watched in disbelief as the Doctor moved to the Master's side. The Master held open his arms and the Doctor stepped into them. The hug the two men shared was short but Jack felt his blood boiling in anger at the affection they were sharing.

"I don't understand how you could be working with him after everything he did to you?" Jack seethed as they stepped apart. Both men turned to look at him and Jack tried to meet the Doctor's eyes begging for an explanation that wouldn't come as the Doctor refused to look directly at him. His face was unreadable while the Master's pure happiness was clear. The Master snapped his fingers and the two men at the door stepped forward. Jack reached for his gun on instinct as the men approached and then swore loudly as he remembered he had given it to the Doctor. Still, he had his fists and he fought the men as they grabbed him. One he could have taken but the two men were able to overpower him and get his hands behind his back cuffing them into place.

"We're going to have so much fun together," the Master informed Jack.