Chapter six – talks and meetings

When she heard his voice, Rose was sure that her wrist wasn't the only thing she's hit. She must've bumped her head too, 'cause she was hallucinating. She looked at Ben, and was going to ask if he heard the voice too, when she noticed that he was looking at something behind her back. She turned, saw the man, well alien, she wanted to see the most in the past eight years. After realizing that he was real, she got up, and launched herself into his arms. She wasn't going to let go for a very long time, but she heard him saying three words that caused her to jump back.

„I love you."

She was shocked. She knew she loved him, but wasn't sure he returned her feeling. Of course, he loved her, but she was never sure if it was the 'I-love-you-you're-my-best-friend', or the 'I'm-in-love with-you-and-can't-live-without-you' type of love. Hers was surely the latter, but after the events in Bad Wolf Bay she's become sure that his was the former. What else could it be? She declared her love, and he answered with a joke. The Doctor wasn't the type, who'd lie, so maybe he was stalling for time on purpose, so he didn't have to tell her that he didn't feel the same way. So right, Rose was shocked. She was proved wrong. She knew that she should answer, but her mouth didn't co-operate. Well that, and there was the evil part of her wanted him to feel what she felt in the past eight years. Judging the Doctor's expression, her evil plan was working. As she didn't answer, his expression became almost unreadable. There was despair, regret, sadness, and lastly, acceptance. He thought she didn't feel the same anymore, and was ready to accept her decision. At this point, she fought down her inner devil, and said the words.

„Quite right too." She grinned, then continued, „and while it's not my last chance to say, Doctor, I love you too." And with that, jumped back into his arms.

When Rose jumped back and was just staring at him after his declaration, the Doctor really thought she'd moved on. He knew, that he could have had no hard feelings, after all it was eight years for her. But he couldn't help but wonder, if she had anybody in her life. He remembered her partner, who left the room while they were hugging, and wondered if they're together. Rose was bantering with the guy like she did with him. He wanted to be happy for her, really, but the only thing he came up with were several, very painful deaths for the bloke. But then he remembered that he loved her, and wanted her to be happy. If she found the happiness, he will accept it. He won't ask her to leave everything behind, like he always planned. He couldn't continue his musings, 'cause he noticed Rose's expression changing. She smiled, and said the words he wanted to hear. She still loved him. The Doctor felt like a stone was lifted off his shoulders. He took her into his arms again. After a couple of long and happy minutes, he heard her voice again

„When will you finally kiss me?"

The Doctor happily obligated. They got lost in their own world for a very long time again, but then the sound of a slammed door made them return to the reality. They turned to the intruder. In that moment the Doctor realised, that Rose was truly Jackie Tyler's daughter. If looks could kill, the man would've been dead. Her partner seemed to realise that too, and decided to comment on it.

„So, how many painful death did I die in your mind since I came in?" he asked.

„152," snapped Rose, „What do you want?" She was really mad that he interrupted them.

„I so feel the love, partner dearest." He received another glare, so he continued, „Jackie is outside, and I can't keep her there for much more time. So what about you come out, and continue the snogfest after you reassured your mother that you're alive?"

„Okay." She turned to the Doctor, and said „I'll be back in a mo," she kissed him briefly, then started towards the door. When Ben made a move to follow her out, she turned and added, „You should stay in here. Get to know each other with the Doctor."

„Why?"

„Mum'll want to know what happened with my arm. And if I tell her that it was your fault, she'll want to murder you."

„Why do you think, that I didn't tell her already?"

„You're not suicidal." Without waiting for an answer, she was out of the room, leaving the two man alone.

After an awkward silence, the Doctor decided to start a conversation, „Hi, I'm the Doctor. I'm Rose's…" but he was cut off by Ben, before he could say more.

„Rose's two-hearted alien boyfriend-to-be with a time-travelling spaceship. I know who you are. What I want to know is what your intentions with Rose are."

„Isn't Pete supposed to be the one with this line?" joked the Doctor, but when there were no traces of humor on the other man's face, he continued, „Look. I know that I wasn't here in the last years, and You have no reason to believe me, but I can assure you, I'm in love with her."

„Good. 'Cause if you hurt her, I will personally hunt you down, and I'll make you regret that you were even born. Do you understand?"

The Doctor could tell that he was serious, so he nodded without hesitation. Upon seeing that, the threatening expression vanished from the other man's face. He smiled, stuck his hand out, and introduced himself.

„My name is Ben Harknes. I'm Rose's partner."

The Doctor shaked his hand, and asked, „Harkness? Aren't you related to one Captain Jack Harkness?"

The smile disappeared from Ben's face again, and frowned before saying, „Yes I am, and I'd be grateful, if you'd never mention that again."

Before the Doctor could've said anything, the door opened, and Rose came back in.

„Come, everybody went back to Dad's office. Mum wants to talk to both of you" when they didn't move, she laughed and said, „Look at you two. You both fight evil and dangerous aliens on a daily basis, yet you're afraid of my Mum."

„Well, she is way scarier then any alien either of us ever saw. Right?" asked Ben the Doctor while following Rose out the door.

„Yeah. Especially when she's angry. I'd rather fight slitheens, daleks and cybermen in the same time than face her when she is mad at me."

„Did she ever slapped you? I swear it was the most painful experience in my life."

„The sting of the universe. Anyway that was a first to me. Nobody's mother'd slapped me before that."

„While I'm glad that you took my advice, could you stop making jokes about my mother?" asked Rose. When they nodded a little too quick, she sighed and said, „You'll just continue when I'm not listening, won't you?" The two men looked at each other, than at Rose, than at each other again, and finally nodded again. Seeing that Rose just shook her head and went on.

When they entered, everybody was already seated and were chatting, only Jack and Jackie were missing. The Doctor was going to ask about them, when the Director came in; he suddenly understood why the two were missing. She was asking about the newcomers, but Pete fed her with a lie. He said that they're american experts he asked for in the morning.

While they continued talking, the Doctor was looking at the other occupants of the room. Martha engaged herself in a conversation with Rose; no doubt, they were exchanging stories about him. Violet Black was looking extremely relieved, he was gripping Ben's hand under the table, and the Doctor wondered, if they were closer than the others thought. While looking at said man, the Doctor wondered what Ben's reaction will be when he meets the Captain. He hoped, that Jack will keep his quips to himself. He rather felt than saw, that under the happy-go-lucky mask, Ben was an explosion waiting to happen. He couldn't blame the guy. In the last seven hours he attended a meeting hosted by Ivonne 'I did my duty to the Queen and country' Hartmann, was abducted by aliens and escaped them, and now he was back in a room wih the Sataness again. In that moment he remembered the reason they were at Torchwood.

„Hold on! What about the draconians?"

„The who?" asked the confused Rose.

„The aliens. Your captors. Are you sure you didn't hit your head? Usually you don't forget about the ugly evil aliens who kidnap you."

„You're still rude," she said, „They weren't draconians, whatever they are."
„But they're the only race with that kind of technology."

„They aren't," said Ben, who already knew about the Doctors theory.

„Who did I miss?"

„The humans."

The Doctor mentally slapped himself. He really forgot about the humans. It just didn't make sense. But since when were the humans rational creatures. He snapped out his musing, and listened to the story the agents were telling. Mainly Ben was talking, and the Doctor was watching him closely. He wasn't telling anything. He didn't elaborate, why they were beamed up; he said, it was because they were Torchwood. But that didn't explain, why they left Violet behind. He also said the texts on the ship's computer were english; but when he went to the infirmary, he heard him saying it was a foreign one, and he hadn't seen it for years. Something wasn't right. Then Pete was asking them about any signs that might identify the abductors. It was Rose who answered, and she was talking about a red snake on a grey sword. In that moment everything suddenly made sense. The captors were the members of the Brotherhood. That also meant, that Ben Harkness wasn't human, and he didn't want to share this information with Hartmann. He could understand, if he did, he'd be on the examination table before he could say 'alien'. But that didn't explain Rose's abduction. He made a mental note, to look into that later.

At the end of the meeting Yvonne Hartmann informed them, that a team will be sent up to the ship, and another will search for the escaped killer. She wasn't keen on the latter order. She pointed out, that a man without any help was able to disarm and destroy the attackers, while the top agents were playing hide-and-seek. She also scolded them for not being able to find out, what happened to the other prisoners. What she didn't know was that on Rose's advice they already let them go. Before going to the infirmary, Ben managed to open a video link with one of the consols in the underwater lab. He talked to one of the people in there, and told them how to get out without the security guards noticing them. He made them swore, that they'll forget the day's happenings, unless they want to be locked up in Torchwoods most unconfortable cell.

Ten minutes later the meeting was ended, and the Director left the room.

The Doctor decided, that it wouldn't be good if he commented on the real purpose of the red-snake symbol without talking to Rose first. He catched the other lie about the other prisoners too, and didn't talk about it. At least not with Pete in the room. He was sure, that the man – while not being as xenophob as Hartmann – wouldn't be happy with the lies Rose and Ben told. But he was the Doctor, and he needed to talk.

„So, what now?"

„Maybe you should go and try to fix the TARDIS. You said we can't go back until you repaired some stabilisation thingy," suggested Martha.

„Good idea," he said, then turned to Pete, „Is it all right with you if Rose comes with us?"

„Why do you ask me?" replied the man.

„I don't want to ask Jackie. And if we'd go without permission, she'd come after us and slap me."

„Then you have my permission," said Pete grinning, „Where did you park?"

„In the nearby park." when the Doctor stood up and was ready to go, Rose stopped him with a question.

„Won't you ask me? If I wanted to go?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes, and said: „Rose Tyler. Will you honor me with your presence on my way back to my spaceship?"

„Just because you asked so nicely," with that she got up too, and followed the Doctor and Martha. At the door she turned back to face her friends, and asked, „Don't you want to come?"

„No, thanks," said Ben, and Violet shook her head too. Rose was grateful, she knew they wanted she was only polite with the invitation, and that she really wanted to have some time alone with the Doctor. Only that they wouldn't be alone, Martha'd be there. Violet seemed to read her thoughts, because she asked Martha,

„Do you want to see the biology department? I bet I could show you things you'd like to see. Like the new cloning procedure. You could see healthy cloned rats," she looked at Pete, who nodded.

„I'd like to go. I'll go after you in a couple of hours okay?" Martha asked the Doctor, unaware of the main reason of her upcoming plans.

„OK. Come on Rose!" he pulled her out of the room, out of the building, towards the TARDIS. When they got there, Rose pulled out the key she always kept with her, and unlocked the door.

When they entered, they were welcomed with a loud shout, and two glasses of champagne thrusted into their hands. Rose took hers, shoved it into the Doctor's free hand, and jumped into Jacks arms. He spinned her around, then put her down to take a look at her. After giving her a once-over, Jack said,

„You look good Sweetheart. I'm glad to see you."

„ Oh my God, Jack! I thought you died. What happened?"

„It takes more than some homicidal pepper-pots to take me out, especially when you're there to save me," at Rose's blank stare he asked, „Don't you remember?"

„I don't remember what? What's this about, Doctor?" she asked, when he noticed the men's exchanged looks.

„You remember, that you took the vortex into yourself to save me, right?" when she nodded, the Doctor continued, „While it was in you, you not only destroyed the Daleks, but brought back Jack from the death too."

„WHAT? Why didn't you tell me this before?"

„I didn't know. I met Jack again only a month ago," he took a deep breath, and continued, „Which reminds me. I need to make some tests. On you."

„Why?"

„Because the vortex might've done something with you I didn't notice then. I'll answer your questions later."

„Okay."

Half an hour later they were done. The Doctor was checking the results for the fifth time. After that he turned to Rose, and said,

„I've got both good and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

„The good one."

„You won't die."

„Ok. What is the bad then?"

„You probably won't die in the next couple of centuries. The vortex became the part of you, and made you immortal."