Chapter seven – family affair

Five minutes later Rose still didn't say a word, and the Doctor was getting worried. He knew, it must've been a shock to her. He wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to say. He couldn't say that everything will be alright, 'cause it won't be. She'll have to see everybody die, and it'll hurt like hell. The curse of the Time Lords became the curse of Rose Tyler. And he really couldn't tell her, that a part of him was about burst with joy. That he was happy, that he will have his forever with her. At that thought he felt like a bastard.

Rose was shocked, altough she didn't know why. The part of her already knew that. The monthly check-ups showed that she isn't aging, but she ignored it. She didn't want to think about it. She was human after all, and humans weren't immortal. She always thought that she will grow old and die as every human. She thought, that in time she will reunite with her family on the other side. She didn't want to accept, that she will be the one who'll have to see everybody die. She was afraid of that. She was startled, when the Doctor touched her hand, and asked,

„Would you like some tea? To calm your nerves?" but behind his words there was an other meaning, 'Do you want me to stay?'

„Yes, thanks." 'No.'

The Doctor exited the room without a word, and made his way to the kitchen. He put the kettle on the fire, and went to search for the tea Rose liked so much. It was from a planet she visited with his ninth self. He was smiling at the memory, when Jack entered the room. He took seat at the table, and asked,

„How did she react?"

„Not good. She wanted to stay alone for a while, so I came to make tea," he answered, „But at least she didn't punch me like you did."

After that neither of them spoke, until a thought entered the Doctor's mind.

„Jack, why didn't you wait for us at Torchwood? And don't tell it was because you came to open the champagne."

„No, I just didn't want to stay there. Too many people wanted to shoot me there," he tried to joke, but the Doctor see through him.

„Too many people, or one specific person," at Jack's silence he continued, „There was this bloke I met. Benjamin Harkness. Is he a relative of yours?"

„He's my evil twin's son. Also the perfect replica of my dead son, and I really didn't want to see him pointing his gun at me."

„I'm sorry."

„Not your fault."

„You don't have to answer, but what happened to him?" asked the Doctor.

„In our universe he was killed at Canary Wharf. After the war on Arden, I took him to one of my friends, Estelle. I met her in the World War II. She brought him up. He went to work for Torchwood. He was killed by Cybermen. He wasn't compatible," he let out a bitter laugh, „I know now, what Rose felt, when you came here first. I want to go and see him, but whenever I think about it, I'm reminded, that he's not my son, and he'd probably shoot me."

„Why would he want to shoot you? And evil-twin?"

„Apparently the other-me is the member of the Brotherhood; and I bet he was the one who killed Ben's family on Arden."

„Are you sure?"

„Pretty much. Violet was talking about this Jack being a devoted member, but she clammed up when I asked about Ben and his family. So I did the math."

„Oh."

„What does that 'oh' mean?"

„Maybe you really should avoid him while we're here," Jack shot him a questioning look, so he said, „The aliens who abducted them weren't aliens. They were humans, and Rose was talking about a symbol. Red snake on grey sword."

„The Brotherhood," said Jack.

„Exactly. The boy was about to explode."

„Good to know."

There was an uncomfortable silence, and the Doctor was about to change the topic, when Rose entered the room. She looked much better, than ten minutes earlier. She smiled at Jack and the Doctor, who were holding their breath, waiting for her reaction.

„So, where is my cuppa?" she asked, and the men were laughing with relief.

After he calmed down, the Doctor asked, „How're you doing?"

„I'm fine. It wasn't really a shock. Ben was telling me for years, that I'm not aging. I just ignored it. It was easier than facing it."

„And are you okay with that?"

„Well, I always said I'll stay with you forever…," she said, with a promise in her voice.

„But it was your human-forever," reasoned the Doctor. He wanted to know how she really felt.

„And now it will be a real one. So get used to the fact, that I'll hang around for a while," she smiled, then kissed him.

The Doctor was about to deepen the kiss, when two things happened. Jack pointedly cleared his throat, and Rose's phone ringed. She picked it up, it was Violet. Her smile slowly changed into a frown. She ended the call, and turned to the Doctor.

„I have to go back. They captured our mystery-man."

„I'll go after you later. I need to repair some things if we ever want to leave this place. Jack, will you help, or go with her?"

„You should come," said Rose, „He knows you're parallel." She didn't have to say who she was talking about.

„Were you eavesdropping?" asked Jack, with a hint of anger in his voice. Then he retought her exclamation and asked, „What do you mean, by 'he knows' ?"

„I warned him about you. Or rather, made Violet warn him. He would've reacted badly, and I didn't want him to make a scene," she answered, „Will you come?"

„Okay, I'll get my coat."

Five minutes later they were at Torchwood. Violet was waiting for them in the hallway, and escorted them to her lab.

„What happened? You said the killer is captured, and I should come back immediately," said Rose.

„Yeah. He is captured, and I called you back, because you'll have two little somethings to do."

„Ok, spit it out."

„The killer. It's Jack Harkness. Our one."

„Shit."

„It's not the end of the story. Hartmann wants to grant him amnesty."

„What? Amnesty? The bloke killed thousends of innocents."

„I know. But he is willing to share his knowledge with Torchwood, and Hartmann couldn't say no to the offer."

„But amnesty?"

„Yeah. He also gave her this speech about being ashamed of himself, and his will to make it up to the world. Hartmann wants you to be there," she said, then in a sugary sweet voice, she added, "As our top diplomat, who can solve anything, and can make the most idiotic life forms see the truth, and who...," she was cut off by Rose's snort.

„Flattery won't get you anywhere. What do you want me to do?"

„Yo need to recton him," when Rose started to protest, Violet cut her off, „Look, I know it's not ideal, but you need to do it. One, he knows about Ben's non-human status. That means, that Hartmann will have him arrested within five minutes. Probably along with the two of us, for helping him. Two, he was on the ship. He knows the reason you were there. That will land you next to Ben in the cell, and later on the Ripper," with the last word, she referred to the table the scientist used to dissect the aliens on a couple of years earlier, before the Tylers. It was named after Jack the Ripper. That did the trick.

„Ok, I'll do it. But the recton might not work. We'll need something stronger to forget the alien-related memories."

„Take these," said Violet, and slipped two red pills into Rose's hand, „They're new. Stronger than recton, and leaves no traces. Oh, and the boss still doesn't know about it."

„You knew, that I'll agree," the other woman smiled, and Rose changed topic, „How did Ben react? I guess, he is the second reason."

„Actually the third. First was Hartmann's request, the second was the recton. Anyway he is not in the best of moods. I tried to talk to him, but he just walked away."

„Where is he now?"

„I don't know. After the team brought Jack in, he disappeared," she didn't say it out loud, but there was a second meaning behind her words, one that she didn't want to voice in front of Jack.

„If you want to find him, maybe we could help," said Jack. He was listening to the conversation, and realized, that under the nice blond girl images, these women were trained Torchwood agents. In three minutes, they worked out a plan, got the things they needed, and were ready to strike.

„Thanks Jack, but you shouldn't be here. Hartman'd just love to have two Jack Harkness," answered Violet.

„Sorry, that I dragged you here for nothing," said Rose. Jack answered, that it was nothing.

After saying goodbye, Jack was going back to the TARDIS when an idea occured to him. He turned back, and went to the elevators. He went up to the 40th floor, and climbed the stairs to the 50th. He got out to the top, and looked around. Then he saw what, or rather who, he was searching for.

Ben was sitting on the ground, a cigarette in one hand, a stack of files in the other. He gave no sign of noticing him. Jack didn't know if he should just call Violet, or he should talk to the guy himself. He didn't have to choose, because Ben spoke up,

„I don't care if you stay or leave, but could you close the door? I don't want more people coming up," he said without looking up from the files.

Jack did what he was told, and closed the door. Then he walked up to Ben, and sat next to him. They were sitting in silence, one smoking and reading, one enjoying the sight, but after a while Jack got bored of it. He turned to the younger man and asked,

„So, what are we doing here?"

„I'm sitting and reading. What are you doing here?"

„Violet is searching for you. I volunteered to help. She is worried." It wasn't the whole truth, but Jack thought that it didn't matter.

„Ok. But that only explains, why you came. But why are you here, next to me, now?"

„I thought you could use some company."

„You were wrong," snapped Ben, „Couldn't you just sod off?"

„No," then after some hesitation, he asked, „What happened between you two that caused you to hide from him?"

„Oh, I understand now. Everybody down there thinks that I took off to drown my daddy-issues into alcohol. Right?" he was trying to change the topic, and it seemed, that it worked.

„Well, yeah." Violet didn't say it, but Jack understood the meaning.

„And I'm not hiding. I'm just waiting for the explosion," he answered.

„Explosion?" Jack was confused.

„Yup. My father isn't the type who gets himself captured that easy." Jack had to admit, that if this other-him was anything like him, he was planning something.

„You think he let the team capture him. What do you think, why?"

„Shouldn't you be the one who knows the answer? You're him."

„No, I'm not. So, what do you think he wants?"

"I don't know yet. These," he gestured to the files he held, "are the most valuable thing we have in the building right now."

"Like what?"

"Mostly weapons. Some viruses too. And a couple of time travel thingies."

"Time travel thingies? Aren't you a scientist?" he joked. It was frightening, how easily he could forget that he wasn't sitting with his own son, just an alternate version. Maybe it was a family bond thing. Jack mentally shrugged, he didn't really care.

"I'm a doctor. These are not my kind of things."

They sat in silence again, but it wasn't uncomfortable, like the previous. Jack broke the silence,

"And aren't you afraid that Hartmann will figure out that you're related to her prisoner?"

„Not really. One, even if Jack knows that I'm here, he won't tell her. If he plans something, I'd be an obscale. Two, I have papers, They say that I was born in London in 1992. And Pete won't let her question me anyway, because he's known me for eleven years."

Jack was suprised. After the bumpy start, Ben was shockingly open about his concerns, and even told Jack things about his past. Then he realized another thing. He steered the coversation away from his relationship with his father, with giving Jack minor details about himself. The boy was good. He was about to ask the questions again, when the sound of the alarm cut him off.

"Showtime."