An entrance is made, and new connections forged
-0-
Jack had just finished issuing new instructions on monitoring the Rift when he heard it. A long drawn out wolf's howl that actually seemed to be getting louder, and coming from the Tardis. Breaking into a sprint, he headed back in the direction of the blue box. He was gratified to see his guards were alert and paying attention, but did not have their weapons drawn. No need to be hostile, unless hostile is clearly called for.
Sliding open the Tardis door, he saw a glowing column of energy near the console. It split in two, one of them looking much like a storm cloud, complete with lightning. It started to consolidate first, the other column hovering near it. From the storms came a tall lanky body in of all things blue suit, red trainers, and the overcoat that Void Walker had taken with her. Odd fashion sense had be the Doctor. The second column slid back as the Doctor started to move.
The sight of the Doctor jumping around and testing the fact that yes, he had two legs, two arms, and basically he was intact, was a bit of an amusement. This definitely was not his surly sarcastic Doctor. Jack just couldn't imagine him doing anything like this. Then he was startled by the whoop of glee coming from this new Doctor, "Two hearts! I don't know how she managed it, but she formed me here with two hearts! Fully Time Lord now, me. Wait, wait, still a bit of Donna in here, well isn't that just wizard. Ha!"
Jack frowned as he stepped further into the Tardis, the second column hadn't coalesced yet, and he wasn't sure if that was good or not, "Hey, Doc? You are the new Doctor right? Is she still supposed to be like that?" He pointed towards the glowing light.
The thin man whirled towards him, and then towards the column of light. "Blimey, not sure, but she did say something about needing me to link to the Tardis, best be about that. You are an alternate Jack ity Jack here, brilliant. Oh, not going to say that again, nope. Just Jack is fine. Though think of it, you are not the alternate, this is your universe. Though mine too now I suppose. That must make me, the new new new new Doctor. Try saying that five times fast. "
He whirled around the console as he spoke, hands stroking over the surfaces and up to the time rotor. His outpouring of words changing into a musical language being softly spoken, and that wasn't translated.
There was a faint whisper of a thought just across the surface of Jack's mind. "Sorry didn't think to warn you. "He's a bit rude, not ginger, got a bit of a gob on him, and rather like a magpie distracted by new and shiny things."
He was surprised at the contact, but Jack tried to project a thought back. "I figured some of that out, so this is normal for him then?"
The whisper came back, "Mostly. Part of it is he's still in his regeneration cycle, so to speak. He'll calm down a little, eventually. Don't worry about me, just waiting for him to link with the Tardis, and then I can take my form."
For the Doctor it was a rush of sensations. She hadn't lied when she said it would hurt the conversion from solid to energy burned and the reformation was even worse. When he realized she had given him his Time Lord y ness back, (oi, he had to stop making up words even in his head now) it explained the greater pain. He was thrilled, even while discovering there were still human touches of Donna within him. His senses and abilities were intact, and that was what was important.
When Jack, this new Jack in this new universe spoke, he was reminded one of the reasons he was here. He couldn't stop his gob, but he could redirect himself. Jack became forgotten as he started to talk to the Tardis instead. Telling her what a wonderful clever girl she was, that he was here now and would stay with her. The sense of welcome and relief from the ship poured over him. Eventually his spoken words vanished entirely as he communed with the ship.
There was an almost palatable sense of relief coming from Void Walker when the Doctor was caught up in his communion with the Tardis. Slowly she started to take her physical form, but it was different, much different process than before. In front of Jack's eyes, he saw her first take the form of which was basically a golden metallic wolf, on two legs instead of four. Glowing Gallifreyan script was written all over her form. There was a small sound that he heard not with his ears, but somehow inside himself. Then she shifted from that, to a metallic gold version of herself, and then finally down to her default. It was that long coat, the black t-shirt, trousers and leather boots, the same yet something he couldn't quite put his finger on was different. This brown haired Doctor had turned towards her during the transformation, a little wide eyed.
She stood there for a moment and then her knees started to buckle. Both men lunged forward to try and catch her. Frantically she waved them off, scooting backwards on her bum until she hit one of the coral struts. Her eyes were shining like liquid gold, and from the edges of her clothing there were patches of shining light. "No, no touch, please, don't touch me yet." They hovered as she sucked in great breaths of air.
Finally the gold light faded away. Blinking she looked up at them. "I think, after two centuries, I finally need a bit of a lie down." With that her eyes rolled up into the back of her head and she collapsed.
The Doctor was faster and scooped her up. "Med bay, now."
Jack followed him as the Doctor took fast confident strides easily carrying Void Walker. When he gently put her on one of the beds, Jack's familiarity with this med bay led him to immediately going to the drawers and pulling out some tools the Doctor would need. Some things you just didn't forget, even after so long.
The Doctor looked up shooting him an unreadable look even as he gave a nod of thanks. Carefully he took readings, and attached some monitors to the bed. Reading over the results he stuck a hand in his hair racking it back. "So what's the verdict, Doc?"
The other man absentmindedly replied, "Don't call me that, Jack." Then he focused, looking up with a small smile. "Some things don't change, do they?"
They shared a small smile, and then went back to concentrating on the patient. "Well, she seems fine, but it is hard to tell. Her physiology seems to be a cross between human and Gallifreyan with a few extras tossed in. The Tardis seems to think she just needs a bit of a kip and she'll be okay. I can't say for sure how long that will be though."
Jack listened and gave a slow nod. "Alright, my team is investigating, won't have anything new for a while. How about you and I talk for a bit over what's going on while we look out for her." He stuck out his hand towards the Doctor. "Captain Jack Harkness." He paused, looking over at the Doctor. "Most definitely at your service."
The Doctor grinned, taking his hand and shaking it. "The Doctor, and don't start. From that I would say you are a lot like the Jack I knew. "
At this the blue eyed Captain grinned. "You are a bit different from my madman with a blue box."
"Oh Jack, I'm definitely a madman with a blue box now." The Doctor looked down at the unconscious Void Walker. "It is all thanks to her."
