Thanks to everyone reading and alerting and reviewing it definitely acts as a bit of a prod to get back to posting (I know what it's like to read a fic that ends suddenly because the writer's had writer's block or lost interest or forgotten that they've left everyone hanging - So I'll try to get it all up). It makes me smile every-time I get the little review or favorite alert in my inbox...so keep it up.
I do not own Doctor Who or a scarf...wait I lie I do own a scarf, a rainbow scarf but I don't wear it so........yeah....hmmm....no, I'm not sure where this is going either :) I'm too lazy to change it to something else.
This is a quick chapter (because its the weekend and I have a few things to do), I've cut up the next 2 chapters so I'll be able to post them quicker (after a few reviews), hopefully. But I haven't had much chance to sit down a write anymore to this fic so its steady at 30,000 words (so yay! lots to post....we're not even halfway there).
Jack followed behind the smartly dressed woman before him; she'd introduced herself as Jean and told him that she'd been sent by Cal to lead him under the surface. She'd seemed a little rushed, and didn't really want to chat so they walked silently. They reached a corridor that led off into a medium sized room that housed a small kitchen, with a large rectangular table centred in the middle, Jack quickly spotted Rose. She sat at the head of the table with Cal on one side, listening intently to a man sitting on Cal's left, he headed to her side and sat down in the empty seat next to her. She looked up and smiled, putting a hand on his, "You have to hear what Sam's been telling me about what they're developing in R&D." she said excitedly, "We had a similar ideas over the pond; they're trialling sunspot energy conservation, not to mention rabid cell-regeneration and manufacturing new materials that stabilise an organism's body temp without the use of electricity."
"Sounds impressive." Jack admitted, "But aren't you guys supposed to be mainly dealing with incarceration? When do you have time for research and development?" He asked. Rose pushed her hot mug of tea in his direction; he took it in his cold hands gratefully taking a quick sip.
"Well, in 'incarcerating' our residents we've come across many problems because of the varied, behaviours and stages of evolution involved, plus the environments have to be incredibly detailed for them to thrive here – this has meant we couldn't wait for Torchwood to get around to solving our problems for us." Cal explained, "And to be perfectly honest with you they have enough on their plate without having to worry about creatures out of sight and out of mind."
"They forget you're down here until they need you" Rose muttered.
"It's easy to get lost in a big organisation." Jack agreed. "I hope you have better things to say about Torchwood three, then you do the main division."
"At least you keep in touch…even when you don't need something." Cal smiled. "But, that day isn't today. How long left?" he asked looking at Rose.
She glanced at her watch, and stood up "About twenty minutes. Time really gets away from you down here, we need to get a wriggle on." She tugged Jack up beside her "Come on you, have you got that code ready?"
Jack quickly swallowed the rest of the tea, he knew how cold it was outside, "Hope so." He teased as he took her arm and followed after Cal's hurried steps out of the room and down the corridor. "Even if we can get them out, how are we going to get them down here?"
Rose smirked at him out of the corner of her eye, "I'll let Cal fill you in on that. It's a good one." She promised trying to keep up with Cal.
They stood on the surface, Jack, Rose and Cal looking at the field before them. Jack frowned, "well are you gonna do something soon? We've only got fifteen minutes before the field drains the energy cells…and I don't want to be just standing here if that happens."
"Patience grasshopper." Rose giggled, turning to look at Cal expectantly.
"Show time." He lifted up his watch and gave the order.
The ground shook and Jack moved to stand behind Rose, holding an arm tightly around her waist, "Rosie?" he asked doubtfully as the area around them started to sink into the Earth.
"S'all part of the plan." She assured, "Keep watching." She added placing a hand over his at her waist. Jack noticed Cal grinning at him winningly and glared at him. Suddenly they stopped sinking slowly and the pace increased and they flew downwards with the pterodactyls beside them.
The feeling of gravity acting on their bodies, pushing at them made them feel light as air with their hair blowing up into their faces and when Rose began laughing Jack quickly joined her, enjoying the rush. When they reached the bottom Jack realised they were in one of the enclosures, they'd come down through the roof. He whistled, "Wow. That was almost worth being tricked into thinking we were falling through the Earth." Jack said dryly as he gave Rose a squeeze and let her go, "Can you imagine what I would have had to tell the Doctor?" he shook his head, "You know, he would have taken me off to some volcano and dropped me in for losing you, right?"
"He would not." Rose protested distractedly still getting used to the fact the ground felt solid beneath her feet, "He's fond of you now. He was only teasing about the volcano when he said it anyway."
Jack gave her a sideways look, "and the air lock?" he asked while Cal shook his head at them.
Rose pursed her lips, "Well…he may have meant that one, but that was the one time…and you had been getting in his face all day. I think super-gluing silver stars on his leather jacket pushed him over the edge." She smiled and looked away, "I'll admit I was a little surprised when I saw you at breakfast the next day."
Jack gaped at her before leaping after her as she ran to hide behind Cal, "And you Rose Tyler don't sound abit sorry."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She giggled
"Come on guys, truce. We need to focus on the dinosaurs. Then you can play your little game of chasey." Cal chastised trying to look serious as he fought the smile trying to form on his face.
Rose threw an arm over Cal's shoulder; holding out her hand to Jack, "Truce?"
Jack narrowed his eyes, taking her hand and shaking it. "Truce. But once the dinosaurs are squared away all bets are off."
"Fine." Rose said sticking her tongue out at him and pulling her hand back, "Shouldn't you be we working out whether your code's gonna cut it." She asked pointedly.
Jack stalked off to see whether the code was operative, holding the panel before him. Cal sighed, "You two…a part of me's glad that you guys aren't moving in." Rose pouted. "But, the other part, the bigger part's gonna miss you guys and all the excitement you bring with you. Everyone here's a bit stressed and keeps to themselves, so in comparison you're quite bright and bubbly."
Rose patted his arm, "Why thank you Cal, if you're ever in an emergency…"
Cal smirked and rolled his eyes, "What? Big bad Rose Tyler to the rescue?"
"Definitely."
"Hey, Don't knock our Rosie. She's great in a crisis." Jack mumbled wandering back toward them as he tapped away at the panel. "I'm ready on this end, do you reckon we could raise the roof back until we've got about a fifty metre gap for the pterodactyls? Then I can disintegrate a wall and hopefully the damn things will be anxious to get out and we can rise out of here…to safety."
Rose fought a smile, "That sounded almost speech like. Well I'm ready if you guys are." She rolled her eyes, "I can only imagine what the Doctor's up to…and I have such a good imagination it makes me apprehensive, so lets just go."
Cal gave the order and they rose until the gap was as Jack had specified, he released a wall of the field and they all held their breath. The dinosaurs had been restless and now given an option at escape were only too happy to take it; they took flight into the cavernous enclosure. Jack and Rose whooped; exhilarated by the rush of wings and cries of joy that came from the prehistoric birds.
As the last one flew out, Rose turned to Jack "What about that one?" she asked pointing to the floor of the field were the prone form of 'the one that didn't make it' lay.
Jack frowned and blew out a puff of air, "Could you guys use a dead pterodactyl? Perhaps you could stuff it and scare the locals?" he suggested looking at Cal.
Cal raised his eyebrows as he gave the order to raise them back to the surface, "Well, if nothing else…we have a lot of residents that would consider that a tasty meal."
Jack laughed and Rose's mouth fell open before snapping shut, "Caleb Isaac how can a man who talks into his watch be so cold? How can you talk about feeding a dead dinosaur to one of your other creatures?"
Jack slung an arm around Rose as they rocketed towards the surface, "And how should a man who talks into his watch speak exactly?" Jack asked quizzically, looking very amused.
"Well, apparently I should be more sensitive about death." Cal quipped.
Rose scowled at them, "The poor thing deserves some respect-"
"That poor thing…" Jack lectured as they reached the surface and came to a halt, "could have been one of the poor things that carved up one of twelve people found down by the river last night."
"It's in their nature. This isn't their world anymore-"
"Exactly, they don't fit." Jack interrupted.
They three of them walked back to the waiting helicopter, the seams of the grassy field matching perfectly- leaving no trace of its function. Rose leaned closer to Jack, "Says the man from the fiftieth century living in the twenty-first." She whispered meaningfully.
"Hey, I have over a hundred years on you. Haven't you ever heard the saying Listen to your elders?" Jack responded quickly.
"Yeah, the Doctor tries it on all the time…and yet I was the one who got the two of you-" Rose argued.
"Yeh, yeh, yeh you've had to get us out of a couple of tight spots. I know. I was there."
"Could you two give it a rest for a moment. I'd like to be able to get a goodbye in before you take off." Cal interrupted placing a hand each on their shoulders to get their attention. They had reached the helicopter.
Rose and Jack spun around looking sheepish, "Sorry." They muttered together.
There Chapter 8 done and done...I like the next chapter better but oh well. This is just where you're up to.
Hmmm...I've been getting into Angel lately. Don't LIKE Angel (the character) but the show kind of rocks...love Cordelia - she has to put up with so much being the only girl in the group (well until Fred) and the visions poor thing. Gotta love having a TV-Show Marathon.
Of course that's neither here nor there and has nothing to do with this fic, just thought I'd mention it....I think I'm tired...or something.