3 - Higher Authority

'What do you mean I'm not allowed?' the Doctor demanded angrily, glaring at the dark haired woman with a stare that had made some races turn and flee in terror. 'Do you know who I am? You can't give me orders!'

'I know fine well who you are, Doctor,' the woman said his name with a hint of distaste. 'And I'm afraid I can give you orders. Since you agreed to work alongside Torchwood you fall under my rule. I received a suggestion that you are unfit for field duty and I am acting upon it.'

The Doctor looked at her in astonishment. She was only a small woman; she came up to his chest and had a thin, almost frail figure. She looked like a child playing dress up in her Torchwood uniform, which was a black trouser suit with the Torchwood 'T' embroided on her blazer pocket. Her name was Winona Hartman, and the Doctor was starting to think that he hated her, which was a first for him.

'I'm not another one of your little drones, Mrs Hartman-'

'It's Miss.' She said, expression unchanging.

'I'm not surprised!' the Doctor cried. 'The bleeding attitude you've got! Anyway, I never agreed to join Torchwood. I merely offered experience because, let's be honest, your lot couldn't tell the difference between a .86 Thurgot Detonator and a hairdryer before I turned up! And you won't exactly get much field experience sitting in that office of yours and barking orders.'

Hartman's expression still didn't change. She was like a toy soldier. 'The order came from a higher authority.' She replied. 'Even if I didn't agree with it I would still have to follow. I'm sorry, Doctor, but as far as Torchwood is concerned you are not to be involved with anymore field missions.'

The Doctor gaped at her for a long time, completely shocked by the revelation. They were saying he, the Doctor – the Oncoming Storm; the Destroyer of Worlds – wasn't good enough to chase down a few alien strays? Where did they get that idea? Hartman started to turn away but the Doctor grabbed her arm. She looked at his hand like it was covered in blisters.

'Please, don't touch me.' She said, prying his hand away with a grimace.

'Who gave that order?' the Doctor demanded. 'I want to take this up with them.'

'I imagined you would.' Hartman said, a faintly malicious smile teasing her mouth. 'I believe the order came from Miss Rose Tyler. Feel free to take it up with her.'

With the bombshell dropped, Winona Hartman turned and walked away, her heels clicking on the smooth, polished floor. The Doctor gaped after her, for perhaps the first time in his life left completely speechless.


Rose closed her eyes and sighed when she heard the front door of the house slam shut and the Doctor's voice ring out around her. She glanced across the kitchen counter to Jackie, who only raised her eyebrows innocently and returned her attention to feeding her baby son, Tony. Rose watched them, not wanting to get into the inevitable argument that was storming his way along the corridor towards the kitchen, but knowing she had to face it sooner or later.

'Just be a minute, mum,' she said, to Jackie.

'Okay, love.' She half smiled in response, and then watched in concern as Rose headed out of the large kitchen and pulled the door shut behind her.

The Doctor saw her and stopped his approach. He opened his mouth to speak, but found he had nothing to say. He frowned, pointed behind him, and then opened his mouth again. 'Miss Hartman!' he cried. 'That… God awful woman!'

Rose lifted her eyebrows. 'What?'

'She reckons that you told her that I was unfit for field duty!' the Doctor said as if it was the most ridiculous thing in the world. 'I've fought wars! Saved civilisations! She's saying I'm not fit enough to run through bleeding London on a cold day! Where the heck did she get that from? Snotty cow… Sorry, I didn't mean that. No, I did. She's a snotty cow and I don't like her. There, I said it.' He crossed his arms stubbornly.

Rose regarded him for a moment, and then sighed. 'I did say that.'

He blinked at her. 'I'm sorry, for a moment there I thought you said you did say that.'

Rose sighed and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. 'Look, Doctor. I know you're going to go off on one but I had to! You know fine well why I said it!'

The Doctor stared at her for a long moment. 'Since when have you been my boss, anyway?'

'Since you joined Torchwood!' Rose told him, sternly. 'When you arrived here you agreed to join, and since I'm practically the highest ranking person there, I'm your boss. And I say that you're not fit enough to be out on the streets. At least until you go to the hospital.'

The Doctor snorted. 'That's ridiculous. I don't know why everyone seems to think I even joined Torchwood. In case you forget, I frown upon Torchwood after the tricks they got up to back across the trans-dimensional wall. I'm only here to make sure nothing like that happens again! And why would I need to go to a hospital?'

'To see a cardiologist.' Rose said, softly.

The Doctor blinked again, and then his expression dropped. 'What?' He laughed unconvincingly. 'Why would I have to go see one of them? I'm fine! Never been better!'

'Don't.' Rose frowned. 'Just…' She stopped and rubbed her head. 'I don't want you getting involved with anything at Torchwood until you've been checked out.'

'But Rose, I don't need-'

'That's all I'm saying on it.' Rose interrupted. 'You know fine well that you need to go there. You know what'll happen if you keep on diving around with the problems you've been having? You'll have a heart attack.'

The Doctor laughed and looked away. 'Rose, I can't have a heart attack. I'm-'

'You're human.' Rose reminded him angrily. 'You're a human being now. Which means you can have a heart attack. And if you die, you won't be coming back.' She stared at him for a long moment. 'So I suggest you do something about it.' She turned unceremoniously and headed back into the kitchen.

The Doctor sighed. 'Rose, look-'

She closed the door, cutting them off from one another.