Chapter 8
The Doctor's POV

Martha and Mickey had gone to take Lexi on a tour of TORCHWOOD and while swapping stories, Gwen was talking with her husband, and Lois was monitoring the rift, so I took the opportunity to catch up with Jack.

"So, Captain," He grinned at the title, "What have you been up to, besides the galactic bar incident, that I don't want to know about until I have to, huh?"

"A lot. I lost everyone on my team, besides Gwen, and my base was blown up. I guess I sorta' pulled a 'Doctor' and I ran away. I just needed to get away."

"No matter how many times you see someone you care about die, it never hurts any less, and sometimes you think its just better not to care."

"Exactly!" He exclaimed before sobering; remembering, "But then you meet someone, like I met Alonzo. In the end, we both agreed it wouldn't work out between us but he reminded me that it was okay to let someone in again. He was a Goodman; we still keep in touch. I didn't lose him. So, with spirits renewed, I came back home, because I missed it. I miss TORCHWOOD and Gwen and Martha, even Mickey and Rhys."

"Its funny how making attachments makes you sentimental." I mused thinking about Rose and Jackie and Martha and Donna, but especially Lexi.

"I'm not sure that's Lexi. I think you're just showing your age."

"Oh, you're one to talk." He chuckled in agreement.

"Yeah, so when I got back, Gwen had already fixed up the hub and gathered the team. She offered me my old position as team leader, but I turned her down. This is her team now and I'm happy just to watch my little protégée in action. Also, it takes the pressure off me, so I get to be the fun, drinking buddy, guy instead of the stern taskmaster, leader, and bad guy. The rift's been oddly quiet though."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, normally, every week or so, we register spikes in rift activity, when it sucks something in or spits something out, but its been flat; I mean absolutely silent for the past two months."

"Why?"

"I wish I knew, but it's making me nervous. It's like it saving up it's evergy for something huge, something bad."

"The clam before the storm."

"Exactly." He agreed grimly.

"What about Martha?" I asked referring to her strange behavior earlier.

"Tom died."

"Ah." I wasn't sure what to do or say now. Should I go try to consol her? No, Martha never wanted to be a charity case, best to leave it alone. I hope, maybe Lexi will do something about it.

"Poor Martha thinks the universe has a sick sense of humor and is have a laugh at her expense. She ran away from UNIT same as we ran, except she ran straight to her friends."

"She's way smarter than us." Jack laughed.

"Yes she is, my friends, that she is." We headed over to everyone else who had just finished up their tour. Lexi skipped over to me with a smile.

"Having fun?" I asked taking her hand. I noticed Jack's eyebrow rise at this but ignored him.

"Yeah! The Hub is way cooler than the TARDIS." I mock gasped.

"Surely you jest!" She laughed and wrapped her arms around my waist,

"You're not as impressive as you think you are." I smiled, know she was kissing, and returned her hug briefly before resting my arm comfortably on her shoulders. Again I saw Jack's eyebrows quirk.

"I am too impressive." Mickey laughed at this bit, no doubt remembering the similar 'arguments' I used to have with Rose. I changed the subject. "So, if the rift has been quiet, what have you lot been doing around here?"

"Refurnishing, scavenging, drinking, playing a lot of solitaire." Jack answered ticking things of on his fingers, the others nodding in agreement. "Oh! And we made a band."

"Now way!?" Lexi squealed excitedly, bouncing a bit next to me. Jack laughed loudly and look over at the rest of the team, expectantly.

"What do you think guys?" He asked, "Wanna play something for the Doctor and Lexi?" Mickey and Martha nodded and ran off to get ready. Gwen and Rhys hesitated.

"I've got to go pick up the little one soon but I think we have time for one song." Rhys said and Gwen nodded in agreement. They all started walking away in the direction the others had gone. Lexi, Jack, and I followed. We soon reached a makeshift stage covered in wires, mics, stools, and a drum set.

"I sing." Jack said as he tested the mics. Lois gave him and 'OK' sign to signal that the mic's sounded good, "Lois is our producer, slash manager, slash tech supervisor. Gwen's on guitar and Rhys is on bass guitar." As is on cue Gwen and Rhys plugged into the amps and began tuning. "Miss Martha plays the keyboard. I bet you didn't even know she could play."

"Ok, he didn't." Lexi assured hi, I think I blushed a bit, ashamed at myself.

"Did ya know Mickey plays drums?"

"I actually did know that." I told him.

"Yeah, only 'cause Rose told you we tired to start a band during school." Mickey called from over his 'testing'/ banging on the drums. I grinned sheepishly.

"Ready?" Jack asked. Everyone nodded. Gwen sat down on a stool and propped the guitar on her knee. Mickey adjusted his own seat and Jack cleared his throat dramatically.

"And what's the name of your band?" I asked, bemused.

"We're 'The Stargazers'."

"Fitting."

"If you like that you should get a kick out of the song we're singing."

"Which is?" Jack just winked, "I'm scared." I wished to Lexi. She giggled and the musical introduction began. I recognized the song immediately and let out a chuckled at Jack's sense of humor. Then he began singing.

'Didn't know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll 'lotta soul,
he said

Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren't no D.J. that was hazy cosmic jive

'There's a starman waiting in the sky'

Jack pointed at me and Lexi elbowed me in the side. I rolled my eyes.

'He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

'He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

'I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too!'

Jack looked pointedly at Martha who met his gaze and smiled with a head nod, before going back to the keys.

'Switch on the TV
we may pick him up on channel two
Look out your window I can see his light'

Lexi pulled out her cell phone and began waving it. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and rested my chin on her shoulder to watch Jack.

'If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright

He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

'He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie'

Lexi lent back against me and I once again ignored a raised eyebrow from Jack as the song finished and they took their bows. I was sure I would get an interigation later.

Author Note: Song: Starman By: David Bowie

Jack is suspicous…and Tom is dead (poor Tom). Also, I hope I did a good job with matching musical talents. What do you Think?

Love, Scifigeek.