Gwen and Jack worked double-time on alien threats, worried about what might come of the world if they, for just one moment, slacked off. After stopping the apocalypse three times on the same day, Gwen threw her hands up in the hair and sank onto the sofa.

"I can't do this anymore. I'm exhausted."

Rex sat down next to Gwen. "I know the feeling."

"I never see Rhys or Anwen anymore. I get back after they're both asleep and I leave before they get up. I missed Anwen's first words thanks to this. And her first steps. And yesterday, when I finally got the day off, she looked at me like I was a stranger. She wouldn't let me hold her."

"We can't stop," Jack said. "If we don't protect this planet, no one will. There's no backup."

"Can't you call Sarah Jane?"

"She's been working harder than we have. Contacting the old companions and trying to get them back into business."

"Martha—"

"Is busy with UNIT, which means she's already on it. Everyone's working as hard as we are. With the Doctor gone, it's only going to get harder. People will start to notice and take advantage of that."

Another alarm blared. Gwen moaned.

"What's that?" Rex asked.

"An alarm," Jack said, as if talking to a small child. "it's what happens when the world's in critical danger. Which is all the time."

"I'm not talking about the alarm. I'm talking about that noise. What, you can't hear it? It's like... wheezing."

Gwen froze, turning to Jack. "No."

"It can't be," Jack shook his head.

"But..."

"But what?" Rex asked. "It's stopped now..."

Gwen and Jack raced across the room and around a corner, finding the TARDIS jammed into the end of the hallway.

"What is that?" Rex asked.

"That is the most beautiful site you'll ever see in all your immortality; it's a 1960s Police Public Call Box."

"Which would be...?"

"Oh, don't be ridiculous," the door opened, "it only looks like a police box. It's much bigger on the inside."

Gwen tackled him in a hug, "You're alive! But— you said— How—?"

"Doctor! It's been awhile."

"Yes, yes, it's been even longer for me," he patted Jack on the back and managed to extract himself from Jack's bone-crushing hug.

Gwen looked the Doctor over, "No worse for wear, by the looks of it. Same face, even. How did you manage that?"

"Alright, who's the goof in the bow-tie?" Rex asked.

"This is the Doctor," Jack said. "best friend of the alien-fighting world."

"Well, considering I am an alien, I'm not sure if that would be the best explanation. And for your information, Mr. Matheson, bow-ties are cool."

Rex stared.

"So this is Torchwood now?" the Doctor looked around.

"Two immortals and little Welsh girl," Jack said, ruffling Gwen's hair.

"Watch it, Mr. Immortal," Gwen warned.
"So if I'm Mr. Immortal, does that make Rex Mrs. Immortal?" Jack asked hopefully.

"No," Rex growled.

The Doctor chuckled.

"Are you going to tell us how you escaped death once again?" Gwen asked.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"There's still an alarm going off," Rex reminded them.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll get that when I'm done with this," the Doctor said. Immediately, the alarm shut off.

"Doctor?" Jack prompted.

"Right. I used a robot version of myself called the Tessalecta. I made everyone think I was dead. I'm trying not to be so... obvious now. Just let me sink into the background. I only came to tell you because I want that screwdriver back."

"So, if you hadn't given me the screwdriver, we'd never know you were alive?"

"Probably not."

Gwen glared.

"Sorry. Look, don't make my survival a big deal. It's better if they think I'm gone. Quite a few people want me dead. But, that makes life interesting, don't you think? Lots of excitement. Places to go, people to see. A wife to break out of prison."

"You're married?" Jack blinked.

He grinned. "It was a busy day, but yes, I think I did. Now, Ms. Cooper, if you'd be so kind as to give me my sonic," he held out his hand. "I'll be on my way."

Gwen retrieved the sonic screwdriver from a table and handed it to him. "Are you sure you have to take it? It's been a huge help."

"Not to mention the free wi-fi," Rex said.

Jack and Gwen glared at him.

"You used the sonic to get free wi-fi?"

Jack nodded.

"Ha! That's very good. How'd you manage it?"

"You would not believe how many setting we had to try out," Gwen said.

"It took hours."

"And hours."

He looked down at it thoughtfully. "Tell you what, keep it until next time we meet."

"And when will that be?" Gwen asked, taking it back with a grin.

"I really don't know," he shrugged. "We'll just have to wait and see... Alright, I have to go. Captain," the Doctor saluted Jack, then froze. "You wouldn't happen to still have that hat your wore in World War II, would you?"

"Why?"

"Never mind that, do you have it?"

"Not that exact one," Jack said, hurrying over to his room in the base. A few moments later he returned, handing the hat to the Doctor. "But I do have a similar one. Will this do?"

The Doctor beamed and put it on. "Ha! Thank you, Jack. Until next time," He went into the TARDIS. It took off, leaving Jack and Gwen grinning and Rex rather confused.

Gwen smiled at the silence. "Well, I'm going home. I have a family to see.

A/N: I was really debating on letting Jack and the Doctor meet, because this would become completely non-canon. So let's just assume that later in the day Rex and Jack were out and had their memory of the incident removed by an alien of some kind. Gwen was completely lost as to how he didn't remember and told him what happened. There. Canon compliant again!

Also, I have a little bit written where Jack informs Martha of the Doctor's death, but since it isn't as Gwen/Doctor-centric (that sounded like shipping...), I didn't put it up. If anyone DOES want to see it, I'll publish it separately. Just tell me in the reviews or PM me or something.

Another thing: Given this is after Series 6 and Series 4 of Doctor Who and Torchwood, respectively, it might be until after the Christmas special before I get another one up. I'd rather not go completely AU.