Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the Who-verse. That honour belongs to RTD and the mighty and glorious BBC. The only thing I get out of this is a warm fuzzy feeling knowing I am trying to put right what once was wrong.

Authors Note: Sorry this chapter is a bit short. It seemed only right to have an interlude of light hearted relief given the angst I'll be laying on in Chapter 7.

Chapter VI

An hour later Jack's SUV pulled up outside Donna's house. As he got out, Donna opened the front door and hurried out to intercept him.

"It's about time you got here,"Donna remarked dryly, giving him a swift kiss on the cheek to take the sting from her words. "She's driving me demented."

"God save me from mothers!" he laughed backing away from the door.

"Oh no you don't flyboy. In you go..."Donna retorted as, with a hard shove, she propelled him through the door.

He came to a standstill in front of a disapproving sour-faced blond woman in her late fifties. As she gave him the full force of her scowl, he met her eyes and flashed her his most charming smile.

"Mrs Noble. Charmed," he said offering her his hand. Her eyes raked him up and down contemptuously, then she looked pointedly at his outstretched hand..

"Mr Harkness. An American." she said coldly, ignoring the friendly gesture.

Donna rolled her eyes in annoyance, "You could at least try to be polite, mum. It wouldn't kill you."

The woman turned on Donna, eyes blazing. "You gave me an hours notice Donna. What do you expect? Although why I should expect any consideration from you..." Sylvia Noble's voice trailed off as she saw the anger in Jack's face.

"Mrs Noble, please accept my sincere apologies," Jack said stiffly. Reaching behind him he grabbed Donna's hand and pulled her to his side, putting his arm around her waist. "Donna wasn't expecting me back today." Sylvia looked at Jack's stony face, his arm protectively around Donna and realised that Donna had finally found a protector. Taking the hint she gave a tentative half smile and asked him politely, if still a little coolly, whether he would like a drink.

"That would be great Sylvia," Jack asserted, allowing his face to ease into an easy smile.

Sylvia winced a little at the use of her first name, but covered it well and said quickly, "I'll just go put the kettle on."

From the living room came an indignant snort of disgust.

"That man doesn't want tea, my girl, get him a beer...and one for me too." Sylvia rolled her eyes in a gesture Jack recognised from her daughter, and with a long suffering sigh she disappeared into the kitchen.

"That," Donna said to Jack with a fond smile, "is my Grandad, Wilfred Mott."

At her voice an old man stuck his head round the living room doorway. "Is that you Donna darlin'? Are you going to introduce me to your young man?" Jack smirked. It was along time since anyone had referred to him as a young man. He decided he liked this man already.

"Grandad, this is Jack. I've told him all about you, so behave yourself!"Donna warned waving a finger at him.

Wilf stepped forward to take Jack's proffered hand. As his eyes focused on Jack's face, for a moment Jack could see a flash of alarm cross the old man's face and Wilf's eyes flickered skyward. Wilf took Jack's hand in both of his own and shook it firmly, looking him squarely in the eyes. Wilf knew him, Jack realised belatedly. Wilf knew the Doctor, the Doctor had told him, Jack now remembered. Wilf was keeping Donna safe, keeping her old life buried. Somehow Wilf had recognised him as a friend of the Doctor and he was scared for Donna, scared she would remember. They needed to talk, and soon.

Jack returned Wilf's gaze with an imperceptible nod. "Wilf," he acknowledged.

Before anyone could say anything Sylvia appeared in the kitchen doorway, a fixed smile on her face, bearing two opened bottles of beer.

"Dad, why don't you take Jack up to your allotment while Donna helps me with the tea. It'll be another half hour."

Donna was about to protest. She didn't think allotments were really Jack's thing and she was damned if she was going to let Jack be subjected to a Noble grilling from Wilf without her protection. She was stunned as Jack said "Sure," taking the two bottles from her mother and handing one to Wilf gestured for him to lead the way.

"Jack," she hissed under her breath. "You don't have to do this. Grandad's up to something..."

Jack gave her a squeeze, "I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."

"Yes I can vouch for that," Donna replied sarcastically. " but you're going to pay for leaving me with my mother."

"Promises, promises..." Jack winked as he slipped through the front door.

The door had barely closed behind him when Wilf said anxiously, "I know you. You're a friend of the Doctor. I saw you on the screen, the Dalek thing, when that girl Rose was here. Is Donna alright...she isn't remembering or anything is she? Is it the Doctor? I know he's all alone now. Is he alright?"

Jack held his hand up to stem the flow of words.

"Donna's fine," he assured Wilf. "And the Doctor is fine..." he paused, "I mean he's lonely, he misses Donna, and Rose, but he's the Doctor, he'll be OK. Actually he's the reason I'm here." They set off up the street towards the allotments.

"What do you mean?" Wilf asked.

"It's difficult to explain. The Doctor – he was distraught when he had to wipe Donna's memories. All the wonderful things she'd done. He wants to make it up to her – needs to really. He wants to try and give her back the person she'd become. He says she needs an extraordinary life, earth bound but no less wonderful. He asked me to help; since he couldn't do it in person. I know it doesn't make much sense..." Jack trailed off aware of how inadequate his explanation was.

"No." Wilf shook his head. "It makes perfect sense. He's a wonderful man that Doctor. I knew he wouldn't leave the Donna the way she used to be. She was better with him. I know it and deep down she senses she's lost something wonderful. I'll help you anyway I can Jack. But God help you if you harm one hair on her wonderful head..."

"Wilf, I promise you I will do everything I can to protect Donna. I care about her too much to let anything happen to her." Jack said seriously.

Wilf looked into Jack's calm blue eyes and saw he was speaking the truth. "Here's to Donna," he said raising his bottle of beer.

"To Donna" Jack echoed as he clinked the neck of his bottle against Wilf's. Smiling they each took a long swig of beer.

"We'd better go rescue her," Wilf said wryly.

Jack nodded. "Apparently I'm going to pay for abandoning her for you and the allotment."

Wilf gave him a look of deepest sympathy. "You better finish that beer then Captain Harkness, Nobel women have many and varied ways of making you pay. All of them are more easily endured when you've had a few!"

Chapter 7 coming soon. Tissues at the ready!