Notes: This is the next part of my stories set in the 'Time can be rewritten universe'. It is for the longliveianto bingo card challenge and this is loosely based on the prompt imprisonment. We left the team still wondering about Ianto's newly gained powers and about Cerys being a Time Lord. Uncertain about Cerys Ianto decides to find the Doctor but gets more than …. This will be in 3 shortish parts. The Doctor has some surprising news.

Trouble with Time Lords – part 3

'Johnson, could you bring Cerys up here for me?' Jack asked. 'We'll meet in the boardroom; that's upstairs, Doctor. Ianto, would you ….'

'Yes, I know coffee for everyone.' The Doctor went to speak. 'It's alright, Doctor I know you prefer tea. I'll order pizzas if that's alright.' Ianto went off to the coffee machine. Ten minutes later he handed out the drinks as everyone sat around the table. He took his place next to Jack and opposite Cerys, who was looking around nervously. The Doctor sat at the other end of the table waiting and sipping his tea.

'So,' he began leaning forward and placing his head on his hands. 'You're Cerys Murphy and you claim to be Romana's daughter. I should warn you that I travelled with Romana so if this is some sort of clever scam I'll know. As far as I know Romana was trapped in E-Space.'

'I know all this, Doctor,' Cerys said. 'It was in the information my mother left me. There was a war going on. Romana married and had me but she wanted me safe. Somehow she found a way – there's information about how but I didn't really understand it all. The documents are in my bag but I don't know where that is.'

'Those documents are important. Could I have them please?' the Doctor commanded. Johnson got up and went to retrieve the information while Ianto went to collect the pizzas from the tourist office.

Jack picked up a slice of pizza and bit into it. 'Ah I never could resist as meat feast.' Cy spluttered his food all over the table as Ianto blushed a delicate shade of pink.

The Doctor however, took the comment in his stride. 'Yes Captain, I had heard that! Returning to the subject these documents are in High Gallfreyan and they are indeed from Romana. It seems you are what you claim to be. Although you're only half Time Lord your body seems to have the ability to regenerate. The Captain said you also have a sonic screwdriver. May I see it please?'

'It should be in my bag,' Cerys explained.

'Would you look, my dear? I know what women's bags can be like.' Cerys searched and found what she was looking for. It was passed to the Doctor. He examined it carefully and then he grinned.

'This is indeed Romana's; blue always was her favourite colour. I've always preferred green myself.' He gave it back to Cerys.

'So Captain, I think we can say that Cerys is who she claims she is and you, young lady have some decisions to make. I could take you to Gallifrey, although I'm not exactly welcome there at the moment. I could take you to a time when your mother was alive but that could punch a hole in the space/time continuum. You could, of course, choose to travel with me if you wanted or you could just stay here and live your life or in your case lives. I can't tell you what to do. You are my equal – a Time Lord like myself, and I'm just a madman with a box, always moving on.' Jack made a noise at that comment and turned it into a cough.

'Yes Captain, I guess you would know a bit about that. I know that your immortality is something to do with me. I believe that you've met future regenerations on several occasions.'

'Yes I have but I don't think we should discuss details or you might try to change things. Cerys, what do you want to do. All of space and time is your playground!'

Cerys looked at all of them but her eyes lingered on Cy longer than the others. 'If I stay can I work here? I am a computer expert as well as the rest and I could be very useful. There are, however, some questions I'd like you to answer, Doctor. Firstly, I know I can regenerate but can I die?'

'Yes, you can if your regeneration is interrupted, otherwise you'll live a long time. I'm over 850 years old now. There are other disadvantages of living a long life as I'm sure the Captain here could tell you.' Ianto looked at the table; he knew as well what those disadvantages were.

'Any other questions, my dear?'

'Just one really. Could I really grow a TARDIS of my own from the coral on the Captain's desk?'

'Well, hmmm, yes I suppose it's possible. You'd then have to build up the technology around the centre, but that should be within your capabilities. However, I would suggest you wait and travel with me for a bit. My Old Girl will show you the ropes if you need to learn them.

'Thank you, Doctor. I like being who I am very much, although I have to say that it's going to take me a while to get used to this new body.'

'The teeth are always the worst,' the Doctor agreed. 'And you got to be ginger.' He turned to Jack. 'Tell me Captain, am I ginger any of the times that you've met me?'

'No Doctor, nine had short dark hair, ten had great hair but dark and floppy and eleven …'

'No' the Doctor said holding up his hand. 'Let me find out for myself. Now I must go before something happens. Wherever I am something usually happens. I will be back to keep an eye on you Cerys and I will make sure that no-one interrupts your timeline so your life will always happen like this. Look after her Captain. Mr Jones, I need a word with you back in the TARDIS if I may.' Ianto looked at Jack with a puzzled expression.

'Of course, Doctor.' Jack shrugged his shoulders.

Back in the TARDIS the Doctor ran his sonic screwdriver over Ianto and then placed it into a monitor. All sorts of charts and graphs flickered across the screen.

'Tell me Mr Jones, have you had any injuries since the crash which I have to say doesn't appear to have left you with any marks.'

'No, Cerys protected me.'

'But you'd have expected to get a few bruises from the crash.'

'I suppose so. I thought I had but now I'm not so sure. Why what's wrong?' Abruptly the Doctor grabbed his and ran the screwdriver across the back. Ianto watched as a cut appeared and blood began to seep out. However, almost as quickly the wound began to seal itself. Ianto watched fascinated as the Doctor wiped the blood away, revealing an unblemished surface on the back of his hand.

'Well Mr Jones, this is interesting. You know the excelerator has side effects.'

'Yes I know, the jaunting, but I don't understand; what does this mean?' The Doctor ran his screwdriver from head to foot again.

'It would seem from these readings, Ianto Jones that you are now immortal and that your body will repair any injuries.'

Ianto tried hard to take in what the Doctor had said. 'I can't be immortal. You don't understand what this means, Doctor. I'm sorry I've got to see Jack.' Ianto was already stumbling out of the TARDIS door as the Doctor went to speak again.

'Oh well, I guess you'll have to find out for yourself about the little something that happens at Christmas!' he said. He pulled a lever and the TARDIS disappeared.