LOVE
TWENTYEIGHT
John pushed Gwen out through the open doors of the TARDIS and smiled brashly.
Gray howled with laughter, "What's that you have her wearing?"
"It's a sort of wedding costume that Earth women use," John snickered. "The Time Lord has a ship full of bizarre apparel such as this. What do you think?"
"Oh, that's rich. I think it's good. It's very good." He leered, "How was she?"
"Ah, she's quite nice, actually. Worth the wait," John scratched his crotch. "A bit of a fighter, though."
"She's a bitch."
"That too," John laughed. Then he looked down curiously at The Doctor who was lying prostrate on the ground.
"Have you killed him?" the former Time Agent asked coolly.
"The Time Lord? No. I just had a little fun with him. He's not permanently damaged. Mind you – don't forget we need to keep him alive, although it's rather unfortunate isn't it? I would like to see this regeneration business I've heard so much about. Well… all in good time, I'm sure. We need him intact and in his current form to attract my big brother, although based on my interview with him, he'd apparently rather die than be used to ensnare Jack. Pathetic isn't it, such dedication?" Gray paused for a moment and insolently contemplated The Doctor's shape. "Even then, after I'm finished with Jack, I think I might just keep the Gallifreyan. Having a pet Time Lord could be a lot of fun, wouldn't you agree?"
"I've always been intrigued by those regeneration rumors… you believe he really does it?"
"No doubt about it. The rumors are fact. But why intrigued?"
"Well, your brother, my former lover Jack Harkness, might be immortal, but I'm not. I'd settle for the ability to regenerate if I can't live forever…"
"Live forever? Are you worried about that, my sweet friend?" The Doctor moaned softly as Gray used the toe of his boot to prod him in the ribs. "Don't be. My associates can help you with that, and more. Don't you see? Haven't I told you? There are benefits in sticking with me, Captain John Hart. Stay with me and you'll never have to worry about anything as mundane as death again."
"Sounds too good to be true."
"Perhaps it does, but it's not. My colleagues, my friends, the Aedui as you call them, are powerful indeed. You've met them, haven't you, so you already know that to be true. However I do need to inform you they don't like you very much…"
"Hardly anybody does," John snapped but then laughed.
"But you are under my protection now. You're with me and so you're part of the team, my sweet friend. I won't let anything happen to you… at least anything I don't choose to have happen. You've nothing to worry about. Oh, but I have missed you, John Hart. The good times we used to have… It hasn't been the same without you." Gray glared at Gwen who was standing mutely at John's side, staring at the ground, "She wasn't any fun for me, you know?"
"I know. I'm sorry. And it's okay. There'll be plenty of fun to be had from now on. And if not her, there are lots of others… Endless others…"
"That red-headed one of yours…?"
John dry-swallowed, "Yes, Wil Beinert." He grabbed for Gwen but she attempted to squirm out of his reach. In response he slapped her hard, the sound of his hand as it smacked against her face reverberating through the air, spawning waves in the ether like pebbles tossed into a pond. "Wil's even harder to handle than this one here. She's very tricky. Very smart as well. And then there's that damn ship of hers. But if you want her, she'll be at the party." He grinned sardonically as he pulled Gwen closer, "I'm sure something can be arranged."
"The more the merrier!"
"Yes, Gray. All waiting just for you."
Jack's little brother looked down at the Time Lord and kicked him again, "Wake up you worthless piece of shit. Oh! Did I say worthless piece of shit? I meant to say invaluable morsel of bait. It's time to go! Chop chop!"
The Doctor groaned and then slowly, painfully, unsteadily, pushed himself up to his feet. He glared at John but said nothing as he wiped away blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Then he moved his fingers little by little back down to his side, attempting to unobtrusively reach within his coat.
But not unobtrusively enough. "Uh-uh-uh," sang John. "Doctor… Are you by any chance looking for this?" He pulled the Time Lord's sonic screwdriver out from his waistband and aimed it directly at Gwen's head.
"No!" screamed The Doctor.
Gray laughed. So did John.
-00-
"Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state. Being in love shows a person who he should be."
Anton Chekhov