Chapter 3: Mind over Heart
"Jack, good to see you." The Doctor beamed. He patted him on the shoulder before crossing his legs as he took a sip of tea from his cup. "How've you been?"
Jack shrugged. What was he to say? Hunting down a woman he barely met last year? "I've been good, thanks. Working for Torchwood. We've got ourselves a pretty good team there." This Doctor seemed much different than the other two. He wasn't sure exactly what, but there was something very different. "And you?"
The Doctor smiled widely. "Still travelling through time and space."
He decided to stop beating around the bush. "Alright Doctor. I came to you because I thought you might be able to help me." He couldn't believe he was doing this. "I'm looking for Donna. I haven't' heard from her in a while."
The Doctor's face became very grim. "Don't go looking for her." He warned, sliding closer to the edge of his seat.
"Why not?" Jack asked, puzzled.
The Doctor took in a deep breath, picking his words carefully. "When Donna became part Time Lord, it almost killed her." He paused for a quick moment. "You see, there's never been a human with a Time Lord mind. It can't be done. If I had've left her, her mind would have burnt, killing her." He wasn't sure how exactly to put it. "There's already been an incident where she almost died. I don't want her to go through that again."
Jack leaned back in his chair, eyes on his coffee. He wasn't sure how to take this. How was he supposed to visit her without burning her mind? "So even if I go in and say hello she'll die?"
The Doctor folded his hands neatly. "Well, when she saw me before I regenerated, she didn't recognize me; mind you I went under the name of John Smith. However, when it came to the Master and she saw his face, it triggered her subconscious. I think her subconscious may be trying to break free. It was prevalent while trying to save the world from the Master." He took another sip. "I don't want to go into details; she was my friend. Unlike the others, she won't be able to come back. I can never see her again." The Doctor kept himself from getting choked up. Not here, not in front of Jack.
Jack didn't know what to say. He wanted to see her again. He wanted to even start something with her. He thought a moment about what the Doctor had said. "If she didn't burn after seeing you then she might be the same with me. After all, it wasn't like we were best friends or anything."
The Doctor scratched his chin. "Jack, don't do it. If you care about her, let her live her life."
…
Donna exited the building for lunch, running across the street to grab a bite to eat at the little coffee shop. She hadn't much time – all those papers to go through, errands to run – she'd be lucky if she could even take a bite. "I'll take a regular coffee, two milk and one sugar. Oh, and a bagel too please." Donna in her purse for her wallet. She couldn't find it at first, so she opened it up further and dug more. She began to open pockets, checking them once, twice, three times over. "I – I'm sure I have it somewhere." She told the cashier, still searching.
"Here, keep the change."
Donna looked up to find a man – an attractive man – paying for her lunch. "Oh, thanks, but you –"
"Don't worry about it." He shook his head.
"Well, thank you." Donna smiled. It wasn't everyday she found someone like this.
Jack stuck out his hand for Donna to shake. "I'm Jack –" he stopped himself short thinking of what the Doctor told him. She could die. "Goodman."
Donna took it in hers, shaking firmly. "Donna Noble."
Jack peered into his half empty coffee cup. "Want to sit down for a minute?"
Donna had to think about it for a moment. Be behind on work or sit with Jack for a few minutes? "I – I can't, I have to get back to work."
"Ah, c'mon. Just a few minutes." He smiled.
Donna thought it over once more. "Oh, alright." She agreed.
Jack led her to the table he had been sitting at with the Doctor before he left. "So Donna Noble, tell me about yourself."
Donna set her coffee on the table. "I'm working as a temp in the building over there." She pointed out the window. "Nothing exciting, really. Just doing secretary work. Answering phones, running errands, paperwork." She shrugged. Donna continued on about her job, pausing to listen to Jack talk about his "career." He wasn't going to tell her he worked for Torchwood – it could bring back those memories.
"You don't want to hear about it though. Being a lawyer isn't all that interesting." He lied.
"A lawyer? Really? Where do you work?" Donna inquired, taking a bite from her bagel.
On the inside, Jack was panicking. "Oh… You know… all over the place." He tried to keep calm and relaxed on the outside.
"What kind of lawyer are you?"
"Oh, I do all sorts of cases." He desperately wanted to change the subject.
"Interesting." Donna was giving him her full attention.
Jack shrugged. "If you're into law." He continued on, transitioning to different "cases" he handled in attempts to talk about something else.
…
Donna and Jack were laughing so hard in the shop, Donna began to cry. She checked the watch on her wrist to see what time it was.
"Well, that was fun, but I have to go back to work." She gathered her things and began to stand.
Jack rose with her. "Right now?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"Just a few minutes longer?"
Donna shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'd be further behind on my work."
"Well, do you have a number I can call you at?" Jack really wanted to get her number.
Donna set her things down and rummaged through her purse for a pen and paper. Pulling out a pen, she wrote on a napkin, "Donna Noble. 888 – 233- 9090" "There." She smiled. "It was nice meeting you. Bye."
"Bye." Jack went in for a hug but quickly stopped himself. She didn't remember who he was, he couldn't do that. She had just met him. He had hoped she hadn't noticed.
Donna hurried herself along into her building. Once out of sight, she pulled out her phone and dialed Narris's number. "Narris, you'll never believe what just happened to me! Well if you're going to have that attitude I won't tell you!"
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
