Absurdities

Geoff Green looked at his watch: 9.30pm. He cursed; time had gotten away on him again and he had promised Beth he would be home by eight. He flicked open his mobile to check for messages and saw there were several. He felt his stomach turn. He debated for a moment if he should send an apology; he hesitated as he looked at the screen. He could hear Beth's retort, 'So being late you decided you would waste time texting to say you were late. And don't tell me it was a patient, I know full well where you were…' He snapped his phone shut, grabbed his case, clicked off his desk lamp and raced out the door.

Closing his office door he began to walk with speed down the corridor that led to the side entrance where he parked his car. He heard an odd noise; a sort of grinding sound. Some of the staff were sure the place was haunted and he snorted at the absurdity of the idea. He had argued a place like this, an old institution with its long dark corridors and cream and green walls - ominous reminders of its history - all the abuses of old meant it was rife with stories of ghostly sightings. He had argued on many occasions after any particular event, and being a sceptic that it was all the product of late nights, along with the noises creaks and groans were the result caused by the fact the building was old and overactive imaginations. He opened the exit door and headed for his car. Pulling out his keys, his thoughts filled with what he was going to say to Beth, an internal debate raged about whether he should find a garage with flowers then dismissed the idea immediately. He needed to get home, now.

A shadow moved and a dark woman stepped out. He jumped back, startled. "Good god you gave me one hell of a fright."

"Doctor Green, my name is Martha Jones." She offered her hand then withdrew it as the man glared at her.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? You scared me half to death!"

"I need to speak to you."

"And you thought you would get my attention by scaring the living daylights out of me?" he thundered.

"I'm sorry never meant…"

Ignoring her, he put his key in the lock and turned it then took hold of the door handle.

"My name is Jones, Doctor Martha Jones, and I really need to speak to you. I have a friend who really needs your expertise," she said hurriedly.

Geoff looked her up and down with disgust. "Look young lady, I don't have the time or patience to deal with you. If you are a doctor as you claim your behaviour is highly unprofessional. If you want to consult with me, go through the normal channels."

"I can't, this is urgent; vital. Coming here now will make what I have to say well, more real," she fumbled her reply.

"What in god's name are you talking about? I run a small unit dedicated to helping victims of torture. If it's urgent you need to call 999." He started to move into his car but Martha caught his arm.

"Get your hand off me or I will call security," he told her bluntly.

She let go. "It's not an emergency, but it is urgent," she pleaded. "My friend really needs your help and I assure you there is a reason why I," she corrected herself, "we couldn't approach you during normal hours."

"This is outrageous. I have a life outside of here. My wife was expecting me an hour and half ago. So if you are a doctor which I very much doubt, you need to go through the proper channels," he told her as another figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Doctor Owen Harper...what the hell are you doing here? Is some kind of sick joke? I am not amused. Is this how you conduct yourself? I thought after the last time you had learnt your lesson, but clearly you have not. Now excuse me," he flared then attempted to get into his car.

"Jack Harkness has collapsed. We suspect…" Owen got no further.

"Well I told him it would be hard work; he most likely needs a rest. I suggest you speak to Veronica Singh and find some respite care for Ianto, and give him a break." He turned to Owen. "And you need to find a far better way to get my attention; this was uncalled for."

"We came to you because you are the best," Martha pointed out.

"I'm flattered, but his issues are carer fatigue and as such I cannot help."

"You don't understand," Martha interjected.

"I understand very well. I warned Jack that taking on Ianto's care burns people out. I know he has done an incredible job however…"

"Jack was on the Valiant," Owen tried to explain.

"And so what? Many people have been on the Valiant, she is a fleet vessel," Geoff retorted impatiently.

"Jack was on the Valiant. He was as prisoner along with Ianto," Martha added.

"I've had a long day, I am late. I have had enough of this absurd conversation…" he began to say as a tall thin man came out of the shadows.

"All we are asking is for you to listen, and I promise I will get you to wherever you need to go on time."

"Another one! Let me guess: you are part of this comedy act. Well, unless you can turn back time by one and a half hours, I have to go," he blurted out as he looked the tall thin man up and down.

"I'm the Doctor," he said holding out his hand.

Geoff stood his back against the drivers' side of his car, arms crossed and listened. He was not sure who had put this trio up to this. He had never heard such a preposterous tale of nonsense in his entire life and berated himself for allowing himself to be persuaded to listen.

"So let me get this straight: Jack Harkness is immortal, who can't die. Well he can die but doesn't stay dead. He was held prisoner on the Valiant and tortured by a mad Time Lord called the Master. A time machine called the TARDIS was caught in a time paradox which, when released, rewound time. The paradox created a year that never was, where humanity was forced into building a fleet of spacecraft by some future incarnation of the human race called the Toclafane. After three years he has collapsed and now is in need of help due to the nature of his torture. You have found a record of said abuse which is prolonged and graphic; you want me to come and speak to him and see if he will talk to me," he pointed at the thin tall man in the bad suit. "You are another a Time Lord and you are a previous companion," he pointed at Martha, then at Owen. "I have no idea where you fit in," he took a deep breath. "I am not sure who put you up to this but when I find out who it was there is going to be hell to pay. Have you any idea how ridiculous this all sounds?"

"You need proof?" the Doctor lifted his hand to interrupt his tirade.

"Damn right I need proof," Geoff burst out. "Have you any idea how ludicrous this sounds? It's beyond bizarre."

"We have proof," Martha told him.

"I am not going to stand here and listen to another word of this nonsense. This farce is over," Geoff burst out.

The Doctor stared then pointed a finger at him. "Jack Harkness is responsible for helping save humanity from enslavement. Every man, woman, and child alive today owes their existence to his sacrifice. I can tell you that came at a huge personal cost. You have asked for proof, well we can give you that proof," the Doctor pointed into the night.

"Are you are expecting me to walk into the dark with three people I consider to be requiring they be committed?" he spat out.

"Wait here," he stated as he strode off. Not wanting to hang around any further, Geoff pulled on the handle of the car door. He was about to open the door fully, when he heard the strange grinding sound from earlier and what appeared to be an old police box materialised beside him. He had time to drop his jaw as the door opened.

Jack looked at the play of light filling the room; it was mesmerising. Tosh has hung a crystal prism down one of the picture windows. As the mid-morning sun reached a certain point it filled the room with dancing colours. 'They would be hanging wind chimes next,' he said to himself.

He watched the pattern of colours dance around him as he tried to contain the anxiety that had been gnawing away at his insides since Owen had told him they had found someone to see him and he was coming here this morning. He should be prepared; this could be a long session. In preparation Ianto had been taken out on an outing accompanied by Tosh and Mac and organised by Sergeant McCredie.

One of the local fishing boats had become the particular haunt for a family of otters. It was one boat only and they followed it in every time it arrived back into harbour. They would then beg the freshest titbits from the crew and after all the hustle and bustle of unloading would sleep curled up amongst the ropes or some other nook or granny. The otters only appeared out of season once the tourist season was over, being shy reclusive animals. It was one of best kept secrets of the island and they intended to keep it that way. Jack felt a warm glow that for a moment replaced his feeling of anxiety at their ongoing inclusion in Island life.

With Jack incapacitated, the locals had gathered together and thrown several outings like this for Ianto in an effort to distract him. Jack knew that Ianto really enjoyed these excursions because it forged connections to the world around him. Each one allowed him to re-fill in the gaps left by his stolen and damaged memory. They were thoughtful gestures and each one was designed with elements Ianto could get the maximum pleasure and enjoyment from. Jack thanked the powers-to-be daily that they had come here.

He turned over to face the door to prepare himself. He had no idea what to expect and he braced himself for what was to come; he felt cold and knew it had nothing to do with the temperature of the room. What the hell did Geoff think he could do? He had worked wonders with Ianto, no doubt, but what hell were they going to talk about? He had never needed to seek any kind of help of this form. The idea of someone probing his darkest thoughts, unpicking who he was, sent a shiver down his spine and he swallowed nervously. He closed his eyes momentarily and fought back the darkness hovering ever present in the back of his mind.

He knew what they suspected; he had done his own research. Part of the problem was he was terrified someone might discover the sort of control he was using and ask him to stop. He snorted to himself; as if it was that easy. He was sure the suppression was permanent, until he found his memories were seeping through via nightmares. He had been stunned to speechlessness at Owen's revelation. Ianto had been helping Jack for months, he had seen the drawings. It would appear that they had started just after around the time he had started to use the technique. They were bad, really bad, but why did he have no recollection until Owen had enquired? He shuddered; he knew the truth. It came back to control and there was no way he was going talk about or discuss that particular issue. All he needed was to catch up with his rest and he would be back being able to cope…he heard footsteps and the door opened.

"Hi Geoff," Jack said sleepily.