The Doctor picked up a plate from the buffet line and started towards the toast. On the way, some fried mushrooms caught his eye. He put some on his plate, deciding he could handle just a few of them. The eggs didn't look too bad either, be a shame to pass them up. Of course the tomatoes, good source of vitamin c, a couple of those couldn't hurt. The barbequed beans fiber and protein. And well maybe just one sausage.
By the time he arrived at the toast station, there was no more room on his plate, but he didn't think he needed it now. He did seem to have worked up an appetite overnight. His stomach was growling, indicating it was more than ready for some real food, even if his mind wasn't.
He made his way to the table Jack had insisted on, tucked away in a corner formed by two glass walls. Jack had explained that if he was going to eat in a gold fish bowl, he wanted to be able to see who was looking in. The Doctor couldn't fault his reasoning.
His plate made a soft clinking sound as he set it down on the glass table top. Two of the four chrome chairs were occupied by a coat. He saw Jack had already left a plate filled with typical American selections, eggs, a few rashers of bacon, hash browns, and toast. At the smell of the bacon his stomach rumbled. i"Jack has plenty,"/i he thought as he picked up a fork and snatched a rasher for his own plate. i"He won't miss a rasher… or two."/i A second piece joined the first.
The Doctor was about to sit down when he realized he didn't have any tea. There were some pots and tea bags that he had seen when he came in. He guessed it was a help yourself situation and left to get some.
He had barely taken two steps when he saw something very definite just at the edge of his vision. He stopped and turned, trying to determine what it was. The rain sheeting on the glass distorted the view of the outside world, making it hard to verify what he had seen, if he had indeed seen anything.
There was nothing there but the normal things one would expect on a work day morning. Cars in the car park. Traffic moving at a slower pace due to the weather. Pedestrians hurrying to get out of the rain. Nothing out of the ordinary or unexpected. Everything as it should be. No one lurking around, trying to get a look at the diners in the restaurant. He sighed and turned away from the window, only to find Jack standing in front of him holding a pot of tea in each hand.
"Is she back again?" the head of Torchwood asked.
"Who do you mean?" replied the Doctor as he relieved Jack of a teapot and carried it back to the table. Jack followed and waited for them both to be seated before he answered, whispering across the table.
"There's an Atterian who has been hanging around the bay. She was shadowing me when I walked over here. Pretty amateurish about it too. Was she out there?"
"I'm not sure. I really can't tell what I saw. Most likely ducked behind a car or something," the Doctor explained.
Jack glanced out the window, making it look like he was just disgusted at the rain. But the Doctor could tell he was taking in a lot more. "Well if she was here, she's gone now," Jack stated with a shake of his head. He looked down at his plate.
"I seem to remember having four rashers of bacon."
"Did you now?" replied the Doctor as he applied a knife and fork to one of the rashers on his plate and popped a piece into his mouth. "You know, it's not a good sign, having memory problems. Didn't you mention you were starting to see some gray hairs a while back? Age just might be setting in."
"My memory is fine, thank you. In fact I seem to remember those two rashers of yours being on my plate."
"Really? You can tell one rasher from another? That's impressive. Well if you think they somehow escaped your plate and joined up over here, I'd be happy to return them." The Doctor looked down at his plate. "Well, one of them. The other one appears to be gone now."
"No your can keep it. It seems to have become acquainted with your baked beans." Jack said with a grimace. "Never understood how people can eat those for breakfast."
"I can't understand how you could turn it down." To emphasize his point the Doctor took a piece of bacon and swirled it around in the beans before putting into his mouth. He gave Jack a huge grin after he swallowed it. "You really don't know what you are missing."
"I'll find out at lunch," Jack replied, nonplused. "Look, let's get to the main issue. I really wish I knew what the Atterian was up to. She's been dating this ambassador every time he comes to town."
"You sure it's an Atterian?" asked the Doctor as he poured himself some tea. "They usually have pretty short attention spans when it comes to relationships."
"Don't I know it," replied Jack with a sly grin. "In my time they made excellent brothel workers. Very willing and often creative, but never wanting anything more than a night. All the fun and none of the commitment problems for the customers.
"This one is different though, even when the ambassador is away, she still hangs around here. Has a small flat and works in a shop, positively domestic."
"No other relationships? They tend to be fairly active if memory serves me right."
Jack laughed. "What? Don't tell me you've been involved with them? I knew they could be seductive but…"
"No!" came the sharp rejoinder. "I was not 'involved' with them, at least not in that way." The Doctor paused briefly and continued in a less strident manner. "But they have at times, wreaked havoc on some heads of state's egos and I had to intervene before they started a war to prove their manliness or in one case, her womanliness, I guess."
"Yeah, I know how that can be," Jack replied as he rubbed his chin. "I remember the first time one refused to take me as a client the second night. It can be quite a blow, even if you know their habits. You always think you might be the one exception.
"That's what has me curious. I don't see what makes this ambassador so special. She has been loyal to him, at least when she is in human form. But there have been some strange reports from the zoo across the bay of animal counts being off.
"Animal counts being off?"
"Yeah, they did an emergency shut down one time, when there were seven tigers in the enclosure and then only six. Didn't open again till late the next day, when they confirmed they only had ever had six tigers, despite what the CCTV showed. Decided it was just some kind of data glitch in the camera and it superimposed an image. I'm pretty sure it was our friend though."
"So now she's following you. Maybe she got bored with the zoo visits," commented the Doctor as he set down his fork.
"No that's not it, she would have been more direct, never known one to be coy." Jack suddenly looked in the direction of the restaurant entrance. The Doctor followed his gaze and saw a distinguished older gentleman, tall, medium build with snowy white hair and mustache, both perfectly trimmed and maintained. He was wearing a tweed hacking jacket and bow tie. With him was a middle aged woman, dark brown hair, attractive, but not flashy, in a conservative brown suit that was almost frumpy.
"Is that them?" the Doctor asked.
"Yes, it is," replied Jack, worry showing in his voice. "Excuse me, I need to go check something out."
Jack pushed back from the table and left the restaurant. The Doctor could see him at the reception desk, turning on the charm for the young clerk. He looked down at his plate, during the conversation he had consumed almost everything on it. Still hungry he decided to go after some fruit that he had seen earlier.
He walked past the ambassador's table on his way to the buffet and felt the Atterian watching him as he went by. There was some good fruit at the buffet, soon he filled a small plate with it and some cheese. The tea at the table, he was sure was cold by now and decided to get another pot while he was up. He was filling a pot with hot water when he heard a voice next to him.
"You're a long way from home, aren't you?"
The Doctor turned to see the Atterian looking up at him hopefully, with impossibly brilliant blue eyes. "Not that far actually. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, you just looked a bit lonely and out of place is all. I saw your friend leave you, do you want to join us?" She rested her hand lightly on the sleeve of his jacket, in a way that promised friendship more than seduction.
The Doctor looked over his shoulder to see Jack still talking at the reception desk. "Thank you, but no. He will be back soon and then we have some things we need to attend to. Enjoy your breakfast," he said with a smile before turning away, letting her hand fall from his arm. To his relief she didn't follow him, but instead proceeded to make up her own pot of tea.
When he sat down at the table, a waitress came to take his plate away. After she picked it up, she reached for Jack's. "No, leave it please, he should be coming back soon," explained the Doctor. The waitress smiled at him and left. The Doctor watched her go. Jack, who was no longer talking to the reservations clerk, but was instead on his mobile, pacing back and forth in the reception, caught his eye, causing him to wonder what was up.
With a sigh he turned his attention to his breakfast. He would find out later what the problem was. The fruit was good, fresh pineapple, melon, blueberries and strawberries. The cheese was unfortunately in plastic packets. When he had picked it up, he'd hoped it wouldn't taste as processed as it looked, but that turned out not to be the case. Why, when everything else was so well made, the restaurant would fail so miserably on the cheese, he had no idea.
He had just finished the fruit, when Jack returned to the table. "Everything taken care of?" the Doctor asked.
Jack shook his head. "No, something is up. The ambassador has moved out of his regular hotel and is now staying in this one. Coincidentally, right next to where you are staying. The clerk told me he had specifically requested that suite. Claimed he wanted that one for sentimental reasons.
"I had Ianto check the records as far back as he could and the ambassador has never stayed here. He also checked the other hotel and the ambassador checked out of it this morning, claiming the room was infested with cockroaches."
"And you don't believe it?"
"No, that hotel is too well maintained to have cockroaches or any other kind of infestation. Someone must have brought them in."
"Our Atterian friend?"
"That's who I suspect," answered Jack before he took a bite of toast. "This is cold! I must have been away longer than I thought, but they usually do a good job of clearing off the plates here. I can't believe they left it when I was gone for so long."
"That is strange," replied the Doctor, his voice innocence itself.
Jack looked at him sharply. "I'll go fix myself a new plate and this time when they come to take my plate away, let them."
"What? Are you implying I would interfere with them doing that?" The Doctor looked at him wide eyed and smiled.
"Yes I am and when I get back, you can tell me what you and the Atterian were talking about," answered Jack as he pushed away from the table.
The Doctor sipped his tea and looked out the window. The rain was coming down even harder. The clouds were dark, threatening. There was something wrong, almost evil, about them. As he stared at them, he could see them sinking closer to the earth, threatening to smother everything. His breath started coming in short gasps, his throat tight and dry, he felt as if he was choking , his shoulders were painfully taut with fear. Then, as if an electric shock had gone up his spine, he jerked erect and let out a long breath.
Outside he saw the clouds were just a normal gray, a good mile or two above the bay, not threatening at all. He put his hand to eyes and rubbed them hard enough to cause pain that focused his thoughts. i"Where did that come from?"/i he wondered. i"It seemed so real." /iHe pinched the bridge of his nose then rubbed the side of his face. i"Must just have triggered some memory of that nightmare last night."/i though try as he might he still could remember nothing of it. i"Strange how the mind works," he mused as he pushed his concern away.
He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he looked around with fresh eyes. The rain wasn't getting harder. It was in fact lessening somewhat and the sun was becoming more apparent. The traffic outside was flowing smoothly, the pedestrians walking leisurely, no longer rushing to escape the elements. A very pleasant and relaxing scene, with the promise of an even better day ahead.
"Are you all right sir?" asked the waitress who had been at the table earlier.
"I'm fine, really, just had a bit of a headache, it's gone now. Thank you though." He looked around worriedly. "I didn't make a scene, did I?"
"No, don't worry, you didn't. I was just coming over here to clear your friend's plates. I saw him back at the buffet. I don't think anyone else noticed."
"Oh good," replied the Doctor as he scratched the back of his head. "I really don't like to draw attention to myself."
"You must find that pretty hard to do."
"Pardon?"
"Well, you are pretty attractive and it's hard for someone not to notice you, as tall as you are." Before the Doctor could reply she changed the subject, leaning in conspiratorially, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm not supposed to do this, but they made some fresh squeezed orange juice for some government stiff and his companion. I can get some for you, if you want."
The Doctor flashed her his best smile. "That would be nice, thank you."
"Good, I'll be right back with it." She gathered up Jack's dishes and left almost running into Jack who was coming back with a new plate of food.
"So, you've been flirting with Meredith?" Jack asked as he seated himself.
"No, she just wanted to know if I wanted some orange juice."
"Don't tell me fresh squeezed? Left over from some special customer?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact it is. How did you know?"
Jack gave a quick snort of laughter. "Because that's what she gets me when I flirt with her. You were flirting."
"I was not! That may your way of getting things, but it certainly isn't mine," the Doctor responded incredulously. "I was just being polite is all."
Jack's rejoinder was prevented by Meredith's return with two glasses of orange juice. "Thank you Meredith. You're taking good care of my friend here I see," observed Jack. He rewarded the waitress with his biggest smile as she placed a glass of orange juice in front of him.
"Well, I knew you would want some, since it was available, and he did seem to be in a bit of difficulty earlier."
Jack looked sharply at the Doctor, who decided to study the cars in the car park. "Did he now? I'm glad you were her to help him."
Meredith shook her head. "I really didn't do anything. He was fine by the time I got here." She looked over her shoulder and frowned. "I should get back to work. Is there anything else you want?"
"We're fine, Meredith, thank you," the captain responded.
The waitress left the table and Jack turned to the Doctor. "What was this difficulty?"
The Doctor gave a quick shake of his head. "It was nothing, just a sudden headache. It left as soon as it came."
Jack looked at him carefully. "You sure? I don't like the timing. The Atterian talks to you and then you suddenly get a headache. She did have her hand on your arm. Perhaps she slipped you a drug that's absorbed through your skin. When I was with the agency we would do that all the time."
"She didn't slip me anything. Her hand was on my sleeve, not my skin. All she did was come over and ask if I wanted to join them at their table. She'd thought you had abandoned me."
Jack frowned. "I don't like it. I think she is targeting you, for what I don't know. There may be something on your jacket, you should take it off and your shirt."
"I'm not going to strip down in a restaurant," replied the Doctor incredulously. "I am perfectly fine. Now why don't you quit worrying about me and eat your breakfast before it goes cold again." The Doctor reached for his orange juice only to have Jack grab his wrist and stop him.
"What? You're afraid of the orange juice now? You're getting ridiculous Jack."
"At least let me try it first."
"Drink your own." With a twist of his arm the Doctor broke free of Jack's grip and picked up the orange juice. He took a sip and found it quite good. Tart and pulpy, just the way he liked it. He finished it off before setting the glass down.
"See, no problem. It was perfectly fine. Absolutely nothing to worry about." He reached for the teapot, stopping Jack from intercepting him with a glare.
"Alright, alright," said Jack as he held up his hands in surrender. "I'm just concerned that she is up to something."
"Of course she is up to something," replied the Doctor. "But I doubt that something involves poisoning me in a restaurant. You don't need to check out everything I intend to put in my mouth."
"I'm not sure I would want to, considering your breakfast choices."
"My breakfast choices are fine thank you. You've just been pretending to be an American for too long and it's affecting your sense of taste. You're so eager to try out everything in, um.., other aspects of your life. I can't believe you are so pedestrian when it comes to food."
Jacked choked on the piece of egg he was about to swallow. "What? My sense of taste is fine and has nothing to do with 'other pursuits' as you put it. It's your taste I worry about. Next, you're going to tell me black pudding is delicious."
"Well it is. In fact, I'm surprised they didn't have any."
"Okay," laughed Jack. "Just let me finish my breakfast in peace. I am going to check out your jacket when we get to the Hub. I don't believe that was just casual contact."
"It wasn't. She put a microscopic homing device on me. I figured I would take care of it once we left the restaurant."
"Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" asked Jack.
"Because it was none of your business. I do know how to take care of myself. I don't need you acting like a mother hen."
"She's an alien, that makes it my business."
"Not as far as I am concerned. Don't worry. I'll let you know anything you need to know. If you are so bothered about her, why don't you pick her up for questioning?"
"I can't, as soon as she latched on to the ambassador, both MI5 and UNIT became involved. I have to clear it through channels."
Now it was the Doctor's turn to laugh. "You, clearing things through channels? You've become positively domesticated, Jack. I'm surprised. Next you are going to tell me you worry about payroll and budgets and things."
"Well, people do have to eat and pay rent. We don't all have the luxury of just skipping out on a whim," responded Jack, looking pointedly at his broken vortex manipulator. Pushing back his chair with a screech, he stood up and put a five pound note on the table.
"Come on," he said as he put on his coat. "I need to get back."
"I thought breakfast was included with the room," the Doctor commented as he stood and reached for his own coat.
"It is. That's called a tip. If I want to get more of the good orange juice, I need to leave one of those."
"Oh, so just your charming personality isn't enough?"
"Unfortunately not."
"Hmm, you're slipping Jack, you know that?"
"If I am, it's because of you," came Jack's sharp retort as he helped the Doctor on with his coat. "Let's go, I've got the SUV parked outside."
"I'd rather walk," commented the Doctor as he followed Jack out of the restaurant. "I wanted to check on the TARDIS."
"I wouldn't advise it," replied Jack seriously, as he held open the door to the car park. "She's still not in a very good mood. We'll drive by and you can see for yourself."
Jack pulled the SUV to the side of the road, offering the Doctor a clear view of the TARDIS, ignoring the horns of the upset drivers behind him. Studying the Plass, the Doctor could see what Jack meant. Though the water tower was a major tourist attraction, there was no one near it. People who were walking towards it would suddenly alter their course and veer away, leaving about a forty meter 'dead zone' around the ship. Even from this distance the Doctor could feel the TARDIS pushing him away. He'd hoped she would be better this morning, but now he worried she might never forgive him.
He looked down at the floorboards, feeling cast adrift, very small and lonely. Dejected, he said to Jack, "I've seen enough. Let's get on to that base of yours."
Grim faced, Jack said nothing as he put the car in gear and drove off.