Chapter 18
Dismay added to the Doctor's pain as Jack pulled into a local pub a few kilometers outside of Cardiff. His headache was subsiding but he doubted a noisy pub atmosphere would allow that trend to continue. Pointing out that problem to Jack would mean he would have to admit to the problem in the first place and he didn't want to do that. There was only so much mother hening a Time Lord should have to endure and he had pretty much reached his limit.
Strangely, despite his increased aggravation, his headache continued to recede. "Maybe it's run its course," he thought. "That would be a rare blessing in an otherwise bleak day."
The car stopped and the Doctor quickly got out, making sure there was no solicitous and embarrassing scene of Jack or Ianto getting the door for him as if he was an invalid. Once outside of the vehicle, he scanned the sky. The sunlight was disappearing as the clouds again closed in. He doubted it would rain soon however. The car park was almost empty, just a few vehicles, one of which the Doctor thought he recognized from this morning.
"You'll like this place," Jack was assuring him. "It's got all that bubble and squeak, bangers and mash kind of food you like."
"It doesn't appear very popular," the Doctor observed.
"Well it's almost one o'clock, a little late for lunch. Trust me, the food is good."
"And I'm to trust you as to what constitutes good British food?" the Doctor asked as Ianto moved to get the door for the two of them.
"No, probably not," replied Jack with a grimace. "But you can trust Ianto. He comes here all the time."
"Really? I would have thought with the way you work him he wouldn't have time to eat out."
"He lets me off occasionally to visit family. This place is on the way," Ianto joked dryly as he let the door close behind him.
Inside the odor of fried fish and chips assailed the Doctor's nose. Once he got past that he could detect the rich smell of steak and kidney pie, bangers, and the sweet bitter scent of ale. His stomach flipped at the thought of eating any of those rich foods, adding to his discomfort.
The pub itself was furnished in a traditional style. Heavy dark wood fixtures and molding, the chairs and tables were made out of similar material, thick and heavy, meant to last for decades, if not centuries. From the number of marks and gouges on them, perhaps they already had. The windows were stained glass, each one depicting a different coat of arms of a notable Welsh family. The sconces on the walls would have provided light for the dining area, had they been turned on. "Another effect of the economy," thought the Doctor. It was at least warm, a welcome relief from the cold outside. Warm and dark, just what he needed, maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
The bar area was the one part of the pub that was well lit. The trio started to make their way to it, only to find their path blocked by a rather unpleasant individual.
"He's supposed to be in your custody, not taking a tour of the town," protested Frank as he stood between them and their goal.
"Hey, the pizza delivery was swamped. We've got to eat, don't we?" retorted Jack with a shrug and a smile. "Besides, with you here to keep an eye on us, what can go wrong?"
Frank squinted his eyes and smiled slyly. "So, you admit he needs watching?"
Jack laughed, "No more than any of us do. Lighten up. He solved a problem for us this morning and deserves a break."
"After what he did, that's the last thing he deserves."
The Doctor opened his mouth to protest only to have his foot stepped on by Ianto. Angrily he glanced at the Welshman and received a stern shake of the head. Apparently he was to continue to play the part of submissive prisoner. He quietly seethed from the silent reprimand, wanting to speak up. He calmed himself down by reminding himself that this was Jack's territory after all, not his. "Not his territory," he mulled over the phrase. He wanted so much to be back in the TARDIS. Being locked out of her made him feel a loss of freedom which was almost a physical pain. As that thought entered his brain he no longer had to try to act like a prisoner. Letting his current emotions show was more than adequate for the task.
"Look, we're here to eat," Jack was saying. "So get out of our way and let us get our order in. Unlike you, we have work we need to get back to and before you ask," Jack took the sonic screwdriver from out of his coat pocket and gave it a flip in the air, "I do still have it, so there, satisfied?" Frank scowled but said nothing in reply. Jack having made his point continued, "Now why don't you go finish your lunch? I suspect you have a few messages waiting for you back at the office."
"Why? What have you done now?" Frank asked sharply.
"Nothing Frank, just a little interagency cooperation is all," replied Jack with a smile. He clapped the Doctor on the shoulder. "Come on, let's order some lunch shall we?"
Frank stood to one side and let them through. The Doctor could feel Frank's scrutiny as he walked by. Then the feeling was gone, followed by the sound of the door to the pub slamming shut.
"Hmm, guess he had to go after all," observed Jack dryly as he looked over his shoulder at the door. "I hope it wasn't anything I said."
"No sir, you were the height of decorum. I sure he had a meeting he forgot about," replied Ianto. "Did you know he was here?"
"Of course, saw his car in the car park. I figured it was a good opportunity to show him we were playing by the rules. Makes it more difficult for him to cause trouble for us."
The Doctor pretended to ignore the exchange and studied the menu. He tried to place his order only to have the bartender address Jack instead. "What's he done?" he asked worriedly, indicating the Doctor with his chin.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing," Jack assured him. "He just got caught up in government snafu and I'm supposed to keep an eye on him until we get the paperwork straightened out. Frank's just making a big deal out of nothing. You know how it goes."
"Do I ever. Taxes are eating me alive and don't get anything for it that I can tell. Tried to get a permit to expand the dining area, after six months they're still getting me for this fee or that survey. Of course now with this economy they've created it's probably just as well I haven't gotten the permit. I'd have more tables with no one in them. No sense in that." He faced the Doctor. "You have my sympathy. If you're having to wait on the government, I guess you're going to be spending the next decade with Jack here. So what would you like to order? We've got some nice roast beef and Yorkshire pudding if you want."
"I'm not that hungry. I'll just have some tea and a salad," said the Doctor.
Jack however had other ideas. "You need more than that," he insisted. "At least try the shepherd's pie. This place is known for it."
The Doctor ignored Jack's suggestion. "A salad is just fine," he confirmed with the bartender.
"I'll have a ploughman's lunch, shepherd's pie and some ginger beer," ordered Jack with a smile.
"I hope you're hungry. Because I am not eating the shepherd's pie," stated the Doctor. "No offence," he added belatedly to the bartender. "I'm sure it's fantastic." The bartender nodded in understanding but Jack was not to be deterred in his objective.
"That's fine, you can have the ploughman's lunch then. Though as cold as you have been feeling I would have thought you would want something warm."
The Doctor just rolled his eyes and said nothing as Ianto put in his order, making the bartender happy by asking for the roast beef.
"What is this fascination you have with feeding me?" the Doctor asked once they were seated at a table "I'm beginning to feel like one of those children in that fairy tale, getting fattened up before I get shoved into an oven."
Jack leaned forward, his elbows on the table, his gaze intent on the Doctor. "Look you're in my custody. That means not only do I have to know where you are, it also puts me in charge of your welfare, including your health. You need food just as much as we do, don't try and pretend you don't." Jack took a breath and leaned back, folding his hands behind his head before continuing, "Besides, you don't want your stomach grumbling when you question the ambassador, do you?"
"What, you've already arranged that?" responded the Doctor eagerly, his irritation with Jack forgotten at the news. He felt a stab of pain above his left temple but ignored it. "When? How?"
"Ianto," replied Jack proudly. "He's been working his smart phone like mad. That MP pulled the necessary strings. Once we finish here and get you back to Torchwood, I'm going to go pick him up from MI5."
"Oh, that's brilliant," exclaimed the Doctor, thrilled that maybe now he could get to the bottom of the Atterian's death. Their food arrived and he took the ploughman's lunch along with his salad without complaint, tearing off a piece of bread and dipping it in the chutney before continuing. "So, MI5 is going to let him come to Torchwood then?" he asked as he bit into the bread.
Ianto smirked as Jack drawled his reply. "Well, 'let' is hardly the correct term. They really don't have a choice. The higher ups considered the participants and have decided the murder is a Torchwood matter. So long as we don't appear biased in our investigation, they'll let us have control."
Jack's self satisfied look faded as he continued. "Unfortunately that means you are going to have to continue to play the prisoner. Officially you are still a suspect. The prime suspect, as far as MI5 is concerned."
"And you?" the Doctor asked, wondering if there was more than the stated reason for Jack being so diligent in taking the sonic screwdriver from him.
"I know you didn't do it," assured Jack with a shake of his head. "Though I would like to know why she was so scared of you."
The Doctor shook his head. "So would I. You heard everything we said to each other. I did wave to her from across the lobby but that's hardly threatening, unless I accidentally hit upon some Atterian death gesture."
Jack frowned. "Unfortunately, it really doesn't look good. The desk clerk and a few others saw her reaction to that wave. It gives some credence to the ambassador's story. Well, if you are willing to believe his whole 'I was taken over' act."
"I believe him," asserted the Doctor. "I don't think he killed her. I mean yes, it was his body but I doubt he had control of it. The look he had in his eyes this morning. I don't believe that was guile."
"You're too trusting," countered Jack. "He's an ambassador. It's his job to show one thing on his face while another is in his mind."
"I'm hardly gullible. I saw through you easily enough, didn't I?" replied the Doctor.
"Yeah but… Never mind. What is it you plan on asking him anyway?"
"Well…" the Doctor grimaced before continuing on. "I was hoping he would trust me enough to let me look into his mind. See if what took him over left any traces I can identify."
Jack shook his head and smiled. "Boy, you really are an optimist aren't you? If you are right and it wasn't an act I doubt he is going to want to be in the same room with you, much less let you do that. And if I'm right and it is an act, he's hardly going to want you to know that. It's going to have to be by force."
"No, it won't be. I won't do that. I'll just have to convince him he wants me to do it. That it's the only way to find Celeste's real murderer."
"I should point out that you first have to convince him that it isn't you," said Jack. "And again, if he is lying…" Jack gave a wry smile and shrugged.
"I know, but …" The Doctor stopped talking as a bevy of well dressed ladies entered the pub. They laid claim to a nearby table before going to the bar to place their orders.
"We should continue this conversation elsewhere," Jack suggested.
"You're probably right," said the Doctor distractedly. He was observing the group. Their brightly colored attire reminded him of a flower garden, a moving flower garden. It was a pleasant contrast to the darkness of the pub. Suddenly it was there again, just barely able to be seen. There wasn't enough definition for him to determine what it was as it slowly encroached on his peripheral vision almost like a pressure. He pretended to ignore it and turned his attention to Jack and Ianto. Ianto was cutting his roast and Jack's attention was on the newcomers to the bar. Neither one looking at him, unfortunately.
"Well, they seem harmless enough," said Jack as he turned back to the Doctor. "I was worried Frank might have sent them." He smiled. "But I don't think he could have come up that many agents so quickly."
"That's good to know," responded the Doctor distractedly. He was puzzled. Jack must have been looking straight at it. It was gone now, but it had been there for a few seconds while Jack was looking at him. The bar wasn't that dark, surely he had to have seen it. He frowned as Jack went back to eating. "Why couldn't Jack see it?" he thought. "Was it not fully in this universe? Some mote of energy bleeding through that only he could see? But then I can't see it either. Not really." He bit his lip as he considered mentioning it to Jack.
"Are you alright?" The Doctor saw a woman standing in front of him, friendly concern on her face. "Please excuse me, but I work at the local hospital and you seem to be in pain."
"I'm fine, just a slight headache from thinking too hard. It's nothing really," the Doctor assured her.
The woman glanced over her shoulder her friends who were talking and laughing as they waited for their food. "We're not bothering you, are we?"
"No, not at all," he replied with a smile. "In fact I'm glad to see others are enjoying the food here." To emphasize his point he dipped a piece of cheese into the mustard and bit into it.
"Oh yes, it is quite good. A shame it's so far out of the way. Have you tried the shepherd's pie?"
"No, not yet. It's my first time here. It seems to be highly recommended though."
She frowned and shook her head. "You really should try it. Someone with your build should eat more than just a cold lunch."
"I'll remember that, thank you," responded the Doctor as he wondered if humans had somehow developed a genetic disposition to be concerned with his diet.
"Well, enjoy the rest of your lunch. I should get back to my friends." Before the Doctor could respond she had returned to her table.
"See, I'm not the only one who thinks you need to eat more," said Jack.
The Doctor just rolled his eyes in response before he picked up a slice of raw onion, slathered chutney on it and then dipped it into the mustard before taking a bite.
"I can't believe you ate that," said Jack with a grimace.
"What?" replied the Doctor in all innocence as be proceeded to give a piece of lettuce from his salad the same treatment. "First you complain I'm not eating enough, now you complain when I do eat. Would you make up your mind?"
"Alright you have a point. If making up nauseating combinations helps you to eat, I'm not going to object."
"Good," replied the Doctor, who actually wasn't pleased Jack had given in so easily.
He then proceeded to take a lump of sugar from a dish on the table, crumble it over a piece of celery and apply pepper liberally before putting it in his mouth. The result was more than even he could take calmly. He quickly reached for his tea to put out the fire in his mouth before he started coughing. It was bad enough his eyes were watering as he saw Jack suppress a bark of laughter.
Game over, he decided to eat the rest of his meal more normally, though normally for him did entail heavy use of both the chutney and the mustard to the point that Ianto went to procure refills of both.
Soon the meal was finished and they were back on their way to the Hub. The Doctor stared out the window as he thought about how to productively occupy himself this afternoon. Jack had explained it would take a while to pick up the ambassador from MI5 as there was sure to be an excessive amount of paperwork involved. He definitely wanted to give the energy extractor another look. He hoped his growing headache would start to recede soon. He had some delicate work ahead, both with the equipment and the ambassador. He needed a clear and pain free mind for both to be handled safely.