Scene 33
Jack was rested. If somewhat subdued.
He had taken to sitting by himself.
In silence.
Apart from everything, everyone.
Eventually he came to stand beside the Doctor, at the console, as he fiddled pointlessly with some connections, a conventional screwdriver in his hand, he spoke...
"Doctor...? I'm glad it's over. We succeeded. No children will ever be harvested by them again.
Finally I think I might actually be able to live with myself. Just."
"I'm glad Jack. Truly. "
"I think you should drop me...somewhere, anywhere...it doesn't much matter."
"No, Jack. I'm not going to do that."
"Why not? I don't want to stay on board, play gooseberry to you and Clara!"
"I'm taking Clara home, Jack. It's where she wants to be."
"What? You're not going to give up on her? Just like that. Are you a complete idiot?"
"I'm not giving up on her Jack. She's had enough. She as much as said so."
"Don't be daft. She just needs a little time at home, to recover...she needs you there with her Doctor. Trust me, she doesn't want you to just take her home and leave her there. She wants you to stay there with her. Give her time, give her love...just be with her, in her own environment, where there's no imminent dangers, no traumas, just a quiet normal existence."
Jack reached out a hand and squeezed the Doctor's shoulder.
"She loves you Doctor. And you love her. She's hurting, physically as well as mentally. Just give her a little respite from all this...this madness."
He waved his hands in a sweeping gesture, towards the Tardis.
"Give her cuddles, make love to her, be one with her. She'll mend. Yes, maybe she does need home...but she needs you more."
Jack could feel the Timelord's body tremble beneath his hand.
He pulled him into a tight hug.
Then held his face in his hands, gripping tightly.
"Stay with her Doctor. Just that. Stay. That's what she wants."
He stepped back.
"Now!" He said, recovering himself, "why won't you drop me off somewhere?"
"Because you need to go home too, Jack."
"I have no home."
"Your home is Earth...as much as any home could be. I'm taking you to Gwen. You need to see her. Talk to her. Tell her what we've done."
"No. Doctor. She has a life, she has Rhys, a family..."
"She's the one person, apart from me, who will understand, that you can talk to. About Ianto, about everything that's happened here. And you need that, Jack. You need it...
...If you want to disappear after that, then fine, but you need to speak to Gwen first."
Harkness sighed.
"Okay, I'll do what you want. On one condition."
The Doctor raised his eyebrows.
"That you take my advice in return. Spend some time on Earth. With Clara. No travelling, no drama, just be with her. Stay with her, walk with her, breathe her air, sit with her, read to her...anything...just...be! Okay?"
"Okay, Jack. I think I can do that."
"Good. Because that's what she needs right now. Trust me. Leaving her is the worst possible thing you can do. So don't...
...She's not okay, neither are you. You both need time."
The Doctor sniffed and turned away.
Clara came down the steps, a few moments later. Pale still, but rested.
"Hey! Jack."
"Hey yourself Baby-cakes!"
Clara saw the Doctor pull a face, and mouth 'baby-cakes?' from behind his back... She smiled.
The Tardis landed smoothly, a hundred yards from Gwen's house.
Standing in the doorway, Jack almost felt reluctant to leave, there was a finality about the parting, that he sought to delay.
Clara came to him and standing on tip-toe, she hugged him tight and kissed his cheek. Holding the embrace for several seconds.
She whispered into his neck,
"Thank you Jack. For everything. You know what I mean. Don't punish yourself anymore, what you did was right. Tell yourself that."
As they pulled away, she could see his eyes were swimming with tears.
"Don't let him out of your sight Clara. Whatever happens. He needs you, and you need him."
She stroked his forearms, smoothing the sleeves of his shirt.
They shared a little smile.
"You're a dear!" She whispered.
Jack gave a slight smile and a wink, then turned towards the Doctor...standing to one side, awkwardly, shuffling from foot to foot.
They stood and faced each other, almost the same height, eye to eye.
"It's time to move on, Jack. See Gwen. Talk to her. She's missed you, and she'll be glad to see you. Tell her what we've done. Tell her about the 456. Stay awhile...and keep that Manipulator with you. I have the coordinates...and if you're ever in need..."
"Thank you. Both of you. That means a lot...Well!...it's been a blast...you two...a blast, and if you ever require a drinking buddy Doctor, you come find me!"
The Timelord frowned, then grinned.
"Take care of yourself Jack. I'll be seeing you."
"You too Doctor. And don't forget what I said. Just 'be'...for a while at least."
He held himself erect, back straight, chest out and saluted.
The Doctor put his fingers to his temple in return.
Jack crossed the threshold and walked briskly away.
Scene 34
One month after returning to Earth...
Kate Lethbridge-Stewart marched purposefully up the front path and rang the doorbell.
Clara and the Doctor followed in her wake.
The door was opened, by a smartly dressed, newly retired lady of indeterminate age.
Bridget Spears, left the civil service after a long and distinguished career.
Kate introduced herself, then stepped back.
On seeing The Doctor, Mrs Spears' face blanched.
She staggered slightly and was caught and held by both Clara and Kate.
They helped her inside, sat her down. Clara went to the kitchen and made hot sweet tea.
"You?" She hissed..."But it can't be..."
"No, Mrs Spears, it isn't." The Doctor's voice was sympathetic and surprisingly soft.
Clara watched, as he reached and took her hand.
Something he only ever really did with her.
"I'm not him." The Doctor continued, his thumb sweeping across the back of her hand, "I just happen to have his face."
As she recovered from the shock, sipping the tea, Bridget Spears couldn't drag her eyes from the Doctor's.
"How is it possible?" She whispered.
"Its a long story." The Doctor smiled.
"I miss him you know." She said simply, "Even now. I still think of him often."
"You were a little in love with him I think?"
She smiled wistfully.
"Lots of people were. He was easy to love."
"He...(you)...was a very attractive man."
Clara grinned despite herself.
"He wasn't perfect, you understand...he had a weakness for pretty girls."
She glanced across at Clara.
"Nobody is perfect, Mrs Spears, but we all do our best."
"Which brings me to the reason for our visit." Said Kate briskly, perching on the sofa opposite.
"John Frobisher, should be remembered. The Doctor here has come up with an idea, and we thought you would be the perfect person to write a small piece. You probably knew him better than anyone, those closest to him are dead, but you knew him as well as any."
"An idea? To do with John?"
"The Doctor has helped set up a Charitable Trust. To be called The Frobisher Foundation. It will work with underprivileged and vulnerable children."
Bridget Spears stared open mouthed, from the Doctor, to Clara, then to Kate.
Her face began to tremble, eyes watering, a sob came from her.
The Doctor reached into his pocket and produced a large white handkerchief.
She took it, sniffing for a few moments, trying to regain her composure.
"John Frobisher was a good man." Said The Doctor kindly.
"It shouldn't be forgotten. He was." She reiterated, squeezing the Doctor's hand.
"Thank you." She murmured. "Thank you so much, he deserves this, and so do Anna, Holly and Lily. It should be in their memory too, they were innocents."
"I'm pleased you're pleased." The Doctor stood, smiling...
"Kate will leave you all the details necessary. I'm sure you'll do him proud."
They moved towards the door.
"When Mrs Lethbridge-Stewart rang to say she wanted to see me, I never thought my past would walk into my house. It's uncanny. The hair is a little longer, a little greyer, but otherwise...well, I can't get over it."
"Goodbye Doctor, I'm so glad it will be remembered...John Frobisher was a good man."