Another months' long gap between chapters, I know. I apologize, I had writers block with this chapter. In spite of the long wait, I do hope you enjoy it.

Amy and Rory's house

Morning

In the basement, The Doctor was in the TARDIS, scanning the liquid vial he'd gotten from Martha yesterday. As she said, it was what he'd been hoping for, a way to give the Ponds what Kovarian had stolen from them.

The Doctor stared at it uncertainly as he remembered his promise to Martha.

"Rule one, The Doctor lies," he muttered to himself.

There was a knock on the door and The Doctor quickly stopped the scan, erasing the data from the scanner as he pocketed the vial.

"Doctor? Amy said to tell you breakfast is ready," Rory called out.

"I'll be right out," The Doctor said before taking out the vial. "Time to put you somewhere safe."

A planet far from Earth

Later that morning

"So you've never seen her?" Jack asked as he sat down across from a human looking man with brown hair across a small table, Jack having shown him a holographic picture of Jenny.

"Trust me, someone like that is not someone you'd forget. If I'd seen her, I'd know," the man said and Jack nodded after a moment, conceding his point.

"Fair enough. Thanks anyway," Jack said before getting to his feet, beginning to walk off.

"Sir?" Jack turned around to see a young boy around seven standing a few feet away. "I think…I think I've seen the woman you're looking for."

"Can you show me where?" Jack asked curiously as he knelt down in front of the boy, who nodded his head.

Earth, Brian's house

Same time

Brian took a sip of his tea, humming slightly at the taste.

"This is quite delicious, thank you. But I don't think you came over to my house just to drop off some tea," Brian noted as he looked at his guest, who smiled sheepishly.

"You're right, Brian. I didn't," Martha acknowledged. "I need to ask you a favor. Perhaps the most important favor in the universe."

"Really?" Brian asked in surprise. "What could I possibly help you with?"

"The Doctor is going to leave once the issue with the Cubes is resolved," Martha told him and Brian nodded, having expected this. "And when he does…Amy and Rory cannot go with him, under any circumstances."

"I don't understand," Brian said in confusion and Martha sighed, running a hand over her face.

"It's complicated, Brian. I can't tell you how I know this, but if Amy and Rory leave with The Doctor…they won't ever come back, and The Doctor will be broken beyond repair. And then something truly terrible happen," Martha explained as Brian stared at her, perplexed. "Please Brian, when the time comes…let The Doctor let them go."

Brian didn't know what to think of all this. But, from the way Martha was looking at him, at the very least she believed what she was saying. So, slowly he nodded his agreement. He didn't truly understand she was talking about, but he remembered his conversation with The Doctor earlier in the week.

If his son and daughter in law could only be saved by letting The Doctor go off alone, he would gladly do whatever he could to make that happen.

Planet far from earth

Not long after

Jack stood on the ledge of a gorge, looking down at it, the boy by his side.

"This is where you saw her?" Jack asked for clarification.

"Uh-huh. But she's probably dead by now. No one goes into the gorge and comes back," the boy said matter of fact.

"We'll see about that," Jack said with a smirk. "Thanks, kid."

"No problem, Mister. Hope you don't die!"

Jack laughed as he used some sand as a slide, heading down the gorge. Once he reached the bottom, Jack looked around, noting some large holes in the ground.

"Wonder what made those. Guess I'll find out soon enough," Jack said with a huge grin.

Earth, Pond-Williams house

Later

"Doctor, are you okay? You've barely touched your fish fingers and custard."

The Doctor was broken out of his musings by the sound of Amy's voice. Rory was at work, leaving just the two of them at home. He's been enjoying his favorite snack as Amy worked on an article for work.

But his mind had started to drift off. Too many things were happening with his loved ones that didn't make sense. First, Donna returned to him, memories intact. Then, Martha supplied him with the means to end the problem he had been working on solving for months. It was becoming a pattern with his former Companions.

One he did not like.

"I'm fine, Pond. I just have loads on my mind, that's all," The Doctor said, flashing her what he hoped was a convincing smile.

Amy gave him the look she usually gave him when she didn't believe his excuses. But, mercifully, she didn't call him on it.

"Well, whatever it is, I hope you can figure it out," Amy said before turning her attention back to her article.

"As do I Pond," The Doctor muttered, absently taking a bit of his snack as he pondered the mystery surrounding his former Companions. "As do I."

Planet far from Earth

Not long after

Jack had been wondering the gorge for about an hour, in search of his quarry. So far, he'd found nothing. And yet, Jack couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched.

Finally, something happened: Jack felt the ground move under his feet. He looked down before hearing something erupt behind him. Jack whirled around, pulling out his weapon before staring as a large, pink worm like creature that was the size of an Orca emerged from the ground, staring down at him as it opened a mouth full of razor sharp teeth.

"I guess now I know why no one comes into this gorge and lives. You wouldn't have happened to have seen a blond woman around, would you?" Jack asked.

It response, the creature snarled before moving towards him with lightning fast speed. Jack jumped, rolling out of the way and just barely avoiding the creature's jaws as it slammed into the ground.

"Guess not," Jack said, running away as the worm rose back out of the ground.

It moved to strike again as Jack punched in a few codes into his Vortex manipulator. Jack disappeared in a flash of light before appearing on the worm's head. It snarled, attempting to shake him off as Jack pulled out a blaster, firing at the eye. The creature howled in pain before bashing its head into the side of a stone ledge.

The blow sent Jack flying and he fell at rapid speed to the ground. A loud 'bang' was heard and Jack didn't move. The worm moved towards Jack's unmoving form when something happened.

Suddenly, several energy blasts flew out, hitting the worm in the face. It howled in pain, unable to avoid the blasts. Once they stopped, it swayed for a moment before falling to the ground, dead.

The impact of the worm falling to the ground sent Jack flying once more, landing a few feet away. It was silent in the gorge until a woman holing what looked like a rifle jumped down, landing a few feet away. She cautiously approached the unmoving Jack, looking down at him curiously. His neck was broken, clearly, and his eyes were closed. He could almost be sleeping if his neck wasn't hanging at an impossible angle.

Then, his neck suddenly popped back into place and he opened his eyes, letting out a gasp as the woman jumped back.

"What in the name of the universe? You were dead!" the woman exclaimed as Jack put a hand to his chest, breathing heavily.

"Yeah, I do that. It never sticks," Jack said as he pulled himself into a sitting position, spotting the dead worm. "You do that?"

"Yeah. Been staking it out for the last day. That thing has been terrorizing the local community. Just couldn't find a way to kill it until now," she said, still looking at him curiously. "Who are you?"

"Captain Jack Harkness. I'm a friend of your father's, Jenny," Jack said and Jenny looked at him sharply.

"You know my dad?" Jenny demanded and Jack nodded.

"Yeah. I came here to find you. I know where he is. How'd you like to see him again?" Jack asked and Jenny paused, intrigued. "I can take you to him, right now. We just need to get out of here."

Jenny stared at him for a long moment and Jack wondered what was going through her mind. The Doctor had never been easy to read and Jenny seemed to have inherited that trait from her father.

Finally, Jenny lowered the gun and offered Jack a hand up.

"Let's bloody go. I've seen enough of this planet to last a lifetime," Jack said and Jack grinned as he took her hand.

"Couldn't agree more," Jack said with a laugh.

It wouldn't be The Doctor if he just let slide how many things seem to happening with his Companions that don't add up. Whether or not he can keep his promise to Martha and Donna from last chapter is going to depend on how many more changes are made.

And Jenny has finally appeared in the story. Hope her appearance was enjoyed.