An Unexpected Reunion (with captainspain)

[finally_ginger]

Even Time Lords can suffer from exhaustion.

Or so it would seem.

The Doctor felt as if she'd be laying in the same spot in the console room for days. She probably had.


It all had started out as a regular refuel in Cardiff. The Doctor had popped out long enough to fetch a bottle of pop and a banana-- which, strangely, had recently become her new thing-- and suddenly, she ended up face-to-face with Kate Stewart and a few members of UNIT.

It was always nice to see Kate, the daughter of one of her oldest friends, but sadly, she'd known, just as the first meeting, it was not a social call. During their first meeting, not only had she discovered that The Brigadeer had passed away, but Kate had stolen Jack Harkness's vortex manipulator right out from under his nose. A rogue member of her team had then taken it and started wreaking havoc. The Doctor had had to stop the man, and after a lengthy argument with her friend's only child, she'd taken the vortex manipulator herself. It was bad enough Jack had been cavorting around with that technology, but leaving it in possession of UNIT would have been a huge mistake. It wasn't that she didn't trust Kate with such a sensitive piece of equipment, she didn't trust anyone else.

Apparently Kate was still angry with her, and felt The Doctor owed her something, which is why she came to her, asking for help. There were three Sontarans running about, making utter fools of themselves, and they proved utterly nasty when meeting The Doctor in her new form. Of course, they were automatically more superior, simply because she was female, but in the end, she had bested them, as usual, and sent them on their way.

The battle had worn The Doctor out, and she had a few cuts and scrapes to show for it, including one under her eye. But she knew she'd be just fine. She always was.


She let out a sigh as she sat up, and nodded, to the only company she ever allowed herself to have.

"I know, old girl. Time for us to be moving on." She moved to stand. "But first... I've got to get myself another bottle of pop."

The Tardis started arguing with her in her head, and The Doctor rolled her eyes. "Oi! Don't jinx me! Just because I was interrupted last time doesn't mean it'll happen again! Do shut up, will you?"

She shook her head, backing her way out of her Tardis, making sure to lock up on her way out.

Comments

[finally_ginger]

The Doctor's hearts were thundering in her chest. This was all a bit overwhelming.

Jack Harkness was in love with her. Wanted to travel with her again... And this time, it sounded like he wanted to stay with her until the end of eternity, which, in Time Lord standards, never truly ended. And he'd loved Rose, too. She'd always suspected as much, but hearing him say the words made it real. At least they had an understanding there, because The Doctor knew that one of her hearts would always belong to that beautiful, brave little blonde.

He'd came to her, angry about her going into hiding, but she knew he was hurt even more because he loved her, and he felt she'd abandoned him. And she had, in a sense. She felt so conflicted, debating her choices, debating what he was offering her. Her head felt like it was spinning, and she felt a bit weak in the knees. She hadn't felt like this since the first time Rose had kissed her, really kissed her, in her last regeneration.

"Oi, Captain," she finally said, forcing a bit of humor into her voice. "Think you've made one of the old tickers stop. Think I need to sit down." She pointed down the street to the little shop she was originally headed to, with a bit of a shaking hand. "Was going for a pop and banana. Care to join me and we'll... Discuss this a bit more?"

[captainspain]

Jack smiles his best sheepish grin' the one that says he knows what he did and isn't sorry about it at all. "I wouldn't mind a coffee and more of a chat myself. It's been a dark few months for me what with the Brig gone and dealing with the CIA..long story."

He offers her his arm. " Shall we?"

[finally_ginger]

She gladly accepted his arm, and murmured her thanks. Rose had always gotten so giddy when she and Jack would offer to do the same for her. Now The Doctor understood why.

There was comfortable silence for a few minutes, as they walked along. Finally, she stopped in her tracks outside the shop and gave him a look.

"CIA? Oi, what in the hell have you gotten yourself into now, Captain?"

[captainspain]

Jack looked a little uncomfortable. "Well durning the Miracle I ran into a very peristant agent and may have unwittingly passed on my inmortality."

[finally_ginger]

"Oh, Jack..." She frowned, but not like she blamed him. More than likely, Jack had been manipulated. She knew he wouldn't purposely pass his fate on to anyone else.

She could tell automatically what a sensitive subject it was, and opted not to push him on it too much. He would spill his guts eventually, as he always did.

Upon going in, she flashed her psychic paper at the young girl behind the counter, and as always, the sweet girl put it on The Doctor's "tab", so to speak. Not that she'd every really pay for it, as much as she'd hate to admit.

They sat, for some time, and as she had her pop and banana, Jack did exactly as she expected-- he spilled. About everything. And once again, he had her in tears, and without realizing, she'd ended up reaching for and holding his hand for what seemed to be the longest time. It was against her better judgment, but her hearts wouldn't allow her to let go until they departed from the little shop.

They walked in silence back toward her Tardis, and she held tight to his arm.

Finally, she gathered the courage to speak again. She knew he didn't hate her, even though she had abandoned him. But, to honest, she worried about his reaction to what she was about to say. All she could do was hope for the best.

"Jack... You do realize how different things are now, yeah? I'm not... I'm not who I used to be."

[captainspain]

Jack was amazed at how open he was so quickly, but this was the Doctor and hiding things from the Time Lord had never been an option. It felt good in a way to open up about the past few years, both the good and the bad. As they walked back to the TARDIS he was reminded of the old days and how much he missed them.

Her question shook him out of his mental review and he smiled sadly knowing what was coming. " I know Doctor, you don't have to explain."

[finally_ginger]

She realized she'd probably just hurt his feelings, and felt the need to explain anyway. "I'm... this, Jack, and I'm still trying to make sense of it all. The emotions, the face, all of it. Everything's changed, in so many ways. Even... This." She squeezes his arm. "Even us." She was mainly referring to the way he made her hearts race now, and the fact that his feelings for her were out in the open. "I want you to be absolutely sure this is what you want, Jack. No regrets. That's why I want you to think it over. " She stirred him to a stop near the Tardis. "I want to give you time to really think about this, and consider the possibilities. I need that time, too."

She knew in her hearts, more than anything, that she wanted this, she wanted him by her side, just like old times. But she was wondering if she could really allow herself to be that selfish. And if she did, where would things go? Things would be really different now-- because this time she knew he loved her, and she knew she was overwhelmingly attracted to him. Would she eventually succumb to his charms? She wouldn't want to ruin their friendship because of raging hormones. It was a lot to think about.

"I promise I won't abandon you again, Jack." She made sure to reassure him, in a soft voice.

[captainspain]

"I would like to again point out I'm over a 1,000 and a century. But if you want me to take more time to think Doctor then that's what I'll do," Jack says trying to not let hope thread his voice. He's learned it's not good to hope for things. "Just promise me you'll come back...please. I'll give you another century or however long you want, I just need to know you'll come back."

[finally_ginger]

"You need to figure out if you can put up with me...I'm a bit more mad than I was before." She teased him a bit, and actually broke into a smile. She looked him over and raised a brow. "1100 though? Really? My, my, I think you're catching up with me now, Captain."

Then she got serious again. "I promise. I'll be back. And it won't be a century. I swear." She paused a moment, thinking, and then reached for his wrist. "Here... I'll leave you with a bit of a parting gift."

She retrieved her sonic screwdriver from her pocket, and aimed it on his vortex manipulator, fiddling with the controls a bit.

"I'm adjusting the calibrations and the sensor just a bit. When I return to this time, this place, the manipulator's controls will glow a bright blue, and it Will make a bit of a... ding noise a few times. Bit like an oven when the turkey's done." She looked down at her handiwork, returning the sonic into her pocket. "And if you're not in close proximity, it'll bring you right to the Tardis."

It was a bit out of her usual practice when it came to that damned manipulator, but if it put him at ease, it was worth it.

[captainspain]

Jack smiles. "I'd rather the teleport work but I've learned not to fight you on that and I'll take my rewards as they come." He leans forward a bit and kisses the Doctor's cheek warmly. "Don't stay away too long yeah. I like that you're ginger."

[finally_ginger]

"Oi, you're just looking for an excuse to zap yourself on board when you think I'm not looking." She was playing with him now. "Knowing my luck, you'd zap yourself right into the bloody shower. While I was in it." She gave him an amused smirk.

She kissed his cheek back, and then slipped away from him a bit reluctantly to stand by the Tardis doors.

"I promise... I'll be back soon." Her face turned up into a big, beautiful smile, probably the truest she'd had in ages. "And you know what? I do, too."

[captainspain]

"Is that actually possible," Jack asks then shakes his head, "no wait don't tell me or I won't be able to stop thinking about trying it." He smiles. "So I won't say goodbye then, just see you soon Doc."

[finally_ginger]

The Doctor laughs and gives him a wink as she steps into the Tardis. "See you soon, Jack." She says, and slowly shuts the Tardis doors, breaking their eye contact. It was going to be a long few days.