After the Dancing is Done (Part 6)

[amythest_n_ice]

http://amythest-n-ice.livejournal.com/34208.html
Link to Part 5
http://amythest-n-ice.livejournal.com/36116.html
Link to Part 7
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Jack and the Doctor were in the kitchen when Rose came back the next morning, looking a little tired, and slightly hung over.

 

“Have a good night?” The Doctor asked a little mockingly.

 

“I think so, from what I remember. There was this new club that we went to. Things got a little blurry after that. You feeling better today Jack?”

 

Jack nodded silently, shooting her a faint smile.

 

“I hope mum didn’t say anything to upset you yesterday. She says she didn’t, but she was asking me about what happened to your throat, and the telepathy.”

 

“She didn’t say anything too bad, I just need to keep a check on Jack’s throat.” The Doctor assured her.

 

“That’s all right then.”

 

“Good, so are we ready to go now then? I popped out earlier to get the shopping I wanted.”

 

“Yes, but I did have to promise my mum we wouldn’t stay away so long next time.”

 

“I can live with that, I suppose.” The Doctor shrugged.

 

“Great, so I’m going to catch a bath, and maybe a couple more hours sleep. See you later,” Rose said, heading out of the door again.

 

*So, where are we off to?* Jack asked the Doctor.

 

*Nowhere in particular right now. I thought we might just hop into the vortex, and let the TARDIS decide where we were going to go.*

 

*Cool.*

 

*You coming to the console room? You can have a flying lesson.*

 

Jack grinned and stood up, following the Doctor from the room, looking forward to learning something about piloting the TARDIS.

 

Jack took to the controls very easily, making the Doctor think once more about the watch that he carried. If Jack really was a ‘sleeping’ Time Lord, how much of his original self had the arch missed? The vague memory of vacuum training, and his comfort and familiarity with the TARDIS made the Doctor more and more sure he was right, that watch did belong to Jack, but how much of a hurry had they been in, to be so sloppy with the memory removal and implants. Jack hadn’t been made human as a punishment, he was a refugee from the Time War, the Doctor realized. Another question surfaced in the Doctor’s mind then. Was Jack a sole refugee, sent away by someone with the power and influence to make it happen, or were there others out there, more sleepers, not knowing who they were?

 

*Are you all right, Doctor? You’re looking kind of zoned out again.*

 

*Yes, I’m fine. You’re good at this, Jack, a natural. We’ll have to do some maintenance later, see how you do with that.*

 

*Brilliant, I can’t wait to get a closer look at the TARDIS, as long as she doesn’t mind.*

 

They both felt the wave of amused affection, indicating that she didn’t mind at all.

 

“What’s the TARDIS so happy about?” Rose asked with a yawn as she came in, toweling her hair dry, a white robe covering her pink pajamas.

 

“She’s looking forward to Jack getting his hands on her.” The Doctor said dryly, getting a dual psychic snort from both Jack and the ship.

 

“God, Jack. You’re flirting with her too?” Rose rolled her eyes.

 

“Hey, I can’t help it if she likes me.” He croaked.

 

“Anyway. I’m going to hit the pillow for a while. Wake me if we land somewhere interesting in the next couple of hours.” Rose sighed, leaving the room.

 

***

The TARDIS seemed happy enough hanging in the vortex for the next couple of days, and Rose decided to catch up on some reading while the Doctor took Jack through various bits of TARDIS repair. She didn’t mind being left out of this, she wouldn’t mind learning some of this stuff, but aside from the fact that Jack always seemed to end up covered in grease, which didn’t appeal to her, the one time she had sat and watched, she realized that they were still using telepathy in deference to Jack’s throat, so she had no idea what was going on.

 

It was Jack who bounced into the library, grinning at her.

 

“Hey, the Doctor sent me to let you know we’re going to be landing in a couple of hours.”

 

“Hey, your voice is better,” she said, looking up.

 

“Yup.” He grinned.

 

“So, where are we going?” She asked, putting her book aside.

 

“Some place called Cardiff, on your planet. He says the TARDIS wants to refuel there.”

 

“Cardiff?” She asked, her nose wrinkling.

 

“He said to mention shopping to you.”

 

“I can get behind shopping. I might call Mickey too, see if he wants to meet us there.” She grinned, getting up and heading for her room, looking forward to a nice quiet stop. It wasn’t as if anything was going to happen in Cardiff of all places.

 

********

 

Just a short chapter this time L The next chapter will skip Boomtown, as I do not seem to be able to write a chapter around that episode, no matter which of my fics I’m doing, and pick up toward the end of parting of the ways, where in the words of Torchwood, everything changes ;-)

 

Comments

[amythest-n-ice.livejournal.com]

Glad you're enjoying it. Real Life and the fact I have five fics running at the same time (One isn't on my page, it's on an anime comm) does slow the updates down a little. Thank you for sticking with me.