The Doctor- Chapter Two
Dec. 18th, 2009 05:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericadawn16Title: But Time Didn’t Stop
Characters: Doctor, Jack Jack/Ianto
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE & Journey's End Spoilers & Planet of the Dead MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: The Doctor receives admits the truth about his parentage.
Author's Note: Starts after COE.
Chapter One
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/63337.html
Chapter Two
“Humans are an amazing species. They’re my favorite species. They propel most of the major events of the galaxy and they’re just…fascinating, that’s all,” the Doctor replied with a shrug and Jack sighed.
“That is the least honest answer you could have possibly given me. I remember the stories you told about the Master. Almost all of his schemes involved either Earth or humans from before a certain time period, like it was something personal,” he continued, “Why would that be? Why would two Time Lords care so much about one planet and its people even if we did spread out through the whole galaxy?”
He had to laugh. If he didn’t laugh, he’d might cry and he wasn’t about to do that. This man was the only one of his companions to figure that out. Before speaking, he took out his sonic screwdriver. The weight in his hand as he flipped it made him feel better. Then, he took a deep breath.
“Because if the Master or some other threat were to wipe out the human race before a certain point in time, I would never be born,” he whispered although it carried fine, “My mum was human.”
The gape-mouthed stare was to be expected although it did last a little long. Then, it changed to one of disbelief as though this was the best joke of all time.
“Really?” Jack clarified which he answered with a nod. He flipped the device in the air and watched it spin as the other came to terms with what was said.
“But that means she died and he didn’t,” the other pointed out and he nodded again.
“She died and broke his hearts,” he said and pocketed it, “But everyone died, Jack.”
“Still, it had to be rough growing up like that…different,” Jack commented.
“Different?” he muttered and all his anger came out, “Yeah, I was different, that’s why they picked me to do it. He’s the different one. He’s only half-Galifreyan. He ran away. He stole the TARDIS. Make him do it because he won’t care. They forgot that I had a brother and a son and a grandson and granddaughters that I was killing in the process.”
Jack’s face grew ashen and he saw him look down at his bump.
“You had to kill your family?” he asked in a small voice devoid of the judgement most would show him, “You never said anything.”
“I thought I did. I told Rose and Martha and Donna,” the Doctor said, but there was no way to lighten the mood.
“It was the Time War. They felt it was only way to save the universe; the only way to win,” he spat with a scowl and saw tears in the other’s eyes. Something must have happened more than just his Welsh lover dying. He stood up and walked over to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. The leader of Torchwood leaned his head to rest on it. After a moment, he spoke, “I had to send my grandson to die. The aliens wanted ten percent of the children and it was the only way; Steven had to die.”
As he began to sob, the Doctor reached with his right arm to hug him around the chest. He’d hoped that outcome wouldn’t happen. That timeline wasn’t fact yet. It kept fluctuating as though something still had to happen for it to finish, but he hated seeing Jack in pain like this.
“I wish I could tell you that it’ll go away, but it doesn’t. It gets better, but it never gets easier,” he murmured into his ear, “and that’s why I’m done. No more companions, it’s not worth it when they break my heart, both of them.”
There was a sniffle and the crying slowed down.
“You really think that it’s not worth it? That after you’ve been hurt so many times a person should just avoid that sort of entanglement?” Jack asked in confusion.
“Well,,,” the Time Lord started because he hadn’t thought of it that way, “Yes, in the end, everyone else dies.”
“I don’t die,” the other reminded him as if he could forget.
“But you did leave me, you said you had your team and responsibilities,” he spoke remembering and he took his arms back.
“Well, there’s no chance of that now,” the former time agent uttered, “My only responsibility is the one I carry with me.”
Although it was strange seeing Jack pregnant, some of the only times he’d seen him smile in the last eight days were the two times they’d watched the baby on the screen or when he’d caught the man talking to his bump.
“How about tomorrow, we go to Dravidia? They build a resort there. You could do the spa treatment,” he suggested since Jack had discussed Midnight with Donna on the ride back.
“I’d like that,” the other man agreed and it was a nice time without having to chase anyone or being put under pressure except he sort of liked being put under pressure. They fell into a routine with he and the former time agent exploring the safer planets while the expectant parent would remain in the TARDIS if it wasn’t safe.
****************************************************
One morning during the next week, he was having a banana shake when Jack waddled in with that grin almost like he used to have. He held a photograph.
“Look, Doctor, look what Rhi gave me,” he said, giving it to him. A male teenager with that awkward turn of the twentieth century hair was holding a toddler with blond hair. Despite the teenager having dark hair, they had the same blue eyes and the similarities were too striking for them not to be related. He also realized it was the man with the pink tie although he wore a rugby jersey here.
“He would have been sixteen there. The boy’s his nephew, David,” the leader of Torchwood explained, “One of my Christmas presents from her.”
“Christmas already? Feels like it was just Easter,” the Doctor remarked and wondered when did Jack come from, “What else did she give you?”
“A poem,” the other replied with a smile which intrigued him, perhaps it was a Shel Silverstein.
“I didn’t realize so I didn’t get you anything, but Darbodia has a market and shops,” he offered and he took the way the other’s blue eyes lit up to mean yes.
“I didn’t get you anything either, but what does one get for the Time Lord who has everything?” Jack asked awhile later as he studied a street magician.
“Oh, you’ll see something, like you’re any easier to shop for; immortal, former time agent and current leader of Torchwood…”
“Ex,” the other interrupted as if correcting him. The Doctor looked at him for an explanation.
“I’m not with Torchwood anymore,” Jack spoke while moving to the next stall, “I’ve given all of that up.”
Honestly, he couldn’t picture Captain Jack Harkness staying at home with a baby and not going crazy. He was surprised the man hadn’t become more stir crazy as it was.
“Then, who’s leading Torchwood?” the Time Lord questioned as Jack studied all the pets, “and the TARDIS does not need a bunny.”
“Might be good for you,” he argued with a pout, but went on to the next seller of wares, “Gwen is.”
He remembered Gwen was the one who looked so much like her ancestor.
“I suppose she seems capable, yeah,” the Doctor agreed because that could work for the time being. Then, he heard the musician playing on a drum. Jack was looking at his reflection in a mirror. Somehow, the TARDIS had come up with maternity trousers that fit and he wore a form-fitting blue t-shirt over that. Now, he turned back to the Time Lord.
“What is it?” he asked with concern.
“Nothing,” he claimed which didn’t fool the other one bit especially when it became obvious he heard the drumming, too. It was a repetition of four beats over and over and over.
“It doesn’t mean anything. We saw him die,” the former time agent reminded him and he nodded except he knew a few things that he didn’t.
“I know, but that hasn’t stopped him before,” said the Time Lord and ran a hand through his hair.
“We watched his body burn,” Jack stated and his hands revealed his anxiety as they raced back and forth over his bump.
“I know, but it’s not just that either, that time with Lady Christina, there was a psychic,” he explained while sticking his hands in his brown trouser pockets, “She said my song was ending.”
Chapter Three
Characters: Doctor, Jack Jack/Ianto
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE & Journey's End Spoilers & Planet of the Dead MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: The Doctor receives admits the truth about his parentage.
Author's Note: Starts after COE.
Chapter One
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/63337.html
Chapter Two
“Humans are an amazing species. They’re my favorite species. They propel most of the major events of the galaxy and they’re just…fascinating, that’s all,” the Doctor replied with a shrug and Jack sighed.
“That is the least honest answer you could have possibly given me. I remember the stories you told about the Master. Almost all of his schemes involved either Earth or humans from before a certain time period, like it was something personal,” he continued, “Why would that be? Why would two Time Lords care so much about one planet and its people even if we did spread out through the whole galaxy?”
He had to laugh. If he didn’t laugh, he’d might cry and he wasn’t about to do that. This man was the only one of his companions to figure that out. Before speaking, he took out his sonic screwdriver. The weight in his hand as he flipped it made him feel better. Then, he took a deep breath.
“Because if the Master or some other threat were to wipe out the human race before a certain point in time, I would never be born,” he whispered although it carried fine, “My mum was human.”
The gape-mouthed stare was to be expected although it did last a little long. Then, it changed to one of disbelief as though this was the best joke of all time.
“Really?” Jack clarified which he answered with a nod. He flipped the device in the air and watched it spin as the other came to terms with what was said.
“But that means she died and he didn’t,” the other pointed out and he nodded again.
“She died and broke his hearts,” he said and pocketed it, “But everyone died, Jack.”
“Still, it had to be rough growing up like that…different,” Jack commented.
“Different?” he muttered and all his anger came out, “Yeah, I was different, that’s why they picked me to do it. He’s the different one. He’s only half-Galifreyan. He ran away. He stole the TARDIS. Make him do it because he won’t care. They forgot that I had a brother and a son and a grandson and granddaughters that I was killing in the process.”
Jack’s face grew ashen and he saw him look down at his bump.
“You had to kill your family?” he asked in a small voice devoid of the judgement most would show him, “You never said anything.”
“I thought I did. I told Rose and Martha and Donna,” the Doctor said, but there was no way to lighten the mood.
“It was the Time War. They felt it was only way to save the universe; the only way to win,” he spat with a scowl and saw tears in the other’s eyes. Something must have happened more than just his Welsh lover dying. He stood up and walked over to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. The leader of Torchwood leaned his head to rest on it. After a moment, he spoke, “I had to send my grandson to die. The aliens wanted ten percent of the children and it was the only way; Steven had to die.”
As he began to sob, the Doctor reached with his right arm to hug him around the chest. He’d hoped that outcome wouldn’t happen. That timeline wasn’t fact yet. It kept fluctuating as though something still had to happen for it to finish, but he hated seeing Jack in pain like this.
“I wish I could tell you that it’ll go away, but it doesn’t. It gets better, but it never gets easier,” he murmured into his ear, “and that’s why I’m done. No more companions, it’s not worth it when they break my heart, both of them.”
There was a sniffle and the crying slowed down.
“You really think that it’s not worth it? That after you’ve been hurt so many times a person should just avoid that sort of entanglement?” Jack asked in confusion.
“Well,,,” the Time Lord started because he hadn’t thought of it that way, “Yes, in the end, everyone else dies.”
“I don’t die,” the other reminded him as if he could forget.
“But you did leave me, you said you had your team and responsibilities,” he spoke remembering and he took his arms back.
“Well, there’s no chance of that now,” the former time agent uttered, “My only responsibility is the one I carry with me.”
Although it was strange seeing Jack pregnant, some of the only times he’d seen him smile in the last eight days were the two times they’d watched the baby on the screen or when he’d caught the man talking to his bump.
“How about tomorrow, we go to Dravidia? They build a resort there. You could do the spa treatment,” he suggested since Jack had discussed Midnight with Donna on the ride back.
“I’d like that,” the other man agreed and it was a nice time without having to chase anyone or being put under pressure except he sort of liked being put under pressure. They fell into a routine with he and the former time agent exploring the safer planets while the expectant parent would remain in the TARDIS if it wasn’t safe.
****************************************************
One morning during the next week, he was having a banana shake when Jack waddled in with that grin almost like he used to have. He held a photograph.
“Look, Doctor, look what Rhi gave me,” he said, giving it to him. A male teenager with that awkward turn of the twentieth century hair was holding a toddler with blond hair. Despite the teenager having dark hair, they had the same blue eyes and the similarities were too striking for them not to be related. He also realized it was the man with the pink tie although he wore a rugby jersey here.
“He would have been sixteen there. The boy’s his nephew, David,” the leader of Torchwood explained, “One of my Christmas presents from her.”
“Christmas already? Feels like it was just Easter,” the Doctor remarked and wondered when did Jack come from, “What else did she give you?”
“A poem,” the other replied with a smile which intrigued him, perhaps it was a Shel Silverstein.
“I didn’t realize so I didn’t get you anything, but Darbodia has a market and shops,” he offered and he took the way the other’s blue eyes lit up to mean yes.
“I didn’t get you anything either, but what does one get for the Time Lord who has everything?” Jack asked awhile later as he studied a street magician.
“Oh, you’ll see something, like you’re any easier to shop for; immortal, former time agent and current leader of Torchwood…”
“Ex,” the other interrupted as if correcting him. The Doctor looked at him for an explanation.
“I’m not with Torchwood anymore,” Jack spoke while moving to the next stall, “I’ve given all of that up.”
Honestly, he couldn’t picture Captain Jack Harkness staying at home with a baby and not going crazy. He was surprised the man hadn’t become more stir crazy as it was.
“Then, who’s leading Torchwood?” the Time Lord questioned as Jack studied all the pets, “and the TARDIS does not need a bunny.”
“Might be good for you,” he argued with a pout, but went on to the next seller of wares, “Gwen is.”
He remembered Gwen was the one who looked so much like her ancestor.
“I suppose she seems capable, yeah,” the Doctor agreed because that could work for the time being. Then, he heard the musician playing on a drum. Jack was looking at his reflection in a mirror. Somehow, the TARDIS had come up with maternity trousers that fit and he wore a form-fitting blue t-shirt over that. Now, he turned back to the Time Lord.
“What is it?” he asked with concern.
“Nothing,” he claimed which didn’t fool the other one bit especially when it became obvious he heard the drumming, too. It was a repetition of four beats over and over and over.
“It doesn’t mean anything. We saw him die,” the former time agent reminded him and he nodded except he knew a few things that he didn’t.
“I know, but that hasn’t stopped him before,” said the Time Lord and ran a hand through his hair.
“We watched his body burn,” Jack stated and his hands revealed his anxiety as they raced back and forth over his bump.
“I know, but it’s not just that either, that time with Lady Christina, there was a psychic,” he explained while sticking his hands in his brown trouser pockets, “She said my song was ending.”
Chapter Three
