Jack- August 1st, 2010, Part Two
Jan. 23rd, 2010 06:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericadawn16Title: But Time Didn’t Stop
Characters: Jack, Martha, Doctor Jack/Ianto
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE End of Time Spoilers MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Jack and Martha discuss the Doctor.
Author's Note: Starts after COE.
Previous Segment: August 1st, 2010
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/63337.html
August 1st, 2010, Part Two
For several seconds, her mouth gaped open and then Martha questioned, “Which Doctor was it then? Did he have a bowtie and a nerdy jacket?”
“No,” Jack answered and realized she must be talking about a future version of the Doctor that he hadn’t met yet, “It was the same Doctor you were with when I met you.”
“But you’re…you’re on better terms now…about his not being there?” Martha inquired and took a bite.
“Yes,” he confirmed although he wasn’t ready to explain how he had chosen Iefan over going back in time or how he died giving birth to Iefan. When he mentioned to her about when they met, it made him think of something else.
“When you were wearing the TARDIS key, was anyone able to see through the perception filter?” he asked her because Suzie, himself and the Doctor were the only ones he knew.
“The Master, of course,” she reminded him, “Babies and one or two others, very few, why?”
Jack wasn’t sure about revealing how someone on the UNIT watch list had that ability, but it was Martha.
“The first time I came back, I wore the key around my neck and Mica saw me,” he explained and she began chewing more slowly.
“At least now, I know why they’ve been able to get through their security,” she said after swallowing.
“But you can’t say anything,” Jack insisted, “I’m not even sure if they know or not.”
He wasn’t even sure what they knew about their grandmother.
“Of course,” she agreed with a curious expression, “If that’s what Mica and David are capable of…what’s Iefan going to do?”
It was almost the same question that went through his mind every day.
“I don’t know,” he spoke and readjusted his son on his lap. He was desperate for some change of topic.
“What happened to Johnson?”
“She died five years ago, they had a medic at that point but it was an alien attack, there was nothing they could do. They…they can’t keep people very long,” she explained with sadness on her features.
“Lois? Bridget? Andy?” he questioned although he was a bit frightened at the answer.
“No, Lois is still there. Bridget remains the London liaison and Andy almost died so he transferred to Manchester of all places. He sends Gwen postcards from time to time,” Martha answered and he felt relieved although there was one person he hadn’t asked about.
He almost didn’t want to ask. Would it be worse that she did know something or that she was still missing?
“Has there been any news on my daughter, Alice Carter otherwise known as Melissa Moretti?” he inquired and thought about eating more of the sandwich but was too nervous to do so.
She shook her head and squeezed his hand.
“Maybe wherever she is, she’s learned how to be happy, too…she just doesn’t want any reminders of her old life,” Martha suggested and gave him a brave smile, "Or she just stayed off the radar...everyone stopped looking for her after the funeral." None of it helped. When she started telling him what had happened to everyone, he’d let his guard down. He’d let himself think that maybe something had changed. It hadn’t. He knew Steven was happy, but he had no way of knowing whether his mum knew the same. Jack hoped wherever she was, that his daughter was happy, too. Then, he hoped that Martha would never be able to understand how he felt. They ate in silence a little longer.
“What did happen on floor thirteen unless…unless you don’t want to…” she said, taking back her request. Never had she even asked about what had happened when she was walking the world although perhaps she hadn’t wanted to know with all that she had seen on the planet or maybe Tish had informed her instead.
“We refused to give them the children and they released a lethal virus which triggered the lockdown protocols. Everyone was trapped inside,” he spoke as though he was giving directions to a tourist. It helped not to say his name. She knew he was there. Martha’s expression looked almost…guilty as the minute passed.
“Then, I can almost see why they did it,” she responded and he couldn’t believe what she was saying, “I’m sorry, Jack, but think about it. You’re MI5, minding your own business while transcribing Al Qaeda chatter or something. Two guys piss off some aliens upstairs and suddenly, you end up dead. What would their families think? They’d want your head and Torchwood’s even if you did save their children.”
He’d never thought of it that way. They had just assumed all of MI5 was in on it, but it was more plausible that some were innocent. Lois had only known because she was under Bridget and Frobisher. There was so much senseless death those two days. He kissed the top of Iefan’s head. Their son was the only good thing to come out of it. Martha squeezed his hand again and asked, “Are you staying?”
It was so tempting. He only had one room of babyproofing done, but he had also proved that it could be done with Iefan in the room until he learned how to crawl. However, the nursery also needed to be completed with the items still in the TARDIS and he needed to fake birth records for him. While he trusted the TARDIS and the Doctor to have checked the baby out, he should also have Martha check him out although not today. He couldn’t stay yet. It wasn't the right time.
“No, he needs me right now,” Jack answered as Mariah spun around in circles, “You should see him. I didn’t realize how lonely he was after we left and he lost Donna and Jenny.”
She looked like she was about to interrupt. Then, he guessed that she changed her mind so he continued, “I want to make sure he’ll be fine, maybe wait until he takes another companion because Iefan is really good for him.”
The baby had fallen asleep and he shifted him to lie against his arm.
“Well, you must do something right, I’ve never seen him happier than the last few years,” Martha told him, “And there’s been several companions that I know of. Two that I know you’d really like are Amy Pond and River Song.”
"Really? Then, tell me all about them," he told her and ate more of his sandwich. As she explained how she'd met both of them, he felt better about his decision; that it wasn’t just an excuse to put off telling Rhi.
There was a full moon in the sky when the TARDIS opened the door for him as he carried Iefan sleeping in his car seat with one hand and the nappy bag with the other. It closed behind him and the Doctor watched from the console.
“I don’t remember her doing that before,” he commented and Jack shrugged.
“Maybe she’s trying to make up for messing up the date again,” he suggested and couldn’t help the annoyed tone.
“Yeah, I noticed that after you left,” he said and appeared to make a deliberate action of hitting buttons while not looking at him.
“What is it?”
“You know that I can see everything to happen and everyone except my own timeline?” he asked, “Also, taking into account that things are flexible except for you.”
Jack didn’t like the sound of this as he nodded.
“Like Martha has visited a number of places and time, but she’s linear, she’s tied to the Twenty-First century,” The Doctor spoke, waited for another nod and continued, “Iefan doesn’t…have that. I can’t see where he ends up yet.”
What?
“I don’t understand what that means,” the parent complained and hoped for a better answer.
“I don’t know either,” the Time Lord admitted while holding the edge of the console, “Maybe Time just doesn’t know what to make of him yet. It’s not every day that a fixed point in space and time has a baby.”
He did have a point there which Jack didn’t want to admit. It wasn’t just that the parent who carried him was a man or that his father was dead when he was conceived, but that Iefan’s birth parent wasn’t supposed to even exist. He set the nappy bag and Iefan’s carrier on the floor, watching him sleep. If Time was so confused by him, then why was he allowed to have him in the first place?
August 1st, 2010, Part Three
Characters: Jack, Martha, Doctor Jack/Ianto
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE End of Time Spoilers MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Jack and Martha discuss the Doctor.
Author's Note: Starts after COE.
Previous Segment: August 1st, 2010
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/63337.html
August 1st, 2010, Part Two
For several seconds, her mouth gaped open and then Martha questioned, “Which Doctor was it then? Did he have a bowtie and a nerdy jacket?”
“No,” Jack answered and realized she must be talking about a future version of the Doctor that he hadn’t met yet, “It was the same Doctor you were with when I met you.”
“But you’re…you’re on better terms now…about his not being there?” Martha inquired and took a bite.
“Yes,” he confirmed although he wasn’t ready to explain how he had chosen Iefan over going back in time or how he died giving birth to Iefan. When he mentioned to her about when they met, it made him think of something else.
“When you were wearing the TARDIS key, was anyone able to see through the perception filter?” he asked her because Suzie, himself and the Doctor were the only ones he knew.
“The Master, of course,” she reminded him, “Babies and one or two others, very few, why?”
Jack wasn’t sure about revealing how someone on the UNIT watch list had that ability, but it was Martha.
“The first time I came back, I wore the key around my neck and Mica saw me,” he explained and she began chewing more slowly.
“At least now, I know why they’ve been able to get through their security,” she said after swallowing.
“But you can’t say anything,” Jack insisted, “I’m not even sure if they know or not.”
He wasn’t even sure what they knew about their grandmother.
“Of course,” she agreed with a curious expression, “If that’s what Mica and David are capable of…what’s Iefan going to do?”
It was almost the same question that went through his mind every day.
“I don’t know,” he spoke and readjusted his son on his lap. He was desperate for some change of topic.
“What happened to Johnson?”
“She died five years ago, they had a medic at that point but it was an alien attack, there was nothing they could do. They…they can’t keep people very long,” she explained with sadness on her features.
“Lois? Bridget? Andy?” he questioned although he was a bit frightened at the answer.
“No, Lois is still there. Bridget remains the London liaison and Andy almost died so he transferred to Manchester of all places. He sends Gwen postcards from time to time,” Martha answered and he felt relieved although there was one person he hadn’t asked about.
He almost didn’t want to ask. Would it be worse that she did know something or that she was still missing?
“Has there been any news on my daughter, Alice Carter otherwise known as Melissa Moretti?” he inquired and thought about eating more of the sandwich but was too nervous to do so.
She shook her head and squeezed his hand.
“Maybe wherever she is, she’s learned how to be happy, too…she just doesn’t want any reminders of her old life,” Martha suggested and gave him a brave smile, "Or she just stayed off the radar...everyone stopped looking for her after the funeral." None of it helped. When she started telling him what had happened to everyone, he’d let his guard down. He’d let himself think that maybe something had changed. It hadn’t. He knew Steven was happy, but he had no way of knowing whether his mum knew the same. Jack hoped wherever she was, that his daughter was happy, too. Then, he hoped that Martha would never be able to understand how he felt. They ate in silence a little longer.
“What did happen on floor thirteen unless…unless you don’t want to…” she said, taking back her request. Never had she even asked about what had happened when she was walking the world although perhaps she hadn’t wanted to know with all that she had seen on the planet or maybe Tish had informed her instead.
“We refused to give them the children and they released a lethal virus which triggered the lockdown protocols. Everyone was trapped inside,” he spoke as though he was giving directions to a tourist. It helped not to say his name. She knew he was there. Martha’s expression looked almost…guilty as the minute passed.
“Then, I can almost see why they did it,” she responded and he couldn’t believe what she was saying, “I’m sorry, Jack, but think about it. You’re MI5, minding your own business while transcribing Al Qaeda chatter or something. Two guys piss off some aliens upstairs and suddenly, you end up dead. What would their families think? They’d want your head and Torchwood’s even if you did save their children.”
He’d never thought of it that way. They had just assumed all of MI5 was in on it, but it was more plausible that some were innocent. Lois had only known because she was under Bridget and Frobisher. There was so much senseless death those two days. He kissed the top of Iefan’s head. Their son was the only good thing to come out of it. Martha squeezed his hand again and asked, “Are you staying?”
It was so tempting. He only had one room of babyproofing done, but he had also proved that it could be done with Iefan in the room until he learned how to crawl. However, the nursery also needed to be completed with the items still in the TARDIS and he needed to fake birth records for him. While he trusted the TARDIS and the Doctor to have checked the baby out, he should also have Martha check him out although not today. He couldn’t stay yet. It wasn't the right time.
“No, he needs me right now,” Jack answered as Mariah spun around in circles, “You should see him. I didn’t realize how lonely he was after we left and he lost Donna and Jenny.”
She looked like she was about to interrupt. Then, he guessed that she changed her mind so he continued, “I want to make sure he’ll be fine, maybe wait until he takes another companion because Iefan is really good for him.”
The baby had fallen asleep and he shifted him to lie against his arm.
“Well, you must do something right, I’ve never seen him happier than the last few years,” Martha told him, “And there’s been several companions that I know of. Two that I know you’d really like are Amy Pond and River Song.”
"Really? Then, tell me all about them," he told her and ate more of his sandwich. As she explained how she'd met both of them, he felt better about his decision; that it wasn’t just an excuse to put off telling Rhi.
There was a full moon in the sky when the TARDIS opened the door for him as he carried Iefan sleeping in his car seat with one hand and the nappy bag with the other. It closed behind him and the Doctor watched from the console.
“I don’t remember her doing that before,” he commented and Jack shrugged.
“Maybe she’s trying to make up for messing up the date again,” he suggested and couldn’t help the annoyed tone.
“Yeah, I noticed that after you left,” he said and appeared to make a deliberate action of hitting buttons while not looking at him.
“What is it?”
“You know that I can see everything to happen and everyone except my own timeline?” he asked, “Also, taking into account that things are flexible except for you.”
Jack didn’t like the sound of this as he nodded.
“Like Martha has visited a number of places and time, but she’s linear, she’s tied to the Twenty-First century,” The Doctor spoke, waited for another nod and continued, “Iefan doesn’t…have that. I can’t see where he ends up yet.”
What?
“I don’t understand what that means,” the parent complained and hoped for a better answer.
“I don’t know either,” the Time Lord admitted while holding the edge of the console, “Maybe Time just doesn’t know what to make of him yet. It’s not every day that a fixed point in space and time has a baby.”
He did have a point there which Jack didn’t want to admit. It wasn’t just that the parent who carried him was a man or that his father was dead when he was conceived, but that Iefan’s birth parent wasn’t supposed to even exist. He set the nappy bag and Iefan’s carrier on the floor, watching him sleep. If Time was so confused by him, then why was he allowed to have him in the first place?
August 1st, 2010, Part Three
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-01-24 01:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-31 07:03 am (UTC)It always makes me cry.
Still, I do leave loose ends with this story and your remarks strengthened my feeling that I should tie those up with a sequel so that's what I'm planning to do.
Thank you for your comments and making me think about what I'm doing more.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 04:37 pm (UTC)