wintercompanion | A First for The Doctor (G)

Title: A First for The Doctor
Author: aliasmargaret
Pairing: Jack/Tenth Doctor, featuring Martha Jones
Challenge: New Year
Rating: G
Spoilers: References to 3.13
Summary: Everything changes.

A FIRST FOR THE DOCTOR

What was that noise?

The Doctor stopped striding along the TARDIS corridor and listened. There it was again, a faint trilling sound, then silence, then the sound again. It was muffled and close, and…..oh! It was the phone that Martha had given to him before she returned to her family.

“If….when I call you…”

He reached into the pocket of his long coat and rummaged until he found it. The sound increased as it emerged and ceased as he flipped it open. “Hello.”

“It’s me! I need your help. Jack’s in trouble and I don’t know what to do!”

Well that didn’t sound like Martha! She was one of the best companions he’d ever had. He doubted that anyone else could have walked the Earth as she did during ‘the-year-that-never-was’. If she was panicking, it must be serious. “What’s happened?”

“No time to tell you! It’s complicated! Just get here as quick as you can!”

“On my way!” The Doctor turned and ran back to the console room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Martha put the receiver down and looked around. Jack was fastening something to the wall opposite her.

“Are you ready for him, Jack?”

“Yeah. But is he ready for this?”

She hesitated, but Jack’s look encouraged her to carry on. “He really wasn’t happy when he found out, was he?”

“True, but as I’ve said before, everything changes.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The TARDIS landed and the Doctor flipped the lever on the console to stop the engine. He then headed for the door and opened it.

He could feel the cold as soon as he put his head round the door, and then the gentle touch of the snowflakes as he turned his face upwards. He was only a short walk from a large stone building but in the darkness he couldn’t make out how large. However he tried to rid himself of his unease, he couldn’t help feeling that he’d been here before.

As he approached the main door, the light from the two lamps above it strengthened, and then he was close enough to read the inscription …… it said TORCHWOOD HOUSE.

The main door opened, and in the rectangle of light the Doctor could make out the silhouetted figure of Jack. He approached cautiously, but Jack never moved. The Doctor was only 3 feet away when Jack spoke.

“Glad you could make it, Doctor.”

“What’s going on, Jack? You don’t look like you’re in trouble.”
“It’s better if we get inside first. I’ll explain everything then.” Jack turned and walked into the house before the Doctor could say anything. Reluctantly, he followed Jack into the entrance hall, leaving the door open just in case he needed to make a quick getaway.

Jack was standing in front of the double doors that the Doctor knew would lead to the main hall, but he gave no sign of wanting to open them. The Doctor was tired of waiting, and snapped, “Come on then! What’s your big problem?”

“Well, it does get cold in here if we’re not careful. Did you bring any coal?”

“WHAT?!”

The Doctor looked as if he was ready to strangle Jack, except of course that if he did, it wouldn’t work. At that moment, one of the main hall doors opened and the Doctor was treated to a whirlwind dash across the entrance and a huge embrace from Martha.

“Jack, stop messing about and tell him!”

“Look behind you.”

The Doctor turned, and saw the new calendar on the wall. It read “January 1st.” His shoulders relaxed and then he couldn’t hold it back any longer, exploding with laughter. He turned back to look at them and it was hard to tell whose grin was the biggest.

“Jack, you’re an old sly boots!”

“Look who’s talking!” He was about to give the Doctor an equally huge hug, when he was waved away. The Doctor was again rummaging in his coat pockets, and finally, with a “Ha! Got it!” brought out a clear cellophane-wrapped package. Martha and Jack had a closer look and then Jack started to laugh. Inside was a slice of fruit cake that he could see had a corner missing from where the Doctor had taken a bite.

“I wouldn’t be too sure about the sell-by date now, but will it do at short notice, Jack?”

“It’s perfect!” Jack’s smile was enough to light the entire house, but then it faded.

“Doctor, I meant what I said about rebuilding Torchwood. It really isn’t the same as you saw it in London. I know the history and I wanted to bring you here now to show you that we really do play the game differently now. If you’re not here, then we do what we can and I make sure that it goes according to what you would wish. Martha’s told them a lot about you”, Martha smiled and nodded, “and they wanted to meet you.” He nodded toward the doors. “Come on. Martha, would you do the honours?”

Martha walked across to the doors and pushed them both open. Jack and the Doctor followed her in. The Doctor was apprehensive, but even more hopeful. It was exactly how it should be at the start of a new year.

END.

A First for The Doctor (G)

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