PREDATOR AND PREY

Chapter Twenty Three

As they rode the bus back to the station, they all rode in the back seats. Jack sat across from John and Rose and asked John about coming to work for Torchwood. The Doctor could tell that John was considering his offer, especially since John was pointing out that if Jackie stayed behind he'd never have to see her again.

"It's tempting," John said when Jack paused to let him think it over. "Wouldn't mind working for your team. But would you be alright with me being back in the other universe?" he asked the Doctor.

"I don't mind. I think the Earth could use your expertise. Torchwood is badly needed. Sarah can only do so much and if Jack can put his team back together and help protect the Earth, so much the better. I think we can coexist in the same universe."

"And you?" John asked Rose.

"I wouldn't mind. I've always loved working with Jack. And none of your cheek about me being your love slave," she said, pointing to Jack when he started to open his mouth.

Jack closed his mouth and gave her a cheeky grin while John looked at him and his girlfriend.

"Will you be safe around him?" he said to Rose while he gestured to Jack.

"As safe as I normally am."

"I promise I won't pounce on her during a fight and shag her brains out," Jack said, crossing his heart with his finger. "I need you both. Rose wants me to put the team back together and I would love it if you came with us. At the moment it's only Gwen and me, although Rhys does help out in an unofficial capacity."

"I'm all for this. That is, if we can sort this mess out here," John said.

"We will. We're made of awesome!" Jack said.

The bus pulled into the bus station and everyone got off. The Doctor led them across the street to the TARDIS. John smiled as he laid his hand on the side of the box.

"So, you're hiding her here?" John asked the Doctor.

"For the moment. If we go back toEngland, we can take her there. That way we can avoid the airlines and the no fly list," the Doctor said. "Question is, do we take Jackie and Pete and Tony and leave them in here or do we leave them here in Albuquerque?"

"I think we should take them," Amy said. "That way we know they're safe."

"Yes. That's true," the Doctor said. "But that means Jackie will be loose inside my TARDIS."

"Oh come on, she's not that bad, is she?" Amy said.

She raised her eyebrow when the Doctor, John and Jack all gave her pointed looks.

"Well, surely we aren't leaving her in danger," Amy said.

"No, we're not. I know you lot aren't fond of mum but she deserves to be kept safe," Rose said. "We're keeping her inside the TARDIS."

"So…Rose is in charge now, eh?" Jack teased the Doctors.

"Well…she is if we don't want our faces slapped off," the Doctor said. "Fine. We'll keep Rose's family in here but I'm asking my ship to put some barriers up so she doesn't wander off and lose herself forever in here somewhere."

"So are you ready to go see her?" John said. "I know she's waiting for Rose to come back."

"Let's get it over with then," Rose said with a sigh. "I'm not looking forward to this."

"Do you need me to stand by your side when she yells at you?" John asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"No. That'll make it worse. I'll be alright. I can handle my mum."

John nodded and kissed her cheek. They waited while the Doctor went inside the TARDIS. He was gone for about five minutes and when he came outside, he told the others that he had the TARDIS on a short delay after which she would go out of sync with time. After a minute, the TARDIS suddenly faded from view.

"There, she's hidden," the Doctor said.

"Let's ride back to the hotel then," John said.

All of them went back across the street and caught the bus to the hotel. It was about a half hour ride before they reached the Motel 6 by the highway.

"Not very posh but it's only 36 dollars a night," John said as they stepped off the bus. "We've been paying by the week…or rather Pete's been paying by the week. He's the one with all the money."

He led them to the stairs and they went up to the second level. The doors of the rooms were all facing the outside balcony and John led them to the door on the end. He knocked on the door and Pete opened it.

"Rose is here," he said to him.

"'Bout bloody time!" Jackie said from inside the room.

Rose winced and the Doctor gave her a sympathetic look as Jackie pushed past her husband and walked out onto the balcony.

"So…there you are, young lady," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "We've been worried sick about ya!"

"Mum, I'm fine," Rose said. "Really. Nothing happened to me. I'm alright."

"Well, it's a good thing," Jackie said. "Bad enough he leaves you behind but then you go missing and we can't contact ya? What were you thinking?"

Jackie looked around at everyone and her eyes settled on Jack. He gave her a friendly wave.

"Who are all these people? I remember this one," she said, pointing to Jack.

"Nice to see you again, Jackie," Jack said.

"Yeah, likewise. Who are all of you then?" she said, looking around.

"Well, I'm the Doctor for starters. Hello again, Jackie."

Jackie did a double take and her mouth dropped open as she stared at the Doctor.

"You changed…again?" she said.

"Yeah, I did," the Doctor said.

"Rose, are you sure you wanna be friends with him? This is the third body in…what…five years? Just what have you been doing now?" she said to the Doctor.

"I've been saving the universe. And yourself?" the Doctor said.

"Who are the others then?" she said, ignoring the Doctor.

The Doctor made introductions. Jackie said a quick hello and then looked at the Doctor.

"So why are you here?" she said to him.

"I'm here to help. Rose found me again and asked me to come so I gathered a team together and here we are."

"You went to the other universe again?" Jackie yelled at Rose.

Rose flinched and looked around.

"Mum, can we talk inside your room before everyone else comes out here?" she said.

"Fine. Get in here, I want an explanation and it better be good," Jackie said, going back inside the room.

Everyone gave Rose a sympathetic look when she sheepishly followed her mother into the room. Pete stepped outside and closed the door behind them.

"Sorry, she's been worried about Rose ever since we got here," Pete said. "I had to deal with her anger and John did as well and now it's Rose's turn. I'm glad you're here though. We've tried to figure out a way to deal with this Valeyard bloke without ending up dead. If you've come, then we have a fighting chance," he said to the Doctor. "Have you dealt with him before?"

"I've dealt with one version of him in my universe," the Doctor said.

"So you might have a way to stop him?" Pete said.

"We've been brainstorming and trying to find a solution but I think we can be successful."

Pete nodded.

"I'll go downstairs and get some rooms for all of you. Have you eaten?"

They nodded and Pete told them he would take them out to dinner later so they could talk. John used his card key and unlocked the door to his room so everyone could rest while they waited for Pete to rent the rooms. While everyone was going inside, the Doctor asked John if they could talk in private. John nodded. He told everyone to make themselves at home and once everyone was inside, he shut the door and he and the Doctor walked off.

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