Chapter Text
Jack’s POV
He didn’t know what he was getting into when he threw that Chula ambulance into the heart of the London blitz. He thought he was the one setting the trap. He didn’t know he was walking into a trap of his own.
Rose and the Doctor were not Time Agents, that much was clear. But he didn’t know what exactly they were.
Not until his ship was about to blow up and the Tardis opened up to let him in.
Rose and the Doctor were dancing and laughing as he entered the ship. The Doctor barely glanced at him. “Close the door, will you? Your ship’s about to blow up. There’s bound to be a draft.”
Jack didn’t have a choice. He closed the door just in time. The sound of his ship blowing up was only a faint vibration. He looked around the ship. “It’s bigger inside.”
The Doctor arched an eyebrow at him. “I should hope so. Welcome to the Tardis.”
Jack looked around the ship. It was more advanced than anything he had seen before. He was a fool for thinking they were Time Agents. He looked at the Doctor warily.
Rose rushed over to him, smiling still. “I believe what the Doctor meant to say was you may cut in.”
Jack grinned down at her and took her hands. At least this was a lovely trap to be in.
The Doctor looked up at them from the console. “Rose! I just remembered! I can dance!”
Rose kept her hands intertwined with Jack’s. “Actually, Doctor, I think Jack wants to have this dance.”
“I’m sure he does, Rose,” he said. “The question is— who with?” He looked at the Time Agent who had been checking out the Doctor by reflex.
Jack cleared his throat and stepped to the side, feeling himself blush a little. Rose giggled and entered the Doctor’s arms again. They danced all around the bridge of the ship, laughing the entire time. Jack could only watch with a slight smile. He had to admit, they looked good together. And their laughter and joy were infectious. But he couldn’t help but wonder what was in store for him.
After all, they were unicorn hunters. And he was their prey.
***
He had to admit, their trap was really good, especially for one that had to have been improvised as a response to his own. It only took one night for him to end up without weapons in a ship that was about to blow up. He either had to go with them or die.
He looked down at his Vortex Manipulator. The damn thing was busted so he couldn’t zap his way out of here. He was surprised the Doctor hadn’t taken it away from him anyway.
Rose went to bed after a little bit, tired from the day. But Jack stayed up with the Doctor, not sure what to do. “Who are you?” he asked. “I’ve never seen a ship this advanced.”
“I bet you haven’t,” he said, looking at the monitors for something. “The Time Agency doesn’t have anything on Time Lord technology.”
Jack’s mouth fell open. “Time Lord? You can’t be serious.” Time Lords were practically gods. No wonder he had been caught so easily.
The Doctor leveled him with a look. “Quite serious.”
His heart sank a little. Even if he got his Vortex Manipulator working, he would never be able to escape a Time Lord. He was stuck with them until they got tired of him and dumped him somewhere.
He had thought the Time Lords died out millennia ago. Legend has it they all disappeared in a huge time war. “Is Rose also a Time Lord?”
“No. Just me.” A muscle twitched in the Doctor’s jaw as he looked away. “Any more questions?”
Jack had a feeling he was here because of Rose. The Doctor didn’t want him here. “No more questions,” he said. “Just… thank you. For saving my life.” Even if they had ulterior motives, it didn’t hurt to show gratitude.
The Doctor smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No problem. Trust me, you’re already better than the last stray Rose picked up. He was a piece of work.”
“Does she pick up a lot of… strays?” He remembered when they were hiding in a room in an abandoned hospital. The Doctor had glared at Rose. ‘Where did you pick this one up, then?’ He had asked her. Jack should have known to walk away right then and there.
“Here and there. She has one at home, too. I got to admit, you’re the most interesting one so far.” The Doctor looked him up and down, sizing him up.
Jack cleared his throat, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “I hope that’s a good thing.” He put on his most charming smile.
But the Doctor didn’t return it. “We’ll see,” he said. “You should get some sleep.” He pointed to a door on the other side of the bridge. “First door on the left,” he said.
Jack nodded. “Thank you.” He followed the Doctor’s instructions and was relieved to see he had his own room. At least he had some privacy.