We've spent a lot of time together, Doctor. Don't think I wasn't paying attention. And you've always got questions about everything. You always get this look when you want to investigate something. It's an expression I remember fondly.
A little mystery keeps things interesting, Doctor. You always sound so surprised when I mention how much older than you I am. Well... The reason for that is that after what happened on the satellite, when Rose brought me back, she brought me back for good. You called me "a fixed point in time". I don't age, I don't die. I'm always brought back to how I was when Rose brought me back. So I decided to try to do something good. I worked with Torchwood, mostly to wait and find you, and I did. But I went back to my team at Torchwood.
My past caught up to me there. My old partner in the Time Agency showed up, caused some havoc in 2009 and used his vortex manipulator to send me back to before Cardiff was even built. Back before Rome had fallen. Before St. Peter had ever even graced it. My brother found me there and buried me there.
[ Jack pauses, choosing his words carefully. ]
He wanted me to suffer. And I did. Every time I woke up choking on dirt, my skeleton and organs being crushed by hundreds of pounds of dirt. I wanted to die for good. [ He shakes his head. ] I couldn't. So I waited.
Eventually I was found and put into the cryo-freeze at Torchwood - eh.. long story, - and as luck would have it, woke up not an hour after I'd been taken.
[ The Doctor remains quiet and attentive while Jack speaks. He'd known about Jack's immortality, had felt it as soon as it'd happened, and he'd left. No time to think things through, he'd just ran. He shouldn't have. Not that there's anything he can do about it now.
He doesn't have any words to offer, he can't even claim to relate— the Captain has him beat in both age and experience. Instead, without thinking, his hand reaches across the table to grasp Jack's.]
[ Jack looks to their hands and squeezes The Doctor's in his briefly. By way of apologies, it isn't much of one, but it's the best he's likely to get from him now or in the future. At least now maybe he can understand just a little of what he'd gone through just to get to this moment. He smiles kindly at him, feeling at least to some extent, unencumbered by it all for the first time in over 2,000 years. ]
Thank you. Waited a long time to get that off my chest.
[ A big smile grows on his lips at the mention of him. ]
What, having a hard time believing that I'd want to settle down? Well, it's been.. a process. But Ianto and I started seeing each other a couple of years ago. Workplace romances are the best, don't you think? But anyway, just over a year ago, he showed up here and, well, things have continued going well, I'd say.
[ Jack turns to look at his lover and watches him fondly for a moment. ]
He's cute, don't you think? I think he's a keeper.
[ Jack winks and chuckles, turning back around to sit properly. ]
I love him. I really do. I guess I've been holding onto him so tight because I don't want to lose him again.. He died in my timeline before I arrived. I met with his spirit and lost him again just before I arrived here. Then he arrived here, fully alive.. he hadn't yet died in his timeline. But recently he woke up with memories of his death.. like he'd lived out the rest of his life in a dream or something. I can't... I can't explain it.
It doesn't sound right. But... the island giveth and the island taketh away. Just like I was telling you about Rose. Although.. if she were to return... I wonder how that would go. Might be interesting seeing you three fight over the same woman.
Wow, and people think I'm forward. I mean, if you want to, I'll be happy to show you once Ianto closes shop but he's not too keen on sharing so it might take some convincing.
But no, I just wanted to show you what I've been working on sometime. Where did you think I was going to have you put up shelves?
Well, not shelves, but I definitely could use your help. See, sometimes when the events happen, strange monsters appear and attack people... but then there are creatures that live here that I've never seen before. I want to learn about them and study them. See if they're giving off Rift energy... I understand the Rift a little better than the random events that happen here. It'd be nice to know if I'm dealing with something familiar.
[ He shifts and folds his hands on the table. ]
So now it's my turn to ask questions, Doctor. What can you tell me about Dalekanium?
There's a word I hadn't heard in ages. It's the material Dalek casings are made of, the original casings mind, no idea of what the ones is Satellite 5 were made of.
Which must mean that building things out of it must be difficult as well. What properties does it have? If I'm going to build things out of it, I don't want it irradiating what I'm holding or anything.
[ sighs, a bit annoyed, why would anyone want to build anything with the material Daleks use? ]
I don't know much about it— and I'm not just saying that. I've never taken the time to give it a close look. If I had to guess, I'd say it's safe to handle, possibly good as a conductor and unlikely to absorb any harmful sort of radiation. The only thing I know about it with absolute certainty is how to destroy it. [ he finishes with a smile ]
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[ not what he wanted to ask, but it's good enough to get started ]
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I would like to know about you. If you don't mind, that is.
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A little mystery keeps things interesting, Doctor. You always sound so surprised when I mention how much older than you I am. Well... The reason for that is that after what happened on the satellite, when Rose brought me back, she brought me back for good. You called me "a fixed point in time". I don't age, I don't die. I'm always brought back to how I was when Rose brought me back. So I decided to try to do something good. I worked with Torchwood, mostly to wait and find you, and I did. But I went back to my team at Torchwood.
My past caught up to me there. My old partner in the Time Agency showed up, caused some havoc in 2009 and used his vortex manipulator to send me back to before Cardiff was even built. Back before Rome had fallen. Before St. Peter had ever even graced it. My brother found me there and buried me there.
[ Jack pauses, choosing his words carefully. ]
He wanted me to suffer. And I did. Every time I woke up choking on dirt, my skeleton and organs being crushed by hundreds of pounds of dirt. I wanted to die for good. [ He shakes his head. ] I couldn't. So I waited.
Eventually I was found and put into the cryo-freeze at Torchwood - eh.. long story, - and as luck would have it, woke up not an hour after I'd been taken.
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He doesn't have any words to offer, he can't even claim to relate— the Captain has him beat in both age and experience. Instead, without thinking, his hand reaches across the table to grasp Jack's.]
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Thank you. Waited a long time to get that off my chest.
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[ He smiles back, a small smile at first but it quickly turns into a full-blown grin. ]
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Does that satisfy you? Or do you have other questions?
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[ A big smile grows on his lips at the mention of him. ]
What, having a hard time believing that I'd want to settle down? Well, it's been.. a process. But Ianto and I started seeing each other a couple of years ago. Workplace romances are the best, don't you think? But anyway, just over a year ago, he showed up here and, well, things have continued going well, I'd say.
[ Jack turns to look at his lover and watches him fondly for a moment. ]
He's cute, don't you think? I think he's a keeper.
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Don't know about cute. [ he turns back to Jack, smiling ] Good dresser, though.
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[ Jack winks and chuckles, turning back around to sit properly. ]
I love him. I really do. I guess I've been holding onto him so tight because I don't want to lose him again.. He died in my timeline before I arrived. I met with his spirit and lost him again just before I arrived here. Then he arrived here, fully alive.. he hadn't yet died in his timeline. But recently he woke up with memories of his death.. like he'd lived out the rest of his life in a dream or something. I can't... I can't explain it.
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This is place is being kind, then [ he sounds surprised even as he says it ] ... is that right? That doesn't sound right.
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Should get a drink. They'll want to shoo me off otherwise.
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Wow, and people think I'm forward. I mean, if you want to, I'll be happy to show you once Ianto closes shop but he's not too keen on sharing so it might take some convincing.
But no, I just wanted to show you what I've been working on sometime. Where did you think I was going to have you put up shelves?
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Oh, you really do need to have shelves put up? I thought that was one of your lines.
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[ He shifts and folds his hands on the table. ]
So now it's my turn to ask questions, Doctor. What can you tell me about Dalekanium?
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Anyway, strong material, hard to destroy.
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I don't know much about it— and I'm not just saying that. I've never taken the time to give it a close look. If I had to guess, I'd say it's safe to handle, possibly good as a conductor and unlikely to absorb any harmful sort of radiation. The only thing I know about it with absolute certainty is how to destroy it. [ he finishes with a smile ]
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Yeah, I know. You're really good at it. But that doesn't really tell me how to use it. It's just metal, right? What's the harm?
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[ he's joking. Mostly. ]
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