About twenty minutes, and a lot of conversation, later, the Doctor and Jack exit the water, water dripping from their hair. Behind them a brown-orange alien follows. His skin looks pretty rubbery, and he seems a bit frightened. The Doctor turns to the alien, and makes a strange sound, and Sophie assumes she's speaking in the alien's language.
Once the conversation is over, Jack stands with the alien, while the Doctor jogs up to the group. Before the Time Lady can say anything, Sophie begins, "When is the TARDIS gonna start translating again."
The Doctor smiles, "The Old Girl should be feeling at her best again, don't you worry." Ianto reaches into the van, and hands her a towel. She nods her thanks, immediately dragging the towel through her hair. "Right, everyone meet Svegx. He's a bit nervous, but a new environment will do that to you. I told him that my friends are really nice."
"Alright Doc, we'll be on our best behaviours," Graham says. He then turns to the others around him, "Right, guys?"
Everyone immediately nods in agreement, Gwen elbowing Owen in the ribs, "Could do with a smile there."
He plasters a half smile on his face, and the Doctor shrugs, "Yeah, close enough." She waves Jack and Svegx forward.
Jack grins, "Did everyone behave?" he asks, looking at Sophie.
"Oh, absolutely, we all got along really well. We bonded over our losses."
Jack looks a bit concerned for a moment, but does his best to mask it. Ianto hands him the other towel, and walks around the van to get the Captains clothes. His eyes land on the Vortex Manipulator, and he practically purrs as he grabs it. He doesn't waste a second wrapping the leather strap around his wrist. "Don't forget to introduce our new friend, Doctor."
The Gallifreyan rolls her eyes, but gestures to Svegx. Sophie expects to hear the same unintelligible words, but instead the Doctor speaks in English. "Svegx, I'd like you to meet my mates. Graham, Yaz, Ryan, Sophie, Owen, Ianto, Gwen, and Tosh. Fam, this is Svegx."
Everyone waves awkwardly at the alien, not entirely sure how to respond. They don't want to spook the being, but also don't want to seem aloof to him either. "So, are we taking him back to Huantido then?" Yaz asks, while smiling at Svegx.
"That's the plan," the Time Lady responds, but turns to look at Graham and Ryan, "If it's alright with you two."
Ryan glances at Graham, and Graham looks at his grandson, almost as if in sync they both nod their heads, "Works for us," Ryan states, confidently.
"Right, then back to the Torchwood hub it is then. We'll pick up the TARDIS, and drop off Svegx." The Doctor takes a deep breath, then meets her companions eyes, "Then I'll take you back to 2020, and drop you two off at home."
Graham nods curtly, "Long as you you don't break any chairs."
"You break one chair, and that's all that's brought up."
"Makes perfect sense to me," Sophie smiles. "Why do you go around breaking people's furniture. What did Graham's chair ever do to you, eh?"
The Doctor rolls her eyes, "I said, best behaviour."
She presses her hands to her chest, looking indignant, "This is my best behaviour."
Jack laughs, not even trying to hid it. The Doctor shoots him a look, and he looks chagrined, for maybe a moment, before smiling, and winking at Sophie. "Let's get Svegx home, alright?"
The group piles into the van, and Owen once again hops behind the wheel.
***
The trip back to Torchwood seems to go by faster than the trip on the way there. Their alien guest is sitting in the back beside the Doctor and Ianto Jones. He seems quite nervous still, as they climb out of the van. Jack leads the group back into the Hub.
He takes his great coat off, tossing it onto one of the desks. He leans against a desk, "Home sweet home, eh?" He addresses his crew.
"Not exactly," Gwen smiles, moving past the Captain, "But that is where I'm going." She swings her bag over her shoulder. As she walks past the Time Lady she smiles, "It was nice seeing you again, Doctor?"
"You too," the Doctor waves her off.
One by one the rest of the Torchwood crew leaves, each of them giving the Doctor a farewell. Once they're all gone, the Doctor walks up toward her TARDIS, "Well, this is it." She opens the doors, ushering Svegx inside, her companions following. Jack pulls the Gallifreyan into a hug, and she presses a kiss to his cheek, "Behave."
He smiles, "Never."
The Time Lady rolls her eyes, and Sophie sidles up to the other side, wrapping an arm around her waist. The Doctor proceeds to practically encircle the woman, holding her tightly, "I think I'll miss you most of all, scarecrow."
"But there's no place like home, Doc, and you gotta get Svegx back to his. I'll see you again, I'm sure."
The Doctor smiles, before walking into her ship, the doors closing behind her. Jack walks over to Sophie, wrapping an arm around her waist, and the TARDIS vanishes in front of them both.
"So?" she asks, turning to look at Jack, "Are you gonna give me a lift home, or do I need to hail a cab, or take the bus?"
Jack rolls his eyes, "C'mon."
YOU ARE READING
The Orphan in the TARDIS
FanfictionThe story begins with a girl of a mere five years. She's saved from aliens by the Oncoming Saviour... I mean Storm. He pops in and makes sure she's okay through the years, letting her tag along on adventure. BBC owns rights to Doctor Who and affilia...
