"Counterparts?" Rose and Tara questioned, in perfect unison.
The blonde glanced across at the brunette for a moment, catching her gaze. The two women stared at each other, as if in some kind of silent communication. One saw her past, the other saw her possible future.
Tara still had no idea of the specifics of Rose's relationship to the Doctor. She was the first to look away, down at the table, at the almost jealous look on the older woman's features. She was used to that kind of intensity, thanks to her years with the Doctor, but coming from anyone else…it was almost disturbing. The look in her eyes was somewhere between hunger and pity. It faded into sadness as Rose looked away.
"Well, there has to be more than one Rose Tyler in multiple universes, doesn't there?" the Doctor beamed.
"There wasn't in this one," Pete commented.
"And from I know of this stuff, universes close to this one are just as likely not to have a version of me in them," Rose added.
"Wherever this is heading, it's going to make my head hurt, isn't it?" Jackie mumbled, claiming a seat at the table.
"You're saying we can go through these rifts?" John asked.
"Not with the TARDIS. I'm not suicidal, you know," the Doctor replied, "If this universe still has the technology they were throwing about six years ago, then-"
"Sixteen years ago," Rose corrected him, voice soft.
He paused before continuing, "…Sixteen years ago," he agreed, "Then when we go have a little word with this Torchwood, I say we commandeer some of their highly prized universe hopping devices."
"You told me they were dangerous," Pete said.
The Doctor sighed, "Yes, I did, and they are. But using them won't be as dangerous as trying to take the TARDIS through and, ultimately, not as dangerous as leaving the rifts open."
"It's not like last time. They made these rifts by…" Rose frowned, "However you said. There isn't a switch somewhere we can flick and make everything better again."
"Which is why we're going to need some help."
"What if there aren't versions of me in these realities? And why me? They're not going to know anything about you or aliens or anything…"
He wondered if she was just being contrary to make things difficult, "If there isn't a version of you in a reality we enter, then we'll have to find someone else. But judging by your reaction to everything when we first met, I'd say, if these girls are anything like you, then they're the best people for the job," the Doctor suddenly smiled, "And if we can't find you, then we find a Jackie or a Pete-"
"Oh no you don't!" Jackie exclaimed.
"He's kidding, Mum," Rose assured her. She frowned, "You are kidding, right?"
The smile became a mischievous grin, "Am I?"
"So we're heading to Torchwood tomorrow morning," John interrupted whatever seemed to be going on round the other side of the table, "And we say what? They'll outgun us, for a start, and probably throw us right back out the front door."
The Doctor pretended shock, "When have we ever got thrown out of anywhere?"
"Numerous times."
"Have we ever stood for being thrown out?"
John frowned, "…Well…no…"
"Exactly. And Rose here can get us access to high security areas," he nodded.
Rose raised an eyebrow, "I can? I don't know every project that goes on in the place, and, from what you said earlier, it doesn't seem they trust me as much as I thought. The security clearance I have won't be enough to get you where you want to get."
"But it'll be enough to get us somewhere."
She conceded that point with a twitch of her shoulders. The idea of marching into Torchwood was suddenly making her incredibly uncomfortable. Knowing that they knew about Jack when she had tried everything in her power to keep his…abnormalities…from them frightened her more than she was letting on. It wasn't as if they had lied to her, but they had never mentioned her son beyond colleagues' polite enquiries about his progress at school, how he was doing in general – the normal things she would have expected anyone to ask.
"So, let me get this straight," Pete began, "The plan is to go and seriously naff off Torchwood, then parade round several universes, where you'll have no idea what exactly is different?"
"If we get past naffing off Torchwood, yeah," the Doctor cheerily answered.
"And our Rose is going with you?"
"Yes," Rose nodded.
"And Jack?" her 'father' asked, "What if you don't come back? What about him?"
The questioned stumped her completely. She knew her parents would take care of him if she was never to return…but her dad was right to question her. She couldn't just rush off again like she had when she was in her teens, no strings attached. Her mother had never really understood. Her son was less likely to, given to temper tantrums or not. If she didn't survive the mission they were going to undertake, all links to Jack's past would be severed. Which, in some ways, would be a good thing. However, it left him with no-one to ever truly explain to him where he really came from and, what worried her the most, left him open to attack by Torchwood. With both mother and father out of the picture, Rose wouldn't put snatching Jack away past them.
But she couldn't stay. The Doctor wanted her help. Not only her help, but the help of several versions of herself. If anything was to convince them it was going to be seeing another Rose Tyler right before their eyes. She wondered if having two copies of her in the same universe would have any repercussions, but then, she supposed, the Doctor would have said so if it wasn't safe.
There was no 'safe' option. She had a duty to Jack and a duty to his father. Hell, a duty to the universe, if it came down to it. She had never been one to step away from a challenge. Been shoved away, yes, but never of her own volition.
"Then you tell him everything when the time comes," Rose finally managed to say, "…Everything."
"Rose, you have a son to think about," her mother reminded her, "You can't just swan off and not consider these things."
"I know!" she snapped, "But if we don't seal these rifts, who knows what's going to happen? I can't just sit around and let an attempt to fix things happen and wonder what I could've done to help!"
"Jack's a bright lad. He won't just think you were hit by a car or something at the exact same time these strangers walked into this place."
"They're not strangers. I brought him up to believe in right and wrong, in doing the right thing, and if I don't live by the same rules, what kind of mother am I?"
"A wise one," Jackie stated. She stood up, "Let's show our guests to their rooms, shall we?" she prompted Pete, snatching at his elbow, "Shall we?" she repeated.
"I'm going, Mum," Rose insisted, "Nothing you say can make me stay."
"Maybe something your son says will," she glared at her husband as he opened his mouth to respond with something and was satisfied when he fell instantly silent, "Tara, John?" as she passed the Doctor, Jackie paused, "…Rose'll show you where you can sleep…if you sleep..," she wouldn't quite look him in the eye. Here he was again, all ready to tear her precious family apart for the sake of the universe.
Shooting the Doctor nervous glances, Tara and John got up from the table and followed their hosts. Reassured when he nodded, they headed out the door, each trying to start up a lively conversation with the Tylers to distract from the situation.
"…You don't have to come," the Doctor said softly.
Rose smiled sadly, "Yes, I do," she headed for the door, "Come on…I'll show you somewhere to…pace and muse?" she tried to joke, "Unless you want to go back to the TARDIS? We'll be having dinner later…"
"Actually, I was wondering if-"
"Jack?"
He nodded.
"You want to speak to him? Spend some time with him?" she asked.
"If he isn't going to think I'm some creepy stranger," the Doctor replied.
"We've got a couple of hours before dinner…maybe you could help him with his homework or something…"
"You don't mind?"
She hesitated, "…He's your son too. I'm not that cruel."
He halted, making her stop beside him, "If neither of us comes back, what happens to him?"
"Mum and Dad look after him. They run if they have to. They know what to do. We've always had plans for…if anyone found out. They go before Torchwood finds him. He's growing up, but he's still a little boy…he still calls me Mummy when he's ill…he thinks he's an adult, like they all do…like I did…but he needs taking care of. Mum and Dad know what to do…" Rose looked up at him, "…and if I don't come back and you do…then you decide what you think is best for your son."
"You wouldn't want him to live in the TAR-"
"Your choice," she uttered, not wanting to spend too much time dwelling on what was a painful subject. Rose tucked some of her hair behind her ear and headed off again, "…Let's find Jack."
"'Ryn?"
Kathryn looked up from her book and unplugged herself from the latest portable music system as she saw Jack poke his head round the door to her bedroom, "You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," the boy nodded and wandered to sit on the end of his aunt's bed, "…I've been thinking…"
"Do you ever stop? You'll strain something one day," she teased.
"'Ryn, serious moment here," Jack reached across and took her book from her, "Please."
Kathryn frowned, "…Okay…" she uttered.
"Those guys downstairs…"
"You said curiosity killed the cat…"
"I know," he answered, "But what do you think they want with Mum?"
"Rose? She works with a lot of weird people. We've seen weirder people than them. They seem pretty normal. Your mum can take care of herself, she can. Don't worry about it. If she thought they were weird, she'd have seen them off by now," she assured him.
"But they wouldn't say where that Doctor bloke was from," Jack protested, "The other two do seem pretty normal, but he…feels…"
Kathryn sat up and reached forward, grabbing at his hands, "Not this again. You know how Nan loves to tell the story of how you hated one of your playschool teachers because they 'didn't feel right'. He's done nothing to you. If our Rose trusts him, I say he's an alright guy."
"But he was talking about really strange stuff like rifts and-"
"You were listening? Nan'll get you for that," she commented, "Rifts?"
"Rifts," he nodded, "Something about universes and bunnies and flowers and the People's Republic."
"Bunnies and flowers?" Kathryn raised an eyebrow, "So the bloke's a nutcase…"
"No, but Mum and Nan…all of them, they thought he was serious…"
She smiled, "We're all a bit loopy in this family. Take Lizzie and Jimmy, for example!"
"'Ryn…"
"Jack… It's nice to see new faces, okay? Even weird ones. You know how they all watch us like we're about to be kidnapped at any moment. They seem like fun to me. Let 'em be. We'll find out more about them when they wanna talk, not by us going and terrorising them. See what they say at dinner!"
Jack nodded, reluctantly. He trusted his aunt. Though he was the real thinker of the two of them, she had always seemed to have an inner radar for trouble. If she was satisfied by what she'd seen…then it would have to be enough…for now. There was no use in winding her up and annoying her. Besides, they both had homework to do.
He smiled and clambered off the bed, throwing the book back at her, "Sooner we finish, sooner we have free time…"
"Hah, I'm starting to forget what that is with all these mock exams!" she joked.
Jack escaped from her room before she could see he hadn't quite let it all go. She had the scary knack of knowing when he was troubled. The feeling of unease he felt only grew as he walked across the large landing, headed to his own room, and he jumped as he heard his mother's voice.
"Jack!"
He realised the unease wasn't just his own worry, but the presence of the tall stranger, already throwing his senses off balance. He had to stop with the conspiracy theories. If the man was wise enough to be called a doctor then he, a kid, shouldn't distrust him. Jack narrowed his eyes as he noticed his mother was flushed and her eyes were just that little bit brighter than normal.
"How's your homework going?" Rose trotted up the last of the stairs.
"Oh…okay…" Jack replied, "Just went to see how 'Ryn was getting on with hers."
"Well, I remembered you were having some trouble with that history mock? It's just that the Doctor here happens to know a lot more about history than me, and…well, I thought he might be able to help you…" she wrung her hands, hiding her nervousness incredibly badly.
Her son hesitated, "…Sure…" he said, in rather a strange voice. Initial panic warred with the reasoning that he really did need some help, and, if he spent some time with the guy, he might figure out what was troubling him about him. That, or he could find a reason never to go near him again.
"I'm going to go investigate dinner, so I hope you two don't mind if I leave you to it?" during the short trip upstairs, Rose had decided, despite her first instincts, that leaving the Doctor and Jack alone would be more productive than her hovering and monitoring the conversation. It wasn't as if the Doctor was suddenly going to launch into talk of aliens and other worlds. He had more sense than that. Right? He certainly wouldn't tell Jack he was his father. That she knew for sure. It would cause too much damage for all of them.
"I think we can handle it," the Doctor nodded, smiling slightly.
"Can we have chips, Mum?" Jack asked, "For dinner."
Rose and the Doctor exchanged a sly, amused, smile.
"Yeah…I think we can…" she ducked her head, almost shy, and headed back down the stairs.
At that moment, the Doctor and Jack were really able to look at each other without it seeming impolite. The younger of the two was only a few inches shorter in height than his father, whilst both appeared to be horrendously thin, with the same ridiculously messy hair. Thankfully, the boy didn't notice the similarities, whilst the Doctor did, and his smile broadened.
"Lead on, Jack," he addressed his son properly for the first time.
Jack tried a polite smile, wondering why the man was grinning in such a disarming manner, and headed off. If Kathryn thought he was harmless (a nutter, but harmless) and his mum had seen fit to leave him alone with him…then he should at least try to trust him. (And help with a history exam paper wasn't to be sniffed at.)