The Cost of a Box

Author: Naomitrekkie

Series: The whole Whoniverse, with a focus on Doctor Who

Rating: T, because Jack's gotten into my head

Synopsis: Only the people on the Valiant remembered the Year That Never Was, or were they? One seemingly crazy girl knows more than she should, but at what cost?

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or the Whoniverse. If I did, Children of Earth would not have made me cry, unless it was tears of joy.

A/N: I am really sorry this has taken so long to update and I'm sorry it's short. This chapter has been driving me insane, but I wanted to give you guys something since you've been waiting so patiently. I thank you if you're still reading this.

And, OMG, I've finally seen Children of Earth and I've got to say, as much as I cried and wanted to hate it with all my guts, I've got to admit it was flippin' fantastic. Now that that's said, it's time for me to say that as great as the mini-series was, it will not be a part of this story, or the series I'm planning around it. So don't worry Ianto, you're safe with me!! I'd also like to say that I've got a craving to talk about Children of Earth, but none of my few in-the-flesh Whoniverse friends have seen Children of Earth, so I've got no one to talk to about it! PM me if you'd like to discuss it. Please, let's keep spoilers out of the reviews.

Thanks again to my readers, I keep writing for you guys!!!!

Enjoy!!

Chapter 10: This Wasn't Supposed to Happen

"Arabella, how good to see you," the Master said as his assistant walked up to him the hall. He was heading to his office, having come from the kitchen. He'd wanted another cup of tea. Having spent as long as he had impersonating Donna, he'd grown quite fond of it. "I'm very glad you talked me into keeping the tea-boy. This is the best tea I've had in some time."

"I'm glad, Donna, I hear he even makes a great cup of coffee, but I've got something really important to tell you." She gave him a look of seriousness, one he ignored.

"I saw it."

That was enough to change the Master's carefree attitude. Instantly becoming serious, he led Arabella to his office, where they would be able to talk in privacy.

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Jack and Martha were in "Donna"'s office, trying to search for relevant data while keeping the room looking like it had been when they got there. Quite a task considering how neat and tidy the room had been (that should have been one of the first clues that Donna wasn't herself), but luckily, they only had to look at something and it was recorded in the Hub for John to figure out. Luckily for them, he was as smart as the original, or they would have been in trouble. Trouble, with a capital T.

The had set up a silent warning system to alert them of when anyone as coming into the room, curtsey of the vault, and suddenly the alarm went blaring in their heads, but silent to the rest of the room. Rushing to ensure the room was entirely spick and span, Martha and Jack only just barely managed to get into hiding places that were both well concealed yet allowed for them to get a good look at the mouths of whoever spoke for their lip reading software.

In the room walked Donna Noble and a blonde they had never seen before, or at least didn't remember seeing (the news probably did a report on her somewhere but they couldn't remember every single person they'd ever read about). They knew better than to believe Donna was herself, no, they could tell it was the Master. Jack and Martha recognized him from when they'd met before. He wasn't the sort of person you forgot.

"What did you see?" the Master demanded, not even bothering to sit down behind his desk. Jack had the better view of his mouth and was sure John was receiving every word of this back at the Hub.

"I was preparing the rooms, like you asked, when I heard this sound. It was so strange, so I investigated, and I saw it," the girl told him. Martha noticed she looked slightly terrified as she spoke, something she hoped the translation would pick up.

"You're sure?" the Master asked, panic slightly visible on his features, if Jack looked hard enough. He had a really bad feeling about what this conversation meant and prayed to every deity that he was wrong. Their element of surprise could not be lost. They needed every advantage they could muster.

"Yes, it was a blue box, just like you said, with the words 'Police Public Call Box' written across the top. I didn't see it long, though, it left shortly after I arrived."

Jack did everything in his power to prevent himself from letting his presence known to the Master. It was confirmed that they'd lost the element of surprise, at least partially, and they had to do everything in their power to not get caught. If the Master went on mauve alert, their perception filters would become useless on him, if they weren't already.

"Did you see anyone leave or enter?" he asked.

"No, but it took me a while to find."

The Master stopped to contemplate this and think of his plan of attack. Knowing the Master, anything could happen. The more insane he was, the more unpredictable he became, though the Doctor claimed to be able to predict his moves.

He's going to call for security; he read across the bottom of the Torchwood contacts. He waited a few moments and found John was right. The Master pressed a button on his desk and a secretary or someone similar could be heard on the other side.

"Yes, Ms. Noble?" the lady asked.

"Have Mrs. Jones report to my office," he told the lady, then cut off the connection. Martha began to worry about her family, then tried to tell herself that Jones was a common name. It would be just like the Master to try and use her family this time around, and Martha wanted to make sure they were safe.

It was a few minutes before there was a knock at the door, and a familiar person walking through the door. Jack tried to hold back the gasp when he saw her.

It was Gwen.

She looked different, but not too different. Her hair was worn differently and she seemed to be thinner. Other than that, she looked—and sounded—like his Gwen.

Except she's not yours, she's Rhys', a voice in the back of his mind reminded him. He tried to be happy for her, but it hurt every time he saw her with Rhys. What made it worse was that he knew it was his fault. Not only had he told Gwen to keep a life outside of Torchwood, he had left her and driven her straight into Rhys' arms.

Focus, he told himself. He was on a mission and he couldn't get interrupted.

"Yes, Ms. Noble?" Gwen asked, looking ready for anything. Jack noticed that the tight, black security outfit she wore made her look incredibly sexy. Jack needed to stop his thoughts before they found a new level of dirt in the gutter of his mind and kept him from thinking properly.

"We have intruders. I want you to send your men to find them."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll search with them." Gwen turned to leave, but the Master didn't seem to like this idea.

"Mrs. Jones, I hired you to be my personal security guard. I don't want you out of my sight," he said. "I'll have Arabella give your men their orders."

The blonde—Arabella—left the room, leaving just the Master and Gwen. He smiled, then sat down in his chair, as if to relax. Jack was beginning to think he was in the clear when he started giving Gwen orders to guard the door, yadda, yadda, yadda. Jack's blood ran cold when he heard something he hadn't expected.

"But before you do that, I'd like you to deal with the intruder hiding over there." To accompany his words, the Master was pointing.

Straight at Jack.

To Be Continued . . .