Jack's heart ached for the Doctor. He could see the visible pain he was in with just the thought of losing the only other member of his race. Not something Jack felt he would ever really have to deal with; after all, he'd seen his people survive the end of time. But still, in all of the whole wide universe, were these two really the last ones?
He looked down to the Master, knowing full well what he was capable of. The Doctor had to know too, right? There wasn't any way he couldn't. Not after all this time. Still, he was too clever... too dangerous to be left alone. Without even thinking, Jack spoke up.
"I don't want to go home. Not yet. Not while you've got this lunatic on board with you... I can't leave you two together in good conscience. It wouldn't be right. What if he hurts you again? I'd never live with myself."
Well, he certainly hadn't expected that. Maybe he should have. The Doctor turned to look at Jack, surprised enough that his emotions showed relatively clearly, however they were conflicting enough that it didn't help much. Relief. There was definite relief, because part of him was terrified of the Master waking up, of the hatred in his eyes, of what power he could have over him. But at the same time it felt as if Jack wanted to intrude on something he had no business interfering with. So like Jack, wasn't it, to have him feel such contrary emotions.
"...are you certain? Jack, he isn't going to hurt me. I can handle him. The TARDIS won't let him pilot her, either. But... This trip isn't going to be like it was with... With Rose." He would never be able to just casually say her name, would he? "I don't want him to hurt you anymore, either."
"I'll be fine. Wouldn't you know it, but I sincerely doubt that whatever he'll do with you here isn't nearly as bad as what he did to me before." He gave a sort of half-smile and leaned against the railing, almost daring the Master to wake up while he was near him. When he was with the Doctor, Jack felt fearless, and he knew that the Master wouldn't present too much of a problem if they were together.
"Where were you going to take him?" He wondered, folding his arms. "You can't exactly take him home, and I'm not sure a prison would be good enough to keep him in. I used to hear stories of a woman who would break in and out of Stormcage whenever she got bored. I don't think they're up to the task of watching over him."
"He said it himself, didn't he?" The Doctor stepped closer to the Master, looking down at him and feeling his hearts ache for so many reasons. "I'll keep him prisoner on the TARDIS. We won't make many stops." How he wished he could trust him. Perhaps it was good Jack was on board, because it made him ever so much more aware of the many reasons why dropping to his knees and freeing the Master right now wouldn't be a good idea.
He turned back to Jack again, frowning as he thought. "I can get you a phone or something. In case you want to contact your team?"
Jack kept a close eye on the two of them, half expecting the Master to jump to life at any second and tear out the Doctor's throat with his teeth. Who knew what he was going to do and what he was capable of like this? Jack certainly had no idea, and he wasn't very keen on finding out the hard way. He caught the Doctor's gaze evenly and sighed.
"It might be for the best. I... didn't exactly say anything when I left, so there's a good chance they'll be mad at me." Gwen absolutely would be, and he was certain that Owen would have a few choice things to say as well. He was still figuring out Ianto, but Tosh was fine without him.
"Alright." The Doctor gave a nod and returned to the console, rummaging about for a bit and then leaning back against it as he used the sonic screwdriver on the phone he'd dug up. "I can bring you back any time, just within minutes after we let out Martha and family. Any time." He wasn't even sure whether he was trying to talk Jack into staying or leaving. In the end he just sighed and handed him the phone.
Jack took the phone and looked it over. He'd seen Rose use it before, so he had no assumptions that it might not work. The Doctor was just good like that. He smiled.
"Don't worry about me getting lost. I've got a good memory." He winked and began dialing the number to Gwen's mobile, turning to start down toward the direction of the room the Doctor had let him use last time he was on board. "You're welcome to join me later if you like." Another wink for his half-invitation, not expecting him to even consider taking it for a moment before he began walking toward his room, the phone up to his ear.
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He looked down to the Master, knowing full well what he was capable of. The Doctor had to know too, right? There wasn't any way he couldn't. Not after all this time. Still, he was too clever... too dangerous to be left alone. Without even thinking, Jack spoke up.
"I don't want to go home. Not yet. Not while you've got this lunatic on board with you... I can't leave you two together in good conscience. It wouldn't be right. What if he hurts you again? I'd never live with myself."
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"...are you certain? Jack, he isn't going to hurt me. I can handle him. The TARDIS won't let him pilot her, either. But... This trip isn't going to be like it was with... With Rose." He would never be able to just casually say her name, would he? "I don't want him to hurt you anymore, either."
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"Where were you going to take him?" He wondered, folding his arms. "You can't exactly take him home, and I'm not sure a prison would be good enough to keep him in. I used to hear stories of a woman who would break in and out of Stormcage whenever she got bored. I don't think they're up to the task of watching over him."
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He turned back to Jack again, frowning as he thought. "I can get you a phone or something. In case you want to contact your team?"
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"It might be for the best. I... didn't exactly say anything when I left, so there's a good chance they'll be mad at me." Gwen absolutely would be, and he was certain that Owen would have a few choice things to say as well. He was still figuring out Ianto, but Tosh was fine without him.
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"You can still find the way to your room?"
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"Don't worry about me getting lost. I've got a good memory." He winked and began dialing the number to Gwen's mobile, turning to start down toward the direction of the room the Doctor had let him use last time he was on board. "You're welcome to join me later if you like." Another wink for his half-invitation, not expecting him to even consider taking it for a moment before he began walking toward his room, the phone up to his ear.