Chapter Text
Jack
It took three days for Donna to reach out to call them, and come back for a visit, much to the relief of Jack and the rest of his crew. While he spend most of the days becoming more and more social and less morose; the young Doctor still had episodes where he would sit and stare at a spot with a troubled expression in his eyes.
The tender topic of where he belonged was something most of them avoided, and Jack truly hoped Donna could help them with that.
Gwen had been working with the Doc to improve his social skills for every day life and his future "probable" introduction to society, that if he ever managed to accept how mundane life was most of the time. It led to some colorful use of language from him that reminded Jack of Donna. He had no doubt the Doc would be someone who would run from discussions.
He'd also taken a liking to Tosh, with whom he'd shared a lot of conversations about technology and possible uses of it. Another thing to keep in mind, the Metacrisis could and would hack into a system if dared to, he and Tosh even made a bet about it.
Even Ianto had the chance to share a few talks, despite how tense the Doc seemed to be at first. He was holding something back, Jack could see it in every inch of his body language.
He'd wanted to know about what they'd shared, but Ianto simply told him it was something personal, and only if the Doc wanted, they would share it with Jack.
Another thing to remember, this Doc was more likely to talk about personal issues, only in complete privacy.
With Owen things were much more tense, and Owen did little to help. The Doc eyed him like he was holding a gun and would take him out in an instant. Jack could get it, if someone had said what Owen did when he was on the verge of death, he would also keep his distance.
However, it still stung to see how despite all the efforts he'd made to ensure the Doc would be okay, Jack was still kept at arms lenght. All he knew was because of what the others shared or what he witnessed himself.
Ever since they had that talk about his name and choosing a new identity, the Doc has sneakily pulled away from Jack and taken refuge with the others; and Jack was once again reminded of the real Doctor, and how he had distanced himself from Jack when they met again.
Still, the thing with Owen seemed to be more personal, at least to him. Despite the distance, the Doc still greeted him politely and was in a good mood in general: but whenever Owen showed up, it was as if he was a living target of a personal glare from the local hybrid. Another thing that reminded him of the Doctor.
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It was around noon when Donna arrived with Wilf. Jack had spent the last two hours watching the Doc pace around the entire Hub, messing with his hair. He'd even tried to hide behind Jack at one point, which was a bit wholesome to say the least. Not that Jack had any interest in being used as a defense against Donna.
But it felt good to know that he was considered someone safe.
Donna walked in sided by Wilf, an united front that did little to calm the Doc. It certainly looked like they were ready to make a statement. Wilf had an expectant look in his eyes and made a beeline for the Doc with firm steps.
"It's so good to see you again, my boy", It reminded Jack of the fathers he'd heard during the war when they got their sons back.
Donna walked faster to get closer to them, unwavering, Jack felt the Doc tense behind him.
Only when Donna was standing face to face against them, did she let out a smirk.
"What's the matter Skinny, afraid of your older sister?". If Donna was aiming for humor, it got the opposite effect on the Doc. He stepped out from behind Jack and leveled Donna with a stare.
"You rejected me, remember?".
Jack could see the tense posture on his shoulders and neck, and the way his hands were formed into fists.
Not concerned at all by the body language, Donna got close enough to reach out a hand to press against the Doc's cheek, making him flinch at the contact.
"I was cruel to you, I'm sorry for that".
To say that the Doc accepted the apology would be incorrect but Jack saw the way the shoulders relaxed a fraction; and he was convinced that if Donna actually talked to him apart for the rest, they would relax all the way.
He led the rest of his crew to another room and left the Doc with Donna and Wilf, notting that the three seemed to be in a silent agreement to only talk in private.
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Donna
It was only the three of them. She eyed the Metacrisis with interest.
He was a bit skinnier than she remembered, hair more tamed than spiky, and his gaze was troubled. A bit like the Doctor, but he seemed more approachable. Well, he was, he was part of their species now.
She also noticed how despite not moving his cheek away from her hand, he also did no movements in getting closer.
Her gramps decided to take action and moved closer, letting on of his hands fall on the Metacrisis's shoulder.
"We don't want you to be alone, you were hurt in the past, that much I know".
Both of them noticed the alarmed look that flashed in the Metacrisis eyes for a quick second.
"We mean it Skinny, you don't have to be alone, after all, you're still my half-brother".
"Technically speaking I'm your son". The flat tone did little to reassure Donna.
So far he was very closed off, tensing at any minimal touch or approach. He was more affected than she believed.
"You want me to come live with you?", he asked, eyes darting from Donna to Wilf.
"Yes, we do", Wilf answered with honesty.
"All three of you?".
Donna had to let out a huff at the thought of her mother reacting to them bringing another Doctor into the house, but she'd made a vow to herself, and Sylvia wasn't going to keep her from doing it.
"It's my house", Wilf beat her to it, "I decide to belongs in my family, and you certainly do".
It was enough to make the Metacrisis relax even a little.
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At some point, Jack pulled her away to talk in private while Wilf talked to the Metacrisis on his own.
"Listen Donna, I feel I have the duty to tell you this, but it's about him, and Rose".
Donna recalls meeting Rose briefly during the Dalek invasion. She remembers a young woman holding a gun, warning her of darkness coming their way. A woman that ran towards the Doctor with joy; and that very same woman later begging him to avoid his regeneration. How that had been the trigger that caused the hand in the jar to later call for her.
Rose was also the woman that kissed the Metacrisis infront of the Doctor, and Donna didn't even have to look at the Doctor to know that his heart was breaking. She kept her opinion to herself, not even sharing it with her Gramps, but she had been troubled by Rose's behaviour.
She could understand first hand the panic of losing the Doctor, it was her first time seeing a regeneration taking place, but Rose already knew. She had traveled with the Doctor before, she knew the rules, and still tried to ignore them. Donna wasn't sure what she would've done but she hoped it was something so confusing and hurting for both the Doctor and the Metacrisis.
"Donna, he's been having nightmares about her, he doesn't remember, but they happen".
That was even more troubling. That the man that destroyed the Daleks could suffer from nightmares regarding some like Rose. She was the Doctor's most important companion, someone that even gone still lingered in that TARDIS, and now she lingers as a danger in the mind of someone she once considered a replacement.
It was concerning for both Donna and Jack, even if was a bit torn. He'd known Rose before, he had a soft spot for her.
The itch to discover the truth was growing in her, just like old times with the Doctor. Except that now the Doctor was gone, her friend was going around time and space, probably travelling with someone else. And they were here, trying to pic up the pieces.
It was just like Martha told her once, stand too close to the Doctor and you get burned.
Funny, she had her memories back but they were tainted now with the weight of all that had happened to them. She's not even sure if she'll see him again, not while the Metacrisis is here.
"He thinks I'm too dangerous to be left alone". He had said to her and her gramps.
The bitterness was clear in his voice, a reminder of what the Doctor's sounded like when he was threading that dangerous line between self-awareness and anger. And the thing is, only one of them got to see that phase in its purest form, someone Donna hasn't seen since she left with her grandfather.
Jack had wanted to give her some space, before dragging her back into this mess; but Donna needed to reach out, to recover a friendship she thought lost.
She had to call Martha Jones for help.