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It was the late twentieth century, England, Earth — and Torchwood’s codirectors were split on the correct course of action.
Tension was rising, as were voices.
“You know our policy on UNIT. Mutual non-interference! Torchwood stays out of UNIT operations; in return, they pretend not to know about us.”
“I’m aware; that’s been the arrangement for decades. But we’re Torchwood! Policies are made to be broken.”
“Not where UNIT is concerned. If we start making exceptions, they’ll do the same.”
“Yes, well, the arrangement was established before they went and hired the only enemy of the crown explicitly named in our founding charter!”
“We don’t know it’s him…”
“He claims to know about time travel, he seems to attract alien menace, and he calls himself the Doctor. Who else could he possibly be?”
“It doesn’t matter! He’s UNIT staff, and we can’t afford to have the United Nations after us!”
“Priority one is counter the enemy.”
“Priority one is don’t get shut down!”
“We—“
The door swung open.
They whirled, weapons coming out… then relaxed somewhat, seeing the familiar figure lounging in the doorway.
“Harkness. You should learn how to knock. Or better yet, actually make an appointment.”
“She’s right. One of these days, someone’s going to shoot you.”
“Trust me, they already have. If either of you want to schedule that appointment, though, I’m game…”
Jack winked suggestively, then winked again when their glares didn’t falter.
“I swear, Harkness, if you weren’t one of our best field agents…”
“My old employers said the same thing.” He smirked. “Anyways — I managed to snap a picture of UNIT’s new scientific advisor. Thought you might want to know he looks nothing like the man the Queen met.”
“…Oh.”
The two directors looked at the proffered photograph, then at each other. Then back at the photo, showing an overdressed, pale-haired man in a yellow car.
“We should confirm against the sketches in the files,” one said at last, sighing. “But he doesn’t fit the depiction at all.”
“No,” the other agreed, and sighed too — in relief. “No interference, then?”
“Fine. No interference. We’ll keep the policy.”
Jack Harkness slipped from the room, silently thanking his stars Queen Victoria hadn’t known about regeneration.
It had hurt, though, realizing the Doctor at UNIT was a past version of the one Jack had known. He’d hoped, briefly, his waiting was about to be over.
No such luck.