The Time Lord's Secret

By: Sherlock's Sparrow

Disclaimer: Beeb owns all. (Pretty much)

Part One

-Torchwood 3 Headquarters-Cardiff, Wales-Early 21st Century-

It'd been nearly a year since Captain Jack Harkness had seen the Doctor last. He wondered if the Doctor had found a new Companion, yet, and what he'd been up to during the not quite seven months since they'd last met. Things had been pretty hectic at Torchwood after the latest demise of the Daleks, but lately, things had been slow at the Hub.

-0-0-

Suddenly, he heard the familiar whorp whorp of the TARDIS landing to recharge. He jumped up, and ran out to meet it before it took off again. He approached the TARDIS and the door swung open to let him in. He was surprised to find the console room empty. As the TARDIS entered the Vortex, a door off the console room opened. Jack peered inside, curiously. It happened to be the Doctor's room. The Doctor had his back to the door and was seated on the floor and leaning against the side of his bed.

"Doctor," stated Jack.

The Doctor's head turned to look at Jack in shock.

"Jack! Wha-what are you doing in here? I locked the TARDIS door!" he exclaimed.

"The door just swung open when I approached," said Jack.

"Leave," said the Doctor.

"What?" asked Jack, in confusion.

"I want you to leave," repeated the Doctor, "go home now."

"There's a problem with that," said Jack, "the TARDIS is already in flight."

"Well, go anywhere in the TARDIS but here," said the Doctor, "I just want to be alone right now."

-0-0-

"Stand up and face me when you say that," said Jack.

The Doctor sighed and with some difficulty, heaved himself off the floor and to his feet. He slowly turned to face Jack.

"Go away, Jack," he said.

"Wow, you've really let yourself go since I seen you last," Jack said, jokingly.

The Doctor shook his head slowly.

"I'm not just getting fat, Jack," he said, "I'm pregnant."

-0-0-

Jack was too shocked for words.

"How? Who?" he asked.

"I think the how part is obvious," replied the Doctor.

"Whose is it?" asked Jack.

The Doctor shrugged.

"I don't know. Couldn't see any of their faces, and it'd be impossible to single out one particular individual, anyway."

He said it as if it wasn't important.

-0-0-

"What?" asked Jack.

Nothing was making sense. The Doctor couldn't be pregnant; it was impossible! Not because he was male, but just because he was the Doctor. The Doctor didn't go around getting shagged by strangers-or anyone, really. What was going on?

-0-0-

"Was there something in particular you wanted?" asked the Doctor.

"Not really," said Jack, "just wanted to visit an old friend."

"Oh," said the Doctor, "how nice."

He seemed pleased to see Jack for the first time that day.

"Where do you want to go?"

Jack shrugged.

"Ah, I'm not picky," he said, "you pick."

The Doctor went into the console room. He went over to the console and pressed a button Jack couldn't quite see.

"I've activated the randomizer," the Doctor said, "it will randomly send us to a date and place."

"Is that safe?" asked Jack, "I mean, you wouldn't want to go to the end of the universe in the year 100 trillion again, right?"

"Oh, it'll be fine," said the Doctor lightly, "I used to use it all the time! It was great!"

-0-0-

They ended up in the 26th Century on a planet called Persephone.

"Lovely planet," said the Doctor, "all humans here!"

Jack saw excitement in the Doctor's eyes and heard the merriment in his voice. He liked that better than the Doctor's earlier mood. It had had him worried.

"What do you think?" the Doctor asked him.

Jack nodded.

"Great, Doc," he said, with a cheeky little grin.

The Doctor flashed Jack a huge smile in return.

"Fantastic!"

-0-0-

Jack and the Doctor soon found themselves in the nearest city. It appeared to be called Paladin. Once inside the city, the Doctor began to second guess their trip. Jack could tell he was starting to get nervous.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Maybe leaving the TARDIS wasn't a good idea," said the Doctor, uneasily, "it's been awhile since I've been outside."

"Why?" asked Jack.

"I don't want anyone…knowing," replied the Doctor.

"What? That you're pregnant?"

"Yes."

"Believe me, the average human is just going to think you're becoming a tub of lard," said Jack, "not that you've gotten knocked up. I swear. You'll be fine."

"Alright, then; let's go!"

-0-0-

As they walked around the city, Jack shamelessly flirted with all the people he came into contact with. The Doctor rolled his eyes and sighed impatiently.

"Jack, we don't have time for this!" he said.

"Why? You gotta hot date tonight, or something, Doctor?" asked Jack.

"Of course not," replied the Doctor, "we just don't have time for you to flirt with every adult human in this city!"

"It'd take less time if I had some help," said Jack, coyly, "I want to see how a Time Lord flirts."

The Doctor scoffed.

"I don't flirt," he said.

"Oh, of course not," said Jack, somewhat moodily, "you just engage in orgies with strangers!"

-0-0-

The Doctor looked like Jack had just backhanded him across the face. Without another word, the Doctor turned and ran back for the TARDIS. Jack just stared after him in shock. He hadn't meant to snap like that; the Doctor was always annoyed by Jack's excessive (in the Doctor's opinion) flirting. Something was wrong with the Doctor for him to react like that to Jack's comment. Jack needed to go after him.

-0-0-

Inside the TARDIS, Jack went to the Doctor's room. The door was locked. Jack knocked on the door.

"Doctor?" he asked.

There was no answer.

"Doctor, are you in there?" he tried again.

Still, no answer.

"Doctor!"

"Leave me alone, Jack."

The Doctor's voice sounded muffled.

Jack stalked off for the console room. The Doctor would show up there, eventually.