first_in_time | Copy Cat

The taxi pulled up outside a rather tall and grand looking hotel. Barbara stepped out to stare upwards. There were tall buildings in London but there was something about being in a different city which made the buildings unique and fascinating. Despite how tired she felt after such a long flight, she could almost go for a walk to see some more but there would be time for that later.

A finely dressed man dashed toward the from where he had been standing next tot he doors. "Shall I take your luggage?" he asked Ian and Barbara once the cabbie, or taxi driver, had hauled it out of the boot.

"Yes, thank you," Barbara replied. She reached out. For Ian's hand and offered him a smile before they walked into the hotel lobby together.

Once they had signed in at what appeared to be a marble desk, taken the lift up to near the very top, and stepped into their room, Barbara turned to thank the man for bringing their luggage. She gave him a small tip, since she didn't have a lot of money on her, and shut the door behind him.

"Would you look at this!" she said to Ian, gesturing to the entire room. "You must be valuable to have the board so generously pay for you to stay here!"

Barbara trotted over to the window to look out, passing a bottle of champagne and a note which wished them both a happy first anniversary.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

first_in_time

"Until she's ready to travel, then we'll fly both of you home. Considering there aren't any major issues, I don't expect you to be here for too long," the doctor said and smiled tiredly. "It will take a few weeks or possibly a few months for her to return to her usual energetic, healthy self. Make sure that she takes it easy."

He offered Ian a little wave and left, wanting a good rest himself.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian couldn't imagine that convincing Barbara to rest would be easy, but perhaps it would be good practice for when they have children.

He went into the room and over to her bedside, kissed her forehead, then took her hand and sat by her bed, waiting for her to wake up.

From:

first_in_time

"I took the liberty of getting your things from the hotel room," said Jack from the doorway a couple of hours later. He only held in his hands the flowers and champagne from their room; gifts for their anniversary. "I had the guys put them with a bed we rolled out for you, just let us know when you're ready to use it. We've got showers and things, too. You know. Just in case you wanted to freshen up."

From:

splendid_roman

Ian jumped - he hadn't heard Jack come in. "Thank you." He was surprised that Jack was doing all this for them.

It was only when he stood up that he realised how stuff he was from sitting in the chair for so long. "I think I will have a shower," he said, stretching. He should change his clothes too, what with all the now-dried goo on them.

"Thank you for all your help," he said sincerely. "I can't say I was expecting it of you."

From:

first_in_time

"Well, I do try to make this part more of my business than breaking into people's homes, but you take the good with the bad." Jack chuckled and placed the flowers and champagne on a table nearby. "Go and clean yourself up. I'll keep watch."

From:

splendid_roman

"I'm glad to hear it." He didn't particularly like the idea of Jack breaking into their home again.

He went off for a shower, but didn't linger, as he was keen to get back to Barbara in case she woke up.

From:

first_in_time

Jack was reading over a file when Ian returned. Barbara was still sound asleep, each reading conveying how well everything was starting to work.

"I took the liberty of having some dinner brought to you. It's only take out but it's better than nothing," Jack told him, glancing up from his work momentarily, then he stood from the chair Ian had been sitting in. "It should be here in ten minutes or so."

From:

splendid_roman

"Thanks." He glanced over at Barbara to see she was still asleep. "Do you go all round the world after aliens?"

From:

first_in_time

"Not really. That's usually UNIT' job but I had a friend attending the conference and he thought something was a little odd, so he asked me to come and check it out. Thankfully there's a newly constructed Torchwood base." Jack patted the walls and smiled at Ian. "You know, I should retcon the two of you after this, so you don't remember anything. But I don't think that I will seeming as the two of you probably won't ever come back to America again, and it'd be nice to pop in and vid see the Chestertons every once in a while. Maybe you'll fall for my charms and graces eventually."

As if in protest, Barbara grunted gently. Her forehead creased and slowly her eyes fluttered open.

"Ian? Where am I?"

From:

splendid_roman

Ian frowned at Jack and was going to complain that they'd rather not be retconned or visited and neither of them were ever going to fall for his charms, but Barbara was more important and he rushed to her side and took her hand.

"You're at Torchwood," he told her gently. "They have doctors who are treating all the people who were cloned."

From:

first_in_time

Barbara was famished, and everything hurt but Ian was with her. She could be in the Tower of London for all she really cared.

"And are you alright?" she asked and squeezed his hand. Jack took that as a signal to slip out.

From:

splendid_roman

"I'm fine." He smiled at her. "But you did give me a fright, when I came back off the ship and saw you just lying there."

From:

first_in_time

"I'm sorry. I merely having a little lie down," she joked like Ian often did. "But I feel much better now, although a little hungry. I'm glad that you're here, though."

From:

splendid_roman

He grinned at her joke. "Dinner will be along soon." He kissed the back of her hand. "I'm glad to see my sense of humour is rubbing off on you."

From:

first_in_time

"Something was bound to after spending all of that time together," she chuckled a little.

After a moment, she fell serious again. "Did you manage to get everyone off the ship? All of the survivors?"

From:

splendid_roman

"Yes, I did." He wasn't going to tell her about the dead ones they'd have to leave there - what would be the point? There wasn't anything she could do about it.

Before she might decide he was lying from his expression he quickly added, "And Torchwood have all our belongings, so we don't even have to go back to the hotel."

Edited Date: 2013-11-30 08:46 pm (UTC)

From:

first_in_time

"And that answers my second question," she smiled gently and used his hand to pull him closer so that she might kiss his cheek. "What did I ever do yo deserve someone a brave and as loyal as you?"

From:

splendid_roman

"You were just as brave and loyal." He kissed her cheek, mindful that Jack could walk back in at any moment, but he moved the chair nearer the bed so he could stay close to her.

"I think for our second anniversary we should stay in."

From:

first_in_time

"Ah, but you were telling me how much you wanted to top this year's anniversary. Maybe next year we can find a frozen Dalek at the top of a mountain? Or go on a cruise ship only for it to sink and em find ourselves on a deserted island?"

From:

splendid_roman

He chuckled. "We might get some peace and quiet on the deserted island."

From:

first_in_time

"We should have gotten some peace in America, too," she reminded him. "Happy anniversary, my love." Barbara might have leaned in for another kiss but a third voice joined in.

"And our first patient is awake," said the doctor who had been chatting previously with Ian. "How are you feeling? Are you able to sit up on your own?"

Barbara struggled unsuccessfully for a moment. "I feel fine but I can't sit up, no."

"Ah. The adrenalin is running out, then. Are you hungry? I'll let you have a little more so that you can eat but it will be the last until tomorrow. Don't want you developing an addiction."

From:

splendid_roman

Ian stepped away from her and tried not to look worried at Barbara's fragility. "Is the food here?" he asked the doctor.

"It just arrived," he replied, looking over at Ian. "I'll tell Jack to bring it in on my way out."

From:

first_in_time

He pushed a button to elevate one end of the bed so that Barbara was sitting up a little and wouldn't spill food, then gave them both a final smile and left.

"Are you going to stay with me or does this place have visiting hours?"

From:

splendid_roman

"I'm staying. Jack said something about bringing a bed in. I'm not sure exactly where it's going to be." He supposed they wouldn't want him in this room, in case they needed to get to Barbara to adjust anything.

"Mrs Chesterton." Jack entered the room with a broad grin and a bag in one hand. "It's so lovely to see you awake. I hope you like Chinese." He put it on the table at the other side of the bed, and then pushed it over the bed so Barbara and Ian could both reach it. "Don't worry if you can't use chopsticks, I put some forks in there too. I won't tell," he said in a quieter voice, and winked.

From:

first_in_time

As much as she hated the man, Barbara had to give Jack credit. Became to the rescue and then he and his organisation were taking care of everyone from the ship. She amazed him, really. She had him pinned for a pervert. Although it didn't help that he had broken into their home.

"Chinese will be lovely, thank you."