Running Out

Chapter 12 - Prelude

Author's Notes:

In which our heroes are faced with bad news and some significant choices.

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Jack had called in sick already and Donna had rearranged her schedule for the day. In truth, Jack had sort of hoped to leave Donna out of the actual execution of this mission, but she’d let them know in no uncertain terms that that was not gonna happen. As much as he hated to admit it, though, it was probably for the best. John had been in exceptionally rough shape yesterday and Jack actually questioned whether he was going to be able to manage even walking the halls of the Uni by himself. He’d need Donna to help him.

Jack glanced over at the clock over the microwave. 5:15 a.m.. Donna should be here any minute and then they’d wake John and get going. The doors to the rooms in the university were unlocked by custodial staff at 7:00. Harry shouldn’t be stepping foot in the lab at all today, so they didn’t have to worry about encountering him. What they did have to worry about was running into other faculty or students while trying to get John to the lab. For that reason, the earlier they got going, the better. He still had time for coffee, however. A man had to have priorities, after all.

Pouring himself a strong, steaming cup, Jack felt a familiar vibration in his back pocket followed by a ‘Twilight Zone’ theme ring. Pulling his phone out, he spied the number. Sarah Jane.

“Hi, Sarah. What’s up?” Jack asked, concerned about the contact at this early hour.

“Jack? Look… I’ve got some very bad news,” she said, her voice betraying her nerves.

“What is it?” his own body now fully alert.

“I just checked my messages from last night… I’m so sorry I didn’t look at them sooner. The symposium… there’s been a last minute cancellation. They’ve rescheduled for next week,” she informed him.

“Next week?!” Jack barked. “We can’t wait until next week to get him access to his equipment, Sarah. He won’t make it that long,” he admitted.

There was silence on the other end for a moment. “I didn’t know he was that bad already,” she said, clearly alarmed by the news. 

Jack sighed heavily. “Yeah… it’s been all downhill for the last week or so. I’m not gonna lie, Sarah. He’s in rough shape.”

“Oh my God,” Sarah breathed. “What are we going to do? We have to get Dr. Saxon out of here so John can access the lab, but… how?” she worried.

“Fuck,” Jack intoned, now pacing the room. They needed to keep Saxon busy somehow… for hours. Jesus. The man hardly ever actually left the lab, let alone the University. How were they going to distract him for that long. 

Then it hit him. 

“Sarah… I have an idea. Let me get back to you.”

OoOoOoOoOoO

A knock clunked insistently at her door. Startled, Rose peeled her eyes open and looked at the luminescent numbers shining from her bedside table. Six o’clock. In the morning. Worried alarms began ringing in her head. Who the hell would be knocking at this hour?

Climbing out of bed, she pulled her robe over her grey tee and knickers and quietly made her way to the door. Peeking through the peephole, Rose’s heart picked up its pace. It was John’s cousin.