Doctor Who - 01 - Past Future Continuous

06. Blood

The Torchwood's SUV swerved from the road into a narrow pass between two stone walls, rolled down towards the river and stopped at the gravelled car park. Sun rays were barely pushing their way through the thick layer of clouds. It was cold, but the shiver that ran down Jack Harkness' spine had little to do with the nasty weather. Gwen Cooper opened the door and jumped onto the gravel on the other side of the landrover. Ianto Jones dawdled while disconnecting his notebook.

Jack removed the keys from the ignition, got out of the car and circled it, joining Gwen, standing there with her arms crossed, looking up the slope, at the blue police box, sticking out the field like a sore thumb. Feeling fine droplets of drizzle on his face, he put up the collar of his military coat.

"He's here," said Jack. "Wonder why?"

"The Doctor?" asked Gwen hesitantly. For her the Doctor was sort of a mythical character, but she was aware that he and Jack were very close. Knowing Jack, she wondered sometimes just how close.

"The TARDIS." Jack shoved away his coat's flaps and strode uphill, ignoring the footpath, and aiming straight towards the wooden object, which, as Gwen knew, was the most amazing spaceship in the universe. Well, it certainly didn't look the part.

Gwen followed Jack, avoiding sodden sheep's droppings.

Jack tried to open the box's door. They did not budge. Jack clenched his fist and banged on the planks. There was no answer. For a moment he waited with his head tilted to one side, staring intently at the TARDIS; then he bent down suddenly and picked something from the ground. He straightened up, rubbing between his fingers the sticky, russet substance. He opened his fingers, smelled them, and closed them again, as if checking the substance's viscosity.

"Blood?" Gwen stopped next to him, eyeing the box tentatively. "Whose?"

She did not expect an answer, and did not get any. Suddenly Jack started downhill, towards the road, coat's tails fluttering. Passing surprised Ianto in full speed, he sprinted towards the rocky ford in the river. Gwen squinted, trying to see what had caught Jack's attention. In seconds she also was running towards the river.

A body of an elderly man was wedged between two flat rocks. A long, terrible slash ran across his clothing, skin and ribcage. Jack stood above the corpse motionlessly, his face pale, question in his blue eyes. Gwen caught up with him and then kneeled down, to have a better look of the body.

"His blood?" She pointed at the dead man.

"Don't get me wrong," said Jack, very harshly. "I don't want to seem a total prick. But I'd rather it washis blood."

He turned and looked at the TARDIS, frowning.

"I want it to be his blood," he repeated.