m_findlow

Title: The great race
Author: m_findlow
Prompt: 2 - Lucy, races, flag, on a holodeck at wintercompanion
Rating: Thirteenth Doctor/Jack Harkness
Pairing: PG
Content notes: Spoilers for all seasons of both series, and the Torchwood Big Finish audioplays.
Length: 33,192 words
Author notes: Beta'ed by beesandbrews. I don't own them, they belong to their respective creators.
Summary: A new adventure awaits two old friends as they compete in the greatest race of a generation.

They collapsed onto the plush red vinyl of the lounge in a secluded VIP section of the bar, the bartender bringing over their drinks, which were of course on the house for as long as they wanted. Jack raised his glass, the first hypervodka he could recall in ages being one to celebrate rather than commiserate, and made a toast.

'To the best team in the universe.'

They clinked glasses and took a long slow draught, letting the alcohol ease the remaining weariness from their minds and bodies. It felt good to not be in immediate peril for once. The only danger now was from overindulgence, as a second tray arrived, a veritable tower of food arranged on it. A shame that when the bar received payment, Erebus Corporation's cheque would inevitably bounce.

Lucy watched her two new friends, Jack trying to inhale fist-sized balls of deep-fried something, and the Doctor, sipping her lurid green cocktail. 'Is this what it's always like when you two travel together?'

'Pretty much,' the Doctor replied.

'Excepting the mountain of free food and booze,' Jack added. 'Doc, you've really got to try these,' he said, stuffing another melted cheese ball into his mouth, rendering him unable to say more whilst it gummed up everything.

Lucy twirled the straw around the glass in her hand. 'So, have we stopped The Committee?'

'It looks like it,' the Doctor said.

'Only for now,' Jack added, his face still a mask of concern. 'Mind you, the Shadow Proclamation is going to have a field day going around arresting AIs posing as government officials.' He took another sip, letting the liquid burn all the way down.

The Doctor crossed her legs, resting her glass on her knee. 'Well, the Torchwood Institute just inherited about five thousand companies and a majority ownership in about ten thousand more, plus everything from The Committee's databases,' she replied. 'It's now been merged into your Torchwood files. I hope you don't mind, Jack. It didn't seem fair that all those perfectly legitimate organisations, doing good research, get brought down along with The Committee. I think that ought to keep you busy enough, since you're the only director at present.'

'I think I'm going to need a really good accountant,' Jack joked. 'I've never been a CEO before. I've slept with a few, but I've never been one.'

The Doctor cringed. 'Perhaps it's best if you remain a silent director, then. Let them do what they do best.'

'And leave me to do what I do best?' he asked, waggling an eyebrow at her over his drink.

'Whatever that is,' Lucy teased, getting in on the conversation. 'Still, that doesn't help me, I'm right back at square one. With no Erebus Corporation, there's no prize money, so my brother is going to be trapped in that prison for the rest of his life.'

The Doctor leaned forward, looking thoughtful. 'If only there were someone we knew with a working vortex manipulator... He could probably bounce in there, grab your brother, and bounce right back out before anyone was any the wiser.'

Jack tried not to get too excited at the prospect of having his vortex manipulator fixed, even temporarily. 'A TARDIS would work just as well,' he said, though not wanting to dismiss the Doctor's plan out of hand.

'A little ostentatious for a prison break,' she replied.

'Wouldn't it just be easier to pay?' Jack asked. 'We do seem to have quite a bit of equity all of a sudden, and it's not like you to go for the dishonest route.'

'Plus, wouldn't they know he escaped?' Lucy asked. 'I don't want to be on the run for the rest of my life.'

'I think I've had enough of corrupt policies for now.' The Doctor waggled her sonic screwdriver. 'A little tweaking, and a few inmate records might go missing. The only person who'd know would be Drax, and I think it's safe to say he owes you one, now.'

Drax had been unceremoniously removed from their ship by stadium security guards, uncuffed, and left to make his own way home with his tail between his legs. No one from the media cared about the guy who ran second, famous or not.

'Don't count on him remembering that for long,' Lucy replied.

Jack leaned back, resting his arm across the back of the lounge. The VIP bar was empty except for them. Music played softly in the background. 'So, when would this prison break take place?'

'Why not tonight?' the Doctor suggested. 'Then we'd really have something to celebrate.'

'It's just temporary,' the Doctor warned him, her sonic screwdriver glowing brightly against Jack's wrist strap.

'I kinda figured that might be the case.' Jack felt less disappointed than he expected. There was plenty of universe for him to explore, and all of the future to see it. It was far too tempting to want to travel back in time to see old friends again, even if he could only do so from a distance. This was a far better solution.

'You've got the coordinates?' she asked.

'Right down to the cell number and the bunk bed,' he replied. 'See you soon,' he said, keying his wrist strap and letting it consume him in a haze of orange light.

No sooner had he left, then there was another glow of light, signaling his return.

'I picked up this scruffy looking character,' Jack said, hand on the shoulder of an Artesian in light blue prison coveralls. He had the same shaggy black hair, and was only a few inches taller than Lucy. 'I hope he's the right one, otherwise he has a hell of a story to share with the prison guards in the morning.'

Lucy leapt forward, seeing her brother for the first time in months. She wrapped him in the biggest hug she could manage.

'Hey you,' he said, hugging back. 'Did you miss me?'

'You're still an annoying wart face,' she replied, as close as she could manage to saying "I love you" in the presence of company.

'I'll take that as a yes.'

Jack hugged the Doctor in turn. 'Aw! Don't you just love happy endings, Doc?'

'Yep, still not big on the hugs,' she replied, trying to snake out of his grip, although a bit less reluctantly than before.

Lucy's brother finally let go and turned to his rescuers. 'I don't know how to thank you, or even how any of this is possible.'

The Doctor smiled. 'No thanks is necessary.'

'Yeah,' Jack added. 'We wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Lucy. She's got quite a tale to tell you. She ought to think about becoming a professional racer.'

'I think I'm happy to put my racing days behind me,' she replied.

'Only so I can't make you vomit and do the dishes again,' her brother teased.

Lucy gave him a playful shove. 'As if! You're the one who vomited last time.'

'Am not.'

'Are too.'

'Am not.'

'Are too.'

'Stupid face.'

'Stinky pants.'

'Okay, guys, break it up,' Jack said, laughing at their juvenile argument. 'No one's vomiting and you can share washing up duties.'

Lucy blushed. 'Guess we'll have to. It looks like we're right back where we started. Flat broke.'

The Doctor had a glint in her eye as she watched the happy siblings. 'Oh, I'm sure Jack could lend you some credits, interest free, of course.'

He pulled a face. 'Hey, I'm running an empire now, not a charity.'

'Jack,' the Doctor said, drawing his name out like that of a naughty child.

Jack rolled his eyes. 'Fine. How's fifteen million credits sound?'

Lucy's eyes went wide as saucers. 'Really?'

He made a play of reaching into his pocket, drawing out his wallet and checking it. He sighed. 'Make it twenty. No repayment required. Looks like I can afford it.'

Lucy leapt up and hugged him as hard as she could. 'Oh, goddesses! Thank you!'

He grinned. 'Just don't go telling everybody. I can't have the universe thinking I'm a softie. I've got a bad boy reputation to maintain.'

They spent the remainder of the evening recounting events to Lucy's brother. Jack attempted to re-enact as much of their adventure as possible. Not wanting to be left out, Lucy stole Jack's coat, slipping it on and doing her worst impressions of his involvement. Jack wasn't sure what was more hilarious - Lucy's attempts at his accent, or the fact that his coat was five sizes too big for her, leaving her flapping her arms and tripping over it when she moved.

As the night wore on, their recollections grew more and more embellished, leaving Lucy's brother to question whether they'd done half of the things they claimed they had. The Doctor assured him that despite the gregarious nature of her two friends, aided by a considerable amount of alcohol, most of what they said was true. Despite the amount she herself had drunk, the Doctor steadfastly refused to join them on a second rendition of Yellow Submarine.

Eventually, they managed to exhaust the bar's supply of alcohol and fatty foods. By that time, none of them could walk more than three paces without falling over, giggling stupidly at themselves and at one another. Taking pity on them, and uncertain they could have found a hotel even if they'd tried, the owner of the bar let them sleep off their celebrations right there on the lounges in the VIP room.

Morning came all too soon, leaving them with a few sore heads and nothing more to do other than say goodbye and go their separate ways.

Jack waved as Lucy and her brother boarded their ship, headed home with renewed hope and a sizeable bank account.

'I'm gonna miss that kid,' he said, watching the ship become nothing more than a speck in the sky. He looked away and settled his hands inside his coat pockets. 'I guess I'd better see about sorting out a ride off this rock,' he said. 'Or maybe I could find myself a nice little ship. Room enough for two, say? I've gotta have room for company.' He thought about it for a moment. 'Or maybe it should be big enough for three. You always need to be flexible about these things,' he added, smiling.

'This doesn't have to be goodbye for us, not yet,' the Doctor said.

'I know, but we'll see each other again.' There was a strange look in his eyes, like he wasn't looking for an invitation, but rather had found some kind of inner peace and a solace in being on his own.

'Of that I've no doubt,' the Doctor replied, leaning back against the familiar blue police box door. The TARDIS seemed to be in agreement that Jack would be just fine on his own.

'Be safe, Doc. And get yourself some damn friends to go cause trouble with. With a pretty face like that you should have no trouble-'

''It's not...' she was about to say pretty before the rest of the sentence dawned on her. 'I'm not using this face to hook up!'

Jack shrugged back at her. 'Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it. Be seeing you,' he said, giving her a quick salute and turning, walking away, long greatcoat flowing behind him in his wake.

The Doctor shook her head. God help the universe with Captain Jack Harkness kicking around it.