



The Doctor’s face is a reminder of that time when he didn’t help Earth, abandoned it to make its own choices. Of how being cornered like this forces you to be complicit in horrible things on a planetary scale, and responsible for the death of the very people you wanted to protect. Of the fact that when humanity faces the dilemma he knows so well it doesn’t feel any better for them, and even if a third option is found in the end, there might be a terrible price to be paid.
It was a reminder not to abandon Earth when it needs him.
It was a reminder not to do exactly what he did in Kill the Moon.
Ianto parked the unmarked white van as close to the police tent as possible, grabbed a toolbox off the passenger seat and a white cotton face-mask from the glovebox. He hopped out of the van, only too aware that every net curtain within spitting distance was twitching as the locals ignored their usual afternoon telly for a slice of voyeurism closer to home. It must be like having Jeremy Kyle on all day. ‘My boy in pavement scandal – lie detector special.’ God, but he hated the suburbs…
He ducked down and entered the police tent.
'Hello, campers,’ he said, putting down his toolbox. He cracked it open and pulled out a medium-sized chrome flask. 'Who’s for coffee, then?’
'You read my mind,’ Jack smiled and gave Ianto a wink.
'If the first thing that pops into your head when you see me is “hope that sexy devil put the kettle on before he left”, then I can honestly say I don’t know you half as well as I thought.’
'OK, it was the second thing that popped into my head.’
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