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[Knows the feeling, but doesn't disturb the man's moment.]

[The Doctor with the face Jack probably never wanted to see again comes and stands next to him. It's a long few moments before he speaks.]

Jack...

[The sentence hangs there, ending before it even began properly. What can the Doctor say? It's been over a thousand years for him since he last saw the man. Maybe silence is better.]

[The immortal doesn't turn to face the Time Lord, but he smiles slightly. He'd never admit it, but he misses the Doctor during these long years apart.]

Doctor. It's been a long time hasn't it?

[Jack notices the man and a slight frown crosses his face. He could swear he's seen the man before. But where his long memory hasn't supplied yet. The frown is replaced by a warm, charming smile.]

Beautiful day isn't it?

[Jack probably couldn't tell from just the way the Doctor spoke his name, but the Scottish lilt is there.

Longer than I ever imagined it would be.

Sounds like you've had a rough time of it. Some of us have been worried about you.

[Jack feels his heart squeeze. The accent reminds him of the Welsh tones he's missed since he last left Gwen with Rex and gone off to figure out what to do about the new immortal he created.]

Oi, are you just going to stand there?

[The Doctor is standing behind him, leaning against a building. The Tardis is nowhere in sight.]

[Jack's heart stutters and he turns to look at the Doctor he'd never thought see ever again.]

Doctor?

[He raises an eyebrow at that.]

Why would you...? Oh... The way I said 'goodbye' in that body. Well, given the prophecy I had heard, I thought I was going to die. Permanently. But I didn't, so it's fine.

[He's quick to dismiss why anyone should be concerned about him. This body doesn't do... touchy-feely.]

And you? I mean, I get the news whenever I'm on Earth. And the big events, of course, I know about. But you and your team... Well, I trust if you needed my help, you'd find a way to contact me.

[He'll not mention the part where he at some point or another came across Gwen's recording. Because although Jack was easy to find, it was difficult to tell when in Jack's timeline he was crossing.]

That it is.

[Jack isn't the only one trying to play the place the face game. It happens in the sea of faces one sees in a long life. His own smile having it's own warmth and charm.]

Last time I checked. There may have been a close call with cybermen and turkey since then. Are you just going to stand there?

((Now without phone fail.))

Forgive me for asking, but have we met before? I feel as though we've met before.

[Jack walks over and holds out his hand.]

Captain Jack Harkness.

[He smiles and shakes the offered hand before speaking.]

We may well have. Detective John Amsterdam.

[At least it is the name he uses now. Eventually it will change again, he can't help that. Though he enjoys what he does now.]

Pleasure to meet you Detective. Ever been to Wales. I've been posted there for a really long time.

[Jack is pretty sure that's not where he met this guy. He has a feeling it was during a war as he remembers bombs going off.]

[Jack takes a deep breath.]

Doctor you are crossing your own timeline. I'm not your Jack....that Jack is long gone.

No I haven't.

[That is possible seeing as John has been in, a few wars. Seems just to find his way there. So it was bombs John was seeing as well, just unable to place it just yet.]

Do you come here to visit often?

I would have...but I wasn't sure if you would answer. After the 456 I figured I was on my own.

[Jack turns to the Doctor now his face serious and firm.]

But I think I need your help now.

More so now that I have a friend or two here in the States.

[And an immortal charge to look after though Jack still isn't sure how his blood managed such a thing when he himself was made that way by the TARDIS herself.]

How long have you lived her?

[The Doctor nods once, grimly as he thinks about what humanity was willing to do to rid itself of the 456. He had learned - though other channels what had happened.]

And I thought... after my failure to arrive to help you, that you wouldn't want to see me again.

[It's one of the reasons Jack got a salute and a note with a name and nothing else in farewell. The Doctor has never been very good with emotions, even if he was fairly decent in that body.

There's something in Jack's expression that catches the Doctor and for a brief moment, he doesn't see himself as having a furious face. He's all ears and leather.]

What is it, Jack? I'll help, if I can.

[He's really hoping Jack knows enough to not ask what Clara had after P.E. died. And he's learned of the centuries that he has limits. 'Help' can't be guaranteed.]

[Now, that was a tough question to answer. He didn't generally just blurt out the fact he was immortal. A lot of time blurs but he can remember coming to the new world as a boy in the mid 1600's.]

I've lived here since I was a young boy so it feels like forever.

[Wasn't a lie, and just because there was something familiar about Jack, didn't mean he could sense other immortals.]

[Jack takes a second to think about what he wants to say. He wasn't sure something like this could even happen, but it did and now he needs advice.]

You once told me I was an impossible thing. I'm not such an impossible thing anymore.I've made another fixed point Doctor and I'm not sure how to help him.

What do you mean you 'made another fixed point'?

[It's not accusatory. Not angry. It's genuine curiosity.]

[Jack chuckles as forever is a strange concept to a man who has been buried alive for over 1,000 years and crossing his own timeline.]

I haven't really lived anywhere.. Curse of the military man, never settling down and having a life of your own.

I do understand that. I've moved about but I always end up in the same area.

[Names change but the area remains the same.]

Doing my best to put down roots, hence the job.

I....exchanged blood with him...long story don't ask and now he's like me...immortal. I didn't know it was possible, I don't know the extent of his "gift"just yet. Where do I even start explaining what he is now. He was barely able to understand it during the Miracle.

[The Doctor starts to pace as he listens to Jack, then he pulls a piece of chalk out of his pocket and starts writing in Gallifreyan on the concrete. Finally he pauses to look up at Jack.]

You exchanged blood. Like a transfusion? Jack... That's not how it works. It took the power of the TARDIS - the whole of Time and Space to make you. You've had children and they're... normal. Astrologically speaking.

[Jack watches and a deep fondness crosses his face when he thinks the Doctor cannot see it.]

I've gone over and over it in my mind Doctor. I was mortal at the time Rex was not. My immortality should not have stayed with him but it did. It makes no sense.

Must be nice. Having a place to call home? I used to dream of things like that during the war.

[Jack smiles sadly.]

I used to talk about it with a friend of mine.

How much time has passed since the transfusion?

[The Doctor misses the expression, which is probably for the best. He stands up and looks over his calculations. Then he turns around, holding his lip in thought.]

And how many times has this Rex died since then?

A year and he's only died twice. Once the first time when we discovered the problem and again when he decided to test how far he could go with it.

Could still be residual effects. Was the second time fairly close to the first time?

[Because if this Rex was a Fixed Point, the Doctor would know, wouldn't he?]

Six months apart. I'd gone off to help a friend and left him by himself and he decided that was time to test his limits.

He paces slightly in thought. Trying to piece everything together.

"Well then, he picked up some of your personality too."

He's being serious.

"And if that's the case. I doubt it was permanent. I mean, you'd think the TARDIS would tell me."

You've been out of my life a long time Doctor. Long enough to change your face at least once if not twice. Maybe the TARDIS stopped checking up on me too.

[Jack being Jack isn't bitter he can't be knowing the Doctor as he does.]

[The Doctor does take a step back. Because while Jack's not accusing him. It's entirely possible that Jack is right.]

If that is what happened; it wasn't intentional.

[He could explain. But Jack was never one for excuses. If Jack wanted an explanation, he would ask.]

And if this Rex is another Fixed Point - however impossible it is - I'm not sure there's anything I can do to help.

[And boy, does he hate that.]

[Jack sighs and shakes his head.]

I should have known better. It's like Martha said Doctor...we are all strays to you.

[He hangs his head. He deserves that. His voice is soft and low when he answers.]

That's not quite true, Jack. It's a big universe. I'm the only one left to take care of it. For all the gifts and talents of the Time Lords that I possess, bi-location isn't one of them.