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Jack ran after the Doctor. No matter what anyone said, the Doctor could be very light on his feet when he wanted to.

"I really hope you know what you're doing..."
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Doctor Joules hovered worriedly over Aven. He'd extracted the bullets from her arm and leg, but her mind was still resisting the mind wipe. He gently dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth.

"I don't understand, why are you clinging to these memories?" he sighed and began browsing through her brain scans. His brown eyes widened as he saw the level of activity. "Oh Aven... your Lymbic system is going wild... Dear heart, you've developed emotions. What have you gone and done that for? No wonder the NeuralNet failed."

Aven stared at him feverishly not really listening to his words.

Doctor Joules promptly stood up.

"Who are...? YOU!" he pointed an accusing finger at Jack and as he and the Doctor burst into the room. "Get away from her Torchwood scum, you've done enough damage! GET OUT YOU'RE NOT HAVING HER!"

"Hey, this isn't your call buddy," Jack snapped.

"Doc...tor..." Aven breathed looking up at her friend dazedly.

The scientist stopped short as he saw the recognition in her eyes. The brain scans on the monitors spiked and Doctor Joules looked at the two men with a stunned expression.

"What did you do?" he finally asked.

"You heard the man, stay back!" Jack said looking as menacing as possible.

Doctor Joules merely stared at him. "So this is your plan? Just swan in and run away. It won't work, Gavant has more resources than you can imagine, he'll just take her back."

"Well it's a lot better than leaving her here with you," Jack scowled. "We're her friends."

"And I am her creator," Doctor Joules snapped back, "I've been taking care of her since she was a cell and the last thing she needs is you two giving her false hopes and... feelings."

Aven smiled weakly at the Doctor. "You shouldn't... have come..."

Aven smiled weakly at the Doctor. "Is that... an invitation?"

"I made do with what I had," Doctor Joules replied a bit defensively, "I didn't want her to suffer, but I was given little say in the matter."

"Yeah well maybe if you hadn't used the NeuralNet like it was a shock collar, she wouldn't have been in so much pain!" Jack snapped to which Doctor Joules swung a punch at him.

Jack stumbled back. Despite his meek demeanor, the scientist had a mean right hook.

"Don't you give me that!" he snarled down at Jack, "You people were the one who gave us the ultimatum, or did you forget about that?! Why don't you tell your friend here the same thing Torchwood told me?"

Jack rubbed his jaw. "I was not in charge back then..." he mumbled.

Turning to the Doctor, the scientist frowned. "They said either we kept her on a short leash or they would vivisect her. No second chances, no screw ups. One little tantrum, and Aven would be dissected like a frog."

"She was classified as a possible hazard," Jack attempted to explain.

"SHE WAS FIVE!" Abram yelled at him, "SHE WAS A SCARED LITTLE CHILD THAT HAD NO IDEA SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO REWIRE AN X-RAY MACHINE TO SEE THROUGH BUILDINGS! You monsters just came in and drained all the joy from her, and you expected me to keep doing it! Take a good look at this machine, because you're the ones who gave it to us!"

Jack winced and said nothing. His only defense was that he'd not been in charge of Torchwood back then, but that excuse was starting to seem pretty pathetic. Doctor Joules looked down at Aven, his eyes filled with regret.

"So yes, Doctor, I did prevent her from feeling emotions. But only because I wanted to keep her safe... to keep her from feeling pain every time we cleared her mind... what else could I have done?"

Doctor Joules looked at the Doctor with something akin to hope.

"I hope I don't regret this..." he sighed before looking at Jack, "but first you have to hit me."

"I beg your pardon?" Jack asked.

"There is a security camera behind me in the far right corner of this lab. DON'T LOOK AT IT... it doesn't record sound. You'll have to hit me, then go unplug that camera, then I can help you rewire the security system, do you-UGH!"

Jack hadn't waited for Doctor Joules to finish when he'd punched him in the gut. The man crumpled down, partially in pain but mostly for show. Jack then rushed towards the camera and yanked it out of its socket.

"Ok now what..." the immortal asked.

"That... hurt..." Abram scowled as he got up and rushed towards the nearest computer, "I'll activate the security lock-down. How are you planning on escaping?"

Aven grunted and sat up albeit a little awkwardly. Her head still hurt but at least it wasn't too bad.

"Doctor..." she trailed off looking slightly embarrassed at the state she was in. "...thanks for... well everything..."

Jack fidgeted as he noticed the Doctor wasn't talking to him. Doctor Joules quickly tapped away deciding that the least he knew the safer they'd be.

"Damn they've sent for the security squad," an image flickered in a monitor nearby and it showed about twenty armed men rushing into the building. "At this rate it won't be long before Torchwood vans pull up."

Jack frowned, "that would not necessarily be a bad thing."

Doctor Joules ignored him.

"There I've locked up most of the building. You have ten minutes. Take her Doctor... but promise me... swear to me you will keep her safe," he said fixing him with a stare.

"Coming!" Jack called out before running after the Doctor.

Doctor Joules watched them leave with a sad look in his eyes.

"I'll keep you to that," he whispered as he saw Aven vanish behind a corner. "God's speed Doctor..."

Jack rushed on ahead knocking out cameras and rewiring doors.

"Which lab did you say the TARDIS was in?" Jack asked as they ran through corridors.

Aven wrapped her arms around the Doctor's neck and held on tight. She felt a new emotion in he heart. Something she had never before felt. After a moment she realized what it was... love. For the first time in her life, he had someone whom she loved. She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead into his back.

[HOMG! ONE-LINER! KILL IT! xd ]

Jack dashed ahead as they reached the labs. There were countless things he wanted to say but the time didn't seem right. Just as he spotted the main lab, a door burst open and Tom the trusty executive barred their way.

"How did you three get up here?!" he demanded grabbing at his gun.

"Go Doctor! Keep Aven safe, I'll catch up," he called out as he tackled the man.