Is it bad that while watching that early scene in Dark Water with the lava I was over here saying “Well, good thing Jack still has a key and there’s a phone on the outside of the Tardis.”
Could you imagine the awkwardness of that phone call though? “Uh, hi Jack, it’s been a while…manipulator still working? Good. I need a favor…”
I can’t promise it’s any good but:
Jack was in the middle of planning with his current team when he was interrupted by the barkeep. “You’ve got a call.”
Jack blinked and looked up. “I better take this.” He squeezed the shoulder of his second and stepped out to take it.
“Do you still have your Tardis key?” The oddly familiar voice asked without preamble.
“Of course I do. What did you do, lock yourself out? Isn’t there an intergalactic locksmith you can call?”
“Just come to my coordinates.” The line went dead.
Jack shook his head, opened his manipulator and started typing things in. He walked back to the meeting. “I gotta take this. But I’ll be back.” He gave them a grin. “Shara I know you’ve got this.”
He turned and walked away, taking a breath as he stepped outside and pressed a final button.
When he caught his feet on the landing, the first thing he saw was the Tardis. He walked over and touched the familiar wood. “Hey girl,” he said softly.
Walking around the Tardis he found himself facing a familiar face and froze. “What?”
“Key,” he said, holding his hand out.
Jack drew back. “Who are you?”
“You know who I am. Now, unlock the door.”
Shaking his head, Jack watched him. “How do I know you’re really the Doctor?”
He rolled his eyes. “I thought you said the Tardis was a dead giveaway last time.” He pulled the sonic screwdriver out and pointed it at the manipulator. It hummed and came to life.
Jack looked down at his wrist, then moved to the door and unlocked it. “You might want to check the history of that face,” he said, stepping back again.
“Don’t want to come in?”
“Not this time.” Jack and the Doctor looked at each other a long moment. Jack hit buttons and left before he could change his mind. There was a lot to think about.