Theories & Headcanons

Chapter 4: Another Story Idea Because I'm Bored And Sleep-Deprived

You know how The Doctor from Doctor Who can't tell anyone his name or something terrible will happen? I came up with the idea that it's because knowing his name lets someone have complete and total control over him, like he can't even try to go against what he believes their commands mean even if he finds a loophole (which isn't a Time Lord thing, this affects only The Doctor, for... Reasons). HOWEVER, the one who knows his name has to intentionally use the new bond (which takes about as much mental effort as breathing but still is a purposeful choice) or else it won't register as a command, meaning they could choose to let The Doctor be free and not command him (which is why he felt safe telling River, the love of his life).

This, obviously, would be very bad. The Doctor is the MOST FEARED BEING IN THE UNIVERSE. He is The Oncoming Storm, The Timelord Victorious, The Destroyer Of Worlds, The Imp Of The Pandorica, and about a thousand other really dangerous nicknames. Him without his morals, or being controlled by someone without his morals, could bring the universe to its knees.

He loves and trusts his Companions, but he doesn't trust them quite enough to risk telling them his name (even if they didn't use it, what if they slipped up or were tortured and told someone else?). But what if he had to?

I came up with a fic idea where The Doctor is being mind controlled by The Master in a different way than using his name, using technology that gives him some loopholes and would be hackable given enough time. Unfortunately, he doesn't have time, as he's about to be forced to blow up the Earth. Captain Jack Harkness is caged nearby, yelling at The Master to stop, while the Master just laughs as The Doctor futilely struggles against the machine (succeeding in stalling only by a few seconds).

At the absolute last second, with literally no other hope, The Doctor focuses all his energy on telepathically communicating with Jack, which is difficult as Timelords aren't the best at long-range telepathy (and humans aren't really built for it at all) and he's more-or-less out of practice with no other Timelords to hang out with on a regular basis (he has a psychic bond with his TARDIS, but that's mostly because of her power and is different anyways).

The Doctor briefly scans Jack's mind in the hope his friend has some sort of brilliant hidden plan. He doesn't. Resigning himself to what must be, the narrative briefly makes it seem like The Doctor has given up hope and will just push the button that will blow up the Earth... Only for him to telepathically tell Jack his name and how to control him with it.

Jack uses the name (which he doesn't say out loud, of course, just knowing it is enough) to override the machine controlling The Doctor, making him free them both from The Master. They run, with Jack commanding The Doctor to make sure the machine can't take back over, eventually making it to the TARDIS where they save the day.

Day saved, Jack uses tools in the TARDIS along with instructions the TARDIS helpfully puts up on her screens, to get the machine off The Doctor. The Doctor is resigned to his fate, thinking that at least Jack won't be the worst owner... Only to be surprised when Jack stops using the control. The Doctor is suspicious at first, but they talk and have a fluffy moment where some of The Doctor's trust issues are healed (just a little), and then they hug.

It's a sweet moment... Which is completely ruined by Jack using a wildly inappropriate innuendo.

(Remember that Jack is attracted to just about everyone, likes to greet The Doctor by kissing him, and flirts all the time... He doesn't exactly expect people to flirt back and isn't disappointed — except maybe playfully — when he's turned down/ignored, but if someone flirts back he is immediately ON BOARD.)