Fic: Set Piece (6/6) - EPILOGUE
Title: Set Piece
Authors: Gillian Taylor (dark_aegis)
Characters: Rose Tyler, Tenth Doctor, Jack Harkness, cameo by Jackie Tyler
Spoilers: Sequel to The Greatest of These (Link goes to the last chapter, previous chapters are linked at the top of the post)
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just having fun with them
Summary: Accidents tend to come in threes when travelling with the Doctor. Once, she met him. The second time she lost, then regained him. This time, though she's separated from him, she gains something else - a stranger, who becomes a friend.
Author's Notes: Written for wendymr and the Shadow Proclamation who won me in the September Support Stacie auction. They asked for the sequel to The Greatest of These. With many thanks to yamx and kae_nine for their invaluable betaing services and general awesomeness.
Chapter 1: Recovery | Chapter 2: A Different World | Chapter 3: Time-Locked | Chapter 4: Mob Mentality | Chapter 5: New Beginnings
Epilogue: A Crazy Sort of Life
He knew what survivors felt like after living through a disaster of unspeakable scale. He knew what it felt like to be the one whose hands were on the button that destroyed everything he cared about.
He knew what it was like to fear for someone else's life, to be near frantic with worry that they were dying somewhere just out of reach. But, most of all, he knew the crushing relief of reunions with people you thought you'd never see again.
Rose was pressed against him, her arms holding him so tightly he could hardly breathe. Didn't matter, though. That was what respiratory by-pass was for, and there was no way he was going to let her go any time soon. He met Jack's eyes over Rose's tousled head, letting his expression and the mouthed 'thank you' be enough.
It wasn't, though. He could read the man's expression, probably far more than even Jack realised. He, too, was feeling this same crushing relief. He, too, probably needed the desperate hug that Rose was currently indulging herself with.
It'd started as a normal adventure. Lovely planet, this. At least it had been before the war. His fault that they'd landed here, now, right before the first volleys of the worst war in this planet's history. His fault that Rose and Jack had got separated from him. His fault that when the first bomb dropped, he hadn't known if he'd see either of them again.
Bugger this. He needed the hug just as much as Jack or Rose did. He lifted his arm, looking pointedly at Jack as he beckoned him closer. It took a bit of coaxing, but he was finally able to embrace both of his companions. The thunder of his heartsbeats in his head was barely able to drown out the prayer of thankfulness that repeated within his mind.
They were alive.
"Ow! Ow! My sides," Rose exclaimed. Her cheeks were actually starting to hurt from laughing so much, but it felt good. Right. It'd been a while since she'd last laughed like this.
Jack used his best put-upon face to look at her. "I can't help but think you're laughing at me." Sadly, the seriousness of the comment was completely belied by the rather vibrant shade of blue that coated every inch of him.
"You look like a giant smurf!" she retorted before she was lost to giggles again. He did, though. A giant, rather sexy-looking, smurf. Who knew blue paint could be such a turn on?
"What's a smurf?" Jack asked, baffled.
"Cartoon character of some sort, I believe," the Doctor replied absently, his own lips twitching as he fiddled with the sonic screwdriver. "Ah-ha! I've got it!"
"You can change me back to normal?" Jack asked as her giggles started to die off. There was only so much laughing one could do in a day, after all.
"Yep! I'm brilliant!" The Doctor triggered the sonic screwdriver and the paint-like substance that currently coated Jack began to vibrate.
There was a flash of light - and that really smelt like burnt cabbages - and by the time her vision cleared, she stared at the results feeling as though she'd stepped into the Twilight Zone.
"Yellow?" Jack's voice had reached a rather interesting pitch. "Doctor, this is not my best colour."
"Oh, I dunno," the Doctor said, his lips twitching. "Think it brings out your rather sunny disposition."
That was it. She lost it all over again.
"Why don't I get some of that?" Jack asked.
He looked up from where he'd just finished kissing Rose to smirk at the other bloke. "Buy me a drink first," he replied.
"How many would you like? And what type?" Jack retorted.
Rose started snickering quietly against his chest and he knew he'd get no help from that end. Strangely, though, she didn't seem to be jealous. He mentally shook himself and focused on their banter. "You wouldn't be able to afford it," he said.
"Try me."
"Sorry, we come as a packaged deal," Rose said, startling him enough that he looked down at her. However, she wasn't looking at him, she was looking at Jack.
Jack grinned - one of his brilliant, amazing grins that lit up the room. "I could live with that," he replied.
This life was going to kill him.
How anyone got anything done around here was beyond Jack. The sexual tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. He knew that Rose snuck into the Doctor's bed at night, just like he also knew that they hadn't crossed that particular line. It was rather obvious when one made a life studying the reactions of potential cons. There were kisses - and wow, were they kisses - but that was it.
It baffled him, to be honest. She was gorgeous, the Doctor was gorgeous, and he knew he was gorgeous. So why didn't anything happen beyond a few kisses? Surely they realised they were attracted to one another. Surely they realised he was attracted to them. Surely they must've realised it wasn't all banter.
Jack sighed and settled against a nearby strut, taking a moment to watch them interact. It was sweet, really. The Doctor was doing his best to ignore her, but she was bound and determined to get her way.
"Paris, Doctor. I've never been."
"Right across the channel, Rose. Short hop in a train and you're there," the Doctor replied, being particularly thick. It was obvious even to him that she wanted to go to Paris with the Doctor. Not with her mum or anyone from where she came from.
"Poor, remember?" Rose countered. "Couldn't afford it. 'Sides, I'm not saying I want to go to modern Paris."
"The eighteenth century was a good time," Jack offered. "Great parties."
"You're not helping," the Doctor said.
"She wants to go to Paris, Doctor. With you," he stated.
Rose shot him a surprised look, before correcting him. "No, I want to go to Paris with both of you."
Now it was his turn to be taken aback. "'S all right. Don't mind being left here, if you prefer."
"Oi! Would you two quit making plans when I haven't even decided if we're going to Paris or not?"
"That's where we're going though, right?" Rose asked, smiling in such a way that Jack knew the Doctor's battle had just been lost.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes, that's where we're going."
Rose squealed, stood on the tips of her toes and gave the Doctor a kiss.
"What? I'm starting to feel left out over here," Jack said, though he really wasn't. He didn't mind watching, though he definitely preferred participating.
She dropped back onto her heels and looked at him, an expression on her face that told him he was in trouble. Big trouble. She grinned. "Can't have that, now can we, Doctor?"
To his surprise, the Doctor shook his head. "Wouldn't do, no."
He found himself the destination of a slow stalk - Rose coming from the left, the Doctor from the right. His breathing quickened and he was certain he could hear his own heartbeat. This wasn't like him. Normally, he'd be the one doing the stalking. He hadn't expected them to actually react to his teasing. They were supposed to go on as usual. Not do this.
Then there they were. Within touching distance. No-one moved until he found his hands caught by two hands - one warm, one cool. His mind was still occupied with trying to figure out just where it'd all changed.
"Wouldn't do at all," the Doctor said quietly. "You're our friend, Jack. And-"
Rose's hand gently touched his chin, turning him towards her. "There's something we've been meaning to ask you."
He blinked at her, his mind still stalled on the idea that they'd reacted to his flirting. This wasn't the playful banter he was used to. This was something entirely different. "What's that?"
They didn't answer in words. They answered with a hug. Two bodies pressed against him and he found himself returning that embrace with all that he had.
But, since he was Jack Harkness, he didn't let it end there.
END
x-posted to: time_and_chips, betterwiththree & dark_aegis
Authors: Gillian Taylor (dark_aegis)
Characters: Rose Tyler, Tenth Doctor, Jack Harkness, cameo by Jackie Tyler
Spoilers: Sequel to The Greatest of These (Link goes to the last chapter, previous chapters are linked at the top of the post)
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just having fun with them
Summary: Accidents tend to come in threes when travelling with the Doctor. Once, she met him. The second time she lost, then regained him. This time, though she's separated from him, she gains something else - a stranger, who becomes a friend.
Author's Notes: Written for wendymr and the Shadow Proclamation who won me in the September Support Stacie auction. They asked for the sequel to The Greatest of These. With many thanks to yamx and kae_nine for their invaluable betaing services and general awesomeness.
Chapter 1: Recovery | Chapter 2: A Different World | Chapter 3: Time-Locked | Chapter 4: Mob Mentality | Chapter 5: New Beginnings
Epilogue: A Crazy Sort of Life
He knew what survivors felt like after living through a disaster of unspeakable scale. He knew what it felt like to be the one whose hands were on the button that destroyed everything he cared about.
He knew what it was like to fear for someone else's life, to be near frantic with worry that they were dying somewhere just out of reach. But, most of all, he knew the crushing relief of reunions with people you thought you'd never see again.
Rose was pressed against him, her arms holding him so tightly he could hardly breathe. Didn't matter, though. That was what respiratory by-pass was for, and there was no way he was going to let her go any time soon. He met Jack's eyes over Rose's tousled head, letting his expression and the mouthed 'thank you' be enough.
It wasn't, though. He could read the man's expression, probably far more than even Jack realised. He, too, was feeling this same crushing relief. He, too, probably needed the desperate hug that Rose was currently indulging herself with.
It'd started as a normal adventure. Lovely planet, this. At least it had been before the war. His fault that they'd landed here, now, right before the first volleys of the worst war in this planet's history. His fault that Rose and Jack had got separated from him. His fault that when the first bomb dropped, he hadn't known if he'd see either of them again.
Bugger this. He needed the hug just as much as Jack or Rose did. He lifted his arm, looking pointedly at Jack as he beckoned him closer. It took a bit of coaxing, but he was finally able to embrace both of his companions. The thunder of his heartsbeats in his head was barely able to drown out the prayer of thankfulness that repeated within his mind.
They were alive.
"Ow! Ow! My sides," Rose exclaimed. Her cheeks were actually starting to hurt from laughing so much, but it felt good. Right. It'd been a while since she'd last laughed like this.
Jack used his best put-upon face to look at her. "I can't help but think you're laughing at me." Sadly, the seriousness of the comment was completely belied by the rather vibrant shade of blue that coated every inch of him.
"You look like a giant smurf!" she retorted before she was lost to giggles again. He did, though. A giant, rather sexy-looking, smurf. Who knew blue paint could be such a turn on?
"What's a smurf?" Jack asked, baffled.
"Cartoon character of some sort, I believe," the Doctor replied absently, his own lips twitching as he fiddled with the sonic screwdriver. "Ah-ha! I've got it!"
"You can change me back to normal?" Jack asked as her giggles started to die off. There was only so much laughing one could do in a day, after all.
"Yep! I'm brilliant!" The Doctor triggered the sonic screwdriver and the paint-like substance that currently coated Jack began to vibrate.
There was a flash of light - and that really smelt like burnt cabbages - and by the time her vision cleared, she stared at the results feeling as though she'd stepped into the Twilight Zone.
"Yellow?" Jack's voice had reached a rather interesting pitch. "Doctor, this is not my best colour."
"Oh, I dunno," the Doctor said, his lips twitching. "Think it brings out your rather sunny disposition."
That was it. She lost it all over again.
"Why don't I get some of that?" Jack asked.
He looked up from where he'd just finished kissing Rose to smirk at the other bloke. "Buy me a drink first," he replied.
"How many would you like? And what type?" Jack retorted.
Rose started snickering quietly against his chest and he knew he'd get no help from that end. Strangely, though, she didn't seem to be jealous. He mentally shook himself and focused on their banter. "You wouldn't be able to afford it," he said.
"Try me."
"Sorry, we come as a packaged deal," Rose said, startling him enough that he looked down at her. However, she wasn't looking at him, she was looking at Jack.
Jack grinned - one of his brilliant, amazing grins that lit up the room. "I could live with that," he replied.
This life was going to kill him.
How anyone got anything done around here was beyond Jack. The sexual tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. He knew that Rose snuck into the Doctor's bed at night, just like he also knew that they hadn't crossed that particular line. It was rather obvious when one made a life studying the reactions of potential cons. There were kisses - and wow, were they kisses - but that was it.
It baffled him, to be honest. She was gorgeous, the Doctor was gorgeous, and he knew he was gorgeous. So why didn't anything happen beyond a few kisses? Surely they realised they were attracted to one another. Surely they realised he was attracted to them. Surely they must've realised it wasn't all banter.
Jack sighed and settled against a nearby strut, taking a moment to watch them interact. It was sweet, really. The Doctor was doing his best to ignore her, but she was bound and determined to get her way.
"Paris, Doctor. I've never been."
"Right across the channel, Rose. Short hop in a train and you're there," the Doctor replied, being particularly thick. It was obvious even to him that she wanted to go to Paris with the Doctor. Not with her mum or anyone from where she came from.
"Poor, remember?" Rose countered. "Couldn't afford it. 'Sides, I'm not saying I want to go to modern Paris."
"The eighteenth century was a good time," Jack offered. "Great parties."
"You're not helping," the Doctor said.
"She wants to go to Paris, Doctor. With you," he stated.
Rose shot him a surprised look, before correcting him. "No, I want to go to Paris with both of you."
Now it was his turn to be taken aback. "'S all right. Don't mind being left here, if you prefer."
"Oi! Would you two quit making plans when I haven't even decided if we're going to Paris or not?"
"That's where we're going though, right?" Rose asked, smiling in such a way that Jack knew the Doctor's battle had just been lost.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes, that's where we're going."
Rose squealed, stood on the tips of her toes and gave the Doctor a kiss.
"What? I'm starting to feel left out over here," Jack said, though he really wasn't. He didn't mind watching, though he definitely preferred participating.
She dropped back onto her heels and looked at him, an expression on her face that told him he was in trouble. Big trouble. She grinned. "Can't have that, now can we, Doctor?"
To his surprise, the Doctor shook his head. "Wouldn't do, no."
He found himself the destination of a slow stalk - Rose coming from the left, the Doctor from the right. His breathing quickened and he was certain he could hear his own heartbeat. This wasn't like him. Normally, he'd be the one doing the stalking. He hadn't expected them to actually react to his teasing. They were supposed to go on as usual. Not do this.
Then there they were. Within touching distance. No-one moved until he found his hands caught by two hands - one warm, one cool. His mind was still occupied with trying to figure out just where it'd all changed.
"Wouldn't do at all," the Doctor said quietly. "You're our friend, Jack. And-"
Rose's hand gently touched his chin, turning him towards her. "There's something we've been meaning to ask you."
He blinked at her, his mind still stalled on the idea that they'd reacted to his flirting. This wasn't the playful banter he was used to. This was something entirely different. "What's that?"
They didn't answer in words. They answered with a hug. Two bodies pressed against him and he found himself returning that embrace with all that he had.
But, since he was Jack Harkness, he didn't let it end there.
END
x-posted to: time_and_chips, betterwiththree & dark_aegis