FIC: Ordinary (DW, 10/Rose, Jack, AU)
I have to post this before it drives me mad. Please take the time to read and review. I’d appreciate it!
Title - Ordinary
Author - Kazzy
Rating - PG-13/T
Spoilers - Parting of the Ways; possibly Children in Need and The Christmas Invasion, but not overtly.
Category - Drama, Romance, AU
Summary - The Tylers are pretty normal. However, nothing is as it seems. Why does the Doctor remember the names of people he’s never met? Why does Rose keep forgetting her mother is dead? And just how does their mechanic come into it?
Disclaimer - If I was RTD… but I’m not, and I can’t claim to own any of these characters. I do love them though. So, I’m borrowing them. I’ll return them (largely) intact soon enough. And no money will change hands at any point. Oh and I can’t claim to own Calvin and Hobbes either.
Notes - I got the idea from a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. I couldn’t help it.
I haven’t seen the Christmas Invasion yet. I’ve read the transcript (once). You’ll have to forgive any and all characterisation mistakes. I know I should wait until I see more, to get a better grasp, or just write nine, but the bunny was insistent. When TPTB finally decide to play TCI down here (and with any luck season two very soon after) I may re-write it.
I’m looking for a beta - anyone want?
Prologue
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Rose Tyler had been married to her husband Dr. Thierry Tyler for just under two years. And despite the difference between them, it had been a good two years.
Rose was a floor supervisor at a local department store. Thierry, or ‘the Doctor’ as most people called him, was a professor of physics at university. He was also involved in some advanced experiments, which Rose didn’t completely understand, but had something to do with time. Their careers were very different, but neither Rose nor the Doctor minded. She teased him about his ‘nerdy’ profession - and his stodgy dress sense - he teased her about being too fashion conscious. But at the end of the day they had each other to come home to and that was all that mattered.
The Doctor was a good bit older than Rose - thirteen years - and she knew that her parents would never have approved. Was sure that if her mother were alive, she’d have a word to or two to say on the matter - Jackie Tyler always did. However, the Doctor had a manic energy, but gave him the appearance of being so much younger. Rose sometimes teased him about the age gap, asked him what it said about an old man who married a girl so young, but he always turned serious, saying it said more about her. The words warmed her, because she knew he was so much more intelligent than her, but he rarely held his knowledge over her, instead treating her like an equal, like her opinion mattered. She appreciated that.
The two really were the perfect match, and Rose couldn’t image ever being happy with anyone else. She had everything she wanted right here.
That is, if she ignored the vague sense of there being something else she was meant to do with her life.
Chapter One
-x-x-x-
On Wednesday Rose caught the bus to work as the Doctor’s car was at the mechanics and it was easier for her to get to work than it was for the Doctor to get to the University via public transport. She kissed her husband goodbye as he distractedly ate his cornflakes and scribbled something in his notebook, grabbed her bag and headed out the door, grumbling only a little because it was half an hour earlier than normal.
After work, she headed over to the mechanic’s to pick up the car. It was a new place, but apparently the guy there was really good with cars, fixing them quickly, if charging slightly higher than anywhere else. The Doctor had dropped the car off the day before, and had come home frowning. He said he wasn’t sure they could trust the mechanic, that the guy seemed shady. Rose had shaken off the comment, though. The Doctor didn’t like anyone touching his baby other than him. He was actually a fairly deft hand at fixing her, but sadly often lacked the time. However Rose felt better if their cars were fixed by a professional, as there was less chance of something going wrong then. The Doctor pointed out that a bit of flash didn’t necessary mean the job was done right. Rose pointed out that sometimes having the right tools did actually work.
The discussion had degenerated into an argument, which had only ended when Rose had reminded the Doctor of the last time he’d tried to fix the car, which had actually resulted in a minor crash. The Doctor had gone off to sulk for half an hour, but had still cooked her a delicious curry for dinner.
At the mechanic’s, the place seemed deserted, at least outwardly. The main room was nicer than she would have expected, cleaner, tidier. The furniture - a wooden reception area and a comfy couch - was warm and welcoming. No one was waiting at the front desk, though, which was a little odd. Rose couldn’t see anyone, at all, and the set up prevented her from seeing into the workshop for her husband’s car. Frowning, she rang the bell on the front desk several times before a figure strode into the room. She couldn’t quite keep her jaw from dropping. The guy was gorgeous. He grinned at her, and happily married, all needs fulfilled or not, Rose felt herself melt.
He gripped her hand warmly in his own, keeping his eyes on her face at all times. “Hey there. Jack Harkness. How can I help you this afternoon?”
“Uh…h-hello.” Rose stammered, then warned herself to get together: she was married. “I’m Rose Tyler. My h-husband, Doctor Tyler, dropped our car off yesterday?” Good lord, could she sound any more adolescent? She sounded like she was talking to the cute guy that she had a crush on.
“Sure,” Jack Harkness was still smiling broadly, and standing a little too close. Apparently not noticing the way she was acting. “Right this way.” He stood back a little and indicated the door he’d come through. Rose stepped forward, but couldn’t avoid brushing against him, he was standing so close.
“She’s a beauty,” Harkness said as he followed Rose into the main body of he shop. For a heartbeat, she had the feeling he wasn’t talking about the Doctor’s car. She could only hope that the shiver that ran up her spine was not outwardly obvious.
Yes, she was attracted to this guy. Who wouldn’t be? He was good-looking, friendly, and given half a chance she suspected he’d be utterly charming too. That meant little, Rose thought all that and more of her husband. However, it was more than that, there was something she couldn’t put her finger on. It was almost a sense of familiarity, as if she’d met this man before, and yet she knew she’d remember something like that. Someone like him.
“Sorry?” she asked.
“Your husband’s car,” he rolled the word husband around in his mouth, as if it amused him. Rose rolled her eyes and barely contained a snicker. Most of the time she’d shoot down any guy who tried to hit on her - she was a one-man woman - and she couldn’t be bothered pandering fragile egos. Jack provoked no such reaction in her.
“You must have the wrong car. The Doctor’s car is a bomb. She never works right. Half the time I’m surprised she even starts.”
“That’s what I thought at first,” Harkness admitted. “Then I took a look inside. You don’t see workmanship like that anymore. She’s a very special lady. Just like her owner.” He topped that one off with another grin that made her insides melt, but also made her roll her eyes again.
“Oi! Didn’t we just discuss that part where I was married?” she snapped, more amused than anything.
“Ah, tie down a soul like you. Never!” he laughed. “Though, I supposed your attention might just be caught by someone that good-looking. It’s a pity.”
“Why because you aren’t getting any?” she asked surprised at herself. She generally wasn’t that forward with anyone, especially not someone she’d known less than ten minutes.
“Yes. There are two less available beautiful people in the world.” He meant it, too. Harkness genuinely seemed disappointed that both herself and the Doctor were taken. “Come away with me,” he said suddenly, his eyes teasing.
Rose couldn’t help laughing at that one. “Married, remember!”
“Bring him too.” Jack’s smirk was becoming almost impossibly wide as Rose laughed harder.
“What both of us?”
He caught her hand. “Absolutely. Three beautiful people travelling the world together. What could be more enticing than that?” He held her eyes in his.
Though Rose didn’t think for one second he was the slightest bit serious, she couldn’t help but admit that it was an attractive idea. Maybe she should suggest to the Doctor they should go travelling. An exotic holiday would be nice, an adventure. Rose had never had much of a chance for travel, and now she found herself wanting it madly, irrationally.
Then Jack Harkness brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. No one, not even the Doctor, had ever done that. It should have been the pinnacle on the top of Harkness’ games, but strangely it wasn’t. The gesture was entirely intimate, and Rose felt her heart stop icily. Given the opportunity, Rose sensed, this man would sleep with her, but that wasn’t his intent, and without knowing why, she did know that.
In his eyes, something caught and held her, kept her captive for long moments. He was no less trapped than her though: she could see his shock at the deeper connection, the recognition. I know you! For a fraction of a second, Rose thought she knew the answer to the great puzzle.
“Rose…” he whispered.
Then it all snapped. Harkness, with Rose’s hand still trapped in his, raised an eyebrow in a very flirtatious, sensual manner. “My lady,” he grinned, as if nothing had happened, “your chariot.”
And there was her husband’s car, looking like it’s same as always. A beaten up, yet well-loved vehicle. Rose patted the vehicle lightly, and the paint was uneven under her fingers. Faintly, she noticed that Harkness had let go over her hand.
“That’s her!” she said cheerfully, covering over anything that might have happened in the last few minutes.
“Great!” said Harkness. “I’ll have someone bring her round, if you want to come and fill in that nasty business of paper work.” He didn’t quite meet her eyes and Rose wondered why. What had he seen earlier? What had she seen? But it was madness, so she put the issue out of her mind and focussed on the business of an ordinary life.
“Sure,” she said, checking for purse and finding it tucked at the bottom of her handbag.
Harkness flirted with her all the way back to reception and as she signed the forms and paid him his fee. She flirted right back, enjoying herself. Any trace of the second back in the garage seemed to have been forgotten, for which Rose was grateful. She couldn’t explain it, and didn’t want to think about what it meant.
“Is that all?” she asked, once she’d signed the credit card slip. Her signature was big and loopy as it had always been. She’d been a Tyler all her life, and hadn’t changed her name when she married, so she hadn’t had to change her signature either. She couldn’t imagine having to use the Doctor’s surname (his maiden name!) in a signature.
“Well, you could give me a kiss to seal the deal,” Harkness told her, grinning widely. Her heart thudded lightly, as if she remembered what kissing him on the lips was like, but that was silly.
“You’ve had your kiss,” she waved her hand at him, making a blind attempt at humour. When he just laughed, so she assumed she’d been successful. Rose’s smile returned warmly in response.
She left the mechanic’s feeling strangely buoyant, as if she’d accidentally bumped into an old friend, and spent the afternoon catching up. Again, she had no explanation for it. She had not met Jack Harkness before, as she was sure she’d remember him and his friendly personality. Yet she could have sworn she’d known him for a long time.
-x-x-x-
The Doctor would be late home that night as he had some experiments that needed conducting, and were fairly time sensitive. So Rose fixed herself a quick meal and settled down in front of the television for the evening. She was idly flicking through the channels when her husband arrived.
At some point he’d removed his tie and unbuttoned his collar and jacket. The latter he slid of he shoulders and tossed on to an armchair. His hair was even more rumpled than usual meaning that either the wind had sprung up suddenly and violently when she wasn’t looking, or he’d been particularly bored during the day and run his hands through it numerous times. Whatever, he looked good.
“Hey,” she said warmly in greeting, briefly suppressing the urge to jump on him. “Good day?”
“Reasonable, fairly pointless, and completely boring,” he told her, then settled down with her on the couch, wrapping her in his arms, her back to his chest. “Better now.”
She snuggled into him, and angled herself up for a kiss, which he gave her willingly. His lips were warm and familiar, but made her toes curl. He slid a hand under her shirt to rest against her skin, and she ran her fingers through his hair, if possible making it even messier. They broke for air, and settled back against the couch, but he left his hand resting on her stomach, hers over lying on top.
“Anything good on telly?” he asked, his voice soft in her ear, making her shiver. Even if there had been something on, she probably would have denied it.
“Nothing. It’s all repeats and reality junk.” For no reason she’d ever been able to put her finger on, Rose had never liked reality TV. It gave her the creeps, and the Doctor agreed. He said there was something not quite right about people who willingly chose to put themselves through pain and deprivation just to have a small chance at some rather meaningless prize. Disturbing.
“How were the experiments?” she asked, switching off the box now that a more interesting entertainment had arrived home. Yes, she knew what he wanted, and she found the concept just as appealing. But she was happy where she was, and didn’t feel inclined to move just yet.
When he spoke, she could hear the frown in his voice. “As expected, our results mirrored the last batch, confirming them. There is absolutely nothing to doubt now - all we have to do is figure out what it all means. And it must mean something.” The Doctor and his assistants were at the phase where they’d conducted the initial experiments, and were now repeating them to see if they could duplicate the information. While Rose knew her husband was meticulous at all stages of his study, she also knew he thrived on the thrill of discovery. Now that he had found out what he wanted to know, his interest was waning slightly as he checked and rechecked everything.
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” Rose asked, trying to prompt some enthusiasm out of him.
“Yes,” he sighed, “it’s good.”
“But you’re bored out of your skull,” she said for him.
“Alas,” he said, “you know me too well.” He kissed her temple, and she could feel a little of his frustration flow out of him. “I just dislike this part of the study. I know it is important, but doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it! But leaving it to someone else would be irresponsible, and possibly dangerous, at the very least misleading. No,” he murmured softly, “not at all responsible.”
“And you’re always responsible.”
“Ye-” he was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn’t immediately catch on to her teasing. “Why you little monkey!” he said when she started laughing at him.
“Gotchya!” she cried.
“No,” he said in a deep voice that she felt through her entire body to the very tips. “I’ve got you!” His grip shifted on her waist to her sides, where he began to tickle her until she begged for mercy.
By the time she let her go, she was breathless in his arms, laughing helplessly. “Are you going to be more respectful now?” he asked in the same tone of voice.
“Of you?” she asked as innocently as she could, still trying to keep from giggling.
He attacked again, and Rose was a helpless squirming mass in his arms. “All right! All right! I promise to be more respectful!” she gasped through the tears of laughter streaming down her face.
“Good, because you know they put that in the wedding vows. To love honour and obey, which is the same thing. You should remember that Rose, you it wasn’t that long ago and you are still young with a good memory,” he said, sounding far too self-satisfied, but an edge of laughter had crept into his voice, so she let it pass - for the moment. Later, she reminded herself, there’s always later to get my revenge.
She turned in his arms, so she was resting forwards on his chest, her forehead resting on his shoulder. She linked one hand through his, and he wrapped his other back around her waist. They stayed that way for long moments, enjoying each other’s company.
“Y’know,” Rose said after a while.
“Mmmm?” he asked.
“I was thinking today-”
“Good habit to get into that,” the Doctor said with an air of sanctimony. Rose pinched him with her free hand, making him yelp.
“As I was saying, I was thinking today about going on holiday. I mean we haven’t had a holiday since our honeymoon. Wouldn’t it be nice to get away?”
“Yeah,” he agreed, “but to where?”
“I don’t know, somewhere exotic, somewhere new and exciting to explore.”
“There are lots of places like that in the world, can you narrow it down a bit. A general area, perhaps a type of terrain…”
“All of them?” Beaches, mountains, forests, deserts. Now that she was thinking about it, there were so many places that she wanted to see, to explore. There was no way she’d be able to do them all in one life time, but she had every intention of trying.
“All of them?!” he spluttered. “Rose the world is a big place, enormous even. It would take a long time - and a lot of money to explore it all.”
“So?” she asked. Money they had. Time was a different kettle of fish, but it didn’t have to be. “You’ve said yourself that this current round of experiments is nearly at an end. We could go then. I just… I always wanted to travel. Was going to, but then I met you - and that was good, the best thing that ever happened to me - and we got married. Then you were busy with your students and your experiments and I was busy with work. I didn’t regret that either. But one day we’re going to have kids, and that’ll be another reason not to go, and if we don’t go soon, I get the feeling we never will…” she trailed off, flushing slightly at the words that had tumbled out of her. Never had she realised how much this meant to her.
“Oh, Rose,” he sighed, but didn’t say anything else for a long time. Rose just leaned against him, listening the sound of his heartbeat, strong and sure. “Okay,” he said at long last.
Rose sat up and stared at him. “Okay?” she asked, stunned.
The Doctor reached out a hand, and laid it gently on the side of her face. “Yes. Okay. Let’s go!” he gave her one of those brilliant smiles she loved. “We’re off! There’s so much to see! You’re right, we can’t sit here for the rest of our lives, growing old and rusty!”
“You mean it?” she asked, incredulously, but with joy creeping in.
With one of the lightning fast mood changes that so characterised her husband, the manic glee slipped off his face and melted into seriousness. “Of course, I mean it. This is important to you Rose. I knew when I married you that you wanted to travel, and I always thought that we would - later. And yet here we are, still in the same place. That wasn’t fair for you.”
“I didn’t mean…”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “I know, but it’s the truth. And this isn’t just about you, Rose. I think it’s high time I did something before I turn into one of those musty old professors with no idea what the real world is like, haunting the halls, glaring at students for being young. Of course I do that now, but that’s mostly because some of them really are stupid. But that’s not the point is it? The point is getting out - of not being here anymore.”
She looked into his eyes to judge his seriousness, and he looked back with a fathomless gaze. “So we’re going? Just like that?”
“Just like that,” he confirmed, pressing a brief kiss to her lips. “What fun,” he mused as she settled back against him, still slightly in shock. “The two of us off to have an adventure! Off to see every corner of the world! We won’t miss a thing!”
Rose couldn’t help the joyous smile that spread across her face in response.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the decision they brought us to, but what brought this on?” the Doctor asked her curiously.
“Our new mechanic.”
“Jack Harkness?”
“That’s the one. Of course he was suggesting that the three of us run off together, but it got me thinking about it all.” She frowned in thought, wondering where they could go first.
“Our mechanic wanted to run away together?” the Doctor had a different set of concerns.
“Yes. The three of us, into the sunset.” Her husband had always been oddly possessive, and every now and then she liked to needle him. “I liked him.”
“Really, Rose, he flirted with me the whole time I was there - and with you, by the sound of it!”
She laughed; he never failed to disappoint. He’d come a long way, though. At the beginning of their relationship, it had been all she could do to keep him from growling at any male who came into her radius, or looked her way, or spoke to her, or was in the room at the time. He’d mellowed with time, and Rose had learned to live with his reactions, and even have fun with them occasionally. It could even be a turn on at times.
“Oh come on, Doctor, he can’t be that bad. Just a bit of fun. Not everyday a man tells me I’m beautiful like that.” She was winding him up good; she could see that. Just a little more. “Of course he seemed to keep forgetting we were married.”
That did it. Rose squealed as she found herself on her back staring up at the Doctor. He growled, deep in his throat, and she had to bite back a moan at the darkly possessive look in his eyes. Two years and it still never failed to get to her that look. “You are mine, Rose Tyler - and don’t you forget it.”
The kiss he gave her was ringing with all the possessiveness and passion she’d come to expect. Rose pressed herself up to meet it, tangling her tongue with his, arm around his waist holding his body close to hers. Heat flashed through her madly, and she pressed still closer. Like all things about her husband, she loved this in him. Outwardly, he might be the scientist, in brown pinstripes, studiously working at his obscure branch of physics, but inwardly… this man knew how to make her burn. As in all things, he was a consummate lover. She loved him, and would to the end of time.
When at last the heat of their ardour burned away, and they lay in each other’s arms, heartbeats and breathing returning to normal, he whispered into her ear. “My beautiful Rose. I will love you to the end of time. You are my heart, my soul.”
There was little she could say to that, but still, “I’m yours in all things, Doctor. I love you.”
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
A/N: Review junkie -please feed. I’ll take anything from mild interest to enthusiastic praises to in depth character discussions to harsh con-crit. I live for your responses.
Chocolate Doctors for all reviewers!
Title - Ordinary
Author - Kazzy
Rating - PG-13/T
Spoilers - Parting of the Ways; possibly Children in Need and The Christmas Invasion, but not overtly.
Category - Drama, Romance, AU
Summary - The Tylers are pretty normal. However, nothing is as it seems. Why does the Doctor remember the names of people he’s never met? Why does Rose keep forgetting her mother is dead? And just how does their mechanic come into it?
Disclaimer - If I was RTD… but I’m not, and I can’t claim to own any of these characters. I do love them though. So, I’m borrowing them. I’ll return them (largely) intact soon enough. And no money will change hands at any point. Oh and I can’t claim to own Calvin and Hobbes either.
Notes - I got the idea from a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. I couldn’t help it.
I haven’t seen the Christmas Invasion yet. I’ve read the transcript (once). You’ll have to forgive any and all characterisation mistakes. I know I should wait until I see more, to get a better grasp, or just write nine, but the bunny was insistent. When TPTB finally decide to play TCI down here (and with any luck season two very soon after) I may re-write it.
I’m looking for a beta - anyone want?
Prologue
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Rose Tyler had been married to her husband Dr. Thierry Tyler for just under two years. And despite the difference between them, it had been a good two years.
Rose was a floor supervisor at a local department store. Thierry, or ‘the Doctor’ as most people called him, was a professor of physics at university. He was also involved in some advanced experiments, which Rose didn’t completely understand, but had something to do with time. Their careers were very different, but neither Rose nor the Doctor minded. She teased him about his ‘nerdy’ profession - and his stodgy dress sense - he teased her about being too fashion conscious. But at the end of the day they had each other to come home to and that was all that mattered.
The Doctor was a good bit older than Rose - thirteen years - and she knew that her parents would never have approved. Was sure that if her mother were alive, she’d have a word to or two to say on the matter - Jackie Tyler always did. However, the Doctor had a manic energy, but gave him the appearance of being so much younger. Rose sometimes teased him about the age gap, asked him what it said about an old man who married a girl so young, but he always turned serious, saying it said more about her. The words warmed her, because she knew he was so much more intelligent than her, but he rarely held his knowledge over her, instead treating her like an equal, like her opinion mattered. She appreciated that.
The two really were the perfect match, and Rose couldn’t image ever being happy with anyone else. She had everything she wanted right here.
That is, if she ignored the vague sense of there being something else she was meant to do with her life.
Chapter One
-x-x-x-
On Wednesday Rose caught the bus to work as the Doctor’s car was at the mechanics and it was easier for her to get to work than it was for the Doctor to get to the University via public transport. She kissed her husband goodbye as he distractedly ate his cornflakes and scribbled something in his notebook, grabbed her bag and headed out the door, grumbling only a little because it was half an hour earlier than normal.
After work, she headed over to the mechanic’s to pick up the car. It was a new place, but apparently the guy there was really good with cars, fixing them quickly, if charging slightly higher than anywhere else. The Doctor had dropped the car off the day before, and had come home frowning. He said he wasn’t sure they could trust the mechanic, that the guy seemed shady. Rose had shaken off the comment, though. The Doctor didn’t like anyone touching his baby other than him. He was actually a fairly deft hand at fixing her, but sadly often lacked the time. However Rose felt better if their cars were fixed by a professional, as there was less chance of something going wrong then. The Doctor pointed out that a bit of flash didn’t necessary mean the job was done right. Rose pointed out that sometimes having the right tools did actually work.
The discussion had degenerated into an argument, which had only ended when Rose had reminded the Doctor of the last time he’d tried to fix the car, which had actually resulted in a minor crash. The Doctor had gone off to sulk for half an hour, but had still cooked her a delicious curry for dinner.
At the mechanic’s, the place seemed deserted, at least outwardly. The main room was nicer than she would have expected, cleaner, tidier. The furniture - a wooden reception area and a comfy couch - was warm and welcoming. No one was waiting at the front desk, though, which was a little odd. Rose couldn’t see anyone, at all, and the set up prevented her from seeing into the workshop for her husband’s car. Frowning, she rang the bell on the front desk several times before a figure strode into the room. She couldn’t quite keep her jaw from dropping. The guy was gorgeous. He grinned at her, and happily married, all needs fulfilled or not, Rose felt herself melt.
He gripped her hand warmly in his own, keeping his eyes on her face at all times. “Hey there. Jack Harkness. How can I help you this afternoon?”
“Uh…h-hello.” Rose stammered, then warned herself to get together: she was married. “I’m Rose Tyler. My h-husband, Doctor Tyler, dropped our car off yesterday?” Good lord, could she sound any more adolescent? She sounded like she was talking to the cute guy that she had a crush on.
“Sure,” Jack Harkness was still smiling broadly, and standing a little too close. Apparently not noticing the way she was acting. “Right this way.” He stood back a little and indicated the door he’d come through. Rose stepped forward, but couldn’t avoid brushing against him, he was standing so close.
“She’s a beauty,” Harkness said as he followed Rose into the main body of he shop. For a heartbeat, she had the feeling he wasn’t talking about the Doctor’s car. She could only hope that the shiver that ran up her spine was not outwardly obvious.
Yes, she was attracted to this guy. Who wouldn’t be? He was good-looking, friendly, and given half a chance she suspected he’d be utterly charming too. That meant little, Rose thought all that and more of her husband. However, it was more than that, there was something she couldn’t put her finger on. It was almost a sense of familiarity, as if she’d met this man before, and yet she knew she’d remember something like that. Someone like him.
“Sorry?” she asked.
“Your husband’s car,” he rolled the word husband around in his mouth, as if it amused him. Rose rolled her eyes and barely contained a snicker. Most of the time she’d shoot down any guy who tried to hit on her - she was a one-man woman - and she couldn’t be bothered pandering fragile egos. Jack provoked no such reaction in her.
“You must have the wrong car. The Doctor’s car is a bomb. She never works right. Half the time I’m surprised she even starts.”
“That’s what I thought at first,” Harkness admitted. “Then I took a look inside. You don’t see workmanship like that anymore. She’s a very special lady. Just like her owner.” He topped that one off with another grin that made her insides melt, but also made her roll her eyes again.
“Oi! Didn’t we just discuss that part where I was married?” she snapped, more amused than anything.
“Ah, tie down a soul like you. Never!” he laughed. “Though, I supposed your attention might just be caught by someone that good-looking. It’s a pity.”
“Why because you aren’t getting any?” she asked surprised at herself. She generally wasn’t that forward with anyone, especially not someone she’d known less than ten minutes.
“Yes. There are two less available beautiful people in the world.” He meant it, too. Harkness genuinely seemed disappointed that both herself and the Doctor were taken. “Come away with me,” he said suddenly, his eyes teasing.
Rose couldn’t help laughing at that one. “Married, remember!”
“Bring him too.” Jack’s smirk was becoming almost impossibly wide as Rose laughed harder.
“What both of us?”
He caught her hand. “Absolutely. Three beautiful people travelling the world together. What could be more enticing than that?” He held her eyes in his.
Though Rose didn’t think for one second he was the slightest bit serious, she couldn’t help but admit that it was an attractive idea. Maybe she should suggest to the Doctor they should go travelling. An exotic holiday would be nice, an adventure. Rose had never had much of a chance for travel, and now she found herself wanting it madly, irrationally.
Then Jack Harkness brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. No one, not even the Doctor, had ever done that. It should have been the pinnacle on the top of Harkness’ games, but strangely it wasn’t. The gesture was entirely intimate, and Rose felt her heart stop icily. Given the opportunity, Rose sensed, this man would sleep with her, but that wasn’t his intent, and without knowing why, she did know that.
In his eyes, something caught and held her, kept her captive for long moments. He was no less trapped than her though: she could see his shock at the deeper connection, the recognition. I know you! For a fraction of a second, Rose thought she knew the answer to the great puzzle.
“Rose…” he whispered.
Then it all snapped. Harkness, with Rose’s hand still trapped in his, raised an eyebrow in a very flirtatious, sensual manner. “My lady,” he grinned, as if nothing had happened, “your chariot.”
And there was her husband’s car, looking like it’s same as always. A beaten up, yet well-loved vehicle. Rose patted the vehicle lightly, and the paint was uneven under her fingers. Faintly, she noticed that Harkness had let go over her hand.
“That’s her!” she said cheerfully, covering over anything that might have happened in the last few minutes.
“Great!” said Harkness. “I’ll have someone bring her round, if you want to come and fill in that nasty business of paper work.” He didn’t quite meet her eyes and Rose wondered why. What had he seen earlier? What had she seen? But it was madness, so she put the issue out of her mind and focussed on the business of an ordinary life.
“Sure,” she said, checking for purse and finding it tucked at the bottom of her handbag.
Harkness flirted with her all the way back to reception and as she signed the forms and paid him his fee. She flirted right back, enjoying herself. Any trace of the second back in the garage seemed to have been forgotten, for which Rose was grateful. She couldn’t explain it, and didn’t want to think about what it meant.
“Is that all?” she asked, once she’d signed the credit card slip. Her signature was big and loopy as it had always been. She’d been a Tyler all her life, and hadn’t changed her name when she married, so she hadn’t had to change her signature either. She couldn’t imagine having to use the Doctor’s surname (his maiden name!) in a signature.
“Well, you could give me a kiss to seal the deal,” Harkness told her, grinning widely. Her heart thudded lightly, as if she remembered what kissing him on the lips was like, but that was silly.
“You’ve had your kiss,” she waved her hand at him, making a blind attempt at humour. When he just laughed, so she assumed she’d been successful. Rose’s smile returned warmly in response.
She left the mechanic’s feeling strangely buoyant, as if she’d accidentally bumped into an old friend, and spent the afternoon catching up. Again, she had no explanation for it. She had not met Jack Harkness before, as she was sure she’d remember him and his friendly personality. Yet she could have sworn she’d known him for a long time.
-x-x-x-
The Doctor would be late home that night as he had some experiments that needed conducting, and were fairly time sensitive. So Rose fixed herself a quick meal and settled down in front of the television for the evening. She was idly flicking through the channels when her husband arrived.
At some point he’d removed his tie and unbuttoned his collar and jacket. The latter he slid of he shoulders and tossed on to an armchair. His hair was even more rumpled than usual meaning that either the wind had sprung up suddenly and violently when she wasn’t looking, or he’d been particularly bored during the day and run his hands through it numerous times. Whatever, he looked good.
“Hey,” she said warmly in greeting, briefly suppressing the urge to jump on him. “Good day?”
“Reasonable, fairly pointless, and completely boring,” he told her, then settled down with her on the couch, wrapping her in his arms, her back to his chest. “Better now.”
She snuggled into him, and angled herself up for a kiss, which he gave her willingly. His lips were warm and familiar, but made her toes curl. He slid a hand under her shirt to rest against her skin, and she ran her fingers through his hair, if possible making it even messier. They broke for air, and settled back against the couch, but he left his hand resting on her stomach, hers over lying on top.
“Anything good on telly?” he asked, his voice soft in her ear, making her shiver. Even if there had been something on, she probably would have denied it.
“Nothing. It’s all repeats and reality junk.” For no reason she’d ever been able to put her finger on, Rose had never liked reality TV. It gave her the creeps, and the Doctor agreed. He said there was something not quite right about people who willingly chose to put themselves through pain and deprivation just to have a small chance at some rather meaningless prize. Disturbing.
“How were the experiments?” she asked, switching off the box now that a more interesting entertainment had arrived home. Yes, she knew what he wanted, and she found the concept just as appealing. But she was happy where she was, and didn’t feel inclined to move just yet.
When he spoke, she could hear the frown in his voice. “As expected, our results mirrored the last batch, confirming them. There is absolutely nothing to doubt now - all we have to do is figure out what it all means. And it must mean something.” The Doctor and his assistants were at the phase where they’d conducted the initial experiments, and were now repeating them to see if they could duplicate the information. While Rose knew her husband was meticulous at all stages of his study, she also knew he thrived on the thrill of discovery. Now that he had found out what he wanted to know, his interest was waning slightly as he checked and rechecked everything.
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” Rose asked, trying to prompt some enthusiasm out of him.
“Yes,” he sighed, “it’s good.”
“But you’re bored out of your skull,” she said for him.
“Alas,” he said, “you know me too well.” He kissed her temple, and she could feel a little of his frustration flow out of him. “I just dislike this part of the study. I know it is important, but doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it! But leaving it to someone else would be irresponsible, and possibly dangerous, at the very least misleading. No,” he murmured softly, “not at all responsible.”
“And you’re always responsible.”
“Ye-” he was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn’t immediately catch on to her teasing. “Why you little monkey!” he said when she started laughing at him.
“Gotchya!” she cried.
“No,” he said in a deep voice that she felt through her entire body to the very tips. “I’ve got you!” His grip shifted on her waist to her sides, where he began to tickle her until she begged for mercy.
By the time she let her go, she was breathless in his arms, laughing helplessly. “Are you going to be more respectful now?” he asked in the same tone of voice.
“Of you?” she asked as innocently as she could, still trying to keep from giggling.
He attacked again, and Rose was a helpless squirming mass in his arms. “All right! All right! I promise to be more respectful!” she gasped through the tears of laughter streaming down her face.
“Good, because you know they put that in the wedding vows. To love honour and obey, which is the same thing. You should remember that Rose, you it wasn’t that long ago and you are still young with a good memory,” he said, sounding far too self-satisfied, but an edge of laughter had crept into his voice, so she let it pass - for the moment. Later, she reminded herself, there’s always later to get my revenge.
She turned in his arms, so she was resting forwards on his chest, her forehead resting on his shoulder. She linked one hand through his, and he wrapped his other back around her waist. They stayed that way for long moments, enjoying each other’s company.
“Y’know,” Rose said after a while.
“Mmmm?” he asked.
“I was thinking today-”
“Good habit to get into that,” the Doctor said with an air of sanctimony. Rose pinched him with her free hand, making him yelp.
“As I was saying, I was thinking today about going on holiday. I mean we haven’t had a holiday since our honeymoon. Wouldn’t it be nice to get away?”
“Yeah,” he agreed, “but to where?”
“I don’t know, somewhere exotic, somewhere new and exciting to explore.”
“There are lots of places like that in the world, can you narrow it down a bit. A general area, perhaps a type of terrain…”
“All of them?” Beaches, mountains, forests, deserts. Now that she was thinking about it, there were so many places that she wanted to see, to explore. There was no way she’d be able to do them all in one life time, but she had every intention of trying.
“All of them?!” he spluttered. “Rose the world is a big place, enormous even. It would take a long time - and a lot of money to explore it all.”
“So?” she asked. Money they had. Time was a different kettle of fish, but it didn’t have to be. “You’ve said yourself that this current round of experiments is nearly at an end. We could go then. I just… I always wanted to travel. Was going to, but then I met you - and that was good, the best thing that ever happened to me - and we got married. Then you were busy with your students and your experiments and I was busy with work. I didn’t regret that either. But one day we’re going to have kids, and that’ll be another reason not to go, and if we don’t go soon, I get the feeling we never will…” she trailed off, flushing slightly at the words that had tumbled out of her. Never had she realised how much this meant to her.
“Oh, Rose,” he sighed, but didn’t say anything else for a long time. Rose just leaned against him, listening the sound of his heartbeat, strong and sure. “Okay,” he said at long last.
Rose sat up and stared at him. “Okay?” she asked, stunned.
The Doctor reached out a hand, and laid it gently on the side of her face. “Yes. Okay. Let’s go!” he gave her one of those brilliant smiles she loved. “We’re off! There’s so much to see! You’re right, we can’t sit here for the rest of our lives, growing old and rusty!”
“You mean it?” she asked, incredulously, but with joy creeping in.
With one of the lightning fast mood changes that so characterised her husband, the manic glee slipped off his face and melted into seriousness. “Of course, I mean it. This is important to you Rose. I knew when I married you that you wanted to travel, and I always thought that we would - later. And yet here we are, still in the same place. That wasn’t fair for you.”
“I didn’t mean…”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “I know, but it’s the truth. And this isn’t just about you, Rose. I think it’s high time I did something before I turn into one of those musty old professors with no idea what the real world is like, haunting the halls, glaring at students for being young. Of course I do that now, but that’s mostly because some of them really are stupid. But that’s not the point is it? The point is getting out - of not being here anymore.”
She looked into his eyes to judge his seriousness, and he looked back with a fathomless gaze. “So we’re going? Just like that?”
“Just like that,” he confirmed, pressing a brief kiss to her lips. “What fun,” he mused as she settled back against him, still slightly in shock. “The two of us off to have an adventure! Off to see every corner of the world! We won’t miss a thing!”
Rose couldn’t help the joyous smile that spread across her face in response.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the decision they brought us to, but what brought this on?” the Doctor asked her curiously.
“Our new mechanic.”
“Jack Harkness?”
“That’s the one. Of course he was suggesting that the three of us run off together, but it got me thinking about it all.” She frowned in thought, wondering where they could go first.
“Our mechanic wanted to run away together?” the Doctor had a different set of concerns.
“Yes. The three of us, into the sunset.” Her husband had always been oddly possessive, and every now and then she liked to needle him. “I liked him.”
“Really, Rose, he flirted with me the whole time I was there - and with you, by the sound of it!”
She laughed; he never failed to disappoint. He’d come a long way, though. At the beginning of their relationship, it had been all she could do to keep him from growling at any male who came into her radius, or looked her way, or spoke to her, or was in the room at the time. He’d mellowed with time, and Rose had learned to live with his reactions, and even have fun with them occasionally. It could even be a turn on at times.
“Oh come on, Doctor, he can’t be that bad. Just a bit of fun. Not everyday a man tells me I’m beautiful like that.” She was winding him up good; she could see that. Just a little more. “Of course he seemed to keep forgetting we were married.”
That did it. Rose squealed as she found herself on her back staring up at the Doctor. He growled, deep in his throat, and she had to bite back a moan at the darkly possessive look in his eyes. Two years and it still never failed to get to her that look. “You are mine, Rose Tyler - and don’t you forget it.”
The kiss he gave her was ringing with all the possessiveness and passion she’d come to expect. Rose pressed herself up to meet it, tangling her tongue with his, arm around his waist holding his body close to hers. Heat flashed through her madly, and she pressed still closer. Like all things about her husband, she loved this in him. Outwardly, he might be the scientist, in brown pinstripes, studiously working at his obscure branch of physics, but inwardly… this man knew how to make her burn. As in all things, he was a consummate lover. She loved him, and would to the end of time.
When at last the heat of their ardour burned away, and they lay in each other’s arms, heartbeats and breathing returning to normal, he whispered into her ear. “My beautiful Rose. I will love you to the end of time. You are my heart, my soul.”
There was little she could say to that, but still, “I’m yours in all things, Doctor. I love you.”
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A/N: Review junkie -please feed. I’ll take anything from mild interest to enthusiastic praises to in depth character discussions to harsh con-crit. I live for your responses.
Chocolate Doctors for all reviewers!