(no subject)
Stop Standing There, Ten/Rose, PG-13
“Will you leave me now?”
The Doctor stared at Rose and she kept his gaze without flinching. Jack let out an uncomfortable cough., 1,996
(A/N: A sequel to Leaving On a Jet Plane)
The Doctor watched from his spot in Jack’s office doorway as Rose laughed at something either Sarah Jane or Martha had said. He wasn’t sure if it was something ridiculous he may or may not have done, or because Rose was just genuinely having a good time. He currently had no intention of stopping her gleefulness despite the unease he felt.
The anxiety that said this couldn’t last. Except it was going to. He was going to see to it that it was. He’d been given a gift and he certainly couldn’t let it slip from him. And he nearly had just three days before.
“The party’s over there, Doc. And so is Rose.”
The Doctor looked at Jack, who was grinning, and a flash of anger flowed through him.
“You let her go,” the Doctor said darkly.
“What?”
“You let Rose leave. You encouraged her to get away from me.”
“Rose made the decision on her own, Doctor,” Jack snapped in returned. “Don’t accuse me of anything. I tried to get her to stay. To at least call you before she went anywhere. And she told me that it was obvious you didn’t want her so she was going.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I already went through all this with you, Doc. Why do you want to rehash it? You two are together now, aren’t you?”
“I suppose,” the Doctor returned.
“You suppose? You either are or you aren’t,” Jack replied. “If you’re just going to drag her along by showing bits of affection every once in a while then just say good-bye now and don’t ever come back to Earth. And I mean it. If I hear you even stopped here to refuel I’ll finish off those last few regenerations for you.”
“Would you really?” The Doctor asked coolly.
“Absolutely. Making sure Rose is happy would become a priority for me. She’s going to be around for a long time now and I’d rather have a pleasant Time Lord on my side then one who isn’t. I’ve dealt with both of those now and I know which I prefer.”
“Is that what you told Rose?” The Doctor inquired. “She hasn’t exactly said what you discussed when she came by. Did you offer her your bed and a quick shag?”
The Time Lord suddenly found himself slammed up against a nearby wall with an angry Jack Harknesss in his face and the man’s hands tightly gripping the lapels of his suit.
“I love Rose,” Jack informed him in low, dangerous tone. “And I thought you did too, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe she was right that you only miss what you had when it’s gone. Because you did an awful lot of that when you were traveling with Martha.”
“I never meant to hurt Martha,” the Doctor told him. “I warned her though, Jack. I told her that nothing was going to happen between us right from the start. She was the one that kept turning nothing into something. Then she left on her accord and made decisions about her life after that on her own.”
“You didn’t deny you turn people into weapons,” Jack continued. “She was going to blow up the Earth. Sarah Jane was prepared to do the same. Did you even have a plan to get us out of there? Or were you going to let someone else sacrifice themselves so you’d feel a bit of inspiration?”
“I was numb, Jack,” the Doctor admitted. “I thought my TARDIS and the woman I loved were gone. My past was coming back to haunt me. Whatever you’ve done or will do in your long life, Captain, will never compare to what I’ve done. Until you’ve destroyed your own people and committed genocide then and only then will you understand how and why I make the decisions I do.”
He pushed Jack off of him and the man stepped back with a wary expression.
“It’s also precisely why I’m terrified at the possibility of getting to spend the rest of my life with someone like Rose. She’s happy, Jack. Yes, she’s still angry with me and she has every right to be, but she’s happy. I don’t even have to look at her to know anymore. What she feels, I feel. I’m not even sure if she’s aware she can do that and it’s just one more thing the two of us have to talk about.”
“Have you talked?” Jack responded.
“A little,” the Doctor told him, rubbing the back of his neck. “It doesn’t help that thanks to the TARDIS she knows a great deal more than I ever wanted to tell her.”
“In normal relationships you usually share things,” Jack informed him. “You can’t keep hiding your past when she knows it now. Especially when she’s going to be there in the future. If you really love her then be honest even if it hurts.”
“And are you going to follow your own advice?” The Doctor replied. Jack gave him a blank look. “With Ianto, you idiot.”
“My relationship with Ianto isn’t going to effect the universe if we break up or if I stay with him until the end of his time,” Jack pointed out. “You break Rose’s heart…”
The Doctor waved a hand at his friend.
“Yes, yes. I know. You’ll kill me until I’m dead permanently.”
“Who is going to kill who now?”
Jack and the Doctor both jumped at Rose’s sudden appearance, giving each other looks before turning towards the woman.
“Oh, right,” Rose muttered. “That’s fine. Don’t tell me then.” She took a sip of her drink. “You two do know this party isn’t just for me, right? We’re celebrating saving the universe.”
“I don’t do parties,” the Doctor said. “The last few I’ve been to weren’t exactly very pleasant. You know with either trouble finding me, me causing trouble or just accidentally stumbling into a mess that I have to fix. I only came because you asked me, Rose.”
“It’s rather rude for the hostess not show up at the party she invited everyone to,” Rose stated.
“It’s also rude for the hostess to throw her party in someone else’s secret hideout,” Jack pointed out.
“I wasn’t about to let these people get wild on the TARDIS. She already works hard enough keeping after a rude Time Lord,” Rose retorted. “And it’s not really that secret when you’re letting pizza boys in to deliver.”
“I did not…” Jack stopped at the look Rose gave him causing the Doctor to stifle a giggle. “Fine. It was just the once.” Rose cocked an eyebrow. “Okay. Twice.”
“Not to be rude, which occasionally I am, but when will this party be over, Rose?” The Doctor interjected. “Or when would it be appropriate for us to leave?”
Rose eyed him before taking another sip of her drink then glanced over her shoulder before turning back to the Doctor.
“Mickey asked me not to go with you again,” Rose whispered.
“Oh,” the Doctor murmured. “But you are, aren’t you? I was pretty sure that when you decided not to go on that plane that we had sorted out…”
“I’m tired of people thinking they know what’s best for me,” Rose told him. “And that’s one thing we’ve not talked about yet. Do you intend on leaving me behind whenever you think something’s dangerous and I can’t handle it? Because before when I was human I could almost understand that, but it was never fair. Like with Reinette…”
“I was stupid,” the Doctor informed her sharply. “I took off on that horse and I realized I had left you after I promised to never do that. I let Reinette take advantage of me since I was willing to open up. Except it was to the wrong person. So many times I wanted to tell you that, but there just never seemed to be the right moment.”
“Will you leave me now?”
The Doctor stared at Rose and she kept his gaze without flinching. Jack let out an uncomfortable cough.
“I think I hear Ianto calling. What’s that, Ianto?” The immortal practically ran from the couple and towards the others having a fun time in the Hub.
“I can’t lose you.”
“You will if you treat me like glass. I’m like you now. I’ve got two hearts. I can regenerate. And I told you that if you’re going to push me away then I don’t need to be here with you.”
“I know,” the Doctor said.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then act like it.”
“It’s not the easiest thing to do,” the Doctor admitted. “My first instinct is always going to be to protect you, Rose. I don’t know if I can just stop doing that. No matter how many hearts or lives you have. I’ve been doing that since day one, but you’ve manage to prove time and time again that you’re pretty good at doing it on your own, but, Rose, I’m always going to want to keep you safe.”
Rose nodded. “At least you’re being honest. We’ll just have to take each situation on a case by case basis then.”
“And if I’m especially adamant you aren’t to get involved, I don’t suppose you’ll actually listen, will you?” The Doctor returned ruefully.
Rose smiled softly then played with the Doctor’s tie.
“I thought not,” the Doctor said. He leaned down and kissed Rose. He straightened up then grinned at the woman’s bemused expression. “I do, however, quite like being able to do that now. That won’t be stopping anytime soon, will it?”
“If you’re a good Time Lord I forsee many more kisses and some other activities people who love each other usually do,” Rose informed him.
“Is it possible for us to leave the party now?” The Doctor asked, pulling Rose close and spoke directly into her ear. “There’s an empty TARDIS with our name on it and a beach on Barcelona that’s very, very secluded. Even from noseless dogs.”
Rose shivered then tilted her head up.
“Just let me say good-bye to…”
The Doctor captured her lips and psychically poured into her everything he was feeling at that moment.
“Oh, sod it,” Rose murmured into his shoulder. “I’m sure Jack can tell them something.” She glanced up at him. “And exactly how did you do that?”
“One of the many things I’ve to share with you about your newfound abilities, but for now focus on the bit that’s restraining me from throwing you over my shoulder and taking you to the TARDIS despite any possible protests you may have.”
“I’m really quite sure I wouldn’t have a problem with that,” Rose told him.
The Doctor’s smile nearly blinded the blonde.
****
Jack hid his grin behind his drink as he caught sight of the Doctor carrying Rose towards the TARDIS that was hidden in a far corner. They both looked happy and Jack was sure it would be something he’d be seeing a lot of in the future.
“What’s so funny, Captain Jack?”
He glanced to his right at Sarah Jane’s son then back towards the TARDIS, but now it was gone. Somehow the usually noisy ship managed to quietly leave Torchwood.
“It’s something you’ll learn about soon, kid,” Jack answered. “Though certainly not from me. I don’t need to get on your mom’s bad side.”
“Will you leave me now?”
The Doctor stared at Rose and she kept his gaze without flinching. Jack let out an uncomfortable cough., 1,996
(A/N: A sequel to Leaving On a Jet Plane)
The Doctor watched from his spot in Jack’s office doorway as Rose laughed at something either Sarah Jane or Martha had said. He wasn’t sure if it was something ridiculous he may or may not have done, or because Rose was just genuinely having a good time. He currently had no intention of stopping her gleefulness despite the unease he felt.
The anxiety that said this couldn’t last. Except it was going to. He was going to see to it that it was. He’d been given a gift and he certainly couldn’t let it slip from him. And he nearly had just three days before.
“The party’s over there, Doc. And so is Rose.”
The Doctor looked at Jack, who was grinning, and a flash of anger flowed through him.
“You let her go,” the Doctor said darkly.
“What?”
“You let Rose leave. You encouraged her to get away from me.”
“Rose made the decision on her own, Doctor,” Jack snapped in returned. “Don’t accuse me of anything. I tried to get her to stay. To at least call you before she went anywhere. And she told me that it was obvious you didn’t want her so she was going.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I already went through all this with you, Doc. Why do you want to rehash it? You two are together now, aren’t you?”
“I suppose,” the Doctor returned.
“You suppose? You either are or you aren’t,” Jack replied. “If you’re just going to drag her along by showing bits of affection every once in a while then just say good-bye now and don’t ever come back to Earth. And I mean it. If I hear you even stopped here to refuel I’ll finish off those last few regenerations for you.”
“Would you really?” The Doctor asked coolly.
“Absolutely. Making sure Rose is happy would become a priority for me. She’s going to be around for a long time now and I’d rather have a pleasant Time Lord on my side then one who isn’t. I’ve dealt with both of those now and I know which I prefer.”
“Is that what you told Rose?” The Doctor inquired. “She hasn’t exactly said what you discussed when she came by. Did you offer her your bed and a quick shag?”
The Time Lord suddenly found himself slammed up against a nearby wall with an angry Jack Harknesss in his face and the man’s hands tightly gripping the lapels of his suit.
“I love Rose,” Jack informed him in low, dangerous tone. “And I thought you did too, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe she was right that you only miss what you had when it’s gone. Because you did an awful lot of that when you were traveling with Martha.”
“I never meant to hurt Martha,” the Doctor told him. “I warned her though, Jack. I told her that nothing was going to happen between us right from the start. She was the one that kept turning nothing into something. Then she left on her accord and made decisions about her life after that on her own.”
“You didn’t deny you turn people into weapons,” Jack continued. “She was going to blow up the Earth. Sarah Jane was prepared to do the same. Did you even have a plan to get us out of there? Or were you going to let someone else sacrifice themselves so you’d feel a bit of inspiration?”
“I was numb, Jack,” the Doctor admitted. “I thought my TARDIS and the woman I loved were gone. My past was coming back to haunt me. Whatever you’ve done or will do in your long life, Captain, will never compare to what I’ve done. Until you’ve destroyed your own people and committed genocide then and only then will you understand how and why I make the decisions I do.”
He pushed Jack off of him and the man stepped back with a wary expression.
“It’s also precisely why I’m terrified at the possibility of getting to spend the rest of my life with someone like Rose. She’s happy, Jack. Yes, she’s still angry with me and she has every right to be, but she’s happy. I don’t even have to look at her to know anymore. What she feels, I feel. I’m not even sure if she’s aware she can do that and it’s just one more thing the two of us have to talk about.”
“Have you talked?” Jack responded.
“A little,” the Doctor told him, rubbing the back of his neck. “It doesn’t help that thanks to the TARDIS she knows a great deal more than I ever wanted to tell her.”
“In normal relationships you usually share things,” Jack informed him. “You can’t keep hiding your past when she knows it now. Especially when she’s going to be there in the future. If you really love her then be honest even if it hurts.”
“And are you going to follow your own advice?” The Doctor replied. Jack gave him a blank look. “With Ianto, you idiot.”
“My relationship with Ianto isn’t going to effect the universe if we break up or if I stay with him until the end of his time,” Jack pointed out. “You break Rose’s heart…”
The Doctor waved a hand at his friend.
“Yes, yes. I know. You’ll kill me until I’m dead permanently.”
“Who is going to kill who now?”
Jack and the Doctor both jumped at Rose’s sudden appearance, giving each other looks before turning towards the woman.
“Oh, right,” Rose muttered. “That’s fine. Don’t tell me then.” She took a sip of her drink. “You two do know this party isn’t just for me, right? We’re celebrating saving the universe.”
“I don’t do parties,” the Doctor said. “The last few I’ve been to weren’t exactly very pleasant. You know with either trouble finding me, me causing trouble or just accidentally stumbling into a mess that I have to fix. I only came because you asked me, Rose.”
“It’s rather rude for the hostess not show up at the party she invited everyone to,” Rose stated.
“It’s also rude for the hostess to throw her party in someone else’s secret hideout,” Jack pointed out.
“I wasn’t about to let these people get wild on the TARDIS. She already works hard enough keeping after a rude Time Lord,” Rose retorted. “And it’s not really that secret when you’re letting pizza boys in to deliver.”
“I did not…” Jack stopped at the look Rose gave him causing the Doctor to stifle a giggle. “Fine. It was just the once.” Rose cocked an eyebrow. “Okay. Twice.”
“Not to be rude, which occasionally I am, but when will this party be over, Rose?” The Doctor interjected. “Or when would it be appropriate for us to leave?”
Rose eyed him before taking another sip of her drink then glanced over her shoulder before turning back to the Doctor.
“Mickey asked me not to go with you again,” Rose whispered.
“Oh,” the Doctor murmured. “But you are, aren’t you? I was pretty sure that when you decided not to go on that plane that we had sorted out…”
“I’m tired of people thinking they know what’s best for me,” Rose told him. “And that’s one thing we’ve not talked about yet. Do you intend on leaving me behind whenever you think something’s dangerous and I can’t handle it? Because before when I was human I could almost understand that, but it was never fair. Like with Reinette…”
“I was stupid,” the Doctor informed her sharply. “I took off on that horse and I realized I had left you after I promised to never do that. I let Reinette take advantage of me since I was willing to open up. Except it was to the wrong person. So many times I wanted to tell you that, but there just never seemed to be the right moment.”
“Will you leave me now?”
The Doctor stared at Rose and she kept his gaze without flinching. Jack let out an uncomfortable cough.
“I think I hear Ianto calling. What’s that, Ianto?” The immortal practically ran from the couple and towards the others having a fun time in the Hub.
“I can’t lose you.”
“You will if you treat me like glass. I’m like you now. I’ve got two hearts. I can regenerate. And I told you that if you’re going to push me away then I don’t need to be here with you.”
“I know,” the Doctor said.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then act like it.”
“It’s not the easiest thing to do,” the Doctor admitted. “My first instinct is always going to be to protect you, Rose. I don’t know if I can just stop doing that. No matter how many hearts or lives you have. I’ve been doing that since day one, but you’ve manage to prove time and time again that you’re pretty good at doing it on your own, but, Rose, I’m always going to want to keep you safe.”
Rose nodded. “At least you’re being honest. We’ll just have to take each situation on a case by case basis then.”
“And if I’m especially adamant you aren’t to get involved, I don’t suppose you’ll actually listen, will you?” The Doctor returned ruefully.
Rose smiled softly then played with the Doctor’s tie.
“I thought not,” the Doctor said. He leaned down and kissed Rose. He straightened up then grinned at the woman’s bemused expression. “I do, however, quite like being able to do that now. That won’t be stopping anytime soon, will it?”
“If you’re a good Time Lord I forsee many more kisses and some other activities people who love each other usually do,” Rose informed him.
“Is it possible for us to leave the party now?” The Doctor asked, pulling Rose close and spoke directly into her ear. “There’s an empty TARDIS with our name on it and a beach on Barcelona that’s very, very secluded. Even from noseless dogs.”
Rose shivered then tilted her head up.
“Just let me say good-bye to…”
The Doctor captured her lips and psychically poured into her everything he was feeling at that moment.
“Oh, sod it,” Rose murmured into his shoulder. “I’m sure Jack can tell them something.” She glanced up at him. “And exactly how did you do that?”
“One of the many things I’ve to share with you about your newfound abilities, but for now focus on the bit that’s restraining me from throwing you over my shoulder and taking you to the TARDIS despite any possible protests you may have.”
“I’m really quite sure I wouldn’t have a problem with that,” Rose told him.
The Doctor’s smile nearly blinded the blonde.
****
Jack hid his grin behind his drink as he caught sight of the Doctor carrying Rose towards the TARDIS that was hidden in a far corner. They both looked happy and Jack was sure it would be something he’d be seeing a lot of in the future.
“What’s so funny, Captain Jack?”
He glanced to his right at Sarah Jane’s son then back towards the TARDIS, but now it was gone. Somehow the usually noisy ship managed to quietly leave Torchwood.
“It’s something you’ll learn about soon, kid,” Jack answered. “Though certainly not from me. I don’t need to get on your mom’s bad side.”