Birthday fic: Win-Win Situation
Story: Win-Win Situation
Author: wmr wendymr
Characters: Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness
Rated: Teen
Spoilers/Disclaimer: None beyond The Doctor Dances; and, no, these aren't my characters!
Summary: Jack, of course, would probably offer to help her hand-wash her bras. Especially if she volunteered to model them for him afterwards.
A birthday fic for un_sedentary- hope you're having a fantastic birthday, Julie!
Win-Win Situation
A shadow falls over the doorway as she sorts coloureds from whites, and she knows who it is before she even turns around. The Doctor always stays well out of the way when she’s doing her laundry. She can’t help but wonder how pink he’d blush if he accidentally saw her hand-washing her bras.
“Hey, Rose. Been looking for you.”
Jack, of course, would probably offer to help her hand-wash her bras. Especially if she volunteered to model them for him afterwards.
“Well, you found me.” She grins impishly at him; it’s really hard not to flirt with this man, even though she knows he uses his attractiveness as a bargaining tool. “Something you wanted?”
He steps inside the room and leans against the dryer, his pose stretching his close-fitting T-shirt and jeans even more tightly over what she’s sure he’s well aware is a very appealing body. “Yeah. Wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me?” She drops the last red T-shirt into the washing machine and sets it going. “What for?”
“Saving my life.” His smile’s the most genuine she’s seen from him; for once, no flirtation in sight. “I know the Doctor would never have rescued me if it was up to him.”
Oh. That.
Well, yeah. He did almost die - hard to believe that was less than two days ago. Jack’s such a larger-than-life bloke that it feels as if he’s been around the TARDIS a lot longer than just over a day. And, unlike when Adam was around, she’s not resenting the extra presence that means she doesn’t get to be alone with the Doctor.
Jack seems to want to be with both of them, flirting equally with the Doctor and her, and so far he’s thrown himself into their daily activities with enthusiasm. Just yesterday, when they ended up on a space station with a broken-down and anachronistic communications system. He and the Doctor spent at least two hours working on it, throwing suggestions back and forth and trying out solutions. Watching them, she could’ve sworn they’d been working together for years. And yet, yes, it’s only around thirty-six hours, as far as she can tell - it’s hard to calculate time on the TARDIS.
She shrugs - is this just another line he’s spinning her? A different approach to seducing her? “Couldn’t just let you die, could we? Not after you teleported us out of the hospital and took the bomb away.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.”
“Yeah?” She leans against the washing-machine and meets his gaze.
“Yeah. Been left to die a few times by people I thought I could trust. People who owed me favours, even.” He pulls a face. “And you... I used you. I was trying to con you.”
She nods. “You did.” And that’s one thing she hasn’t forgotten, and the main reason she’s ambivalent about responding to Jack’s flirting. He flirted with her when they first met. He came on to her more strongly than any other man ever has, and she fancied him back. He plied her with champagne and had her so dazed and under his spell that she knows damn well he could have had her in his bunk if he hadn’t been intent on his con.
But it was all an act, every last bit of it. So how can she believe that anything about this man could be genuine?
“So, yeah, I just wanted to say thanks. And that I’m sorry.”
Sorry? “What for? Pretending to fancy me?” She pointedly turns away from him, picking up the rest of her laundry and putting it in a basket for later. Whatever he was trying to do, he’s just undone it all with that apology.
“Pretending?” His voice is a lot closer suddenly, and she turns back, startled - and collides with a firm, very male body, his chest against her shoulder and her hip against his thigh.
She can’t help it; her hands instinctively go out to steady herself, and that’s when she finds herself gripping his pectorals.
His skin’s warm against her palm, even through the thin cotton of his T-shirt - oh, much better than holding him through an army uniform, with underclothes and everything! And there’s no doubt about it: he’s all hard, firm muscle, rippling flesh underneath the clothes.
“Rose.” His voice is husky and considerably deeper than it was seconds ago. “Pretending?” he repeats. “You really think I was pretending to come on to you? Pretending that I found you attractive?”
She should pull away. Yeah, that’s right, just take a step back. Drop her hands. Put some distance between the two of them. Right now. Any moment now would be fine...
But her legs stay exactly where they are, and her hands stubbornly remain fixed to his chest.
“Rose,” he repeats. Hands on her hips tug her closer, straighten her, align her body with his. “Pretending?”
“Weren’t-” She has to force herself to speak normally. “Weren’t you?”
Staring at his chest’s too distracting, so she tilts her chin and looks up. Mistake. Those indigo eyes of his are mesmerising.
He tugs her closer still. “Does this feel like I was pretending?”
Oh, wow. The evidence is compelling. She can’t resist the urge to rotate her hips just a little against him. “S’pose not.”
“Yeah.” His head’s dipping, and his hands at her hips spread wider, fingers trailing across her bum. “You know what I regret most about when we first met?”
“What?” She must’ve been a bit too energetic with the laundry. Her legs are starting to feel wobbly.
“That I stopped before I had a chance to...” His head comes lower still, and his face is inches from hers. “...kiss you,” he whispers, and warm lips cover hers.
The only thought she has time for before her senses are completely blown away is that it’s just as well the Doctor always stays out of the way when she’s doing laundry.
***
He’s grinning at her, looking very pleased with himself, by the time she’s able to breathe and think straight again. “Convinced now?” he asks.
“Um... yeah.” Oh, yes. There’s absolutely no doubt in her mind now that he fancies her. No bloke could fake that.
She’s desperate to reach for him again, for a repeat of the most mind-blowing kiss she’s ever had - wow, does he know what to do with his tongue! - but he gives her a regretful smile. “Much as I’d like to, and believe me I would love to, I’m not gonna get in the way. I know where things stand.”
“Wh- what?” Okay, she’s still not in her right mind, because now he’s making no sense at all to her.
“You and the Doctor. Oh, I know you’re not actually doing it,” he adds, his smile rueful and sympathetic. “But you both want to. I’m not gonna get in the way of that.”
She can’t deny it - of course she wants the Doctor. Has done almost from the moment he said that very first Run! Him wanting her in return... well, up until the day they met Jack she’d have said a definite no even in spite of the jealousy he occasionally exudes, but now she’s far less sure. Far less. And if Jack thinks he does... She smiles inwardly. Maybe. Maybe there’s a chance.
But, at the same time, never to kiss Jack again...
“I’m not gonna get in the way of that,” Jack continues, and trails the knuckle of his index finger down her cheek. “But I don’t just want you, Rose. I want both of you.”
Both? Her stomach does flipflops, and it’s not because she’s hungry. It’s because there are images in her head now, and they’re blowing her mind even more than Jack’s kiss.
“Both,” he repeats softly. “That’s why I won’t fight him for you. It’s not a contest. It’s a win-win situation, if we can get him to see it my way.”
Finding her voice again, she says, “Big if. Been with him nearly six months, an’ all he’s done is hold my hand.”
“Ah, but the best seductions take time,” Jack cautions her, then touches his lips lightly, tantalisingly, to hers again. “I’m willing to wait as long as it takes.”
“Don’t wanna wait,” she mutters, reaching up to kiss him again. This time, he parts his lips, letting her explore his mouth. She’s breathless again - and very pleased to note that so’s he - when she draws back.
“Might not have to wait very long, anyway,” she tells him, tongue curling over her upper lip as a thought occurs to her.
“No?” His eyes are alight with amusement and anticipation as he watches her.
“Nope.” She grins conspiratorially at him. “The Doctor was always gonna rescue you. He already had the coordinates set before I asked him.”
It’s a moment before her meaning sinks in, and then his eyes widen before he whoops with laughter, swings her around - narrowly missing the dryer - and then sits her on top of the gently-rocking washing machine, leaning in to kiss her yet again, long and deep.
Yeah. Jack’s right. If they can get the Doctor to see things their way, to dance, it’s gonna be fantastic. And together she’s sure they can do it.
But not just yet.
- end
Author: wmr wendymr
Characters: Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness
Rated: Teen
Spoilers/Disclaimer: None beyond The Doctor Dances; and, no, these aren't my characters!
Summary: Jack, of course, would probably offer to help her hand-wash her bras. Especially if she volunteered to model them for him afterwards.
A birthday fic for un_sedentary- hope you're having a fantastic birthday, Julie!
Win-Win Situation
A shadow falls over the doorway as she sorts coloureds from whites, and she knows who it is before she even turns around. The Doctor always stays well out of the way when she’s doing her laundry. She can’t help but wonder how pink he’d blush if he accidentally saw her hand-washing her bras.
“Hey, Rose. Been looking for you.”
Jack, of course, would probably offer to help her hand-wash her bras. Especially if she volunteered to model them for him afterwards.
“Well, you found me.” She grins impishly at him; it’s really hard not to flirt with this man, even though she knows he uses his attractiveness as a bargaining tool. “Something you wanted?”
He steps inside the room and leans against the dryer, his pose stretching his close-fitting T-shirt and jeans even more tightly over what she’s sure he’s well aware is a very appealing body. “Yeah. Wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me?” She drops the last red T-shirt into the washing machine and sets it going. “What for?”
“Saving my life.” His smile’s the most genuine she’s seen from him; for once, no flirtation in sight. “I know the Doctor would never have rescued me if it was up to him.”
Oh. That.
Well, yeah. He did almost die - hard to believe that was less than two days ago. Jack’s such a larger-than-life bloke that it feels as if he’s been around the TARDIS a lot longer than just over a day. And, unlike when Adam was around, she’s not resenting the extra presence that means she doesn’t get to be alone with the Doctor.
Jack seems to want to be with both of them, flirting equally with the Doctor and her, and so far he’s thrown himself into their daily activities with enthusiasm. Just yesterday, when they ended up on a space station with a broken-down and anachronistic communications system. He and the Doctor spent at least two hours working on it, throwing suggestions back and forth and trying out solutions. Watching them, she could’ve sworn they’d been working together for years. And yet, yes, it’s only around thirty-six hours, as far as she can tell - it’s hard to calculate time on the TARDIS.
She shrugs - is this just another line he’s spinning her? A different approach to seducing her? “Couldn’t just let you die, could we? Not after you teleported us out of the hospital and took the bomb away.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.”
“Yeah?” She leans against the washing-machine and meets his gaze.
“Yeah. Been left to die a few times by people I thought I could trust. People who owed me favours, even.” He pulls a face. “And you... I used you. I was trying to con you.”
She nods. “You did.” And that’s one thing she hasn’t forgotten, and the main reason she’s ambivalent about responding to Jack’s flirting. He flirted with her when they first met. He came on to her more strongly than any other man ever has, and she fancied him back. He plied her with champagne and had her so dazed and under his spell that she knows damn well he could have had her in his bunk if he hadn’t been intent on his con.
But it was all an act, every last bit of it. So how can she believe that anything about this man could be genuine?
“So, yeah, I just wanted to say thanks. And that I’m sorry.”
Sorry? “What for? Pretending to fancy me?” She pointedly turns away from him, picking up the rest of her laundry and putting it in a basket for later. Whatever he was trying to do, he’s just undone it all with that apology.
“Pretending?” His voice is a lot closer suddenly, and she turns back, startled - and collides with a firm, very male body, his chest against her shoulder and her hip against his thigh.
She can’t help it; her hands instinctively go out to steady herself, and that’s when she finds herself gripping his pectorals.
His skin’s warm against her palm, even through the thin cotton of his T-shirt - oh, much better than holding him through an army uniform, with underclothes and everything! And there’s no doubt about it: he’s all hard, firm muscle, rippling flesh underneath the clothes.
“Rose.” His voice is husky and considerably deeper than it was seconds ago. “Pretending?” he repeats. “You really think I was pretending to come on to you? Pretending that I found you attractive?”
She should pull away. Yeah, that’s right, just take a step back. Drop her hands. Put some distance between the two of them. Right now. Any moment now would be fine...
But her legs stay exactly where they are, and her hands stubbornly remain fixed to his chest.
“Rose,” he repeats. Hands on her hips tug her closer, straighten her, align her body with his. “Pretending?”
“Weren’t-” She has to force herself to speak normally. “Weren’t you?”
Staring at his chest’s too distracting, so she tilts her chin and looks up. Mistake. Those indigo eyes of his are mesmerising.
He tugs her closer still. “Does this feel like I was pretending?”
Oh, wow. The evidence is compelling. She can’t resist the urge to rotate her hips just a little against him. “S’pose not.”
“Yeah.” His head’s dipping, and his hands at her hips spread wider, fingers trailing across her bum. “You know what I regret most about when we first met?”
“What?” She must’ve been a bit too energetic with the laundry. Her legs are starting to feel wobbly.
“That I stopped before I had a chance to...” His head comes lower still, and his face is inches from hers. “...kiss you,” he whispers, and warm lips cover hers.
The only thought she has time for before her senses are completely blown away is that it’s just as well the Doctor always stays out of the way when she’s doing laundry.
***
He’s grinning at her, looking very pleased with himself, by the time she’s able to breathe and think straight again. “Convinced now?” he asks.
“Um... yeah.” Oh, yes. There’s absolutely no doubt in her mind now that he fancies her. No bloke could fake that.
She’s desperate to reach for him again, for a repeat of the most mind-blowing kiss she’s ever had - wow, does he know what to do with his tongue! - but he gives her a regretful smile. “Much as I’d like to, and believe me I would love to, I’m not gonna get in the way. I know where things stand.”
“Wh- what?” Okay, she’s still not in her right mind, because now he’s making no sense at all to her.
“You and the Doctor. Oh, I know you’re not actually doing it,” he adds, his smile rueful and sympathetic. “But you both want to. I’m not gonna get in the way of that.”
She can’t deny it - of course she wants the Doctor. Has done almost from the moment he said that very first Run! Him wanting her in return... well, up until the day they met Jack she’d have said a definite no even in spite of the jealousy he occasionally exudes, but now she’s far less sure. Far less. And if Jack thinks he does... She smiles inwardly. Maybe. Maybe there’s a chance.
But, at the same time, never to kiss Jack again...
“I’m not gonna get in the way of that,” Jack continues, and trails the knuckle of his index finger down her cheek. “But I don’t just want you, Rose. I want both of you.”
Both? Her stomach does flipflops, and it’s not because she’s hungry. It’s because there are images in her head now, and they’re blowing her mind even more than Jack’s kiss.
“Both,” he repeats softly. “That’s why I won’t fight him for you. It’s not a contest. It’s a win-win situation, if we can get him to see it my way.”
Finding her voice again, she says, “Big if. Been with him nearly six months, an’ all he’s done is hold my hand.”
“Ah, but the best seductions take time,” Jack cautions her, then touches his lips lightly, tantalisingly, to hers again. “I’m willing to wait as long as it takes.”
“Don’t wanna wait,” she mutters, reaching up to kiss him again. This time, he parts his lips, letting her explore his mouth. She’s breathless again - and very pleased to note that so’s he - when she draws back.
“Might not have to wait very long, anyway,” she tells him, tongue curling over her upper lip as a thought occurs to her.
“No?” His eyes are alight with amusement and anticipation as he watches her.
“Nope.” She grins conspiratorially at him. “The Doctor was always gonna rescue you. He already had the coordinates set before I asked him.”
It’s a moment before her meaning sinks in, and then his eyes widen before he whoops with laughter, swings her around - narrowly missing the dryer - and then sits her on top of the gently-rocking washing machine, leaning in to kiss her yet again, long and deep.
Yeah. Jack’s right. If they can get the Doctor to see things their way, to dance, it’s gonna be fantastic. And together she’s sure they can do it.
But not just yet.
- end