I have no idea where this came from. Possibly my muse reacting to rumors about Miracle Day. Be warned, it isn't friendly to anyone.
Gwen Cooper watches as her friend, her boss, her lover, flirts with the new girl. Loudly, shamelessly, before her eyes, but not for her eyes.
Jack isn't trying to make her jealous. He's really not, and that isn't Gwen trying to excuse his behavior, though God knows she's made enough excuses for him. Excuses, justifications, every time another piece of rose-colored glass shatters. Cover stories, really. Gwen's good at cover stories now. She's had to be, without Tosh or Ianto around to do them. Jack doesn't have the patience and the others don't have the experience. Long story short, Gwen can spot anything pasted on over the truth, however well hidden. So she knows, this time, she's not making an excuse.
He truly isn't doing this to make her jealous. He doesn't, in fact, actually understand the concept. He knows it exists, but it's just a quaint 21st century thing he doesn't 'do'.
There are, however, plenty of things he does do. Not just things. People, too. Male, female, and Gwen knows now he wasn't joking about non-human life forms as well.
Gwen doesn't say anything about it anymore. No point. She knows from sad experience what will happen. He'll listen with an air of patience on a good day or annoyance on a bad one then deliver a variation on the 'but you knew what I was like,' lecture. Which could equally be the 'take it or leave it' lecture. Delivered in a variety of tones ranging from amused to incredulous to the most chilling, bored.
Gwen can't leave it, though. Can't leave him. Walking away isn't an option, however much her pride demands it. She's lost too much to get this, including self-respect. Walking away would mean it was all for nothing, and she can't have that.
Gwen watches Esther flick languid fingers through her long blonde hair and pretend she isn't doing it purpose. Esther doesn't have the excuse of not growing up under 20th century moral conditioning. She's supposed to be Gwen's friend. Sisters-in-arms. Gwen should be angry at her, has every right to be, but somehow she can't summon up the justification. Not when she's been exactly where Esther is, and done exactly the same thing, too. Gwen's many things but a hypocrite isn't one of them.
Gwen turns back to her screen. She should be analyzing the data in front of her, but she can't stop analyzing her own lack of reaction.
She should be angry. She should be hurt.
It should feel as though her heart is breaking.
But it just feels like karma.
I feel like I should apologise for that. Depressing, wasn't it? I think I wrote it just to get it out of my head. There's more in there if anyone's interested.
