Rose and Captain Jack stepped out of the TARDIS and into the end of a long and narrow alley way. Large dumpsters and sheet metal overhangs blocked the view of the street at the other end of the alley, but light seemed to reach far enough back that the two of them had no trouble stepping around the ground litter as they made their way towards the other end.
"You are going to love this." Jack looped Rose's arm through his with a grin, offering a gentlemanly escort as the walkway began to clear enough for them to comfortably walk side by side.
"So where are we anyway? Not just New Bangkok." She returned to him a carefree grin of her own. "Give me a bit more than that."
"Well, let's see. We're on a mostly human populated asteroid. We're in one of the best night club hot spots in the 64th century. We're in one of my favorite places." He said it all like he was going through a mental list bullet points. "And since the Doctor is trusting me to lead you around this place safely, I'm the expert."
Rose snorted. "You're the expert here because the Doctor is too classy to spend his time at nightclubs."
"Are you saying I'm not a classy guy, Rosie?"
The pout that was on his face almost had Rose believing he was actually hurt. Almost. The Doctor never said outright that he was too good to go the nightclubs of New Bangkok with the two of them, but there was no doubt in her mind that maintenance on the TARDIS was a far more desirable activity than sweaty apes and aggravating music.
"Not Time Lord classy." Her smile was mischievous.
"Anyway," he dropped the pout, "Basic Rose rules still apply. No wandering off. No going home with strange aliens. Non-negotiable."
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry, pretty lady, Doctor's orders."
She was just about shoot back an indignant response when the two of them entered the main street and Rose gasped instead. Lights everywhere. Neon lights lined the street, up and down as far as the eye could see. Holograms of beautiful women, human and alien, enticed the passersby into their club with promises ranging from cheap drinks, to the top DJ's, with hints of sex sprinkled in between. All kinds of species, some she was familiar with and others she was not, walked the streets, avoiding street performances and the occasional gawking bystander.
Rose loved the energy. She loved the cacophonic blend of people talking, yelling, singing. The fact that most of the species walking by had some sort of recognizable smile was the part that Rose found herself enjoying the most. It reminded her of the Doctor and his crazy grins. He may not have struck her as much of a club goer but the Doctor would have loved the good energy just as much as she. The expression of pure joy on his face would have matched the one currently on her own.
"This is so amazing. We hardly come to places like this."
Jack gave her a dazzling smile and maneuvered them down the street.
"Well I thought I'd give you a chance to see another side of the universe. Put a little Harkness spin on your normal, dreary traveling."
"Oh, whatever." Rose smacked his arm gently with her free hand. "I love all the places we go, even the dreary ones."
"Right." He laughed. "I'm sure the Doctor could take you to see a bunch of rocks and as long as he was there, you'd love them."
A soft pink tinged Rose's cheeks but she barked out a hearty laugh.
"He has shown me rocks, and you know what? They were amazing."
Jack's laugh joined hers and he turned her toward a restaurant that advertised a fusion menu of Thai and Vaegoshian.
After the restaurant, Jack showed her around to a couple of his favorite clubs. He told her what he could remember about the basic rules of etiquette, which hadn't seemed to have changed much since her time. Most of it was just accommodation for newer species. He told her the things to watch for, in particular the more unsavory patrons, so that she wouldn't be drugged or unknowingly invite unwanted attention. He suggested a couple of drinks that might appeal to her 21st century tastes and ones to avoid so as not to incur a trip to the infirmary.
So far the night was turning out to be fun but relatively uneventful. She only indulged in two drinks so far. The first was a foamy pink concoction that had tasted like bubble gum, and the second was a variant of a sangria. She danced with or around Jack most of the time, not actively trying to follow the Don't Wander Off rule, but simply because he was genuinely fun to dance with.
They were currently at the third club and Rose was ready to take a quick rest from all the swinging and gyrating. She caught Jack's eye and pointed at the bar before making her way over to take a seat and order another drink Jack had recommended called Gorpus Blood, on a whim. The name definitely didn't sound very appetizing but when the bartender brought her the thick purple drink, she took a swig and found that the mildly sweet and flowery flavorings were very much to her liking.
With only three drinks over the course of the night, Rose was feeling a pleasant buzz. It was getting to be the end of the night and with no one immediately around her, she let her mind wander in the direction of the TARDIS. She wondered what the Doctor was up to right at that very moment. Obviously he was working on the ship, but was he half hidden under the console? Had he retreated to the depths of the ship to get the proper wiring that he required? Was he taking a break in the galley with a cuppa in his hand and his ship in his thoughts?
Rose supposed he pretty much did the same thing regardless of whether he was with his companions or not. Occasionally she would get him to sit down and read to her or watch a show. He'd get fidgety before too long though, and head back to whatever he was doing before she had interrupted him.
The little moments where she got him to sit and relax felt like little victories. No matter how much he claimed he hated domestics, getting him to sit down with her and take a load off always felt a little domestic, and it was her opportunity to indulge in a fantasy that they were together. Her and the Doctor, more than just mates. She could dream.
She was brought out of her thoughts by a brown hand with bony ridges waving back and forth in front of her face.
"'Ello, 'Ello! You're doing right, all right?"
Rose blinked and followed the hand to its owner.
"Okay, Okay, you're feeling, yes?"
Sitting on the bar stool beside her was a dark skinned humanoid with bony ridges on his cheeks and chin that matched the ones on his hands. He seemed unable to sit still, like he was sitting in water and the current was slowly moving his limbs this way and that. He smiled at her with what she supposed were healthy grey teeth. Despite the ridges, he looked friendly enough. He'd probably spotted her sitting at the bar daydreaming about the Doctor and thought he'd strike up some friendly conversation.
Offering a smile of her own, Rose turned more towards the alien to her right and took a healthy swig from her barely touched, purple beverage.
"Feeling just fine, thank you. Just lost in my thoughts."
The alien drifted closer to the bar and propped his jaw up on his hand, just behind his chin.
"Who is so lucky, to have your attention, so much?" He gazed at her intently, head tilting ever so slowly.
"No one here." Rose took a sip.
"He left you, alone? Here?" He gasped with shock like he couldn't believe such an injustice could have taken place.
She snickered at his reaction. "No, I'm here with a friend."
Rose craned her neck back at the dance floor behind her. She couldn't make out whether Jack was still there or not, but she figured he wouldn't have gone far if he wasn't.
"Dancing then, you'd like to? This person, he won't mind, yes?"
A dance couldn't hurt. She had just stepped away to order a drink and take a breather, not to mention, she was a bit curious to see if such an alien danced well. He didn't seem to be able to control his straying limbs, much less move to a beat. She couldn't recall ever seeing such an alien before. She made a mental note to ask the Doctor about it when she went back to the TARDIS.
Her smile grew, and she downed her drink. "I suppose one dance couldn't hurt."
The alien's eyes gave the briefest of flickers towards her drink and she wondered if something didn't change ever so slightly in his eyes. Something so minor she couldn't quite place the look.
Shrugging it off as something imagined, Rose got up off her stool. Her new friend followed her gracefully, almost cat-like, and a small movement on the lower back of her shirt alerted to his hovering hand.
It was then that Jack stepped out of the crowd and made his way towards her, his smile warm and friendly, but his eyes seemed nearly hawklike. Rose felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. She was unsure if the alien would be able to pick up on Jack's look but it was clear as day to her.
"Rosie! I think it's getting a bit late, don't you? Better get back before the Doc comes out searching for us."
He walked up to Rose and threaded her arm through his just as he'd done earlier in the night, though it seemed like this time there was a measure of possessiveness that hadn't been there before. Jack pulled himself up a little taller, but kept a friendly face.
"Hate to steal your dance buddy, I really do," there was a touch of fake guilt now, "but if I don't get this little lady home, there's gonna be hell to pay."
The Captain's arm was tense. He was a good actor for sure, a natural con-man, but Rose could feel it in their threaded arms.
The alien was now standing directly across from the both of them and his face had lost a lot of its original friendliness. Even his body seemed to still just a bit. Rose's stomach felt a bit ill but she was unsure if it could all be contributed to the possible danger.
"It's not a problem, it's not." His eyes bore into Jack's but it was obvious he didn't want to create a scene. "Hoping a good night, you both...yes."
Jack gave the brown, ridged alien a quick mock salute before turning the both of them to move towards the door.
The trip back to the TARDIS was a straight shot down the main road of lights they had first started off on. As they walked, Jack was mostly, and uncharacteristically, quiet. She knew he wasn't entirely what he put out for the world to see, that there was a calculating and intelligent man underneath the smiles and charm, but seeing it tonight was just this side of unnerving. As her senses began to deteriorate from the alcohol, she pondered on how at this very instant, Jack wasn't unlike the Doctor. When he realized she was watching him, his whole demeanor lightened, but there was still a bit of that underlying tension.
"Sorry to just whisk you off there sweetie, but I don't want the Doctor coming out to search for us, if you know what I mean."
She nodded and looked up at a holographic brunette blowing her a kiss.
"That guy back there," she scrunched her face a bit. "The Klingon."
She relaxed a bit when she heard Jack laugh.
"Why were you concerned about him?"
She looked back at him and his face was thoughtful.
"Look, I trust you, Rose, but that guy was up to no good."
"I don't know, he was just looking for a dance..."
"Just trust me."
She looked back up at the holograms. This time it was some character doing a silly dance.
"I do-"
"Here we are!" He turned the both of them into the alleyway with the TARDIS at the end, and Rose felt her head begin to spin a bit.
Jack plastered a smile on his face and pulled his arm out of hers to wrap around her shoulders as they strolled towards the ship.
"Look, it was probably nothing. Just...why don't we keep this between you and me?" He ruffled her hair affectionately.
Rose nodded, seeing the wisdom in that. She and the Doctor were just mates, but he was protective and she didn't want him to give Jack the boot for not being by her side 24/7.
"Good." He gave her a charming grin. "Let's get in there and have a snack. All that hip thrusting has me famished!"
He let her go and threw his arm up over his eyes, letting out a dramatic sigh.
Rose giggled and pulled her key out from under her shirt to unlock the TARDIS door.
A chime accompanied by a flash of circular Gallifreyan across the display alerted the Doctor to the completion of the latest diagnostic test. He unhooked the wires that were threading out from under the TARDIS root system and started efficiently stashing away the testing equipment in its case, running through a mental checklist of the things that were complete and what still needed to be checked on. He had originally estimated it would take somewhere in the area of 36 hours to complete all the required TARDIS maintenance and it appeared he was right on schedule. If he didn't sleep tonight they'd be ready to leave tomorrow, provided his companions didn't make any last minute plans.
Now was a good time to take a break though. Absentmindedly, he scratched his nose with the tip of the sonic screwdriver and laid his other hand on the wall of the time ship. He shut his eyes and sent a telepathic inquiry as to whether Rose and Jack were aboard the ship or not and was met with the image of the galley blooming behind his eyelids.
With equal parts curiosity and excitement, the Doctor slid the sonic into his leather jacket pocket and started off towards the galley. He would pick up where he left off after seeing what his two companions were up to.
He was in front of the galley door about to hit the door release button when he heard two voices guffawing over some unheard remark. On a whim he stayed his hand and listened for just a second. With hearing like his, it was like he was in the room already.
"So I dragged his bloody arse up three flights of stairs because he was too pissed to even sit up straight. I couldn't get him past the third floor," Rose's voice cut off and when she began again, her mouth was full. "So I walked up the stairs, got a blanket out of the closet and dropped it on him." Swallow. "I kinda...shoved him out of the way and let him sleep outside. I told him the next day that if he wanted me to start carrying him up the steps when he got too pissed, he'd have to pay for my gym membership."
The laughter picked up again. From the story and what he knew about her, the Doctor assumed that tale was about Mickey the Idiot. Not that it was any of his business, but the Doctor had always felt she could do better. Of course, she had vouched for Adam, too, and look how that had ended. Again, none of his business. He rolled his eyes and went to push the button again and this time it was Jack's voice that made him drop his hand.
"You're looking pretty sleepy there, Rosie. Why don't you hit the hay?" a little pause and his voice dropped to a tone that possessed a healthy mixture of mock-seduction and tease. "And by 'you', I mean how about you and me -"
A tide of irritation quickly swelled up within the Doctor only to be pacified by Rose's answering laughter. "I don't think so, Jack."
"Oh, all right," Jack heaved out an over exaggerated sigh, "At least you can let me tuck you in?"
"I'll be fine." Her rejection of the Captain's advances was music to the Doctor's ears, and pride bubbled up to mostly replace his earlier irritation. "'Sides, I think I'd like to take a shower first. Wash the Klingon off of me."
"How about a kiss goodnight? The hero at least deserves that." The Doctor held his breath. No, no, no...What hero?
The very distinctive sound of a kiss was audible from the other side of the door and he was shocked, she had actually kissed Jack. He supposed it had to happen at some point. For all the many faults the Doctor could count off about the con-man, bad looking and rude were not on that list. Not to mention, Captain Jack had been all over her ever since he'd saved Rose's life during the Blitz, and Rose didn't seem to be trying all that hard to fight off his advances.
It was none of his business. He shouldn't have even been eavesdropping. Kicking himself inside, the Doctor didn't feel like sticking around to hear what would happen next. Turning on his heel, he made his way back into the depths of the TARDIS to bury himself in the maintenance.
Rose landed on the bed with a great flop, letting the force of the fall push out a contented sigh from her lips. She had opted for a relaxing bath instead of a shower so here she waited, front down on top of her covers, feet hanging off the corner, comforted in the sounds of the running water from her en suite, the ever present hum of the TARDIS, and the pleasant alcohol induced haze.
She'd already shucked her clothing in preparation of the bath, uncaring where it had landed before, and now rested, nestled in her sheets in the plain matching lavender bra and panties. The warm temperature of her room draped over her like the feather-light duvet she now laid on top of. The fabric of the said duvet supplied an enjoyable level of friction against her uncovered cheek, stomach, and limbs.
It almost felt like a spa. The atmosphere of her room, the sound of the running water, the sleepy relaxation helped along by the earlier alcohol. It felt like all the bad thoughts and feelings were sinking down into a murky pool while the good ones all floated soothingly to the top. Her head whirled while she visited those thoughts of New Bangkok's good energy, the pink foamy drink, her story of Mickey shared with Jack, teasing Jack with an over exaggerated smooch to the head. Most of all, she thought of the Doctor. She thought of his triumphant grins when he accomplished something impressive. She thought of his strong hand that gripping hers when they were fleeing. She thought of her face buried in his chest when they hugged. She thought of that compliment that he'd let slip (and quickly turned into a light insult) when she first stepped out in her evening gown for Naples (which had actually turned out to be Cardiff).
And while her head was a merry-go round of the Doctor, she drifted off to sleep.
"Rose!"
She didn't even realize falling asleep. It couldn't have been for long, the bath water was still running. Her head felt like it was right in the middle between fog and mush. A strong and familiarly cool set of hands was already hauling her up from the bed while the panic in his voice worked to cut through the mess in her head.
"Rose, we have to go! The TARDIS is flooding!"
Wait, what?
