AN: Ugh, so if any of you are following my other story Another Chance, I meant to update it last week but I had a rough break up, so the last thing I wanted to write about was another rough break up. Instead, I tried to write something fluffy, and it turned into another WIP. This is slightly inspired by the show Arrow, which I have been loving. I hope you all enjoy!
Rose Tyler was really regretting that last glass of wine. But to be fair, she'd just had one really awful date. So, after it ended horribly, Rose thought it'd be appropriate to head to her favorite pub and complain to her favorite bartender, Jack, about the disastrous evening she had. Hours later she'd found herself stumbling slightly out of the pub, assuring Jack she would be fine walking home to her flat.
But she was really questioning her decision to not let Jack call her a cab. It was well past midnight and all of the streetlamps around her seemed to be extremely bright or dead. Rose shivered as she wrapped the jacket Jack lent her more tightly about herself.
She was only a few blocks away from her flat, when she heard voices. Rose paused, trying to determine the direction from which the voices were coming. Rose's heart sped up as she heard a woman, in obvious distress, pleading with whoever she was with.
"Cassandra! You told me you would have the money tonight!" an angry male voice echoed down a darkened alley.
"I told you! I'll have it next time. But I just had to use the money for a new procedure," the woman, Cassandra, replied, her voice tinged with worry.
"No! I've heard enough about your new procedures. You hardly look like you did when we first met!" the man shouted. "You give me my money, Cassandra, or you'll have another thing coming.
Rose's breath caught in her throat at the man's threat. She instinctively took a step back, distancing herself from the alleyway.
"And just what do you think you're doing around here so late, love?" a voice said behind her.
Rose turned around slowly to face the source of the voice, only to find herself surrounded by a group of men.
"I didn't see anything," Rose said, her voice quivering slightly.
"Are you sure, love? Because it be a shame if you are lying to us," one of the men said, grinning menacingly, stepping closer to her.
"Stay away from me," Rose replied, her voice stronger, but still laced with fear.
"What's wrong, love? We're just having a nice chat is all," the man said, walking slowly towards her.
Rose backed up further, clutching Jack's jacket closer to her. She closed her eyes briefly, fearing what would happen next, when a hand suddenly grabbed hers from behind. Rose's eyes flew open and she turned to see a masked stranger standing right beside her. He tugged her hand, urging her towards him.
"Run!" he said urgently, in a gruff Northern voice, and she didn't hesitate to follow him.
He took her down a series of alleyways, avoiding the men who were chasing after them.
"Where are we going?" Rose asked breathlessly, still letting him lead her through the unfamiliar alleys.
"You'll see."
Rose was about to protest his elusiveness when he abruptly stopped. She had little time to react and crashed into his back. She looked around his shoulder to find a sleek, slightly battered, but extremely blue car parked in front of them.
"Meet the Tardis," he grinned, looking back at her.
Rose stood there in shock, unsure of how to respond.
"Well, come on then. Into the Tardis, quickly, those men were catching up to us and they'll be here any moment."
His words snapped Rose out of her shock and she hastily heading to the passenger side of the car. The strange man beat her to it when she tried to open the door, holding it open for her with a grin.
Rose tried not to blush at the grin he gave her but was unsuccessful, grateful that it was too dark for him to see her cheeks flush slightly.
She stepped inside the car, surprised by how roomy it felt.
Seconds later, he got in the drivers side and immediately started driving them away from the alley.
While he concentrated on manoeuvring the vehicle she took the time to get a proper look at him. He looked normal enough, dressed in a black leather jacket that looked slightly too large on him and a pair or worn jeans. But what really stood out to Rose was the black mask he wore that covered half of his face, preventing her from getting a good look at his face.
He glanced over at her, sensing her eyes on him. "Go on, then. You know you want to," he told her.
She stared at him. "What?"
"You can ask me who I am and what I was doing there. Unlike those other men back there, I don't bite," he replied, his voice tightening at his last words.
Rose shivered slightly, thinking of the men and their threatening gazes. "Okay then. Who are you?
"I'm the Doctor."
"Doctor? Doctor what?" Rose asked, confused.
"Just the Doctor," he grinned.
"So, Doctor, what were you doing in a dark alley late at night?" Rose asked after a moment.
"I could ask the same about you," he replied.
She glared at him. "Hey, you said I could ask."
"I did. So, what was I doing around here late at night? Trying to solve crimes of course!"
Rose stared at him. "Oh."
"Oh?" he repeated back at her, confused by her reaction.
"You're one of those crazy vigilantes, yeah?"
The Doctor looked offended. "I'm not a vigilante," he protested. "That's what the media uses to describe superhero wannabes. But I'm the real deal."
"You're a superhero?" Rose asked in disbelief. "You think you're so impressive don't you."
"I am so impressive!" the Doctor replied in mock outrage. "I saved your life, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did," Rose said quietly. "Thanks for that."
"My pleasure."
"There's just one thing I don't understand," Rose told the Doctor.
"What?"
"Your outfit."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" The Doctor said, offended.
"Nothing, it's just, besides the mask, you don't really look like a superhero. Like, aren't they supposed to have fancy outfits or something. It just looks like you're wearing regular clothes," Rose replied.
"That's the thing, I could be any old regular person. Anyone can be a hero. Understand?"
"Yeah."
They were silent for a little while until Rose asked, "So, where are we going?"
"Oh!" the Doctor responded. "I suppose I should take you home."
"Yeah, I'd appreciate that. It's been a long night," Rose replied, trying to contain a yawn.
After Rose told the Doctor where she lived, they arrived at her flat shortly afterwards. Rose put her hand on the door handle and then turned back to look at him. "Thanks again for helping me."
He nodded at her, giving her a smile.
Rose stepped out of his car but before she could take another step he called out to her. "Wait."
She turned back to him, looking at him questioningly. "I never got your name," he told her.
"My name's Rose. Rose Tyler," she said, smiling at him.
"Well, Rose Tyler, I'll see you around I suppose," he grinned back, before speeding off into the night.
Rose shook her head slightly, hardly believing the night she had, before heading up the stairs and into her flat.
Three weeks later, Rose sat in the same exact pub she had that night. The night that she never wanted to think about again. Ever since it occurred, she'd been a bit terrified that the men, that chased after her that night, would find her. She was, however, a bit consoled by the fact that she kept seeing The Doctor appear in the news, realizing that their was at least one person out there that could protect her from those men. Not that she needed saving, but Rose wasn't stupid. She knew how outnumbered she was, and those men seemed to be a part of something much larger, something she wanted nothing to do with.
"You okay, Rosie?" Jack asked her. "You seemed deep in thought for awhile there."
"Yeah, fine," Rose said, smiling when he brought her another glass of wine. "Thanks, I needed this."
"No problem," Jack said grinning. "Everything's on the house tonight for my favorite customer."
Rose laughed and replied, "Who? Ianto?"
Rose was given the satisfaction of seeing Jack Harkness blush slightly at her comment but he shook it off and laughed with her. "Seriously, Rose, your drinks are free tonight. I'm really proud of you. And I still feel bad about what happened a few weeks ago."
Rose sighed. After Jack had heard the danger Rose had encountered after he let her walk home in the middle of the night, he took it upon himself to take the blame. And despite her constant assurances that it wasn't his fault that she was out in the middle of the night,but hers, he was still beating himself up about it.
"Thanks, Jack," Rose said, choosing not to comment on his second statement. "And you don't need to feel that proud. It's not even a big deal."
Jack laughed. "Rose, you're going to be the executive assistant to a CEO, that's a big deal. And aren't you glad you don't have to be an assistant to resident wanker, Adam Mitchell?"
"Well, when you put it that way," Rose giggled. "I guess it's a big improvement." Rose paused. "But I'm not sure about this, Jack, what if I'm not good enough. I mean, I only got a job at Gallifrey Consolidated a few months ago, and now they want me to be an assistant to John Smith!"
"Rosie, you're gonna be great. Don't let those other chatty assistants scare you away," Jack assured her.
After Donna Noble, John Smith's former assistant took a mysterious leave of absence, everyone expected one Reinette Poisson, to take her place. She was seemed the best qualified, and was even an assistant to a French businessman, before she came to Gallifrey Consolidated. So, when Rose was promoted instead of her, Reinette was not quiet about her protests.
"I know I shouldn't listen to them, but I just don't understand why he chose me," Rose said.
"I don't know, Rosie, but I've heard he only takes the best," Jack grinned.
"And just how did you hear that Jack? You've never even met John Smith," Rose began. "Oh, wait. But Ianto Jones has. Ianto's one of Gallifrey Consolidated's largest investors," Rose smirked.
Jack was speechless.
"I knew it, you have been seeing Ianto," Rose said. "Oh, Jack, I'm really happy for you."
Jack smiled almost shyly. "Thanks, Rosie."
"I'm just happy you aren't trying to sleep with everyone who walks into your pub," Rose teased. "Anyway, I'd better go. I have to wake up early and I don't want to be late on my first day as Mr. Smith's assistant."
"Let me call you a cab," Jack said, and upon seeing Rose open her mouth to begin to protest. "Please, Rose, I just want to make sure you're gonna be okay."
Rose sighed but said, "Alright. But Jack, this over protectiveness better stop soon."
"Promise."
The next morning, Rose Tyler cursed herself as she rushed through the doors of Gallifrey Consolidated. She'd done exactly what she didn't want to do, which was sleep through her alarm. She attempted to balance a banana and a cup of coffee in one hand, trying to pull her badge out of her purse to show security. She rushed into the elevator and pushed the button for the top floor.
Once she arrived, she quickly set her bag on the chair next to her new desk, and rushed towards Mr. Smith's office. She cursed herself once more when she realized he was already there. Taking a deep breath, she walked inside.
"Hello, Mr. Smith," Rose began. "I'm so sorry I'm late."
Rose quickly set the banana and cup of coffee on his desk in front of him, prepared for him to get angry and ask for a new assistant.
To her surprise, he just gave her a large grin. "Rose Tyler! And you brought a banana, brilliant!"
Rose was slightly taken aback at his friendly attitude. John Smith was rather tall and lanky, with quite great hair, not that Rose was looking. He was dressed in a nonconventional suit, forgoing the normal black or grey for a brown suit with thin blue pinstripes. Rose's eyes widened when he put his feet on his desk, revealing scuffed up white converse, as he leaned back in his chair, beginning to eat the banana. "Um, yeah, Ms. Smith told me that you always liked bananas in the morning." Rose squeaked out, realizing she never replied to his statement.
"Oh, Sarah Jane is brilliant, isn't she?" Mr. Smith replied with a mouthful of banana. "My sister always seems to be looking out for me."
"You seem very lucky to have a sister like her, Mr. Smith," Rose said somewhat awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to him.
"Now Rose, I know you're new here but this is just unacceptable," John Smith said, suddenly serious.
Rose immediately panicked and began to stammer out a response. "I'm so sorry for being late Mr. Smith, it won't happen again."
John Smith took in her dismayed expression with a look of confusion. His eyes widened at her response and he rushed to respond. "Oh, I wasn't talking about being late! I was talking about this 'Mr. Smith' nonsense! You can just call me John."
Rose didn't know what to say, feeling extremely awkward. "Oh," she managed to say.
But John didn't stop there. "I am thick, aren't I. Donna would be beating me up right now for being so daft. Sorry, Rose, I was just trying to lighten you up, you know, to make you feel more comfortable."
"That's alright, Mr. Sm-John, just wasn't really expecting this," Rose said, trying to hold back a smile, seeing how much he was beating himself up over a small incident.
"Is that a smile?" John said, giving her a smile of his own.
"No," Rose replied, trying harder not to show her amusement. After all, he was still her boss. She shouldn't really be joking around with him. He probably had loads of work to do.
"I think that's a smile," he pressed, his grin widening and Rose was no longer able to hold back her own.
They stayed there smiling at each other, before Rose cleared her throat. "Well, I guess I should get back to my desk, so you can work."
"Yeah I suppose so," John said reluctantly. "But I'm looking forward to you being my executive assistant," John said sincerely.
Rose blushed slightly and turned to go. "So I suppose I'll see you around, Rose Tyler," John said, giving her a teasing, almost flirty grin.
Rose gave him a slightly exasperated smile, but joked along with him. "Not if I see you first," Rose said on her way out, a bit confused by his wording, thinking she had heard similar words before.
But Rose pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind and soon forgot about them once she was distracted by Sarah Jane Smith requesting to see her brother. After speaking to Sarah Jane, Rose sat back in her chair, reflecting on her conversation with John. Working as his EA was nothing like she expected and she had a feeling it would only get stranger.