Invisible Touch

Chapter 1

Authors Note: thanks for reading! This idea came to me on a long cross country road trip, but I'm just now getting around to type it up. I neither own nor profit from the use of characters from the Dr. Who or Torchwood universe, who belong to the BBC and other rights holders.

Rose

Rose couldn't help being frustrated. It had been amazing traveling with the Doctor these past weeks and months, but she was frustrated at his inability to take anything emotional or personal seriously. A species in peril? He's there. Fractures in space time creating horrible paradox consequences on a far off system, no sweat; but ask him about his feelings, his past, his home, and stoic silence or deflection were the best outcomes she could expect. Yet she couldn't help it, she was falling in love with the Doctor. His calmness under fire, his tender words to a creature in need, the sweat on his brow as he labored over the numerous dials and settings on the TARDIS. Yet, she saw no hope in ever moving beyond being a companion to him. A sidekick. A foil. Certainly never a lover.

With the addition of Captain Jack to their traveling party, Rose's frustrations shifted. He was cocky, quick witted, with a talent for conversation and a body to match, charming the pants off of any creature the Doctor would tolerate him talking to. This certainly included Rose, who couldn't help but notice as he worked out in the TARDIS, practicing press ups, sit ups, pull ups and the like. The Doctor was never keen on her spending time with Jack alone however, and, she thought, probably for good reason. Rose knew the Time Agent had a knack for charming women all the way into bed, and she somewhat doubted her ability, or willingness, to resist those advances. She suspected that made Jack even more keen on trying to score an evening with Rose, the Doctor making her just that much harder to get. It didn't surprise her then, that one day while the Doctor was out fetching a part for the TARDIS from a 21st century London hardware store, Jack appeared in her doorway. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him lean against the doorframe, but that was ten minutes ago and he hadn't said a word- uncharacteristic for the Captain.

"Well are you going to just stare at me then, or come in for a chat?" she said, looking up, setting down a fashion magazine she had purchased on her last trip home.

"Didn't want to interrupt anything important." He stared down scornfully at the trashy magazine as Rose hastily tried to cover the front, proclaiming to contain '101 Secrets to Spice your Sex Life'. "Looking for tips sweet cheeks? You know I'm always willing to be a test subject if you are involved." he smirked before ducking quickly to avoid the pillow Rose had thrown at his head.

"Well not getting much action anywhere else am I?"

"I'm not sure why either, it is clear the Doctor is mad for you."

"How'd you figure?" she asked, curious to know what Jack could have seen to draw such a different conclusion from her own.

"Well let's start with the fact he'd be bonkers if he knew I was here in your doorway watching you read in your sweatpants." He ducked another pillow "Hey knock that off! Do you want my help or not?"

"Why would you help me? You fancy him too after all don't you?" She noticed his body tense at the suggestion before he stepped across the threshold and took a seat at the foot of her bed.

"Don't beat around the bush do you? Well, I reckon we can both have our way with the Doctor if you are willing to try something."

"Like what?" She asked, but before Jack could explain further, the door to the TARDIS slammed and the Doctor's clear voice rang out through the ship.

"Rose, Jack, where are you? We may be stuck on Earth a while..."

"I'll tell you later" Jack said, kissing Rose chastely on the cheek before bounding out to the control room. Rose couldn't help but blush slightly before following.