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Title:Contemplations of a temporal agent

Author:Keenir

Author's Note:I wrote all of this - save for one line - before seeing They Keep Killing Suzie. (I have not seen past this ep)

Summary:Jack says goodnight to Tosh, and contemplates Christmas and plots against the Doctor.

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"G'night, Jack," Toshiko said, standing up. "And thank you."

"You're welcome," Jack said.

Hearing what he didn't say, she stayed where she stood. "Would you like me to stay?"

"Thanks, Tosh; but I think I'll be fine on my own. You probably need a rest anyway."

She nodded. "Yeah, I should."

He considered asking if she'd like him to keep her company, but didn't -- she's had enough company over for a while, he figured. "Sleep well," Jack wished her.

I'll try. "Thanks," waited a little longer, then headed home.

You didn't need the stress of this last week, I know, Tosh. I should've done my job, protected her better… if I'd kept Owen from messing around with Gwen, none of this would've happened. So it takes another day to find that cardiovore, that's acceptable.

So much I could've done. All the things I didn't do to help. I was a temporal agent, and I couldn't even help a friend.

Used to be I'd leave the past behind me, never wasting a thought on 'woulda coulda shoulda.' Just keep moving, never stop moving, don't ever second-guess yourself. They thought of me as living a party, Rose and Him believed that. No harm in a private belief. Let them think what they like. But then they had to work on me, try to get me to fit more in line with the 20th Century's idea of an attitude to have. One of these days, they'll be back -- Rose and Him. As folks in the 20th say, we will have words.

Jack sat and watched all the families and singles flock to and from all the stores of Cardiff, all bundled up to fend off the night's cold snap. With a smile, All this fuss's'bustle for their holiday. He himself never marked Christmast as special -- he'd been uninterested during World War One, too busy in World War Two, and it didn't exist in his home 50th Century.

Gift-giving was as old as mankind, at least as far as humans tended to bother with. Jack knew all about presents, he'd gotten his share of them, though some might quarrel over if they were his fair share. And that was when Jack had his brilliant idea: If they want to be together, then by all means, they will be. I'll pair them up til they break, one break or another. Revenging the injustice against Tosh, while at the same time appearing benevolent.

The temporal agent in him smiled.

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The End