A/N: Rated T to be extremely safe, nothing really happens to make it so…there's some kissing, but not a lot, and nothing else that would take it past K…anyway…I've been forgetting to say this, but I don't own Doctor Who.

That Leather Jacket

"Rose, it's just odd!"

"I just like it, okay!"

"You look just like him. You could be him!"

"Mum, I can wear whatever I want!"

"It's creepy! It looks just like the one he wore – the first him. It could be the very one!"

"I bought it from parallel Clive. He's skinnier in this universe, it fit well. I bought it. Leave me alone."

Rose folded her arms, the look on her face decidedly dangerous. She liked this beat-up leather jacket.

"I don't think it's healthy – it's like wearing dead people's clothes! It's weird! I know you're hurt, but this is not the right way to heal. We can help you…"

"Mum! I like it. It's just a jacket, okay? It's a piece of clothing. Get over it!"

"Fine...but it's so weird!"

"Mum!"

Rose sighed. Her mother had been so oppressive since Bad Wolf Bay…the amount of times she had wanted to do nothing more than slap her and run away were quickly becoming innumerable.

She did see her mum's point, though, just in a different way. When he had lost everything, he had hidden himself in a leather jacket, given himself a second skin against a cruel universe. That was all she wanted. It also did remind her of him, but not in a way she found creepy. It sort of smelled like him, and it made her remember. It hurt her to remember, but every time she considered taking it off, she decided it would be a thousand times worse to forget. She didn't want to lose a single moment.

Maybe pairing the jacket with heavy boots and black pants had been a step too far, but…well, at least she hadn't started wearing jumpers. Or speaking with a Northern accent. That, she had to concede, would have been weird.

Plus she was rubbish with accents.

Oh, that day with the werewolf…she started to laugh out of nowhere, her mother, who had still been eyeing the offending article of clothing with distaste, jumped and gave her a reproachful glare.

"Mum…" Rose choked out, trying to breathe "Did you know…Queen Victoria was a werewolf?"

"What? Rose, you need to get more sleep."

"No…'s true…"

"I'm sure. How's about a snack and a cup of tea?"

Her mum had launched into 'my daughter is just tired, not mentally unhinged' mode – used a lot lately – and was bustling about accordingly.

Rose accepted the cup a few minutes later, sipping it tentatively. She remembered…well, that day. "She's very good at tea. Well, I say very good – I mean not bad. Well, I say not bad…" She had loved that particular style of rambling. The memory burned almost as badly as the tea, but she grinned anyway, and, though she didn't notice, frightened Jackie with her manic expression. She hauled the fruit bowl across the counter, perused the contents for a moment, and selected a banana. Munching happily, she thought of World War II, Captain Jack, and hanging from a barrage balloon with a Union Jack emblazoned on her chest. There had been a slight incident at Torchwood last week with an over-curious intern, gasoline, vinegar, an egg, and an object of alien tech – everyone was fine, but the building had had to be evacuated, and gas masks had been provided. No one understood why their strange, reserved new team member had walked around querying "Mummy? Mummy? Are you there, mummy? Are you my mummy?" in a high-pitched, childlike voice, but no one had bothered to ask. Mickey just assumed it was one more remembered adventure – he, too, had taken to ignoring her.

He, himself, had just walked in, bringing with him his new girlfriend – Mary? Marty? Marta? – something like that. She was a medical student or something, maybe a nurse. She was very pretty, there was no doubt about that. But…ugh, they were kissing. Right in front of her. Lovely.

Now he was introducing her to her mum…blah, blah, blah…medical student, she was right…blah, blah, blah…avid hiker…blah, blah, blah…stay for dinner?

And they were kissing again. Without thinking, she growled "Could we keep the domestics outside, please?" and laid her head down on her arms.

A moment later she sat up straight as if electrified, eyes wide in shock, with one hand clapped over her mouth.