Chapter 2
Jack knew that he needed money and the only person he could get it from was the Doc. He knew where he'd find his agent and so he'd headed for the Russian Tearooms; the Doc was a creature of habit.
'Sorry Sir, could you tell me where I can find the Russian Tearooms,' he heard himself saying to his agent.
'It's here; you're in front of it,' the Doc replied, rather irritated but he showed no signs of recognising who Jack was.
'Oh how embarrassing,' Jack replied, staying in character.
The agent turned and pushed through the door. Inside there were lots of tables with plush red leather seats. It was a meeting place favoured by those in the business. Jack followed the Doc in and slipped into the alcove beside him. Keeping to his character voice he began, 'I'm new in town and I'm awfully lonely, how about you buy a girl some lunch?' Jack almost laughed out loud as he watched the panic in the Doc's eyes; he probably thought some stalker was out to get him. Jack lowered his voice returning to his usual pitch.
'Doc, Doc it's okay. It's me, Jack Harkness; the last job you got me was a tomato.'
The look on his agent's face was priceless as he took in the sight of the woman wearing the outfit in front of him, trying to match that view to the voice he was hearing.
'No, Jack. Oh God, I begged you to get some therapy!'
'I got a soap, Doc! You said that no-one would employ me but you're looking at the new woman administrator for Southwest General. They nearly didn't hire me because they thought I looked too feminine.' Pushing the boundaries, Jack put his arm on the Doc's shoulder when the waiter appeared. Turning it on, he flirted with both the waiter and the Doc. He could feel the Doc stiffen and not in a good way.
'You're never going to get away with this,' his agent hissed at him.
'Look around you, Doc. I am getting away with it and everyone is wondering who the woman is with her hands all over you. See; isn't that the stage director who's just won all those awards coming over. Introduce me.'
'Jack I can't!' But he did as Jack held his hand.
'Oh we go back years.' Jack explained. When the man left he told the Doc what he needed. 'I want a $1000, Doc. You have no idea how much this stuff costs and I need a whole new wardrobe.'
'You're psychotic!' the Doc exclaimed.
'No I'm not, Doc; I'm employed!'
An hour later Jack was loaded down with goods, having made sure that the clothes he bought fitted his character. He sat in the kitchen with Tosh.
'I've no idea how any woman manages to keep attractive and not starve. How do you manage it, Tosh?' he asked, genuinely interested.
'There are ways,' Tosh replied. 'And I don't have a six o' clock shadow to get rid of. Thank goodness I'm too small or you'd have raided my wardrobe by now! Tell me, Jack,' she continued, looking worried about her friend. 'I know you're flexible when it comes to men and women, but you're not thinking of swopping sides permanently are you? I'm not going to find that you want it chopped off or something, because I don't need the money for the play that much. Or is it just the outfits you like?' she added, stroking the silk of the slip Jack had bought. 'This colour would suit Mary,' she thought.
'Don't worry Tosh, this is purely for the money but it's also a great acting challenge to see if I can pull this off. Can you imagine?'
'I'm just wondering what they'll do to you if they find out. Then you may lose your balls for real,' Tosh suggested. Jack's face clouded over.
'Jack, I didn't mean it; I don't think they'd really do that.'
'No it's not that; it's Gwen. I'm wondering how she'll cope when she finds out a man got her job,' Jack explained. 'She's already a bit flaky and talking about going home to Wales!'
'Tell her you got the money from a dead aunt then. She'll believe anything you tell her. She is pretty gullible where you're concerned, Jack.'
Later that day Jack went around to Gwen's to give her the good news. She was so excited. Jack liked Gwen, he really did, but she was so needy and with this news she flung herself at him. 'Oh Jack, I can't wait, my first lead role. I'll just shower and then let's go out to celebrate.'
While she was out of the bedroom Jack stood looking in the mirror turning from side to side. His stomach was fairly flat and he tucked his ass in, smoothing down the curves. The next thing he knew he was checking out Gwen's wardrobe and then he saw the dress laid out on the bed. 'It's perfect for Harriet,' he thought. Without thinking he was just trying to get out of his trousers when Gwen came back in the room, wrapped in a towel. Jack stood there, clad only his briefs, with his trousers gathered at his knees. Instinctively he covered his nipples, his hands crossed over his chest.
'What are you doing?' Gwen asked breathlessly, wondering if finally she was going to get her heart's desire.
'What the hell did he say?' Jack wondered. There was only one way out of this and reluctantly Jack took it.
'I want you!' he said, holding out his hands.
'You want me?' Gwen replied incredulously.
'I want you,' he repeated, moving towards her with hands outstretched, trying not to fall over as his trousers caught around his ankles.
Twenty minutes later he was pulling on his jumper as Gwen lay in the bed watching him.
'Will I ever see you again?' she asked.
'Gwen, we've known each other for six years, of course you will.'
'Yeah, but having sex changes things. There's pain in every relationship eventually; I'd like to get mine over with now, so Jackā¦.'
'Look we'll have dinner tomorrow night, okay?' Jack wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. 'Bloody hell,' he thought, 'this was such a mistake.'
When the alarm went off at 4.30 the next morning, Jack sat up quickly and wondered what the day would bring. It was then that the vision of the handsome actor he'd met at the audition came into his head. Jack was really excited by the thought that he would see him again in just a few hours.
