As the song ends I know I have put off dealing with our new arrival long enough. Much as I would love to dance the night away with Rose I know all good things must end. The sooner I get him sorted out the sooner I can take Rose someplace more private. I don't release my grip around Rose's waist as I move us over where we can talk. Time to see what this fellow is made of. I don't say anything but wait for him to ask the questions, I suspect that what questions he asks will be very telling indeed.
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The song ends, and I sigh as they break apart a little. As the Doctor leads them over to me he doesn't release Rose, keeping one arm curled possessively about her waist. Can the man be any clearer as he positions his body between Rose and me; his whole stance screams, 'Mine'?
Guess this is where he lays down the law. I wait for him to say something for a long minute. When it becomes clear he is not going to speak I state uncomfortably, "So this is your ship."
"Yes, I think that would be obvious," the sarcasm so evident in his voice makes me want to cringe. Okay, so he's not going to give me an inch here. Where should I go with this conversation first? What is it he wants from me? "Thank you, for the lift." Okay no snide remark good, his body language has made it clear he wants me gone so I continue. "I appreciate your effort so I will be out of your way as soon as possible." Nothing, what does he want me to do beg? "If it's not too much trouble, I would appreciate it if you drop me in an era where I can connect up with some traders," I can't help the sarcasm that creeps into my voice, "Don't worry about me I will find my own way from there." I can't remember feeling this rattled since finals at the Time Agency academy. He's looking at me again like I'm some specimen under inspection, what is he thinking? What is it he wants from me?
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So this is Captain Jack Harkness, ex-time agent, con man, partial amnesiac. I hadn't really thought about what to do with him, I knew I had to rescue the man. I couldn't just leave the man to blow up with the bomb I had asked him to dispose of when it was in my power to do otherwise; seen far to much death to want more blood on my hands. He was rather stupid with the Chula medical transport but he did show some decent qualities. He did admit he was trying to con us when he first suspected that the Chula ambulance might have had something to do with the gas mask people, but wouldn't admit it at the time. He could easily have left Rose and I in that room and run and he also could just as easily let the bomb drop and hoped that the blast would take out the nano-genes he had let loose, but he had done none of those things. Integrity and a conscience; good qualities to have in a traveling companion; I have brought people along for a lot less over the years and the TARDIS seems to think he is okay, if that brush of comfort I felt her give him earlier is anything to go by. "I have a counter proposal for you. Join us." I smile at the start Rose gives at my side; she didn't expect me to say that.
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Anxiously I watch as the Doctor seems to come to some decision and nods his head ever so slightly. At his words I break out in a genuine smile. He's offering to let me stay? Why in the universe would he offer to let me stay? He has been sending signals all night that make it clear he doesn't want me near Rose. "What's the catch?"
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"The 'catch' is this, no cons, no swindling, no volcano days. If you travel with us you will be expected to contribute. This life is neither simple nor safe, having been a time agent you already know that and if I say we need to leave someplace I want no arguments, not one more snog, we leave then. Refuse and you will be left behind. This is my ship and she leaves to where and when I say. Don't think for a minute that she will go anywhere with you without my permission." I know my words are harsh but I want this very flippant human to understand exactly how serious I am about the rules of him staying. I will not have him putting Rose at risk because he can't or won't listen.
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At his words about his I can't help but blurt out, "She's sentient isn't she?" vaguely waving at the walls. If he's surprised at my question he doesn't show it.
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"Yes she is, and as such that means she will not take kindly to it if you think you can take her anywhere against her or my will. You do anything deliberately to hurt her then you're out." At my final words I feel Rose stiffen beside me she is obviously not pleased at the tone of harsh coldness in my words, but I will brook no interference either with the TARDIS or with Rose's safety. "Are we clear?"
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At the Doctor's harsh words it becomes a bit more what I expected; I am obviously still on probation and from the expression on his face it's clear he isn't just referring to his time ship with that last statement. "I didn't think for a minute she would, she seems like quite the loyal type." I state and I am sure he knows I mean both Rose and the TARDIS. "Agreed," I state as I smile trying to pretend that the unspoken threats don't bother me.
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As I watch as my Theta and Jack come to an agreement I know that a lot more is being said than what is being said aloud, Theta's words about dumping Jack disturb me, but in spite of that I can't help smile to myself that they have come to an understanding. My Theta is still not very happy with him here; he's worried that Jack will take Rose away. Silly male, with the way Rose feels about him it would take something truly drastic to make her even consider leaving, she loves him very deeply.
As the evening has worn on I have watched Jack and the more I watched the more curious I became and finally I began to shuffle through his surface thoughts, liking him all the more for the things I find. I'm not usually this nosey but there is something about this fellow that I like and the more I see of him the more I like him. At sensing his feelings of loss and some of the horrible images that flash through his mind of previous close calls I can't help but feel sorry for the man; he has endured so many dreadful things since he left the Time Agency. No wonder he was angry and felt betrayed with them when they took his memories; they took more than that, they took away the life he had struggled so hard to achieve. He had worked so hard to be something his family could be proud of instead of being the unwanted oldest son of a poor family on a rim planet. I think I am going to give Jack something special; maybe if I give him something nice it will help a bit that again he has just lost everything he owned that wasn't on his person when he came on board, humans are more often than not very attached to their things.
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I can't believe the Doctor just offered to let Jack stay and the smirk he gave me when he realized he had startled me with that offer was just irritating. Sometimes I think he does things like this just to confuse me. I have to wonder though, where did that decision come from? With the way he had been acting I was sure he was just going to drop Jack off some place. Now though is not the time to discuss this, it's been a long day for all of us and it is even more obvious that as much as I want some time alone with the Doctor for once he doesn't seem to be shy about wanting to be with me and I am relieved when his next words are light and casually addressed to me. "Well now that we understand each other lets find Jack a room." When he gives me one of those wonderful goofy grins of his I gladly return it.
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The Doctor has offered to let me stay. Weird as that is, all I can think about now is how bizarre the events of the last 24 hours have been, everything from a beautiful blonde hanging from a barrage balloon to the oh so mysterious and sexy alien in leather who is leading me down the hallway of sentient ship with insides bigger than it's outside parameters. Looking about and seeing the number of corridors I have to ask, "Doctor, how big is this ship anyway?"
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Ah, I was wondering when he would get around to asking that question. Turning I give him the biggest grin and reply "Well you see it kind of depends on how big I want her to be, one of the nicer aspects of a dimensionally transcendent home."
