Chapter 7

Liz huffed and plopped down on her bed. The Doctor had given her directions, and thankfully it only took, what seemed like, twelve years to get down there. She soon stripped of her clothes and threw on an old hoodie, with some shorts, she found in a drawer. The TARDIS had been diligent in making a room that fit her particular fancy because it was far from the console room, and had hues of purple and blue within it. There was also a bookcase resting on the right hand side, which she eyed curiously. She went over and saw that most of her favorite books were here, but there was also an assortment of books she'd been meaning to go through. Sometimes there just wasn't enough time in the day on Earth, but if this was a time machine, she'd be damned if she would miss some serious reading time. So, she plucked The Catcher in the Rye from the shelf and set to work after sticking her glasses on from her purse.

Nearly two hours later, she realized how late it was, or how late it seemed, internally, to her; but who cared? She'd never fall asleep at this rate, too consumed with fears she ignored to be useful to anyone. The minute she went to go back to her book, which was nearly finished, she heard a soft voice clear behind her door. She ignored it at first, but the exigent rapping at her door caused her to get up.

Muttering, she began, "The fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, and so faintly you came tapping, tapping, at my chamber door, that I scarce was sure I heard you" She opened the door, wide, "Darkn-" she had managed to fling the door open to none other than…

"Sorry, no darkness, just Harkness. Do you always recite poetry when you're annoyed? Or was that just for me? It's kinda cute…" He leaned against her doorway with a smug grin that she wanted to smack away.

"Can I help you Captain, or are you just here to act like a petulant child?" She asked, mildly. Honestly, who did this man think he was?

He chuckled, good-naturedly, and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. "I'm antsy. Mind if I come in?" And with that he simply walked right through.

"Sure, no problem. Just what I wanted... company…"

Jack plopped himself on her bed and picked up the book. He turned to the first page and began reading, pausing to look up at her after a few moments. "Cheery bloke, isn't he?"

She huffed and plopped down loudly next to him. "Whatever. He's a bit like me, sort of sarcastic, and doesn't quite give a damn. You should read it. It might improve your personality and make that stupid smugness on your face go away."

He chuckled and laid back on her bed, feet and all. She smacked his leg quite hard and he jumped from his cozy position, looking at her as if she had just tried to shoot him.

"Alright, what was that one for, missy?" He inquired, rubbing his leg.

"You're lucky it wasn't higher up. Honestly, who puts their dirty boots up on a ladies bed? You obviously haven't been taught manners, Harkness." She looked pointedly at him and then nodded towards his shoes.

"Fine," he replied with hands up. As he made to undo his boots, Liz laid back on the bed with her arms under her stomach and face to the side.

It happened to be her sleeping position, and maybe Jack would be so boring she could actually doze off... that would be a miracle! He finally managed to loosen them from his feet and lay back with hands under his head on his back. Neither of them spoke for quite some time, and Liz was beginning to drift when Jack had to open his mouth.

"So, a reader... Anything else I should know about you?" Liz groaned and shuffled her face against the pillow. An act, in which Jack found adorable, but was too stubborn to tell her yet.

"Mmmph... I enjoy sleep, I hate long walks on the beach, candles make me sneeze, and I curse like a fucking sailor."

"So I've gathered... Do you have allergies then? Since candles make you sneeze…or is that just your way of getting out of romanticism?" He was still staring at the ceiling, but his lips were turned up in a near smile.

Liz closed her eyes, and attempted to soften the sarcasm she wanted to let her voice drip with. Maybe, maybe, it wasn't a bad thing that he was curious. "Allergies... I still love them, vanilla in particular. I don't consider normal 'romantic' things romantic."

Jack finally chanced looking to her and chuckled, her glasses were still on her face. "Here…" He said, taking them from her nose. "Best not break them…" He plopped them lightly on the nightstand beside him.

"Thanks…" Liz muttered quietly, but quite sweetly.

Jack let that settle in his heart and the pit of his stomach, before continuing on with talking. He wanted to know this curious creature beside him... in a way he had not wanted to know a girl before.

"What do you consider romantic then? Ya know, for future reference?"

She gave him a coquettish smile and laughed, a bit. "You're impossible... I, uh – handwritten letters, talking way too late on the phone, reading silently with one another or aloud, swapping music, I don't really know. The small stuff I suppose. And don't think any of that stuff will get you closer to me. I'm still pissed at you."

Jack didn't chuckle or make a sarcastic remark because he knew he'd hurt her, just as the Doctor hurt Charity. There was absolutely no getting around that, and he wouldn't try to if he could. It was fine time Jack proved himself to someone. Generally, everyone just accepted him as the cocky mastermind he was, but not her... no. Eliza wasn't going to stand for his storm shit, and he loved it.

"I am… sorry. You must know that?" He implored her understanding with his eyes and looked seriously to her.

Eliza's breath caught in her throat for a moment before she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the lips. Oh, shut up, he deserved it!

She lay back down and giggled a little, "I know... it's just... I feel like you're going to be easier to break through than The Doctor. If you ask me, he has been a right arse. I could see you out there, so much doubt in your eyes when you said this couldn't happen, again. Tell me, do you always follow The Doctor's directions?"

Jack's jaw slacked open a little, but he recovered quickly. "I waited so long for The Doctor to just see me. He hated me when we first met, and I suppose going along with whatever he says is my way of substituting my fears that he'll just leave again. He never stays in one place too long… even if he knows you're not dead." Jack laughed bitterly at that.

Eliza didn't chuckle or make a sarcastic remark because she knew The Doctor had hurt Jack. It was rather ludicrous that they were all going in a circle of hurt. Eliza sat up and traced a sole finger down the plane of Jack's chest to bring him back to her. He caught her hand in his, after a moment, and looked at her with such honesty in his eyes.

"Please, tell me you understand?" He asked.

He was asking if she understood why he did it, why he did this horrible thing. There had to be more than what he had done to her, but that pressing matter was for another day. She didn't know it now, but she would always understand why he did these horrible acts. She nodded her head, but soon decided she had enough with the sadness and feels. She hopped up playfully and shut the lights off...

"Up for a round of hide and seek, Captain?"

This single statement, finally, made Jack laugh. "Can it be naked hide and seek? I rather enjoyed your body the other night."

He was moving from the bed and Liz couldn't see him, but she darted to the side, further from him. "No sir, it cannot. No nakedness, until you have proven yourself a proper Captain. Now, count to 30 and see if you can find me."

Jack did as he was told and counted to 30. The minute he'd found her she'd screamed because he picked her up and tickled her. It really wasn't fair that she couldn't be mad at him. Trust, she wanted to be, but it was hard when he was doing things like wrapping her in his strong arms. She had given in when she couldn't find him, but in a rather rude way if, you ask her. He'd grabbed her foot and screamed, nearly scaring the pants of her.

So, here they are, sitting on her bed, in a tangle of limbs, with dark lighting. "Not funny, Jack!" She protested, smacking him in the chest.

"Oh, but I thought it was hilarious. You couldn't even scream! Straight to hyperventilating mode..." Now, he laughed freely and openly.

"I hate you. You are just a big, insufferable, child." Even as she said it, Liz laid her head upon his chest.

It was his fault for being so warm, but it must be getting incredibly late, now, because she was yawning. Jack made to reply with a cheeky comment, but a little bird in his ear made him stiffen. He could hear The Doctor and Charity making muffled noises. No…they couldn't be…

"Jack…is that? Oh, God, no…" Liza groaned and shoved her head further into his chest- well... his armpit, as it were. Jack laughed loudly and quickly covered his mouth.

"Be rough, Doctor... Do anything and everything to me... Show me how bad you want this." They could hear Charity say.

"Oh, this is…no. Jaaaaaaaaaack, go, make them stop!" Liza whined out, still against him.

"I'm going to go turn the sound router off in here. It'll shut every sound outside of this room out," he replied chuckling.

He clambered from Eliza's grasp and made out the door, just as she shoved a pillow over her head. Technically, this was a good sign that they were back at it, but if he knew The Doctor... Well, best not to worry. Jack flipped the switch to room 42 and headed back to Liza, but not before pressing his ear against The Doctor's door. Just a quick listen…they had to be finished by now…

"I'm not making any promises…" he heard Charity say.

"Neither am I…" responded The Doctor.

Promises? Promises about what? He shrugged and headed back into Liza's room. She easily snuggled against his arms at the new quiet within the room. The dull of the TARDIS hum was not lost, and she thought that maybe that was what really put her to sleep. It couldn't have been Jack's arms…Tomorrow at breakfast would surly be interesting…she obviously needed to have a talk with her best friend. Liza managed a little 'thank you' against Jack's chest before slipping lightly into rest. Jack held her hand against his chest and kissed her lightly atop the head. This may be his biggest adventure yet…


Author's Note: Thank you, Theresalynnee, for such a fantastic chapter! Review? :3