Once again, we go back into the past, to see the history between Rose and The Doctor. Like I said before, these little intermission are important to the story and help establish the unbreakable bond between the two.
Jack Harkness liked to pride himself on being prepared for anything. Since his discovery of girls (and the fact that it didn't matter if they had boyfriends or not) he had learned all the signs that said if he wasn't careful, he was going to get punched in the mouth. He knew to look for it on a boyfriend's face so he could know when to back out gracefully and slip back behind him so he could take another shot.
It never occurred to him to look for it on someone who wanted to be the boyfriend and was extremely jealous that Jack had gotten there first and was making excellent progress. He didn't think he needed to.
Especially when it came to his best friend.
In hindsight, maybe he should've he admitted to himself it was a bad idea as Donna slapped the frozen peas to his already bruising eye, cut cheek and spilt lip. Or maybe he had pushed too far. He had thought he'd gotten through to The Doctor when they had the conversation about it being ok to be in love with Rose. That was two months ago and since The Doctor still hadn't made a move, Jack got the brilliant idea that he should make The Doctor jealous enough to come to his senses and tell Rose he was in love with her.
Problem was, Jack was too good at what he did. Flirting was what he did best, so he had a tendency to throw himself one hundred percent into every girl he came across. Even Rose.
Of course, she was surprised at the sudden intensity of his flirting, since normally it was a quick, playful trip before back to business. But Jack seemed to be all business instead of play. Like he was really was trying to pursue her. But…that couldn't be right. He knew that she was in love with John. With The Doctor.
Rose looked up at the black sky decorated with a million tiny bright dots signaling stars and planets. Others world, according to The Doctor. As always when her mind drifting to John Smith, she couldn't help the smile. She would always remember the look on his face when she gave him the new nickname, "The Doctor" when he told her about his dream of becoming a doctor. It honestly hadn't occurred to her that it would mean that much to him. But now, it was something that they shared, a kind of bond that seemed to strengthen every time they were with each other, even if all they were doing was laying on her couch, watching bad slasher films and throwing popcorn at each other.
Except…things had started to change between them. Since the day they met, they hadn't shared more than two days apart, whether with each other or joined by Donna and Jack. Since they were fourteen, they had been joined at the hip, having all these grand adventures in the summer and becoming top secret agents during the school year, sneaking around the empty hallways and having "meetings" by the water fountain or the bathrooms, slipping each other folded notes and looking around casually before nodding and returning to the classrooms. Donna thought it was a bit silly, the way they acted with each other. Jack insisted on being in on these "meetings", but John had told that these were top secret documents he and Rose were passing back and forth between each other.
And actually, "it's not even Rose and I," John explained. "It's The Doctor and Bad Wolf exchanging the documents."
Rose giggled to herself. Bad Wolf. Her codename for their secret adventures. They had been watching a movie in biology about the instincts and biology of animals. The part about wolves mating only once in life seemed ridiculous to Rose.
"Are you telling' me that wolves only 'ave one mate their whole lives?" she questioned incredulously. "Hence the saying "mate for life"" John had teased her with a smile. She took time out of her disbelief to shoot him a grin and a light swat to his chest before turning back to the teacher. "But don't they get bored or something'? Bein' wif only one…she-wolf all his life?" "Yes, Rose has an excellent point. It's impossible for one wolf to be satisfied with just one she-wolf. If she keeps burning his dinner, then, by all means, he should go out into the pack and get another she-wolf."
Rose glared at him. "What?" he asked, holding up his hands in mock surrender, "I'm agreeing with you!" he insisted. "You sound just like a bloke." She shot back. John raised an eyebrow. "If you're just now figuring that out, you've got bigger problems that a wolf who likes to keep it foot-loose and fancy free." Rose balled up the sheet of paper she had been doodling on, chucking it at John, who didn't have enough time to duck the flying projectile. "Oi!" He objected.
"Anyway," their teacher interjected, trying to get the attention back to the film. "Only the Alpha wolf is monogamous." Rose frowned. "It's means he's a one-wolf guy. He's perfectly happy with the she-wolf he has." John informed her. "So, then all the other wolves, they can have multiple she-wolves?" she asked, offended for her gender.
"Think of it this way, Rose," the teacher began, "John is the Alpha male-wolf," John whooped. "And you, Rose, are his mate, the Alpha she-wolf." "Ha!" Rose cried triumphantly, looking at John. "You two are the law in the pack. Any and all problems are handled by you, all judgments and punishments and whatnot are your job. You are equals." "No arguments here," John flirted with a wink. Rose blushed and ignored Jack's "aww". "To continue the analogy, Rose. All the other male wolves would be…well Jack." "You say that like it's a bad thing," Jack countered smoothly and the class laughed at that. At which point, the teacher successfully managed to get them back to the film. John leaned over and whispered in Rose's ear "You wouldn't make such a bad wolf, Tyler." Rose looked over her shoulder at him and he smiled softly. She melted and decided right then and there that she would always love him.
Rose was brought out of the memory at the sound of Jack's surprised yelp and Donna's shocked cry. She rushed to the back door and inside the house. She stopped next to a shocked Donna, who was watching John Smith beat the crap out of his best friend, yelling at the top of his lungs that Jack had gone too far.
Jack finally got the chance and sucker punched him, catching The Doctor in the gut and knocking the wind out of him. At this point, Mr. Harkness had come into the room and separated the two boys. "Backyard." he instructed gruffly, and let go of them. Donna took Jack's arm, guiding him to the kitchen, already yelling at him about fighting. Meanwhile, Rose grabbed The Doctor's injured hand and dragged him towards the backdoor, accepting the icepack Donna was holding out.
Rose all but tossed The Doctor out of the house, if his stumbling indicated anything. She sat him down on the wooden chair forcefully, jerking his injured hand to her and slapping the icepack onto it. He yelped in pain and Rose glared at him. "What the hell was that John?" She asked, angry. "Man business," he answered defiantly. She cuffed him round the back of head. "What the bloody hell possessed you to start wailing on a mate like that?" "He's no mate of mine!" John announced furiously. "Why?" Rose wanted to know. John sneered. "Last two weeks, he's been all over you, Rose. Flirting with you like the world was ending. Jack knows how I feel about you, so for him to go and do that to me, is wrong." He explained, not realizing what he was saying. "He knows it kills me to see you flirt with other guys, especially when it's him! He knows-" "Exactly how to make you so jealous you can't see straight." Rose said quietly. John swallowed and looked away.
"John," she said softly, raising a hand to cup his cheek, turning his head to face her. "Why are you so jealous?" He looked down before looking back at her. He looked so lost and so young. "I don't know what to do with these feelings, Rose. I've never felt like this before-the way you make me feel. It scares me, Rose. And I react. Badly." She always knew that The Doctor had feelings for her, but to hear him voice them was another thing entirely. "Jack, he…I guess in his own way he was trying to help me. But, it kills me, Rose, to see you with other guys." He said, his voice shaking slightly. "Why?" she asked, keeping him facing her. "Because…I love you."
Rose was so deliriously happy to hear John admitted that he loved her. "I love you, too, you big dummy," she teased. His smile could've lit up the whole world. He pulled her closer, resting his head against her stomach, burying his face in her shirt, his smile too big to hide completely. She kissed the top of his head before making him look up at her. She leaned down and he met her half way, in a soft but passionate kiss that sealed the never-ending, unbreakable bond between them.
Jack smiled the best he could at the scene. All was finally right with the world.
Damn it, why can't this be real? I could have saved all us shippers mucho heartbreak and The Doctor and Rose would've lived happily ever after.