Three days passed since Rose saw David in the coffee shop, Christmas was under a week away, and she hadn't gotten a call from John since that first night. Rose laid in her bed that morning, wide awake, but not in the mood to get up. She didn't know what she was supposed to do now. She spent time with her mum, helped around the house, and she still never called Mickey, not that she didn't want to.

Jackie also continued to nag her about her money situation. It was fine when she was with John and he paid for everything, but now she had no money, no job, and no John to help her out. He told her he didn't know when he was going to be back, what if it took weeks or months? What if he never came back at all? Did she need to get a job, because right now that seemed like the best idea.

Forcing herself out of bed, Rose got dressed and decided to think about it over breakfast. When she walked into the kitchen, she saw a familiar face.

"Hey Rosie," Jack said happily as he sat at the table with her mum.

"Hey Jack," Rose said back and stood in the doorway.

He stood up and excused himself for a moment, then led Rose back to her room so he could talk to her.

Rose felt nervous, what was so important that he had to come to her in person. "What's going on?" Rose sat on the edge of her bed, prepared for the worst then Jack handed her a large, thick, envelope. "What's this," she asked as she looked at it, afraid to open it.

"Well, John called me a few of days ago and asked me to give you that," he nodded toward the envelope in her hand.

Rose looked down at it, still nervous as she fiddled with the paper, her hands shaking.

"Oh, just open it already," Jack playfully yelled.

Rose smiled as her nervousness subsided as she opened the envelope and peeked inside. Rose's jaw dropped and she looked at Jack speechless. "Why?" she barely choked out.

Jack laughed at her reaction, "did you really think you weren't going to get paid?"

Rose's brows drew together, confused. "This is too much," she choked out, "I didn't even do anything."

"Of course you did," Jack told her. "It was you who helped us locate and take down an entire weapons operation and a very wanted man. Then you discovered Casandra's plot back in America, saving people thousands, maybe millions. Not to mention everything you did on that cruise ship that lead to the discovery and arrests they made. With all of that together, I'm starting to feel like you should get more."

Rose shook her head, "no, Jack. Thank you."

Jack smiled at her and watched her put the money away in the envelope, "has he called you?"

Rose shook her head sadly, "just the first night I was here, I haven't heard from him since."

"Me either," Jack said, "only the other day when he asked me to give you that."

"Do you think he's ok?"

Jack sat on the bed next to her and put his arm around her, "no doubt about it. He's probably just having phone problems, it happens sometimes."

Rose laid her head on his shoulder and nodded. "I hope that's all it is."

Jack squeezed her gently, "how about you take that money and go buy yourself something nice, and tonight I can take you out dancing."

Rose looked up at him, "can my friend Amy come too?" Rose didn't want Jack to feel like this was a date.

"Sure," he said, "the more the merrier," and stood up. "I have to get to work now, how does eight o'clock sound?"

Rose nodded, "yeah, eight's fine." She watched Jack leave and immediately called Amy.


"So, who is this mystery man?" Amy asked Rose playfully at lunch that afternoon, after Rose explained her sudden disappearance.

"He's just John, I guess."

"Just John?" Amy looked amused, "he must be something to make you run off with him on a whim, and all the way to America no less."

"It wasn't a whim," Rose told her, "he sorta hired me, like an intern, or an assistant."

"Assisting him how?" Amy asked suspiciously. Her eyebrows shot up and she whispered, "are you an escort?"

"NO!" Rose laughed, "I wish I could explain it better but, it's kind of private."

"Mhm," Amy tsked, "are you sleeping with him?"

"Amy!" Rose said, stunned, then lowered her voice, "no I'm not sleeping with him." Rose paused and turned to her food, her cheeks glowing. "Unless you mean sleeping, nothing more."

Amy gasped, "please, do tell..." She leaned closer to Rose, and popped a chip in her mouth.

"It's really nothing, I don't know why I said it." Rose huffed and looked at Amy, "we were in Mexico and we got stuck having to share a room."

"Stuck?" Amy asked suspiciously.

"Yes, neither of us planned on it. He was a gentleman and even offered to sleep on the floor."

"But you let him sleep in the bed," Amy finished for her. She smiled at her, "I know you too well, you are too nice to let him sleep on the floor…especially if he's handsome."

Rose rolled her eyes but the smile she was sporting told Amy that she was on the right path. "Anyway, yes I did and all we did was sleep. Like I said, he was a gentleman the whole time."

"Hmm," Amy looked at Rose and knew there was more. "So, how did you sleep? Did you just lay down on opposite sides, close your eyes, and sleep? Or, was there some conversation?"

"No, not exactly," Rose didn't have to look directly at Amy to see the intrigued smile on her face. However, she was still one of her best friend's and she had to talk to somebody about it. "He read to me, Dickens." Amy kept smiling, waiting for more. "He read and I laid beside him, listening until I fell asleep…on his chest," she barely whispered her last three words then quickly took a bite of her sandwich so she had an excuse not to elaborate.

"Oooh, scandalous!" Amy squealed loudly.

"Shhh," Rose told her, the grin on her face not fading. "Nothing else happened that night."

"Did you want something to happen," Amy asked.

"I don't know…maybe," Rose saw Amy's jaw drop at the revelation. "Not that he would, he keeps commenting on my age."

"How old is he?" Amy looked fascinated.

Rose shrugged, "I don't know, maybe late thirties if I had to guess, no more than forty."

"Ooh," Amy gave a delighted shiver. "This is sounding like a movie, tell me more…"


After lunch, Rose and Amy spent the afternoon shopping. Rose found a new outfit to go out in that night, plus something for Amy. While they walked past a jewelry store, a watch ad of a man in a tuxedo, standing waist deep in water, caught her eye. The watch was silver, waterproof, and wasn't too flashy but could still be classy if needed. Rose could picture John wearing it and thinking back on all the times she teased him about needing a watch, she couldn't pass it up. She checked the price, £199, and almost walked away. She looked back in her wallet and knew she had plenty of money now, and then some. Considering all he has done for her, and the places he's taken her to, he deserved it.

Without another thought, Rose went into the shop and asked for the watch, money in hand. Then man at the counter was glad to help Rose, bringing the watch over to her from the display. Rose examined it happily and paid for it, paying extra for engraving, hoping John appreciates the message. That is, if she ever sees him again.


Later that night, Jack walked Rose into the nightclub along with Amy and Rory. She wore a simple black dress and matching heels. She didn't try too hard, hoping not to give Jack the wrong impression. Even her hair and makeup were subtle.

An hour later Rose was dancing the night away with Amy. She was glad to have the distraction for the night to get her mind off John for a while. When the music slowed, Jack took over, playfully flirting with Rose while they danced. He kept a friendly distance between them and Rose really appreciated having a friend like him.

After a few songs, Rose took a break to get some water. She walked up to the bar when a hand on her arm caught her by surprise. Rose turned, ready to tell whoever it was to sod off when she saw it was Mickey. "Mickey? Hi," she said nervously.

"Hi?" Mickey snapped, "I haven't seen or heard from you in weeks and that's all you have to say?"

Rose felt sick, she wasn't ready to do this now, but when would she be? "I'm sorry Mickey, I was meaning to call you, things happened so fast and before I knew it, I was on a plane."

"How?" He asked, the hurt in his eyes was evident. He was also holding in a lot of anger. "The last I remember is you calling me asking me some weird questions then when I came over to see you, your Mum said you left with some bloke. Then you come home and I have to hear about it from Rory?"

"I know how it sounds, Mickey. I'm really sorry."

Noticing Rose was getting uncomfortable, Jack came to her side, forgetting that Mickey had no idea who he was. "Hey, is everything all right here?"

Mickey eyed Jack up and down, "who are you then?"

"I'm Rose's friend Jack," he smiled at Mickey.

"Yeah, well I'm her boyfriend," he snapped back. "Or at least I thought I was," he looked back at Rose.

Jack turned to Rose as well and she waved him away. "Mickey, I was going to call you, I just didn't know what to say."

"How about the truth," Mickey told her, his voice began to calm. "You could have said you were leaving, said goodbye, something to let me know where we stand."

Rose looked at him sadly, "I'm sorry, I was just confused."

"So, now what?" Mickey asked, nervously. "Are you leaving again?"

Rose nodded, "I think so, I wish I could explain it to you, but you wouldn't understand."

"No, I don't, Rose," his voice was raising again. "If you are going to keep doing this, we can't be a couple anymore."

Rose nodded again, "I know."

Mickey dropped his hands in defeat, "fine, you do that," he then turned and walked away.

Rose didn't follow, she knew it was wrong for her to treat him that way and she was mostly upset because Mickey was one of her closest friends. Somehow, she would have to find a way to make it up to him.