The inside of the tardis was darker than usual. The Doctor had stopped power to some of the lights as he tried to fix the annoying glitch that was causing the three travelers to end up two hours away from their fixed time. So far their luck had been minimal. Actually, to be more accurate, the Doctors luck had been minimal. Rose and Captain Jack were not experts at tardis repair and the Doctor preferred to do the job himself. He was currently buried under one of the control panels of the entity, whistling happily to himself.
"Progress?" Jack called from where he was sitting. Jack, ever the adventurer, was getting rather bored with their lack of movement. The Doctor had insisted that they stay put until he had discovered and fixed the problem. That had been five days ago. The Doctor appeared from under the panel, sonic screwdriver in hand.
"Sorry?"
"I asked whether you had made any progress. You sounded quite happy."
"Oh none at all," The Doctor replied quite cheerfully. "But it's only a matter of time."
"That's what you said four days ago," Rose told him. She was sitting reading a magazine on the far side of tardis.
"Excuse me," the Doctor replied, "do either of you know how the ship works?"
As expected there was no reply.
"Well then genius flourishes best in quiet circumstances. If you want me to hurry up you had better leave my genius to work." He disappeared back under the panel.
Rose scowled at him from where she sat.
"I saw that," he called from where he was hidden.
"No you didn't," she replied. "Not even genius's can see through solid objects."
"Ah but who says I haven't invented something that can see through solid objects? Just think, I could have been looking at you naked all this time."
Jack laughed, "No you couldn't Doc, that's not your style."
"He's right you know," agreed Rose. "It's far more Jack's style."
"Hey!" Jack turned to Rose in mock indignation. "That was a low blow."
Before she could respond the Doctor stuck his head out again.
"Listen you two, I told you I needed quiet to work. I brought you here because I thought it would keep you entertained whilst I did these repairs. I didn't think either of you could resist the greatest entertainment city that human beings ever produced, especially at its zenith."
Rose shrugged. "Yeah, it's good. But five days of the same thing . . ."
"Five days of hangover-free drinking, consequence-free flirting and even the occasional bit of fun and you're already bored?" The Doctor shook his head. "Heaven help humanity! And you kept telling me you wanted a holiday."
Rose gave in and grinned at him. "I suppose when you put it like that."
"That's my girl," he nodded approvingly. "That's the Rose I know."
She nodded in return. "I guess I'll just go and get changed then."
The Doctor grinned as Rose disappeared to have her clothes altered by the tardis. He in turn vanished, screwdriver in hand. Jack continued to lean against the railings of the tardis, listening to the Doctor hum away happily again. Before long Rose re-appeared looking stunning in the most fashionable apparel of the 22nd century. Jack gave an approving whistle. The Doctor stuck his head back out for a look.
"What do you think?" she asked coyly.
"You look lovely," the Doctor said. "My little Rose all grown up."
"Very funny."
"You'll knock 'em dead kid," Jack said.
"Maybe one day I'll have that effect on you," she grinned. Jack just laughed.
"Now," the Doctor interrupted. "Be safe, watch your drink, don't get into any unmarked spaceships and don't bring anyone home to this tardis who isn't fabulous."
Rose looked at him, mock serious, "Yes Mum."
"No cheek from you young lady," he replied primly. "And be home, if not before dawn, then at least a little after it."
She laughed again, and nodded. Turning on her heel she called, "See you later, or maybe earlier," as the door opened for a brief moment and let all the noise of the party in. The Doctor shook his head and vanished back to his work.
Two moments later he reappeared and looked at Jack.
"You know, I swear I just asked you why you were bored and you said, 'Doc, I'm not bored. I'm gonna head out on the town with my glad rags on and charm the nice folk of this century'."
Jack looked at him, "Glad rags?"
The Doctor shrugged, "Old earth expression. Don't dodge the question."
Jack shrugged and looked away. "I don't know Doc. Just a bit tired of it."
"The man who managed to charm his executioners into his bed is tired of the most hedonistic pleasure I can offer?" The Doctor frowned and shook his head. "This can't be true."
"I guess I'm tired of the hedonistic pleasure this planet has to offer," Jack told him. "Every night, same old, same old."
"Too many women jumping on you?" the Doctor teased him.
Jack shrugged again, "Something like that."
The Doctor looked at him for a brief moment before declaring, "Back to work!"
Jack watched as the man slid neatly back under the set of wiring he was working on. The sonic screwdriver started to hiss and the Doctor talked to himself and the tardis. Jack wasn't bored, exactly, with where the Doctor had brought them. He was just finding it all, well, a little too easy. There was no fun in someone he didn't have to charm. Every encounter was getting more and more hollow and it was preferable to sit and watch the Doctor's legs than to go and find a man or woman to drink with, flirt with and inevitably shag. He wanted some tension, someone who was a challenge. Someone who had brains as well as beauty. All the old clichés were coming to life and Jack thought they were probably clichés because time and again people were drawn to them.
"Brilliant!" the Doctor's sudden shout broke into Jack's thoughts.
"What?" he called.
"I'm brilliant!" The Doctor appeared from underneath the panel and stood upright. As he did so the lights came back on to full and the tardis began to hum with a more soothing note.
"Is it fixed?" Jack asked hopefully.
"Of course it is, genius never fails," the Doctor replied. "All done and ready to go."
"Great," Jack was happy that they could move on. "I'll go and find Rose and -"
"Hey, wait a minute sunshine," the Doctor interrupted this eager flow of words. "You don't think it's only the two of you who get to indulge here? I think after all that work I deserve a little break too?"
Jack was surprised and said nothing.
"Well I think I do," the Doctor continued happily. "So go and get those aforementioned glad rags on Jack. It's time for a night on the town."
