Ch 7: Last Dance

Jack Harkness hadn't changed at all. As he set foot on the TARDIS' shiny floor, he crossed his arms across his chest, taking everything in. The ship seemed quiet and lonely to him, without the sweet sound of Rose's voice to welcome him and fill the air with chatter.

"Welcome back to the TARDIS, Jack." A voice said.

Jack turned and found a lanky man with wild brown hair walking to him, his hand outstretched.

Jack pointed his gun at him. "Who are you?"

"Oh, you humans." The Doctor said dismissively as if they were talking about the weather, "You say you always want people to change, but you don't really. When someone goes ahead and changes right in front of you, you smack them and point guns in their faces."

"Doctor?" Jack asked.

The Doctor grinned.

Jack shook his hand, "Sorry. I know you had said you regenerated… I didn't think you'd change your whole persona."

The Doctor gave a nod, and the two of them stood in awkward silence, the hum of the TARDIS filling the void.

"So, where is she?" Jack asked.

"In her room. She's been sleeping ever since I called you."

XXX

Jack followed the Doctor to Rose's room, and just as the Doctor said, she was asleep. Jack walked into the room, and sat in the chair at her bedside. He knew this was where the Doctor was spending most of his time. It looked as if she was sleeping peacefully, but Jack had prior knowledge of Limidiens. He knew there was much more here than met the eye. "Rose," He said softly. "It's Jack."

The girl moved her head, and then slowly opened her eyes. "Jack?" She whispered.

"The one and only."

Rose gave a small squeak of pain as she moved her sore limbs slightly, but she smiled. "I must really be bad if the Doctor's called you."

"No, I'm just here to party." Jack said with a smile.

"How are you feeling?" The Doctor was by her side too.

"Numb…" Rose whispered. "I… I can't feel my legs… I can't feel my legs!" She began to breathe heavily, "Why can't I feel my legs?"

"Hey hey hey," Jack soothed, "It's all going to be okay."

"Stop saying that!" Rose shouted. "This is my body! These aliens are in me!"

That was it. The Doctor rushed to the control room of the ship, determined to find answers. He'd search the whole universe if he had to; he'd find a solution to these Limidiens.

Jack entered the console room and found the Doctor flipping through the controller for the date. "You're going back in time?" He asked.

The Doctor sighed, "It wouldn't do any good."

"No, it wouldn't. They'd still find her. What are you going to do, Doctor?"

"I don't know, Jack!" The Doctor shouted. "No one knows how to stop Limidiens, no one!"

"Rose is sleeping again," Jack said. "I wouldn't spend your time out here. It should be in there, with her." He walked off back to Rose's room.

All of time contained within a single space craft… oh how pretty it was, and it captured the Doctor's attention until a familiar tune drifted down the hallway to his ears. It was Glen Miller. The Doctor creased his brow and followed the tune to Rose's room. There he was greeted by Jack and Rose dancing. Well, not exactly.

Rose had her arms circled around Jack's neck and he swayed them both to the music. It was a terrible sight for the Doctor; watching Rose not being able to move her legs. But she was smiling, and that was more than enough.

"Remember this one?" Jack whispered into her ear, and twirled her around her room. "Just you and me, with Big Ben as our backdrop?"

She laughed. Laughed! The Doctor hadn't heard her laughter in what seemed like ages. She and Jack twirled around until the Doctor and Rose were face to face.

"Do you want to cut in?" Jack asked.

The Doctor walked forward, and placed Rose's arms around his neck. She smiled at him, and rested her head on his shoulder, and he held her tight. They danced until Rose once again fell into a deep sleep. Reluctantly, the Doctor laid her down in her bed. For one night during this whole ordeal, she smiled.