A/N: I'm rather zonked out at the moment so I apologise if this reflects that.

Part 16

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From her position at the end of the restaurant table, Donna was able to watch all them talking animatedly together. Rory's girlfriend Amy had been able to join them, so she was swapping anecdotes with Martha as Mickey looked on whilst passing the odd comment to Rory. Jack, Rose, and John were engrossed in their conversation about former band days and the people they'd met in common. All of which left Donna out on a social limb. Did she muscle in or just sit back to enjoy the passing noises?

For a while she thought she had gotten away with having to commit an opinion, but Jack suddenly turned his attention on her silent form. "What did you think of us?"

Shaken for a moment, she played for time. "Kasterborous, you mean? I remember you well although we only shared the bill once. Saying that, I didn't recognise John until he told me his name."

"Really?" Jack gave John a pitying glance. "I thought he'd be more memorable."

"People change over ten years, and he wasn't wearing his signature stage outfit," she pointed out in her defence. "In the same way, I didn't recognise you when you showed up earlier."

"Pft! Surely not," Jack dismissed. Everybody knew him. And those that didn't were not of importance.

"You didn't know who I was until my name was said," she stressed, not liking his arrogance. When he went to deny it, she added, "It works both ways."

"Never mind," John commented to quell any possible argument, "we know who we all are now."

"You knew me right away," Rose said to Jack in triumph, "despite me looking older."

It gained the reaction she obviously wanted. "You hadn't aged a day, beautiful," Jack crooned, taking her hand. "I'd have known you anywhere."

"Lucky her," Donna sarcastically muttered into her drink. She placed her glass down onto the table as she considered, "It makes you wonder how John picked me out without the name on the door."

"Oh, I knew," he spluttered by her side, casting an anxious glance at Jack afterwards. "You were erm… easy to find."

"The power of Google," she commented when Jack looked as though he was about to embarrass his friend.

"Among other things," Jack couldn't resist saying. "Have you two paired up yet?"

There was a choking sound from John as the drink he was sipping went down the whole hole.

"John?!" Donna exclaimed in horror, reaching out to pat and rub his back. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he hoarsely answered after some seconds of coughing, wanting to ease the concern on her face. "Honest." He smiled, loving the feel of her hand still on his back, and he leaned to make the most of it.

"The answer to your question, is no," Rose told him. "As you can see, they're resisting it."

"I am his client," Donna pointed out, "and this is a professional relationship, before you start." Giving them her best withering look, she added, "Stop trying to push me into something more just for your entertainment."

"Sorry," Rose quickly apologised, realising her mistake. "I won't."

Beside her, Jack was feeling extremely puzzled. "Why can't you do what you like now that John is in your band?"

"I'm also her bodyguard," John supplied. "To forget that would be professional suicide and could mean death for my client."

"Then stop being her bodyguard and hire someone else to do it," Jack reasoned. "Have yourselves some fun."

"Fun? Fun! Is that all I am?" Donna fumed.

"Donna, he doesn't mean it like that," John tried to defend his friend.

But Donna wasn't having it. "No, this isn't about me as a person. Apparently, I am now an amusement park for any passing bloke who needs to waste an hour or so. That may work for you but for me that's an insult."

"Donna, please sit down," John begged her as she pushed her chair back to stand.

"I'm too tired to deal with this crap. You don't have to follow me. After all, I wouldn't want to spoil your fun," she aimed at Jack before storming off.

"John?" Rose's frightened face beseeched him to intervene.

In one swift movement, he stood. "I should go with her. Make sure everything's alright. It's been a trying week," he partially explained.

"She found her son," Rose hastily whispered to Jack. "It's been a long time."

Oh," Jack contritely gasped. "Perhaps I ought to go with you and apologise."

"Perhaps you should," Rose agreed.

"Let me go in first," John advised Jack. "Give me a couple of minutes." He then left his friend standing outside the hotel suite and entered using his key card. "Donna?" he softly called out.

"I'm here," she replied to lead him nearer.

He found her standing in her bedroom, in tears, pacing up and down. Immediately, he opened his arms to offer comfort, and she willingly took it.

"It's okay," he crooned into her ear as he hugged her tight. "I'm here. I'll keep you safe."

"And what about that sexist pig?" she asked, from somewhere near his neck.

"He's sorry for upsetting you and taking the joke too far."

She lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. "You've brought him up here, haven't you?"

"I erm…" He flushed a bright red. "I… yes. He's outside."

There was a faint knock on the suite door.

"You're a soft touch. Did you know that?" she pondered. She stepped back and let go of the last remnants of her anger. "You'd better let him in."

"Thank you," he gushed, giving her cheek a quick peck, and rushed to open the door. "Come in," he told Jack.

A very humble Jack entered the living room. "I'm really sorry, Donna," he said as soon as he saw her. "I didn't mean to insult you."

"Thank you. What did you mean to do?" she couldn't help querying.

"Well," Jack spluttered, "when I saw John with you after all this time, I thought he'd finally got his act together."

Ignoring the squeak from John, she pressed for more information. "Act together? In what way?"

"Has he not told you?" Jack wondered and saw the horrified look on John's face. "Probably not, knowing him. He's always been a bit reluctant to start a meaningful relationship."

"He's said something of the sort," she agreed.

"That's new," he commented to himself. "Our John tends to be a dark horse with his love life. Yet he's found you, after all this time."

"Pardon?" She shook her head to clear the muddle. "I don't understand."

"Ah, you're in denial too," Jack noted. "Things looked pretty close when I saw you two together in the dressing room. I was sure you were an item. Anyway, I was wrong." He then turned to ask John, "Is that offer still open?"

"What offer?"

John sheepishly glanced at her. "The offer I sort of made, since it is so late, and we've been drinking…"

She sighed, knowing exactly where this was going. Any repetition of the night before was now clearly out the window. "You want Jack to sleep in your room tonight. Fine. Do what you like. Just keep the noise down, please and I'll see you in the morning. Busy day tomorrow."

"What's happening tomorrow?" Jack quietly asked John.

"We move to the next tour venue," John supplied. "My room is through here."

"Don't you ever share with Donna?" she heard Jack ask as she walked away.

"Shut up!" John warned.

After that, she couldn't be bothered to listen in. All she wanted was her bed.