Domestics and Divisions
Sorry, sorry, sorry! As some of you may have read on my author's page, I'm having problems with time as I've got a lot to do in the next few weeks so updates are going to be erratic until mid-January at the earliest. I'll write when I can but no promises on when the next updates will be. Anyway, I made an extra special effort to get this chapter up today in time for Christmas. Hope you all have an amazing one and enjoy Voyage of the Damned (however you watch it!). Merry Christmas!
Disclaimer: Nothing that you might recognise belongs to me.
Part 10: Back with Jack
Rose's grin got bigger as she stared around her surroundings; the familiar sights of the Millennium Centre and the giant water fountain glinting welcomingly in the evening sunshine. She couldn't believe it. She was actually back!
She quickly turned to Gwen, who was beaming herself, and hugged her tightly. "We did it!" she cried, "I'm home!"
Suddenly, a burning pain shot through her as she realised something terrible. Jonny…she'd left him behind. She felt sort of empty inside as if something was missing. How could she have left her son behind? The Doctor's child! How could she have forgotten? Rose grabbed at Gwen again, this time panicking.
"We've got to go back! I need to get Jonny!"
"We can't!" Gwen replied, trying to fight her off, "It might not work again and I don't want to get trapped again!"
"But what about Jonny?" Rose shouted desperately, making several people look up and over at them.
Gwen took a deep breath and placed her hands on Rose's shoulders. "Look, what we'll do is go into the Hub now, find Jack and then try and work out what to do with him, alright?"
Rose nodded shakily. Yes, they'd find Jack. Jack was good; he was wise. Jack would know what to do. Silently, she followed her new friend around the side of the Millennium centre and through a door marked 'Tourist Information Office'. But she didn't notice the peculiarities as they passed through a hidden door, went down several corridors and through a giant circular door that rolled open for them. Her mind was too full of her beloved baby boy. How could she have left him? She was a terrible mother!
"Gwen!"
Rose's thoughts were interrupted by a welcoming and relieved shout from a short Asian woman.
"Oh, Gwen, I'm so glad you're alright!" the woman said, hugging Gwen, "We were so worried!"
"Where have you been?" asked the drawling voice of an almost weasel faced young man, "Thought you'd been killed,"
"Careful Owen or you might sound caring," Gwen joked, "I'm fine, honestly. I've had a bit of an adventure. This is…"
"Rose?"
Rose shot around at the sound of a very familiar voice.
"Jack!" she cried, running towards him and leaping into his arms, "Jack!"
Jack clung her to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her slight body and burying his face in her golden hair.
"Rose, is it really you, Rose?" he mumbled, a couple of tears dropping down his cheeks, shocking the watching Torchwood team who rarely saw Jack cry,
"It's me," she whispered, "I got back through. I'm back,"
"Where were you?" Jack asked hollowly, "When the team told me you weren't with the Doctor... and then I saw the list of the dead and your name was on it..."
Rose cupped his face, tears in her eyes. "I was trapped in the parallel universe," she whispered, "The Doctor and I opened the rift to suck the Daleks and Cybermen into the void but I couldn't hold on..." Her voice cracked and Jack tightened his embrace, "I fell towards the gaping rift and I was screaming... the Doctor was screaming... I thought I was going to die, Jack... But my alternate Dad came through and caught me and took me into the alternate world." She gave a sob and wiped her eyes. "The Doctor had to close the rift and trapped me as a result and I've been there ever since, trying to live my life but missing you and the Doctor so much."
Jack wiped her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "I'm so glad you're still alive, honey," he whispered, knowing she'd explain more later, "At least I've got one of you back."
Rose looked up at him, her lip trembling. "No sign of him then?"
Jack shook his head sorrowfully, dashing her hopes. "I've been waiting five years and he's not come near this place. Matt's have been keeping watch in London too but no sign."
Rose's eyes widened. "Matt? You're still in touch with him? He's OK?"
Jack nodded, a smile breaking out on his face despite the circumstances. "He's fine. Fully fledged lawyer now. Good to have, just in case." He winked at her and Rose giggled. "I see him at least once a month. Kirsty and Lauren too if they're about."
Rose gasped but before she could speak, there came an interruption from one of the Torchwood team members.
"Jack?" Owen said questionably,
"Oh, sorry," he apologised quickly, his face hopeful and giddy, "Guys, this is Rose, my best friend in the entire universe. Rose, this is the team. Owen..."
"That's Doctor Owen Harper," he smirked.
Jack rolled his eyes. "Anyway... this is Toshiko Sato, computer whiz, and you already know Ianto." He winked at the blushing Welshman. "And finally, this is Gwen Cooper..."
"Yeah, I know," Rose grinned, "Thankfully."
Gwen smiled back at her before letting out a squeak as Jack hugged her tightly. "I missed you, Gwen Cooper," he told her,
"I missed you too, Jack," she said, "I'm glad to be home."
Jack grinned at her. "I'm assuming it was that object we couldn't work out what it was?"
"Yeah," Gwen nodded, before glancing at Rose who was waiting anxiously a few metres away. She knew she had important things to discuss with Jack and they had to catch up. "Can we talk about it tomorrow?" she questioned, "I'd like to go home and see Rhys,"
"That's fine," Jack replied, secretly relieved. He knew they had to get to the bottom of whatever this rift crosser object was, and for that to happen he had to hear the entire story from Gwen's perspective, but for now all he wanted was to lie down with his best friend and be reunited. "Take the rest of the day off," he announced to his team, "And I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."
Gwen, Owen and Toshiko looked pleased as they began to make their preparations to leave, chattering excitedly about plans but Ianto looked woebegone. Jack suddenly realised he had made plans with the Welshman to go out that evening.
"Yan, could we postpone 'til tomorrow?" he pleaded softly, knowing Ianto knew how much Rose meant to him,
"Of course, Jack," Ianto nodded, with an understanding smile, "But I'm holding you to it."
Jack grinned, waving his team off before grabbing Rose in an enormous bear hug and kissing her solidly on the lips. "Never leave me again, Rose Tyler," he murmured,
"I won't," she promised, "Except…"
"Except what?" he asked patiently, leading her through the Hub to his office and then down into his bedroom where they lay comfortably on his bed, Rose's head resting on his lap.
Rose hesitated. "I'll need to go back at least once more," she started slowly, feeling her heart constricting, "There's someone I'll need to pick up,"
"Your mother?" Jack hummed, playing with her hair,
"Well, no," Rose replied, suddenly wondering how the future was going to play out. She knew she'd stay here with Jack now, once she had got Jonny, in order to search for the Doctor but she didn't want to leave her mother or father or Mickey… She dismissed the thought for now. She'd think about it later. "Jack, you know just before we got separated?" she said, deciding on an approach,
"Yeah?"
"Well, you know how I was really emotional all the time, and me and the Doctor had that huge row?"
"Yup," Jack nodded, with a wince,
"Well, I found out why I was like that," Rose said slowly, "I… I was pregnant."
Jack sat up suddenly, staring down at her. "Pregnant?" he gasped, "With the Doctor's child?"
Rose nodded slowly, her face solemn.
"Did he know?" Jack asked,
"I don't think so, and I never got the chance to tell him on the one brief time I managed to see him again," Rose said heavily,
"What…?" Jack started before changing his mind. That story could be told later. "So, you're a mother?" he asked instead, his face breaking into a smile.
Rose smiled back; glad he was taking it well. "Yeah. I had a little boy. I called him Jonathan Jack Tyler after you and the Doctor,"
"JJ?" Jack grinned.
Rose giggled. "I call him Jonny at the moment but no doubt he'll be called that by the time he's grown up,"
"Jonny," Jack breathed,
"Yeah, your nephew. And…" she hesitated, "Your godson?"
Jack looked at her, startled. "You want me to be his godfather?"
Rose nodded shyly. "I named Mickey- remember him?- his other godfather but I always held out hoping I'd be able to ask you one day."
Jack beamed. "Of course I will," he said, "When can I meet him?"
"That's the thing," Rose said, her face crumpling, "I don't know if you will be able to. I'm scared I won't be able to get back through to him and I want him so much!"
"Rose," Jack said gently, wrapping her in a comforting hug, "We'll get him back. First thing tomorrow, we'll try the rift crosser and I'll come back with you, alright?"
Rose nodded. "What if it doesn't?" she whispered,
"Then we'll find another way," Jack said in determination, "But let's stay positive, yeah?"
"Yeah," Rose nodded.
Jack smiled at her. "So how old is he?" he questioned,
"Almost three now," Rose answered, "Absolutely perfect and very mischievous,"
"Takes after his father then?" Jack laughed.
Rose grinned and laughed.
"How did he get conceived?" Jack asked delicately, voicing something that he'd been wondering since he'd found out.
Rose smirked. "I never thought I'd have to give you the birds and the bees talk, Jack Harkness," she teased.
He pushed her lightly. "You know what I mean," he said, "You and the Doctor were at it like bunnies but the impression I got was that you always used protection,"
"We did," Rose nodded, a frown creasing her forehead, "I guess we must have forgotten once or something. I don't really know. All I know is I have Jonny now and I love him to bits and wouldn't exchange him for the world. I just wish he could meet his father."
Jack nodded, understanding. "Then we've got to find the Doctor," he declared, "Soon as we're back from the parallel world with Jonny, we'll set the team looking for him. We'll find him, Rose, or my name's not Jack Harkness."
Review please. Constructive criticism is gladly received.