Thanks a whole bunch to my Beta TheBigCat. She is truly the best.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews last chapter. I really really enjoy reading them. To all of you who followed or favorited I love you as well and thank you. Again to all of you who are reading I am glad you are enjoying my story.

Please guys keep the reviews coming. I am over 100 now never thought that would be possible for something I have written.

Guys hears more Jack and there's more of him in the next chapter as well.

Allons-y


They gathered around a table in the empty Hub. The silence was palpable- the air hung thick with it. Jack stared at the two at the table. They sat next to each other, but they may as well been sitting miles apart.

The usual animated blonde girl was not present- a woman was sitting in her place. Her face told the tale of a person who had seen too much in such a short life. The man next to her was older now than the last time he had seen him. He still looked the same, but his eyes told the real story. These people sitting at the table with him were not the same Doctor and Rose that he had known- these were strangers in their bodies.

Even so, Jack could also see that they were still very much in love with each other. He could see the way the Doctor would shift his eyes for a quick glance at Rose before he would look away again. He could see the Doctor's hand go to reach for Rose's and pull back before he touched her. He could see the way Rose wanted the Doctor to take her hand even she hesitated to make the move herself.

Something that had always seemed so easy for them was now hard, neither being sure if the other would accept it. They had been holding hands when he had opened the door, but had stopped at his comment about it, when in the past they would have laughed it off and did what they wanted. It was very odd sitting in a room with two people who were your best friends and not knowing what to say to break the mood in the room.

Jack stood and reached for a white bottle in the cupboard and three shot glasses to go with it. He poured a generous amount of the Ruidoso Tequila in each glass and placed them in front of Rose and the Doctor, before grabbing the bottle and placing it down in the middle of the table. He lifted his glass and looked at them. They glanced at each other and shrugged at the same time, before picking up their cups. The three of them threw back the drink together.

That seemed to do the trick. The room lightened a bit and the mood lessened to that of ease. He poured a second drink for them and they took it as well. Then he poured a third and words started to flow. He was smart enough not to ask what had happened. Whatever it was, neither of them were ready to talk about it yet.

He looked up from pouring the fourth drink and found that Rose was crying. She stood up and wrapped her arms around him, telling him she was so sorry for what she had done to him. He looked at the Doctor in confusion.

"I let her see what she did as Bad Wolf," he told the other man quietly.

"Oh," said Jack, realizing. "Oh, Rosie, sweetheart, don't feel bad." He hugged her tightly back. "You wanted me to live. You loved me enough that you wanted me alive. I don't mind, really I don't. It's not so bad not dying- it makes the world more interesting. I got to see a lot of history, shoot, I got to live a lot of history! It's been great, for the most part." He drew back, pausing for a second. "I'm not going to lie to you, Rose, it was a shock the first time it happened. But really, you get used to it. It's real handy sometimes, like on the Crucible. So don't cry Rosie, its fine, I'm fine, we're fine. We are all good. I'm happy, Rose! Come on, look at me."

She obligingly stared up at him.

"That's a good girl. I'm happy, Rose. Think how much I've got to shag over the centuries. Truly you made me God's gift to women and men, by letting me get all that practice."

She let out a laugh, and Jack smiled.

"That's the Rose Tyler I know. Can she stay for a while and get drunk with me, just like the old times? I have so many naked stories to share with you."

She nodded and added, "only if he can stay."

"Of course, Rosie," Jack smirked. "How else am I going to get him starkers and have my wicked way with him unless he stays?"

She choked on a laugh again and then started to howl. Jack was not sure what he had said to make her laugh like this or make the Doctor's face drain of colour, but there had to be a story behind it.

Rose set back down at the table. She was glad that Jack said he was happy. She guessed she had not cursed him after all. At least, he didn't think it was a curse. And it was so like Jack to talk about all the experience he had gotten out of the deal. Then his crack about trying to get The Doctor starkers and having his way with him- it had just been too much.

She wondered if she should tell them both what Ezra had gotten up to in her world with Jack's parallel version; she considered the looks she would get. Jack would be happy and a bit jealous as well. The Doctor might regenerate from the embarrassment of knowing who his counterpart had hooked up with.

She took her fourth shot, as it was in front of her. "Did I mention yet that the Doctor's clone was-" she began casually, before she felt a hand clamp over her mouth.

"Don't, Rose, please don't!" the Doctor begged. "The jokes he'll tell- I'll never hear the end of it! He hits on me enough already!"

She grinned under his hand. The Doctor could tell by the mirth in Rose's eyes she was going to do it anyway and this time it was not out of being mean. She was doing it because it was something she would have done in her younger days- a piece of the old Rose Tyler. Now, as much as he wanted her back to her old self, there was a time and a place. And this was not it.

So he kept his hand firmly pressed over her mouth. He felt a wet sensation run over his palm- she was licking him. He removed his hand hastily from her wiping it on his pants.

She finished what she had started right as Jack took a drink. "-gay!" she shouted. Jack's reaction was priceless- his drink sprayed all over the table and his face was full of shock and glee.

"So where is he? If this one won't be persuaded- that one might!" He was like an excited puppy, looking everywhere for a treat.

"Sorry Jack, he's not here," Rose said, regretfully. "He died in the other world. But if it helps- he did, ahem, 'have his wicked way' with a parallel version of you."

The Doctor looked like he was going to be sick. Rose reached over and grabbed his hand to help steady him. He grasped it gratefully and clung on tight.

Jack didn't fail to notice the gesture. It seemed like the liquor was loosening them up a bit. Then something Rose said clicked in his brain. Rose had said the other Doctor had died in the other world. Why had he been there? How would Rose know that, unless she had been there too?

And it all fell into place.

The Doctor had left her there with his other self. Stupid, stupid Time Lord! How could he do that to Rose? He had had been so lost without her. How did he just up and leave her?

It explained a lot though- why they were hesitant around each other, not touching constantly, like gli innamorati from an old-fashioned comedy. They were adjusting to being together again. Rose was broken hearted, and he was guilty because he caused it.

The Doctor had been about to regenerate. Jack knew the signs, and he had a strange feeling that Rose didn't know it. At least, not the truth of it.

He would leave it alone for now- they were working it out by themselves and would not appreciate his input. Especially because his input would be for them to shag like bunnies all over the TARDIS. It would solve half their problems, in his opinion.

But there was no harm helping them along a bit. Play some music, pour some more drinks and then pretend to pass out and see what happens. Push them forward just a little bit and then let nature take its course. He stood and walked towards the radio and selected a CD. They would start out fun and then slow it down. All the while he would pour them drinks and watch as magic happened. It was going to be a great show.