Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the Who-verse. That honour belongs to RTD and the mighty and glorious BBC. The only thing I get out of this is a warm fuzzy feeling knowing I am trying to put right what once was wrong.
Authors Note: Thanks again to MizScarlet, Marzi and Helen Pattskyn for their marvellous reviews and insights. Sorry this has taken so long to update. If it's any consolation I've been wrestling with a critical chapter (coming soon to a screen near you) which persists in writing itself contrary to all my best efforts to lead it down it's intended path. Bad plot bunnies!
Chapter VIII
Gwen spluttered sharply sending a mouthful of hot coffee streaming across the appropriately named coffee table. Next to her on the sofa Rhys, who was gently patting baby Ianto on his back to try and elicit a burp, stopped abruptly hand mid-pat. Across the room Jack shuffled his feet like a guilty schoolboy caught in the act and smiled apologetically.
"Bloody hell," swore Rhys in amazement.
"Married!" Gwen coughed again, cutting across Rhys's pronouncement. Rhys abandoned the light tap on Ianto's back he had been about to deliver and instead thumped Gwen hard across the shoulders. She turned and glowered at him eyes glinting dangerously causing Rhys to draw back defensively. As Gwen caught her breath she turned back to Jack and continued, "That's...er...sudden." seizing on the first available word that wasn't a derogatory comment on Jack's mental faculties.
Jack shrugged. "It seemed like the right thing to do. You told me to follow my instincts."
"Yeah, but married Jack? Married? I mean you've known her for all of six weeks. I can't believe this is what the Doctor had in mind. Not to mention there is that whole 'till death us do part' bit? I mean I think the whole immortal husband situation might be enough to trigger those memories we've all been trying so hard to keep buried!" Gwen scoffed. What she really wanted to yell was, why her? Why not me? Even though she'd made her choice it still felt like a knife to the gut. When it had been Ianto who was the competition for Jack's affections she could tell herself that it was because Ianto was a man and despite Jack's ability to make love with either sex, or any species if truth be told, Jack was essentially gay. She had taken comfort in the knowledge that she was the only woman in his life. But now there was Donna and no matter how wonderful she was, no matter how happy Gwen was with Rhys, there was a part of her that resented that Donna was the woman who had managed to connect with Jack and not her.
"What about Ianto?" she blurted out, instantly ashamed of the impulse to wound Jack. And she had wounded him, deeply. She could see it in his eyes as he looked at her.
Jack didn't pretend to misunderstand what she meant. "Ianto is dead," he said, more harshly than he intended.
Tears stung Gwen's eyes seeing the pain on Jack's face.
"I know, I'm sorry..." she started anxious to put things right between them. She looked at him imploringly. "I just need to understand."
Jack let his anger and hurt dissipate with a long controlled breath. It was not Gwen's fault. He'd presented her with a situation which shook the very foundation of their friendship with no warning. Knowing Ianto as she had, how could he expect Gwen not to feel he was betraying him when he still felt it himself. He had to try and make her understand, he couldn't be at odds with her.
"It's hard to explain..." he began.
"Try Jack." Her darks eyes flashed a warning. "The time for that famous secretive Harkness evasion technique is long gone."
"OK. You're going to think I'm crazy though."
"Nothing new there, then" Rhys interjected earning another fierce look from Gwen. God, she was really riled, Jack thought wincing inwardly. He smiled at Rhys's crestfallen expression and said,
"My previous insanity pales into insignificance besides this," he confirmed. There was a long pregnant pause. "I think it's my destiny to marry Donna Noble." he said finally. Noting Gwen's now incredulous look he continued.
"I think it's got something to do with future events and the Doctor knows what they are. Listen, Dalek Khan manipulated the time lines to get the Donna together with the Doctor so she could become the Doctor-Donna, create the other half-human half-Time Lord Doctor and destroy the Dalek race." He paused for breath.
"OK, I know that Jack," Gwen cut in impatiently, "but I don't see what that has to do with marrying Donna."
"Let the man finish, love," Rhys said quietly putting a restraining hand on her arm. Gwen looked as if she were about to say something, then subsided contenting herself with a mutinous look.
"What if the Doctor decided to manipulate the time lines himself," Jack continued. "It's a big Time Lord no-no of course, but maybe the Doctor thinks it's necessary. I think he's trying to put things right and I'm pretty sure this marriage to Donna is part of that."
Gwen now looked genuinely confused. She knew enough about the Doctor now to know that with him involved anything was possible but it still didn't make sense. "But if that was the case why didn't he just ask you outright to marry Donna. He didn't specifically ask you to get involved with her did he?"
"No, but he knows me, knows my style. Normally he's always warning me off flirting with his companions. This time he asks me to personally help Donna and tells me to 'surprise' him. He's a devious sod."
Gwen found herself nodding in agreement but said tightly, "It still sounds a bit far-fetched to me, Jack."
Jack knew she was right but there was no way he was going to tell her that Ianto had come to him in a dream and given him his blessing. Then she really would think he was crazy, and worse would start doubting his judgement.
"Maybe," he said finally, "but I trust the Doctor and I need to see how this will play out. I know this is too soon after Ianto but something in here tells me time is of the essence." He thumped the centre of his chest. Gwen suppressed a snigger at his Tarzan-like gesture, but she lost all desire to laugh at his next words.
"I have to do this and..." he said very quietly, "I really need her Gwen. Please understand."
Gwen stared at Jack for a long moment trying to read his expression which, as usual was shuttered, although his eyes bored into hers. Beside her baby Ianto was making small snuffling noises as if he was trying to break the air of tension. Finally Gwen's expression softened and she said slowly,
"Alright Jack, if that's what you want." Then she grinned unexpectedly, "Jack Harkness, the married man, wonders will never cease!"
Jack thought of all the old photographs he'd once cherished destroyed in the explosion in the Hub, picturing his old loves, his wife who'd died long ago who he'd never told anyone about apart from the Doctor. He crossed the room and hugged Gwen tightly whispering in her ear,
"Thank you."
Donna looked down at the plain platinum band on the third finger of her left hand in wonderment. Married, she was actually married. As of ten thirty that morning she was officially Mrs Jack Harkness. No big white dress, church service and overblown reception like there had been with Lance. Just her and Jack, Grandad and her mum in Chiswick Registry Office, Jack in his greatcoat, her in the purple dress he loved and two rings. One for her, and one for Jack to wear alongside his other ring. Before the ceremony he had started to remove it but she had stopped him. Somehow it seemed right that Jack should have both Ianto's ring and her own, side by side.
She looked out of the window of the SUV through the darkness at the curtained window of Gwen and Rhys's flat. It seemed like hours since Jack had gone in to break the news in person. With a cold sinking feeling which owed nothing to the falling temperature inside the car Donna realised that over an hour had passed, which meant Gwen must be taking the news badly. Very badly indeed. She clenched her fists to try and stop the threatening tears from surfacing.
There was a sudden flurry of movement outside the SUV making Donna squeak in alarm as the door was pulled open by a dark haired woman Donna recognised from Jack's photo as Gwen.
"Donna!" she said smiling as she peered inside the car. "Come inside quickly before you catch your death. God, Jack is a prat. He's only just mentioned you were down here. Bloody typical man. Bugger all consideration for womenfolk. I'm Gwen by the way," she added, almost as an afterthought.
Donna grinned as she clambered out of the car dragging her handbag and a carrier full of presents after her.
"It's lovely to finally meet you. Jack talks about you, Rhys and Ianto all the time. Sorry to turn up unannounced and give you such a shock..." Donna winced aware that she was babbling and mortified at how nervous she sounded.
"It's a very Jack thing to do," Gwen said simply with a distinct edge as she ushered Donna into the house.
Half an hour later comfortably seated on the sofa next to Jack nursing a large glass of wine Donna felt as if she'd known Gwen for years. Superficially different in every way they had discovered a shared passion - taking the piss out of Jack - and an easy camaraderie Donna had never felt with another woman. For Gwen's part she was surprised by how much she liked Donna. Gutsy, no nonsense, not afraid to speak her mind and not awed by Jack's sheer force of presence. She caught glimpses of the depth of feeling beneath the cocky exterior and could see why the Doctor and Jack thought she was worth saving. And she loved Jack. Every look, every light touch of her hand on his leg spoke volumes. Gwen realised she was glad. Glad that Jack could love someone who could love him freely in return.
"So Gwen, what do you do when you're not being a full time mum?" Donna enquired cheerfully, the wine taking the edge off her inhibitions. She took a swig of wine so missing the volume-filled look that passed between Jack, Gwen and Rhys.
"I...er...work for the police," Gwen replied. "Special ops."
"God. Isn't that dangerous?" Donna asked awed.
"Sometimes. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't. But most of the time it's just routine. Lots of surveillance and stuff." It was as near to the truth as Gwen could manage without mentioning aliens and rift activity.
"It sounds exciting," Donna sighed wistfully. "And at least it is something worthwhile." She couldn't help the sour note entering her voice. "It certainly puts my job in perspective. What am I? A bloody secretary, that's all. Hardly a job of national importance." She shook her head apologetically. "Sorry, didn't mean to go off on one. It's a bit of a sore point that's all."
"Why don't you change career?" Gwen asked cautiously. "You know, retrain or something?"
"Yeah right. And do what exactly?" Donna asked her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hardly have two qualifications to rub together. I'm not really brain surgeon material."
"Donna..." Jack interrupted soothingly but Donna waved him aside.
"Button it, Jack! I know my limitations. I'm a secretary, a temp. I might be the best temp in Chiswick – a hundred words a minute – but I'm just a temp."
Gwen looked askance at Jack who glanced sideways at Donna and then gave her an imperceptible shrug of resignation and suddenly her temper flared.
"That's bollocks. You're telling me that the woman who was smart enough to snare the mighty Jack Harkness into matrimony isn't clever enough to do any damn well thing she sets her mind to. You're selling yourself short and you know it. Give up work, go back to school, Jack earns enough to support both of you. He'll back you. Won't you Jack?" She looked accusingly at him.
"Absolutely," Jack replied hurriedly sensing Gwen was on a mission she wasn't about to give up any time soon.
In her seat Donna bubbled with indignation. She hated being ganged up on. She already knew Jack was a force to be reckoned with and it looked like Gwen was cut from the same cloth. What made it worse was she knew Gwen was right. All her life she'd been convinced that she wasn't good enough, wasn't clever enough. The only thing that was stopping her from taking control of her life was fear.
She considered biting back the rude retort she was itching to make. No, to hell with that, it had to be said.
"Do I get any say in this, or do you two want to write my letter of resignation now? Last time I looked I was an adult. I think I can be trusted to make my own life choices. I married your flash American git of a brother, didn't I? Don't you think that's enough dodgy decisions for one week." Her tone was mocking.
Gwen looked at Donna aghast, her eyes flitting between Donna's stormy countenance and Jack's rather shell-shocked expression. It wasn't an expression she was used to seeing on his face. She decided she was rather enjoying his discomfiture.
"So I'm an American git, am I?" he said, his voice faltering and unsure.
"Don't forget the flash part, that's the most important bit," Donna corrected him cheekily her tone and expression softening. God, she loved winding him up. "That's the reason I married you." The last part was accompanied by a saucy wink.
Jack let out a relieved sigh. "I thought it was my dazzling smile, charm and devastating good looks," he retorted feigning disappointment.
"They helped," Donna conceded with a grin. "but, it was mainly the flash bit. That and the sex."
Gwen coughed sending, for the second time that evening, a spray of coffee across the lounge.
"Sorry," Donna apologised, turning faintly red. "Too much information."
"No, it's fine," Gwen assured her hurriedly with a smile. Jack was really going to have his hands full with this one. "It's Jack. It's what I've come to expect." She paused and then continued more seriously, "Look I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you about the job thing."
"I'll think about it, OK?" Donna promised, although her face became mutinous.
Seeing her expression Gwen laughed. "Alright, I'll shut my gob. It's not really any of my business anyway."
Donna allowed herself to smile in reply.
"You might have noticed. but I'm kinda known for having a bit of a gob on me myself."
Jack threw his head back and roared with laughter. Women! You just had to love 'em.
An hour later as they were leaving Gwen drew Jack to one side. "I like her Jack, I really do and I think you'll be good for each other."
"I think so too." he replied smiling easily.
"But Jack," Gwen's voice sharpened with concern. "What I said before, about the whole 'till death do us part' bit... I was serious. In a few years time, when she's aging and you're not. What are you going to say? Good genes will only get you so far..."
"I don't know. I'm going to have to figure it out. Eventually."