A/N: Zerousy, you have a lot to answer for. Ha ha ha!

Part 15

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Champagne was poured out for them.

"It's been too long since we properly talked," Roderick remarked to John after they all had clinked glasses together to toast their reunion.

"Far too long," John readily agreed. "Not since we graduated in London."

Roderick nodded as he remembered the thrill of seeing his aunt and uncle turn up for his degree ceremony; deeply grateful they had bothered. Of course his dad had tried to ruin it by drawing comparisons between him and John when they had gone for a meal to celebrate; but then that was typical of his father. "A long time ago," he murmured. "Do you still see that girl that followed you about for a while? What was her name; the one that was studying medicine?"

"Martha," John reluctantly supplied. "She's a full blown doctor now and has got herself a prestigious position working for the MOD. Jack was telling me when I saw him."

"Ah yes, Jack Harkness," Roderick relished saying. "I thought his name rang a bell."

"Was he that good looking one you told me about," Daisy piped up as she sipped her drink to the side of him.

"Daisy, I would prefer it if you kept as quiet as possible," Roderick warned her icily.

Instead of retorting, Daisy pouted indignantly and took a gulp of her drink. "If you don't want me here I might as well go and have a bath or something."

The statement backfired on her, and instead of him reassuring her she was welcome to stay, Roderick leapt on the chance to be rid of her company. "What an excellent idea. Here's the key, so go and treat yourself to a long soak."

In disbelief as he searched through his jacket pocket and handed over the key, she feebly glared at him. "A bath? Why are you doing this?"

"You must be extremely tired and stressed out after your long journey today. Go and have a bubble bath, I'll order us spot of supper and then we can spend some time together," Roderick seductively persuaded her.

"Okay Roddy," she brightly responded, and jumped up to peck his cheek. "I'll go and get nicely ready for you. See you later."

They said their goodbyes; and then four became three. Roderick gave a satisfied sigh.

"That was a bit mean of you," Donna commented, surprised to find herself pitying Daisy.

"She's a big girl now; she can cope," Roderick drily replied. "More champagne, anyone?" he asked, holding the bottle up in invitation before replenishing their glasses. "Hopefully we shall have even more reasons to celebrate soon."

An hour later meant that Donna had heard many tales reminisced about between the two cousins as they recalled their childhood joys and explorations on the farm. Their joy was not even tainted when Daisy phoned Roderick to ask him where he had got to, and he had fended off her concerns by saying he would not be too long. It was a tone Donna knew all too well from her days as his secretary; and she couldn't help smirking into her glass of bubbly. If only Daisy knew what he truly felt.

John's phone went off in his pocket. Gazing down at the display screen, he stated, "It's Jack. I'd better talk to him." He got up and listened intently after greeting his friend. "I'm having drinks with family at the moment; why? What's the problem? I see… hang on a sec." Then he put his hand over the microphone part and said to Donna, "I'm going to go and talk to him for a bit."

"Why don't you go to your room and Donna will meet you there in a few minutes?" Roderick suggested to them both. "I'm about to go and join Daisy."

Waiting for Donna's nod of agreement, John grinned and gave her a brief kiss when she stood up to see him off. "Good idea. Meet you up there. I'll see you in the morning, Ricky. Night!"

Watching him stride along the corridor and away from her, she tried to not be intimidated by this new situation. "So you've finally got me on my own," Donna stated as calmly as she could. "What was it that you need to say to me so desperately?"

Roderick indicated that she sit down next to him, so she decided to oblige this time.

Taking a sip from his glass of wine, he then launched into his explanation. "As you know, I offered you a position of employment when I spoke to you the other day. Well, you have possibly guessed it has to do with the farm."

"I have," she confirmed with a nod. "It still doesn't mean that I can take the job. I am very happy where I am at the moment."

"Be that as it may," he continued, acknowledging her words, "but I am not trying to flatter you unduly. This particular job offer was made for you."

"I sort of guessed that one too," she admitted. "Roderick, I honestly don't know what your game is here. You've enticed me to talk to you on your own as if you want to declare your undying love, and we both know that isn't true. Sometimes I wonder if you are even capable of feeling true love for someone."

Hurt indignation crossed his face. "I feel just as everybody else does."

"Are you sure about that?" she wondered. "You didn't care tuppence about me until I walked away. If you actually felt anything remotely like love for me, you had every single opportunity imaginable for months, and you didn't do a thing. So you'll have to excuse me for not believing you for a second."

"I have a confession," he murmured in a low, guilty voice as he leaned in closer to her. "It is true that I knew about your affection and I chose to ignore it. No, please; hear me out. All my life, the people I love get taken away. My mother died when I was very young, as you know; but I didn't only lose her. I lost my Aunt Verity and John from my life. Dad pushed me into being this…" Roderick swept a hand down to emphasise his body. "He is a sink or swim sort of person, so he forced me into this competitive, toughened lifestyle where winning was more important than anything else. The school he sent me to as a boarder was just the same."

"That doesn't mean you had to give up on the people you love," Donna argued, feeling sympathy for his plight. "They've done nothing but welcome you since you've been here."

There was a derisive snort as Roderick thought of John punching him earlier. "I blotted my copybook when I was seventeen by having an affair with an older woman, and was almost expelled from school because of it. Dad was furious with me for jeopardising my university application."

"But that was ages ago!" Donna reached out and laid a hand on his forearm. "None of that matters now."

"Don't you see?" Roderick questioned her. "Every time I have loved someone it has been ruined; I know that reciprocating any real love will only end in disaster. That's what I learnt!" He was panting now with emotion, but he had to make her see why he had behaved in such a way.

"And I suppose that gave you permission to behave like a complete prat! Well you certainly stomped all over my feelings when you hitched up with Daisy," she bitterly retorted. "You killed any positive thing I ever felt for you. It was as if you hated me and had to destroy anything good in my life."

"If you only knew the battle I fought," he whispered, edging closer still. "I could only resist you by using her as a shield, and she practically threw herself at me."

"I know. I was there, remember? Having to watch the Daisy Dyer Show every bloody day playing out in front of me, and her acting like a prima donna, throwing it in my face at every opportunity," she spat out. "It wasn't exactly a big surprise when you dumped me permanently for her. And don't pretend you weren't turned on by the bouncy blonde act pouting at you all the time."

He had the grace to look chastised. "I am a man, after all, and she made herself sexually available in an attractive package. Albeit a style over content package."

Donna could not resist re-joining, "Well you chose her."

"Yes, I did," he agreed, stretching the syllables out to emphasise his remorse. "Hopefully the problem that created will be resolved very soon."

He wasn't suggesting what she thought he was, was he? "No, Roderick; you cannot use me to scare her away. I'm with John now and I intend to stay with him."

Suddenly wrapping his arms around her, he asked, "Are you sure? I could offer you whatever your heart desires."

"Could you? In that case, I want John," she answered decisively, placing a hand on his chest to push him away.

"What about the feelings you had towards me?" he forlornly wondered.

"I did love you once; I won't lie to you about it. As I said, you killed it stone dead with your shenanigans. But I've been lucky; I found John." She gave him a small smile. "Why don't you do yourself a favour and find someone you can properly love too? I've got a cousin that lives in Basildon, if you're interested. She's very ambitious. I could easily introduce you."

He gave a wry laugh. "You always amaze me, Donna."

"Supertemp!" she trilled triumphantly, feeling she had finally laid to rest quite a few ghosts.

"Touché," he answered, raising his glass to her. "I suppose that only leaves us to join our romantic counterparts for the rest of the evening. Unless I can tempt you to imbibe for a little while longer?"

Inevitably she shook her head at him. "You've already used up your extra minutes on your permission slip; and I dunno about you, but I'm expecting to find a hot man waiting for me."

A sneer appeared on his face. "Hot men are available in many places, if you care to look."

Wanting to add to his sneer, she breezily replied, "I know! I found my one in a field, would you believe?"

"Quite," he tightly muttered. "Shall we go to our respective rooms?"

"Yes, let's," she enthused, and got up out of her seat.

Walking quickly, Donna had no intention of spending any more time then was necessary with Roderick, and was quite relieved when he told her in a low voice, "You go on ahead. I want to get some ice," as they neared their rooms.

"Okay," she agreed, not even bothering to look back at him as he waited at the corner turn of the corridor. Her sights were firmly set on reaching room number seventy four, and in seconds she rapped on the door.

"Hello," John cheerily greeted her, and drew her into his embrace, placing a possessive hand over her bottom to pull her closer still. He was dressed in little more than a dressing gown, supplied by the hotel. "I've been expecting you."

"Have you now?" she teased, seeking to soften her words with a kiss. "What are you going to do with me now I'm here?"

"Come and find out," John seductively answered, dragging her into the room; and then the door was firmly shut.

Roderick stayed silent as he resumed walking towards his own room, but he couldn't resist standing outside John's door for some seconds listening carefully to the muffled sounds of joyous laughter from within. Why did he insist on torturing himself so? Placing a hand briefly on the wooden door, he then entered his own room to find Daisy ready and waiting for him, wearing a little number that hardly covered the bare essentials.

"Ooh dear!" he murmured under his breath to himself, and bit down on the disappointment that suddenly overwhelmed him.