Disclaimer: I have never consumed alcohol in my entire life, so forgive me for any possible shoddy writing. I can claim ownership of Charlie, but he's not in this chapter

Chapter Twelve

"Tonight's the night."

"Tonight's the night," Jenny repeated, smiling slightly. The first night out of her life, in the (ill-advised) company of Captain Jack Harkness. To his credit, he had gone ahead to find the best and most quiet public house in the general area, where Gwen (who had done the advising) would drive her.

"What's the verdict?" asked Jenny, standing up.

"Beautiful!" Sky exclaimed, still sitting on her bed.

"Very pretty," Gwen agreed, smiling from where she leaned against the doorframe.

Since it was a milestone, however trivial, they had all agreed that Jenny should look nice. So it was that she was wearing a black dress that came to just above her knees, and her hair was curled and free over her shoulders.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Gwen.

She nodded, feeling her hair swing as she did so.

"C'mon then."

"I'll see you later, Sky," she smiled.

"Have a nice time!"

"I'm sure I will."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Gwen asked, as they walked down the hallway.

"I'll be fine," Jenny replied. "You stay in and have a nice night."

"This is Jack we're talking about. He will get you drunk."

"If he does, I'll kill him slowly and painfully. You don't have to worry about me. You're not my mother."

Gwen shot her a look. "You don't have a mother. Plus, someone's got to look out for you. And let me tell you, Jack ain't gonna."

Jenny laughed. "Of that I am aware."

Reaching the hallway, she pulled on her pea coat, called goodbye to Rhys, and stepped outside into the cold night air.

Her phone started to ring as Gwen opened the car door. She fished it out of her pocket. "Jack. Excellent timing."

"I try my best," he replied.

"Mhmm," she climbed into the passenger's seat of the car, slamming the door with her free hand. "Where are you?"

"Cardiff Bay Tavern."

"Bay Tavern?" Jenny repeated, directing the question at Gwen. She nodded.

"Yeah, that's it. Does Gwen know the way?"

"Yeah," Jenny confirmed, nodding even though he couldn't see her. "See you in a bit."

"See you."

She pocketed her phone and pulled on her seatbelt, smoothing down the fabric of her dress to give her something to do. Gwen switched on the radio. A cheery female voice sang about star ships.

"Have you been there before?" Jenny asked.

"The Tavern? Yeah. It's a nice place. They've got good fare, if you're hungry. He chose well."

Jenny smiled. "Starting to trust him a little more?"

"God no. Anyway, you're well fit to protect yourself if something were to happen."

Jenny pulled a switchblade out of her coat pocket. "Affirmative."

"'Atta girl."

Jenny laughed, replacing the blade. Soon after, they pulled up outside a large building.

"Be back by twelve!" Gwen said, as a goodbye.

"You're not my mother," Jenny reminded her again, smiling. "But I'm sure I will be."

The pub wasn't too busy, she decided, as she walked through the door. Three young men played pool with a young woman, some of the neatly-ordered tables were filled, and there were several spare seats at the bar. It was at the latter that Captain Jack Harkness was sitting, drinking a glass of some form of amber liquid. She slid onto the stool next to him, smiling in greeting.

"Hey."

"Hello," he smiled back. "Gwen didn't chain herself to you, then."

She laughed. "No. Not that she didn't try."

"She means well," said Jack. "What are you having?"

"Well, you're the expert," she said. "What would you recommend?"

"Excuse me."

A barmaid turned to face him, pretty face expectant.

"A white wine for the lady, please," he requested, handing over a fiver.

"I would've paid for that," Jenny muttered.

"You can pay next time, then."

A glass of liquid – not white, as the name suggested – was placed in front of her. She smiled in thanks at the brunette barmaid and took a calculating sip. The concoction tasted faintly of grapes and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on, and most certainly not unpleasant.

"Well?" Jack raised his eyebrows.

She nodded. "It's good."

Jack grinned. "That's good. I got you something, by the way."

She frowned as he reached down by his feet and passed a brown paper bag to her.

"Why?"

He chuckled. "A 'Thank You'. You were right; there are other ways. Better ways. Sky certainly helps considerably."

"I'm always right," Jenny replied smugly, peeking inside the bag. She pulled out the gift. A handbag; one to be hooked over her shoulder and to contain everything that her pockets shouldn't. The material felt like leather, and the colour was creamy white; a stark contrast to her dress, but matching well with her pea coat. "Jack …"

"I heard you muttering the other day," he explained. "I hope you were being serious."

"I can't accept this."

He gave a half smile, half smirk. "I could take it out of your wages, if you'd prefer."

She shot him a 'Very funny' look.

"You like it, though?"

"Yes! But I can't—"

"'Course you can. If you want to thank me," he held up his empty glass. "You can buy me another pint."

"Deal."

The night passed in a blur of drinks. Jenny tried everything; beer, cider, scotch, whiskey, shots, cocktails. She felt the alcohol affecting her, but she was still confident that she could make rational decisions and hold her own if it came to it. Jack had left to talk to a friend he had spotted, and Jenny was sipping a cider, which she had eventually decided was her favourite. A young man, in his mid-twenties, she guessed, slid onto Jack's vacated stool.

"That seat's taken," she informed him.

"By who? Your boyfriend?"

"My friend."

"So you're single?"

She didn't like the direction the conversation was going in.

"Yes," she replied shortly. "But I'm not looking for anyone right now."

The man leered at her. "Are you sure I can't change your mind?"

"Quite sure."

The man, however, did not pay heed to her words. He ventured closer, until she could feel his breath against her cheek, and smell the alcohol.

The switchblade was out in an instant, carefully concealed to anyone but the man.

"You'd better leave pretty sharpish, if you know what's good for you."

"I'd do what she says," said Jack idly. "She's not one to mess with. That's my seat, by the way."

The man left, defeated. Jack laughed, sitting back on his stool. "Nice job, Jen."

"Thanks," she smiled, pocketing the little knife.

"Rise and shine!" Gwen exclaimed, far too happy for this time of the morning. Jenny groaned in protest, pulling the duvet up over her head. She was in her bed, rather than on the couch. She couldn't remember getting there. All she knew was that her head was going to explode if she didn't stay somewhere dark and quiet.

"I warned you," Gwen sighed. There was a rattle, painful to her ears, and a bottle of painkillers landed on the bed. "I'm going to kill Jack …"

"Not before I do," Jenny murmured weakly. "With a kitchen knife …"

Gwen laughed. Jenny winced at the sound.

She was never getting drunk again.

I have lost my beta (through no fault of her own, she's just very very busy) so if anyone out there would like to be my new beta ...

Next chapter: an end to the fillers. I promise!