Fic: Something You Lost 1/1

Title: Something You Lost
Author: iolausian
Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose, Jack, Donna
Rating: PG
Summary: Donna and Jack play lost and found for the Doctor.
Disclaimer: The BBC clearly owns DW because here I am, still a poor grad student.

Author's Notes: Series 4 speculation/spoilers translated into fluff. Oh, the joy.

She takes a step or two to stand beside Jack, and waits. At first the Doctor keeps completely still, one hand leaning on the console for support, not because of past injury, but because he’s trying so hard to comprehend the sight in front of him.



Jack watches him carefully approach the center console, the playful banter between them subsiding as the Doctor selects coordinates to meet up with Donna Noble. His friend still walks with a very slight limp, left over from the explosion near Torchwood where the Timelord had saved Martha’s life. The Doctor senses Jack’s gaze and looks up. The ex-time agent flashes him a smile, because he knows something the Doctor doesn’t. He knows that Rose is all right with him being a fixed point in time, and that she’s over it. He knows Donna will always be owed a favor the Doc can never truly return. He knows that within a few more seconds, she’ll come striding through the door with a petite blonde parallel Torchwood operative the pilot of the TARDIS hasn’t seen in nearly three years.

They dematerialize, rematerialize and land without incident. The Doctor works the ship controls, fingers dabbling over the navigational system. He runs a hand through messy dark brown hair that Jack has to fight the urge to rustle when they’re alone like this. He watches the other man retrieve a long tan coat from one of the living pillars of the ship as he makes his way slowly toward the double entryway doors. He is nearly thrown back as those same doors are ripped open, revealing one very miffed redhead.

“There you are, martian boy! Muckin’ about with Captain America over here –” Donna nodded toward Jack – “when you were supposed to pick me up two hours ago!”

The Doctor raises his eyebrows at her, lips slightly parted, but closes his mouth quickly, reminded of his last few months of her and thinking the better of it than to retort with an insult. He’d been slapped enough by her, thank you very much. Maybe she could have a go at Jack, who for some reason is currently grinning like a fool.

“Oh, by the way,” Donna says lightly, gesturing behind her, “I found something you lost.”

She takes a step or two to stand beside Jack, and waits. At first the Doctor keeps completely still, one hand leaning on the console for support, not because of past injury, but because he’s trying so hard to comprehend the sight in front of him.

She’s there, but she can’t be.

A sideways glance at Jack and Donna, barely able to contain their own mirth, confirms that yes, they see her, too. Just standing there, a similar smile dressing her own beautiful features. Her hair is different, still blonde but more natural. An inch or two longer, it dips just below her shoulders. She seems just a bit older, maybe by a few short years. Though her eyes are locked with his, he still can’t move.

“Aren’t you gonna say anything?” She asks, her voice filling the TARDIS with a warmth that’s been missing for such a long while.

“I…” His voice breaks, and he starts to walk toward her. She looks down at his right leg, noticing the slight hesitation.

“You’ve been hurt—” she begins, raising a hand for him to stop moving.

“I’m all right.” He answers quickly, glancing again at his other two companions beside her.

She comes to him instead, up the sloped ramp, holding onto the railing as if she, too, might fall. Now she’s standing right in front of him, and he can see that little pink tongue peaking out from the side of her mouth, a very necessary component of the glorious smile she’s giving him.

“You’re here.” He whispers, almost afraid to touch her, so she does it for him. She takes his hand and clasps it in her own. The warmth of the union rushes right through him, and they break eye contact for a moment because of the sudden influx of light in the old ship.

“She’s happy.” Rose says, nodding up toward the ceiling, indicating she means the TARDIS. The room is now glowing with soft, amber light, and the hum from the center console fills any silence between them.

“I love you,” the Doctor blurts out, and Rose covers her mouth with her other hand, an emotional sob escaping her throat.

“I know,” she whispers, quickly composing herself. She can’t take the look in his eyes, a mixture of unconditional devotion and disbelief. She dabs at his eyes with a gloved hand, hoping Jack and Donna won’t see but knowing they probably have.

“How are you here?” He asks, gripping her hands just a bit tighter than before.

“I told you I’d never leave you.” Rose replies, as if what she’s done is simple and routine, when in fact, she’s achieved the impossible. The universe should be ripped apart, both this one and the one she’d been confined to. Thing is…nothing seems destroyed. Both worlds are still intact somehow. He has so many questions, but can’t even begin to form them in his mind. Instead, he swallows and looks down at her hands, his vision slightly blurry from tears she’s tried in vain to wipe away.

“Is this how we’re gonna spend the rest of the afternoon? Because I was hoping there’d be, I don’t know, lots of alcohol and possible dancing involved.”

The two lovers turned around to face Jack, slow grins reaching their eyes. In a few more moments they decide to take up his advice. Jack and Donna walk a slight distance from the other two TARDIS passengers, linking arms and chatting about dinner. Closing the ship’s doors with a gentle thud, Rose Tyler takes the Doctor’s hand and they make their way back out into the crisp London air.



Comments are welcome as always.