Fic: Just Good Friends

[unfeathered]

Title: Just Good Friends
Fandom: Doctor Who
Author: unfeathered
Characters: Jack, Rose
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1435
Spoilers: Boom Town
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: He'd forgotten that Rose was from a different century, a different culture, with different expectations...
Beta: mad_jaks, who has been unbelievably patient with me over this one. I can honestly say that you would not be getting this at all if it weren't for her.
Author’s Note: I think this sets out my stance on the Jack/Rose question (and the Doctor/Rose question) pretty clearly… *g*
Author's Note 2: laurab1 made this fantastic artwork for the story - go here to tell her how wonderful it is!

(Cross-posted to torch_wood, new_who and galactic_conman)




Jack and Rose danced for hours on the return journey from Raxicoricofallapatorius, happy and laughing and boogying away their high spirits. They ended with one slow dance, to wind down a bit. There couldn't be any harm in one slow dance, Jack thought.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

Because at the end of the dance, he was brought up short by Rose going up on her tiptoes, placing soft hands on his cheeks, and raising her face expectantly, eyes fluttering shut, for his kiss.

He hadn't foreseen that at all. He'd forgotten, in the euphoria of finding himself with a home and family again, that Rose was from a different century, a different culture, with different expectations. He hadn't anticipated her thinking his naturally easy and flirtatious manner was an invitation to anything more.

Even the Doctor hadn't made that mistake: he had just marched in and taken what he wanted, without waiting for Jack to try to seduce him. Jack's heart beat faster at the memory of the Doctor holding him this way to kiss him, hands hard and rough and firm, eyes open and demanding. The Doctor understood him. Rose – he realised belatedly – didn't.

He had to act. Better to break her heart now than later.

As the music faded into silence, Jack closed his hands lightly round her wrists and pulled her hands away from his face, gently but firmly. "No," he said softly, thumbs rubbing soothingly over the pulse-points on her wrists.

Her eyes opened again slowly and peered up at him, confusion and embarrassment sparking and flaring. "Why not? I thought – "

Oh, God. She was so very, very young.

Jack smiled at her, a low-powered version of the megawatt smile he'd used to seduce her in the first place, out there in front of Big Ben. He needed to distract her and he knew his smile was pretty much guaranteed to do that. "You're so quick on the uptake, I keep forgetting you don't know as much about my century as I know about yours. I should have made some things clear a bit earlier." His smile turned rueful. "This – the dancing, the joking, the way I am with you – it doesn't mean what it would mean from a Twenty-First Century guy."

Rose took a deep breath and made what was obviously a valiant effort to meet him on an adult level. "So you're saying that…" She shook her head and looked up at him uncertainly. "What are you saying?"

There was actually a trace of a smile in her eyes, and Jack smiled back, feeling a surge of affection for this extraordinary girl-woman who'd been swept off her feet and out of her century by the Doctor and who was trying so hard to learn, to understand, to fit in…

"Just that where I come from – when I come from – attitudes are different. People flirt all the time – it's like saying 'hello'." He chuckled. "You must have noticed how I say hello!"

"Well…" she said, a grin forming on her face, her eyes dancing.

Distraction accomplished.

"Exactly." Jack let his hands slide down hers to her fingers, putting a little more space between them. "That's not me coming on to someone – well, maybe it is just a little bit, sometimes… But anyway, the point is, where I come from people are a lot more relaxed about flirting and kissing and sex – and who we do it with… "

"Yeah, the Doctor said that." Rose frowned slightly as she tried to remember. "He said Fifty-First Century people were more – um – flexible…"

"Yeah," Jack nodded, relieved that she was getting it. "And because we do it more, it doesn't mean as much as it does in your time. I mean, it can, but it doesn't have to. So all of this dancing and talking and closeness we've got going on here – that's just me saying I like you. Not me saying I'm intending to go any further, because I know that's a big deal for you and…"

He'd lost her.

"It's not that big a deal!" Rose wrenched her hands out of his and glared up at him. "What – you think I'm a child or something? Like I haven't had sex before!"

"No! That's not what I meant." Damn it. "I like you a lot, Rose, and I don't – "

"Just… like?" she said, with disappointment bitter in her voice.

"A lot!" he said quickly, feeling like a monster. "A real lot. But you and the Doctor – you're like my family now, and the TARDIS is my home! And I… I don't want to hurt you."

"Yeah, well, maybe you should have thought of that before you went and charmed me into falling in love with you!" she flung at him, harshly, turning away and putting a hand on the TARDIS console to steady herself.

Jack stared at her back for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and went to stand close behind her; his hand hovered above hers for a moment, then he changed his mind and placed it beside hers instead. "I'm sorry," he said, as calmly as he could. He shrugged, and knew she felt it, even though he wasn't quite touching her. "I don't normally hang around long enough for it to be a problem."

She sniffed. "Sounds like someone else I know."

He chuckled. "Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Two of a kind, we are. You can do a lot better than either one of us, Rose."

"Don't you go telling me who I should fall in love with!" she said grumpily, but the bitter hurt had gone. "It's not like I can help it."

Jack snorted gently, smiling. "Maybe not, but you can chose who to stick with. And you should stick with Mickey."

"Mickey's boring."

Jack chuckled warmly. "Maybe." Definitely, compared to himself and the Doctor, but he wasn't going to let Rose know he agreed on that count. "But he's waiting for you, Rose. He's loyal and dependable and all sorts of other things that I'm not, and neither is the Doctor. And he's a lot nearer your age."

He saw her shoulders shake just a little, and reached out his free hand to stroke her arm.

"It's all right," she said, a little quavery, a little hiccupy. "I'm not crying. I'm laughing. It just – you can't get much further from my age than 900 years old!"

Another wave of affection engulfed him, unexpectedly. "Come here," he said, turning her towards him, and pulling her close so she wouldn't have to let him see her face. And then she did start to cry, and he held her tight and cradled her and comforted her and murmured platitudes to her, until the sobs began to lessen and she was still and quiet against his chest. He dug out a hanky and she took it gratefully and used it to wipe her eyes and blow her nose and get back some composure.

At length, she pulled away from him a bit, stuffing the hanky in her pocket, and raised a red, slightly puffy face to him. "I've made a bit of a fool of myself, haven't I?"

Jack shook his head, smiling fondly. "No you haven't – I'm the fool. You're right. I should have thought. It's just – it's been so long since I've been able to just relax and be me, without playing a part. And I think it went to my head a little." He looked her over and decided it was safe to cut to the punchline. He grinned. "So… Just good friends, then?"

She hesitated, then shook her head, but she was smiling too. "No. Best friends."

Jack laughed. "All right then! Best friends it is!"

Rose stuck out a hand. "Shake on it?"

He took her hand and shook it, but couldn't resist adding, "Of course, in my time, we have a different way of cementing a deal."

Rose looked up at him archly. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." He held her face gently between his hands in a direct reversal of how they'd started all this, and leaned forward, trying to signal what he was going to do and give her time to back out if she couldn't cope with it.

She didn't back out, so he kissed her, firmly and, for him, chastely. Then he drew back and smiled at her and she smiled back, her eyes shining again.

Jack winked. "C'mon. I think we've left the Doctor by himself far too long." He took her hand. "Let's go and see what he's up to!"

Comments

[fandom-me.livejournal.com]

This is extraordinary. The voices and atmosphere are clear, the characters are in character, and I can see and feel and believe that this happened - and not just because it falls along the lines of my own beliefs.

Definitely, definitely, my favorite thing you've written - and that's saying something!

[unfeathered]

Blimey, you're quick! I know you knew it was coming, but - wow!

the characters are in character

Be glad you didn't read the first draft, then... (Actually, if ever do a 'first draft/final draft comparison meme' this would be a great example!) mad_jaks is my absolute hero. She's an amazing beta.

And wow - favourite? Wow.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

"People flirt all the time – it's like saying 'hello'." He chuckles. "You must have noticed how I say hello!"

oh yes, we have noticed.. and we love him for it!

"I don't normally hang around long enough for it to be a problem."
She sniffed. "Sounds like someone else I know."
He chuckled. "Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Two of a kind, we are."

Yep, Jack and Rose can see the similarities, even if the Doctor can't!!

he kissed her, firmly and, for him, chastely.

He can do chaste? Who knew?

Lol, LOVED this!

[unfeathered]

oh yes, we have noticed

Funny, that was mad_jaks's comment on that line too... *g*

Yep, Jack and Rose can see the similarities, even if the Doctor can't!!

The more I write, the more the similarities keep coming...

He can do chaste?

Not chaste. Chaste, "for him". There's a difference. *g*

Really glad you love it. I'm starting to feel like all the hard work was worth it! :-)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

oh yes, we have noticed.. and we love him for it!
Seriously pretty much *word* for *word* what I wrote on one of the drafts :D

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I couldn't nod off to sleep - maybe my ears were burning??

You know I love it already but just to make it official.

It takes me to a very happy place *g*

And now all you have to do is the Jack/Nine one ;-)

[unfeathered]

Ah well, sorry you couldn't sleep but it's nice to see you because - hey, look - everyone likes it! (Well, two people so far, but they're two of my very best friends.) :-)

And thank you again (for about the fiftieth time) for helping me with this. It means a lot.

And now all you have to do is the Jack/Nine one ;-)

Yeah. Well. It's coming along slowly. I did a couple of hundred words today, in amongst other things.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

Oh. Oh, wow. I can totally believe that this happened. Jack's so gentle with her, and handles the situation so well. And I love that she's trying so hard to understand. This is amazing.

[unfeathered]

D'you know, if I'd had any inkling that everyone was going to squee so much over this, I wouldn't have posted it till morning - 'cos I'm on such a high now there's no way I'm going to sleep!

Jack's so gentle with her, and handles the situation so well.

In the final version, yeah... He didn't have a clue in the first draft! (Mainly because I forgot he was Jack and not me.) *g*

And Rose does try hard to understand. Yes, she's a bit annoying at times, but she's not stupid, and she does her best to fit in. But she's at one hell of a disadvantage with these two!

Thank you for loving it! :-)

[secbeth.livejournal.com]

*squee*!

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

[assuringlynerdy.livejournal.com]

Oh this is absolutely lovely! I adore it.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

Yay! This is adorable. I love you for writing this. It's completely in character, and you explain so clearly why Doctor/Rose or Jack/Rose is... not so much 'wrong' as unlikely. They're too different, and... well, this fic less tells about it than shows it. If that makes sense.

...I think I'll read it again now.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! *feels loved* :-)

It's so wonderful that everyone's saying it's so in character, considering how much trouble I had finding the characters (well, Jack, anyway)!

And I'm starting to think I don't need to post my little bit of meta about the relationships now!

...I think I'll read it again now.

Best compliment anyone could get! :-)

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

pulling her close so she wouldn't have to let him see her face.

This is so very sensitive of you to think about. It almost caught me off guard, in a good way. I really like the whole thing. It's dense with genuine feeling.

[unfeathered]

That line is something I always feel a perfect gentleman would do - and Jack is, after all, very much a gentleman. :-)

It's dense with genuine feeling.

Wow - fantastic compliment! Thank you! :-)

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Such a wonderful story. Thanks.

[unfeathered]

So glad you liked it! Thank you! :-)

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

That's lovely and it works and I can see it perfectly.

[unfeathered]

Thank you so much! Really makes it worth all the trouble! :-)

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

This is incredibly sweet - just wonderful. You really have the characters down, and they do what they should, and awwww Jack advising her to keep Mickey is so lovely. He takes an incredibly awkward situation and makes it all right.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

Again, it's so great that the characters worked in the end! And it take a while before I could see how Jack would be able to work through this.

The Mickey thing, I really saw that after watching Boom Town this time round. I felt so sorry for him. He's a bit of a twat, but he's getting cooler and he's so much more what she needs than a couple of (anti-)heroes flitting around in time and space - in some ways Mickey's actually more grown up!

[larielromeniel.livejournal.com]

I love how insightful Jack is in this. Just lovely.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

Insightful in the end, anyway - if he'd just got there a bit sooner... *g*

[chatona.livejournal.com]

That was very very pretty and I like your explanation as to why Jack flirts so much - even when he's just saying hello *beams*

Plus, Jack so happy and carefree is always a bonus. And there's even mention of Doctor/Jack in it. Yay! I'm a happy person now *bounces*

And now a friend's coming over and I'll make her watch Doctor Who *is gleeful*

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

Yeah, Fifty-First Century attitudes are definitely different - I think I like them, though! *g*

Doctor/Jack is pretty much canon for me.

Glad you're happy - and hope your friend enjoys DW! :-)

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful. This is a fantastic look at how Jack's perceptions differ from Rose's and even the Doctor's, and sensitively written. I really enjoyed this.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

how Jack's perceptions differ from Rose's and even the Doctor's

That's a good way of putting it. And really it's amazing there weren't more cases of cultural misunderstanding between the three of them! :-)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*melts* I'm not sure I have anything more coherent than that to say... Gorgeous writing, just right for both of them, spot on situation, outcome and reactions. Lovely lovely lovely.

[unfeathered]

Wow - sorry for melting you! *g*

And thank you! I always feel really proud to get a reaction like that from someone who writes as well as you do! :-)

[j00j.livejournal.com]

I like this. It seems very true to both characters (and the Doctor, offstage). Jack and the Doctor *are* very different from Rose (something a lot of stories don't particularly acknowledge), but Rose is smart enough to be able to grasp that (something a lot of stories also neglect-- she can and does learn). And Jack is *good* at this kind of social situation (unlike the rest of us, heh...). I suppose I do buy Jack/Rose as plausible in the right circumstances, but I definitely buy your interpretation here.

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

I'm really pleased to have got this out and got it right, in the end, because it really does set out exactly how I feel about the characters and their possible relationships. Jack and the Doctor aren't (at this point) really that similar, but they're a hell of a lot better suited to each other than to Rose.

And I don't know if it's my age, but Rose feels awfully young to me, and I feel really, really awkward reading anything more than this with Rose and either the Doctor or Jack.

For some reason, the odd drunken threesome doesn't seem to jar so much... *g* But I'm much, much happier with Doctor/Jack.

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww. This is so well-written that it absolutely hurts becaue I have a Jack/Rose kink a mile wide and thinking that they wouldn't ever get together is devastating. (SOB!)

[unfeathered]

Oh, I'm sorry! Didn't mean to make anyone cry!

On the other hand, if the story can convince a Jack/Rose lover, I must have done something right so that makes me very happy! :-)

[the-summoning-d.livejournal.com]

Awww! That was lovely ^^

[unfeathered]

Thank you! Glad you liked it! :-)