The Assassin of Madness

Chapter 13

"No."

"Jack, this isn't your decision to make," the Doctor snapped, his eyes drawn to Rose to make sure she wasn't awake.

Jack crossed his arms over his chest, regarding the Doctor with a piercing gaze.  He waited until the other man looked at him before he spoke again.  "She chose you," he said quietly, "You know that as much as you know you're clever or I'm a flirt."  Any hint of humor was lost on the severity of the situation.  "She's not leaving you."

"She should," the Doctor said mournfully.

Jack rolled his eyes and heaved a deep sigh, the stale air of the dungeon stinging his lungs.  "But she did.  And whether you like it or not, you've chosen her too.  And so has the TARDIS," he pointed out, raising his eyebrows meaningfully.

"Rose brought you back from the dead, Jack, that part wasn't the TARDIS's help."

"Which means she's just as dangerous as you are."

The Doctor let out a frustrated noise that reverberated through the room, bouncing off bars and cold walls around them.  "She can't regenerate.  I can't keep her safe.  Everywhere I take her, everywhere we took her, she got hurt."

Jack furrowed his brows.  "We didn't get into that much trouble when I was with you guys, Doctor.  There was a lot of domestics, whether you'll admit it or not.  You took her to the beach, you took her to the most beautiful mountains in the galaxy.  She was happy and safe and with you."

"You, too."

"No," Jack shook his head, "This isn't about me.  This is about you trying to make Rose's decisions for her.  Would you rather her live a short life with you, happy and holding your hand, or have her live a long life, but she hates you forever.  You know she'd never marry."

The words settled into the room like dust that had been thrown in the air.  Jack set his jaw and stared at the Doctor.  He knew that at some point he would find it impossible to leave Rose behind.  He would be just as hurt as she would be, and both of them would've lost their comfort. 

The Doctor was finding the silence deafening.  He pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb, his eyes falling closed.  "She would have to marry, Jack, it's what humans want."

"I don't."

He dropped his hand and shot Jack a glare.   "Well, you're hardly human anymore, are you?"

Jack gestured wildly at Rose, who still lay sleeping.  "And who made me that way?" He asked.  "This girl is stronger than you would ever believe, Doctor.  She was hurt, beaten, and yet she still tried to get information for you.  She doesn't want a husband and kids from an Earth man, and if you can't see that by now, you're blind."

The Doctor sighed heavily and removed his suit jacket and tie, feeling weary and uncomfortable in all the extra layers.  "Well, she can't have it from me."

"Then she won't have it from anyone.  There are things you don't know, Doctor."

"Oh, really?  Like what?"

Jack studied the Doctor carefully. "Do you remember when we went to that beach on Venice V?"

"Yes, of course I do.  There was sand everywhere."

"Yeah, that would be a beach, Doctor."

"I only remember being... Upset by it, that body, it just wanted to be angry."

"You had a hard time doing that with Rose around," Jack pointed out, "She made you so happy.  And on that day, when we were on the beach and you went off by yourself, Rose wanted nothing more than to go after you and hold your hand."