Title: The Top Ten Reasons Mickey Smith Is Not Rickey Smith

Summary: Mickey Smith is not Rickey Smith. But sometimes Jake isn't sure exactly what the difference is.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. If I did I'd...probably still be writing fanfiction, but I wouldn't post it.

Notes: Jake/Mickey, past Jake/Rickey. So, yeah, concrit is very much appreciated, reviews are chocolate, concrit is truffles, and somewhere in there are jellybabies. There will be a second chapter.

Mickey Smith was identical to Ricky Smith. Physically, at least. His nose curved the same way, he looked the same when he was angry. He scrunched up his nose the same way, and slouched the same way when he was pouting. He pouted the same, too- stuck his lip out just as far as Rickey.

Mentally, he was different. Or, mostly different. But he was just as determined. He loved it just as much, too, the fighting, the saving the world. The running. Rickey had always loved running, he just hadn't been fast enough in the end. Which really wasn't fair. You'd think with all the running he did he'd be faster. You'd think he'd be as fast as Mickey. But Mickey had gotten there, and Rickey hadn't, and that was the difference. Mickey was alive.

Jake wasn't sure anymore what all the differences were. He used to know, he used to be able to tell you twenty reasons off the top of his head how they were different. He'd made a list once, daft as it was, the Top Ten Reasons Mickey Smith Was Not Rickey Smith Even If They Do Look Kinda The Same. It was a very long title.

1. Rickey was braver.

2. Rickey was more clever.

3. Rickey scrunched up his nose.

4. Rickey did that thing with his tongue that Jake liked.

5. Rickey knew things about Jake that no one else did.

6. Rickey fought the system.

7. Rickey knew that sometimes you have to stay away from the people you love so you can protect them.

8. Rickey loved Jake.

9. Jake loved Rickey.

10. Rickey was faster.

But Mickey was brave, too. So brave. He had figured out how to turn off the emotional inhibitor and all as well, so that was number two out. And he scrunched up his nose the same way sometimes, he had done since Rickey died. It might have been better if he'd always done it, but he hadn't. Just since Rickey died. And that thing that Ricky did with his tongue? Mickey'd figured that out months ago.

There were things that only Rickey knew about Jake. Things that Jake wouldn't tell anyone else ever. Things that Jake hadn't even told Rickey. Things Jake hadn't even known until Ricky told him. About his dad, about his mum, about the shrink, all of them, about that time in eight grade with Mike and the beer and the exams...

And Mickey fought the system, too. And he'd learned about protecting the people you love- besides, with Cybus Industries shut down, there wasn't much call for it. The cybermen were dangerous, but they weren't going to come after your family to get to you.

Then there was number eight. Ricky loved Jake- though not enough to run faster. And Jake had loved Ricky, though he thought maybe he hated him a little, now. But Jake thought maybe he loved Mickey, as well, and he knew he sort of hated him. And Mickey had said he loved Jake. Whether he was telling the truth or not, Jake didn't know. He'd lied before.

And Mickey had been faster, in the end.