I joined whoverse_las this round and this was my first story. It got no votes, which I personally take as a good thing. It wasn't good enough, but it wasn't bad enough either. Yay! The challenge was Dead Men Tell No Lies. Naturally, Jack jumped straight into my mind. Pairing is Jack/Rose.

Exception to the Rule

One rule of the universe, which was pretty much a constant everywhere, is that when you are dead, you are dead.

Jack had learnt, a few years after his jump to the wrong century and his long wait for the Doctor, that he was the exception to the rule. From what the Doctor had told him, it was Rose that had made him unable to stay dead.

And now he was faced with her again.

He didn't know how to feel. On the one hand, it was Rose and he loved her dearly. On the other hand, she had made his life hell. Unknowingly, but now he would have to watch her die, watch even the Doctor die, of old age.

He would probably be left all alone, after having watched the universe die. Who knew if he'd survive in a black, never ending vacuum of nothingness afterwards.

But it did have one advantage. And it was one he could use to full effect here.

He ran in front of the Daleks and died for the people he loved.

It took every ounce of control he had over his coming back to life to stay still and not gasp out loud with a first breath like he normally did. He did manage to wink at the Doctor though, to let him know that he was fine.

Unfortunately, Rose didn't know about him coming back to life again. She had missed his wink, and no one had told her about his inability to stay dead.

Well, he'd soon find out what she thought about how badly this dead man could lie. He'd meet up with them later.

First though, he had to get out of the incinerator...