RP for rude_not_ginger The morning after...

[quitehomoerotic]

Follows on from this

When Jack woke it took him a while to realise where he was, a while to catch up with the night before.

But it soon came rushing back.

The sleep, what little he'd had, had still been more than he'd had in weeks. Though it still wasn't enough to relieve the ache he felt inside. An ache that only seemed to grow when he thought about the night before.

He felt like a fool. A fool for attempting to push aside pain. Guilty for it too. Guilty for trying. Guilty too for making a fool out of himself in front of the one person who might understand.

One thing he knew though, almost immediately; he should leave. The TARDIS wasn't the place for him. Not any more. It was once, when he was a man who could die, a man who could sleep a dreamless sleep. But he wasn't that man now. And besides, the Doctor had hardly asked him to stay, had he? If he left it would remove the need for the inevitable conversation that would only leave them both feeling awkward. And besides, Jack didn't want to have to hear the Doctor asking him to leave.

So he washed and dressed (and he had to admit he was thankful for the shower), and he made his way back to the console room. His feet padding as quietly as they could along the endless corridors.

He took one last look around the room, touching a light hand against the walls as he took his coat and put it back on. He smiled at it, at the memories this place and the man who owns it hold.

And he walked to the doors to leave.

Comments

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack laughed again and shook his head. The Doctor was incorrigible. He loved that about him. It was comfortable, really, this back and forth. He'd forgotten how much he missed it.

"Well," he breathed out slowly. "Eternity. Good job we've got it then."

Jack heard the noise and he stalled a little. His hand instinctively moved to his gun. He still kept one, just in case. He didn't draw it though, it just felt comfortable to know it was there.

He glanced to the Doctor, catching his gaze; silently speaking, flicking his eyes in one direction and looking for confirmation. The practised soldier looking for orders from his superior.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor caught Jack's gaze and shook his head once. No, keep the gun down. Might be anything in there. The Doctor slowly crept towards the bushes, stepping lightly on his toes to avoid making too much noise.

He raised a hand, keeping Jack back. Jack might not be able to die, but he was still the Doctor's responsiblity. He wouldn't have him get hurt.

Another step. Another. Another, and---

Without warning, a white blur burst out of the bushes and raced through the trees. The Doctor fell backwards with the force of its run, then scrambled back to his feet to chase him.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack was alert, on his toes and ready to step in at a moments notice. He knew the Doctor would play his role, but he knew too that if things looked dangerous he'd gladly step in. He'd step in for him even if he could die.

His eyes stayed steadfast on the bushes as the Doctor neared, he kept his hand away from the gun, obeying the silent request, though he knew it was there, ready should he need it.

What came though was all in a split second. A flash of light that made him blink for two long. Immediately he was off though, setting out after the Doctor, running a step or two behind. His adrenaline rushed and coursed through his veins. He missed his, he really did.

"Doctor!" He called, "Don't suppose you've any idea what we're chasing?"

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Not a clue!" the Doctor called back with a laugh. Really, this was the best part. The running, the pure exhilaration. The unknown they were leaping into. The sudden cliffside.

Wait, what?

The Doctor attempted to skid to a halt as the white image he was chasing vanished and a cliffside appeared. He slid to his knees but found his body continuing forward. His feet lost the grip on the ground and he only just managed to grab onto a rock.

Below him was a sheer rocky cliff that went down to the crystal blue waters of Orion.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Thought so!" Jack grinned, not faltering for a moment in his dash behind the Doctor.

His vision was clouded by the man in front, and he was more focused on the running than where they were running to. But then the landscape changed and like a reflex he sprung forward and reached out to grab hold of the Doctor.

"Woah, careful!" He held out for him, gripped him tight to pull him up. "Getting a bit carried away there, Doctor."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor kicked with his feet, but couldn't find a grip. He reached up and caught Jack's arm. His companion's hand was warm and secure. With an effort, he pulled himself back to the ground.

"That's twice you've caught me now," he said. An acknowledgment as well as a thank-you, in the Doctor's mind. He gave Jack a wide smile.

"Whatever our friend out there was, though, he's gone, now."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack held on tight until the Doctor was back with his feet securely on solid ground. He nodded at him briefly and smiled.

"Whatever would you do without me?" He asked, teasing ever so lightly.

Turning his head he glanced out over the cliff and peered down over the edge. "And whatever it was, it didn't want to be found. I suppose that means we've got some investigating on our hands?"

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor grinned again. What would he do without Jack? Be lonely, most likely. Mope a bit. Probably get a good deal more on the TARDIS engine systems, too, but those could really wait a few decades before they really started giving him trouble.

"Yes!" He said, half-bouncing once he was back on his feet. "Investigating, the best bit. Well, after the running. And the near-death, I do love the near death. The investigating is fun."

As though he hadn't been dangling from a cliff moments earlier, he started at a jog back towards the destroyed town.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Yeah well not too much of the near death, okay?" Jack wondered when he started feeling quite so protective over the Doctor. When did he start thinking of him as fragile?

He didn't have too much time to think though as the Doctor was off, and so Jack was too, bounding after him.

"So, tell me you've at least got a short list of who or what this might be?" He asked as he kept pace just behind him.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"No idea," the Doctor replied with a wide, manic grin. But that was the best, wasn't it? The not knowing, the running without any idea what might happen next. Even nearly falling off a cliff, it was fun because of the danger.

No wonder Donna used to accuse him of being suicidal.

He hopped over a rock and back into the destroyed town. The being from before was there again, this time waiting off in the trees.

"There," he whispered to Jack. "See?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack had almost forgotten how all this went. How it could be enjoyable. All of it. Even the danger. Because he did so used to enjoy it, didn't he?

Isn't that exactly what he felt guilty of?

Isn't that why he left?

Jack approached the Doctor, hands shoved into his trouser pockets, pushing back the sides of his great coat. He inclined his head a little to see and turned to whisper back with a somewhat knowing tone, "Anybody would think it wants to be found. Why else would it come back?"

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor nodded, unconsciously taking the same stance as his companion, hands in his pockets.

"You know what I think?" He fished in his pockets until he produced a small coin. He turned and tossed the coin, which passed through the image. The image fled immediately, running the same way it did before.

"I think it's part of the destruction. Something to ward off impulsive survivors." He looked a little guilty. "Looks like I nearly fell for it. Literally."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Right." Jack breathed out slowly. There was a time he might have been shocked by that, by the very fact that someone would stoop so very low to get rid of people. But not now, nothing would shock him now.

"So that would make this pretty recent, yeah? I'd have thought a- what is that? A programme? A hologram? I'd have thought that would take quite a bit of energy, and a place like this, well any conventional energy source would deplete after a while, wouldn't it? Even if it was designed for this atmosphere."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Couldn't be generated here," the Doctor said. "This place has less electricity and energy sources than the Dwellings of Simplicity. This has to be something alien. And definitely something new."

He half-hopped over another piece of rubble. "I think we need to get back to the TARDIS, start looking up."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Sooo maybe some sort of base in orbit? Someone using the planet as a negative power source? A dampener maybe?" Jack frowned slightly and ran through a list of possibilities as they popped into his head.

He nodded at the Doctor's suggestion and followed up behind him. "Hopefully the old girl will have more answers than we do."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like a plan. The TARDIS's scanners should find what we need," the Doctor said. Something felt very wrong here. Something felt...out of place, missing. It was the sound of the wind, or the---wait. That vworp vworp sound was not the wind!

Without warning, the Doctor took off like a dart, running full pelt to where he last remembered the TARDIS. He felt panic shoot through his veins and only most of it was his own. The TARDIS was afraid. The TARDIS was at the edge of the clearing and slowly disappearing.

"No!"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded and walked along side the Doctor at a strolling pace, his hands shoved into his trouser pockets. But as the Doctor tensed it seemed like the air around them did too. The other man was away and gone before Jack barely had time to catch up with himself. But like a reflex he was on his toes and following him, running at speed behind him.

As they got closer he too heard the noise; that oh so familiar sound that never failed to send a tingle down his spine.

But not now, not this time. Because hearing it now was bad, hearing it now meant the TARDIS was leaving, and leaving without them. Leaving without the Doctor.

Racing ahead Jack stumbled out into the clearing and looked forward at where the blue box was disappearing in front of them. He took a moment to catch his breath and glanced forward and to the side at the Doctor. With a firm grip he reached out a hand and grabbed hold of his shoulder.

"It's okay." He reassured with a squeeze of his shoulder. He wasn't sure it was, but he knew it had to be. "It'll be okay, Doctor. You'll get her back." If he could do anything, he'd make sure he'd get her back.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

The Doctor stood there, shocked. The TARDIS. He felt her fear, and felt her vanish. It wasn't the same as it was when the Master left, when she was all confusion and begging him to stop her from leaving. Anything, just don't let the Master take her. This was different. This was a quiet plea. A plea to stay, please.

It still hurt, like a shot right to the hearts.

The shock wore off within a few seconds and he was suddenly shouting at the air.

"Oh, of course! No reason to attack the people here, that was just a convenient distraction! Set up something for us to follow while whoever wanted off of quiet and peaceful Orion just made a run for it in our ship! Oh, that's clever!" The last words were said with a decided irritation.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Jack could only imagine what it must feel like for the Doctor. The TARDIS wasn't just his ship, it was part of him, connected to him. And it was all he had.

It sparked in Jack something he hadn't felt for quite some time. An urge to solve things. An urge to protect someone he cares for, and in turn to let them know that things will be okay.

He kept his hand against the Doctor's shoulder and used it to turn him so that the two men were facing. His other hand lifted and he gripped his other shoulder, demanding his full attention.

"Yeah. Yeah very clever. But no one knows how to fly that thing like you, right. And nobody is going to get very far. All just part of the adventure, okay. Just part of the adventure. And come on, two clever guys like us? It'll be a cinch!" Jack grinned wide, with a confidence that even if wasn't real, was convincing. He phrased each word as a statement, no questions, just certainty.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"They could do worse than fly her well," the Doctor said, his voice suddenly quiet and distant. "Could crash her. Or worse. The TARDIS has enormous power, Jack. Untapped multicosmos of power. Someone who doesn't know how to handle her behind the wheel..."

He felt his stomach turn at the thought. Not his TARDIS. Not his ship, his constant friend. He couldn't lose her. Not like this, not so stupidly.

"There has to be a-a-a transport vehicle. Tourist ship, leaving the sector. We could hitch a lift on that."

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Doctor!" Jack urged as he gripped the other man by the upper arms. His voice was firm with authority yet somehow soft, supportive.

"We'll get her back," he spoke with a faint smile. The sort of smile that said he was so utterly certain of it, so certain it was almost a game of hide and seek. It wasn't, of course, and Jack was by no means certain of anything, but it was a behaviour well practised over the years; appear confident and absorb the pain and worry of your team. The Doctor, of course, wasn't Jack's team. But he could be, if he needed him, here and now, he'd have to be.

He tapped the Doctor on the arm companionably before withdrawing his hands. "Then we'll find it," he nodded as he flicked open the leather strap on his vortex manipulator.

"You know you might have turned off my special features but this thing still has its uses." He grinned to himself as he pushed away on buttons in a seemingly random sequence. "---And... a-ha gotcha. Medical transporter, about three thousand killometers from the surface."

His grin grew wider (perhaps even a little smug) and he turned his attention back to the Doctor. "Looks like it's a good job you've got me around."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Brilliant!" the Doctor said. He leaned over Jack's arm, looking at the little dials with an impressed grin. "Excellent job, captain."

He felt like part of himself was missing, scooted off in the universe, gone. He knew he could chase after her alone if he had to, but right now? Right now he was just very grateful that he didn't have to.

He'd eventually figure out how to thank Jack. It would take time, but he would.

He put his hand on the wriststrap and pulled out his sonic.

"Ready?"

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

Even now Jack couldn't help but feel pleased when the Doctor seemed impressed with something he did. He was like a child trying to impress his favourite teacher, or a love sick teenager desperate to be noticed. He supposed, deep down, he really was a little of both.

As the Doctor pulled out his sonic, Jack could barely hide his glee at the sight of it. He loved his wrist strap, he really did, it was a part of him. After all, he'd had it so long, and despite a few hitches, it had served him well. He couldn't help but be pleased at the thought of it regaining full functionality (even if under the steady control of the Doctor).

In the rush he'd almost managed to forget that he felt empty inside, it was as though the void was -at least for now- full again. Remarkable really.

"Thought you'd never ask," he grinned as the Doctor's fingers settled over the leather strap, and he waited for the him to work his magic.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"Don't let this go to your head now," he warned, teasingly.

The Doctor grinned brightly for a moment. This was when they were at their finest, he and Jack. On the move, on the run. Out on some adventure or another. They didn't do well with quiet contemplation. And while Orion was lovely for a cup of tea and maybe a few good books, it was not somewhere he wanted to stay for too long. It was far too quiet.

People like the Doctor and Jack, they needed to run.

"Off we go."

With a few flips of the sonic, the space-hopper blasted the Doctor and Jack into the cargo bay of the passing freighter. The effect was very like having a large hook deposited through one's bellybutton, tied around their wrists and then rammed directly through their skull.

The Doctor didn't like space hoppers much.

[quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com]

"Oh as if I would," Jack responded with a glint in his eye that said quite the opposite. A glint that had been missing for quite a while.

In barely a blink Jack felt that feeling, like his insides were being pulled out and turned around and rearranged all over again. He loved that feeling.

He cricked his neck and shrugged out his shoulders before clapping his hands together and exclaiming loudly, "Woo, now that's what I call a rush!"

He looked beside him for the other man and from the expression on his face he guessed the Doctor didn't enjoy the experience as much as he had. "You okay there, Doctor?" He laughed a little as he advanced forward to a panel on the wall, attempting to make sense of the ship they were on.

"Looks like a mark seven med transporter. Should be easy enough to... well... commandeer."