RP for [livejournal.com profile] rude_not_ginger The morning after...

Jul. 20th, 2009 01:10 am
quitehomoerotic: (General : Profile)
[personal profile] 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.

Date: 2009-09-16 08:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
The Doctor did the same with his own coat, feeling a bit more like himself with it around his shoulders. It was good that Jack understood that sentiment.

"I'll be all right," he said. "Nothing quite like a few minutes of spacewalking to remind you to love life. Read those books you never read, go to those places you've never been to. 'Course, that's how I try to live. Let's give these doors a go, shall we?"

He waved the sonic over the next door's panel.

Open door 5.

The Doctor opened the door, and behind was nothing short of carnage. The bodies of dozens of medical personnel, skewered alive or strangled. Piled on top of each other in stacks, with a thin path to walk through. The strong stench of decaying bodies assailed the Doctor's nostrils immediately.

"Think I preferred space," the Doctor said. "Explains why there weren't any bodies along any of the hallways. They were being stored.

Date: 2009-09-16 08:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
"You know I'm sure there are safer ways of giving yourself a jolt," Jack said, a little hypocritically given his own situation. He chose to gloss over that.

Clearing his throat he advanced through the open door, his hand immediately raising to his mouth to mask the stench. "You know and I thought I'd never miss Weevils."

He trod carefully around the piles of bodies, shaking his head at whoever or whatever would have done this. "You know, Doctor, I've seen a lot, but some things never fail to make me sick to my stomach. The universe would be better without some people."

Date: 2009-09-16 09:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"That's not our decision to make," the Doctor said, deftly manuevering around them as well. "And whoever is being that door are either perpetrators or victims."

He wanted to think that they were the latter, at least. It would be easier that way. He could just save them, not worry about justice for these people. There were so many of them. None alive.

The Doctor gave the side panel a wave with the sonic.

"In either case, we can't leave them to die."

Open door 4.

Date: 2009-09-16 09:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack pulled a face. His opinion on justice was a little harder than the Doctor's. It changed with time but recently he'd become harsher again. The world had made him harsher. He thought it was best not to voice it.

The door opened and he took a step through. His hand went to the gun in the holster at his waist, discreet so the Doctor didn't notice. It made him feel more comfortable that way.

On the other side were four people and one body. They were too late for that one. A young man huddled in a corner with his arm around his shipmate, whimpering and pleading Please don't hurt us, it wasn't out fault!

Jack glanced at the Doctor and then back to the frightened people in the corner. "We're not here to hurt you. Just wanna find out what happened, that's all."

Date: 2009-09-16 09:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"It's all right," the Doctor said. "I'm a Doctor, we're here to help."

He stepped forward and pressed his fingers to the pulse of the man on the ground. Oh, long since dead, his skin was cold to the touch. "Radiation sickness?" he asked.

One woman nodded. "We've been locked up here for days while he---" She looked like she might burst into tears again.

"He?" the Doctor demanded. "Who is he?"

The Doctor looked down at the body, then at the four frightened people. "Jack. You said there were five life signs on board?"

Date: 2009-09-16 09:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack crouched down beside one the pair and touched a hand against the shoulder of the young man, comforting. He nodded as the Doctor spoke and stood to turn back towards him.

"Five, yeah." It took a moment or two, but it caught up with him. He had been assuming the fifth was the other body but no, no that body was far too dead for that.

He flicked his wrist strap open and turned his attention immediately towards it. "Doctor, I'm still reading one. It's weak but it's close." He looked back up to him. "He's on the bridge."

Date: 2009-09-16 09:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"Jack, get these people to one of those pods back there, interface the manipulator to the pod's systems. You'll need this." He tossed Jack his sonic.

He took a breath and turned immediately to the door.

"You can't go in there!" One of the crew cried. "Look what he did to our officers!"

The Doctor shook his head. "If I'm not back in five minutes, just go without me."

Date: 2009-09-16 09:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack reached up a hand and deftly caught hold of the sonic. He didn't argue, but it was obvious enough by the look in his eyes that he wanted to. Were it not for the presence of the crew there'd be no way he'd let The Doctor go (he wondered if this is how his team felt every time he stormed off and told them to stay).

"He'll be fine," Jack said, reassuring the crew, a hand outstretched to touch a shoulder.

With eyes back on the Doctor he nodded. Oh he'd take them to the pod all right, and do everything he asked, but he wouldn't leave, not without him.

"Not a chance. I'll see you in five."

He turned back to the crew and with an arm gesturing towards the door, he led them out of the room, with just one quick glance back to the Doctor.

Date: 2009-09-16 09:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
The Doctor caught Jack's eye and gave him a nod, then a small wink. Of course he'd be back, he tried to convey. Nothing to worry about. No mass-murdering killer on the other side of this door. Jack wouldn't let him down. Those people would be all right.

He turned back to the door and took in a deep breath.

"Blimey."

Open door three.

The door slid open easily, revealing the expanse of the bridge. Blood smeared across the floor and one lone figure dressed in war gear struggled to steer the ship.

Close door three.

Date: 2009-09-16 10:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack directed the people through the ship to the damaged escape pod. He could do this, he told himself. It had been a while but he could do this. This is what he did. This is who he was.

He guided them past bodies and damaged beams, heading out a path that bypassed the majority of the radiation. These people had been exposed enough, the last thing they needed was another blast.

As they walked, Jack kept an eye on his manipulator, making sure those life signs were still there, that the Doctor was still okay. He got the survivors to the pod and safely inside, reassured them they'd be okay as he removed his wrist strap and wired it up to the panel, fiddling a little with the incompatible technology to make it work.

He was counting down the time in his head. Cutting it close. As soon as it was ready he stepped out and back into the ship. Back to wait for the Doctor. He had to wait for the Doctor.

Date: 2009-09-16 10:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"How did you get past the doors?" The man shouted. He was large, muscular, and heavily scarred. He reminded the Doctor of the Tereleptil War Lords, only more human. Physically more human.

He brandished a sword and he raised it menacingly. "You weren't here when I cleansed the ship!"

"No, no, I missed that part, unfortunately," the Doctor replied cooly. "Because if I arrived then, I might've been able to stop you from slaughtering dozens of innocent lives."

"They were not innocent! I cleansed them, and I will cleanse you!

Date: 2009-09-16 10:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
The time ticked away and Jack wasn't content to just sit and wait for the Doctor. He'd spent far too long in his life doing that, he wasn't about to start doing it again.

He checked the pod, promised the crew he'd be back, and locked them inside, pocketing the sonic, and he ran. Ran the path he'd walked and back towards the bridge, back towards the Doctor.

He'd be there for him.

He took a deep breath before pressing the door release and walking inside.

"Need a hand, Doctor?"

Date: 2009-09-16 10:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"Jack, look out!"

Things had progressed from bad to worse (much like the rest of the day). The man admitted to piracy and ritualistically murdering the crew. The Doctor told him the ship was about to be destroyed, but he had a chance, one chance for them to take him to the authorities. And then he attacked the Doctor.

Negotiations could've gone better.

The man swung his sword towards Jack, the new target an easier kill than the one protecting himself with an overturned chair.

Date: 2009-09-16 10:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack ducked barely in time to avoid the business end of the blade. "Woah," he exclaimed, as though it were a butter knife and not a sword. "Careful where you're swinging that thing, you might nick someone."

Like a reflex reaction his gun was de-holstered and in his hand, pointed towards the man. "This guy giving you trouble, Doctor?" He stared forward at the man, a stern and harsh expression on his face.

"You know, I don't take kindly to people hurting my friends. Especially this friend. You mess with him, you mess with me. And you really don't want to mess with me." He cocked the gun back, "I'm volatile."

Jack hadn't had many chances to vent the anger and rage he'd built up since he'd left Earth. The anger that made him leave Earth. It looked like he'd just found an outlet.

Date: 2009-09-16 10:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
The Doctor had a rather difficult decision to make. If he shouted "Stop!", Jack would stop, and probably be stabbed to death. If he didn't, well, the business end of Jack's gun was aimed straight at that man.

On one hand, they really needed to get off the ship. No time for waiting.

On the other hand, it would be cold-blooded murder.

On the other hand, this man just murdered everyone on board, and would probably murder him and Jack, too.

And the Doctor promised himself he'd take care of Jack.

"Aim up! There's a radiation cable!"

Date: 2009-09-16 10:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack's face was cold and fierce, a little vacant. Something unpleasant had awakened in him, he needed shaking from it.

It's a good job the Doctor was there to do the shaking.

At the words he tilted his arm up and fired. The sound of gunshot echoed around the room and the bullet ripped through the cable.

Jack was a good shot.

The man cried out in a mix of rage and pain as the radiation started to flood the room, but Jack didn't lower his gun completely. He kept it trained on the man.

"Doctor. Go." He called out, loud, pointed.

"I'll make sure he doesn't follow us."

Date: 2009-09-16 11:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
If Jack wouldn't leave the Doctor, the Doctor certainly wouldn't leave Jack. He threw down the chair down and started towards the door.

"Jack! The ship's going into critical collision, we have to leave, now!"

Date: 2009-09-16 11:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack's hand gripped tighter around the gun and his teeth gritted against one another.

"I'm right behind you." He offered, less than convincing.

His finger squeezed down over the trigger and... he stopped. He took a breath and put the safety back on the gun, breathed out deeply and turned his head back to the Doctor. His throat a little dry.

"Yeah. Yeah time to go."

There'd be time to get thoughtful or morose over feelings felt when they were safe again, but for now there was running to do, and Jack could do that. So he turned, nodded to the Doctor, and ran.

Date: 2009-09-17 03:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
For half a second, the Doctor stopped to look at Jack. Really look at him. Tendrils of radiation and smoke pouring behind him, a clear shot, and yet he turned away. It made the Doctor proud.

They wouldn't be saving the insane man, of course. At this point, they couldn't. All they could do was flee and hope for the best.

The Doctor broke into a run, padding down the corridor and towards the pod. The crew were waiting anxiously, none certain how to operate it with the vortex manipulator.

"Jack, in! Everyone, hold on tight!"

Date: 2009-09-17 11:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
Jack ran at full pelt towards the escape pod. Luckily he'd already made this journey once; he knew where he was going.

He still had the sonic, so he opened the door and climbed inside, holding the device out towards the Doctor.

Inside he took a seat on the side benches and checked on the crew. "Everyone okay?" He rubbed his hand against one of the men's arms and smiled a little. It was a fake smile.

Looking to the low ceiling he took hold of the safety straps and motioned for the rest to do the same.

"Ready, Doctor!"

Date: 2009-09-17 02:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"This is your captain speaking," the Doctor said, snagging the sonic and finishing up the controls. "We'll be cruising at an altitude of 10 parsects over norm. No resfreshments will be avaliable, but there will be light music, provided by Jack Harkness."

He grinned over at his companion, the grasped the hand brake.

"Expect moderate turbulence---"

There was a sudden banging at the door. That man! Trying to break in!

Date: 2009-09-17 03:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
As the Doctor began speaking Jack grinned from ear to ear. He was like a child in the presence of his idol, which in many ways he was. He laughed at the suggestion. "You expect me to sing? Doctor have you been spying on me?"

He beamed a little more but it was short lived as the door shook and a thud echoed as the man tried to gain access.

"Some people just don't give up, do they?! He's persistent. I'll give him that." Jack huffed out and was immediately at the door, holding it down, supporting it.

"Sorry, but this ship has sailed. Looks like you'll have to make your own fun." He struggled against the latch as the man kicked a the door making heavy dents, and tugged at the handle. Jack did all he could to keep it in place.

"Doctor," he said through gritted teeth, "A getaway might be good right about now."

Date: 2009-09-17 04:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
"Just another minute, Jack!" the Doctor called back, flipping a few more switches. Another few minutes and even the wrist strap's power wouldn't get them out of this, the gravitational pull would be too strong. Another twist, another turn, and---

He smacked the side of the panel and everything came to life in a buzz of energy.

"Brilliant!" he cried. "Everybody, hold on---"

He turned the wheel on the panel and the ship shook, sidetracking the pull of the Wall and tearing away.

Date: 2009-09-17 04:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quitehomoerotic.livejournal.com
"Sure! Because it's not like there's any urgency here or anything!" Jack held fast onto the door as it was being assaulted from the other side. He wasn't sure how much longer it would hold. But then...

Then they were away. The whole craft moved and Jack rolled back now the force wasn't being pushed against the other side of the door. He fell back to the floor and started laughing. This was adventure, this was the sort of thing that had been missing from his life.

"That'll do it," he grinned from the floor. "Everyone okay?"

With an arm pressed against the floor he lifted himself up and moved over to the Doctor. Pushing a hand against his back he looked over at the controls. "She holding?"

Date: 2009-09-17 04:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com
The Doctor kept his hands on the controls, but nodded. Jack's presence was a comfort, though he'd never admit that aloud. "Looks like. But we'll have to see what happens next when---"

As if on cue, the main ship hit the Wall. Through the display monitor, the Doctor could see the rippling mass begin to absorb the machine. Seconds later, there was an explosion, and the Wall began to ripple more. A hole began to form in the center of the mass, then another. Like a piece of paper going up by fire, it was quickly being consumed.

But not fast enough. The claw at the end of the wall extended, reaching out for them through the pain of its destruction.

"This is...yeah, this isn't good," the Doctor said, spinning the tiny pod faster. "I have to get to maximum velocity before I can hit the time vortex----"

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