House

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Jack was still a little drunk when he woke up from his nao and realized he needed to tell House. He left Logan and Joe in the comfort of the hut and headed for the good doctor's place, hoping to catch him there.

Jack knocked on the door and waited. Fucker came around the place from the back side and demanded attention from the onc familiar man. Jack scritched his ears and chin as he waited for House to answer so he could deliver the hard news.

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[misanthrope_md]

It was a couple of minutes before House answered the door, since he was slow moving, and he figured an unexpected visitor could wait. Or not. Though the fact that Fucker wasn't barking probably should have indicated that it was someone House knew. (He would amend that to 'liked' but that certainly wasn't true. Sometimes Fucker had bad taste.)

When he finally opened the door, he was surprised to see Jack, but it didn't show on his face, which was studiously neutral.

He could smell alcohol on him, but that could mean a number of things.

"If you need a babysitter because you and Logan are on a bender, I'm busy washing my hair," he said.

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Jack let go of the dog and took hold of the door jamb to steady himself instead. He started to speak but choked up nd swallowed hard to banish the lump in his throat. Sorrow washed over him and tears threatened to spill.

"The Doctor and Rob are gone," he croaked. "Nate too. They're just...gone."

[misanthrope_md]

House was so taken aback by the fact that Jack was near tears that it took a few more seconds for the actual content of his message to sink in.

The Doctor.

And Rob. Rob.

House immediately went utterly and completely numb. The expression on his face was unchanged.

"Are you sure?"

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"They're gone. The treehouse is empty. The TARDIS is gone," he said, trying to control himself and barely holding it together.

[misanthrope_md]

House looked at him for a second, and then fished a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to him.

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Jack took it and held it in his fist for a moment, then could only hang his head and shrug.

"I thought you should know," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I had to tell you but you should know."

[misanthrope_md]

There was a long pause, several seconds, and then House said, "Thank you."

He seriously didn't know what he would do if Jack broke down and started bawling on his doorstep. On the other hand, it would distract him from feeling whatever he should be feeling. Which at the moment, was nothing. Nothing at all.

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Jack stood there for a long moment nd let the silence stretch between them until he couldn't take it anymore. He let go of the door jamb and threw his arms around House and hugged him hard.

"Too many people are vanishing," he said.

[misanthrope_md]

House was taken aback by the hug, and just stood there stiffly for a moment before finally patting Jack's shoulder awkwardly.

He was kind of glad he mostly just smelled like booze because it ruined what might otherwise be a nice moment of Jack's arms around him. Which he did not want to experience.

"Don't worry about me, at least," he said, and there was no mistaking the bitterness in his voice. "I've been here forever and I'm sure I will be yet."

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"You can't go," he said, choked up and holding on tight. "I can't take losing anyone else."

He was just a little too drunk still to keep his mouth shut and push all his feelings down.

[misanthrope_md]

Still numb.

"Yeah, but at least with me you'd know that I'd probably be better off," House said.

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That drew an involuntary chuckle from him, part amused and part bitter.

"True. Back to the land of pain medication. And hookers."

[misanthrope_md]

And the really sad thing was, House realized, that didn't sound all that appealing. He didn't even know what he wanted anymore.

"Exactly," he said.

[more_flexible]

He realized just a little too late how awkward the embrace was, how clingy and emotionally charged. He reluctantly let go, giving House's chest a slow pat before he broke contact completely.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I know how much Rob means to you. I'm...sorry."

[misanthrope_md]

Some of the numbness threatened to face into something else, and House held it firmly in place.

"You should go home and sleep it off, Jack," he said. "You'll feel better."

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"I should. I should have never left Logan. I...there's so many people I want to keep close," he said, his words slurring a little. "You could come over. You could stay with us if you want to..."

[misanthrope_md]

"Go be with your family, Jack," House said quietly.

Because, sure, that was exactly what he wanted to deal with - Logan's jealousy over Jack bringing him home as someone he wanted to keep close. Right.

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He was just drunk enough that he was easily suggestible. Jack nodded twice and took a step back. He didn't really want to leave- he wanted to bring House and Helen home, others too. He wanted to bring everyone together just in the hopes that it would be safer that way.

He knew it wouldn't be.

"I'll go. But...I'll come back. I'll check on you more often. You mean a lot to me, Greg. You really do."

He turned and stumbled away from the door, nearly tripping on the dog as Fucker danced around his feet.

[misanthrope_md]

House felt his chest tighten. It was only a matter of time. House was the one that had been here forever. Since the beginning. If anyone was leaving, it was Jack.

"Goodbye, Jack," he said, before the numbness could slip away again, and walked back in and closed the door.

[more_flexible]

Goodbye. That sounded so...final. Jack's eyes burned as he ducked his head and turned away. He knew he needed to get home but...goodbye. He didn't want to say that.

"I'll see you later," he mumbled, then started to stagger off toward home.