[for the doctor]

[more_flexible]

Thursday was a spectacular day. Not too hot, not too humid, the sky was a gorgeous blue and the breeze stirred the air just enough. Jack woke with the sun and was finishing up the cutting of the treads. He had a pile of bamboo cut to length for spindles and he'd selected the nearby tree he'd use for the center support. Now all he needed was to assemble the spiral staricase up twenty feet or so, and then fix the landing so the short bridge would tie on.

Sometimes he was really happy with the bookshelf.

Comments

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Hey," the Doctor said, padding up in sensible Chucks and ripped up jeans. He had a t-shirt slung over his shoulder and the sonic in his other hand, ready for anything. "Wow, you did quite a bit of prep," he noted, impressed.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I've been working at it," he nodded, taking a moment to look over the bare skin before returning to work. "Thanks for coming to help."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"The least I could do," the Doctor said, flushing slightly as he set down the shirt out of the way. "Where do you want me to start?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Um...I guess you can start putting spindles on treads. Here's the plans," he replied, opening a book to a simple plan for spiral staircases. "Once we get them ready, they'll go up without a problem."

That was the plan anyhow.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor nodded and got on it straightaway, looking over the diagram and then proceeding. "Lovely day."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"It is," he agreed, boring one last hole. "I hope it's nice like this tomorrow when I go diving."

Small talk. Great. They'd been reduced to small talk.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor nodded, realised Jack couldn't see him, then said "Yeah." He stretched and handed Jack the pieces he'd put together, fingers brushing briefly.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack swallowed and took a breath to steady himself, watching his fingers as they left his skin. "Right. Well, if I've read this right, it'll support itself and the builder as it goes up. Care to take bets on how far off the ground I am before it comes apart?" he joked.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Just far enough to break your neck," the Doctor replied, teasingly, not nearly as oblivious as he seemed. "Four metres?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"If that," he grinned, placing the fist tread and securing it to the trunk. "Still want scallops tomorrow?" he asked, just to ask.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor handed him the next one. "Yeah, definitely," he agreed. "I was thinking of making linguini for it?" He pursed his lips in thought.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Sounds good. Sarah Jane would probably like that," he agreed, adding the next step. This wasn't going to take any time at all...if it didn't fall apart.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I'm lighter," the Doctor said, thoughtfully. "Do you want me to place some of the higher ones, as a test?"


and not because I have any plot ideas.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Sure," he agreed with a shrug. "If you trust these lower ones enough."

He smiled and picked up two, ready to hand them to the Doctor when he needed them.

should I fear your plot ideas?

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

Nodding, the Doctor tested the first few, then set the next ones into place. One, two...he headed up another stair, zapping with blue light as he went along. "Another, yeah?"


ph33r me. just have Jack react normally and you'll be fine.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He handed him another, watching intently. "Not exactly cabinets..."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Close enough for government work." The Doctor nodded and set the next one into place, zapping it, then another. He was now about three metres up, and he started for the next step...

But his balance was all wrong, and he slipped, foot missing the tread. And without a rail there was nowhere for him to go but out.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"DOCTOR!" he yelled, dropping the piece he was holding and stepping under him. He wasn't that far up, so in theory he'd be able to catch him.

Or break the fall.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor barely had time to yell...fine, more like scream, as he landed on Jack and they both went down with quite an audible thud.

There was moaning, and it wasn't the good kind.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Doctor!" he said urgently, rolling to lay him out on the ground. "Oh, shit. What hurts?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor lay there still for a moment, blinking, then opened his eyes with a wince. "My arse," he said. "Bloody hell, so this is a bruised tailbone."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"We should get you to the clinic," he said gently.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Rubbish," the Doctor said, sitting up and making sure not to have pressure on a certain area, because that was the bit that hurt. "I'm fine, just a bit sore, is all."

He grinned at Jack. "My hero."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Your hero. Right. I still think we should get some ice."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I'll be fine, what would I do, sit on the ice?" the Doctor scoffed. "Walk around with ice pressed to my arse?"