[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

[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?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack wasn't laughing. "Yeah, exactly that. You know if it's fractured you won't be able to walk, sit, or fuck...come on. Don't be such a chicken."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor stood up, wincing, but walking just fine. "It's not fractured," he said. "Come on, I'll be all right, I'll help you from the ground."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack looked wary, but agreed. "Okay...just be careful, okay?" he said, looking at the stairs then back and the Doctor. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked, moving closer and laying his hand lightly over his tailbone.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Kay," the Doctor agreed. He blushed faintly as Jack touched him, unable to keep from pressing back into his hand, just a little. "Yeah, just sore. You did save me, though."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He let his hand linger for a moment longer than necessary before pulling away. "Couldn't just let you fall," he murmured, moving away.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

Catching his hand, the Doctor pulled him around and looked him over. "You didn't escape unscathed," he noted, gesturing to the varied bruises over Jack's chest.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I'm fine," he shrugged. "...had worse."