[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]

His lips trembled as he fought every impulse to reach around and hold on, and the desire to beg him not to go.

Begging was avoided, but holding...it was accompanied by a soft whimper against the Doctor's lips.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Jack," the Doctor said quietly, against his mouth, leaning his forehead against his.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"It hurts," he sobbed softly, clutching at the belt loops at his waist. "I'm trying, but it hurts."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I know," the Doctor said, putting an arm around him. "There's not any other way, Jack. Not for what you want."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I'll never stop loving you. It hurts seeing you kissing everyone but me," he admitted quietly. "I can't touch you without wanting more...I suck at this."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

He nodded, leaning his forehead against Jack's. "I know, sweet. But I have to live," he explained. "You're doing better than some would have."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I know...just don't be surprised when I pull away because I don't want to see it. Or hear it," he sighed, finally letting go and stepping back.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Okay," the Doctor said, settling his gaze still on Jack. He...was glad to hear the truth.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Would you still like to help?" he asked as he picked up the tread again.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," the Doctor said, definitively. He handed a few parts over.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Work was good. Work gave him something to focus on besides words and thoughts and half naked people he missed so much it made him ache. Ten steps, bannister, ten more, another bannister. The staircase went up quickly...relatively.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor kept handing him parts, helping him out. He figured it was the least he could do. It really was, after all.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Once he was high enough, he put up the landing and came back down. "Now for the daring part," he grinned. "This is the part I really need help with...would you go into my room and catch the ropes?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"You're rappelling?" the Doctor asked, but headed in and up, dashing up the stairs. He leaned into Jack's window. "Hey."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Hey!" he called from the ground, mounting the stairs again with a bundle of planks and rope. When he got to the top, he unwound one of two coils. "Ready?" he asked, poised to throw the end across the gap.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," the Doctor called back, leaning a bit further, still inside far enough to keep his balance, but ready for action. "Let's have it."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He threw two coils together, keeping a tight hold to his ends. "Secure those to the frame. I cut holes," he hollered.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor caught them and nodded. "Right," he called back, threading each rope and tying a tight and secure knot, with enough give to not pull too hard when weight was put on it.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack tied off his end as well, securing the rope around the tree, then rolled out the planks that he'd tied together. He inches his way out, tying them into place as the whole bridge swayed high above the ground.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor watched, letting go of the knots but staying close to make certain that he'd catch them if they did give way. Not that they would; they were good knots.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

For Jack, the process took forever, but it was really only minutes before he had reached the treehouse and was off the bridge and in his room. "Thanks," he grinned as he looked back at the work. "That worked just like I thought it would."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"No problem. So are you going to crawl out the window every time you want to leave?" the Doctor asked, looking back out at the bridge. "Maybe you should build a door."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"You think I need a door?" he asked, turning back to look at the bridge. "I think I'll add some rope sides to it and it'll be fine."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Jack, sweet," the Doctor said, looking at him, "if anyone's going to be leaving that way, you really think they're going to want to crawl out your window? It's covert and fun the first time, but then it gets old."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He considered that for a second, head cocked to the side. "I don't think cutting that hole down to the floor would be that hard..." he mused.