[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]

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.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Thanks for the lovely time, I'll just crawl out your window now," the Doctor muttered, smirking.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Okay!" he conceded. "Point taken. I'll make a damn door."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Maybe a wee terrace as well?" the Doctor asked, eyes sparking slightly.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Just a wee one?" he smirked, moving back to survey the space. "I'f I'm going to build a terrace, I may as well build a real bridge."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I suppose it's good enough for now," he replied, stepping out of Jack's line of sight and walking behind him to take in the full picture. Maybe a little too close.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack stepped back and bumped him with his shoulder, breathing in sharply. It never had really healed well since...September...

"Sorry," he said tightly, wrenching away.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor frowned, stepping back and then stepping in to look at Jack's shoulder. "Christ," he said, catching him with a stronger grip than seemed possible, and taking a look. "You need to get something on that, or just rest it."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"It's fine. It's always like this," he said, rolling it a little. "I should have rested it in October. Now, there's not much for it. I'll go get some Tylenol when we're done."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor leaned in, brow cocked. "What's left to do?" he asked, still gently setting Jack's shoulder back. He honestly didn't realise that his breath was warm against his skin. "Should ice it, too."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

His jaw twitched as he grit his teeth hard to feel anything but how close he was. "Just cleaning up. And if you're not going to ice your ass, I'm not going to ice my shoulder."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I don't want a cold arse," the Doctor replied, easing away with a brush of his fingers and sitting down on Jack's bed to retie his Chucks.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

So many things he could say, all of them leading him to think things he was trying to let go of, particularly that his ass was anything but cold.

"Well, I don't want a cold shoulder," he replied petulantly.