[ace, doctor, cuddy]

[more_flexible]

He'd talked to House. That was...what was today? He'd talked to House on Monday. That had to be days ago.

Jack was in his hut. He'd been there...days, maybe. He had some water, and he'd eaten something. Maybe a while ago, he couldn't remember.

Is this what it was to have a broken heart? Had he done this to people? Had he done this to people all over time and space?

Had he done this to people here?

Fuck it. Jack rolled over and pulled the sheet up over his face. If anyone needed him, they'd know where to find him or who to ask. It's not like he was going anywhere.



[dual duty because I'm lazy. this is for ace, cuddy and the doctor. he's still not talking, so I'm really sorry if these go short or die.]

Comments

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah." The Doctor drew one knee up to his chest. "So that's why we keep coming back to talk about this. And it's my fault, yeah. I just...I want to be able to do something. Be needed."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Okay," he sighed, sitting up and leaning forward. "Needed how?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Just in general," the Doctor said. "That's all. I do everything and I don't know when I'm going to be satisfied with what I do. Love is good, more than satisfying; my friendships are good too. But I can't quite find the work."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack ran his hand through his hair and it remained standing with tracks through it where his fingers had gone. "You know how I keep talking about wanting to matter?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," the Doctor said. He decided now wasn't the best time to tell Jack he needed a shower.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"That's really all it is. To do something important. To...matter. To more than myself," he shrugged. "I don't have any great ideas. Just, I guess, I know how you feel."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor looked at him, then nodded and rubbed his forehead. "Well," he said finally, then didn't say anything, only looked at him. "You...really need a shower, Jack."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack scritched the few days' growth on his cheek and looked up. "Yeah. Probably. Haven't had one since Sunday. And then I was a woman. Not exactly sure that counts," he mused.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I'd walk with you, if you wanted," the Doctor said. "Your hair needs a scrub, stat."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"No one but you has come by in days, Doctor. No one cares what my hair looks like," he said softly, laying back down on the bed. It was easier to not think if he was laying down.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"That's not the point. What if a monkey gives you fleas?" the Doctor said. He looked at Jack. "Jack...you weren't lying in bed last week. What's happened?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I talked to House," he said, draping his arm over his eyes. "Actually, no, first I let him think I was a hooker. Then I fucked him. Then we talked."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor paused, took a moment to process this, raised his eyebrows, and then blinked. "That...is a really interesting process and method," he said finally, blandly. "Um."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack laid in silence for a minute. Maybe two.

"I missed him so much. I...yeah. I just wanted to breathe a little."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I can't say I blame you," the Doctor agreed, quietly. After all, he was the master of unconventional methodology. "And what you ended up with...has kept you in bed for days?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"He called me baby..." he started, then had the wherewithall to actually look at the Doctor. "It's a thing. Special. But he didn't know it was me and he said it. It...hurt."

He took a deep breath and stretched, his shoulder popping like always. "And then after we talked, I said I love you and, yeah. I fucked it up too much. He didn't say it to me. So I've been thinking. And avoiding thinking."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor frowned, thinking, for a moment. "So those were the things you got out of the scenario. But what did he see in it? Did you come to any resolution?"

He was trying to flesh out the image. Except for the naked hooker part and the baby part.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"That I'm going to try and earn his trust. Maybe, one day, be his boyfriend again. Maybe," Jack said, just saying the words aloud clearly making him ache. When he didn't have to hide them, he was absolute shit at concealing how he felt. "So...I'm trying to come up with a plan."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"And he said okay," the Doctor said. "That you could come up with a plan, and that you could try." Which seemed, to him, to be more of a Good Sign than a Lie In Bed For Days Sign, but different strokes, right?

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he replied. "Still don't have a plan. Except 'Take a shower before I go anywhere else,' I guess. I'm out of ideas and the old standbys are out, so...yeah. I don't know."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I think taking a shower might actually be a good place to start," the Doctor said. "Maybe a change of scene would do you good. Mental rut, stuck here."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, maybe," he agreed, making no move to get up or go to the Compound. "Have you talked to him?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Not since you two talked, no." The Doctor settled his chin onto his fist once more. "Jack, you have to get up."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Give me one good reason I have to," he sighed. He wasn't being obstinate, he just couldn't see any point.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Because I think it'll help you think better." The Doctor cocked his eyebrows. "I can't force you, I'm just saying, I don't think you're going to formulate anything if you don't change your surroundings."