[for the doctor]

[more_flexible]

Jack had been given a couple bottles of wine, the last of the old batch, from that dark haired man who never took off his glasses. He had his suspicions there was more to it than a kind gesture, but he wasn't about to pass it up.

He took them both to the waterfall to chill in the cold water and watched the stars for a while before he opened the first bottle. It was a nice night for a change, and he'd been having it relatively easy lately. A celebratory drink...deserved a song. He sang softly, something he'd heard years ago that had stuck with him. He didn't even remember what all the words meant in that language, but it was pretty.

Comments

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Make what work?" he asked, taking a pull from the bottle.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Being friends, Jack."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

The bottle stayed up and he looked over, then swallowed and let it down gently. "Stop sucking Greg's cock," he said lightly.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor gave him a look and took the bottle back. "I can't think of the last time I did that." He took a long swig.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Stu's birthday."

He held his hand out for the bottle again. He wasn't hostile, but clearly hurt.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor handed it back. "And you think I intend to keep on with a sneak attack blowjob, periodically. I'm not shagging anyone but Rob, Jack. I'm done, I'm no longer a contender."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded, taking another drink before nodding and looking off at the waterfall.

"I don't know what I think. I just...I don't know. It's not just that. It's not even that."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," the Doctor said quietly but with determination in his voice, "you should talk it out. Figure it out. Or we're all going to just keep going in circles."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

One more drink and he handed the bottle back. "I knew you'd choose Rob. I knew it months ago."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor took a drag and set the bottle down, closing his eyes for a moment. "Go on."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack shrugged. "Okay, maybe not Rob. But I knew it wouldn't be me."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"All right." The Doctor waited for exposition, considering this was a given point.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He sat quietly for a moment and reached for the bottle. "I wanted you to want me along. As part of your life. So...I pushed my way in. Us being friends...have we ever really been friends?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor settled his elbows on his knees, then his chin in his hands. There was a long moment, and then he said, "I really don't know. Except for that I want it now. That's...all I really understand about it anymore, I guess."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"So...what do we do now?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. I'm not really sure what friends do that we don't do." The Doctor took another sip from the bottle. "Build everything from the ground up, I guess."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He sighed and took the bottle, drinking the dregs before getting up to retrieve the other one from the pool. Standing before the Doctor, he had a sudden, horrible question that he...he didn't want to ask. But he had to.

"Do you even like me?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor, startled, looked up, then looked him in the eye. He smiled softly. "Yeah. Actually, I really do."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was a stupid thing to ask, but he'd needed to know.

"Here. My hands are too wet," he said, passing off the bottle and fishing the corkscrew from his pocket.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

Not so stupid. The Doctor took the bottle and wiped his hands off a bit sloppily against his jeans. "Have a go?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He handed the Doctor the corkscrew as well, then took his place again beside him. "You open it. I'd just tear my hand open."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Definitely wreck the mood." The Doctor took the corkscrew and deftly (if a bit clumsily) opened the bottle, handing the corkscrew back. "Do you even like me, Jack?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He folded it up and stuffed it back in his pocket, then looked over at him. "I don't know. I think there's too may other things in the way. I respect you. Admire you. Probably worship you. But yeah...beyond all that? I like you."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Just had to know." The Doctor took a long sip, then handed him the bottle. "Gotta figure out where else to start, you know?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I know," he replied, taking another drink. It was going straight to his head, but it was good. It felt...right. This wasn't a sober type of conversation.

"You know. You know? Even after everything, I've never doubted you? Even when I had every reason to, I never have," he said, handing the bottle back.

"Although...I did kind of want to punch you in the mouth for the way you treated Ace," he said, then adding, "Not here. Back then. With Gabriel Chase."