[PLOT:TARDIS]

[more_flexible]

Jack had been searching the corridors and rooms for...he didn't know how long. When he came across food, he ate it and when he was tired he had lain down in a place that was as lovely as the butterfly atrium had been. He never did find that again, which was kinda tragic, but he was too busy searching. He'd forgotten all about his lunch and the repairs. He'd forgotten the Doctor's warning that he needed to be careful or he'd walk out a month later and think only a few days had passed. He'd forgotten any responsibilities or friends he had on the island...not forgotten entirely, but it just seemed like they wouldn't be bothered if he was gone for a while. He had something to do. Something consuming. Something important. The TARDIS needed him and he could help. He could make her better.

As he looked down the deep shaft that continued on in inky darkness, down and down into what could be anything, Jack knew that was where he needed to go. He needed to get down in there, no matter how long it took. He circled the giant hole and tried to find a way past the barricade, the decided that the best course of action was to simply climb over. He could jump in and get to the bottom faster. He'd fix her with his bare hands or die trying.

He'd already died once and come back thanks to the TARDIS and Rose. He wasn't afraid. Death was just a do-over.

Comments

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"It all depends on what we can pull off," the Doctor said, "but it might be worth a try."

At least it would give Jack something to do besides fool around.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

At that, Jack looked up and smiled, hesitant but painfully genuine.

"You're okay with that? I'll see what I can put together. Maybe ask Tosh for her thoughts. Doctor...this could work."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"It could," the Doctor agreed, and then smiled back softly, able to meet his eyes. "You hungry?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he nodded, his ideas and excitement consuming him. He got up off the floor, nearly bouncing as he looked around for his jacket.

"This could work, you know. If we could buffer the output and control the directionality of the signal, she could at least feel like she's part of us. Mute, but not dead. And we come in here enough that it might give her a chance to talk back in her way. This could work!"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"We'll get you something besides pot noodles," the Doctor said, and got up finally, tossing Jack his jacket. "You'll want that, it's pissing it down out there for some reason."

He liked the idea, yes, but he just wasn't certain how it would work.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack hardly noticed the Doctor's lack of enthusiasm, or at least the fact that it didn't match his own.

"Really? That's weird. It doesn't rain for long, if ever. Perks of paradise, right?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Eh, it'll likely pass," the Doctor said, and put an arm around Jack's shoulders before opening the door and looking outside.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"It looks like the trees died," he said as he looked outside. "Autumn in Hungary. This place is so strange. Let's go..."

It was, perhaps, a testament to how long he'd been here and just how accustomed he'd become to the bizzare changes and simply accepted them. Woke in the body of a young girl? Nothing to worry about. Snow in December? How festive. Sacrifice yourself to a ship? Just another Friday afternoon.

There was very little that shocked him and the list just kept shrinking.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"I thought more like Romania," the Doctor admitted, then let Jack out the door before catching his wrist. "Jack?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He stopped abruptly and turned to face the Doctor. The cold and the rain were nice. Nothing he'd want to spend a lot of time in, but a nice change, nonetheless.

"Yeah?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

The Doctor's fingers slipped against Jack's wrist for a moment, and he considered his words, then said, "You're important. To me."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

It took a moment for him to answer. His chin dropped and he looked up from beneath his lashes again, but this time without a trace of seduction. Just admiration, affection, and a hint of the worship that was always there when he let his guard down.

"Thanks. You too," he said, unsure of what else to say or do that wouldn't get him slapped or get the Doctor in trouble at home.

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," the Doctor replied, and smiled softly before letting go. "Was it really just about the pot noodles?" he asked, after clearing his throat.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely," he lied, smiling brighter. "And now I think I can live without them for another three years. Maybe longer."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

It wasn't like the Doctor didn't know it. But he wasn't going to get in the way of either of them and what they had. "You know, there was that colony world of otaku..."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Oh, God. Don't remind me," Jack laughed. He nodded toward the path as he draped his arm around the Doctor and started walking. If they were going to talk, they might as well get to the compound. If they stayed here for much longer, Jack was afraid he might just shove the Doctor back inside the TARDIS and consequences be damned.

And reminiscing was so much...safer.

"Remember that vendor? The one whose mother came out and started hitting me with that scroll?"

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's because you bleeding basically offered to take the virginity of a sworn Khosian acolyte," the Doctor said, "in rather explicit terms. I know, how were you to know that 'dancing' was such an explicit metaphor."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"That really wasn't my fault," he countered. "And besides, when I found out I figured the mom might be interested instead. If you hadn't dragged me away, I could have danced with her. I would have even let her keep the scroll handy."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah, whatever," the Doctor drawled. "You were just putting on a show for Rose because she had that cyberpunk William Gibson's-wet-dream dress on."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack groaned and his arm tightened around the Doctor.

"She looked good. Even you had to have noticed."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Of course I did," the Doctor replied, smirking. "But I was more stoic then and less human. Besides, I figured if you were meant to, she'd let you."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He snorted again as he shot the Doctor a look. "It was never gonna happen. I accepted that the first moment I saw how she looked at you."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, well." The Doctor shrugged and cleared his throat, not wanting to deal with the idea of that. "Didn't mean to get in your way."

Even if Rose would be another conquest, or if she wouldn't.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack laughed warmly, let go, and gave him a playful shrug. "How could I ever hope to compete with those ears? I was doomed from the start."

[sortofaman.livejournal.com]

"Oi, that is low, that is, Harkness," the Doctor retorted, and gave him a light punch in the bicep. "I wasn't interested in a shag anyway and you know it."