[House and Ace]

[more_flexible]

Jack left the Compound and went home. He didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to be quiet, be allowed a moment of weakness. Martha had told him, but it wasn't the same as seeing it. Sure, sure, he'd seen the films of himself with Gwen and Ianto, TOsh and Owen. He'd seen and he knew, but he didn't know them the way he'd known the Doctor.

Maybe they were all just stray dogs. Martha, she was a smart one.

He kicked off his snadles and climbed onto the bed next to House and laid down next to him, draping his arm over the man and pressing his face to House's side.

Comments

[misanthrope_md]

House looked up over the top of his copy of Don't Sit Under the Grits Tree With Anyone Else But Me, a little surprised at Jack's sudden closeness. Well, not surprised at having him close, but at the way that he was close, especially without warning.

"You okay?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I don't want to talk," Jack replied softly. "Just...stay."

[misanthrope_md]

House took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Uh, sure. You want me to read to you?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He shook his head softly, shifting a bit and held on tighter. "No. I just want you," he replied.

[misanthrope_md]

"Okay..." House suspected from his tone that he didn't necessarily mean sex. But in any case, he set aside both his glasses and the book and just wrapped his arms around Jack.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

A soft sigh ruffled House's shirt and Jack closed his eyes. He rested his ear over his heart and listened to the steady beat, focusing on that and trying to ignore everything else.

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

She needed to find him. Needed to- She didn't even knock on the door, but opened it, her voice stuck in her throat. "Jack-"

He was in bed. With House. She was thrown off balance as she jerked herself to a stop, and her knuckles whitened as she gripped the doorframe so she didn't fall on her face. "S-Sorry-" Her legs protested as she took a step back. "I didn't-"

[misanthrope_md]

House's eyes shot open and widened, and without even thinking his mouth opened and he snapped, "For god's sake, don't you - "

And at that point, his mind caught up with his mouth and he remembered A) his attempts to not ostracize Jack's friends, and B) that Jack was obviously upset about something and yelling wouldn't help.

So he stopped in mid sentence and just pressed his lips together, obviously annoyed but not yelling. "Go ahead," he muttered, almost too soft for Jack to hear. "It must be important." He wasn't really sure he thought so, but if Jack wanted to leave House wasn't going to stop him.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Part of him never wanted to move again, but the other...the other was kicking his ass to keep his promise. Maybe if it had been anyone else, he'd have begged it off, but he pulled a deep breath and let his fingers squeeze House once before he rolled over and forced a smile.

"You okay, Ace?" he asked and he reluctantly let go and sat up.

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

"I- I need-" Her eyes flicked from him to House, to the fake smile, and-

"What's wrong?" The words left her mouth in a blurt, and she found herself looking at House for an answer. Not that she thought he'd done it - no, there was no accusation there. Just panic and worry, and-

And that there was something wrong of her own. It wasn't her- Ace didn't really have anything of herself to worry about anymore, because she was one of those stray dogs who was left and forgotten and replaced.

Which made Martha feel so put out. Because of Rose. What would she do if she knew there were thirty? That there were more?

But it was more then that, even though right now it was just that it was Jack and wrong and she'd messed up so horribly.

[misanthrope_md]

House had no idea why anyone was looking at him at all, as if he had the slightest fucking clue what was going on here. Two minutes ago he'd been reading about Ronald Reagan's senility test and now and now there was obviously some drama and fuck if he knew what it was.

He cleared his throat. "If you two would prefer to talk in private... well, I'm not going anywhere, but you guys can leave."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"No...no," Jack said, shaking his head. He stood and took the couple steps to the door and took Ace by the shoulder. "Come on in. Sit down. I'm fine. Really."

One day he'd learn not to lie around the two people who would always call him on it.

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

She stared up at him, and her mouth opened and closed once, and then again- "Jack-" His name was strangled, and she just kept thinking of him- of Him, both of him-

Of the way his face lit up when she'd said he came for him. Of the way he told her that he came back- "I'm sorry. I- I didn't know?" She didn't look at House, her eyes just searching his.

How was she going to tell him? "Bullshit. That you're fine. Just- Just... Bullshit. This- This is shite. Everything- This- This is bad and going to make it worse, so just tell me."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I saw a new film, okay? The Doctor and Martha Jones...and me. It wasn't what I'd thought," he replied, trying to play down how much it hurt. Hurt because he wasn't just left behind. He was avoided. He was wrong. "I don't want to talk about it. Tell me what's the matter," he said, sitting down heavily in the chair.

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

"I saw it. I saw it, and-" Her eyes flicked back to House, and she moved closer. "I saw it, Jack." What he was talking about, and she moved closer to him, her eyes welling with tears.

I gave you that hope.

"I'm sorry-"

This was so much more then just interpersonal relationships with the Doctor and Chase, and so much more then just what was here on the island.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack took her face lightly in his hands and gave her the most soft and searching look. "Ace...you don't need to be sorry for anything."

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

"Yes- Yes, I do-" She looked over her shoulder at House.

"Can- Can we- I'm sorry, I just- Can we- Please?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Yeah...okay," he said softly, letting his fingers slip from her face. "Give me a minute to get my shoes on. I'll meet you outside."

It was a weak excuse at best, but it would afford him the opportunity to explain what was going on to House.

Ace moved outside and Jack sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for his shoes.

[misanthrope_md]

House watched with some amount of irritation the exchange between the two, if only because it was obviously something he didn't understand and well, he should be the one comforting Jack, damnit.

Which hardly made sense as it seemed Jack was comforting her more than the other way around, but, well...

He was almost proud of himself for not saying a damn thing during the whole exchange, but when Ace left, he said, "So?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"The Doctor found some new films and I'm in them. I don't know how much Ace saw, but from what I saw," he shrugged, not looking at him, "I don't want to talk about it."

[misanthrope_md]

House opened his mouth, then closed it again. "Fine," he said, not abruptly or harshly, just as a statement of closure.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack quirked a tender smile and twisted around, kissing Greg soundly, long and slow. "Thanks," he whispered, then followed Ace out.

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

She'd been walking, slowly, her feet careful as she picked her way into the trees. She knew he'd find her, knew... Knew he'd come after her, and she'd have to tell him, and how did she tell him that, and-

She didn't know if he'd be dissapointed. Honestly, she didn't even know if he'd care.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack caught up quickly, the taste of the kiss still lingering on his lips.

"Ace," he said as he slowed his steps and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Talk to me."

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

She actually winced. "Told you that. When I went to Cardiff." She didn't quite remember (not at the moment) that she'd not told him she'd gone to Cardiff.

"I'm sorry. I mean, I've done this before. And-" Making sense? Not her forte.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Okay, wait," he said, confused and sure he'd sy the wrong thing and make it worse. "Just...take a breath and start from the beginning. You went to Cardiff? What did you do before?"

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

"When I went home, I.... I left the Doctor. I chose to go back to Cardiff. And.... And I told you."

She paused.

".... I told you. That he came back for you. And the way your face looked-" Guilt.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

How many times had he said these words? He'd lost count. He'd said it to Gwen and Ianto and Tosh and Owen so many times...

"Ace, I'm not that guy," he said gently. "I've seen the film. When I hear the TARDIS. I've seen the look on my face. This isn't your fault."

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

She pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. "... I'm sorry. Not-" She held up a hand. "It's not... that. It's-" She looked up at him. "I thought that he came back for you. I really did."

She slipped closer to hug him. "I know it wasn't you. You both told me that- I just- it was the closest I could get." Her face oddly twisted into a half-smile, not really wanting to admit to that. Not after the last time.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I thought that, too. Should have known better...he doesn't go back," Jack replied, soft and resigned to the truth of it.

"The...closest you could get. When was this?" he asked, considering it for a moment. "During the comas?"

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

She looked away, and nodded. "I- I thought I was... back there. For good. So I- I laid the Doctor flat, made him drop me in Cardiff." She paused. "In 1989." Because... it was him. It was him, and not Ianto or Tosh or anybody else.

But she didn't want to see his face, right now. The look on it when he realised how sad-

How it was.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

1989. That was before the films showed. He hadn't any idea what had gone on with him in the time between slipping through the rift and what the television show explained, except, apparently, he'd died first at Ellis Island. And then many times after that.

1989. She'd had the Doctor take her to him. In Cardiff. He blinked and gaped, then laid his hand lightly on her shoulder, daring to hope he had a handle on it.

"Because...I'm home for you," he said, not exactly questioning, but still a little unsure.

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

"Because you're my best friend." Something flickered there, in her eyes. "Because- I thought I'd lost everything, and you were still... something."

She shook her head slightly. "All I had? I worked. Did Ianto's job."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack didn't quite know what to think. He'd never have guessed that if he'd ever given it much thought. She'd chosen him? Over the Doctor? Even...not here?

For a brief period, the thought process was written across his face, then he smiled...crooked and with a vaguely shy quality...and ducked his chin.

"You know...I'd have liked that. If it had been real, I mean. To know that you were part of my future. If you'd been in my films..."

[pawnoffenric.livejournal.com]

"It's not the films that matter." She was serious, her fingers finding his hand. ".... Jack." She swallowed hard. "Maybe I have a part? It's just not been played yet."

Her shoulders almost... hunched. "You told me- You told me you weren't you. I knew that, knew it as soon as I saw you." She paused, remembering.

We've shagged, once. Because you felt bad for me, I think. Thought it would help, that it'd make me not be lonely. But only once. She'd been more honest. Thinking he'd never be him again.

But then...

I love you.

And he'd nodded, that odd look in his eyes.

I know. I could tell when I touched you...the way you're heart beat. It's kind of tragic, really, that I don't know you...I bet you're fantastic.

Because... because. She wished she'd never had to do that. Never know that it wouldn't ever happen.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack squeezed her hand and pulled her close, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders. "Nice to know at least I'm consistant," he said, trying to make light of it. "Not that guy here...or there."

His hand moved up and down her back in slow circles. He was her best friend? Where he thought of as home? He kept holding her, not wanting to let her go.

"But you saw it. The film. So you saw...why," he said hesitantly. He really didn't want to talk about it. Not from his side, anyhow. But if she needed to, he'd listen.

"