Joe

[more_flexible]

He'd slipped away while Logan was out and made his way to the Hamlet. He had a favor to ask and the irony that he had to ask Joe wasn't lost on him. But this was important and he knew that he couldn't do it. Well, he could...but it wouldn't be the same.

He knocked on Joe's door and waited. He hoped that he didn't look as uncomfortable as he felt. He also hoped he didn't get punched in the face just for being here.

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[jdick.livejournal.com]

Not many people knocked on Joe's door these days. The ones he knew well just walked in and everyone else... well, most of them just stayed away. Frowning, he headed to the door, guitar still slung over his shoulder and opened it, looking out at Jack standing there on his front step.

"Yeah?" he asked, resisting the urge to punch him in the face. Logan would probably be pretty pissed off if he just punched Jack without much of a reason.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack still had a lingering bruise that had faded in the center to a sickly green, the edge still ringed with purple and red. He'd been sporting it for a few days now from a fight over nothing and he didn't even notice it.

"Hi, Joe," he said quietly, uncomfortable in an instant. "I was wondering if you had a second? I just have a- a question. A favor to ask, actually."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

For a long, silent moment, Joe stood in the door, his arm slung over his guitar and he watched Jack. There was nothing in the world he could think that Jack might want from him unless it had something to do with Logan, which meant he had to be civil. For Logan.

"Okay," he said finally, then stepped back from the door. It wasn't quite a verbal invitation, but it was all he was going to give.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He hesitated before taking a step forward. Tension radiated off of him as he looked around. No Dale...that just made things even more uncomfortable.

It just wasn't normal, him being so off his game, but Joe just did that to him. He wished that he could figure out a way for the man to like him, even a little, but he was also sure that would never happen.

"I'm planning a party," he said, turning his attention fully on Joe. "For Logan. Well, more than a party. He deserves a real wedding. I was hoping you'd...help."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Turning away from Jack, Joe lifted his guitar strap over his head and set it down on the stand he'd built a few months back. Turning around to face Jack again, he arched an eyebrow, but he listened, which was several steps from where he'd been a few weeks ago.

"What do you need my help for?" he asked. He'd been the one to marry Neil and Logan and he didn't think that sort of thing would be a good idea gain.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack reached up and rubbed the back of his neck as he ducked his chin.

"I was wondering- hoping, really- that you'd, um, invite people. Logan thinks that everyone likes me so much that, see, if I do the inviting then he'll think people only came for me and I don't want him to think that. And I really don't want it to be true. I want people to come for him. For us. So...would you help with that?"

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Joe's immediate reaction was to ask why the fuck everyone seemed to think Jack was so well liked, but he bit his tongue and said nothing. If it was for Logan, then it was something he would do. "You want me to make up the guest list?" he asked. "Shouldn't you and Logan do that?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"If it was up to me, it'd just be you and Dale, Ianto and the Doctor and Chase, and a handful of others. Most of the people I used to know are gone," he replied. "But there's a lot of people he knows, and a lot of people in general. I can give you a list of a few people, but if you'd spread the word, I'd..."

Jack paused and shifted, obviously uncomfortable under Joe's gaze. He was starting to think he'd made a mistake.

"I just want him to be happy and he's never had a party thrown all for him. We spent his birthday together, you know. So...I just thought..."

This was ridiculous. Jack cleared his throat and squared his shoulders.

"You're the only other person who loves him as much as I do. I'd really like your help with this. I want it to be something he'll remember forever."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

Frowning, Joe watched Jack, weighing what he was saying. There was no question that he'd help, of course, and he was sure that Jack knew he'd do absolutely anything for Logan, but he still took his time.

"Yeah, of course," he said finally, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. "You want me to help out for Logan, I'll help out. Figure out a list of people who'd wanna be there."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Whatever the reason for Joe's agreement, it still made Jack smile. It was genuine and bright and the majority of the tension he'd been carrying evaporated.

"You'll help? Really?" he asked cheerfully, then before he could think about it too hard, he asked, "Will you play, too? Your band, I mean? I think he'd like that."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Joe answered with less of a hesitation this time. "Yeah, we'll play." He'd need to check with the others, of course, but he couldn't imagine any reason why they wouldn't want to do it. "I'll help and we'll play."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Fantastic!" Jack exclaimed enthusiastically. He spread his arms and leaned in...then stopped short when he remembered just who he was talking to. A spontaneous hug would likely not go over well. It was too late to pretend it hadn't nearly happened, though.

"Thanks. Really. I know we just ran off and did it, but we both want a wedding. We'd thought about waiting til New Year's Eve, but this'll be even better."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

That... was almost a hug. Joe took a big step back and brought his arms up, crossing them over his chest. If Jack could read body language well, he was probably getting a big old 'fuck right off' right about now.

"Does Logan know about this?" Joe asked, wondering if it was some kind of a surprise wedding.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I haven't said anything to him yet, but I will," he assured Joe, consciously taking a step back. He was aware that just because he was a tactile person didn't mean everyone was, and Joe couldn't have been more transparent. Jack already gave him a wide berth. Suddenly he was wishing the island had a phone system so he wouldn't have to even come here to ask Joe things. If he ever had to ask again, that was.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"So it's not gonna scare the shit outta him and piss him off or anything?" Joe asked, dropping his arms after a moment and standing with his hands in his pockets. "I dunno if it would, but it'd be pretty fucking shitty to plan all this and then have him not like it or something."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"We're already married," Jack pointed out. "I don't think it's going to piss him off. And if it does, I guess I'll take the fallout." Without thinking, he rubbed the tender healing area on his jaw. "I just thought it'd be a good thing. Waiting until New Year's just so people can drink seems...stupid."

He paused and blinked, suddenly realizing he hadn't planned much beyond this point. Sure, there would be food and guests and a band, but he hadn't stopped to think about if Logan would like it. What if he took off like he did when he was getting married to Neil? What if...

"Do you think he'll hate it or get scared off?" Jack asked, his naivety shining through.

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"I... I dunno, man," Joe said honestly, frowning as he thought about it. "Logan isn't always the fucking extrovert he pretends to be. But if he knows about it, if it's a wedding things and it's something you guys talked about then he'll be fine."

He didn't want to make Jack think it was a bad idea. It was probably a great idea and he liked that he was being asked to help, even if he wouldn't admit that to Jack.

"It's a good idea," he said, waving it off. "I'm just fucking talking."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack had faced down Daleks with grim, determined strength. He'd dealt with Hoix and not broken a sweat. He'd conned an Chula warrior out of her ship. He'd ridden a bomb into deep space and listened to a computerized voice counting down his death. He'd done hundreds of dangerous things without thought or fear.

So how come he couldn't even talk to his father in law?

"Okay. Well...yeah. Okay," he stammered. "As long as he's happy. If he hates it, we can just have a party. No one's ever thrown him a party. A party just for him. He can't hate a party for him, right?"

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Nah, it'll be fine," Joe insisted, mostly because he wanted it to be fine. Even if he still wasn't sure whether or not he liked Jack, he did like the idea of doing something for Logan. After so fucking long, he wanted to be able to do something like that. "We'll get everything figured out, get it all together and it'll be good."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

A broad, bright grin broke across his lips and nearly every tooth showed. If there was nothing else to connect them, the fact that they both cared about Logan was enough to make Jack happy. Not comfortable, but happy.

"Great, then! Fantastic. Okay, well, we've got about a month. If you'll take care of the guests and music, I'll do the cake and food. Maybe see if Ianto will cough up a little liquor, but if not? It's not important. Scotty's going to do the food and Prior and Maureen will decorate. It'll be great. Really. Just wait and see."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

It was a lot of unexpected enthusiasm, but Joe managed not to make a completely asshole comment about it. Instead, he nodded his agreement and picked up his guitar again, swinging the strap over his head.

"It'll be great," he agreed, strumming a few absent chords. "Guests and music, I can do that, man."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack looked from Joe to the guitar, then inclined his chin toward the door. He chewed his bottom lip for a moment, decided to ignore the cue to get out now that Joe had agreed, and instead noted softly,

"I've never heard you play. By yourself, I mean. I've heard the band, but never just you..."

[jdick.livejournal.com]

"Let's not push it," Joe answered, an eyebrow shooting up in a faintly amused expression. "We got an agreement to plan this fucking party together without anyone throwing any punches and without an excess of tension or irritation. Trying to add a serenade is just gonna make shit weird."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He held his hands up in surrender and flashed a charming, almost shy, smile.

"Okay, okay. I'll get out of your hair before this all goes bad," he agreed, his voice warm and only a fraction less anxious. "Thanks, Joe. Really. I appreciate it. All of it."