The Doctor had been working on the TARDIS without pause. Of course, she didn't technically take any damage after everything had been resolved, but it didn't feel that way to him. He kept cleaning every part of the console, mutter reassurances and compliments and all of that while trying to ignore the elephant, well, the Master in the room.
Finally he couldn't bear the tension anymore, waiting for him to wake up and not knowing if he would and dreading either outcome. Finally he made his way to Jack's room, still wearing his glasses. He didn't bother knocking, because some lessons he'd never learn, but instead walked right in.
The time in the TARDIS with the Doctor had been.. interesting. Mostly a lot of quiet tension and listening to the Doctor mutter in between demanding that Jack hand him something or do something for him. Most everything seemed to be back to normal now, so Jack spent a lot of his time in the pool and reading. He'd kill for a shooting range, but something about the Doctor not believing in guns or some such nonsense. Blah, blah.
When the Doctor decided to pay Jack a visit, he had actually just finished a shower and was toweling off his hair, his body already mostly dry. The sudden appearance of him caused him to jump and only look a little sheepish, if only for the Doctor's sake. Any decency or shame he had died ages ago.
"Well..." Problem wasn't quite what he'd call that. He wondered if Jack ever bothered dressing when he wasn't in his immediate vicinity but decided that it was better for his peace of mind if he didn't find out the answer to that question. The Doctor stepped further into the room, very firmly focusing his eyes on Jack's face and absolutely nowhere else.
...that man had like three times this generation's muscle mass, how was that fair?
"No. No problem. I just..." He hadn't really thought of what to tell Jack, but he realized that for various reasons telling him that he simply couldn't stand the Master's quiet presence anymore wouldn't be the best idea. "Just checking up on you." He found a smile somewhere, after all he had experience in faking those. "Part of the service. I forgot my stewardess uniform."
Jack raised an eyebrow at the Doctor. He'd never come to check on him before, and Jack couldn't help but feel a little skeptical. "Shame, I'm sure it looks good on you. Maybe next time." He smiled at him and turned from him to go and find his clothes, because he really didn't want the Doctor insisting he was just showing off... Even if he were. "If you're offering services, I could think of a few I'd like to have done." He scooped up his trousers and gave a wink to the Doctor just as he went to sit on the bed.
"I'm doing all right. Just trying to find things to do." He shrugged and pulled the clothes up his legs. "You keep the place in good shape. It's hard to find things to keep me entertained."
"Oh, yeah. Really accentuates my legs." The Doctor breathed out when Jack went about getting dressed, because that would help make this situation a bit less awkward. "I'd promise to knock next time, but something tells me you'd have told me to come in either way."
He moved backwards until he could lean against a wall, loosely folding his arms as he looked at the ground as if it was of particular interest. "So. I know, it's not exactly the most thrilling journey. And, you know, I have no idea when he... If..." He made a vague gesture that meant nothing at all and glanced up at Jack, a half-smile on his face. "You can leave any time you choose, you know that, right? I don't want to keep you from the people you care about."
"I actually prefer it when you come in like this. You always look so tense. It's funny." Jack laughed a little and stood to fasten his trousers, listening to the Doctor speak.
He's not sure how he feels about always being let know that it was okay to leave. It almost felt like he was being passive-aggressively kicked out, and frankly, he was getting a little tired of the back and forth. His face looked tired when he turned to the Doctor finally. "Doctor, look," he began, running a hand through his hair. "If you want me to leave, please, just tell me. My feelings aren't made of glass, you know. If you want me to leave... just say so. I don't want to, of course. I don't want to leave you with that psychopath... but I know I'm hard to be around. It can't be easy for you, and I'm sorry for that."
"It's not like that!" Tense, yes. He was definitely tense. But then, he always was these days, waiting for the Master to wake up and dreading it, wanting to get out of here, have something to do, but not risking it because of the Master and always surrounded by the guilt he felt over using Jack, over everything related to Jack. The Doctor sighed in frustration, running his fingers through his hair and tugging on the ends while taking a few steps further into the room.
"It's not like that at all. I mean, yes, you're..." He moved his hand vaguely. "You and it's always... But I can deal with that. I can!" Some days it drove him crazy, but he was getting more used to it now, fighting his very instincts. "The thing is just... I don't know where we're going. We're going nowhere. I'm just waiting. Just waiting for him and..." He trailed off, head turning to the side as he rubbed his face. Finally he managed to look at Jack again, smiling in the way that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm glad I'm not alone."
There was always a look of sadness to Jack's eyes when the Doctor talked about him like that. He hated being reminded that to the Doctor he was little more than a walking, talking problem that he couldn't fix. He shook his head and stepped close to the Doctor, placing a hand on his shoulders and giving him a smile. "I'm glad you're not alone, too." His voice was soft with a note of understanding.
"You're too manic to be left by yourself, you know. But if you need anything... someone to talk to, if you want me on the opposite end of the TARDIS for a while... I can do that. I just need you to talk to me about it. I can't read minds. I don't know what's going on in your head, and while I'm not... scared about it, exactly..." his smile faded, replaced with a concerned look. "It's troubling. I want to make sure you're okay. It's been hard, I know."
"Troubling. Yeah. That's a good word." The Doctor avoided meeting Jack's eyes, instead blinking as he looked to the side, rubbing his earlobe between two fingers. "I don't know if he'll wake up or if he'll just stay like this and I don't know which prospect I find more troubling." He sighed and finally turned his head, looking right at Jack. "I just need to get somewhere already. Terrible, isn't it? All pent up in here. But I can't really risk it. Can't risk anything right now, not until..." Lifting his shoulders a bit in a half-shrug he smiled. "Y'know."
"Well, if it makes things better, he's cuffed down. Not sure he'd be going anywhere even if he did wake up while you were gone." Jack shrugged one of his shoulders and slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers. "He's vain. He's not going to risk mutilation to escape. He's not a fox. But we'll know soon... and when we do, we can make plans from there. But until that time... we've gotta be patient, no matter how stir-crazy we get."
There was a bit of slyness that came to Jack's lips when he smiled. "Or if you get bored, I've been known to entertain handsome men from time to time. I'm sure a handsome Time Lord wouldn't be too different." Mostly a joke, just to lighten the tension.
There was a look of plain confusion for a moment, before it shifted into a slight blush accompanied by a smile that did betray some vanity. Handsome, huh? Well, he could see that. Of course, Jack flirted all the time, but in this situation the compliment had still managed to catch the Doctor off-guard.
Which made him actually think about it and that finally just led to him chuckling with a slight shake of his head. "Oh, great idea. Let's just nab over to the console room and get right to it, shall we? There's something bound to wake him."
The remark actually caught Jack off guard. He wasn't exactly used to the Doctor flirting back with him. Still, he wouldn't be Jack Harkness if he didn't meet it with his signature charm. He closed the distance between himself and the Doctor, taking one hand and wrapping it around him to pull him against Jack's half-naked body.
"Don't tempt me. Don't think I haven't had that very same train of thought at least once." With a grin, he leaned close to his ear to whisper, "To have you bent over that console, screaming my name while I took you into ecstasy? Yeah, the thought occurred to me once or twice."
Alright. Woah. That was a lot of Jack very close suddenly. A lot of skin and how had his hand come to be pressed against Jack's chest anyway? The Doctor's eyes were wide even before the whisper and then he just stayed silent for a few seconds, wondering if he just imagined his hearts beating that fast.
Finally he cleared his throat, taking a step backward and ever so gently trying to pull his hand out of Jack's grip. He should have foreseen this, he really should have, yet somehow... He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and ran his hand through his hair. Better. Good. "Oh, Ecstasy is horrid this time of the year. Terrible climate, really."
Jack had honestly expected as much, and let the Doctor go without any fighting him. Harmless flirting, and of course his advances had been deflected with a joke. Jack stepped back and turned to find his shirt. "Too bad. I'd heard such nice things, too. Oh well, maybe another time. Wouldn't want the TARDIS to get jealous, after all." He winked and smiled back at him. He never really expected to be taken up on his offers, anyway. Not by the Doctor, at least. Still one of the only people who could manage to deflect him that well. Damn.
"Oh, she wouldn't. She likes you." That much was true, at least. Probably because she felt responsible, too. And there was a shadow over his face.
"I'm sorry. For everything." Everything Jack had become and been through because of him. His first death, his revival, the vortex energy burning inside him, the constant of his existence and all the suffering it had put him through. The year with the Master and all the pain it had caused him, all because of his loyalty to the man ultimately responsible for all of it. "You're impossible, you know?"
There was a slight smile before he continued. "And I don't mean... you know, all that. I mean how you haven't punched me yet."
Jack's smile faded when the tone of the conversation changed so suddenly. Why was he apologising? Jack wasn't entirely sure, though he had a pretty good idea so far... He didn't want him to feel sad or responsible for what had happened to him, but he couldn't help the fact that the closure did feel nice. He pulled the shirt on and started fastening the buttons, finding it somewhat hard to look at the Doctor without feeling awkward.
"There's no reason to," he said. "I'm not going to punch you, Doctor. You haven't done anything to deserve it. In fact, it was you that kept me sane the last year. If I didn't have the hope that you would fix everything in the end... I don't know what I would have done. I knew that he hadn't killed you, so I knew everything would work out." He shrugged and sighed. "And if I hadn't come chasing after you, none of this would have happened. So if anyone deserves to get punched, it's probably me."
"Punch you? Do I look like I want to bruise my hand?" There, maybe a joke would lighten the mood again, at least end the spiral of guilt he was on. Besides, Jack was almost dressed now, that should make this a bit less dangerous. One never knew when he might decide to just drop the towel and that would most definitely be awkward.
"If there's anything you need, just... You know, let me know. Or tell the TARDIS, I think the old girl has a crush on you anyway."
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A while after they started out. Most precise time.
Finally he couldn't bear the tension anymore, waiting for him to wake up and not knowing if he would and dreading either outcome. Finally he made his way to Jack's room, still wearing his glasses. He didn't bother knocking, because some lessons he'd never learn, but instead walked right in.
"Jack?"
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When the Doctor decided to pay Jack a visit, he had actually just finished a shower and was toweling off his hair, his body already mostly dry. The sudden appearance of him caused him to jump and only look a little sheepish, if only for the Doctor's sake. Any decency or shame he had died ages ago.
"Problem?"
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...that man had like three times this generation's muscle mass, how was that fair?
"No. No problem. I just..." He hadn't really thought of what to tell Jack, but he realized that for various reasons telling him that he simply couldn't stand the Master's quiet presence anymore wouldn't be the best idea. "Just checking up on you." He found a smile somewhere, after all he had experience in faking those. "Part of the service. I forgot my stewardess uniform."
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"I'm doing all right. Just trying to find things to do." He shrugged and pulled the clothes up his legs. "You keep the place in good shape. It's hard to find things to keep me entertained."
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He moved backwards until he could lean against a wall, loosely folding his arms as he looked at the ground as if it was of particular interest. "So. I know, it's not exactly the most thrilling journey. And, you know, I have no idea when he... If..." He made a vague gesture that meant nothing at all and glanced up at Jack, a half-smile on his face. "You can leave any time you choose, you know that, right? I don't want to keep you from the people you care about."
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He's not sure how he feels about always being let know that it was okay to leave. It almost felt like he was being passive-aggressively kicked out, and frankly, he was getting a little tired of the back and forth. His face looked tired when he turned to the Doctor finally. "Doctor, look," he began, running a hand through his hair. "If you want me to leave, please, just tell me. My feelings aren't made of glass, you know. If you want me to leave... just say so. I don't want to, of course. I don't want to leave you with that psychopath... but I know I'm hard to be around. It can't be easy for you, and I'm sorry for that."
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"It's not like that at all. I mean, yes, you're..." He moved his hand vaguely. "You and it's always... But I can deal with that. I can!" Some days it drove him crazy, but he was getting more used to it now, fighting his very instincts. "The thing is just... I don't know where we're going. We're going nowhere. I'm just waiting. Just waiting for him and..." He trailed off, head turning to the side as he rubbed his face. Finally he managed to look at Jack again, smiling in the way that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm glad I'm not alone."
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"You're too manic to be left by yourself, you know. But if you need anything... someone to talk to, if you want me on the opposite end of the TARDIS for a while... I can do that. I just need you to talk to me about it. I can't read minds. I don't know what's going on in your head, and while I'm not... scared about it, exactly..." his smile faded, replaced with a concerned look. "It's troubling. I want to make sure you're okay. It's been hard, I know."
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There was a bit of slyness that came to Jack's lips when he smiled. "Or if you get bored, I've been known to entertain handsome men from time to time. I'm sure a handsome Time Lord wouldn't be too different." Mostly a joke, just to lighten the tension.
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Which made him actually think about it and that finally just led to him chuckling with a slight shake of his head. "Oh, great idea. Let's just nab over to the console room and get right to it, shall we? There's something bound to wake him."
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"Don't tempt me. Don't think I haven't had that very same train of thought at least once." With a grin, he leaned close to his ear to whisper, "To have you bent over that console, screaming my name while I took you into ecstasy? Yeah, the thought occurred to me once or twice."
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Finally he cleared his throat, taking a step backward and ever so gently trying to pull his hand out of Jack's grip. He should have foreseen this, he really should have, yet somehow... He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and ran his hand through his hair. Better. Good. "Oh, Ecstasy is horrid this time of the year. Terrible climate, really."
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"I'm sorry. For everything." Everything Jack had become and been through because of him. His first death, his revival, the vortex energy burning inside him, the constant of his existence and all the suffering it had put him through. The year with the Master and all the pain it had caused him, all because of his loyalty to the man ultimately responsible for all of it. "You're impossible, you know?"
There was a slight smile before he continued. "And I don't mean... you know, all that. I mean how you haven't punched me yet."
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"There's no reason to," he said. "I'm not going to punch you, Doctor. You haven't done anything to deserve it. In fact, it was you that kept me sane the last year. If I didn't have the hope that you would fix everything in the end... I don't know what I would have done. I knew that he hadn't killed you, so I knew everything would work out." He shrugged and sighed. "And if I hadn't come chasing after you, none of this would have happened. So if anyone deserves to get punched, it's probably me."
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"If there's anything you need, just... You know, let me know. Or tell the TARDIS, I think the old girl has a crush on you anyway."