Title: 30 Day OTP Challenge
Rating: T
Pairing: Doctor(10)/Jack Harkness
Spoilers: At least spoilers through season 3 concerning what you learn about Jack - nothing in the way of plot spoilers though
Warnings: None that I can think
Disclaimer: Doctor Who is not mine, and I curse Moffat for all that he is putting us through with the new episodes.
AN: I fell into the trap of doing the 30 Day OTP Challenge as another way to procrastinate from homework. To those reading this that also are reading my other story (Blood Doesn't Make Family) don't worry since this will not be interfering with it at all. This is just a for fun series of oneshots that I'm writing for the challenge. They all have hardly any edits to them, and I also didn't bother with a beta. They are short and will range from angsty to funny to romantic. I'm also posting these on my tumblr (jayde7) if you want to read them there.
Day One: Holding Hands
Jack looked on from where he was leaning against one of the railings in the TARDIS, watching the Doctor run around pressing buttons and flipping switches. He had a smile on his face as he watched his partner figure out what had to be done to get to wherever they were going next. The TARDIS gave a lurch that sent both of her passengers to the floor, well, one to the floor and one almost to the floor.
The Doctor looked over to see that Jack had landed on his back and was grimacing at the fall. You would think that they all were used to the bumpy rides and landings by now, but that would be false. At least for Jack it would be. The Doctor has been with his TARDIS for several hundred years, and he was mostly used to her charms – Jack was only just learning to always hold on to something when landing.
A snicker was heard coming from the Doctor, and Jack turned his head to see the other with a grinning face looking down at him.
"You know, sometimes I think you enjoy it when others get hurt inside here. It's almost like a test when the TARDIS lands and you're the one to judge us on how we handle it all."
"I never thought about it like that before, but I suppose in some ways you're right. Wow, that's weird…" The Doctor trailed off with a look on his face that showed that he was deep in thought.
"What's weird?" Jack asked from his spot still on the floor.
"You being right." A large grin was shot to Jack with a small laugh as the Doctor walked over and offered him a hand to help him up. The captain gripped his hand tight within the grasp of the Doctor's, and he was pulled up by the Time Lord standing in front of him.
Their hands were warm against each other, and it was a welcomed touch. A touch so insignificant but so meaningful at the same time. A hand extended from the last Time Lord to the man who should feel completely wrong to him since he's a fixed point in time. Two that should not go together, but do. A hand extended from an alien who can cheat death to the man who may never die. A sign of friendship and loyalty and trust.
You never take the hand of someone you dislike or find untrustworthy. You take the hand of a friend or companion, a lover or family member. A simple act of holding hands shows so much about a relationship.
The firm grasp that the Doctor had when pulling Jack up was an unspoken way of saying I'll always be by your side to pick you up when you fall, no matter what. Trust me.
Jack gripping tight to be pulled up shows trust. Says that I do trust you, I trust my life in your hands.
Even something as insignificant as pulling someone up off the ground can be as helpful and trustful as holding someone's hand to pull them up to safety so they don't fall to their death.
The Doctor was holding onto the edge of the rooftop, seconds from falling and slipping into his next regeneration. Seconds from his fingers slipping a firm hand grasped his. He didn't have to look up to see who took hold of his life; he's held this hand many times before.
"Don't worry, Doc, I've got you." A confident voice broke through the wind rushing past the tall building. With a pull from both ends, one on the Doctor's hand, the Doctor pulling with the other hand on the edge of the roof to pull himself up. He ended up giving up both hands to the man above. Giving his life over to the man he loved. His life rested in the hands holding his, and he trusted him. With a last pull, the Doctor was pulled up and into the arms of Captain Jack.
"Thank you, Jack." The Doctor still gripped the other's hands in his own.
"Think of it as a payment for all the times you helped me off the floor of the TARDIS." Jack said with a grin and relief in his eyes before he leaned in and gave the Doctor a kiss. They both turned and walked away from the edge of the rooftop, holding hands all the way to the TARDIS as a way to make sure the other was still there and still alive.