Accountability
Chapter Summary: The Doctor feels he is out of control after the events of WOM. He seeks out the one person he trusts to put him back in line, to give him the retribution he desires.
Warnings: Rated M to be safe. Spanking, slash, D/s.
Chapter 1: Punish Me
The Doctor sat on the floor of the TARDIS, curled up against her consol in tears. What had he done? He knew the consequences of interfering with fixed points. It was the cardinal rule of the Time Lords. Some things must be and to interfere with those set events was a criminal offense. He didn't want to be the Time Lord Victorious if it meant this. He turned a woman's proud and inspiring legacy into a lowly suicide the world would see as her inability to cope with the vastness and wonder she had witnessed. The TARDIS tried to sooth him, reaching into his mind with reassurance. But that's not what he needed. He didn't want to be told he didn't know, that it wasn't his fault, that he was doing what he thought was right. It wasn't true. He knew it was wrong but he did it anyway. He deliberately went against what he knew to be right and people suffered for it. He needed absolution to take away this pain and he knew only one person he trusted enough to give him it the way he needed. There was only one person who would fully understand what he had done. He wiped at his eyes, pushed the TARDIS's comfort from his mind, and gasped out two words, "Find him," knowing she would understand who he meant. The whooshing sound of take off filled him with both dread and anticipation. He was afraid to tell him what he'd done but he needed this. He needed it more than anything.
Jack rubbed at his tired eyes as he leaned back in his chair, the joints of his spine cracking as he stretched. He hated paperwork. It was time consuming, tedious and boring as hell. "Ianto," he called. The Welshman came to his door with a knowing look. "Another industrial strength then, sir?" Jack smiled gratefully at him, handing the other man his empty mug as he approached the desk. "Bless you, Ianto Jones" Brown eyes rolled at the overly gratuitous display. "What should I order today?" Jack looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging in indecision. "Ask Gwen what she's in the mood for. She's the pregnant one. If she doesn't know either you pick." Ianto nodded with a half smile, turning to leave. A normal, albeit slow day at Torchwood. How boring. Jack found himself wishing something would happen. Not anything bad per say, maybe some lost aliens in need of directions, some harmless bit of tech falling into the city or the bay, just something besides paper work. It seemed he would get his wish as an unmistakeable, wheezing sort of sound filled the hub. He smiled, jumping up from his chair to run down the stairs. Sure enough, there by the giant cog door was a blue police box. Gwen was out of her seat, gun pointed at the door. She had never met The Doctor, never seen the deceptively small looking ship. He chuckled at her. She lowered her gun as Jack placed a gentle hand over hers. "At ease soldier. We have a guest." As he approached, the door swung open. That was odd.
He took a tentative step forward, Gwen following close behind, he door slamming shut at her presence. "What the," Ianto's voice called from behind them. "Incoming message. It says 'Just Jack'." Something didn't feel right. Of course The Doctor didn't like strangers in his TARDIS, but that was why he usually came out on his own. For the TARDIS to be acting of it's ow accord, the Time Lord must be in some kind of danger. Jack turned to his subordinates, nodding and motioning Gwen to take a step back. When she had retreated, the door opened by itself again. He moved forward determinedly now. Something was wrong with The Doctor and that just wouldn't do.
Footsteps on the metal grating made him shiver. He could pinpoint the exact moment Jack saw him, curled on his side on the jump seat facing the back of it. The footsteps became quick and frantic to reach him a warm hand came to his shoulder, shaking him gently. "Doctor, what's wrong. Look at me." He squeezed his eyes shut, curling in on himself further. He didn't want to look at him. When he spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper and it sounded raw from crying. "Jack, I did something terrible." Jack didn't speak, only waited for him to continue. He swallowed hard. "She killed herself." The hand on his shoulder tensed almost imperceptibly. "Who did?" The note of fear in his voice was unmistakeable. "Doc, who was it?"
"Adelaide Brooke." The ex time agent sighed in relief. "Well yeah, Doc. Everyone knows that." Wearily, The Doctor turned to look him in the eye. "That's not what they used to know. They used to know that she was a hero and a pioneer who's base self destructed, taking her and her entire crew with it." Jack looked confused. The Doctor sighed. "Then I happened." Understanding suddenly lit Jack's face. It was all the Time Lord could do not to break down again. A warm hand came up to cover his thinner one. "Tell me everything."
xXxXx
"You want me to do what?" The Doctor sat across from Jack, the captain's desk between them. He looked to his former companion pleadingly. "Don't make me say it again, Jack." The taller man leaned back in his desk chair, one hand running through his hair in disbelief. "Doc, I don't know about this." The Time Lord knew he was asking a lot, but he didn't know what he would do without this. "Please, Jack," he said. "It's not easy for me to ask this either, ...but I need this. I need to be held accountable for what I've done and you're the only one I trust with this. Somehow, you know me better than anyone else. You know what I need and I know you'll take care of me." Blue eyes met brown, seeing the sorrow and pain in them. He hated seeing them there. Deep down, he knew the Doctor was right. He needed to suffer some sort of consequence in order to feel himself again. Still, the question remained, how to go about punishing a Time lord. Only one idea occurred to him. It had been a long time since he'd practiced but it was the only thing that seemed appropriate. It was the only way he felt comfortable going about this but he had to know The Doctor trusted him completely or it would never work. He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, his expression deathly serious. "I'll do this on a few conditions." The Doctor looked at him eagerly. "Anything, Jack. Anything you need." The immortal held up a hand to interrupt him. "You need to hear what they are first. One, you have to be sure you trust me completely. One hundred percent, no doubt whatsoever." The Doctor nodded. "Absolutely. I wouldn't have come if I didn't." Jack nodded.
"Two, you will do what I say without question or hesitation. Don't forget that you asked me for this." He saw the bobbing of his Adam's apple as the Time Lord swallowed nervously but still he nodded his agreement. "And three," Jack said. "You WILL use the safe word if it becomes too much for you to handle. Punishment is one thing but I refuse to be the source of any real and lasting physical or psychological damage." Again the Time Lord nodded his agreement. Jack stared him down for a few moments, searching for any sign of fracture in his composure, any minute indication that the other man was being placating rather than truthful. Once he was satisfied he stood. "Alright," he said. "Let me send the team home first. You go down to wait for me." He opened the hatch that led to his bedroom for The Doctor to descend the ladder before leaving the room.
xXxXx
The Doctor turned around the room, taking in the simplicity of it. There was a black chest at the foot of the bed, a book shelf, and a small bedside table with a lamp. The bed sheets were as plain as the rest of the room, white and meticulously made in a military fashion. You could take the boy out of the academy but not the academy out of the boy it seemed. As he stood waiting, he couldn't help wondering just what Jack had in store for him. He wasn't scared, not of Jack anyway, but it had been a long time since he had deliberately sought out punishment. And while he was sure it wouldn't be anything near as harsh as he would endure on Gallifrey for such an infraction, it was going to hurt. He didn't particularly look forward to pain but that was the point. Punishments were not meant to be enjoyed, they were meant to teach and reinforce a lesson. He finally heard steps on the ladder and then booted feet thudding against the carpet as he turned to face his disciplinarian. Jack looked him in the eye. He was met with the startling hard and icy blue gaze. At least he was taking this seriously. Jack stepped forward to him so brown eyes now had to look up at him. "Weevil." The Doctor cocked an eyebrow at Jack, clearly confused. "That's your safe word. Remember it. All you have to do is say that word and it's over, understand?" The Doctor nodded. So it was starting already. "Look down," Jack ordered. He was quick to obey, his gaze moving to the carpet. "Good. You will not make eye contact unless directed otherwise. Is that clear?"
"Yes." He saw the toes of Jack's boots as the man stepped even closer to him. "From now on, you will address me as sir unless directed otherwise so that would be," he trailed off, leaving The Doctor to correct his error. "Yes, sir." Jack stood back, looking the Time Lord up and down. "Undress." The Doctor froze. Do what? "That's an order," a low voice growled in his ear. Reluctantly, the brown haired man began to disrobe, removing his jacket and tie, letting them drop to the floor before moving to the buttons of his shirt. His nimble fingers made quick work of them, slipping each one loose in turn before pulling the ends from his trousers and discarding it. His shoes and socks came next. Finally, his hands came to rest at the waist band of his trousers. He hesitated, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. He was a moment away from being naked in front of Jack Harkness. That was intimidation at it's finest. "I'm waiting." He sounded impatient. Swallowing the fear, he unfastened them, sliding the pin striped material down his legs, kicking them aside. He was grateful now for Jack's eye contact restriction. The heat in his cheeks was almost unbearable as he stood in front of the other man, naked as the day he was born. "Good," Jack praised him. "Now kneel." The Time Lord dropped down obediently, resting his fisted hands on his thighs while keeping his gaze focused on the carpet in front of him.
Jack clasped his hands behind his back and began circling the older man. "Tell me, Doctor, why are you here?" He watched as the Time Lord swallowed thickly. "Because I need to be punished," he responded quietly. "And why is that?"
"Because I interfered with a fixed event."
"Why is that bad, Doctor?" When the man replied, his voice was strained and emotional. "Because I changed the time line."
"And why was that bad?" He could tell the other man was welling up but this was an important part of the process that could not be skipped. He had to fully understand the weight his decisions carried and having him say it himself was the most effective way to do that. "Because I hurt people and changed things for the worse."
"And it's wrong to interfere with fixed events that very reason, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir." Jack stopped in front of him now. Part one was finished, now came the more difficult part two. He removed his great coat and hung it carefully on one of the metal rungs of the ladder. Unbuttoning his shirt sleeves, he rolled them up past his elbows before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. He called the Time Lord over to him. The thin man stood beside him, head down and hands clasped in front of him when Jack gave the command. "Bend over."
"What?" It escaped his lips before the Time Lord could stop it but Jack was patient with him. "I said, I want you over my knee." He could see the man shifting uncomfortably at the unexpected command but Jack had expected some hesitation. "On my lap, Doctor. Now." Slowly, the thin man came down, laying himself over the captain's lap, supporting his torso with his elbows on the mattress. It was a vulnerable and degrading position but that was why Jack had chosen this. Punishment was supposed to be difficult and willingly putting himself in this position as opposed to being tied up or forced into it would resonate deeply with the Time Lord. Jack placed a hand on the small of The Doctor's back, bracing him. The other hand smoothed gently over the twin mounds of pale flesh. "Tell me what you need, Doctor." He watched thin hands grip the comforter. "I need you to punish me sir." Jack could feel the tension run through the body beneath him but this was just as important as the actual punishment. "Beg," he whispered. "Prove to me that you want to make amends. Show me how sorry you are." He was met with silence. The captain pulled his hand back to try and coax it from him. Apparently the threat that Jack would end this now was enough. "Please," he yelled out, his voice panicked. "Please, sir. Punish me. I've done wrong and I need you to punish me, sir. However you see fit. Please!" Jack took a deep breath of his own.
"Good boy." He reared back, his hand connecting firmly at the top of the Time Lord's ass and making The Doctor yelp. Immediately, a pink hand print showed on the pale flesh. Jack pulled his arm back again, the loud slap of his palm against the soft skin echoing with the receiver's cry of pain. Jack continued on, each slap moving lower and lower until he reached the connection of ass and thigh, each blow overlapping the last to spread the heat. When he reached the bottom, he started back up, increasing the strength with each cycle of the flesh. The Time Lord's cries of pain and short panting breaths filled the room as each echoing slap came down. Each round of spanking turned the skin there darker and darker, continuing on an on until it was a bright, cherry red. Only when his hand finally started to sting and The Doctor's ass was practically glowing did he stop. Both of them breathing heavily, Jack looked at the other man. The Time Lord's face was buried in the mattress, sobbing quietly into it. He had achieved what he set out to do. The Doctor had received a proper punishment. Now came the final part, the only one Jack would enjoy though this entire process may have been enjoyable under different circumstances. Reaching out, he slid one arm beneath the thinner mans chest, pulling him up right and cradling him in his lap, rocking him.
"Shhhh," he soothed, running his fingers through the tawny, sweat soaked hair. "That's it. It's done now. It's all over." When the Time Lord had calmed down considerably he kissed the top of his head. "Lay down for me now, on your stomach." Disentangling himself from Jack's embrace, The Doctor obeyed, his arms curling around a pillow as he hid his face in it. He peeked with one eye as the drawer on the bedside table opened and Jack pulled out an unmarked tube. A liberal amount of the green gel was squeezed out into the larger man's palm. He rubbed his hands together, coating them both.
The Doctor jumped when the cold gel made contact with his abused rear end, taking the heat from it and calming the nerve endings as Jack spread a thin coating over the twin mounds. Satisfied, Jack moved to lay beside his friend. "Feel better now?" He nodded. Jack smiled. "Good. Don't you ever make me do that again," he teased.
The Time Lord pushed up onto his elbows to better look at his companion and long time friend. "Actually, Jack," he said. "I think this is what I need. I need someone to answer to." Jack watched the others face carefully. "So you want to do this all the time now." He was quick to correct himself. "Well, not this specifically. Just...someone to make rules for me. Someone to answer to. Someone to please." Understanding lit the blue eyed gaze. "Are you saying that you want me to be your master?"
"Well, let's not use that word for obvious reasons, but basically...yeah." Apparently the ceiling had suddenly become very interesting to the brunet. "Doc," Jack started. "I've done this kind of thing before. This isn't a decision to make lightly." The Doctor sighed. "I know that Jack. But It's what I need." The ex time agent was thoughtful, considering exactly what the other man was proposing.
"You're going to have to talk to me pretty extensively. This means I need to know everything and I mean everything, including your anatomy, what you're comfortable with. It's going to get awkward." The Time Lord nodded. "I understand that. And I don't mind staying until we've hashed it all out." Jack smiled at him. "Come here you." He pulled the slimmer body to him so the other man was pressed against his side, using his chest as a pillow. They would talk more in the morning. Right now he needed rest and he was certain his bedmate would sleep well tonight.