Title: My Captain, My Doctor
Author: CosmicalMadison
Summary: Sometimes it seems that Jack Harkness and the Doctor were made for each other. Ten ficlets looking at their relationship written for the iTunes challenge (for details, see my profile). Slash.
Rating: K+
Pairing(s): Doctor/Jack, Janto mention in number three
Genre: Angst, tragedy, romance, friendship, humor
Author's Note: These ficlets came out two ways: a couple angsty and tragic, and the rest fluffy and happy. If you'd only like to read one or the other, I've separated them. Part one is the angst, and part two is the love. Also, these don't necessarily fit in with each other. You can consider each fic to happen in its own little universe. Hope you enjoy.
Part One: Missed Changes
1. "Always on my Mind," by Michael Buble
The Doctor had never realized until he was gone how much Captain Jack Harkness meant him. There was nothing he could do about it now - now that Jack was something else, an unnatural creature. The Doctor could no longer be near him and had had to leave him on the Game Station.
The Doctor was haunted by new nightmares now. Visions of Jack's beautiful blue eyes when he had invited him to bed. All the times he had refused him.
It burned, deep in his heart, that he had never given in. He'd been too proud to admit that he wanted Jack just as much as the other man wanted him. Not just because he was handsome and witty, but because they had a real bond. Both had too much on their shoulders, had seen all the wonders of time and space.
Now it was too late, and there was nothing he could do about it.
2. "There Goes the Neighborhood" by Shania Twain
It was another excuse, like any other, but it was true. Everyone eventually left, willing or not. The Doctor knew he would eventually move on by himself, and it was one of the reasons he kept himself from entering into a relationship with Jack Harkness. Oh, Rassilon, he wanted to (and who wouldn't?), but he just couldn't let himself.
It would only hurt both of them in the end. The Doctor would be left with two broken hearts, just like when any other companion left him - worse this time if the relationship was deeper. And if he could go so far as to assume so, Jack would feel the same. Not two broken hearts, of course, but his single human one.
Which presented an entirely different problem. Jack could never stay with the Doctor, no more than Rose could. They just weren't compatible, a human and a Time Lord. It would only end in pain for all parties, and so he refused to share his true feelings with them.
3. "I Told You So" by Carrie Underwood
When the TARDIS lands in Cardiff's Millennium Centre and Jack comes running toward it, the Doctor can't begin to describe the way joy blooms in his whole being. He runs, too, and catches Jack in his arms, presses his lips to the other man's. Finally, he can tell Jack how he feels, how he denied them both all that time ago. He can make things right.
But Jack is stiffening in his arms. "Doctor," he says harshly.
The Time Lord pulls away, unsure now of what is going on.
"That's not why I need to see you," Jack says gruffly. He asks pointedly about his resurrection by Rose and why he is now unable to die.
The Doctor explains as best he can, but all the while his hearts are breaking. It was too late after all. Jack has refused him. He had hurt him too badly when they traveled together before, and there will be no forgiveness now.
"Jack, you coming?" a voice calls from behind them, and the Doctor turns to see a handsome young man with brown hair and blue eyes standing by the building. If possible, his heart drops even further, because he recognizes the tone in the man's voice, and the gentle look on the Captain's face when he answers, "Yeah, in a minute, Ianto."
He turns back and says, "Thank you for you help, Doctor," but it feels more like an insult. Jack turns and walks toward the other man, giving him a quick kiss before the two of them enter the building together.
The Doctor's heart feels like a stone in his chest as he turns and trudges back to the TARDIS. All he can think is that he blew it. He really blew it.