A Companion For the Doctor
Spoilers/ Disclaimer: Doctor Who is not mine- believe me, it would have had some changes. These boys are not mine, take it up with someone else. Spoilers? Well, if you haven't seen the end of Doctor Who Season One, then a small spoiler for Jack.
Pairing: Jack/ Tenth Doctor
A/N Hello! Here is my second Doctor Who fic, A Companion For the Doctor! It is the first time I have written Jack- unless you count the bit of fic dabbling I did months ago. He only had a cameo, so I barely count that. Regardless, I hope you enjoy. Please let me know how he- and the Doctor- can be improved! Anything you wanna see? Let me know!
Summary: Jack was wrong- but the Doctor could look past that when he needed someone who would never leave him. Does not take place during a certain season, but could happen at any time the Doctor was without a companion. Ignores Jack's affiliation with Torchwood.
Prologue
Usually when the TARDIS landed, the Doctor would bound over to the doors and throw them open. He would then peer out, smile on his face as he bounded from the TARDIS, the doors quickly closing behind him. He sometimes would lock it and would always shove his hands deep in his pockets and head away from the TARDIS, ready to explore.
Not today.
He listened to the silence of the TARDIS before heading to her doors. Before he could even make his way around the console, the doors were drawn open, sunlight shining into the room. The Doctor peered around the console, forehead furrowing. The doors shut, immediately blocking out the light. A small chuckle escaped the Doctor and he slowly circled around the console, approaching the sudden visitor.
"You're supposed to knock, Captain." The Doctor rested his hands on the TARDIS console, leaning back.
Captain Jack Harkness strode forward, coat swirling around him. "Hey Doc."
The Doctor stood still as Jack approached. "Why are you here, Jack?"
Jack stopped a few steps from the Doctor, hands deep in his pockets. "I heard the TARDIS and wanted to see-"
"You shouldn't have come." The Doctor said softly.
Jack's voice was only slightly bitter, well covered by an aloof lightness. "Why's that?"
"Because you're wrong, Jack." The Doctor whispered.
"You left me." Jack took a step forward. "I was dead, Doctor. And then I wasn't. What happened?"
"Rose." The Doctor forced her name out, looking at Jack with sad eyes. "She came back."
Jack's eyes lit up. "Rose?"
The Doctor looked away. "She's gone now, Jack."
"...Gone?"
But the Doctor refused to elaborate. He looked back to Jack. "So why are you here?"
"I needed a Doctor." Jack stepped forward again. "Can you fix me?"
If Jack knew no better, he would say he just heard the Doctor snort. "No one can do that."
"Not even Rose?"
"No." The Doctor shook his head. "She... she had taken in the Time Vortex. I had to take it back."
Jack nodded once. "You redid your face."
"Ah well." One hand moved up to rest his palm against his chin. "Side effect of taking in the Time Vortex."
"So I'm wrong. That's why you left me behind." Jack tried to laugh.
"Yes. And I am so, so sorry." The Doctor's face was sincere.
"But I'm not too wrong to stay?" Jack asked hopefully.
The Doctor turned his back on Jack, fiddling with assorted buttons and levers. He circled the console, reaching the captain's chair before looking up to Jack.
"Don't you have a companion?" Jack asked.
"No."
"Then I have to stay."
"Jack, you can't travel with me."
"I won't leave you." Jack walked around the console to stand right behind the captain's chair.
The Doctor looked at Jack and wondered if the man knew of the double meaning behind his words, if that was why he had said them. "Don't you have anyone here?"
Jack shook his head. He almost spoke again, telling the Doctor about how he had spent all his time waiting for him, waiting for his Doctor to return for him, waiting for that one moment when he would hear the TARDIS and could run for it. Instead he shrugged one shoulder, casual smile turning his lips.
The Doctor sank into his chair. Jack did not have to tell him, he could read it all in his face, in his words and actions.
He could feel Jack standing right behind him, could smell a scent that had long since gone missing from the TARDIS. He had been able to smell it once, as he wandered the halls of the ship. He could, for a time, smell every companion to ever pass through the hallways. But eventually each one faded.
Only the touches on the TARDIS remained, shadows of those who had been with him. Even those eventually disappeared, leaving him alone with only memories.
The Doctor slowly nodded. "You can stay."
Brown eyes widened momentarily as he was enveloped by strong arms, wrapped in the Captain's long coat. Jack held him, burying his face in the Time Lord's hair. The Doctor sank into the warm embrace, smelling the scent he had missed so much. He could not convince himself he did not greatly enjoy the prospect of having Jack with him once more.
Jack could not let go of the skinny man, holding him to his chest possessively. "I missed you Doctor."
The Doctor disentangled himself from Jack's warm grasp. He stood and smiled. "Well, Captain, there is everywhere and every time beyond those doors. When do you want to go first?"