LOVE
TWENTYONE
As was their custom John was unbuckling his wristband to give to Wil when The Doctor interrupted the rite. "Wait," he said as he pulled out Jack's worn leather strap from his coat pocket, "I think Wil should take this instead."
She watched the Time Lord's face as he glanced down at Jack's most prized possession and saw, and more to the point felt and heard, the intense emotions that were there behind the soulful yet usually unrevealing brown eyes. Ah, she thought, it is not unrequited. Not only does the Captain love the man from Gallifrey, but the man from Gallifrey loves the Captain. She let her eyes travel to the precious object that for the both of them epitomized Jack Harkness.
Correct, she heard The Doctor's soundless words, as clearly as if he were speaking them. That is my secret and now it is ours. I trust you to keep it close.
She glanced up, saw him staring at her. Yes I know what has happened to you, Wil. And no, I do not know why or how to fix it. Or even if it can be fixed.
The exchange happened in an eyeblink. Wil nodded as she solemnly accepted the wristband from The Doctor, her fingertips lightly brushing his hand. How do you know what I'm thinking?
I don't know what you're thinking was his response, but in reality a non-response. I cannot hear your thoughts. I'm only guessing, with a dash of innate telepathic ability thrown in. Yet I do know you can hear what I'm thinking. He almost imperceptibly winked at her.
"I can keep a secret," she said out loud, albeit quietly, and smiled as she plunged the wristband deep into one of her pockets.
John Hart had, of course, noticed the unspoken interaction. Little if anything ever got by him, especially if it involved a lover. Or an enemy. Although he could speculate, he had no idea what was being communicated. He repressed something that felt like jealousy, and the sensation wasn't all together unpleasant. He still loved Wil and wanted her; that would never change. The thought of his inamorata having a secret conversation with another man – even though that other man was only the Gallifreyan and of no serious threat to their relationship – right in front of him was… well… it was erotic. He met her gaze and held it, "I love you," he said quietly. "Be careful…"
He extended his arms, took both her hands in his and looked deep into her eyes, "…M'Lady."
She nodded, "I love you, too. I'll come find you after I find Jack."
He grinned wolfishly, "How do you know you'll be first?"
"First out of the gate," she shrugged as she released his double grip and took a step back.
"Excuse me…" The Doctor interrupted, "this isn't a competition."
"It isn't?" John scoffed. "You could've fooled me."
Wil held up her hand in the Vulcan salute. "Peace and long life," she said.
John returned the gesture, "Live long and prosper." But her form was already shimmering and within a second or two she was gone.
The Doctor looked at John and raised an eyebrow, "I was going to ask you if there is trouble in paradise, but now after watching that, I'm not so sure…"
John laughed, his eyes dancing. But then he held up an index finger to his lips as he quickly surveyed the room. Locating what he was seeking, he walked over to Spike, who was busy doing some face cleaning after his meal, and once again scooped up the cat in his arms and kissed him affectionately on the top of his head.
"Wil and I sometimes fight like cats and dogs, Doctor. In my experience that's what people in love do, when they're… uh… not busy doing other things. Perhaps you've forgotten, or perhaps it's just been awhile since you were really, truly in love. It shouldn't surprise you to learn our arguments can get quite feverish, but that doesn't mean we don't love and care about each other.
"And you know…" John's eyes narrowed. "The fact that you live with Captain Jack Harkness makes me think that you are more than familiar with what I'm talking about. Wil enjoys the odd heated altercation, and it usually ends in fantastic makeup sex, but Jack… well Jack gets off on full-blown outright one-on-one warfare. Surely you've…"
The Doctor held up a hand. "All right, that's enough John. That's more than enough sharing, thank you very much. I was prepared to stalwartly not get drawn into the middle of your relationship with Wil; I am certainly not prepared to allow you into the middle of my relationship with Jack."
John's face took on the appearance of emphatic triumph, "Ah ha! So it is a relationship!"
The Time Lord's face suddenly went solemn, "Not in the way perhaps you'd understand the word."
"Oh don't be so sure," John's expression changed to match The Doctor's. "But yes, Wil and I are having problems dealing with whatever it is that has happened to her. I already know you're aware of it. I saw the look of realization cross your face when the truth of it hit you. And as you can imagine, it is not a simple thing to cope with, having your most private thoughts revealed. Nor is being on the other side of the equation an easy matter. She knew I needed a time out, I guess I wasn't quite aware of how badly she needed one, too."
"Yes, I can imagine it isn't simple," The Doctor sighed. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"But there isn't?"
"No, not that I am aware of. I have, however, heard of a certain physician on a planet called Miri…" This statement was accompanied by a crooked and slightly fiendish smile.
"Right… well… I think we'll pass on him," John shivered exaggeratedly. "Sounds to me like that would be a case of the cure being far worse than the disease."
The Time Lord clicked his tongue, "Undoubtedly."
"Well, Doctor, although I'd like to know what in the hell you and Jack were doing on this god-forsaken world, we have more important things to attend to and I think it's time to make our plans," John gave Spike one last kiss and put him back on the floor. The cat sauntered off, the two men watching for a few moments in silence as he departed the control room.
"Quite right, John!" The Doctor was suddenly animated, almost sparkling with energy. "And along those same lines I do happen to have a couple of ideas. Let me tell you about them…"
-00-
"And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
Khalil Gibran