Something dark moved at the periphery of his vision, a flurry of leather, then he found himself being thrown hard against the wood of the police box.
The impact made him exhale sharply, only now becoming aware of the Doctor's furious stare.
Oh.
He had forgotten that he didn't need Rose to wake up to be killed slowly and horribly. A raging Time Lord seemed to be happy to oblige. Pinning him with an unearthly strength against the TARDIS, his voice was almost a growl
"One good reason not to kill you here and now, Captain."
---
Of course there was no good reason.
Jack wondered how the Doctor had been able to pull him up again, keep him pinned against the TARDIS when every muscle in his body felt like it had snapped.
Still not dead?
He was sure he had fainted just moments ago. The Time Lord must have one or two aces up his sleeve, waking him again to a world of pain.
Those piercing blue eyes pinned him to the wall as strongly as the clutching hands; as if they didn't want to miss a moment of his pain, wanted to watch him squirm when his lungs finally ran out of his mouth.
The Doctor's mouth stretched into something resembling a smile, increasing his certainty that there was no chance in hell he'd help him.
The figure in front of him darkened, morphed into pure shadow, growing fangs of black void, claws made of darkness.
Fear raced through his bloodstream, soon chased by sheer panic. The darkness, the bad wolf had finally caught hold of him. And he couldn't run, couldn't even move. All he could do was stare - helpless, hopeless - into the now truly alien eyes fixed on him, showing no mercy while the shadow beast threatened to devour his soul.
Bright light like the reflection of moonlight on teeth suddenly overloaded all his senses, searing pain making him gasp.
The supporting claws of shadow fell away; the TARDIS behind him vanished, as did the rest of the world. Staring into the cold blue eyes, the only things left in the blinding whiteness, that held him still, and then let go to push him towards death.
He fell.
Falling turned into nothing.
Nothing turned into pain as he slammed into something hard.
It was a fight for balance as he found himself on his feet. Against a wall again. Panting.
Searing pain in his eyes from the blinding whiteness. He tried to concentrate, to access his status, fighting to remember.
Jack. His name was Jack.
And he was dead.
This couldn't be hell, could it?
Blinking, vision gradually becoming clear, he took in what looked like an average med bay... well, maybe hell after all. But his weak and aching body insisted he was still alive.
Although it made no sense.
The shadowy outline of a person came towards him, he felt someone grasp his arm and blinked away the tears of pain just enough to recognize the blonde girl's face.
Rose.
Rose was there, looking at him with those beautiful brown eyes, trying to speak to him, calm him perhaps. That was deduction from her expression though, the roar of his own pulse didn't let him understand a single word.
Not dead?
Rose.
Not dead.
Nightmares?
Rose. He'd saved her. He kept staring at her just to make sure.
His heart finally slowed down, the fear reluctantly leaving his body, replaced by understanding.
She was okay. He was okay.
Apart from the fact that breathing hurt like hell.
TARDIS med bay.
Conclusion turned into fact when he looked up and spotted the dark figure behind the girl. He flinched.
Dreams, Jack, just dreams. Calm down. Leather, not shadow.
Still disorientated, the world swam out of focus again. He couldn't keep standing any longer, even if his life depended on it.
As his knees buckled, something dark moved at the periphery of his vision, and he found himself being pinned against the cold wall of the med bay.
Vague memories resurfaced, summoned by the familiarity of this pose, but again he had no strength to fight it. But the hands holding him were gentle this time, supporting. Propping him up as his body tried to slip to the floor. The growl of rage replaced by muttered assurances that he would be okay.
Jack blinked. Was the Doctor actually helping him?
He evaded the Doctor's stare, which seemed to be taking a good long look right down into his soul. He was thinking hard, judging by the wrinkles on his forehead. Jack hated that stare; it always made him feel naked. And not in a good way.
Naked?
He frowned when he looked down at his own body. His very exposed body.
Brushing away tangled cables on his naked arms, he suddenly became very aware of the white hospital gown he was wearing. He shivered, finally registering the coldness of the tiled wall crawling up his (very naked) spine.
He opened his mouth to ask, but a sharp pain in his throat made him choke.
"No chattering, it'll only do more damage to the vocal cords!"
Blue eyes appeared mere inches from his face, making it impossible to look away. But there was compassion there, and that was something he'd never expected.
"Good to have you back, Captain." Somehow the Doctor seemed genuinely relieved.
"Who... ?" That hurt. He decided to stop talking and just gestured at the lack of clothing he was wearing. Tried to at least, but his arm wouldn't move very far; barely managing a twitch, but the Doctor seemed to understand.
The Doctor rolled his eyes, looking equal parts annoyed and amused. The amusement increased when Jack glanced at Rose.
"Don't get your hopes up. I undressed you if you really want to know. Couldn't leave you in that toxic thing of an uniform, could I?"
Jack tried to raise an eyebrow, but even that hurt.
"Annoyed you weren't awake to enjoy it, right?"
Was that a grin? Those were usually reserved for Rose.
So they'd decided not to execute him after that entire undressing Rose business. Although the mischievous grin she was trying to hide indicated that she wasn't too unhappy the Doctor had taken some revenge on him.
He couldn't remember when he'd literally felt naked in front of others before. He had, of course been naked in front of more people than he could count, but he'd never felt naked.
He felt naked now. These two were really not good for him.
The Doctor peeling him out of his uniform? Now that was something he'd fantasised about.
But this?
Jack wanted to make a comment about repeating that scenario, but before he could, weakness sent him tumbling forwards into the Doctor's jacket.
He didn't seem to mind, didn't push him back, just held him, let him rest against that wonderful smell of leather.
He sighed. Seemed like they would be fine.
Undressing each other.
He croaked, "Somehow... I had imagined that all a bit... different," before darkness claimed him again.
He didn'' mind this time. The wolf was gone. No running. No danger.
He could sleep now.
---
He caught an unconscious Jack. Again.
A quick smile at Rose had the desired effect; he could see the anxiety leave her body immediately. About time, too. This would've gotten a lot more unhealthy for her if it had gone on much longer, the dark circles under her eyes perfect proof of that.
She had kept herself awake, holding Jack's hand as if it would help somehow. Not that he had told her to stop, feeling useless was the last thing she'd needed.
It had been a close call. And even though he hadn't told her just how close, she'd worried. Felt responsible, just as he did.
What had he been thinking? It wasn't his style to lose so much time over a useless emotion like hate. The single word 'Flink' had conveyed an entire torrent of explanations.
How could he have been so blind? It had very nearly cost Jack his life.
Entering a Flink ship. Stupid, stupid ape.
He dropped Jack back into the bed he'd been so keen to get out of. Nightmares obviously, likely some residue of the chemical mixed with military training.
Stupid ape. Running around with only half his brain awake. Could've hurt Rose or himself, could've undone all the healing he had done already.
And that healing hadn't been easy. Good thing the TARDIS had been prepared when he had carried Jack in, blood already dripping out of his mouth.
He shuddered. Very close call.
Internal tissue regeneration needed time, so sleep was the best medicine now. And the other human on board needed it as much as the one already in bed. He smiled when Rose stifled another yawn.
With some more assuring words, he was finally able to shoo her out of the med bay, off to her room. Not that he hadn't tried to do exactly that before, but it was only now she was willing to believe that Jack would be fine.
Stubborn girl. When was the last time he had met someone who could tell that he was lying so easily? Must've been lifetimes ago.
He waited until she was two corridors away before he tore the entirely useless wires off the unconscious man, finally turning the beeping, yet equally useless, monitors off.
They'd only been there for Rose.
Psychology had demanded the machinery that showed every life sign a twenty-first century hospital would have dreamed of.
Amateurs.
But a silent medical room like he preferred would've given Rose all the wrong ideas.
Humans. So attached to their ideas that they let them loose to grow into fears, certainties and a thousand other nasty things.
He sighed when silence embraced him. Finally some peace. He shot his patient another look to make sure his sleep was sound. No running about until he was completely healed.
Walking into a Flink ship, risking his life for a girl. He had to admit that sounded like a Jack Harkness thing to do.
Quite impressive he got out of there alive, really. But of course he'd never admit that, even if Jack had the arrogance to ask. The human's ego was big enough already, no need to give him more of these suicidal ideas.
Humans and their ideas.
It had actually hurt to watch Jack's fear when he'd pushed him against the wall of the med bay. This time to keep him from falling over, but Jack had fidgeted in his grip nevertheless. Instincts were a tricky thing.
Hurt? He frowned, considering the emotion.
Hadn't he just two days ago been thinking about kicking the conman out on a planet without atmosphere? True, Claisen VII had a marvellous panorama if you lived long enough to admire the view, but...
He shook his head.
Jack was staying. Well, if he wanted to. If he could make him stay after this. He cringed briefly at the thought - he'd never been good at apologies. And trust didn't grow back easily.
Something silvery on one of the cabinets caught his attention and when he took a closer look he had to grin.
His ship was obviously much better at these things than him.
The metal key looked almost identical to the one he had given Rose; it even had a short metal chain attached. He felt the familiar nudge of the TARDIS at the back of his mind, urging him to place it in Jack's hand.
Sentimental girl she was.
Seemed like him and Rose weren't the only ones who liked Jack.
He smiled. They would be fine.
---
2 weeks later
---
"Jack, let's just wait for the Doctor, he'll know what to do."
Of course the answer to their problem was so trivial even she'd been able to come up with a plan: Get out of the forest they'd fled into and, most importantly, get that green slime off them.
Being covered in jelly that had once been a living thing wasn't Rose's idea of a 'nice and quiet' holiday. Not at all.
Why couldn't they just once meet an alien that had absolutely no interest in them? Or didn't explode when it was shot?
"I know exactly what to do, Rose," Jack's smile very nearly split his face. "Undress."
As if he had any right to talk.
A big droplet of slime slowly ran down his cheek while he tried hard not to burst into laughter.
Obviously her reaction to his command must've been quite hilarious. She was sure it had involved staring open mouthed at him.
She scratched her arm, shooting Jack an angry glare. This was clearly not the time for his innuendo, even though she yearned to get out of her soaked clothes.
But not in front of him. Not ever... again.
She realized he wasn't joking when he pointed at her exposed skin while he breathed in deeply, trying to calm down. That mischievous grin didn't leave his face.
Already angry red spots shone wherever the remains of the High Priest of Chlamy had hit her.
Jack was shaking with silent laughter again by now, although his skin didn't look any better.
This was not happening. This was seriously not happening.
"Jack, please... I'm sure the Doctor will..." he cut her off, managing a "The Doctor's not here, is he?" between his fits of laughter.
"This is so not fair." With a thump she sat down, fiddling with her shoelaces.
----
END