Ch 9

The pancakes were only by the barest definition edible. The three cups of coffee seemed to be soaked up by the spongy material as it sat at the bottom of his stomach refusing to be digested. The Doctor noted this and chose to eat some dehydrated fruit instead. Jack hadn't been offered that as an option and wondered if the Time Lord was playing with him again.

After breakfast the subject of visiting the valley came up once more. Jack wasn't really sure what benefit going to look at wild sheep would be, but The Doctor seemed so excited by the prospect and given his recent behaviour the ex-Time Agent was loathe to let him go anywhere on his own.

Bundling up against the stiff wind Jack noted that once again his companion hadn't even bothered to button up his coat and unlike his own rapidly reddening skin, the other's remained its usual pale tone.

Even though he knew he was risking getting frost bite, Jack pulled the scarf he had wrapped around his face to ask, "why are we doing this again?"

"Does there always have to be a purpose?" The Doctor spun around to face him while still walking, making Jack's skip a beat.

This wasn't smooth going, they were skirting a ridge, one false step and…he flashed on the memory of the Time Lord disappearing in the rushing waters and pleaded, "Doc, turn around and watch where you're going, please?"

"Am I making you nervous?" The Doctor grinned wickedly edging very close to the side of the path to peer over the sheer drop to the valley below.

"Yes!" Jack squeaked as the ever present trainers slid on the icy ground.

"I can take care of myself you know."

"Then prove it!" Jack replied, "get away from the edge," and with that he reached out, clamped on to the thin shoulders and yanked the man back.

"How did I ever survive without you?" The Doctor joked smiling at Jack's strained expression.

Choosing not to answer, the ex-Time Agent slipped his hand in his and held him firmly, "now this is romantic," the Time Lord snorted, "I'll bet if you had a leash in your pocket you'd be using it about now."

Jack laughed and wiggled his eyebrows, "not now…later."

He had to admit the valley was beautiful, even if it was overrun with rather fragrant woolly animals. Wondering how the Time Lord's keen senses were able to deal with what Jack could only describe as shit mixed with sour hand lotion filling the air, he glanced over at The Doctor. He was sitting on the tail of his coat, knees pulled up to his chin and his eyes sparkling.

"I wish I could see through your eyes sometimes," Jack admitted sitting down next to him, "how do you keep your sense of wonder?"

Spreading his arms wide The Doctor looked like he was embracing the whole valley, "how can you not be awed by this sight? The miracle of birth, the cycle of life!"

"They're just sheep."

At that the Time Lord turned to face Jack, his face serious, "if you let yourself become jaded your life will be unbearable."

"Sheep are not magical, Doc, they're stupid, smelly animals."

"Don't you ever marvel at the diversity of it all? So many planets teaming with life, everyone of them unique in their own special way?"

"And some of them are just as stupid as these sheep or worse!"

"You have to seek out the moments of bliss even in the most mundane or you'll go mad," The Doctor's voice was low and soft.

"I find bliss," Jack protested, feeling suddenly very uncomfortable with those dark eyes that were seeming to stare into his very soul gazing at him unblinkingly.

"In what?"

Leaning in Jack laced his fingers in the mane of unruly hair and pulled The Doctor into a passionate kiss, "in this," he breathed out once he was able to speak again. Then he stood up, helping the Time Lord get to his feet as well, he smiled, "and I am feeling very 'blissful' right about now."