Ch 13
Unused to, but highly amused by the Time Lord's playful side Jack hesitated a moment before taking off after him. As he rounded the edge of the ridge he was pelted unmercifully by more slushy wet snowballs. He ducked behind an outcropping and started to make some of his own but the minute he rose above the rocks he was besieged.
Then the volleying stopped, he heard footsteps crunching on the snow but due to the way the area was laid out he couldn't tell if they were coming nearer or moving away. He strained to listen and was about to risk standing up when he was swooped down on.
A handful of snow was shoved down the back of his neck and another plopped on top of his head like a snow cone before he could recover. Once he did he grabbed the Time Lord's thin wrists in one hand, pinning them behind his back and with the other scooped hand him up so he was almost sitting in his lap.
"You fight dirty," he laughed.
"You think?" The Doctor smiled, then leaning in shifted to where he was on his knees, straddling Jack's legs and gave the ex-Time Agent a kiss. Jack let go of his wrists as he parted his lips to thrust his tongue into the Time Lord's mouth.
Tactical error, Jack thought as he felt another cold scoop of snow join its friend on the top of his head and The Doctor jumped to his feet and took off again, lobbing snow balls at him as he went.
Jack gave chase but the Time Lord was no where to be seen. Thoroughly soaked and beginning to shiver in the chill air Jack headed back to the tent.
Later, when Jack's clothes were drying by the fire and his spare set was warming him up The Doctor returned to the camp. He had an arm full of wood and something that looked like a tree growing out of his pocket.
Placing the wood on the fire the Time Lord took a seat opposite Jack, his eyes still twinkling with amusement, "you give up too easily," he teased.
"I'm a lover not a fighter, " Jack laughed, "besides I was getting frost bite."
The Doctor nodded at that and looked beyond him, "the TARDIS will unlock tomorrow morning..." he started and then trailed off.
"Can we go someplace warm after this?" Jack ventured hopefully.
"Don't you want to check in at Torchwood or something?" The Doctor asked still not looking at Jack.
Jack stood up with a growl, "you are dropping me off, getting rid of me! I knew it..." his face was bright red and his fists clenched.
"I am not!" the Time Lord protested, "I just thought you'd want to make sure your crew were doing OK." Seeing his words were not having the soothing impact he desired he stood up, "this isn't going to work if you can't trust me," he sighed looking into Jack's still angry deep blue eyes.
Jack blew out a deep breath, "you just have no idea how much you mean to me, even before this," he gestured at the tent, "the thought of having you disappear on me again..." he stopped.
"I wish I could undo that, you didn't deserve being left alone, I was a coward, and I'm sorry," The Doctor took Jack's hands in his, "but I can't do anything about that accept to keep apologising and if needed I will prove it to you."
"I don't want to keep you from your own life," Jack protested, "but promise me you'll keep coming back to me?"
"I promise."
Not trusting himself to speak Jack nodded and sat back down.
