So, this is the next chapter. They are gradually getting longer. :)

I think this one is a little off-topic, but it is technically to the point. If that makes sense. :P

Avarice

"Doctor?"

"Mmph."

"Hey, Doctor," Jack repeated, poking the Doctor in the ribs.

"Mmn. Shh, Jack. Sleeping."

"Doctor, you're on my arm."

"Wha?"

"Arm. Trapped. Under. You."

"Agh!" the Doctor cried, wriggling out from Jack's embrace. The cart was bouncing beneath them, a scruffy farmer steering a horse up front. Had they slept like that all night?

When he'd woken, Jack had found the Doctor lying in his arms, their fingers interlocked. His greatcoat covered the both of them, the Doctor's coat crumpled and discarded on the other side of the cart. Jack had had a quick discussion with the farmer, who offered to take them (for free) to the next town along with his hay, if they so wished – all while still clinging onto the Doctor, who was murmuring in his sleep.

And now the Doctor had woken too, and was slightly out-of-sorts with being found like this, um-ing and ah-ing without completing a sentence. Jack smiled at the scene he saw before him – he had never really seen the Doctor embarrassed before. His cheeks were flushed with a soft pink glow, his eyes wide and seemingly innocent. Jack just shook his head in dismissal, keeping quiet so the Doctor could calm down.

After a few minutes, the Doctor was fully awake, less jittery, and a little more articulate. He asked Jack politely, in an almost over-controlled voice, "Where are we going?"

"Tom here said the next town," Jack answered, waving an arm in the farmer's direction. The Doctor nodded, pulling his knees up. "I'm just kinda hoping it was the town we left the Tardis in."

"You didn't check?"

"I didn't think there'd be much around here. It's kinda… bleak," Jack said, staring out at the landscape. Scattered leafy trees broke the horizontal line that made up the horizon; short hedges and brown fences separated one green field from another.

"Nah – it's more… quaint."

"Mm," Jack said, leaning back against the wooden frame of the cart. "It needs more life."

"Like… more people? There are plenty of those in the towns," the Doctor pointed out, smiling a little.

"No, even the people – they're all a bit…" he sighed, thinking of the words.

"Dull?"

"Sorta. Like they have nothing to do. Nothing to live for. I'd hate a life like that."

"Be glad you've got me, then," grinned the Doctor.

"Oh, I am. I really am."

"Glad to hear it. I'm –" …he stopped, not sure how Jack would take this. Although, it wasn't exactly controversial. He might as well. "I'm glad I have you too, Jack. Really, really, truly glad." He smiled. Jack smiled back, uncertain how to add to that. He wanted this conversation to go on; he wanted to tell the Doctor just how much he appreciated him, how much he meant to him. But – well, it just wouldn't work. Not without saying something entirely stupid, and probably inappropriate. He kept his mouth shut.

The Doctor stared back at Jack, willing him to open his mouth and say something. Anything, even. Even something entirely stupid; most likely inappropriate. He just liked the sound of Jack's voice, having someone to talk to. A companion. And Jack was different to the girls. He looked at him differently. He wasn't sure how that worked, precisely, but he liked it better. He connected with it more. Love coming from the Rose, from Martha – it was always… clingy. They wouldn't let go. But Jack – he could move on – he would move on. Perhaps slowly, but he would. But, then again – Jack was immortal. He could stay forever, if he wanted. There was nothing that the Doctor wanted more, right now. Actually, he could think of a few things, but they were all under the same subject line. The Doctor smiled, lost in his (rather dirty) thoughts.

And then the Doctor sighed, realising Jack wasn't going to say anything. Jack sniffed the stuffy morning air, clearing his throat and looking up at the blue sky.

A sudden thought struck Jack – "Today is 'avarice' day, right?"

"Uh – yeahh," the Doctor said, swallowing. He really wasn't in the mood. This wasn't going to work, this whole 'theme' thing. Especially not 'avarice'. Greed. Materialism. Like that was his thing – like he'd ever be able to do that. He felt rather cynical today. Then again, to think of another synonym – to covet, to be covetous… to desire. He could desire, today. And he knew what he wanted. It was sitting in front of him, waving hay around with its teeth, asking him a question.

"Sorry, what?" the Doctor asked, tuning back in. Jack grinned at him.

"Do you want to skip today? You don't look all that up to it –"

"No, no – I'm fine!" the Doctor interrupted, wriggling about a bit. It was true, he wasn't up to it at all; his mind was on other things. Namely, that cute way Jack flicked hay around with his lips. Ah, the things those lips could do – the things they have already done, the Doctor corrected himself. Well, to other people. Not to him. Yet…

He found himself staring. He blushed, embarrassed – it was an odd and slightly disturbing feeling, and not one he was entirely familiar with. He gasped quietly at the sudden thoughts that crossed his mind, looking away again. His eyes had strayed back to Jack, somehow. And somehow, Jack had inspired a split-second fantasy within the Doctor's mind – he couldn't help but… well, react. The Doctor squirmed in the hay, trying to hide his 'reaction'. His body was unusually responsive to his thoughts today.

Jack was unbuttoning his shirt, warming up in the sunshine. The Doctor held back a growl, trying not to pounce – he wanted to kiss that pretty smile off Jack's handsome face. It was starting to irritate him.

He allowed his mind to wander – his hands and lips wandering over Jack's body, breathing in his scent, his tongue doing some oh so naughty things – NO! He had to control his thoughts; his reactions were going overboard. He could already feel himself throbbing beneath his tight trousers, desperate for contact. The rattling of the cart wasn't helping either. His legs were rubbing –

"Uoohh…" the Doctor moaned, biting down hard on his lip.

"Doctor?"

The Doctor gasped, eyes flicking open and staring hard at Jack.

"You ok? You look a bit… flushed."

"I-I… I'm okay. Just…" What? What could he say?! "Uh – just feeling a bit cart-sick."

There was a seconds' pause, then Jack said, "Oh, come on, Doctor – you survive the Tardis every time! It's the bumpiest ride ever!"

"Mm. But this is different," the Doctor persisted, sticking to his story. It's not like he was going to tell Jack. That would just be stupid. Sure, he wanted Jack, he wanted to do all that… stuff… to him – but telling him about it; that was a dirty thought in itself. And somehow, not a good kind.

"Different how, exactly?" Jack asked, cocking an eyebrow. He looked extremely amused, his unbuttoned shirt jumping with the cart.

"It just is – oh, hey, look!" the Doctor cried, pointing happily at the Tardis, parked neatly in the corner of a field. They were close to a town now, and luckily it was the right one. The Tardis looked so lonely. The Doctor had missed her, Jack decided.

Shouting thanks to Tom, the driver, Jack hopped off the moving cart, dragging a few hay stalks with him. The Doctor followed, landing awkwardly to hide his erection from Jack. He didn't see. It was fading anyway. The Doctor was glad. That would have been difficult to explain.

"Here she is!" the Doctor grinned, throwing his arms wide, as if greeting. He rushed to the console, stroking a metal bar, running his hands over various levers and controls. Oddly, Jack was getting a little hot under the collar, seeing the Doctor touch something so tenderly, in what his mind interpreted as a somewhat… sexually suggestive manner. But it wasn't seeing him with the Tardis – no – EW. That would be gross. But it was the thought that the Doctor's hands might one day touch him like that… ooh, now that was a nice thought. Some day soon.

Jack smiled, suddenly eager to go new places. Perhaps he meant that literally – the Doctor was already setting the console for some new planet in the universe – but he could have meant it… the other way.

He bit his lip, lost in thought. The Tardis rumbled beneath his feet, shaking him and the Doctor to the floor. Whooping with laughter, the Doctor ran towards the doors, dragging Jack with him by the still-loose shirt. He'd do it up later. Right now they had some exploring to do.

So there you have it - Avarice. Well, kinda. Oh, well.

Next up: Envy! :)