LOVE

THIRTYTHREE

After Jack left they stood for a long time without speaking. Each lost in his or her own thoughts.

John was thinking about the first time he'd been there, inside Torchwood Three – the palace underneath the pavement. Back when he had been under the thumb, if you could call it that, of Jack's little brother. Back when his every word was monitored, his every action watched, and he could be punished, severely, for any indiscretion. Gray had sent him on a kind of reconnaissance mission… to test the waters and to stir things up. Sewer chic was how John had characterized the now pleasantly familiar place when he first laid eyes on it. The former Time Agent smiled inwardly; he did on occasion have a way with words. Guerilla poetry Jack had called it once.

Wil was thinking about Jack. He'd managed to surprise her mightily with his choice, his decision, and she respected and admired him for it. It had been a brave and bold thing to do. Audacious and fearless, and so perfectly Jack. She knew he'd taken a tremendous risk. What bothered her was that the risk involved more than just him. It involved his friends, his colleagues, his loved ones, maybe even innocent bystanders – perhaps entire planets if not galaxies of innocent bystanders. She sighed and looked at John; in the end she was forced to admit if the decision had been left up to her she would've chosen very, very differently.

John Hart looked back at her, steadfastly meeting her gaze. And so they remained for quite some time.

It was John who finally broke the silence. "So… did he give you the line from Henry the Fifth?"

"You mean…?"

He smiled roguishly, his eyes lighting up, "Witchcraft in my lips?"

She winced, "Are you going to tell me you told me so?"

After shaking his head he mouthed, silently, "I told you so..."

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be. He needed you. You needed him."

"Oh, John…"

"Look," he interrupted her. "I would've done the same thing, okay? Whatever it was, whatever happened, whatever was going on… the details don't matter. When it comes right down to it I would do anything for Jack, just as I know you would, too. Don't you get it? In part that's why I love you. There are a lot of reasons why I love you, why I fell in love with you the moment I first laid eyes on you. I mean you're gorgeous and funny and passionate and smart as hell and sexy beyond belief and you sing beautifully and move like a dancer and you have magic in your eyes and devilry in your touch, but you… but on top of all that you also love him. And for me… call me shallow, call me foolish, call me what you will, but for me sometimes that's all it takes. Because I love him so much…

"I would kill for you, Wil. I would die for you. But for him? For Jack Harkness I would walk laughing through the gates of hell, into eternal damnation, and never look back. The mere fact that you feel the same way only makes me love you more."

He opened his arms and she went to him. They held each other and slowly, gently, rocked back and forth.

"I swore it wouldn't be me," she whispered.

"I know you did, but I also knew you were misleading yourself." She tried to pull away but he held her fast in his embrace. "Don't get me wrong! I'm not saying you were lying. I think instead you just didn't realize yet what a potent concoction our dashing Captain really is. There's only one person I know of who is able to withstand the hypnotic, intoxicating spell of Jack Harkness and he's – well, he's a nine-hundred year old Time Lord!

"Luck of the draw," he continued. "It ended up being you but it could've just as easily been me. But then… like I said, you needed him. Funny how things sometimes work out, isn't it? And I'm man enough to admit the truth; Jack was able to do something for you that I couldn't. Something important. Something you needed. Not that I didn't want to. How could I hold that against you? Or him? Ah! The mystery that is Captain Jack Harkness!"

John had lowered his right arm around her waist, grasped her right hand in his left and their gentle rocking became a sort of slow, sensual waltz; an exquisite dance to music only they could hear.

"M'Lady," he murmured into her ear. "My treasured inamorata… if it is your wish I will step aside and allow Captain Jack Harkness to cut in. I love you with all my heart but I will not stand in your way if he is what you truly want."

She buried her face into his neck, breathed in his scent and kissed the warm, soft skin beneath his collar. "There is only one partner I truly want, dance or otherwise, and it is you Captain John Hart."

He laughed as he leaned back and spun her around. The turn took her by surprise and she fell smiling into his arms and kissed him. He kissed her back, his kisses ardent, burning. "I love you," he purred, his voice thick with arousal. "Can we go home now?"

"Yes," she replied and that was all she needed to say as they both felt the familiar tingle of their ship's transporter.

Hodie mihi, cras tibi, Wil thought before she gave herself over completely to desire. I only hope when the time comes and the situation is reversed, that I can be as forgiving.

-00-

"I love her and that's the beginning of everything."
F. Scott Fitzgerald