(no subject)
Title: The White Room (1/1)
Rating: PG
Characters: Doctor/Jack, Erica
Spoilers: None
Summary: ' “What's that sound?” The girl next to him asked, the noise stealing her attention.
The Doctor gave her a sad smile, “I'll introduce you when he stops crying. It's less intimidating that way,” he paused, looking wistful, “And it'd be a dent in his pride if anybody else saw him like that.”'
AN: I tried so hard not to write this, but I was sick and tired of people forgetting that Jack is human. Immortal, but human. Even the actual Torchwood writers seem to forget. By all rights, he should be insane. So, this is me, venting my anger.
The Doctor circled the TARDIS controls, fingers trailing along the warm surface. The TARDIS pulsed underneath him, steady and rhythmic. A loud sob echoed through the ship, broken and raw, making the Doctor wince.
“What's that sound?” The girl next to him asked, the noise stealing her attention.
The Doctor gave her a sad smile, “I'll introduce you when he stops crying. It's less intimidating that way,” he paused, looking wistful, “And it'd be a dent in his pride if anybody else saw him like that.”
The girl's eye's widened, “There's another person on board?”
The Doctor nodded, leaning against the railing.
Erica spoke again, her voice laced with worry, “Can't we do anything to help?”
“I've done all I can. There's nothing else,” the Timelord's eyes clouded over, “Nothing.”
An awkward pause filled the air. Erica looked at the Doctor, not sure what to say next.
The Doctor bounced up, suddenly cheerful, “So, where would you like to go? Anywhere, anytime! Without the backlash too, mind you. 53rd time traveling devices are so primitive,” He gave her an easy smile.
She tried to return it, but the sobbing in the background was getting louder. Erica would ask after the man again, but her gut instinct told her to drop it, “Anywhere?”
“Anywhere.”
She pretended to ponder over the fact, but honestly, ever since time travel had been discovered, she'd known where she wanted to go, “How about...the 21st century.”
“Can do!” The Timelord bounced off to the TARDIS controls, hands flying, “Hang on tight Erica, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!”
Even with the crying in the background, Erica couldn't help but grin. The Doctor, she noticed, seemed to have that effect on people.
Xxx
The Doctor and Erica burst into the console room, both gasping for air, “Is it always like that, Doctor?”
“No, not really,” He paused, “Well...not all the time, well, most of the time. But it's all good fun!” He grinned and moved to study the TARDIS controls.
Erica smiled and sat on the couch, propping her feet up. She was starting to relax when something hit her, “Doctor, who was that man earlier? The man you said was on board with us?”
The grin fell from the alien's face, something unreadable taking its place, “Are you sure you want to know?”
Erica barely hesitated, “Yes.”
The Doctor sniffed, “Right. Come along then,” He led them down several corridors, sharp twists and turns marring their path. Finally, he stopped in front of a metal door. He pressed a panel next to the wall, and the door slid open.
The room was bleach white, it almost hurt to looks at.
The Doctor moved inside, gesturing for Erica to follow, “Hello, Jack,” his voice was soft and warm, “How have you been? We went to the 21st century today. Oh, new companion too. You'd like her.”
Erica walked over to where the Doctor was, glancing curiously at the person he was addressing, “So...that's Jack?”
The Doctor nodded, not looking away, “ Captain Jack Harkness.”
Jack didn't respond to his name, didn't flinch. He stayed huddled against the wall, knees to his chest, “Say hello, Erica.”
Erica looked uncertain for a moment, “Erm...Hello, Jack.”
The Doctor smiled, “Isn't she nice, Jack? Very lovely. Fast runner, too,” He brushed a stray hair from Jack's face, “I'm sure I'd have a hard time keeping your hands off her.”
“So, not to sound rude...but what's wrong with him?” her voice sounded loud in the room.
“He went mad. I'm actually surprised it didn't happen sooner,” he started to caress Jack's cheek, “Isn't that right? My brave, brave, Jack. One too many torture sessions, one too many guilt trips, too much pain...too much for one man to handle...one human. You were human too, weren't you, Jack?” He gave a sad sigh, “And that's what everybody forgets. He was only human,” The Doctor planted a soft kiss on the Captain's lips.
Erica stood awkwardly to the side, not sure what to do, what to say. The man huddled against the wall, Jack, looked empty and hollow, not mad. Even the insane had some part of their soul left...this man had nothing.
“I'll see you again tomorrow, my Captain. With a new story...I promise,” With one last kiss , the Doctor stood, “Come along, Erica. Jack needs some private time,” They left the room silently.
Erica didn't speak until they were back in the main room of the TARDIS, “What...what happened?” She knew she was restating the question, but it was the only thing she could think of asking.
“Like I said...he went mad. I won't tell you how, no one needs to hear that but me. And honestly, it wasn't one thing...and listing them all would take years. All you need to know is that he went mad,” The Doctor rubbed his hands over his face, “Jack...he..he lost himself. Every day, he sobs, cries, for hours. Then there's silence. He'll sit there and stare into nothing, and somehow that's worse.”
“But you talk to him,” Erica pointed out after several seconds of silence.
“That's more for me than him, but some days I think he can hear me,” Another pause, “Oh well. That's life for you. It's best you try to ignore it...Jack loves attention but he wouldn't want your pity. So, where to next?”
Erica stared at the Doctor. She had a sneaking suspicion Jack had traveled with the him as well. Was that how all the companions ended up? Insane?
She swallowed hard, “I think it's best you take me home...”
The Doctor glanced at her, a sad expression on his face, “Are you sure?”
Erica shifted from foot to foot, “Well...” she glanced up and saw how hurt the Doctor looked, “Maybe one more trip.”
A manic grinned graced the Timelord's features, “Okay! My turn to choose then. To Barcelona!”
“The city?”
“The planet.”
FINITE.