the reaching ocean you are mine

[captainjack]

Friday was Jack's favorite day of the week. He loved waking up before the sun and heading for the beach. He loved swimming. He loved the nets and lines. Every Friday he brought in a catch for the kitchen and the feeling of usefulness he got from the act was unrivaled by anything else he did during the week

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[has_2ls]

Harkness was up to the same thing Jack himself usually got up to more days than not but Jack didn't usually feel the need to grace the island with his shirtless glory while he cleaned fish.

"I'd ask if you wanted some help but there's no way I'm going to get half naked and stand next to you. That's just going to embarrass everyone."

[captainjack]

"Yeah, I don't like people who look better than me showing me up," Jack replied, tossing a gutted fish into the basket. He looked Jack over, appreciation in his eyes, then he returned his focus to the work at hand.

"I wouldn't say no to helping me out but I only have the one knife. Looks like you're off the hook for working," he continued, happily grabbing another so he could slit it open.

[has_2ls]

"Uh, right. Because in the absence of our spouses, who are obviously biased, I'm pretty sure this island is going to line up for me over you even though you're the one sporting the rock hard abs." Jack said, grinning.

"And hey, everyone needs a supervisor. I'm...supervising."

[captainjack]

"Supervising," Jack repeated. He didn't question it, though. Jack had fun with this work and wouldn't ever force someone to help.

"So how's things, Jack? You and Sam doing okay with William? That's got to be an adjustment," he said. He couldn't imagine taking on that kind of responsibility in the wake of losing good friends. He knew it happened all the time and Sam and Jack weren't alone in it, but it was a real kick to the nuts.

[has_2ls]

"It's hard," Jack admitted readily. "We've been trying to keep his schedule the same and he likes going to the Children's Office and seeing Savannah, so we want to keep stuff as normal as possible for him. He asks about Vala and Daniel, though, and I don't know how much I can explain that the little guy would understand."

[captainjack]

"If I can do anything just let me know. I don't know what you might need but I'm a pretty handy guy," he grinned. He could do anything he set his mind to providing the island had the materials available- and now it was much easier than it used to be. Between the scrap yard and the TARDIS, not to mention the natural materials, Jack had found there wasn't much he couldn't do.

[has_2ls]

Well. There was one thing they needed, but not for William, and Jack didn't want to jinx the new pregnancy by saying anything too quickly. Not like last time.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out. He needs some toys, though. He's got some, and there's some at the Children's Office, but we didn't really have any time to prepare for his birthday and his mom had just disappeared, so..."

[captainjack]

"You know, we make toys all the time for Matthew. I think I could swing that," Jack said. "Every boy needs a good space ship or two. And you can never go wrong with a train."

Jack did like his machines. The raw power of an engine was a thing of beauty. It didn't occur to him to think that the kids on the island would never know the wonder of zero G or the raw power of a giant locomotive.

[has_2ls]

"A spaceship. His mom's an alien and his aunt and uncle are practically astronauts so I think that's probably going to be the best," Jack decided. "I'll owe you one for it. Not sure how I'll pay it back, but I'll figure something out."

[captainjack]

"Don't worry about payback, Jack. I'll be happy to do it. And maybe when mine is William's age you'll have some tips for me. That would be good. It's getting closer and closer and Logan and I are realizing we don't have that slightest clue of what to do," he replied.

[has_2ls]

"Boy or girl?" Jack asked, realizing he hadn't really asked much about Harkness's plans for the new baby or how the surrogate thing was working out or any of it. Made him a bad friend, he guessed, and Jack wanted to try and make it up to him now.

[captainjack]

"We're not sure. None of the sonograms showed the sex and now it's too late. I guess late term sonograms are bad because the baby's ears can hear and the fluid amplifies the sound. That's what the book said. So I guess we'll be surprised," he said, smiling brightly. He always did like surprises.

"We're ready no matter what. Lots of diapers and names picked out for either. I'm sure it'll all be...good," he said.

[has_2ls]

"Stressful as hell for a little while, but good," Jack agreed, the smile genuine even if, a few months ago, the idea of babies was still a little too raw for him to discuss easily.

"Hey, you need any pointers, I'm your guy. I'm sure it'll come natural, though."

[captainjack]

"That's what I'm hoping. Logan is really worried about it. Worried about what ifs. What if it doesn't sleep and what if it gets sick and what if we're no good at it. I...am reading a lot and talking to people with kids. And I've been thinking about my parents and my brother a lot. I was young when he was born but I don't remember it being traumatic."

[has_2ls]

"How much younger is the brother?" Jack asked, not remembering Harkness ever mentioning that before. "I was an only child and my son, from...before. He had been an only child too. I don't know how I'd handle explaining siblings."

Only he was going to have to figure it out sooner rather than later.

[captainjack]

"Gray is about five years younger," Jack said. He could push away the worry and guilt about the boy and concentrate on the good memories sometimes. Sometimes it took minutes for the reality of losing his brother to sink in.

"I don't remember much about him being a baby. I know my dad spent a lot more time with me than my mom when he was small. But as soon as he was big enough to play with we were inseparable. It seems like so long ago. Long ago and far away."