Fic: Sphere of Influence 6/7
Story: Sphere of Influence
Author: wmr / wendymr
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler
Rated: PG13
Summary: He’s like a magnet. A gravity well, sucking in everything within his sphere of influence, drawing them to him whether they like it or not.
Written for space_monkey52 in return for an extremely generous donation to the Queensland flood appeal. Thank you SO much for your generosity. Many thanks also to dark_aegis for BRing. And a huge apology for the delay in posting this chapter! I was on holiday, and then immediately got sick and just haven't been able to write. Also, you may notice that this is not the final chapter; there will in fact be one more.
Chapter 1: Clean-up Duty l Chapter 2: Amusements l Chapter 3: Drop-off Point l Chapter 4: Search and Recovery l Chapter 5: Leading the Blind
Chapter 6: Pride Goes Before
“Jack!” Rose exclaims, letting go of the Doctor and running towards him. But the Captain holds up his hands, stopping her in her tracks. He doesn’t want her pity, that’s what his expression’s telling her.
But how can he talk about leaving? Even if he didn’t want to stay around here with her and the Doctor - and they haven’t even had a chance to talk about that, either the three of them together or her and the Doctor - this sounds insane. How’s he going to manage on his own, in a place he doesn’t know?
“This really what you want, lad?” the Doctor asks, his voice even. “Cause it doesn’t sound very sensible to me.”
“Sensible?” Jack’s clenching his good hand; she can see the blood draining from his knuckles. His voice has gone up in pitch, too. So his calmness just before was only an act. Pretty good one, too; he had her fooled. “Doctor, I’m blind. That doesn’t leave me a lot of options.”
“There’s an obvious one you’re overlooking,” the Doctor points out. “Who said you had to leave? Don’t remember mentioning it meself.”
Jack squeezes his eyes shut briefly and looks down at the floor - but not before Rose has seen the longing in his eyes. She glances around, catching the Doctor’s eye and giving him a thumbs-up.
“There’s no reason why you should feel responsible for me, Doctor.” Jack’s obviously trying to keep his voice steady, but he’s not entirely succeeding. “Like I said, I’m not even supposed to be here any more.”
At that, Rose takes the couple of steps that take her to Jack’s side, and she grips his good hand, holding her breath. He swallows audibly, and his fingers clench around hers. “He doesn’t, Jack,” she says softly.
“Got nothin’ to do with feeling responsible for you, Jack,” the Doctor says, coming closer. “Had already decided once I knew you were alive that I was gonna ask you to stay.”
Jack’s grip on hers tightens again. “I’m grateful, really. But it wouldn’t work. You know it as well as I do. I know what you guys do. You travel around the universe and explore. A new place every day, pretty much. You haven’t exactly done any of that in the last week, have you? And if I stayed, then either you’d have to leave me behind every time, which I’d find pretty frustrating, or you’d bring me with you and I’d be a liability.”
Rose feels a lump welling up in her throat. She wants to shake Jack and tell him he’s wrong, that it wouldn’t be like that, but she can’t. Because he’s right, isn’t he? How could it be any different? The things they get up to when they’re off exploring - there’s no way that it’d be safe for Jack. It’s not as if they go looking for trouble, but it always seems to find them anyway. How could Jack possibly cope if they had to run for their lives - or pick their way across a field full of traps, like they had to when they ended up in eighteenth-century Austria just before they met Jack?
But the Doctor’s actually smiling. “You think that hadn’t occurred to me? Give me credit, Jack.” He comes closer still, until he’s standing right in front of the two of them, one hand in the pocket of his leather jacket. “There’s a solution. Think I can find a way to sort your sight. Stay or go, doesn’t matter, though I think both me an’ Rose would like you to stay.”
Jack’s head jerks up. “What? You can?”
“Maybe. No guarantees.” The Doctor takes his hand out of his pocket, and there’s a fine chain dangling from it. With his other hand, he reaches out to where her hand’s still gripping Jack’s, and he frees Jack’s hand, holding it palm upwards, then lets what he’s holding in his other hand drop into Jack’s palm.
It’s a TARDIS key.
***
He might not be able to see what the Doctor’s put into his hand, but it doesn’t take much to figure out the shape and weight of it. A key. And the only kind of key that would make sense is a key to this ship.
The lump that’s been in his throat since he entered the console room swells to about twice its size. This is so far from how he imagined this conversation would go. Oh, the Doctor would politely ask him if he was sure, but he’d be relieved, glad to be rid of the unwanted passenger who’d become a burden.
The invitation to stay - and with the suggestion that there could be something the Doctor might be able to do to fix his sight after all - leaves him struggling for words.
“I’m honoured, Doctor,” he manages at last. “I gotta ask, though - my sight? You said before there was nothing you could do, and now you’re saying you can. I don’t get it.”
“Yeah, you told me you couldn’t do anything too,” Rose says, startling Jack; he’d almost forgotten that she was standing beside him.
“Can’t myself.” He can almost hear the Doctor’s shrug. “An’ nor could anyone in Jack’s time, let alone yours. Thing is, this is a time machine. Go forward a few billion years in human history, you find all kinds of medical advances. Can cure anything in the year five billion, you can.”
“Five billion?” There’s confusion in Rose’s voice. “But I’ve been there. That’s when the Earth burned up.”
“Yeah, but I told you all the humans had spread all across the galaxy, right? Even more than in Jack’s time. There’s even a New Earth-”
“You’re talking about the hospital in New New York.” Jack’s tone is flat, and there’s a heavy weight settling in his stomach. Disappointment’s never left him feeling as if he’s been slammed so hard in the gut before.
“Yep! You’ve heard of it, then.” The Doctor still sounds pleased with himself, which only makes things far worse.
“Don’t think there’s a Time Agent who hasn’t.” He’s trying to sound detached, but Jack knows he’s failing miserably. A moment later, he gets proof of that: Rose slips her hand into his again, her palm pressing the TARDIS key into his.
“So what’s the problem?”
Damn the Doctor anyway. He’s making Jack spell it out. “I know the kind of money they charge for their services. And even if I had access to every penny I ever made through my cons - which I don’t - I still wouldn’t even come close to a down-payment.”
Rose makes a little choking sound, and squeezes his hand tighter.
“So?” To listen to the Doctor, anyone’d think not being able to afford treatment was a trivial detail. It’s not, and Jack’s itching to shout at the guy for being fucking insensitive. “Money’s easy for a time-traveller.”
That’s true, and it’s not as if he’s never made himself a quick profit that way. Collectibles are the best: go back and buy a first-generation of whatever it is, stick it away in a safety deposit box for fifty or a hundred years - so that it’ll age authentically - and then sell it, original packaging and all, for many times what he paid. But he wouldn’t have imagined that the Doctor would approve of that.
“No.” It doesn’t even require thought. “When you guys saved my life, I swore I was out of the conning game. And that includes this kind of thing.” Not that it’s not tempting, but... no.
“Good answer.” He can hear the smile in the Doctor’s voice, and he tenses. Shit. That was another test. “Didn’t mean I expected you to pay for the treatment, anyway. I can afford it.”
That’s only the second time since he’s met the Doctor that the Time Lord has managed to render him speechless - and the first time was when the Doctor pointed out that the Chula ambulance contained nanogenes. The effect’s pretty much the same here.
How can he possibly accept?
But, wait. It’s another test, isn’t it? Of course it is. Will Jack Harkness, the greedy, self-centred conman, jump at the chance to freeload? After all, he’s already accepted the TARDIS key, the offer of free room and board - and ongoing care - on the Doctor’s ship.
“That’s a very generous offer, and I’m grateful,” he says with careful dignity. “But I can’t let you do that.”
“What are you talking about?” The Doctor sounds genuinely bemused. But even if it was a sincere offer - no strings, no tricks - there’s no way he can let the Doctor pay for his treatment.
“Like I said, I’m grateful. More than I can say. I just can’t accept.” He drops Rose’s hand and starts to turn, cautious as always now. “My leg’s starting to ache. Gonna go and rest for a bit. Later.”
Neither of them says a word as he limps slowly, carefully, out of the console room.
***
“Why did he say no?” Confusion and disbelief is written all over Rose’s face.
“Pride.” That’s all that’s stopping Jack: idiotic, unnecessary pride. He could see it on the Captain’s face. The lad was fighting with himself. He wanted to accept the offer, but thought he shouldn’t. Too much to accept from someone he barely knows - or, more likely, the Doctor considers, remembering Jack’s recent history and what he said about his departure from the Time Agency, it’s that he’s simply not used to someone doing something for him without having an ulterior motive.
Well, it’s not as if there’s an expiry date on the offer. He’ll give Jack time to get used to the idea that someone could want to help him and not want anything in return, and then he’ll raise it again.
He glances back at Rose, who’s still looking upset. “Go to him,” he suggests. The lad probably shouldn’t be left alone, and he’d probably respond better to her right now.
She nods, but doesn’t leave, and it strikes him that Jack isn’t the only companion in need of comfort right now. He feels his expression soften, and he reaches for Rose, tugging her lightly against him and wrapping his arms around her. She snuggles into him, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she says after a while, her words muffled.
He pulls back to look at her. “What for?”
“What d’you think? What you just did. Offering to take him somewhere he can be cured.” By the expression on her face, it’s obvious that she never dreamed he’d do anything like that.
He shrugs one shoulder. “Won’t cause a paradox - I’ll make sure of it.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Her eyes are still wide. “I mean, you didn’t even like him.”
“That was before.” He’s still holding her, hands pressed against her spine, her shoulderblades. How long is it since he last allowed himself to be this physically close to another person? It’s not as if he hasn’t hugged Rose before, but it’s been brief, a second or two and then letting go. “I was wrong about him.” And it’s not often he’s had to admit that about anyone. “And he doesn’t deserve this. Not after risking his life to save someone he didn’t even know.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d see it that way.” Rose isn’t letting go of him either, her hands warm at his waist. “I mean-” Her forehead wrinkles. “-Jabe didn’t deserve to die for helping to save us all on Platform One, right?”
He flinches. No, she didn’t. And Rose is right in what she’s implying: he didn’t do anything to change that, even if he could have. And maybe he could have - it would have involved careful planning to avoid a damaging paradox but, as he told Rose once, he can do anything. Well, most things. But he doesn’t, because he doesn’t have the right to behave like a god.
“This is different,” he says eventually. “Jack didn’t die. He’s injured, but it can be fixed. Involves a bit more fixing than usual, but it’s not a lot different from me using a bone regenerator on you that time you sprained your ankle. ‘S still better than you could get in a hospital back in your time.”
“Right.” She’s not fooled, though, that much is obvious. How she knows he wouldn’t usually do what he’s offered to do for Jack he has no idea, but she does. Her hands tighten at his waist, and she stretches up. For barely a second, she presses her lips to his, then pulls away before he can even think about pushing her away - or kissing her back. “Goin’ to see Jack now.”
His lips are still tingling from the gentle pressure of hers as she leaves the console room.
***
Did she really just...?
God. She kissed the Doctor. And he didn’t shove her away, or tell her not to do it again, or anything like that. Though she really didn’t give him a chance, did she? She turned tail and ran before he could say a word.
He dances. He told her that. And in those few moments before Jack teleported them into his ship she was almost certain that she had him ready to dance with her. The look in his eyes as he walked over to join her had her knees trembling, barely able to hold her upright. But he hasn’t once looked at her like that since then.
Now she’s kissed him, and... what? The biggest mistake she’s ever made, or the beginning of something incredibly special?
She pauses, leaning against the wall as she takes a couple of deep breaths. Can’t think about that now. Jack. Got to focus on Jack. Why did he refuse the Doctor’s offer? Does he have any idea how astounding it is that the Doctor made that offer in the first place? Knowing the Doctor, it’s got to be either because he feels responsible, or because he likes Jack. And she can’t see how he could possibly feel responsible, given it was Jack who asked to go to that planet in the first place.
No, he likes Jack. He even invited him to stay, and gave him a TARDIS key.
It won’t be easy with Jack blind, of course not, but they can work it out - and if she and the Doctor have their way Jack won’t be blind for long. If it is just pride that’s stopping him from saying yes, she can talk him out of that.
She smiles, confident in her ability, and resumes walking towards Jack’s room.
She’s about to knock on the door when he calls out, “You might as well come in, Rose.”
Wow. She knew his hearing had improved, but still, seeing the evidence of it’s a shock. She pushes the door open and goes in. Jack’s leaning against the far wall, his expression giving nothing away. “If you’ve come to check on me, I’m fine.”
“Can see that, thanks.” She crosses to stand in front of him. “Just wanted to talk.”
“What, like your curling up on the sofa chats with your mum?” There’s a faintly sardonic edge to his voice, but that’s not what she focuses on. It’s amazing how much his eyes can still give away even though he can’t see, and right now there’s longing there.
“Nah. Like my spending time with a mate chats,” she counters, and reaches out, sliding her hand into his. He can’t see her smiling at him, after all even though he can probably hear it in her voice, but he can feel her touch.
She doesn’t realise she’s holding her breath until his fingers close around hers. The slow, relieved exhale escapes and she takes a step closer to Jack.
“Let me guess.” His tone is resigned, though he’s keeping hold of her hand. “You’ve come to talk me into accepting the Doctor’s offer.”
“No.” Despite what she was thinking on the way here, that’s not what he needs right now. “Wish I could understand why you won’t, though.”
He dips his head, but not before she can see the embarrassment - and longing - on his face. “Rose, you heard what I told him.”
“Yeah. You said it costs too much.” She pulls a face, remembering too late that he can’t see it. “Jack, he doesn’t care about that. And if it means you get your sight back...?”
“I can’t just...” Jack exclaims, trailing off with a sigh. “Rose. That kind of place charges more than I could make in two lifetimes. I could never pay him back.”
“Don’t remember hearing him say he wanted to be paid back,” she counters.
“And if it was you?” Jack retorts, and now he’s facing her again, his sightless eyes full of frustration. “Could you just take that kind of money from him?” With his free hand, he rakes fingers through his hair. “Though it’s different for you. You two are pretty close. Me, I’m just a chance passenger he thought he was getting rid of over a week ago and that he’s had no choice but to let stay.”
“He gave you a key, Jack. He doesn’t give those to just anyone,” she points out. “And it’s not just because you saved Sal. He likes you.”
Jack doesn’t answer, but his fingers tighten around hers. She doesn’t stop to think; she moves, frees her hand and wraps her arms around him. After a second or two, he hugs back, burying his face in her hair.
“When you guys met me, I was a conman-”
“Yeah, you said that outside too. We know you’ve changed, Jack.” She shakes him a little.
“But taking that kind of money from him would mean I haven’t changed at all.” The resolve in his voice is unmistakeable, and her heart sinks. “I’d offer to work for him - all the cleaning and maintenance he wants for the rest of my life,” he continues, his voice faintly muffled. “But it wouldn’t even come close to what I’d need as a down-payment. And, besides, he doesn’t need anyone to do that.”
“What do you mean?” She can’t resist, now that she’s got him so close; she slides one hand up and into Jack’s dark hair, so thick and shiny, completely different from the Doctor’s near-stubble. Jack really is so incredibly good-looking, and even more so now that he’s not actually trying to impress her.
Right now, standing so close to Jack, their arms around each other, it’s hard to remember that she’s in love with the Doctor - even if he’s never going to feel the same way about her. What’s wrong with her? Her mum would have a fit if she knew that, barely fifteen minutes after kissing the Doctor, she’s so very tempted to kiss Jack as well.
“This ship’s alive, right?” Jack says, dragging her attention back to what they’re talking about. Oh, right. Why the Doctor doesn’t need Jack’s help with the TARDIS. “She’s so far advanced from anything I’ve seen, despite the retro look everywhere. If he wants anything cleaned, the TARDIS takes care of it. Maintenance, not so much - but I doubt he lets anyone else even touch her systems.”
She takes a sharp intake of breath. “So when he got you to clean the drains...?”
“Didn’t need cleaning. Well, not by me,” Jack explains, raising his head, though his arms are still around her.
“Oh.” Anger flares briefly inside her. All right, she knew the Doctor told Jack to do the cleaning as a punishment, but not that it was never necessary in the first place. “When did you realise?”
To her amazement, he actually smiles. “Probably within the first hour. But, hey, his ship,” Jack continues. “And he had just saved my life. Sure, I thought he was an arrogant bastard, but I was determined to show him that I wasn’t a quitter, and I can take responsibility for my mistakes.”
So he cleaned all day, getting filthy and smelly, and all the time he knew it wasn’t even something that had to be done. God. And then the Doctor accused him of stealing. It’s a wonder Jack didn’t knock him flat.
She reaches up and presses a kiss against his cheek - it’s not where she really wants to kiss him, but it’s all she’ll allow herself. Besides, Jack can’t see her, can’t read her intentions. Would it be fair to snog him when he can’t avoid it if he wants to? “You’re a good bloke, Jack Harkness.”
A pink flush spreads over his face. “Hardly.”
“You are,” she insists. “Yeah, you made mistakes. Everyone does. Remind me to tell you about the time I almost wiped out the human race.” She rubs his back.
“You did what?” He’s frowning now, disbelief all over his face. “What happened?”
“Uh-uh.” She steps back, finally - reluctantly - releasing him, though she lets her hands slide down his arms, making sure that her grip on his damaged one is gentle. “I’ll tell you when you’ve got your sight back, and no sooner.”
“You-!” Jack shakes his head. “You’re trying to blackmail me.”
“Hope it works.”
Rose spins around, and there he is, lounging in the doorway with his shoulder pressed against the jamb. “How long have you been there?” she asks the Doctor.
He shrugs, straightening. “Not long.”
“You must have crept up,” Jack says, releasing Rose’s hands. “I never heard you.”
The Doctor smiles, smug and pleased with himself. “Thought about what you said, Jack. And you’re right. We’ve stayed put too long. Decided it was time we went exploring. Console room, now. We’ll be materialising in five minutes.”
***
So it’s not just about Jack’s pride.
He could tell the Captain that accepting his offer isn’t remotely like living the con-game. But it doesn’t look like Jack’s ready to believe that. Better, then, that the lad come to that conclusion himself. And one or two other conclusions, as well - such as that he’s not in the TARDIS on sufferance, or from some kind of misplaced guilt on the part of his host.
Peru IV, then. A bit of psychology might do the trick. The planet’s safe enough; Jack’s not going to come to any harm, especially not with him and Rose to look after him. But he’ll see what he’s missing, far more than on the TARDIS, where he’s been able to compensate to a great extent for his loss of sight.
“Hang on, Doctor. Are you sure about this?”
Jack hasn’t moved, and he’s looking as uncertain as his first day trying to find his way around the TARDIS on his own.
The Doctor grins. “What’s the matter? Never taken a risk?”
“Actually, it’s you and Rose I’m thinking of.” Now there’s anger on Jack’s face, but that’s good. It’s animation rather than passivity. “Like I said, I’ll only hold you back.”
“Leave me to worry about that,” the Doctor says. “Come on, give it a try. Do you good to get outside.”
Rose slips her hand into Jack’s. “We’ll take good care of you, promise.”
The irritation’s back. Jack hates being dependent, and hates even more knowing that they’re doing things to help him. Again, good. Might make him more inclined to accept the offer of surgery so he can be independent again.
“Thanks.” That’s said with grudging acceptance, and once they’re out in the hallway Jack drops Rose’s hand. Damn.
He gives Rose a quick, encouraging smile, hoping to reassure her that it’s not her Jack’s rejecting. Her crooked smile in return tells him she understands. Good. Probably shouldn’t have doubted it, really.
“Right, then, you two! What’s takin’ you so long? Peru IV, right outside the doors. Can’t stand around here all day!”
“Lead on, then, Doctor,” Jack drawls in response.
“Already am!” he retorts, breaking into a stride. Automatically, he reaches for Rose’s hand - and when did he start doing that as a rule? Her fingers curl around his as if they belong there, and her thumb strokes the back of his hand.
It’s almost like a jolt of electricity coursing through him, and a sudden, sharp reminder of the incident earlier, in the console room. Out of the blue, she actually kissed him. Her soft body pressed against his, his hands holding her against him, and he had her lips on his.
It’s been so long since he wanted. Never thought he would again, but he does now. Rassilon, how he does.
***
Taking his first step out of the TARDIS is fucking terrifying.
He’s just about starting to feel comfortable walking around the ship’s interior, mostly confident that he won’t find something unexpected in his path or forget how many steps from his bed to his bathroom. Having the interior layout programmed into his wrist computer has helped enormously, as has the Doctor’s command to the TARDIS not to alter her layout unless it’s essential.
But this, taking his first step into completely unknown territory, is enough to freeze him to the spot. But he won’t - can’t - let the Doctor see his fear. Bad enough that the guy feels sufficiently sorry for him that he’d actually offer to pay a large fortune to have his sight restored - and invite him to stay on the TARDIS whether or not he’s cured. Worse still to have him realise just how useless his unwanted passenger is.
Okay. Deep breath. Then he concentrates, listening and analysing. The Doctor and Rose went out first, and he couldn’t hear their footsteps, so they’ve landed on some kind of soft surface. Grass, or interior carpeting or some other sound-absorbing floor covering. No, not inside. There’s a breeze - he can just about feel it on his face - and in the distance the sound of trees moving.
So they’re outside, somewhere rural - grass, trees, and no people by the sound of it. That’s good, at least. Means no-one’s going to see him make a fool of himself other than the Doctor and Rose, and they’ve already seen plenty of that.
“It’s beautiful here!” Rose exclaims, and by the sound of it she’s already moved a few metres away and still moving. “Come on, Jack! You’ve got to feel the sun on your face. Feels like I’ve been indoors for weeks.”
“Nothing in front of you, lad,” the Doctor says quietly, from just to the side; he must be standing right beside the TARDIS.
It’s only then that he thinks to tap his computer. Of course there’s nothing in front of him. Right. Enough quivering like a coward.
He takes a step forward and his foot lands in soft grass. Another step, and he’s out in the warm sun Rose described, with a gentle breeze ruffling his hair.
“Well done,” the Doctor says, his voice low enough that only Jack could possibly hear it. The Time Lord’s hand lands on his shoulder, squeezes for a moment, and is then removed.
“Over here, Jack!” Rose calls, and he turns carefully towards the sound of her voice, then begins walking towards her. There’s nothing in his path, his computer assures him, and he knows the Doctor’s still beside him; he can hear the soft footfalls in the grass next to him.
Maybe this isn’t going to be too bad after all. Oh, of course, if they get into a dangerous situation he’ll never be anything but a burden, and he’ll have to figure out what to do about that - but the Doctor fixed his teleport, so that could be a solution. He can’t help the Doctor and Rose if they’re in danger, but at least he won’t make things worse.
He’s smiling as he reaches Rose - but then something makes him stop dead. A sound nearby, the unmistakeable sharp click of weapons being primed.
But they’re alone here, aren’t they? The Doctor would have said if there was anyone else around, and neither he or Rose have said anything.
“Jack? What’s wrong?” Rose asks, and she sounds confused. Not the way she’d sound if she were looking at aliens with weapons. So, what? Is he imagining it?
“Captain?” The Doctor’s hand brushes his wrist. “What do you hear?”
“I’m not sure,” he begins. Damn it, he’s starting to doubt himself. Then he stops, forces himself to focus. And there it is: the sound of people moving closer.
They’re not alone here. There’s potentially hostile forces very close by, and he’s the only one who even knows they’re there.
***
Concluded in chapter 7, Seeing is Believing
Author: wmr / wendymr
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler
Rated: PG13
Summary: He’s like a magnet. A gravity well, sucking in everything within his sphere of influence, drawing them to him whether they like it or not.
Written for space_monkey52 in return for an extremely generous donation to the Queensland flood appeal. Thank you SO much for your generosity. Many thanks also to dark_aegis for BRing. And a huge apology for the delay in posting this chapter! I was on holiday, and then immediately got sick and just haven't been able to write. Also, you may notice that this is not the final chapter; there will in fact be one more.
Chapter 1: Clean-up Duty l Chapter 2: Amusements l Chapter 3: Drop-off Point l Chapter 4: Search and Recovery l Chapter 5: Leading the Blind
Chapter 6: Pride Goes Before
“Jack!” Rose exclaims, letting go of the Doctor and running towards him. But the Captain holds up his hands, stopping her in her tracks. He doesn’t want her pity, that’s what his expression’s telling her.
But how can he talk about leaving? Even if he didn’t want to stay around here with her and the Doctor - and they haven’t even had a chance to talk about that, either the three of them together or her and the Doctor - this sounds insane. How’s he going to manage on his own, in a place he doesn’t know?
“This really what you want, lad?” the Doctor asks, his voice even. “Cause it doesn’t sound very sensible to me.”
“Sensible?” Jack’s clenching his good hand; she can see the blood draining from his knuckles. His voice has gone up in pitch, too. So his calmness just before was only an act. Pretty good one, too; he had her fooled. “Doctor, I’m blind. That doesn’t leave me a lot of options.”
“There’s an obvious one you’re overlooking,” the Doctor points out. “Who said you had to leave? Don’t remember mentioning it meself.”
Jack squeezes his eyes shut briefly and looks down at the floor - but not before Rose has seen the longing in his eyes. She glances around, catching the Doctor’s eye and giving him a thumbs-up.
“There’s no reason why you should feel responsible for me, Doctor.” Jack’s obviously trying to keep his voice steady, but he’s not entirely succeeding. “Like I said, I’m not even supposed to be here any more.”
At that, Rose takes the couple of steps that take her to Jack’s side, and she grips his good hand, holding her breath. He swallows audibly, and his fingers clench around hers. “He doesn’t, Jack,” she says softly.
“Got nothin’ to do with feeling responsible for you, Jack,” the Doctor says, coming closer. “Had already decided once I knew you were alive that I was gonna ask you to stay.”
Jack’s grip on hers tightens again. “I’m grateful, really. But it wouldn’t work. You know it as well as I do. I know what you guys do. You travel around the universe and explore. A new place every day, pretty much. You haven’t exactly done any of that in the last week, have you? And if I stayed, then either you’d have to leave me behind every time, which I’d find pretty frustrating, or you’d bring me with you and I’d be a liability.”
Rose feels a lump welling up in her throat. She wants to shake Jack and tell him he’s wrong, that it wouldn’t be like that, but she can’t. Because he’s right, isn’t he? How could it be any different? The things they get up to when they’re off exploring - there’s no way that it’d be safe for Jack. It’s not as if they go looking for trouble, but it always seems to find them anyway. How could Jack possibly cope if they had to run for their lives - or pick their way across a field full of traps, like they had to when they ended up in eighteenth-century Austria just before they met Jack?
But the Doctor’s actually smiling. “You think that hadn’t occurred to me? Give me credit, Jack.” He comes closer still, until he’s standing right in front of the two of them, one hand in the pocket of his leather jacket. “There’s a solution. Think I can find a way to sort your sight. Stay or go, doesn’t matter, though I think both me an’ Rose would like you to stay.”
Jack’s head jerks up. “What? You can?”
“Maybe. No guarantees.” The Doctor takes his hand out of his pocket, and there’s a fine chain dangling from it. With his other hand, he reaches out to where her hand’s still gripping Jack’s, and he frees Jack’s hand, holding it palm upwards, then lets what he’s holding in his other hand drop into Jack’s palm.
It’s a TARDIS key.
***
He might not be able to see what the Doctor’s put into his hand, but it doesn’t take much to figure out the shape and weight of it. A key. And the only kind of key that would make sense is a key to this ship.
The lump that’s been in his throat since he entered the console room swells to about twice its size. This is so far from how he imagined this conversation would go. Oh, the Doctor would politely ask him if he was sure, but he’d be relieved, glad to be rid of the unwanted passenger who’d become a burden.
The invitation to stay - and with the suggestion that there could be something the Doctor might be able to do to fix his sight after all - leaves him struggling for words.
“I’m honoured, Doctor,” he manages at last. “I gotta ask, though - my sight? You said before there was nothing you could do, and now you’re saying you can. I don’t get it.”
“Yeah, you told me you couldn’t do anything too,” Rose says, startling Jack; he’d almost forgotten that she was standing beside him.
“Can’t myself.” He can almost hear the Doctor’s shrug. “An’ nor could anyone in Jack’s time, let alone yours. Thing is, this is a time machine. Go forward a few billion years in human history, you find all kinds of medical advances. Can cure anything in the year five billion, you can.”
“Five billion?” There’s confusion in Rose’s voice. “But I’ve been there. That’s when the Earth burned up.”
“Yeah, but I told you all the humans had spread all across the galaxy, right? Even more than in Jack’s time. There’s even a New Earth-”
“You’re talking about the hospital in New New York.” Jack’s tone is flat, and there’s a heavy weight settling in his stomach. Disappointment’s never left him feeling as if he’s been slammed so hard in the gut before.
“Yep! You’ve heard of it, then.” The Doctor still sounds pleased with himself, which only makes things far worse.
“Don’t think there’s a Time Agent who hasn’t.” He’s trying to sound detached, but Jack knows he’s failing miserably. A moment later, he gets proof of that: Rose slips her hand into his again, her palm pressing the TARDIS key into his.
“So what’s the problem?”
Damn the Doctor anyway. He’s making Jack spell it out. “I know the kind of money they charge for their services. And even if I had access to every penny I ever made through my cons - which I don’t - I still wouldn’t even come close to a down-payment.”
Rose makes a little choking sound, and squeezes his hand tighter.
“So?” To listen to the Doctor, anyone’d think not being able to afford treatment was a trivial detail. It’s not, and Jack’s itching to shout at the guy for being fucking insensitive. “Money’s easy for a time-traveller.”
That’s true, and it’s not as if he’s never made himself a quick profit that way. Collectibles are the best: go back and buy a first-generation of whatever it is, stick it away in a safety deposit box for fifty or a hundred years - so that it’ll age authentically - and then sell it, original packaging and all, for many times what he paid. But he wouldn’t have imagined that the Doctor would approve of that.
“No.” It doesn’t even require thought. “When you guys saved my life, I swore I was out of the conning game. And that includes this kind of thing.” Not that it’s not tempting, but... no.
“Good answer.” He can hear the smile in the Doctor’s voice, and he tenses. Shit. That was another test. “Didn’t mean I expected you to pay for the treatment, anyway. I can afford it.”
That’s only the second time since he’s met the Doctor that the Time Lord has managed to render him speechless - and the first time was when the Doctor pointed out that the Chula ambulance contained nanogenes. The effect’s pretty much the same here.
How can he possibly accept?
But, wait. It’s another test, isn’t it? Of course it is. Will Jack Harkness, the greedy, self-centred conman, jump at the chance to freeload? After all, he’s already accepted the TARDIS key, the offer of free room and board - and ongoing care - on the Doctor’s ship.
“That’s a very generous offer, and I’m grateful,” he says with careful dignity. “But I can’t let you do that.”
“What are you talking about?” The Doctor sounds genuinely bemused. But even if it was a sincere offer - no strings, no tricks - there’s no way he can let the Doctor pay for his treatment.
“Like I said, I’m grateful. More than I can say. I just can’t accept.” He drops Rose’s hand and starts to turn, cautious as always now. “My leg’s starting to ache. Gonna go and rest for a bit. Later.”
Neither of them says a word as he limps slowly, carefully, out of the console room.
***
“Why did he say no?” Confusion and disbelief is written all over Rose’s face.
“Pride.” That’s all that’s stopping Jack: idiotic, unnecessary pride. He could see it on the Captain’s face. The lad was fighting with himself. He wanted to accept the offer, but thought he shouldn’t. Too much to accept from someone he barely knows - or, more likely, the Doctor considers, remembering Jack’s recent history and what he said about his departure from the Time Agency, it’s that he’s simply not used to someone doing something for him without having an ulterior motive.
Well, it’s not as if there’s an expiry date on the offer. He’ll give Jack time to get used to the idea that someone could want to help him and not want anything in return, and then he’ll raise it again.
He glances back at Rose, who’s still looking upset. “Go to him,” he suggests. The lad probably shouldn’t be left alone, and he’d probably respond better to her right now.
She nods, but doesn’t leave, and it strikes him that Jack isn’t the only companion in need of comfort right now. He feels his expression soften, and he reaches for Rose, tugging her lightly against him and wrapping his arms around her. She snuggles into him, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she says after a while, her words muffled.
He pulls back to look at her. “What for?”
“What d’you think? What you just did. Offering to take him somewhere he can be cured.” By the expression on her face, it’s obvious that she never dreamed he’d do anything like that.
He shrugs one shoulder. “Won’t cause a paradox - I’ll make sure of it.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Her eyes are still wide. “I mean, you didn’t even like him.”
“That was before.” He’s still holding her, hands pressed against her spine, her shoulderblades. How long is it since he last allowed himself to be this physically close to another person? It’s not as if he hasn’t hugged Rose before, but it’s been brief, a second or two and then letting go. “I was wrong about him.” And it’s not often he’s had to admit that about anyone. “And he doesn’t deserve this. Not after risking his life to save someone he didn’t even know.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d see it that way.” Rose isn’t letting go of him either, her hands warm at his waist. “I mean-” Her forehead wrinkles. “-Jabe didn’t deserve to die for helping to save us all on Platform One, right?”
He flinches. No, she didn’t. And Rose is right in what she’s implying: he didn’t do anything to change that, even if he could have. And maybe he could have - it would have involved careful planning to avoid a damaging paradox but, as he told Rose once, he can do anything. Well, most things. But he doesn’t, because he doesn’t have the right to behave like a god.
“This is different,” he says eventually. “Jack didn’t die. He’s injured, but it can be fixed. Involves a bit more fixing than usual, but it’s not a lot different from me using a bone regenerator on you that time you sprained your ankle. ‘S still better than you could get in a hospital back in your time.”
“Right.” She’s not fooled, though, that much is obvious. How she knows he wouldn’t usually do what he’s offered to do for Jack he has no idea, but she does. Her hands tighten at his waist, and she stretches up. For barely a second, she presses her lips to his, then pulls away before he can even think about pushing her away - or kissing her back. “Goin’ to see Jack now.”
His lips are still tingling from the gentle pressure of hers as she leaves the console room.
***
Did she really just...?
God. She kissed the Doctor. And he didn’t shove her away, or tell her not to do it again, or anything like that. Though she really didn’t give him a chance, did she? She turned tail and ran before he could say a word.
He dances. He told her that. And in those few moments before Jack teleported them into his ship she was almost certain that she had him ready to dance with her. The look in his eyes as he walked over to join her had her knees trembling, barely able to hold her upright. But he hasn’t once looked at her like that since then.
Now she’s kissed him, and... what? The biggest mistake she’s ever made, or the beginning of something incredibly special?
She pauses, leaning against the wall as she takes a couple of deep breaths. Can’t think about that now. Jack. Got to focus on Jack. Why did he refuse the Doctor’s offer? Does he have any idea how astounding it is that the Doctor made that offer in the first place? Knowing the Doctor, it’s got to be either because he feels responsible, or because he likes Jack. And she can’t see how he could possibly feel responsible, given it was Jack who asked to go to that planet in the first place.
No, he likes Jack. He even invited him to stay, and gave him a TARDIS key.
It won’t be easy with Jack blind, of course not, but they can work it out - and if she and the Doctor have their way Jack won’t be blind for long. If it is just pride that’s stopping him from saying yes, she can talk him out of that.
She smiles, confident in her ability, and resumes walking towards Jack’s room.
She’s about to knock on the door when he calls out, “You might as well come in, Rose.”
Wow. She knew his hearing had improved, but still, seeing the evidence of it’s a shock. She pushes the door open and goes in. Jack’s leaning against the far wall, his expression giving nothing away. “If you’ve come to check on me, I’m fine.”
“Can see that, thanks.” She crosses to stand in front of him. “Just wanted to talk.”
“What, like your curling up on the sofa chats with your mum?” There’s a faintly sardonic edge to his voice, but that’s not what she focuses on. It’s amazing how much his eyes can still give away even though he can’t see, and right now there’s longing there.
“Nah. Like my spending time with a mate chats,” she counters, and reaches out, sliding her hand into his. He can’t see her smiling at him, after all even though he can probably hear it in her voice, but he can feel her touch.
She doesn’t realise she’s holding her breath until his fingers close around hers. The slow, relieved exhale escapes and she takes a step closer to Jack.
“Let me guess.” His tone is resigned, though he’s keeping hold of her hand. “You’ve come to talk me into accepting the Doctor’s offer.”
“No.” Despite what she was thinking on the way here, that’s not what he needs right now. “Wish I could understand why you won’t, though.”
He dips his head, but not before she can see the embarrassment - and longing - on his face. “Rose, you heard what I told him.”
“Yeah. You said it costs too much.” She pulls a face, remembering too late that he can’t see it. “Jack, he doesn’t care about that. And if it means you get your sight back...?”
“I can’t just...” Jack exclaims, trailing off with a sigh. “Rose. That kind of place charges more than I could make in two lifetimes. I could never pay him back.”
“Don’t remember hearing him say he wanted to be paid back,” she counters.
“And if it was you?” Jack retorts, and now he’s facing her again, his sightless eyes full of frustration. “Could you just take that kind of money from him?” With his free hand, he rakes fingers through his hair. “Though it’s different for you. You two are pretty close. Me, I’m just a chance passenger he thought he was getting rid of over a week ago and that he’s had no choice but to let stay.”
“He gave you a key, Jack. He doesn’t give those to just anyone,” she points out. “And it’s not just because you saved Sal. He likes you.”
Jack doesn’t answer, but his fingers tighten around hers. She doesn’t stop to think; she moves, frees her hand and wraps her arms around him. After a second or two, he hugs back, burying his face in her hair.
“When you guys met me, I was a conman-”
“Yeah, you said that outside too. We know you’ve changed, Jack.” She shakes him a little.
“But taking that kind of money from him would mean I haven’t changed at all.” The resolve in his voice is unmistakeable, and her heart sinks. “I’d offer to work for him - all the cleaning and maintenance he wants for the rest of my life,” he continues, his voice faintly muffled. “But it wouldn’t even come close to what I’d need as a down-payment. And, besides, he doesn’t need anyone to do that.”
“What do you mean?” She can’t resist, now that she’s got him so close; she slides one hand up and into Jack’s dark hair, so thick and shiny, completely different from the Doctor’s near-stubble. Jack really is so incredibly good-looking, and even more so now that he’s not actually trying to impress her.
Right now, standing so close to Jack, their arms around each other, it’s hard to remember that she’s in love with the Doctor - even if he’s never going to feel the same way about her. What’s wrong with her? Her mum would have a fit if she knew that, barely fifteen minutes after kissing the Doctor, she’s so very tempted to kiss Jack as well.
“This ship’s alive, right?” Jack says, dragging her attention back to what they’re talking about. Oh, right. Why the Doctor doesn’t need Jack’s help with the TARDIS. “She’s so far advanced from anything I’ve seen, despite the retro look everywhere. If he wants anything cleaned, the TARDIS takes care of it. Maintenance, not so much - but I doubt he lets anyone else even touch her systems.”
She takes a sharp intake of breath. “So when he got you to clean the drains...?”
“Didn’t need cleaning. Well, not by me,” Jack explains, raising his head, though his arms are still around her.
“Oh.” Anger flares briefly inside her. All right, she knew the Doctor told Jack to do the cleaning as a punishment, but not that it was never necessary in the first place. “When did you realise?”
To her amazement, he actually smiles. “Probably within the first hour. But, hey, his ship,” Jack continues. “And he had just saved my life. Sure, I thought he was an arrogant bastard, but I was determined to show him that I wasn’t a quitter, and I can take responsibility for my mistakes.”
So he cleaned all day, getting filthy and smelly, and all the time he knew it wasn’t even something that had to be done. God. And then the Doctor accused him of stealing. It’s a wonder Jack didn’t knock him flat.
She reaches up and presses a kiss against his cheek - it’s not where she really wants to kiss him, but it’s all she’ll allow herself. Besides, Jack can’t see her, can’t read her intentions. Would it be fair to snog him when he can’t avoid it if he wants to? “You’re a good bloke, Jack Harkness.”
A pink flush spreads over his face. “Hardly.”
“You are,” she insists. “Yeah, you made mistakes. Everyone does. Remind me to tell you about the time I almost wiped out the human race.” She rubs his back.
“You did what?” He’s frowning now, disbelief all over his face. “What happened?”
“Uh-uh.” She steps back, finally - reluctantly - releasing him, though she lets her hands slide down his arms, making sure that her grip on his damaged one is gentle. “I’ll tell you when you’ve got your sight back, and no sooner.”
“You-!” Jack shakes his head. “You’re trying to blackmail me.”
“Hope it works.”
Rose spins around, and there he is, lounging in the doorway with his shoulder pressed against the jamb. “How long have you been there?” she asks the Doctor.
He shrugs, straightening. “Not long.”
“You must have crept up,” Jack says, releasing Rose’s hands. “I never heard you.”
The Doctor smiles, smug and pleased with himself. “Thought about what you said, Jack. And you’re right. We’ve stayed put too long. Decided it was time we went exploring. Console room, now. We’ll be materialising in five minutes.”
***
So it’s not just about Jack’s pride.
He could tell the Captain that accepting his offer isn’t remotely like living the con-game. But it doesn’t look like Jack’s ready to believe that. Better, then, that the lad come to that conclusion himself. And one or two other conclusions, as well - such as that he’s not in the TARDIS on sufferance, or from some kind of misplaced guilt on the part of his host.
Peru IV, then. A bit of psychology might do the trick. The planet’s safe enough; Jack’s not going to come to any harm, especially not with him and Rose to look after him. But he’ll see what he’s missing, far more than on the TARDIS, where he’s been able to compensate to a great extent for his loss of sight.
“Hang on, Doctor. Are you sure about this?”
Jack hasn’t moved, and he’s looking as uncertain as his first day trying to find his way around the TARDIS on his own.
The Doctor grins. “What’s the matter? Never taken a risk?”
“Actually, it’s you and Rose I’m thinking of.” Now there’s anger on Jack’s face, but that’s good. It’s animation rather than passivity. “Like I said, I’ll only hold you back.”
“Leave me to worry about that,” the Doctor says. “Come on, give it a try. Do you good to get outside.”
Rose slips her hand into Jack’s. “We’ll take good care of you, promise.”
The irritation’s back. Jack hates being dependent, and hates even more knowing that they’re doing things to help him. Again, good. Might make him more inclined to accept the offer of surgery so he can be independent again.
“Thanks.” That’s said with grudging acceptance, and once they’re out in the hallway Jack drops Rose’s hand. Damn.
He gives Rose a quick, encouraging smile, hoping to reassure her that it’s not her Jack’s rejecting. Her crooked smile in return tells him she understands. Good. Probably shouldn’t have doubted it, really.
“Right, then, you two! What’s takin’ you so long? Peru IV, right outside the doors. Can’t stand around here all day!”
“Lead on, then, Doctor,” Jack drawls in response.
“Already am!” he retorts, breaking into a stride. Automatically, he reaches for Rose’s hand - and when did he start doing that as a rule? Her fingers curl around his as if they belong there, and her thumb strokes the back of his hand.
It’s almost like a jolt of electricity coursing through him, and a sudden, sharp reminder of the incident earlier, in the console room. Out of the blue, she actually kissed him. Her soft body pressed against his, his hands holding her against him, and he had her lips on his.
It’s been so long since he wanted. Never thought he would again, but he does now. Rassilon, how he does.
***
Taking his first step out of the TARDIS is fucking terrifying.
He’s just about starting to feel comfortable walking around the ship’s interior, mostly confident that he won’t find something unexpected in his path or forget how many steps from his bed to his bathroom. Having the interior layout programmed into his wrist computer has helped enormously, as has the Doctor’s command to the TARDIS not to alter her layout unless it’s essential.
But this, taking his first step into completely unknown territory, is enough to freeze him to the spot. But he won’t - can’t - let the Doctor see his fear. Bad enough that the guy feels sufficiently sorry for him that he’d actually offer to pay a large fortune to have his sight restored - and invite him to stay on the TARDIS whether or not he’s cured. Worse still to have him realise just how useless his unwanted passenger is.
Okay. Deep breath. Then he concentrates, listening and analysing. The Doctor and Rose went out first, and he couldn’t hear their footsteps, so they’ve landed on some kind of soft surface. Grass, or interior carpeting or some other sound-absorbing floor covering. No, not inside. There’s a breeze - he can just about feel it on his face - and in the distance the sound of trees moving.
So they’re outside, somewhere rural - grass, trees, and no people by the sound of it. That’s good, at least. Means no-one’s going to see him make a fool of himself other than the Doctor and Rose, and they’ve already seen plenty of that.
“It’s beautiful here!” Rose exclaims, and by the sound of it she’s already moved a few metres away and still moving. “Come on, Jack! You’ve got to feel the sun on your face. Feels like I’ve been indoors for weeks.”
“Nothing in front of you, lad,” the Doctor says quietly, from just to the side; he must be standing right beside the TARDIS.
It’s only then that he thinks to tap his computer. Of course there’s nothing in front of him. Right. Enough quivering like a coward.
He takes a step forward and his foot lands in soft grass. Another step, and he’s out in the warm sun Rose described, with a gentle breeze ruffling his hair.
“Well done,” the Doctor says, his voice low enough that only Jack could possibly hear it. The Time Lord’s hand lands on his shoulder, squeezes for a moment, and is then removed.
“Over here, Jack!” Rose calls, and he turns carefully towards the sound of her voice, then begins walking towards her. There’s nothing in his path, his computer assures him, and he knows the Doctor’s still beside him; he can hear the soft footfalls in the grass next to him.
Maybe this isn’t going to be too bad after all. Oh, of course, if they get into a dangerous situation he’ll never be anything but a burden, and he’ll have to figure out what to do about that - but the Doctor fixed his teleport, so that could be a solution. He can’t help the Doctor and Rose if they’re in danger, but at least he won’t make things worse.
He’s smiling as he reaches Rose - but then something makes him stop dead. A sound nearby, the unmistakeable sharp click of weapons being primed.
But they’re alone here, aren’t they? The Doctor would have said if there was anyone else around, and neither he or Rose have said anything.
“Jack? What’s wrong?” Rose asks, and she sounds confused. Not the way she’d sound if she were looking at aliens with weapons. So, what? Is he imagining it?
“Captain?” The Doctor’s hand brushes his wrist. “What do you hear?”
“I’m not sure,” he begins. Damn it, he’s starting to doubt himself. Then he stops, forces himself to focus. And there it is: the sound of people moving closer.
They’re not alone here. There’s potentially hostile forces very close by, and he’s the only one who even knows they’re there.
***
Concluded in chapter 7, Seeing is Believing