Fic: Regrets 1/1

[wendymr]

Story: Regrets
Author: WMR
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Jack
Rated: PG 
Spoilers: POTW, Torchwood if you squint
Summary: Some time in your future, Jack, you’re going to think I’ve betrayed you.

With thanks to Gillian Taylor for beta :)

Regrets

Most people, he knows, have regrets as they come to the end of their life. He, unusually, has to confront all of

Comments

[beck_liz]

Oh, wow. I think I love this story. No, wait, I know I do. Oh, Doctor. Oh, Jack.

And besides... He’s the Doctor. He knows what he’s doing.

Uh-huh. Haven't we all heard that before? I do hope he's right this time, though.

[wendymr]

Wow, thank you very much! I'm so glad you liked it and that it had such an impact on you :) And, yes, I hope Ten knew what he was doing too...

[nnwest]

*reading* Is it all supposed to be in italics?

[beck_liz]

The strange thing is, it wasn't just a second ago.

[nnwest]

Fixed now...for the moment. ;)

But the fic! Lovely and sad. At least this way Jack has hope...and might not hit him when he catches up to him in Cardiff.

[wendymr]

Sorry! Been having LOTS of HTML issues and all this time you guys were reading I was trying to fix them. Not all that successfully...

[boji]

I love this. I love the fact that you can write this tragedy of love from the doctor's perspective mainly because I'm so furious at him and the universe on Jack's behalf that I can't, but that aside this is poignant and sad and my heart of heavy just reading it. I love that he crossed his own timeline. I love that he wasn't enough of a twat not to try.

I hate that although Jack will have changed and grown and suffered and evolved by the time they meet again they may never find the right time to be who they could be to each other.

I have never craved nor begged for a sequel the way I am craving and begging tonight.

Why? this Doctor 'reads' as emotively close to Nine. This Doctor could persuade me that his prancing around the universe with Rose in Season two (which drove me mad and not in a good way) could be grieving behind a clown smile. Christ, this Doctor redeems Ten for me.

Thank you.

[ladykoori]

Okay, so I don't normally reply to other people's story responses, but I am so with you on being driven mad by the season two gallavanting. I spent the whole orginal broadcast of the season being pretty pissed at the Doctor and Rose for just leaving Jack without as much as a mention. Since then I've seen a lot more of the old doctor who series and have come to realize that is how the Doctor works, which means that I can watch the broadcast here in the States with much less fury. (It probably helps I can get my Jack fix from Torchwood now too) Still, I hope Jack punches the Doctor when he sees him again.

And now I will add my voice to the sequel begging. Please, WMR!!!!

[ladykoori]

I've read both of those actually. They're very lovely, and I'm a horrid person for not commenting on them. I'm so bad about that.

[cosmic]

That’s why the Doctor crossed his own timeline to deliver that warning. To make his apology in advance.

Ow.

This story is absolutely gorgeous and it gives me just chills. As painful as it is, it's still something of an absolution for the Doctor and something that would could make Jack hurt less, and just yes. Oh Doctor. Oh Jack. I really love your Ten. His dialog is fantastic.

Plus, anything that includes and is able to pull of sentences like this: “We need to talk,” he says abruptly, starting to walk. “Not here. I can’t risk Rose or me seeing me here.” should be considered official show canon. *hearts*

[wendymr]

Thank you so much! I'm really flattered that this short piece has had such an effect on so many people.

In a way, I see this as more a comfort for the Doctor than for Jack. It's definitely a kind of absolution for Ten - he knows he's delivered an apology for his sins and a reassurance of sorts, as much as he can give, that he'll try to make it up to Jack some time in the future. But that's to make himself feel better. Will it make Jack feel better in the months and years ahead of him, and as he finds out the legacy he's got from knowing the Doctor and Rose? Hard to tell.

And thanks for picking out that line - I'm glad it made you smile :)

[aibhinn]

Oh, very nice. Poor Jack; I've been mourning on his behalf since we saw the TARDIS leaving him behind, and I was so glad to see him so anxious to meet up with the Doctor again in Torchwood. This does make sense; it's the kind of thing Ten would do, imho.

And I loved this: Which means it’s Captain Jack Harkness versus the universe once more. Well, he’s been there before. And he rates his chances pretty highly. That's *so* Jack. Well-done!

[wendymr]

Thank you! Yes, that's one of the most poignant moments in POTW, along with Nine's farewell to Rose as he sends her home and then, later, the kiss followed by his regeneration. Jack, kissing the two of them goodbye, with Nine unable to say a word to him in response; Jack telling Nine that he's never doubted him and never will; and then that awful, awful moment when he realises they've left without him. Heartbreaking.

He's very anxious to see the Doctor again, and it's clear from the scene with the hand that it's not just to find a solution for his little immortality problem. But I can't help feeling that it's going to end badly... :(

Thank you :)