Knight of the woeful countenance 4/6
Title: Knight of the Woeful Countenance
Author:jovialien
Characters: Jack, Ten, Martha, Sarah Jane, Mickey, Gwen, Ianto, mentions of Rose and Donna
Ratings: PG13 for angst
Warnings: Spoilers for Journeys End
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just borrow them occasionally.
Summary: When you don't know who you are who will you choose to be?
Authors Notes: Written for the wintercompanion challenge prompt "Amnesia" and inspired by John Barrowman singing Man of La Mancha.
Sarah Jane arrived late, Ianto bringing her into the hub by the lift so K-9 could come with her easily. She couldn’t help grinning as the lift lowered down, her hand grabbing Ianto’s arm to overcome the slight hint of vertigo at the sight. “Oh it’s beautiful!” Martha had taken the Doctor down to the cells to set up a room for him, apologising for the humble accommodations. Mickey was setting up a bunk for the Doctor and putting himself opposite but Jack was sure that was just an excuse for Mickey to get an early night. The Doctor on the other hand had informed her that a knight does not require sleep and he would keep guard instead. She had insisted on assigning him a room though so that he could prepare himself for the vigil ahead. It seemed to work to placate him and as they left Gwen got to work getting her old colleagues to look out for the TARDIS. It fell to Jack to greet Sarah Jane, a smile breaking out on his face as she slid into view at last.
“It’s humble but it’s home.” He held out his hand as she drew level with him and helped her off the step into his arms, hugging her tight. “How was the drive?” She smiled softly as she drew back, the slight smudges to her makeup telling Jack all he needed to know. But the determined look in her eyes, the one he knew was missing in his own, only served to shame him further.
“It was fine. Luke’s staying with his friends for as long as we need so there’s no worry there, I can stay as long as it takes.” She looked up at him fearfully, her fingers tightening slightly in the embrace. “How is he?” Jack shook his head and let her go, his hands moving to bury themselves in his pockets like a small boy.
“The same. He’s with Martha. I don’t know how to reach him.” Sarah Jane nodded and stepped around him, straightening her posture and becoming businesslike again.
“Then we have work to do. K-9...” Ianto couldn’t help grinning as the metal dog trundled down off the step with a slightly painful thud and trundled after her.
“Yes Mistress.”
“I want you to work with everyone here, whatever they need you to help with you do so ok?” She smiled at the dog fondly as it nodded at her.
“Affirmative.” The sound of voices came up from the corridors and she turned, bracing herself for the sight. The Doctor emerged on Martha’s arm then stopped, his mouth opening wide as he saw K-9. Everyone watched him for a silent heartbeat, hoping, maybe this would...
“Sancho! My squire! Where have you been?!” The Doctor ran up the steps and knelt beside K-9, rubbing his head playfully.
“Sorry Master. I was assisting Mistress Sarah Jane.” The Doctor turned, seeing her properly for the first time and she smiled politely as he stood, bowing low before her.
“My lady, my apologies.” She nodded as regally as she could and held out her hand for him, smiling as he kissed it.
“That is quite alright sir knight. Your squire here has been helping me with the quest...” He looked at her blankly but she was sure she saw a flicker behind his eyes.
“The... Quest?” His puzzled face was still but they could spot the intelligence behind those eyes at work again, frantically trying to break through - or hide.
“Why yes sir knight. Every knight must have a quest. What is yours?” He paused and looked confused for a moment, then grinned bemusedly.
“To serve and protect of course. Speaking of which I must take up my guard post. My lady...” Ianto stepped forwards and nodded to him quickly.
“Sir knight, perhaps I could show you to your post, it is not a safe place for my lady at night.” The Doctor nodded seriously and puffed up his chest importantly.
“Of course not, of course not. Lead on!” Ianto bowed slightly and led the Doctor up the stairs, taking him to the hothouse. The others watched him go in various states of despair and tiredness. It was Sarah Jane who spoke first, wondering out loud.
“He has taken on the persona of Don Quixote but he doesn’t remember the quest. Or he won’t let himself.” She began to pace, the others slumping against the tables or sofa as they watched her. “He has picked out K-9 to be Sancho, his faithful squire, and you to be the lord of the castle. But...” She paused, looking at Martha and Gwen who were sat together on the sofa. “I assume he has not picked anyone to be Dulcinea, the woman who he dedicates his victories to.” Gwen shook her head with a mournful air but Martha simply stared into space.
“Rose.” Martha spoke quietly but everyone turned to her. “It was always Rose. Well...” She blushed slightly as she looked up at Sarah Jane in embarrassment. “Recently I mean. I don’t know about before Gallifrey was lost. But since then Rose was kindof...” She shrugged and looked down as Jack nodded and moved to sit on the floor beside them. Gwen’s hand slid to rest on his shoulder lightly as Sarah Jane continued, his hand moving up to cover hers in gratitude. Sarah Jane began to pace again, thinking on her feet.
“But Rose is gone. Without Dulcinea...” She looked at them all again, a worried expression on her face. “Without Dulcinea Don Quixote had no one to dedicate his victories to, no one to fight for.” She sat on the edge of one of the desks carefully. “No reason to fight.” She folded her arms and looked at them all. “We have to give him a reason to fight. Remind him of who he is, of what he does.” They all looked round as Ianto’s footsteps echoed on the steps, clanging down towards them.
“He’s happy enough in there, he can see the whole hub and with the plants he thinks he is outside. Someone should stay with him though.” He moved to stand beside Jack, Jack’s hand reaching up to wrap his fingers through Ianto’s, drawing support from both of his friends. Sarah Jane nodded and looked at K-9 who was waiting in the corner.
“K-9 stay with him.” She sighed and looked at the rest of the team slumped together. “I suggest we get some sleep.” Martha nodded and dragged herself off the sofa tiredly, taking Sarah Jane’s arm in hers.
“Come on then, us ladies have a lovely spot in the cells picked out. Unfortunately Mickey is already snoring away down there so we will have to get past that tonight...” With a chuckle they were out of sight, Gwen standing too and grabbing her jacket.
“I’d better get home then but I’ll be back first thing.” She hugged Jack tight and kissed his cheek before doing the same to Ianto. “You two staying here tonight?” Both men nodded and without words moved together, Jack’s arm subconsciously wrapping itself around Ianto’s waist. “Take care of yourselves. Goodnight.” They watched in silence as the hub door closed before Ianto began his evening routine of dimming the lights and tidying up.
Jack couldn’t help simply staring up at the window where the Doctor was sat, K-9 appearing at his side. The Doctor still wouldn’t look at him but he didn’t care. That blank look only broke his heart anyway. When Ianto returned he let himself be led to his office and down into the room in silence, not saying anything but letting himself be put to bed. He was grateful Ianto didn’t try to make him speak, simply soothing his body and reminding Jack without words that he was still alive. There was no jealousy, no worry over Jack’s affection for the Doctor this time. Instead he was simply loved and reminded that there was still something to hold on to here. Eventually, sated, he simply lay back and listened as Ianto fell asleep beside him but could not sleep himself, simply listening and hoping for a miracle.
Part Five
Author:jovialien
Characters: Jack, Ten, Martha, Sarah Jane, Mickey, Gwen, Ianto, mentions of Rose and Donna
Ratings: PG13 for angst
Warnings: Spoilers for Journeys End
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just borrow them occasionally.
Summary: When you don't know who you are who will you choose to be?
Authors Notes: Written for the wintercompanion challenge prompt "Amnesia" and inspired by John Barrowman singing Man of La Mancha.
Sarah Jane arrived late, Ianto bringing her into the hub by the lift so K-9 could come with her easily. She couldn’t help grinning as the lift lowered down, her hand grabbing Ianto’s arm to overcome the slight hint of vertigo at the sight. “Oh it’s beautiful!” Martha had taken the Doctor down to the cells to set up a room for him, apologising for the humble accommodations. Mickey was setting up a bunk for the Doctor and putting himself opposite but Jack was sure that was just an excuse for Mickey to get an early night. The Doctor on the other hand had informed her that a knight does not require sleep and he would keep guard instead. She had insisted on assigning him a room though so that he could prepare himself for the vigil ahead. It seemed to work to placate him and as they left Gwen got to work getting her old colleagues to look out for the TARDIS. It fell to Jack to greet Sarah Jane, a smile breaking out on his face as she slid into view at last.
“It’s humble but it’s home.” He held out his hand as she drew level with him and helped her off the step into his arms, hugging her tight. “How was the drive?” She smiled softly as she drew back, the slight smudges to her makeup telling Jack all he needed to know. But the determined look in her eyes, the one he knew was missing in his own, only served to shame him further.
“It was fine. Luke’s staying with his friends for as long as we need so there’s no worry there, I can stay as long as it takes.” She looked up at him fearfully, her fingers tightening slightly in the embrace. “How is he?” Jack shook his head and let her go, his hands moving to bury themselves in his pockets like a small boy.
“The same. He’s with Martha. I don’t know how to reach him.” Sarah Jane nodded and stepped around him, straightening her posture and becoming businesslike again.
“Then we have work to do. K-9...” Ianto couldn’t help grinning as the metal dog trundled down off the step with a slightly painful thud and trundled after her.
“Yes Mistress.”
“I want you to work with everyone here, whatever they need you to help with you do so ok?” She smiled at the dog fondly as it nodded at her.
“Affirmative.” The sound of voices came up from the corridors and she turned, bracing herself for the sight. The Doctor emerged on Martha’s arm then stopped, his mouth opening wide as he saw K-9. Everyone watched him for a silent heartbeat, hoping, maybe this would...
“Sancho! My squire! Where have you been?!” The Doctor ran up the steps and knelt beside K-9, rubbing his head playfully.
“Sorry Master. I was assisting Mistress Sarah Jane.” The Doctor turned, seeing her properly for the first time and she smiled politely as he stood, bowing low before her.
“My lady, my apologies.” She nodded as regally as she could and held out her hand for him, smiling as he kissed it.
“That is quite alright sir knight. Your squire here has been helping me with the quest...” He looked at her blankly but she was sure she saw a flicker behind his eyes.
“The... Quest?” His puzzled face was still but they could spot the intelligence behind those eyes at work again, frantically trying to break through - or hide.
“Why yes sir knight. Every knight must have a quest. What is yours?” He paused and looked confused for a moment, then grinned bemusedly.
“To serve and protect of course. Speaking of which I must take up my guard post. My lady...” Ianto stepped forwards and nodded to him quickly.
“Sir knight, perhaps I could show you to your post, it is not a safe place for my lady at night.” The Doctor nodded seriously and puffed up his chest importantly.
“Of course not, of course not. Lead on!” Ianto bowed slightly and led the Doctor up the stairs, taking him to the hothouse. The others watched him go in various states of despair and tiredness. It was Sarah Jane who spoke first, wondering out loud.
“He has taken on the persona of Don Quixote but he doesn’t remember the quest. Or he won’t let himself.” She began to pace, the others slumping against the tables or sofa as they watched her. “He has picked out K-9 to be Sancho, his faithful squire, and you to be the lord of the castle. But...” She paused, looking at Martha and Gwen who were sat together on the sofa. “I assume he has not picked anyone to be Dulcinea, the woman who he dedicates his victories to.” Gwen shook her head with a mournful air but Martha simply stared into space.
“Rose.” Martha spoke quietly but everyone turned to her. “It was always Rose. Well...” She blushed slightly as she looked up at Sarah Jane in embarrassment. “Recently I mean. I don’t know about before Gallifrey was lost. But since then Rose was kindof...” She shrugged and looked down as Jack nodded and moved to sit on the floor beside them. Gwen’s hand slid to rest on his shoulder lightly as Sarah Jane continued, his hand moving up to cover hers in gratitude. Sarah Jane began to pace again, thinking on her feet.
“But Rose is gone. Without Dulcinea...” She looked at them all again, a worried expression on her face. “Without Dulcinea Don Quixote had no one to dedicate his victories to, no one to fight for.” She sat on the edge of one of the desks carefully. “No reason to fight.” She folded her arms and looked at them all. “We have to give him a reason to fight. Remind him of who he is, of what he does.” They all looked round as Ianto’s footsteps echoed on the steps, clanging down towards them.
“He’s happy enough in there, he can see the whole hub and with the plants he thinks he is outside. Someone should stay with him though.” He moved to stand beside Jack, Jack’s hand reaching up to wrap his fingers through Ianto’s, drawing support from both of his friends. Sarah Jane nodded and looked at K-9 who was waiting in the corner.
“K-9 stay with him.” She sighed and looked at the rest of the team slumped together. “I suggest we get some sleep.” Martha nodded and dragged herself off the sofa tiredly, taking Sarah Jane’s arm in hers.
“Come on then, us ladies have a lovely spot in the cells picked out. Unfortunately Mickey is already snoring away down there so we will have to get past that tonight...” With a chuckle they were out of sight, Gwen standing too and grabbing her jacket.
“I’d better get home then but I’ll be back first thing.” She hugged Jack tight and kissed his cheek before doing the same to Ianto. “You two staying here tonight?” Both men nodded and without words moved together, Jack’s arm subconsciously wrapping itself around Ianto’s waist. “Take care of yourselves. Goodnight.” They watched in silence as the hub door closed before Ianto began his evening routine of dimming the lights and tidying up.
Jack couldn’t help simply staring up at the window where the Doctor was sat, K-9 appearing at his side. The Doctor still wouldn’t look at him but he didn’t care. That blank look only broke his heart anyway. When Ianto returned he let himself be led to his office and down into the room in silence, not saying anything but letting himself be put to bed. He was grateful Ianto didn’t try to make him speak, simply soothing his body and reminding Jack without words that he was still alive. There was no jealousy, no worry over Jack’s affection for the Doctor this time. Instead he was simply loved and reminded that there was still something to hold on to here. Eventually, sated, he simply lay back and listened as Ianto fell asleep beside him but could not sleep himself, simply listening and hoping for a miracle.
Part Five