Fic: The Cold Heaven 5/10 + Epilogue

[wendymr]

Story: The Cold Heaven
Author: wmr / wendymr 
Characters: Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler, Tenth Doctor (Duplicate), other canon and original characters
Rated: PG13
Disclaimer: I think you all know by now that I don't own them!
Spoilers:  DW: up to Journey's End; TW: up to Children of Earth. NO SPOILERS for the DW specials
Summary: "They say black holes are

Comments

[kholly]

“Makes sense to me,” Jack says, exhaling slowly. “I wondered. I couldn’t help thinking...”

“That I’d abandoned you again?” he asks quietly. “Jack, I wouldn’t.”

“Not me,” Jack says quickly. “If it was just me, I would understand,...
This says so much about how much further Jack has to go. He still doesn't feel lovable.

“Oh, but you should have,” the Doctor says, in his Time Lord teaching voice.
The beauty of fanfic is that a sentence as simple as that completely puts the right voice in my head. I had been wondering how you were going to explain coming out of a black hole. I like how you did it, though it was one more bit of heartbreak. Poor Jack, can't even find oblivion in a black hole.

[wendymr]

Yes, I don't think Jack does feel at all lovable; we saw him when he walked away from the warehouse where he killed Steven, then six months later saying goodbye to Gwen and Rhys, and then later again in the bar where the Doctor saw him (not canon for this story, btw) and it was clear every time that he considered himself beyond any kind of redemption or sympathy.

Thank you for your compliment on the Doctor's voice and his explanation! :)

[badachie]

This fic is leaving me utterly broken. And that you're able to convey Jack's pain so well is amazing. I can't wait for more.

[wendymr]

Thank you! Well, sorry, really, I suppose... ;)

[kae_nine]

I'm crying for poor Jack again. :( So glad he finally told them what really happened, though, but *sobs*. Beautifully done, such an emotional chapter!

[wendymr]

*passes tissues*

Thank you! And also again for all your help BRing this :)

[canaana]

I particularly like the air of confrontation you created between 10.5 and Jack. (Well, that and Rose's thigh-length satin robe).

[wendymr]

Thank you! The confrontation was a bit painful, but it was the only way that Jack was going to get past the walls he'd erected. Fling insults, then break down and talk :)

And I think Jack liked Rose's robe as well, even if he did only pay attention to it for a second or two *g*

[tardis_stowaway]

Wow. As with the rest of this story, this chapter is stellar! It's full of raw, painful emotions, and I admit to getting a little choked up while reading. Still, the fact that Jack is accepting Rose and the Doctor is a huge step forward.

“Though, really, I suppose I should’ve arranged to put a door between us and given you something difficult and very dangerous to do, shouldn’t I?”

Too true! Perhaps the fact that TenII is a little bit Donna enables them to partially get around the guy problem of not being able to talk emotions face to face.

[wendymr]

*passes tissues* Thank you! It's an incredible compliment to know that my work moves you to that extent. And, yes, it's a huge step forward given that a few hours earlier he wanted to be as far away from them as he possibly could.

It did amuse me to think that the only time we really saw the Doctor and Jack talk about anything seriously personal to them was when dangerous things were happening - mainly in the radiation-room in Malcassiro, but also in The Sound of Drums when they were on the run and Jack got the incoming message through his Torchwood account. (And, yes, the touch of Donna does make this Doctor a bit less of an emotional cripple - as does the fact that he's half-human and he's also had two years of Rose and Jackie working on him *g*)