Fandom: Dr. Who/Torchwood
Characters: Capt Jack et al.
Rating: PG13
Wordcount: 300-ish. (I've been tinkering.)
Notes/Warnings/Spoilers-Spoileriffic for Journey's End, as I join the march of Post-eps. Assumes established J/I/G. Thanks to
hllangel for the look-over.Summary: Friends, lovers, memories.
This time he doesn’t bother making a flashy entrance, unless you count showing up at the hub with Mickey on one arm and Martha on the other.
Following a barrage of hugs and kisses, Gwen is enthused about the new arrivals, Ianto considerably less so. Jack recognizes the look and wonders when Ianto is going to learn the futility of possessiveness. It’s not anything he’s prepared to deal with just yet. He'll have a proper reunion with Gwen and Ianto later, in private. For the time being, Mickey and Martha are still friends, but to Jack any friend is potentially something more, especially the ones who have traveled with the Doctor. All it takes is time, and he's got plenty of that.
Besides, Jack has always wondered what Mickey Smith might be hiding behind all that outraged masculinity. Having Mickey as a full-time Torchwood employee might just give him a chance to find out.
Jack sequesters himself in his office with memories of his latest adventure. Daleks. He shudders and focuses on the good parts. Donna. Rose. Sarah Jane. And of course the Doctor. Even with three Doctors, there’d hardly been time for conversation. Too much running and shooting and getting killed again. Good times, as long as the Doctor was there, counting on him, winking, offering the warmth of his approval for those few precious seconds.
In that instant Jack had dared to hope for the Doctor to reissue his invitation. So much was different now, for both of them.
Instead the Doctor has left Jack stranded yet again; a gypsy without a caravan. At least he’s still got his coat, and his team, new members and old. The sight of Ianto showing Mickey what had been Tosh’s work station makes him smile even as he tries not to mourn.
Of all the things he's learned in his long life, the greatest is patience. Some day the Doctor will come back for him.
He can wait.