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The Doctor’s coat billowed out as he skidded around the corner, nearly tangling with Jack’s knees where he was running right behind him. The aliens behind them were gaining on them, their strange glowing weapons sending bolts of energy into the walls and floor around them, thankfully missing. Whether it was due to the distance or the haste of the shooters, they didn’t know and weren’t waiting to find out.
This wasn’t supposed to be a dangerous trip. The last year had been difficult, trapped on the Valiant, the Master making sure every day to spend at least a few minutes tormenting his once friend. The constant knowledge of the terror below on the earth, the lingering, aching pain of the forced aging, the perpetual torture and stress of worry for his friends. Jack he had at least known was alive, trapped onboard the Valiant, maybe, but the one good thing about being friends with an immortal was he knew he was alive. Martha’s fate was a constant worry. The Master had ensured that he received no news of her, and until the day they had dragged her into the control room, he hadn’t been sure she was alive. He hadn’t known if his plan would work, often wondering if all he had done was ensure his friend’s death.
Now that Martha was gone, home and safe, he and Jack had wanted a simple, easy trip, something quiet that would give them a chance to rest. To forget. And this had been the perfect place. A party. The planet normally celebrated with dancing, drinks, and fireworks as the comet they all gathered to watch burned across the sky. It was gorgeous.
The party was in a large, open ballroom, creatures from all around the galaxy gathering to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event. The marble-like floors and walls were a light greenish-blue streaked with silver, trimmed in the deep navy colors of the royal family. The drinks were good, and free.
And the people. Jack was entertaining himself, flirting and dancing with anyone who would listen. The Doctor spent most of the evening in the corner, occasionally engaging in conversation, but mostly just watching his friend enjoy himself. Jack hadn’t been quite right since they had reunited on the Valiant, but hopefully this would help him. A party was just what Captain Jack Harkness needed to get back to normal.
The Doctor went to grab another drink, and turned back around to see Jack flirting with one of the locals. It was harmless, tame compared to Jack’s usual standard, but then he reached out to take their hand. The Doctor took off at a dead sprint, but it was too late. Jack took her hand, lifting it to his lips, and by the time the Doctor made it across the room, the royal guards were already converging on the human who dared to touch their princess. There wasn’t time to try to talk their way out of it. The Doctor grabbed Jack’s hand, dragging him away barely in time.
“I didn’t do anything.” Jack protested, as if he expected the Doctor to be angry. They skidded around a corner and through a doorway, leaving the main area of the palace behind.
“That was their princess.” The Doctor shot back. Their footsteps clanged against the metal floor, and he raised his voice to be heard over the noise. “No outsider is allowed to touch her, especially not a man.”
They spun around another corner, coming face to face with a second group of their pursuers. One of their shots hit the Doctor square in the chest, stopping him in his tracks. It didn’t hurt, surprisingly, but he didn’t like the weird tingling feeling spreading out from the shot.
“Doctor!” Jack caught him under the arms to keep him upright as his legs gave out. Leading him to the wall, he laid him down carefully, stepping forward toward their pursuers, his long coat blocking their view of the Doctor. He raised his hands above his head. “I apologize for the misunderstanding, but it was my fault. My companion had nothing to do with my actions.”
“J-k.” The Doctor tried to protest, but whatever he had been shot with seemed to prevent him from speaking as well as moving. It was a horrible feeling, completely helpless, and he fought down the rising wave of panic.
The guard continued to advance, seeming not to hear Jack’s pleas, weapons still pointed threateningly.
“Let him go.” Jack pleaded. “I’ll come with you, do whatever you want, just let him go.”
“On your knees.” The pale purple alien in front of them demanded, and Jack sank gracefully to his knees, hands still raised, keeping his body between them and his incapacitated companion. They dragged him off, binding his wrists behind him before allowing him to rise. As soon as he was out of the way, a second alien stepped forward, aiming his weapon directly at the Doctor.
“No!” Shouted Jack as the weapon went off, struggling against their hold to get back to his friend.
“He will be fine.” The leader scoffed. “We are merely reversing the effects of the stun ray. He will be able to move again in a moment.”
Jack’s breath came out in an audible sigh of relief. “Please, just let him go.” He begged again.
“We cannot. You have committed a crime, and as your companion, he is equally culpable. You will both be imprisoned.”
Jack stood watching as they dragged the Doctor to his feet, securing his wrists in metal shackles before dragging them both down the corridor. They were thrown roughly into a cell, the door clanging shut behind them. Legs still weak from the numbing shot, the Doctor stumbled, and without his hands free, landed heavily on the floor. Jack sank down beside him, helping him back up to a sitting position against the wall.
“I am sorry.” Jack said sincerely, sitting down beside him but keeping distance between them. “I truly didn’t know, and I wouldn’t have done it if I had. I never meant to cause trouble.”
Jack’s voice was pleading, and the Doctor realized just how much he had hurt his friend. He hadn’t thought earlier, his focus entirely on getting out, but he had been short with Jack. Harsh. Cold. And after leaving him for dead on the Game Station, and then telling him he was wrong at the end of the universe, it was no wonder Jack felt unsure of his position.
“I know you didn’t mean it. You would never intentionally bring us to harm.” The Doctor slid over, leaning his shoulder against his companion’s. “I know I make fun of you, and snap and complain about your flirting. But I only do it because I know you can take it. I know you would never hurt me.”
Jack leaned back against him. “Thank you.” He breathed, tension leaving his body in a rush.
His shoulder warm with his companion’s weight, the exhaustion of the chase set in, and the Doctor drifted off to sleep.
**************************************
He was jolted awake a few hours later by someone banging on their cell door. It took a few moments before he remembered where they were, but as consciousness returned, he became aware of Jack next to him, hunched in on himself and shaking slightly, and the laughing faces of their guards as they disappeared down the corridor. He waited until they were gone before turning to his friend. “Jack?” The lack of answer was concerning. He jostled him with his shoulder. “Jack?”
Jack whimpered. “Please, no. Stop. Please.”
The Doctor’s heart broke, and he leaned farther into his companion’s shoulder. “Jack. It’s okay. I’m here. Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise.”
“Doctor?” The whisper could barely be heard.
“I’m here, Jack.” He wished there was something else he could do to help. “Tell me what’s wrong. How can I help?”
Jack shuddered, taking a deep breath to center himself. “I’m fine.” The trembling still hadn’t stopped.
“So definitely not fine, then.”
“It’s silly.” He tried to brush off the Doctor’s concern.
“If it’s causing you this much pain, it’s clearly not silly. Tell me.”
“It’s been a long year.” Jack said quietly.
The Doctor bit his tongue and stayed silent, sensing not to push.
“A very long year. Not to say that you didn’t have a long year too. I know the Master came to torment you every day. He made sure to tell me exactly how you were when he came to visit me. He kept me as his personal punching bag. Every time you refused to answer him. Every time he heard another mention of Martha. Every time one of his officers failed in their duties, he came to me. He kept me chained up, you know. The entire year, he never let me loose. No matter how many times I died, no matter how much I pleaded and begged, I hung there, bleeding, dying, reviving, day after day after day.” He paused to take a deep breath. “I think this whole situation is just a little too similar.”
“You were tortured because of me?”
“Of course that would be what you focus on, you idiot. I’m not blaming you. It’s not your fault. None of that was your fault.” A shudder ran through him. “Not being able to move is messing with my head, dragging me back there. And you were speaking Gallifreyan in your sleep. He would always…” Jack trailed off. “If I could just move, I could clear it from my brain.”
The Doctor shifted closer. “I have my sonic screwdriver in my pocket. If you can reach it, we should be able to get out of these chains. I wasn’t going to do it, because so far they’ve been pretty gentle, and I didn’t want to provoke them for no reason. We should be able to talk our way out in the morning. But if it’s causing you this much distress, we can get out. ”
Jack sat up quickly at the promise of freedom. The Doctor twisted onto his knees to allow him access to his pocket, fighting to balance and stay within reach of his hands. A few moments of digging, and Jack emerged victorious. He dropped the sonic in the Doctor’s hand, and quickly turned to give the Doctor the angle he needed to release his restraints. A short buzz later, and he was free.
He stretched, clearly reveling in the freedom of movement. Pushing himself to his feet, he spun around in their little cell, arms swung wide. The Doctor watched from his place on the floor, smiling indulgently.
It was several minutes before Jack returned to himself. Dropping to his knees next to the doctor, he took the sonic out of his hand. “Tell me what to do.”
“It’s already on the right setting. Just hold the tip to the keyhole, and press the button.”
The soft buzzing filled the cell, and the chains dropped to the floor. Jack returned the screwdriver, turning back to the door.
“What do you say we get out of here, Doctor?”
The door swung open, and they ran.