March 15, 2074

[vox_lusciniae]

She wakes to the sound of knocking, not particularly loud, but insistent. She rolls over, frowning, and glances at the luminous numbers of the clock on her bedside table. It's the middle of the night. She screws up her eyes in preparation for the light and hits the switch above the bedside table. The light above her bed flicks on and floods the room with brightness.

"Martha!"

That's Jack's voice. He wouldn't wake her at this hour unless it were important. She leaps out of bed and grabs her dressing gown off the hook on the back of the door. She wraps herself in its folds and pulls open the door.

Her jaw drops. He looks awful; his face is pale and drawn, and there's a bloodstained bandage wrapped tightly around his shoulder.

"Oh my god!" she cries as she steps back, pulling the door open wider to let her friend in. "What happened to you?"

She turns on the main light switch and closes the door behind Jack.

"Sit down."

Comments

[voxlusciniae.livejournal.com]

She's ... almost sorry she asked. There's a certain despondency, almost despair, in that answer. She had an idea how much he hated parts of his life. Didn't she hear the Doctor ask him if he wanted to die? And didn't Jack say that he used to think he did, but he wasn't so sure any more?

What must it be like to live your life like that, knowing that it will go on forever?

She doesn't ask him that. She's a little afraid what the answer would be.

Worst of all, there's nothing she can do to help him. Especially not here and now, now he's separated from the life he's made for himself back in Wales.

"Look after yourself, Jack," she says, as she finishes wrapping the bandage around his shoulder.

There's not a lot more than that to say on the topic at hand, but it works equally well for his shoulder, too.

"I haven't got much in the way of medication, but I have some painkillers and a few antibiotics." She made sure to bring what she could with her, after having to treat Sawyer with neither.

"I can give you those if you want. Just hang on a minute; I'll rig up a sling for you." She discards her gloves and opens up a triangular bandage. She folds it in the right way, and bends his arm at the necessary angle. "Hold it like that, and I'll tie it for you." She slips the sling under his elbow and ties the ends around his neck.

"Now, no complaining. And you'd better wear it, or I'll hear about it." She gives him a wry smile; it's the least she can do to lighten the mood, having done so much to darken it herself, however inadvertently.

"I know these words are a strange concept to you, but you need to rest. Don't push yourself."

She scribbles a few lines on a sheet of the hotel stationery, and retrieves the packets of medication from her bag. She wraps them in the paper and presses them into his good hand.

[capngreatcoat.livejournal.com]

"But I feel like a cripple," he complains, but there's good humour in his voice. He's glad for the change in tone. His hand closes over the medication she slips into it. Immortal or not, he can still get sick, and he's had infected wounds before. It's an experience he'd rather avoid repeating.

When he stands up, he's smiling for the first time since he showed up at her door.

"Thanks, Martha. I owe you." He leans forward, just for a moment, and presses his lips to hers.

Call it payback for when she kissed him goodbye when she left Cardiff.

He already owes her more than he can every repay. If it weren't for her, he'd never have got off the Valiant, never have got his team back when time reversed.

[voxlusciniae.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head ruefully when he pulls away from the kiss. She is the one who kissed him the first time.

"You do, but you might find I don't pay much attention to my debts, so long as you take care of yourself."

She owes him, too, for saving her life when he rescued her from the Pharm. And besides, it's what she does. She wanted to become a doctor to help people, and there's no-one here she'd rather help than Jack, if he needs it.

[capngreatcoat.livejournal.com]

He flashes her a brief grin and raises his right hand to his forehead in a mock-salute.

"I'll have to remember that. You might find yourself bound to that, Dr. Jones." He walks with her over to the door, and steps through out into the corridor when she opens it for him.

[voxlusciniae.livejournal.com]

She rolls her eyes, but she's smiling, too.

"Jack?" She steps into the doorway behind him.

"If there's anything you need, even if it's just to talk, just call me. Or come see me. It's what friends are for."

She adores him, but she doesn't trust him to do that. He's the sort to keep things bottled up. She's pretty sure tonight won't be the last time he might need her help.

Whether or not he ever accepts the offer, she'll have to wait and see.

[capngreatcoat.livejournal.com]

"Good night, Martha."

That's the only acknowledgement he gives her offer. He might take her up on it. But chances are that he won't.

He's never been the sort to talk out his problems, as Martha well knows. If he's ever going to, though ... well, she'd be one of the first people he'd go to.

He's glad to get back to his room. There, he can finally let himself rest and try to absorb everything that's happened tonight. After it all, the silence of the empty room, the coldness of the empty bed, are especially noticeable.

He needs Ianto with him tonight. Needs Ianto to hold him, to be strong for him, just for a while.

Instead, he's got no-one.