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 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.