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Captain Jack Harkness (cpt_jack) wrote in whoville,
@ 2009-10-05 21:17:00

Entry tags:

cpt_jack, pomme_de_sang

Jason
Doors. Always before it had been doors. This time there'd been no door. There was no door, no hope of escape. One moment the weight of earth pressing down on his body, filling nose and mouth, gritty against dry eyes, breaking ribs, crushing his lungs, the desperate pain of dehydration and starvation before he died, again, and returned, again, to the same desperation, the same hopelessness, the same certainty of returning death - and the next moment, air. Blessed air, night air, dampness dragged into his lungs, grass and soil under his hands instead of against his face and surrounding his body.

Air.

Still dehydrated, still starved. Back out of place, out of time.

Jack drew one blissful, grateful breath, and died again.

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pomme_de_sang
2009-10-05 08:39 pm UTC (link)

Jean-Claude had fed, then sent Jason on his way for the night. Something Jason sometimes took advantage of for a few more hours of sleep. Tonight, though, he felt like he needed to be out. The moon was full, even if there wasn't a pull and he wanted to prowl.

He had just hit the park when he smelled dirt. Which wasn't so strange, but but wasn't the RIGHT dirt. It smelled different from the soil in the park. And, underneath that, a familiar scent. Jason turned, finding the scent and following it until he caught sight of a form in the grass. One that wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. He stopped, stared, then ran and dropped to his knees, reaching out to turn Jack's face toward him, then slid his hand down to press over the pulse point on the other man's neck. "Fuck," he murmured, sitting back with a shake of his head.

Though...hadn't Jack told him he couldn't die?

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cpt_jack
2009-10-05 08:46 pm UTC (link)

Jack couldn't stay dead. Sometimes he'd wanted to. Really fucking hoped for it - he'd have prayed if he still believed in any deity. This time, though, when he returned with a deep, rasping inhalation, his lungs didn't fill with soil, and he could move, rolling over onto all fours, muscles weak from lack of use. It was going to take a few more deaths - or a few more hours - before he'd got any strength back. Meanwhile, instinct was taking over, and coughing up Welsh dirt onto the nowhere he'd landed in.

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pomme_de_sang
2009-10-05 08:52 pm UTC (link)

He couldn't help it. Jason started when Jack pulled in a breath and turned over, falling back onto his butt and hands. Then his better sense kicked in, along with his nose's confirmation that Jack wasn't a zombie of any stripe, and he scrambled forward, though he didn't touch yet. "Jack?" he said, pitching his voice low enough not to startle, he hoped, but loud enough to be heard.

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	cpt_jack 2009-10-05 08:57 pm UTC (link)
	Jack heard his name, was aware enough to register that it hadn't come from Grey or from John, but didn't have breath to answer. Chest heaving, lungs spasming, he was still fighting to get rid of mud when he collapsed, and promptly died again. Habits had formed. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pomme_de_sang
2009-10-05 09:06 pm UTC (link)

Jason cursed again, moving forward to check Jack out for a moment. He really needed to get the other man out of the open air and see what was going on. Pulling Jack onto his side, Jason did his best to figure out what the other man needed. Skin rough and dry, most likely dehydrated. Dehydration took longer to set in than starvation. And he was pretty much puking up dirt. Which all added up to very bad things in Jason's mind and he was plenty intelligent enough to put it together.

He needed to get Jack somewhere safe. The hotel wasn't far, but he didn't want to do that until the dirt was out fully.

He'd just have to pay attention this time. And hope that there wouldn't be too many times.

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	cpt_jack 2009-10-05 09:14 pm UTC (link)
	Next time Jack came back, he was stronger. More color to his skin, less dirt to get rid of, and though he was still low on energy, he didn't actually die again. Just pass out. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pomme_de_sang
2009-10-05 09:21 pm UTC (link)

That was good, right? Jason reached down to make sure Jack was still breathing before slinging Jack's arm over his shoulders and picking the man up with a grunt. The weight wasn't a problem. Jack was at least six or seven inches taller than him. Made carrying him a bit unwieldy. He started toward the hotel, figuring this would be easier to deal with there.

On a guess, he went upstairs. Someplace that had windows would be better than his old room in the basement. Of course, getting the door open would be difficult. He stood there for a moment, frowning, before bending to put Jack down. Just long enough to free a hand to get the door.

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	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 07:52 am UTC (link)
	By the time Jason reached the door, Jack was back to consciousness. More or less. He didn't have a damn clue where he was, or how he'd got there, just that the air tasted different, and that difference was more enclosed. Definitely enough to have him struggling against whoever or whatever was holding him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 10:09 am UTC (link)
	"Hey, hey." Shit, maybe coming inside hadn't been a good idea. Jason pushed the door open, then dropped down so that Jack couldn't fall. "Jack, it's me. It's Jason. Remember, the werewolf?" He held on just enough to make sure Jack couldn't hurt himself more. "Wherever you were before, you aren't there now. You're back in New New New York. Remember that?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 10:16 am UTC (link)
	Jack remembered. He just didn't believe. He definitely didn't remember Jason strong enough to hold him that easily. Then again, he didn't remember being so damn weak, either. Not enough energy to keep fighting, not as long as he wanted to, going limp in Jason's arms, eyes wide and dark, breath shallow and harsh. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pomme_de_sang
2009-10-06 10:23 am UTC (link)

Well, that was something at least. "I promise I'll start babbling at you just as soon as I don't have to worry about where I'm putting my feet," Jason said, shifting to lift Jack again. "You're safe right now, though. In the hotel on the second floor." He pushed back to his feet, turning sideways so Jack's head wouldn't hit the doorjamb. "Or, wait. That's the first floor in the UK, isn't it? Not that I've been, of course."

Ten steps to the bed and he set Jack down carefully, sitting against the headboard. He left the door open as he went to open the windows as well.

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	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 10:44 am UTC (link)
	Being lifted by someone that much smaller than him was definitely an experience Jack hadn't had for a while. Even before...yeah, okay, no, not thinking about that. John was probably about Jason's height, but a different build, and oh, Christ, he was filthy. At least Gray had left him his clothes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

pomme_de_sang
2009-10-06 10:50 am UTC (link)

And the clothes were something Jason wasn't going to take from Jack until he had something to change into. Instead, he pushed windows open but left the curtains closed, chattering on about nothing of consequence at all as he moved around the hotel room.

He stepped into the bathroom, feeling a little more relaxed with Jack awake. Enough to realize that dehydration actually was more dangerous than starvation, which meant he needed to get some water for Jack. He also grabbed a washcloth, dampening it with warm water and grabbing a towel, taking all of them back out to the main room and walking over to the bed. "Water first," he said, offering over the glass.

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cpt_jack
2009-10-06 10:55 am UTC (link)

Awake, maybe, but eyes closed, relaxing infinitesimally once the windows were open and he could smell the air again. Real air, deep lungfuls of it, still coughing each time he inhaled but Jesus, so good, such a relief, every breath a blessing and bringing more colour back to his skin as his body regained strength, healing building on strength to regain strength until he could open his eyes, startlingly blue through the dirt, to focus on Jason's face. Not the tempting-smelling water, but Jason. "Are you real?"

Voice rusty and cracked, through dryness and lack of use, but he needed the answer to that.

Not that he'd expect a hallucination to deny its own reality.

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	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 10:58 am UTC (link)
	Which made Jason pause and blink, then sigh. "Yeah, as far as I know," he replied, moving forward to sit on the edge of the bed. "More real than the place we're in, I'm pretty sure." He reached out, taking Jack's hand and pressing the water into it. "You need this, Jack. Drink." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 11:00 am UTC (link)
	He might need it, but he wasn't sure he had the motor control to hold the glass, breathe, bring the glass to his lips, tilt it, and drink all at the same time. "Soon." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 11:01 am UTC (link)
	Jason would help, but for the moment, he took Jack at his word. He set the glass aside, offering over the washcloth instead. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 12:16 pm UTC (link)
	Same difficulties with holding it, but less consequence to dropping it. Jack took the cloth with a nod, and slowly, very carefully, wiped over his face. Eyes first, then his lips, then around his nostrils. "Fuck. I'm going back to that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 12:31 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm not asking what that is," Jason said softly, taking the washcloth back when Jack was finished with the main bits and started working on getting his hands clean. He could guess. Right now, he didn't think Jack needed to confirm it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 12:35 pm UTC (link)
	Jack slumped back against the pillows, eyes closing again, and just let Jason clean his hands. "Wish I didn't know." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 05:11 pm UTC (link)
	"You and me both," he replied, setting the washcloth aside. His nose didn't detect rot, which was good. He'd probably have freaked out himself. "I wish there was a way to make sure you wouldn't." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 05:14 pm UTC (link)
	Jack laughed, harsh, cracked, and completely free of humor. "There is." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 05:20 pm UTC (link)
	He frowned, tilting his head before shaking it. No dwelling on whatever it was right now. "How are you doing physically?" Mentally was a whole other topic and he was pretty certain the answer there was going to be 'not good'. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cpt_jack 2009-10-06 05:41 pm UTC (link)
	"Not dead." That was about as much as he was prepared to say for definite. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	pomme_de_sang 2009-10-06 05:50 pm UTC (link)
	Jason nodded, chewing on his bottom lip. He really was at a bit of a loss as to what to do. "You feel up to some food? I can call room service, have them send up some soup." Jack's system didn't need any more shocks. "Or I could draw a bath." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)