The words helped. They helped a lot. Jack closed his eyes as they went down and just curled around John, holding on to the familiarity, as if no time had passed and he was just the young, mortal Jack that John had used to know. He bit down on the shoulder of John's coat, worrying at it lightly. It smelled of John. Comforting and familiar.
He let it go and lifted his head, nuzzling at John's ear instead. "Thanks," he said, voice still rough, but much more like himself.