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wintercompanion2008-09-05 05:55 pm
jovialien.livejournal.com) wrote in wintercompanion2008-09-05 05:55 pm
Entry tags:
Knight of the woeful countenance 6/6
Title: Knight of the Woeful Countenance
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jovialien
Characters: Jack, Ten, Martha, Sarah Jane, Mickey, Gwen, Ianto, mentions of Rose and Donna
Ratings: PG13 for angst
Warnings: Spoilers for Journeys End, Silence in the Library
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just borrow them occasionally.
Summary: When you don't know who you are who will you choose to be?
Authors Notes: Written for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
wintercompanion challenge prompt "Amnesia" and inspired by John Barrowman singing Man of La Mancha.
He sat with him all night but there was no change. In they morning they headed out to the TARDIS, the ship having been found abandoned out in the bay, and carried him to it, crowding into the TARDIS once again. They fetched cushions and blankets from within the TARDIS and brought them into the console room, making him a bed of sorts and sat with him, hoping for a change but seeing none. Jack told them as best he could what he had seen in the Doctor’s mind and they reacted with horror, wondering in what way they could reach him again. The TARDIS was quiet around them, her lights dimming slowly as though she was fading too. They chatted softly all day, telling stories of their adventures with him, talking to him and each other, comparing nightmares and funny stories and all sorts of things. Some serious, some silly but all part of their shared lives with the Doctor. Or the way he had changed their worlds.
It was night again before the Doctor finally spoke, two words whispering from his lips so softly. “My lord?” Jack looked up in shock and disappointment at the words, holding the Doctor’s hand tight as the others reacted, smiling as they gathered round him. Taking a deep breath he nodded slowly, his heart breaking a little more.
“I’m here. We’re all here.” The whole team nodded, smiling at him softly as the Doctor continued weakly.
“My lord... I have failed you. But I hope I will die with honour.” Jack felt his fingers go white as he held the Doctor’s hand so tightly.
“No. You’re not dying. Not for a long time yet.” Martha quickly checked the Doctor’s readings her eyes opening wide in fear as she whispered to Jack with such fear in her voice.
“Jack... His hearts are slowing!” Jack squeezed hard on the Doctor’s hand and shook his head.
“You are not dying Doctor. We have a lot to do still, remember? All those planets to save, stars to see...” He jumped at a sudden intake of breath behind him.
“Stars...” Sarah Jane interrupted, placing her hand over his earnestly as she looked into his face. “The quest. Don Quixote’s quest. To reach the unreachable star.” The Doctor frowned, staring at her as though for the first time.
“Sarah Jane...?” She smiled, tears running down her face as she nodded to him.
“Yes, yes Doctor it’s me.” Martha placed her hand over theirs and smiled sadly, leaning close to Sarah Jane as she spoke.
“The quest. All knights need their quest. Their reason to live. We need to give the Doctor his quest and who better to borrow it from than Don Quixote de la Mancha?” She nodded once and stared at the Doctor seriously. “To dream, the impossible dream.”
Mickey nodded and placed his hand over theirs, crowding behind Martha to do so as he spoke. “To fight the unbeatable foe.”
Ianto shifted closer to Jack, his hand resting on theirs as he looked at the Doctor. “To bear, with unbearable sorrow.” Jack wrapped his free arm around Ianto, pulling him close as Gwen placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder, kneeling beside him awkwardly as she reached in to place her hand on theirs.
“To run, where the brave dare not go.”
Jack finally spoke, his eyes watering as looked into the Doctor’s, confusion on that face but also something more at last. “To right, the unrightable wrong.”
Martha smiled and squeezed their hands to take her turn again, her gaze on Jack this time as he turned to her, the shared knowledge of how they felt about the Doctor running between them. “To love, pure and chaste from afar.”
Jack nodded and closed his eyes to speak the next line. “To try, when your arms are too weary.” Sarah Jane closed her eyes too, her fingers locked tight beneath them all.
“To reach the unreachable star.” They flew open with a start as the Doctor began to whisper quietly.
“This is my quest... To follow that star... No matter how hopeless... No matter how far... To fight for the right... Without question or pause... To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause...” He looked at them all, his eyes tracking on them each in turn. “Mickey? Sarah Jane. Martha.” His gaze reached Jack last and finally there was that spark of recognition that he had been searching for, at last the Doctor said his name again. “Jack.” With a stifled sob and a cheer his companions leaned forwards, Gwen, Ianto and Mickey stepping back, content to watch as the three fought to hug him tight. “Woah! What’s all this about, you three been drinking or something?” They laughed and Jack grabbed his face, kissing him fiercely.
“Don’t you do that to me again!” The Doctor pulled back, casting a wary eye at Ianto who was staring as though fascinated at the ceiling of the TARDIS and ignoring every second. Gwen was beaming beside him and wrapping her arm around Ianto’s waist as Mickey stood behind both of them, draping his arms over their shoulders. The Doctor sputtered slightly and pushed Jack off, looking around him at the mess of cushions on the floor.
“What on earth have you lot been up to, it looks like a slumber party in here!” He struggled to push them off so he could stand up, Martha grabbing him tightly.
“Hold on mister, you be careful you’ve had a nasty blow to the head, amnesia, a full scale extra personality..” The Doctor shrugged her off, straightening his tie and ruffling his hair impatiently.
“I’m fine me, what matter wounds to the body of a knight errant for each time he falls he will rise again, and woe to the wicked!!” He grinned at their worried looks and waggled his eyebrows. “Just kidding.” With a growl they hugged him again, Martha, Jack and Sarah Jane fighting to hold him tight as he wrapped his arms around them too. “I’m fine. Honest.” He pulled back and straightened himself up again with a smile. “Now, don’t you lot have homes to go to?”
*****************************
He hugged them all in turn, saying goodbye to them again until only Jack remained. They both knew Ianto was waiting outside, patiently waiting for Jack to return. “I can stay.” The Doctor stared at him, smiling sadly as Jack leaned against the console. “If you want me to.” The Doctor stepped forwards and shook his head.
“No Jack. You were right the first time. You’re needed here. Me...” He moved past him and began fiddling with the console. “I’ve got stars to reach.” Jack moved along the console after him and placed a hand over his, stopping him.
“I’m serious. You know I’m always here for you.” The Doctor smiled and looked up at him with an odd look on his face.
“I know you are Jack. Why do you think the TARDIS brought me here.” He pulled back, his hands rising to hold Jack’s face tenderly. “To love, pure and chaste from afar.” He leaned forwards and kissed Jack, his eyes closing slowly as the kiss deepened beyond the chaste kiss Jack had given him earlier. He felt his resolve weakening as Jack kissed him back, strong arms wrapping around him and holding him tight. It would be so easy to take him too or to stay, to hide safe and warm in those arms. Instead he pulled back and stepped away, shaking his head slowly. “This isn’t goodbye. I’ll be seeing you again Captain.”
“You had better. And I want to hear plenty of tales of my knight.” He reached out and brushed his fingers over the Doctors face. “My knight of the woeful countenance.” The Doctor laughed and twisted his head to kiss the fingers just once.
“Thank you Jack. For everything." He grinned and ran a hand over the console. “But right now we’ve got things to do. You need to go kiss that gorgeous young squire of yours before he thinks you’ve run off with me again. And I...” His smile grew softer as he looked down at nothing in particular. “I’ve got a lady to find. My Dulcinea. She’s out there Jack, waiting for me.” He looked up and rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. “And she hates it when I’m late.” Jack laughed and folded his arms, raising one eyebrow suggestively.
“A lady eh?” The Doctor nodded with a grin then pulled a face, twisting his head to the side.
“Welllll an archaeologist. But she’s not all bad.” Jack laughed again and leaned forwards conspiratorially.
“Go on, you can tell me, who is she?” The Doctor chuckled and shook his head, moving towards Jack and spinning him around to face the door.
“No, I can’t do that Jack for one very simple reason.” Jack paused at the door, not giving up that easily, his hands either side of the frame as the Doctor laughed and pushed against his back.
“Come on Doc, why not, what’s this reason?” The Doctor leaned in and pressed his chin against Jack’s shoulder and whispered in his ear softly.
“The same reason why I can’t tell you how I know you will see me again.” With a shove he finally broke Jack’s hold on the door and pushed him out into the dark Cardiff night. “Spoilers!” With that the TARDIS door closed and Jack watched as the light began to shine, that wonderful sound filling the air as Ianto came up behind him, wrapping his arms tight around him.
“You ok?” Jack nodded slowly and wrapped his arms over Ianto’s gently as they watched the TARDIS disappear. He continued to stare at the spot where it had been for a long moment before Ianto tightened his grip, squeezing lightly. “Jack? What are you looking at?” Jack sighed and turned, shifting to wrap his arms around Ianto as well, pulling him close.
“The unreachable star.” He kissed him deeply then grinned and shivered in the cold air. “Come on my Sancho, let’s go home.” Ianto nodded and pulled back, crooking his elbow to Jack.
“More misadventures my lord?” Jack laughed out loud and hooked his arm through Ianto’s, shaking his head. He was tired but somehow he felt wide awake. And ready.
“Adventures old friend. Adventures.”
Author:
jovialienCharacters: Jack, Ten, Martha, Sarah Jane, Mickey, Gwen, Ianto, mentions of Rose and Donna
Ratings: PG13 for angst
Warnings: Spoilers for Journeys End, Silence in the Library
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just borrow them occasionally.
Summary: When you don't know who you are who will you choose to be?
Authors Notes: Written for the
wintercompanion challenge prompt "Amnesia" and inspired by John Barrowman singing Man of La Mancha.He sat with him all night but there was no change. In they morning they headed out to the TARDIS, the ship having been found abandoned out in the bay, and carried him to it, crowding into the TARDIS once again. They fetched cushions and blankets from within the TARDIS and brought them into the console room, making him a bed of sorts and sat with him, hoping for a change but seeing none. Jack told them as best he could what he had seen in the Doctor’s mind and they reacted with horror, wondering in what way they could reach him again. The TARDIS was quiet around them, her lights dimming slowly as though she was fading too. They chatted softly all day, telling stories of their adventures with him, talking to him and each other, comparing nightmares and funny stories and all sorts of things. Some serious, some silly but all part of their shared lives with the Doctor. Or the way he had changed their worlds.
It was night again before the Doctor finally spoke, two words whispering from his lips so softly. “My lord?” Jack looked up in shock and disappointment at the words, holding the Doctor’s hand tight as the others reacted, smiling as they gathered round him. Taking a deep breath he nodded slowly, his heart breaking a little more.
“I’m here. We’re all here.” The whole team nodded, smiling at him softly as the Doctor continued weakly.
“My lord... I have failed you. But I hope I will die with honour.” Jack felt his fingers go white as he held the Doctor’s hand so tightly.
“No. You’re not dying. Not for a long time yet.” Martha quickly checked the Doctor’s readings her eyes opening wide in fear as she whispered to Jack with such fear in her voice.
“Jack... His hearts are slowing!” Jack squeezed hard on the Doctor’s hand and shook his head.
“You are not dying Doctor. We have a lot to do still, remember? All those planets to save, stars to see...” He jumped at a sudden intake of breath behind him.
“Stars...” Sarah Jane interrupted, placing her hand over his earnestly as she looked into his face. “The quest. Don Quixote’s quest. To reach the unreachable star.” The Doctor frowned, staring at her as though for the first time.
“Sarah Jane...?” She smiled, tears running down her face as she nodded to him.
“Yes, yes Doctor it’s me.” Martha placed her hand over theirs and smiled sadly, leaning close to Sarah Jane as she spoke.
“The quest. All knights need their quest. Their reason to live. We need to give the Doctor his quest and who better to borrow it from than Don Quixote de la Mancha?” She nodded once and stared at the Doctor seriously. “To dream, the impossible dream.”
Mickey nodded and placed his hand over theirs, crowding behind Martha to do so as he spoke. “To fight the unbeatable foe.”
Ianto shifted closer to Jack, his hand resting on theirs as he looked at the Doctor. “To bear, with unbearable sorrow.” Jack wrapped his free arm around Ianto, pulling him close as Gwen placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder, kneeling beside him awkwardly as she reached in to place her hand on theirs.
“To run, where the brave dare not go.”
Jack finally spoke, his eyes watering as looked into the Doctor’s, confusion on that face but also something more at last. “To right, the unrightable wrong.”
Martha smiled and squeezed their hands to take her turn again, her gaze on Jack this time as he turned to her, the shared knowledge of how they felt about the Doctor running between them. “To love, pure and chaste from afar.”
Jack nodded and closed his eyes to speak the next line. “To try, when your arms are too weary.” Sarah Jane closed her eyes too, her fingers locked tight beneath them all.
“To reach the unreachable star.” They flew open with a start as the Doctor began to whisper quietly.
“This is my quest... To follow that star... No matter how hopeless... No matter how far... To fight for the right... Without question or pause... To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause...” He looked at them all, his eyes tracking on them each in turn. “Mickey? Sarah Jane. Martha.” His gaze reached Jack last and finally there was that spark of recognition that he had been searching for, at last the Doctor said his name again. “Jack.” With a stifled sob and a cheer his companions leaned forwards, Gwen, Ianto and Mickey stepping back, content to watch as the three fought to hug him tight. “Woah! What’s all this about, you three been drinking or something?” They laughed and Jack grabbed his face, kissing him fiercely.
“Don’t you do that to me again!” The Doctor pulled back, casting a wary eye at Ianto who was staring as though fascinated at the ceiling of the TARDIS and ignoring every second. Gwen was beaming beside him and wrapping her arm around Ianto’s waist as Mickey stood behind both of them, draping his arms over their shoulders. The Doctor sputtered slightly and pushed Jack off, looking around him at the mess of cushions on the floor.
“What on earth have you lot been up to, it looks like a slumber party in here!” He struggled to push them off so he could stand up, Martha grabbing him tightly.
“Hold on mister, you be careful you’ve had a nasty blow to the head, amnesia, a full scale extra personality..” The Doctor shrugged her off, straightening his tie and ruffling his hair impatiently.
“I’m fine me, what matter wounds to the body of a knight errant for each time he falls he will rise again, and woe to the wicked!!” He grinned at their worried looks and waggled his eyebrows. “Just kidding.” With a growl they hugged him again, Martha, Jack and Sarah Jane fighting to hold him tight as he wrapped his arms around them too. “I’m fine. Honest.” He pulled back and straightened himself up again with a smile. “Now, don’t you lot have homes to go to?”
*****************************
He hugged them all in turn, saying goodbye to them again until only Jack remained. They both knew Ianto was waiting outside, patiently waiting for Jack to return. “I can stay.” The Doctor stared at him, smiling sadly as Jack leaned against the console. “If you want me to.” The Doctor stepped forwards and shook his head.
“No Jack. You were right the first time. You’re needed here. Me...” He moved past him and began fiddling with the console. “I’ve got stars to reach.” Jack moved along the console after him and placed a hand over his, stopping him.
“I’m serious. You know I’m always here for you.” The Doctor smiled and looked up at him with an odd look on his face.
“I know you are Jack. Why do you think the TARDIS brought me here.” He pulled back, his hands rising to hold Jack’s face tenderly. “To love, pure and chaste from afar.” He leaned forwards and kissed Jack, his eyes closing slowly as the kiss deepened beyond the chaste kiss Jack had given him earlier. He felt his resolve weakening as Jack kissed him back, strong arms wrapping around him and holding him tight. It would be so easy to take him too or to stay, to hide safe and warm in those arms. Instead he pulled back and stepped away, shaking his head slowly. “This isn’t goodbye. I’ll be seeing you again Captain.”
“You had better. And I want to hear plenty of tales of my knight.” He reached out and brushed his fingers over the Doctors face. “My knight of the woeful countenance.” The Doctor laughed and twisted his head to kiss the fingers just once.
“Thank you Jack. For everything." He grinned and ran a hand over the console. “But right now we’ve got things to do. You need to go kiss that gorgeous young squire of yours before he thinks you’ve run off with me again. And I...” His smile grew softer as he looked down at nothing in particular. “I’ve got a lady to find. My Dulcinea. She’s out there Jack, waiting for me.” He looked up and rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. “And she hates it when I’m late.” Jack laughed and folded his arms, raising one eyebrow suggestively.
“A lady eh?” The Doctor nodded with a grin then pulled a face, twisting his head to the side.
“Welllll an archaeologist. But she’s not all bad.” Jack laughed again and leaned forwards conspiratorially.
“Go on, you can tell me, who is she?” The Doctor chuckled and shook his head, moving towards Jack and spinning him around to face the door.
“No, I can’t do that Jack for one very simple reason.” Jack paused at the door, not giving up that easily, his hands either side of the frame as the Doctor laughed and pushed against his back.
“Come on Doc, why not, what’s this reason?” The Doctor leaned in and pressed his chin against Jack’s shoulder and whispered in his ear softly.
“The same reason why I can’t tell you how I know you will see me again.” With a shove he finally broke Jack’s hold on the door and pushed him out into the dark Cardiff night. “Spoilers!” With that the TARDIS door closed and Jack watched as the light began to shine, that wonderful sound filling the air as Ianto came up behind him, wrapping his arms tight around him.
“You ok?” Jack nodded slowly and wrapped his arms over Ianto’s gently as they watched the TARDIS disappear. He continued to stare at the spot where it had been for a long moment before Ianto tightened his grip, squeezing lightly. “Jack? What are you looking at?” Jack sighed and turned, shifting to wrap his arms around Ianto as well, pulling him close.
“The unreachable star.” He kissed him deeply then grinned and shivered in the cold air. “Come on my Sancho, let’s go home.” Ianto nodded and pulled back, crooking his elbow to Jack.
“More misadventures my lord?” Jack laughed out loud and hooked his arm through Ianto’s, shaking his head. He was tired but somehow he felt wide awake. And ready.
“Adventures old friend. Adventures.”