{"id":251984,"date":"2013-10-10T03:17:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-10T03:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2013\/10\/10\/this-weeks-theme-for-fanwork-friday-is-jack-and\/"},"modified":"2013-10-10T03:17:00","modified_gmt":"2013-10-10T03:17:00","slug":"this-weeks-theme-for-fanwork-friday-is-jack-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2013\/10\/10\/this-weeks-theme-for-fanwork-friday-is-jack-and\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

This weeks theme for fanwork friday is jack and castiel, so I wrote a ficlet. Spoilers for Children of Earth, as this is set right at the end of it:<\/em><\/p>\n

Lou brought three more drinks over to the table in the corner. The man in the military coat barely looked up as he set them down. He hadn\u2019t moved from the darkened corner for a few days. Lou had brought him some snacks and water he\u2019d hardly touched. It was easy for him to see the heavy grief that weighed the man down, but he knew better than to ask. Besides, Jack Harkness was an old family friend; he could stay as long as he wanted to.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad?\u201d his son called him over and he took a moment to look at him. Despite all the fear of a few weeks ago, his son was fine and that was the important thing. As he walked away from the table he didn\u2019t notice Jack watching the boy while Lou put a hand on his shoulder and guided him into the back.<\/p>\n

One in the bar did notice. Nobody had seen him come in or paid him any attention as he walked over and slid across from the fixture in the dark corner. Jack\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cWhat do you want, Castiel? I\u2019m not exactly on good terms with your boss right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Castiel watched him as he picked up one of the drinks. \u201cIs this your plan for the foreseeable future?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack gave a short, bitter laugh. \u201cYou got any better ideas?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do actually. There is a war coming, we need allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s eyes went dark. He leaned forward. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are demons walking free, and a greater power rising.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment Jack looked about to throw the bottle at him. \u201cHaven\u2019t I done enough?\u201d he asked brokenly, then turned away, but not before the raw heartbreak showed on his face. \u201cNo. I\u2019m not a hero. I stayed too long here.\u201d His hand moved to his wrist, but he no longer had the manipulator, lost in the explosion that had destroyed Torchwood, his home, and himself.<\/p>\n

Castiel watched as he drew the coat a little closer around himself, gathering his armor. \u201cI know you have suffered great losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou couldn\u2019t begin to understand,\u201d said Jack quietly. \u00a0He picked up the closest bottle and chugged the rest of it, aware of Castiel\u2019s eyes on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGwen Cooper has your device,\u201d said Castiel.<\/p>\n

Jack put down the bottle hard enough to rattle the table. He took a breath. \u201cGood, then I can get off this rock.\u201d He pushed himself vertical, slightly unsteady.<\/p>\n

Castiel put a hand on his arm, but Jack batted him away. \u201cNo. You\u2019re not taking this pain, you\u2019re not making me sober. I don\u2019t want to owe you a damn thing.\u201d He dropped money on the table and made his way out. The night sky spread above him with a thousand twinkling promises. He pulled out his phone and started texting directions to Gwen.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeday, Jack, you will forgive yourself,\u201d said Castiel.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, guy like me, I have all the time in the universe.\u201d He started walking down the dark country road. He felt the rush of angel wings and knew Castiel had gone. He squeezed his eyes shit and rubbed his temple. Definitely time to put this world behind him.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This weeks theme for fanwork friday is jack and castiel, so I wrote a ficlet. Spoilers for Children of Earth, as this is set right at the end of it: Lou brought three more drinks over to the table in the corner. The man in the military coat barely looked up as he set them … <\/p>\n

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