[for Jack] Small Worlds.

[onlysayinghello]

There had been rift activity, and with the team somewhat scattered at the moment Jack assumed it was just better if he went out there on his own. It didn't take him too long to track the signature, and even that felt like something too simple. The back of his mind held a token amount of doubt, the thought that it was too simple, which meant somehow it had to be overly complicated. Undoubtedly that was the case here.

His feet sunk into the sand unevenly as he moved across the beach, the tiny blip on his wrist no longer needing to be followed as he saw the silhouette up ahead seated along the shore. Jack lifted his hand to his brow, shielding his sight a bit from the sun, as he squinted trying to make out the figure. It was only when he got closer that he realized the word complicated had been underestimating it by a longshot.

Part of his mind couldn't wrap around it, but it was the rift, and stranger things had happened. Moving toward him he stopped in front of him, glancing down at the man whose name was too familiar to him and smiled, "You're a long way from where you expected to be aren't you."

Comments

[onlysayinghello.livejournal.com]

Jack let his hand rest to his shoulder for another moment before it dropped down to take the other man's hand. It was for reassurance, for comfort, and so that Jack could at least have something to hold onto that was familiar.

"When you're ready, we can find you someplace to rest.. to get something to eat? Whatever you need."

[anightngalesang.livejournal.com]

The feel of their hands meeting, touching, merging, was enough to pull him out of his reverie and back to the present moment which was as confusing as it had been, but he was grateful for the contact. He tried not to cling. He wasn't a man who clung. He had his pride, and he was a leader, but this was so out of his depth that he couldn't help but be a bit off kilter.

"Somewhere quiet to rest and ... think about everything would be nice. To figure out what the hell I do now." Food wasn't really high on his priority list.

[onlysayinghello.livejournal.com]

Nodding there was almost too much unsaid between them for him to even try to quantify at the moment. Instead he just squeezed Jack's hand a bit tighter for a moment before meeting his gaze.

"I have room to spare, you can stay with me, while we get this sorted." Jack tried to put an emphasis on the word we, to try and instill into him that he wasn't alone in this, despite how much he must feel like it. He knew what it felt like to be a man alone, trapped in time and unable to know just how he was going to survive.

It was unbearable, but Jack hoped that this would be a bit better - because he was there too.

[anightngalesang.livejournal.com]

Jack looked down at their hands, taking a deep breath, and then let his fingers settle more firmly against James's. Letting the breath out in a sigh, he dragged his gaze back up to the other man's.

"I would appreciate that." Where else would he go? Who else could he turn to, now? It was a frightening and isolating thought, and he tried to focus on being grateful James was here. It wasn't a hard feeling to come up with, all things considered. He'd hated watching him leave the night before, just when he'd put everything on the line, but he'd understood.

Now he was here, in his time, and everything had changed.

"Thank you."

[onlysayinghello.livejournal.com]

"It's the least I can do," Jack offered. The truth would have to come eventually, but for the moment he could at least offer something stable.

His hand stayed laced to the other mans, as he shifted to face him, placing a free hand to his shoulder, "My car is just up a bit, it's just a short drive to my flat."

Honestly, Jack hadn't been to his flat in months. The Torchwood Hub serving more as a home to him than any other place, but bringing him into that - so soon, didn't feel like the right move on any level. This would give him some sense of normalcy at the very least.

[anightngalesang.livejournal.com]

Jack managed to muster a smile. It was strained and it was hard to manage, but he found some of the warmth from the night before when he looked in James' eyes, and somehow he managed the gesture.

"Lead the way, then."