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“Do you think he’s fine?”
Jack glanced up from where he was huddled beneath the covers to meet the concerned gaze of one of the guards that was looking into his cell.
“Don’t know,” the other guard frowned at Jack over the shoulder of his partner, “I’m not an expert for humans. The physician says he’s healthy and we’ve made sure he’s got notorious meals and things to entertain him. I don’t know what else we could do to make him comfortable.”
“Maybe, he’s just homesick, his owner hasn’t returned yet, I’m sure he misses him and his little playmate.” The guard fluttered his wings in something Jack read as agitation. “I don’t understand how that guy can be so cold and leave his pet alone for so long. He’s such a cutie after all, aren’t you, big boy?”
Jack didn’t react aside from drawing the soft covers closer around his body and closing his eyes. At first, when they had put him into this cell for wandering around without supervision he had tried to talk with them, to convince them he wasn’t something like a stray dog. His attempts had only led to them cooing at him and slipping him treats. Humans were considered pets on this planet and he had been caught without his owner. Any other time, Jack would have sniggered at the thought of being owned by the Doctor – the potential for innuendos was immense – but it wasn’t funny when he had to wait for the Time Lord to fetch him like a dog from an animal shelter.
“How long has it been now?”
Jack hugged himself beneath the covers, imagining someone else was holding him while listening to the continued conversation of the guards.
“Ten days, more than enough time to pay the fee.” It was hard to tell with avian-like species but Jack thought the guard sounded upset.
“Maybe, he doesn’t want him anymore. If he doesn’t show up in the next four days, you’d be free to adopt him.”
“I know,” a soft note entered the guard’s voice, “I’ve already talked with my partner about it, they are on board. We’ll just have to pay for the physician, but it shouldn’t cost too much.”
“No, neutering them isn’t too expensive, but you might want to stock up on some treats for afterwards. I’ve heard they get a little upset by the procedure.”
“Good advice, I think I’ll stock up on chocolates, he seems to like that stuff.”
The clacking of the claws on the floor announced the departure of the guards, leaving Jack alone in his cell. He knew he should be panicking by now, or at the very least try to convince them that they really shouldn’t cut off his balls, but he couldn’t find the strength to do any of it. If getting neutered meant someone was going to cuddle him afterwards, it almost seemed worth it.
Shivering, Jack slipped one arm out from between the covers, grabbed the plush toy from the floor, and brought it up to his chest. It wasn’t enough to satisfy his need for contact but it was better than nothing. He buried his head beneath the covers, rubbing his nose against the fur of the fluffy toy and trying to convince himself that everything would be fine. The Doctor would come, he always did.
He must have fallen asleep because the guard hadn’t been in the cell with him when Jack had closed his eyes. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jack recognized the guard as the one who was considering adopting him, and his stomach lurched.
“What’s going on?” The question was reasonable, considering that the guards never entered his cell. Everything he needed – clothes, books, sports equipment, games, and food – was placed into the cell by a mechanism Jack hadn’t figured out yet. Maybe, they were right and he wasn’t smarter than a dog after all.
“I’m here to fetch you, your owner has finally made an appearance.” The tip of a wing rubbed his cheek and Jack leaned into the contact with a sigh.
“Yes, I thought you’d be happy about the news,” the guard wrapped a wing around his back, amusement clear in his voice when Jack snuggled into the embrace. “I’m just sorry I didn’t get to adopt you, but it’s likely for the best, I’m sure you’re already excited about seeing your playmate again.”
The last part was accompanied by a gentle nudge, prompting Jack to get to his feet even as he nodded, “Yes, I’ve missed Rose.”
“Rose? That’s the name of your little friend?” At Jack’s nod, the guard continued while leading him out of the cell and down a corridor. “She looks like a cutie, too. Maybe, I’ll get myself a female human, they look more cuddly than males – no offence, buddy.”
Jack shrugged, aware that this could be his chance to try convincing the guard that humans weren’t pets, but he doubted he could make a compelling argument. Besides, he didn’t want to delay the reunion with Rose and the Doctor.
“Here, we are.”
Jack looked up, taking in the huge entrance hall with the high ceiling and the openings in the walls which allowed the office clerks to fly into the building. Any other day, he would’ve marvelled at the sight, but today, Jack only had eyes for the man at the front desk who was scowling down at some papers.
“I’m still amazed he looks like a human.” The tip of a wing pointed at the Doctor. “We almost took him and your playmate in as well until a scan revealed he wasn’t human but much further evolved. Funny, you look exactly the same at first glance, and yet, he’s so much smarter than you are. Still,” the guard continued, ignorant of just how much the insult had stung, “he should make sure you don’t wander off next time. I hope Ma’skosch suggests a collar and a leash to him, it’d be a shame if a pretty boy like you got lost.”
And there went some of his kinks for the foreseeable future, Jack mused, watching the Doctor finish at the front desk with a strange sense of detachment. Finally, the last paper was signed and the clerk pointed a wing at Jack and the guard.
A shiver ran down Jack’s spine when piercing blue eyes focused on him and the Doctor strode purposefully towards them.
“Lad, are you alright? Did they treat you well?”
“Yes,” Jack nodded hastily when the Doctor’s eyes narrowed at the guard, “I’m fine. Where’s Rose?”
“Waiting in the TARDIS, I didn’t want her to be subjected to that bullshit again. Speaking of which, it’s about time to get off this planet. He’s free to go, right?” A hint of danger laced the Doctor’s voice and Jack only realised that the guard had kept a wing around him when the soft weight vanished from around his shoulders.
“Yes, and I hope you take better care of him in the future, he’s a good boy.” A wing ruffled his hair before he was gently pushed towards the Doctor.
The Doctor muttered something under his breath which the TARDIS refused to translate, grabbed Jack’s wrist, and dragged him towards the exit.
A lump settled in Jack’s throat at the harsh treatment, stumbling after the Doctor and ignoring the pitying looks sent his way. He hadn’t expected to be swept off his feet and whirled around in his friend’s arms – that privilege was reserved for Rose – but a hug would’ve been welcome. Then again, Jack doubted his ability to let go of the Doctor if he wrapped him in his arms. Likely, his friend was aware of that, too, and only waiting for the TARDIS’ doors to close behind them to offer him a much-needed hug. The comforting thought kept Jack going until they arrived at the beloved, blue police box.
“I got your belongings back from these damn bureaucrats,” the Doctor informed Jack, pushing open the door and ushering him inside. “They thought your Vortex Manipulator was a toy to entertain you. Stupid, prejudiced birds!”
“Well, in a way,” Jack began, only to swallow down the rest of his sentence when the Doctor jumped up to the console without so much as a pat to his shoulder.
“Doc?” Jack wrapped his arms around his torso, shivering despite the comforting hum of the TARDIS.
“Don’t call me that!”
Jack flinched at the harsh tone and stumbled back against a coral strut, staring up at the console with burning eyes. The Doctor had promised him cuddles whenever Jack needed them after realising how easily he became touch-starved, but now, he wasn’t even offering a comforting hug.
Jack bit down on his lower lip to stifle the traitorous sound that was crawling up his throat. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what he had done wrong to warrant such a harsh punishment. Maybe, the Doctor had simply grown tired of him and his needs.
The burning in his eyes intensified, and Jack bit down harder on his lower lip to keep the moisture at bay, although he doubted the Doctor would have noticed if he had broken down sobbing on the floor. He was much too busy arguing with the TARDIS to pay Jack any mind.
Jack was just about to slip away to his room and hide beneath the weighted blanket the TARDIS had provided for him when the last passenger of the time ship stumbled into the console room.
“Jack!” Rose shouted in delight and rushed to him, throwing her arms around him and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“You promised me to let me know when we arrived, and yet, you got Jack without me. What do you call that, huh?” Rose turned in Jack’s arms, glaring at the Doctor who was still busy at the console.
“First, you land us on a planet where humans are considered pets, then you don’t have money to pay the fee, and to top it all off, you keep me tucked away in here – for my own good, I bet. You know, Doctor, you… Jack?”
Heat rose in Jack’s face when Rose frowned at him in confusion, but he didn’t loosen his hold on her, unwilling to let her storm off to the Doctor after such a brief contact. “Can I hold you for a bit? I just,” Jack inhaled shakily, “really need it right now.” At least, he didn’t have to explain to her anymore why that was the case.
“Oh, okay.” Rose leaned against his chest but directed a frown at him at the same time. “You know, if you just want to hug, you don’t need to make up that you need it. I like hugging you.”
“Believe me, Rose,” Jack murmured, carding fingers through her hair, “after ten days alone in a cell, I definitely need it.”
Rose stiffened. “Ten days?”
A thump sounded from the direction of the console, followed by a curse.
“Doctor,” there was a warning note in Rose’s voice, “please don’t tell me, Jack was in prison for ten days, because we needed to jump to that stupid intergalactic bank to get money? You said it was only a jump through space, not time.”
“I needed to jump a few hours ahead in time to their opening times, but I didn’t think…” The Doctor’s voice trailed off even as heavy steps drew closer to them.
“I’m sorry, lad.”
Jack startled when he was drawn against a woollen-clad chest and arms wrapped around him, and by extension Rose. He relaxed a second later, leaning back against the Doctor and hugging Rose even closer.
“It’s okay, apart from the lack of cuddles, the service was excellent. I’m just glad you didn’t screw up the landing, even more, Doc, I’m rather attached to my balls – quite literally, thankfully.” Jack smiled over his shoulder at the Doctor but sobered when his friend glowered at him. “I’m sorry for wandering off and forcing you to go to all this trouble to rescue me and…”
“Don’t be stupid, lad.” Cool lips brushed his cheek. “I’m not angry at you.”
“He was pissed off by these office clerks, though,” Rose chimed in, her tongue poking out between her lips as she winked up at the Doctor before her eyes turned serious again. “What was all that talk about your balls?”
“Apparently,” Jack cleared his throat, “male humans are neutered before they are put up for adoption. A few more days and, well…” He left the last part unsaid, but the arms of his friends still tightened around him when he shivered. In prison, he hadn’t been afraid, too focused on the absence of touch to find the energy to worry, but now – safely back on the TARDIS – the mere thought of how close he had come to getting castrated made him quiver with nerves.
“God, Jack!” Rose sounded appalled. “That’s just horrible, I’m just glad you’re fine and so sorry we were so late.”
“It’s okay.” At least, Jack understood why the Doctor had been so snappish – his friend hated dealing with bureaucrats.
“No, it’s not,” cold fingers stroked the sensitive skin at his throat, “but it’ll be.”
Jack clamped down on the whimper, rising in his throat when the Doctor stepped away from him. Usually, a prolonged hug like this would have satisfied his need for touch but after so long without even a handshake, it wasn’t nearly enough.
“Why don’t you two find a comfortable place for some extended cuddling while I send us into the Vortex?”
Jack’s head swivelled around at the Doctor’s words, barely believing his luck when the Time Lord nodded encouragingly at him. They had cuddled together often ever since Rose and the Doctor had learned how much he needed it, but they had never made a huge deal out of it – aside from that first time in the library.
“Sounds good to me. Come on, Jack,” Rose tugged at his hand, “let’s see if the TARDIS has a nice place for us in mind.”
“Yeah, alright.” Jack grabbed Rose’s hand tighter than necessary on their way out of the console room, but the thought of being parted from her was too much to bear.
“Looks like she wants us in this room.” Rose ushered him into a room that had just materialised and paused. “Oh, wow!”
Blinking, Jack took in the room which mostly consisted of an enormous bed with soft-looking sheets and a hallstand. That… wasn’t what he had expected.
“You aren’t very subtle, girl, are you?” Rose stroked a wall with a chuckle, not bothered by the display at all beyond the first surprised reaction.
Jack hadn’t decided yet what he should think of the furnishing, and he didn’t get far with his musings, too busy mourning the loss of contact when Rose tugged her hand free. He hated feeling like this, so vulnerable and dependant on his friends’ willingness to cater to his needs.
“Maybe, I should ask the Doctor to bring me to a place in the future where they can dampen the need for physical closeness,” Jack told the soft carpet. “I can’t expect you to always help me out.”
“Yes, you can! What?” Rose raised an eyebrow at him, putting her hands on her hips, right above the straps of her panties. “I’m not lying down fully clothed and I’m definitely not wearing a bra in bed. Besides,” a slight flush coloured her cheeks, “I thought skin-to-skin contact would be best.”
“Yes, but…”
“Good, then that’s decided. Take off your clothes and come to bed!” Rose slipped beneath the covers and padded the spot next to her.
Precious seconds passed, in which Jack could only gape at her before his mind caught up with the situation. Kicking off his boots and taking off his shirt, Jack paused with his hands at the waistband of his jeans. “I’m not wearing any underwear.”
“Of course not.” Laughter coloured Rose’s voice even as she rolled her eyes at him. “Just take off your jeans and come to bed. If you take much longer, I’ll think the Doctor brought back a doppelganger.” The sheet uncovered creamy breasts when Rose sat up in bed. “You haven’t made one lewd comment, yet, I’m getting worried.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” Jack muttered, finally slipping off his trousers and making his way over to the other side of the bed.
“I am not.” Rose waited until he had laid down before moving closer and pressing a warm hand on his chest, eliciting a needy whimper from Jack. “Are you uncomfortable?”
Any other day, Jack would’ve laughed at the question and joked about how he could never be uncomfortable while in bed with a beautiful woman, but he couldn’t bring himself to make one of his trademark comments.
“No, not exactly uncomfortable, it’s just,” Jack shrugged helplessly, “I feel raw and… like I’ve lost my balance, and I’m not even sure if that makes any sense at all.”
Warm brown eyes returned his look steadily. “I think I get it. Come here!” Rose nudged him until Jack turned on his side and cuddled up to him without giving him a chance to protest.
Not that protesting had ever crossed his mind. His whole body shivered in reaction to Rose’s sudden closeness and the sensation of warm skin against his own. It had been so long, Jack had almost forgotten why he craved bodily contact so much. He remembered it now. Wrapping his arms around Rose, splaying his hands between her shoulder blades and on her lower back, pressing his chest against her soft breasts, Jack knew what he had been missing all this time.
With a heavy sigh, the tension drained from his body and Jack relaxed more fully into the mattress, savouring the warmth and softness of Rose’s skin.
“Looks like you’re comfy.”
The voice cut through the pleasant silence, making Jack jump and crane his head around to look at the Doctor. An apology was already on the tip of his tongue, but it died when he caught sight of his friend’s bare chest.
“What? I’m not going to climb in with you fully dressed.” The Doctor wriggled out of his trousers, revealing black pants that didn’t do much to hide that part of his physique. “Besides,” the Doctor climbed in on Jack’s other side, “skin-to-skin contact is the best way to get the endorphins in your little ape brain flowing.”
Rose sniggered, “That’s exactly what I said, minus the insult.”
Jack pinched his arm, but Rose kept on chuckling, snuggled into his arms, and the cold chest, pressed up against his back, didn’t vanish either. This wasn’t a dream, he was in bed with Rose and the Doctor, and… he didn’t have the first clue how to act.
“Hush, lad!” One long arm wrapped around Rose and him while gentle fingers stroked his hair. “Relax, you’re safe now, we’ve got you.”
This was exactly what Jack had needed to hear. He breathed in slowly, inhaling the scent of his friends and sinking deeper into their embrace when he exhaled. Warmth against his front, coldness against his back, and the soothing hum of the TARDIS all around him were enough to drain even the last remaining tension from his body. With a content sigh, Jack buried his nose in soft, blonde hair and interlaced his fingers with the cold ones that rested on Rose’s hipbone.
Sleep seemed right around the corner, and Jack would’ve welcomed it, but his body had other plans. After days without any touch at all, the proximity of two mostly naked bodies and the relief of being back home were enough to waken a certain part of his anatomy.
Jack’s breath hitched in his throat when blood rushed between his legs, his penis hardening steadily until it stood proudly to attention. Any other time, Jack would’ve welcomed the development, but for a second he rather wished they would’ve cut off his balls. The pain couldn’t have been worse than the disappointment he would soon see directed at him – followed closely by rejection. His friends had agreed to cuddles, nothing else, and yet, his body was betraying some of his other needs.
“You seem a little stiff, Captain,” the Doctor chuckled close to his ear, his hand brushing Jack’s hard flesh on its way to his hip.
“Oh, he is,” Rose chimed in, pressing closer against him, “no doubt about it.”
“I’m sorry.” Jack wriggled away from Rose, unwilling to make her uncomfortable but a strong hand held him in place.
“Nothing to apologize for, perfectly normal reaction.” Cool lips pressed a kiss to the pulse point at his throat. “It’s not like you can control your body.”
“But you can?” Jack glanced back over his shoulder at the Doctor.
The Time Lord smirked at him. “’ Course, I can, or is anything poking you?”
Before Jack could grasp the whole implication of the statement, Rose kissed his cheek to get his attention.
“And I might be from the 21st century, but I’m not bothered either. I’m not some innocent, naïve maiden, you know,” Rose added at Jack’s surprised look.
“Good, now that this is settled,” cool fingers splayed on Jack’s stomach, just shy of touching his throbbing flesh, “do you want to do something about it?”
He didn’t want to get up, he really didn’t want to, but Jack knew it would be more than rude to stay sandwiched between his friends when he was this aroused. Jack couldn’t ignore the Doctor’s order despite how it had been voiced as a question.
“I’ll just go to the bathroom and take care of it. Maybe, we could cuddle some more afterwards,” Jack added hopefully and, in the stunned silence that followed, “I’ll take a shower, of course.”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you, but I rather thought you’d prefer to stay in bed with us. No reason why we can’t do anything about it, here.” The Doctor’s pinkie brushed his erection lightly.
Jack glanced from the Doctor’s earnest expression to Rose’s flushed face, cursing his inability to judge the situation on the presented clues alone. He was an expert at reading people – especially in the bedroom – but all his fine-honed skills had seemingly vanished over the past few days, leaving him flustered and undecided.
“What is it you want to do, Jack?” Rose asked gently, brushing a few strands of hair from his forehead.
“I-I want to stay here.” The mere thought of leaving the cocoon of warmth and comfort his friends had created for him made his stomach churn.
“Then stay and allow us to help you, that’s what friends are for, right, Doctor?”
Jack detected a hint of amusement in Rose’s voice but upon meeting her earnest gaze, he was finally convinced that she truly didn’t mind at all.
“Okay, but really, only if you want to, I don’t want you to feel like you have to or…”
“Don’t act daft, Captain, it doesn’t suit you.” The harsh reprimand stood in stark contrast to the gentleness with which a cold hand closed around his straining erection.
A needy whimper fell from Jack’s lips at the first slow upwards stroke, his whole body shivering at the almost chaste touch. It had been so long since he had been touched like this. Reflexively, he clutched at Rose, drawing her close against his chest and burying his face in the crook of her neck while the Doctor’s hand sent ripples of pure lust through his body.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Rose murmured into his ear, returning his embrace easily and preventing Jack from wondering if such close contact was welcome.
“Just enjoy it, lad.” The full length of the Doctor’s body pressed up against his back, the pace of the hand stroking him increasing, and bringing Jack ever closer to completion.
He was so close already, his body yearning for release, and Jack couldn’t do anything to hold back the wave that was sure to sweep him away any minute now. Moaning, he rubbed his cheek against Rose’s soft skin, inhaling her unique scent, and pushing back against the Doctor simultaneously.
“That’s it, Jack!” the Doctor encouraged him. “Let it go!”
Cool lips nuzzled the skin at the base of his nape and soft, warm lips kissed his shoulder. The tenderness of the caresses was what tipped Jack over the edge. He muffled his shout against Rose’s shoulder, trembling from the force of his orgasm as it ripped through his body, leaving him boneless and sated in its wake.
Jack came back to himself to the feel of fabric brushing against the sensitive skin of his softening penis. The sensation vanished before he could decide if the fondling was unpleasant or not, and Jack turned on his back just in time to witness the Doctor chuck a pair of dark pants over the edge of the bed.
“You used your pants to clean me up.”
The Doctor shrugged, an amused smirk on his lips. “It’s not like I had anything else at hand. Rose’s panties are made of much too little fabric to be of any use.”
“Pha!”
Jack was about to turn around at Rose’s exclamation, but his movements were halted by the sudden press of cool lips against his own. His eyes widened, catching the soft expression in usually piercing blue eyes before they slipped closed.
Jack’s lips parted under the Doctor’s ministrations, inviting his friend in and surrendering fully to the kiss. Chaste, exploring touches turned into playful nips and licks, the kiss tethering on the edge of growing passionate when a throat was cleared.
Jack stiffened, pulling away from the Doctor, an apology on the tip of his tongue when Rose’s words cut through the silence. “As hot as that looks, I feel a bit left out.”
“We can’t have that.”
Jack gaped when the Doctor leaned over him, meeting Rose halfway and claiming her lips in a kiss that left even Jack breathless. He didn’t know what had caused this if jerking him off had brought down the last of the Doctor’s walls and allowed him to take the final step and take what was willingly offered to him, but Jack was happy for them. It was about time these two stopped dancing around each other and started dancing together… even if that meant no more intimate cuddle sessions for him.
Jack swallowed the bitterness in his throat, starting the slow process of untangling himself from the covers, determined to leave before his friends could kick him out when Rose pulled away from the Doctor.
“I’ll just,” Jack began, but the rest of the sentence was swallowed by warm, insistent lips, claiming his mouth in a deep kiss that left his head spinning.
A pair of hands, one small and soft, the other calloused and cold, pushed him back on the pillow while Jack was still recovering from the surprise attack. By the time his mind was operational once more, a head of blonde hair pinned his chest down and a double heartbeat drummed beneath his ear.
“I get it,” Jack murmured, “you don’t want me to leave.”
“Took you long enough, I was getting worried about your head, lad.”
“Not everyone can be as smart as a Time Lord.” Jack peeled one eye open to wink at the Doctor, continuing in a light tone, “So, does that mean that’s how we’re going to do it from now on?” It was easier to cover his question up as a joke and get a positive surprise than to get his hopes up, only to have them squashed.
“Don’t be daft!”
Jack’s heart plumped to his stomach at the sharp dismissal. So much for not getting his hopes up.
“Yeah, it’d be unfair if we did it like this every time,” Rose chimed in, digging her chin into his flesh. “I want to join in the fun, next time, too.”
“Oh!” Jack first met Rose’s amused but earnest eyes before looking at the Doctor, who appeared just as amused if a little impatient, despite the hint of softness in his expression.
“I’m really slow today, aren’t I?” Jack chuckled self-consciously.
“I’m sure, you’ll get it in time.” The gentle kiss to his forehead belied the Doctor’s dry words.
“And if you don’t,” Rose nuzzled against his chest, “we’ll just remind you again.”
Jack nodded, unable to speak around the lump suddenly lodged in his throat, and snuggled closer to his partners, relaxing fully when their arms around him tightened. If they continued to hold him like this, Jack wouldn’t have any trouble remembering where he belonged.