Finding Your Place

[donutsweeper]

Title: Finding Your Place
Pairing/Warning/Rating: Jack/Sarah Jane, spoilers for DW 4x12 and 4x13, rated PG
Word Count: 614
Beta: unfeathered
Summary:  Jack and Sarah Jane learn they have more in common then they'd thought.
Author's Note:  Written for_medley_'s prompt from my recent writing meme. 

Jack remained on the sidelines as the Doctor’s odd little family celebrated their recent success.  He’d gotten hugs from Martha, and Rose, and Donna - in fact he’d gotten several from Donna- but found himself unable to truly get into the spirit of things in the way the others had.  He thought he’d hid it well enough so that no one noticed his inattention. The Doctor certainly failed to, considering the patented ‘Jaaack’ glares the man had sent his way a few times. 

Rose was ecstatic with being reunited with the Doctor and Jack found that he couldn’t stop himself from watching their interaction. 

“The ache is still there, isn’t it?” Sarah Jane asked. Somehow she’d sidled up next to him without his realizing it.

“Sorry?” 

“I saw you.  The way you were watching him.”  She gestured to where the Doctor and Rose were talking. “I’ve seen that look..” 

“I don’t know what...”

“Let me guess.  He left you behind without a second glance and never came back.  Just flittered off to the next planet, the next adventure, the next companion.”  Her tone had gone from wistful to almost cold.

Jack’s brow furrowed for a second, a slight frown on his face, before he put an arm around her and squeezed her shoulder lightly.  “Wasn’t quite like that,” he said softly, “for me anyway.”

“Then I’m guessing it was worse.  And if even half the rumors I’ve heard about you are true...”

“Rumors?”  Jack laughed, trying to lighten her mood.  “Shame on you Sarah Jane Smith, a woman like you, listening to rumors.”

“Not those kind of rumors, Captain.  Although, now having met you, those appear to be quite justified,” she replied, smiling.  “But, what I had been referring to was that I’ve quite a few contacts with UNIT, you know, and I’ve heard things about you... and your abilities.”  Sarah Jane fingered a singed spot on his coat.  “I don’t know what happened, but my assumption always was it had something to do with him.  From what I’ve seen of you today, I believe I was correct.”

Jack tilted his head, acquiescing.  They watched the Doctor together for a moment before he spoke again, “But we’ve met since then.  And last time I left him.”

Turning to face Jack, Sarah Jane smiled.  “Would you mind if I ask why?”

“Same reason I’ll be doing it again today.  I have more than this- the Doctor, the TARDIS, the adventure- now.  I want more than that.  I’ve made a life for myself in the here and now in a way I never could with him.”  Jack caught her chin in his hand and looked deep into her eyes.  “I’m guessing the same holds true for you.  We have responsibilities here, families we love.  Being with the Doctor was great and I loved my time with him, but now I’d be giving up too much to do it again.  Am I right?”

“Yes, I need to get back to Luke and K-9.  I’d hate to think of what sort of trouble those two could get into while I’m gone.”

Jack snickered.  “Probably as much as Gwen and Ianto could manage, although, with luck, less slime would be involved.”

Sarah Jane laughed.  “There’s a story in that, I just know it!”  She gave Jack a quick hug.  “I look forward to hearing it some day, Captain.”

“Call me Jack.”  He returned the hug.  “I look forward to telling it to you someday.”

“Oh, it’s time for more hugging already?”  Donna materialized in front of them.  “Isn’t team TARDIS great?” she asked, and before either Jack or Sarah Jane could respond, she swept them both into a bone-crushing hug.

Comments

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

very nice!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

thank you!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

Jack and Sarah Jane YAY thank you! Ooh, I hadn't considered that they both got left behind, but they did. And I love the patented Jaaaack, and Donna hugging them both, and just general Jack and Sarah Jane bonding FTW!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

YAY! Glad you liked it. I just thought it was interesting how the first time they each met up with the Doctor again they were both nursing a hurt of being left behind, but this time they were happy to see him, and to help him, but seemed to feel no compunction to stay with him

[elven-wolf.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I'd love to see Jack and Sarah Jane get together again sometime for coffee or something.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'd love to see Jack and Sarah Jane together in canon more!

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

Lovely. These two really have so much in common.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this, mostly because I love interaction between Jack and Sarah Jane. If ever two characters were born to be friends!

And it's odd, because this story is, in fact, rationalizing the aspect of the situation I most dislike: I want to find ways for the Doctor and Jack to be together, not ways to justify their being apart.

Love your cameo appearance of Donna.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm torn about that myself, because I'd like for Jack and the Doctor to be together too, but I just don't see that they fit together at the moment. Jack's become so comfortable in his own skin, with the team, with TW and Cardiff- it would never work for him to just take off in the TARDIS right now. Eventually, I'm positive the Doctor and him will be together again, but (in my opinion) their characters have to develop to that point.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really love this. I had thought about Sarah Jane and Jack both in the context of being left, but about Sarah's perspective of that parallel, which I think you've got just perfect. And then drawing it out to include why they would both willingly leave him, now - lovely.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you! That means a lot!

[nightrider101.livejournal.com]

This was beautiful. I love the idea of the Doctor and Jack together, but at this point, I'll be proud that Sarah Jane and Jack have built lives for themselves. It breaks my heart that the Doctor is alone, but that's just because of how the finale ended.

I loved this. :) You provided great insight into the characters.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

:) Glad it worked for you so well. Thanks for commenting!

[hence-the-name.livejournal.com]

Oh, Donna...

I love how you've drawn out the similarities between Jack and Sarah Jane, and as much as I ache for the Doctor, I think it's so important that these two (especially) have moved on.

Fantastic dialogue, nice bits of humor and fits in perfectly with the episode. I really enjoyed this.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad! Thanks! :)

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Oh Sarah Jane is so wonderful in this - she desrves Jack to be flirting with her just a little.

And Jack? Well he deserves a bit of mothering every now and again :D

*pets them both*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Jack flirted with her more than just a little in canon, don't you think?

*You just like excuses to pet Jack, don't you?*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I think you should write more Sarah Jane.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Really? Thanks!

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

ooh, you've got a good sarah jane voice

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *bounces*

[thaddeusfavour.livejournal.com]

Very nice, but Sarah Jane missed a chance to say "He's only 14 years old!" :P (She did it rather a lot on the show.)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

ah, good point. She had said that many, many times. :)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

This is great and I love the Jack and Sarah Jane dynamic. They should meet up every few months and have a meeting of 'the friendly society of previously abandoned companions' (it's Jack, it would have to be a friendly society).

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

"friendly" yes. Jack might give new meaning to the word though! Glad you liked it!

[tehaya.livejournal.com]

Nice! There's not enough stories with these two.

They're the two Companions that have the most things in common with each other. (Right up to the part where they both were so awesome that they got their own shows :P)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I hadn't really considered just how much Sarah Jane and Jack had in common till S4 aired. They worked together so well, didn't they?

Glad you liked this, thanks for commenting!

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

I love that :) Adore Jack flirting with Sarah Jane yet again ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

thank you!

[angharadofdenby.livejournal.com]

I love Jack and Sarah Jane stories. And you captured them both so well. Hope you continue.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

thanks so much! :)

[psyko-kittie.livejournal.com]

Great!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

glad you liked it! :)