Title: Eyes of A Stranger
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 6, 50ficlets
Prompt: 4, Stranger
Author's Note: The human version of the Doctor is being referred to as John Smith in this fic, since it's the Doctor's human alias and his clone needed a name.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Journey's End, somewhat. This is an completely alternate take on the ending of Season Four.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor, or his human clone. Please do not sue.

***

Jamie followed the Doctor into the Tardis, closing the door behind him firmly before going up the few steps that led into the control room. The Time Lord was already leaning over the console, punching in coordinates to take them away from here with unnecessary vigor.

He held back a sigh, wishing that they hadn't decided to go to an interstellar bar. He'd thought it was a bad idea from the start, especially considering that neither of them could really get drunk unless they let their guards down completely -- something neither of them liked doing.

The Doctor sighed and closed his eyes as the familiar feeling of displacement came over the ship; they had indeed left the planet behind them. Jamie watched his lover as he slumped over the Tardis' console, wanting to go to the other man and slide an arm around his waist.

He hadn't meant to flirt with the stranger who had come up to him at the bar; he hadn't wanted the attention at all, and he'd quickly disabused the man of any romantic notions he might have had. But just that bit of unwanted flirtation had upset the Doctor terribly.

Jamie didn't know what to say to his lover; he hadn't wanted that man to flirt with him any more than the Doctor had. He'd made an excuse and moved away, but the stranger had followed him, talking loudly in an attempt to impress him. An attempt that hadn't worked.

He'd finally managed to snap at the man, telling him in no uncertain terms that he was here with someone and that he wasn't interested in anyone else. The stranger had given him a reproachful look and shuffled away; Jamie had felt those eyes boring into his back for the rest of the night.

It didn't matter that he might have made some stranger angry, or hurt his feelings, or whatever he had done, Jamie told himself firmly. That man had no business trying to flirt with him, or touching him. And he wasn't sorry that he'd told the interloper to back off.

But now that he and the Doctor were back on the Tardis, alone together, he had no idea what to say. He wasn't sure if he should apologize to his lover; after all, he'd done nothing wrong. He hadn't flirted with that stranger; the innuendoes had all come from the other direction.

"Forgive me, Jamie." The Doctor's voice sounded tired, almost hollow. "I shouldn't be angry at you for what someone else does. It just .... brings back too many memories of the past. Of the time when I was with Jack, and he flirted with everyone in sight."

Jamie's dark eyes widened at the Time Lord's words; the memories came rushing back into his mind. Of course, that would be why the Doctor was so upset. Knowing how painful those memories were, Jamie didn't blame him at all for his show of temper.

Jack had hurt the Doctor so badly with his flirting and his infidelities. Jamie had those memories buried in the back of his own mind, but he'd never taken them out and studied them before. Now that he was, he could feel the Doctor's pain.

"I would never do that, Doctor," he said softly, moving closer to the Time Lord until he stood beside the other man. Slowly, he reached out to rest a hand on his lover's shoulder. "I'm not Jack. I'm me. And I don't want anyone but you. Not now, and not ever."

The Doctor turned to slide his arms around Jamie's waist and pull him close, burying his face against his lover's hair. "I know that," he whispered, his breath warm against Jamie's skin. "You're not Jack. And I'm sorry that I lost my temper and acted as though you were. Forgive me?"

"Of course," Jamie murmured, feeling as though his hearts were both melting within his chest. There was nothing to forgive, not really. He understood how the Doctor had felt -- and he hoped that they would never encounter that particular situation again.

He was just as close to the Doctor as he had ever been -- and, more importantly, his lover understood that he would never like Jack. He would never turn away from the man he loved, no matter what temptations might be thrown into his path.

But somehow, Jamie couldn't help feeling that they hadn't seen the last of that stranger. He could almost feel those cold eyes still on him, hear that voice in his ear. It was a face and a voice that he didn't want to encounter again -- but something told him that another meeting was in the cards.

***