Title: In the Sun
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Mick St. John
Fandom: Doctor Who/Moonlight
Rating: PG-13
Table: 5, sound_of_drums
Prompt: 8, Sunshine
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Tenth Doctor or Mick St. John, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***


The Doctor rested his elbows on the stone wall in the field near where the Tardis had materialized; the sun was shining brightly, and it was a beautiful day. But he couldn't help feeling that there were dark clouds on the horizon, even though he couldn't see them.

He knew that the old stories about vampires bursting into flame if they had to endure sunlight weren't true; Mick had proven that to him time and time again. But what would happen if they were trapped in a place where Mick couldn't get human blood, and he had to be in the sun?

The Time Lord shuddered at the thought, closing his eyes. He didn't want to think that Mick could have to face that kind of situation -- and neither of them had any idea whether or not his blood would be able to sustain his vampire lover in such a situation.

What would happen if there was no human blood, or the blood of animals, to be had when Mick needed it? The Doctor didn't want to risk harming the man he loved by offering Mick his blood, but if it came down to that, they would have no choice but to try that solution.

It was terrifying to think that there might come a time when his blood, half-human and half-Gallifreyan, could be all that kept Mick from facing death. He didn't want things to come down to that, but there was every possibility that they could.

In spite of the warm sunshine, he couldn't stop a chill from sweeping over him, a cold shiver of ice trickling down his spine. He couldn't stand the thought of Mick being hurt, being caught in a life or death situation. It wasn't something that he wanted to contemplate.

But that was part of being here with him, wasn't it? He had to acknowledge the fact that anyone who chose to travel with him, to be close to him and be a part of his life, would take those kinds of risks every day, whether they realized it or not.

Mick wasn't a child; he was a grown man, someone who had gone to war on Earth and had survived life or death situations before, when he was human. Mick had seen some of the worst that there was to see, and he was still here. He had made an informed choice.

His lover wasn't the kind of man who would back down from a challenge -- and he wouldn't stay away from the person he loved just because they might encounter a situation at some point in time that would place his life in danger. He wasn't a coward.

And Mick wasn't human, the Doctor reminded himself. It would be much harder to kill him than it would be to do away with a human; Mick himself had pointed that fact out more than once since they'd been together. His life was less at risk by being here than a human's would be.

The Doctor raised his hand and pulled back his sleeve, staring at his wrist, at the slightly blue vein there. What would it feel like to let Mick drink his blood? He knew that there were people who found it a sensual experience, but he doubted he would feel that way.

Still, why shouldn't he? He knew that Mick would never harm him, and that he would try to make that experience as painless as possible. Even if his blood could cause Mick harm in some way, he would think of the Doctor first and himself second.

Where was Mick now? he wondered. His boyfriend had gone back into the Tardis for a few minutes, but that seemed like quite a while ago. He didn't always keep track of Mick's whereabouts, but the other man was in the forefront of his mind, and he couldn't help but worry.

They weren't on any planet where Mick could have enemies who would be watching him or coming after him, he told himself firmly. Mick's place was on Earth, a planet that they might not be returning to for a while -- unless they had to get a supply of blood for his lover.

There was no need for him to worry about Mick, or feel that he shouldn't be out here enjoying the warm sunshine simply because his boyfriend had to monitor his own time in the sun. They were, after all, two different species. Their needs weren't exactly the same.

He had to be thankful for the fact that at least Mick could spend time in the sunshine, that he didn't have to avoid it as vampires in the old myths and legends had to do. No, he could enjoy the daylight; he simply had to be careful just how long he stayed out in it.

And he had to make sure that he'd been fortified with human blood before he spent an extended amount of time in the sun, the Doctor told himself. What if there came a time when there was no blood to be had -- and yet Mick had to be in the sun for quite a while?

It wasn't something he wanted to think about; he didn't want to contemplate what his boyfriend could become. He'd seen Mick when he was in his feral vampiric state before; it wasn't something that he wanted to see, unless that state of being was needed.

He felt rather than heard Mick behind him; he could sense his boyfriend's presence, and it always made him feel safe and protected. Maybe others would be a little wary of what Mick was -- especially after seeing his more animalistic side in action -- but he was getting used to it.

Was that true? the Doctor asked himself, a little surprised at the notion. Had he gotten used to seeing Mick's vampiric side take control of him? It hadn't come out that much since they'd been together, but somehow, it didn't seem horrific or frightening to him.

"Don't worry about me being out in the sun," Mick said, his voice very soft. The Doctor turned to him, his dark eyes widening, amazed at how Mick seemed able to read his mind without him saying a word. "I'll be okay. We'll stock up on blood next time we're back on Earth."

The Doctor nodded, feeling almost as though he'd been blindsided. How had Mick known just what he was thinking about -- and known exactly the right words to say that would make him feel somewhat at ease again? "How did you know?" he blurted out before he could stop himself.

Mick shrugged, turning to look at the Doctor with a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I can't read minds like you can, but it's easy enough to tell what you're thinking. I know you better than you might think. And I know you worry about me."

"It's hard not to," the Doctor told him, keeping his voice soft and steady. "I know that you can take care of yourself, Mick, but .... I don't want anything to happen to you. And I don't want us to get caught in a situation where you'll have to take risks with your life."

Mick looked puzzled, tilting his head to one side as he regarded the Time Lord. When he spoke, his tone was quizzical, as if he wasn't sure of what he'd just heard. "Isn't that what every day is like? We're always taking some kind of risk with ourselves."

"You know what I mean." The Doctor's voice was firmer as he turned to face Mick. "We don't know if drinking my blood could be harmful to you. And I don't want to be at the point where that's our only option -- especially if we still don't know what it could do to you."

"We might have to take that risk and find out one day," Mick said softly, gazing at the Doctor. "If it does something to me that we weren't expecting, then we'll have to deal with that. And if not .... then you'll have saved my life, and I'll be in your debt forever."

"You could never be in my debt, love," the Doctor said softly, his gaze locking with Mick's. For several long moments, he couldn't speak; he was mesmerized by that electric blue gaze, lost in his lover's eyes, feeling as though he never wanted to look away.

He needed to stop worrying about what might happen for them in the future, and concentrate on the here and now. Mick was here with him, and they were both standing in the bright sunshine of a beautiful day. He didn't need to think about anything but that.

As though Mick knew what he was thinking, the other man opened his arms, smiling at the Doctor. It only took a moment for the Time Lord to be wrapped in his embrace, for their lips to meet and cling to each other, their bodies following suit.

The Doctor barely noticed when the two of them began moving as one towards the Tardis; it took him several moments to realize where this was going. He hadn't intended to be back in bed with Mick after they'd just made love that morning, but he wasn't going to protest.

They could enjoy the rest of this beautiful day later, he told himself as Mick took his hand and led him towards the ship. He would much rather be with the man he loved -- and if that meant being inside out of the sunshine for a while, he wasn't going to complain.

***