Title: Close Call
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Jack Harkness
Fandom: Doctor Who/Torchwood
Rating: PG-13
Table: smut_69
Prompt: 53, Threesome
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 Jack Harkness. Please do not sue.

***

"Have you ever thought of what it would be like to have a threesome with somebody?" Jack's voice cut into the Doctor's thoughts, making the Time Lord turn to him with a shocked expression on his face and a coldness seeping into his hearts.

"Wh-what?" He couldn't keep his voice from trembling at Jack's question; it sounded as though his lover was already tiring of him, as if he might want to look to greener pastures and find someone else to satisfy his needs and desires.

Did Jack want to see other people? Was their resuscitated relationship already not enough for him? The Doctor had been afraid of this from the moment that Jack had come back to him; he'd feared that the man he loved would turn his back and walk away again.

Jack was looking at him strangely, the smile on his face changing to a frown, his brow furrowing. The Doctor simply stood there, staring at him, wondering what was going through the other man's mind to make him ask such a question -- and to make him look the way he did.

"Doc.' Jack's voice was quiet and serious, where only moments ago it had held a playful, teasing note. "You think I'm going to leave again, don't you? You think I want somebody else, and that you're not enough for me, or something stupid like that."

"That's certainly what it sounds like," the Time Lord said, not looking at Jack. "If you thought that I was enough to keep you satisfied and make you happy, then you wouldn't be asking me questions about being with other people. Which I can only assume means sleeping around."

Jack shook his head, his frown deepening as he crossed the control room to where the Doctor was standing, sliding his arms around the other man. "That's not what I meant at all!" The words burst from him, sounding vehement and almost angry.

The Doctor didn't respond; he simply stood there in the circle of Jack's arms, looking down at the floor. He didn't want to look at his lover, didn't want to make any kind of eye contact that would weaken his resolve to distance himself from Jack.

"Doctor ...." Jack's arms were still around his waist, but the immortal didn't pull him close. The Doctor couldn't help but think that his suspicions were spot-on; Jack was already distancing himself as well, the embrace only offered as a kind of apology.

"The last thing I would do is sleep around. I promised you that I wasn't going to leave, and I meant that with all my heart. And now I'm promising you that I don't want anyone else in my bed. I mean that too." Jack placed a finger under the Doctor's chin, lifting his face.

"What I meant was, do you ever think of what it might be like to have a threesome? Like with Owen, or Ianto, or some other person we both like," Jack explained, his gaze locking with the Time Lord's. "That doesn't mean I'd actually do it. I'm just curious about what you think."

It took a few moments for the Doctor to find his voice; a wave of relief crashed over him, coursing through his veins and making his legs feel weak and rubbery. Jack didn't want anyone else. He wasn't in danger of losing his lover so soon after their reconciliation.

But how could Jack think that he was even the slightest bit attracted to either of the two men he'd mentioned? He knew that Ianto and Jack had been in a relationship, but from what the immortal had told him, it had been short-lived, with no deep feelings involved.

What if that wasn't true? What if this was Jack's way of telling him that he wasn't enough, and that he wanted more? He wouldn't have mentioned those two men in particular if he wasn't attracted to them -- and this could be his way of finding out if the Doctor was, too.

"What do I think?" he said slowly, trying to clear his head and think calmly. "I know that I wouldn't want to share you with anyone else, even if it was only for one night. And I certainly don't like thinking that you'd find it so easy to let someone else be with me."

"But I wouldn't!" Jack told him, his voice almost exasperated. "You're taking this the wrong way, Doctor. No way do I want to see another man -- or woman, or anybody else -- having sex with you. I don't like anybody looking at you the wrong way, much less touching you."

"Then why did you bring up the subject?" the Doctor asked, taking a few steps back and crossing his arms over his chest. He was moving from fear to indignation now; the thought that Jack would consider letting anyone else be with him was insulting.

"I shouldn't have." Jack stepped back too, spreading his hands out in front of him in a gesture of surrender. "I'm sorry, Doc. I just wondered if you might ever idly think of what it would be like for the two of us to have a threesome with somebody we knew."

"I don't think of anything like that," the Doctor said, his tone sharp. "Ever. I'm happy with you, and I"m more than satisfied with our sex life. But it doesn't seem as though you are, if you think I would even for one second consider having sex with someone else."

"But I wasn't ...." Jack's voice trailed off, his hands dropping to his sides. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice sounding deflated, defeated. "I didn't mean it the way you think I did. I'm sorry I even brought it up. Can't we just forget about it?"

"No." The Doctor turned away from Jack, facing the console and looking down at it as though he was actually seeing what was in front of him. "I think you should go," he said, trying to keep his voice steady and firm. "This obviously isn't going to work out."

"What?" Jack's voice was barely audible; even so, the Doctor could hear the pain that the one syllable contained. "You can't mean that," the immortal whispered, his gaze fixed on the Doctor's back. "I swear, I didn't mean what you think I did."

"Didn't you?" The Doctor had to fight to keep his tone cold and controlled. "You wanted to know if I would be all right with you going back to your old ways and sleeping around. I'll take you back to Torchwood, or wherever you want to go. But I don't want you here."

"I'm not going." Jack moved forward, placing a hand on the Doctor's shoulder and turning the other man to face him. "That's not what I meant, Doctor. I'm not going to let some stupid misunderstanding take you away from me. I'm not leaving."

"You'll leave if I say you will." The Time Lord's gaze was steely as his eyes met Jack's; he was, by now, thoroughly angry. "You aren't going to dictate to me on the Tardis. You only belong here if I want you here. And I don't want you here. Not now."

"I'm not walking out of your life again," Jack whispered, pulling the Doctor close and burying his face against the Time Lord's soft hair. "I don't want anybody else. I just wondered if it was something you'd ever thought of. That's all. I swear, Doctor."

"How am I supposed to believe that?" The Doctor's voice was muffled, due to the fact that his face was pressed against Jack's shoulder. "You've left me before. And now you're making it obvious that you'll do it again when you start to get bored with me."

"No, I won't." Jack placed his hands on either side of the Doctor's face, lifting the other man's head and gazing into his eyes. 'I don't want anybody but you. I was stupid before. I know better now. Nobody else could be you. I've learned my lesson -- and I know who I belong with."

The Doctor stared into Jack's dark eyes, searching for any hint that the immortal wasn't being entirely truthful. He couldn't find one; all he saw in those eyes was the regret that Jack obviously felt for having phrased something in a way that he hadn't meant to.

"Are you sure that I'm enough for you?" he whispered. "Are you sure that you're not going to leave just like you did last time? Because the next time you do that, there's no coming back. I won't let you back into my life -- and my hearts -- again."

"I know that. And I don't blame you," Jack murmured, leaning forward to press his lips against the Time Lord's. "I don't want anybody else. I couldn't be happy with anybody but you, Doctor. I might fool myself into thinking that I was -- but I'd be lying. And deep down, I'd know it."

The Doctor nodded, still feeling doubt creeping around the corners of his mind, but doing his best to push it away and ignore it. He believed Jack's words; he had to. He couldn't let himself believe that his lover would walk away from him again.

If he believed that, then they were doomed before they'd even started. This was a fresh start for them. They were putting the past behind, learning from their mistakes. Though Jack had certainly made a large mistake in thinking that the Doctor would want a threesome.

"I don't want anyone else, either," he said, his voice slightly choked. He cleared his throat, hoping that his tone would be firmer when he spoke again. "I don't even want to think about another person touching me. Or touching you, for that matter."

"Nobody's ever going to touch me again other than you." Jack's tone was reassuring, the look in his eyes sincere. "And I'm not going to let anybody lay a finger on you. You belong to me, Doc. And vice versa. Even if I didn't realize it before -- we always have."

The Doctor didn't argue with the other man's words; he simply nodded, resting his head against Jack's shoulder again and sliding his arms around the immortal's waist. He hoped that Jack did indeed mean what he said -- and that his lover would live up to the promises he'd made.

Their relationship had only narrowly avoided having a complete meltdown, leaving nothing behind but bitter memories and scorched hearts. The Doctor couldn't help but feel relieved that it hadn't happened -- but it had been a close call.

Was Jack sincere in his words? He had to believe that his lover meant what he said, the Doctor thought as he relaxed into his Jack's embrace. If he didn't, then the doubts would start to sink in -- and he didn't know if he would be able to keep them at bay for long.

***

Next story in series - Love and Other Bruises.