Title: Sunrise
By: _usakeh_
Fandom: House/Torchwood
Pairing: Chase/Dark!Jack
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: This was written for taffimai's birthday. Happy birthday, taffimai! I must also thank both millari and indy_skies for helping me with this.

Robert Chase stepped out of the cold and into the tent he and Doctor Cottle were using as a makeshift medical center. Chase unzipped his coat; then he scanned through the room. It was surprisingly empty. Two patients were sleeping on their cots, and Cottle was treating another; other than that, though, there was nobody there.

“Chase?” Chase turned around to face Cottle, who added, “I'm going to get some rest. Will you be okay on your own?”

“Absolutely,” Chase replied. “Things look pretty quiet.”

“Don't jinx it,” Cottle said, putting on his coat. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Have a good night,” Chase said.

“You too,” the older doctor said gruffly. Then he opened the tent's main flap and disappeared out into the snow. After Cottle's departure, Chase sat down on one of the two remaining cots. Just as he was about to lie down and try and get some sleep himself, the tent's main flap opened once more. Chase stood up immediately. To his surprise, the man who walked in wasn't even wearing a coat; he was merely outfitted in a button up blue shirt, suspenders and a vest. He had to be feverish, Chase thought; otherwise there was no way sweat would still be trickling down his forehead. The sweat and his new patient's ghostly pallor notwithstanding, however, Chase found the man's brilliant blue eyes extremely attractive. It took him a full few seconds to stop merely staring at the guy and actually say something.

“Hello,” he said at last. “I'm Doctor Chase.”

“Jack Harkness.” The man stretched out his hand; Chase clasped and shook it.

“Nice to meet you,” Chase said. “Now, what can I do for you?”

“Do people usually start off conversations by telling you that you’re gorgeous,” Jack said, completely ignoring Chase’s question. “If they don’t, they should.”

“Actually, I don’t get much of that. Patients are more focused on themselves,” Chase responded. “Pain makes people selfish.”

“What makes you think I’m a patient?” Jack asked. Chase almost laughed aloud. The man was obviously feverish, and he was holding on to the closest cot just to stay upright.

“The fact that you're here, for starters,” Chase responded. “You're also running a fever.”

“Impressive.” Jack took a shaky step forward. “What if I were to tell you that I'm not sick?”

“Then I'd tell you that you're a lousy liar,” Chase replied.

“What if I were to prove it to you?” Jack asked, taking another step forward and placing a hand on Chase's shoulder. Chase felt a rush flood through him at the other man's touch; there was no denying that Jack, even in this condition, was quite alluring.

“I really think you'd better sit down,” Chase instructed. “I'll take your temperature and then I'll see if we have anything I can give you for it. We've been running low on just about everything.”

“Running low?” Jack's voice lost its husky seductiveness; all of a sudden, his tone turned sharp. “On what?”

"On everything," Chase said with a sigh.

“What do you have left? Can you tell me exactly what you've got?”

“We…” Chase's voice trailed off; he was beginning to put the pieces together. “You're in withdrawal, aren't you?”

“Score another point for the pretty doctor,” Jack commented dryly.

“I can't give you anything. The few pills we have left should be given to sick people, not–”

“Not to junkies?” Jack interrupted.

“That's right.” Chase looked Jack right in the eye; to his surprise, the man didn't flinch or try and turn away. “I can try to treat you for the fever, but I can't give you a hit.”

“You doctors and your principles.” Jack's eyes narrowed; Chase couldn't tell whether he was actually angry or merely playing at it. He told himself that it shouldn't matter. Jack was a junkie, and everything he did was engineered to get one result only: drugs. “Why not break the rules for a change? Nobody would know the difference,” Jack added.

“I would.” Chase shook his head. “It's not going to happen. I made you my offer. You can come in and get treatment for your fever, or you can walk right back out again.”

“That really is too bad.” Jack sighed. “Goodbye it is, then.” Jack turned around, took a single step forwards, and then, just as Chase was about to sit back down again, slid down onto the floor.

“Jack!” Chase exclaimed, hurrying forwards and helping the other man sit up again. “What's going on?”

“What do you think is going on? I'm a junkie, remember? When I don't get the drugs I need, I get sick.” Jack coughed heavily. “And it looks like I'm not going to get them at all anymore, so I've got a hell of a lot of fun to look forward to.”

“I can't give you your drugs, but I can give you something for the worst of the symptoms,” Chase offered. “I can help you get through this.”

“Thanks,” Jack said, “but no thanks. I wouldn't want you to see me when I'm at my worst. Suffering just isn't sexy.” Jack paused. Then he added, “All you need to do is help me up, and then I'll stop being your problem.”

“You don't have to do this alone,” Chase pleaded as he helped Jack to his feet. “You can barely stand; I can't let you leave this way!”

“Yes, you can. And you will,” Jack said.

“If you need anything, just–”

“Anything except the one thing I want, you mean,” Jack interjected. “I've got it. Goodbye, gorgeous.”

Jack stumbled back out into the snow without saying another word.


Chase couldn’t stop thinking about him. He treated five more patients that night; for the rest of the time he merely sat on an empty cot, waiting for Cottle to return. Relatively speaking, it was a quiet night. Either fewer people were getting sick or the news that not much could be done for people who needed antibiotics was spreading. Chase walked back to the box in which they kept the few pills they had left and quickly counted them. He’d done the right thing, Chase reassured himself. He couldn’t possibly have given the man anything when people were still suffering from perfectly treatable diseases because they just didn’t have enough drugs to go around.

“Chase?” That was Cottle. Chase got to his feet. “How’d it go?”

“It was pretty quiet,” Chase replied. “I did have one interesting case. An addict in withdrawal came here, hoping he could score himself a quick fix.” As soon as he spoke, Chase regretted having done so. Jack’s story wasn’t something he had a right to casually pass around; regardless of the reason, Jack was in a tremendous amount of pain. “I didn’t give him what he wanted, so he refused further treatment and left,” he added softly.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” Chase said, relieved that Cottle’s imperfect hearing had saved him from having to explain the situation further. “Would you like me to stay longer, or am I free to go?” Chase asked.

“Go get some sleep,” Cottle commanded. “You haven’t been looking well lately.”

“I’m fine,” Chase replied. “I’ll see you later tonight.” Then, without as much as waiting for Cottle’s reply, he opened the tent flap and stepped out into the snow.


Chase scanned through his surroundings as he walked down the icy paths towards his tent. Jack probably hadn’t made it very far; for all he knew, he could have collapsed in the street. And to believe that somebody would stop and care for him would be naïve, if not outright delusional. In another time and another place, people would stop and care for somebody sick or wounded. In New Caprica, people couldn’t afford to do anything but look out for themselves. Have the Cylons brought us to this, Chase asked himself, or did we do this to ourselves? In the end, of course, it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. Not even whether–

And that’s when he saw him. Just as he was about to be encircled by the familiar thoughts – nothing matters, nothing’s worth it, there’s no point to even trying – he saw a figure sprawled out in front of a burned out building. The Cylons had tried to build something there, most likely; in retaliation, the Resistance had bombed it. But that was irrelevant. What mattered was that he’d found Jack, and that the man was in very bad shape indeed.

“Jack!” Chase said, bending down and feeling for a pulse. “You still with us?” The pulse was there. He was still alive. He probably felt like hell, but he was alive.

“Yeah,” Jack croaked out. After coughing, he added, “What are you doing here, gorgeous? Shouldn’t you be saving lives or something?”

“I’m done for the day.” Chase helped Jack sit up. “You, my friend,” he continued, “are coming with me.”

“Where?”

“To my tent. I’m not going to give you any drugs, but I can keep you warm and help you deal with the withdrawal symptoms.”

“Why?” Jack’s eyes were shining with fever, but the searching gaze he cast Chase’s way showed that he was still surprisingly lucid.

“Why what?” Chase queried.

“Why are you helping me?”

“You get your kicks from drugs. I get them from making sure people don’t die lying on the side of the street. It makes me hate myself a little less.” Chase was surprised by his own words. He wasn’t usually so blunt with patients. Then again, Jack was no ordinary patient.


“Take off your wet clothes and get in bed,” Chase ordered, pointing at the lump of blankets that served as his bed. He felt like getting right in and joining him; dragging Jack back to his tent had been an exhausting ordeal. Despite Jack’s emaciated state, the other man was still taller and heavier than he was. “Actually,” Chase added upon seeing how much Jack’s hands were shaking, “let me do it.”

“You know, most people have to pay for the privilege of getting me undressed,” Jack said hoarsely.

“I consider myself quite lucky, then, that I’ve gotten such a good deal,” Chase replied as he took off Jack’s coat and vest, pulled off his suspenders and began unbuttoning his shirt. When he got to Jack’s pants he instructed the other man to lie down; Jack did so without complaint.

“You’re good at this,” Jack commented as Chase continued stripping him down. “You’re very efficient. Of course, I’d have preferred it if you’d gotten a little more distracted.”

“Doctors can’t go around letting themselves get aroused by their patients,” Chase explained. “You have to cultivate a certain detachment when you’re treating somebody. Once they’re healthy, then you can allow yourself to get ‘distracted,’ as you put it.”

“I see. So the pretty doctor does like pretty boys after all, doesn’t he?” Jack said, managing to smile despite the shivers coursing through him.

“Maybe.” Chase covered Jack up with all of his blankets. “You’ll just have to get healthy so that you can find out for sure.”

“Playing hard to get with me, darling?”

“Yes, that’s precisely it.” Chase wiped the sweat from Jack’s forehead. The man was burning up. And there was absolutely nothing he could do about it but wait for his body to get adjusted to not having drugs in its system. “You’ve got me there.”

“Of course I’ve got you.” Jack stretched out a shaking hand. “You want me; why else would you have brought me here?”

“Because I don’t like to see people suffer?” Chase said. In Jack’s view, apparently, people only did nice things for each other when they wanted to frak them. And he’d thought that his view of the world was dark. Chase glanced over at Jack, awaiting his reaction. But the other man was already asleep.


Chase had seen a lot of people in pain over the years. He’d treated patients with the worst diseases; he’d dealt with cases of terminal cancer. But he’d never been completely unable to help somebody in excruciating pain. Right in front of him – in his very own bed – Jack was shaking and whimpering. Every so often his eyes would open and he’d lean over and retch into a bucket with which Chase had provided him. But Chase knew well enough that this didn’t provide any relief from the constant nausea and stomach pain that accompanied withdrawal. Nothing could. Chase felt so awful watching it that he seriously contemplated going to steal some drugs from their remaining stash, but he knew that this would only postpone the inevitable. Besides, he couldn’t deny somebody the drugs they needed to stay alive simply because he couldn’t bear to watch Jack suffer.

“Chase?” Jack’s eyes were open again, and he wasn’t reaching for the bucket.

“Yes?” Chase sat down by the side of the bed and peered down at him. “How are you doing?”

“How much longer?” Jack croaked.

“How much longer?” Chase echoed.

“How much longer will it be like this?” Jack clarified.

“I…” Chase reached for Jack’s hand and clasped it in his. “It depends. I don’t know exactly what you were on and exactly how much you were taking. It could be hours or it could be days. But it will get better.” Chase paused. “I could try and get you some drugs for the fever and the pain.”

“No,” Jack gasped. “Don’t leave.”

“I’d only be a few minutes,” Chase said.

“No,” Jack repeated. “Stay. Stay here.”

“How about some sedatives? Something to help you sleep? I have those right here; I wouldn’t have to leave to get them.” Chase slowly removed his hand from Jack’s and went to the other side of the tent, where he’d stored the bottle of pills. “See?” Chase hurried back and showed Jack the bottle. “They’re right here. Will you take one?”

“Why?” Jack asked before letting out a whimper. If Jack was addicted to what Chase thought he was – some sort of opiate – then every inch of his body was hurting right now. “Why do you have them?” Jack finally managed to say.

“Cottle gave them to me. I was having trouble sleeping.” He was still having trouble sleeping, but Jack didn’t need to know that. “Please, Jack,” Chase urged. “Take some so you can get some sleep.”

“Okay,” Jack acquiesced. Relieved, Chase poured out three pills – the highest dose he could safely give him – and placed them in the palm of his hand. “Do you need water?” Instead of answering, Jack merely took the pills and swallowed them down. “I guess that was a no,” Chase said.

Within ten minutes Jack was asleep.


Jack looked almost peaceful when he was asleep. Every so often he’d half-wake and whimper, but for the most part he was still. Chase sat down beside his patient and let out a heavy sigh. He considered taking some sedatives and joining Jack, but decided against it; if Jack woke, after all, he wanted to be able to help him. If he took the sedatives, he’d be out cold. Chase shook his head slowly. Jack had come to the tent hoping to scam him out of medical supplies other people sorely needed. Yet now here he was caring for the man. He didn’t even have any idea what Jack was really like; only once he got past withdrawal could that become evident. And he had no idea how long that would take.

Chase closed his eyes. Maybe he’d be able to fall asleep without sedatives. Without them, he’d be easy enough to wake. Slowly, Chase lay down beside Jack, careful not to disturb the other man. Still, Jack stirred.

“Aren’t you cold?” Jack asked huskily.

“Cold?” Chase repeated.

“No blankets.” Hands shaking, Jack peeled back the blankets Chase had piled on top of him. “Come underneath,” Jack instructed.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” Jack reached an arm around Chase and pulled him beneath the blankets; then he let the blankets fall down on them both. “You feel cold.”

“You’re running a high fever.” Jack was burning hot. “Of course I feel cold by comparison.”

“Have I told you…” Jack’s voice trailed off; the man could barely complete a sentence without stopping to whimper. “Have I told you that you’re pretty?” Jack finally managed to say. Chase blushed but didn’t respond. “Well,” Jack continued, “you are.”

“Thanks,” Chase said. But when he turned back to Jack, he saw that the other man had already gone back to sleep.


“If it isn’t the pretty doctor,” a voice said, waking Chase. “What the hell are you doing in bed with me? I don’t remember you paying for the privilege.”

“What?” Chase muttered, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Jack seemed substantially better. His eyes still glimmered with fever, but sweat no longer coated his forehead and the whimpering had stopped. He guessed that the worst of it was over. But he had no idea what Jack was talking about. Paying for the privilege? “What are you talking about, Jack?”

“Where am I?” Jack asked.

“You’re in my tent,” Chase responded. “I brought you here yesterday after I saw you slumped on the ground. You were really sick.” Chase got out of bed. “You seem better today.”

“Is that your professional opinion?” Jack mocked.

“As a matter of fact, it is.” Chase looked Jack in the eye. “I don’t understand you. Are you angry at me?”

“Should I be?” Jack queried. “I don’t remember what happened last night; you, on the other hand, should know exactly what took place. So why don’t you tell me: should I be angry with you?

“Angry? I took care of you!” Chase exclaimed. He didn’t deserve to be treated this way.

“What do you expect? Flowers and a thank you note?” Jack asked in a scathing tone. “I didn’t ask to be helped. You chose to do what you did. I don’t owe you anything.”

“I…” Chase was so dismayed he could barely speak properly. “I’m not asking for anything elaborate here. A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed. Failing that, you could at least refrain from being hostile to me. Is that too much to ask for?” Jack didn’t respond. “I guess it is,” Chase concluded.

“So, what are you going to do now? Kick me out of your tent?” Jack stood up shakily. He obviously still wasn’t well; perhaps that could account for his behavior, Chase thought. Withdrawal had psychological effects too.

“I’m going to go to work,” Chase said. “You can do whatever you want.”

“Come on now,” Jack taunted, “you’re going to leave a junkie in your place? Are you really that dense? I could steal your stuff.”

“You won’t.” Chase folded his arms across his chest. ”It isn’t as if you can go sell them and trade them for drugs anymore. Besides, you’re already through the worst of the physical withdrawal. It would be stupid to go back on the drugs now, even if you could get hold of them.”

“What if I enjoy being a junkie? Who says I want to change? And who said that you had to help me do it last night? It was none of your business; you should have stayed out of it.”

“Nobody enjoys being a junkie,” Chase said softly.

“Yeah? And you would know this how, exactly? Has the pretty young doctor had his own drug experiences?” Jack said, sneering.

“I’m not going to listen to this anymore,” Chase said. “I’m leaving. I hope that you’re still in withdrawal, because I wouldn’t want to think that you’re this much of a bastard all on your own,” Chase snapped. Then, before Jack could answer with another retort, he left the tent.


Chase sat down on the edge of one of the empty cots and buried his face in his hands. What in the world had possessed him to pick Jack off the street in the first place? Why hadn’t he realized how Jack had gotten there? People end up lying half-dead in ditches when they’re worthless, Chase told himself. You just let yourself get duped. You thought that if you could just cure him of his horrible affliction he’d turn out to be a great guy. Wrong: once he’d cured him, Jack had revealed his true nature. Chase sighed heavily. Good thing he had nothing of value left in his tent; otherwise Jack would definitely be leaving it with some of his possessions.

“Doctor Chase?” Chase jumped up at once. A woman with long, wavy blonde hair tumbling down her back stepped in with a small child. “I think she’s sick with something,” the woman said, pointing down at the child.

“Can you lift her up onto the cot?” Chase asked. The woman was handling the child so awkwardly that Chase could only conclude that it wasn’t her own. Finally, he bent down and lifted the girl up himself. “What have her symptoms been thus far?”

“She’s been coughing and throwing up for the past few hours.”

“Okay.” Chase glanced at the young girl. “What’s her name?”

“No idea,” the woman responded. “I was walking to my tent when I saw a woman being dragged out of her tent by a Centurion. The little girl was running behind her. I promised that I’d take care of the girl until they let her out again.”

“What’s your name?” Chase asked, bending down to look the girl in the eye.

“Cameron,” she said softly after a moment’s hesitation. “What’s yours?”

“I had a friend named Cameron, you know. The two of us used to work together.” Chase could see himself walking down the hospital corridor with her by his side, her long brown hair pulled up into a tight bun and her eyes sparkling. She was clever and caring, competitive and compassionate. And she’d died in a burst of fire as the Cylon bombs burst over Caprica City. With difficultly, Chase brought himself back to the task at hand. “Anyway, I’m Doctor Chase. And your new friend here is–”

“Kara. Kara Thrace.” Kara said. “You’re good. I couldn’t get her to talk at all. I’m no good with kids.”

“But from what I hear, you’re a hell of a Viper pilot.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Kara said, a cocky grin spreading across her face. After a pause, she added, “So, what’s wrong with her?”

“Let’s see,” Chase said, taking out his stethoscope and listening to Cameron’s lungs. After checking her over for a few more minutes, he looked up at Kara. “She’ll be okay. She’s just caught a nasty cold. But be sure she keeps warm and hydrated; we can’t afford to have it turn into another case of bronchitis. Does that sound manageable?”

“Yeah. I can handle that.”

“If you have any other problems, just come right on back.”

“Got it. Thanks, Doctor Chase,” Kara said. Then, taking Cameron by the hand, she made for the exit. But just as they were about to leave, somebody else pushed his way in, almost knocking Cameron to the floor in the process. “Watch it,” Kara growled.

“Sorry about that, babe.” Chase recognized the voice instantly. And, sure enough, seconds later, Jack strode into the tent.


“What the frak are you doing here?” Chase exclaimed. He could hardly contain his anger. Withdrawal or no withdrawal, Jack had treated him horribly. He’d helped him; in response, Jack had tried to humiliate him.

“I’ve come to see the dashing Doctor Chase,” Jack said smoothly. He was acting as if nothing had happened in the morning. It crossed Chase’s mind that Jack might not be remembering things clearly. But surely he’d have at least remembered that his hostility had driven Chase out of his own tent. Then Jack added, “It’s fair to say that the man saved my life. I’d like to thank him for that.”

“Jack, I’m Doctor Chase. You do know that, right?”

“Of course I do,” Jack said. “I was just joking around with you.”

“What about the things you said this morning? Were you joking around with me then too?” Chase asked, eyes narrowing.

“No.” Jack’s eyes lost their mischievous glimmer. “And I’m sorry, Chase. I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to never speak to me again. But I don’t think you will.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I’m here to apologize.” Jack folded his arms across his chest and looked Chase right in the eye. “And because I happen to be incredibly hot.”

“You’re not lacking in confidence either, evidently.” Chase took a deep breath. The man was right; he did want to speak to him again. He even wanted to help him again. Could Jack merely be attempting to take advantage of him, as he had when he first came to the medical tent? Quite possibly. But Chase still couldn't help but ask, “How are you feeling?”

“Better.” Jack held out his hands; they were shaking. “I’m still shaking like this, but I think that the fever’s better. And my mood’s improved.”

“Unfortunately, that may be temporary. Withdrawal’s psychological effects are more long-term than the physical ones.”

“My moods are going to be all over the place, aren’t they?” Jack asked.

“Most likely, yes.”

“For how long?”

“It could be few days. It could be weeks. It’s not an exact science, and since I don’t know what you were using it’s less exact still.” Chase brushed a stray strand of hair out of his eyes. “One thing’s for sure, though: if you intend on sticking around, you are not going to take it out on me ever again.”

“Sticking around?” Jack repeated. “You asking me out on a date, gorgeous?”

“I was actually–” Chase stopped himself. He was going to offer Jack a place to stay, but maybe Jack already had one. Either way, to ask that would be to move way too fast. He hardly knew the guy! Finally, Chase collected his thoughts enough to simply say, “Yes.”


The café was crowded that night. People were lively, too; there hadn’t been a bombing in a while, so security had relaxed slightly. The Centurions weren’t scrutinizing people quite as closely and, on New Caprica, that was as close as you could get to freedom. Chase ran a hand through his hair and brushed the dust off of his shirt. New Caprica was a dry planet; when the snow melted away dust rose up in spirals, spreading itself onto citizens as they walked through the city’s streets. Chase glanced around the café, searching for Jack. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Chase gasped in surprise.

“Jumpy, are we?” Jack asked, stepping up to stand beside him.

“You shouldn’t creep up on people like that!” Chase exclaimed.

“You’re no fun,” Jack responded. Then he gestured to an empty table. “Shall we sit down?”

“Sure,” Chase said. Once they were seated, Chase studied Jack before asking, “How are you feeling?”

“I feel like a truck just ran me over,” Jack replied. “But other than that I’m fine.”

“It’ll get better,” Chase reassured him. “Do you think you’re up for actually eating something? If you don’t feel too sick, you should try. You’re too thin; you need to eat more.”

“Are those your orders, Doctor Chase?” A smile spread across Jack’s face.

“Yes they are.” Chase smiled back. “You’d better decide what you want to order.” Chase placed his hand on the table; Jack reached out and covered it with his own. Chase felt a stream of electricity flow through him; just one touch from Jack was enough to arouse him. Just as Chase was beginning to picture what it would feel like to lean over and kiss Jack, though, a young man strode over to the side of their table. He didn’t wear a uniform – they hadn’t the extra resources for them – but he was definitely a waiter. Chase placed his order; Jack followed suit. Then the waiter hurried away.

“Pretty,” Jack commented. “But you’re prettier,” he added.

“That’s a very kind assessment,” Chase replied, blushing.

“Kind?” Jack laughed. “You are far, far too modest, my friend. I say, ‘When you’ve got it, flaunt it.’ And you, darling, have definitely got it.”

“Well, thanks,” Chase said. “So do you.”

“True.” Jack’s grin broadened. “But I know it, and I do flaunt it.” Jack’s smile faded; when he continued, he sounded almost weary. “You kind of have to, in my particular profession.”

“I don’t mind what you do, you know,” Chase said. He didn’t mind knowing what Jack did, but he didn’t understand why Jack had to bring it up so many times. It was almost as if Jack were warning him, pushing him away. Finally, Chase added, “I don’t judge it.”

“That’s very magnanimous of you,” Jack said sarcastically. The hostility that had been present in his voice when he awoke in Chase’s tent was resurfacing. What had he done wrong? Or was Jack merely getting moody again from the withdrawal? “Does that make you feel all good about yourself?”

“It does nothing of the sort! I was just trying to explain that if telling me what you do over and over is an attempt to push me away, it’s not going to work. You’d better try a different method. Being really rude, for instance. That could definitely work.”

“I…” The hostility disappeared again; Jack rubbed his eyes wearily. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.” Jack shook his head slowly. “I’m kind of a mess right now,” he admitted.

“It’s okay,” Chase replied. “I understand.” In truth, he didn’t know that he did. But he was willing to try, at least for one night.


When they finished their meal, Chase looked out at the street and wondered where they could go next. Then he saw that the sun was beginning to set. He always loved to walk out to the tundra and watch the sky turn from pink to purple to a gorgeous, incandescent dark blue.

“Jack,” Chase began, “would you like to take a walk with me?”

“Absolutely.” Jack got to his feet; Chase followed suit. “You can take me anywhere you want, you know. I’m all yours, Doctor Chase.”

“Then let’s go to the edge of the city,” Chase said. “I want to show you the way the sunset looks over the ice. It’s the most beautiful thing you can find on this godsforsaken planet.” Chase glanced over at Jack. “Interested?”

“Why not?”

“All right then,” Chase said. “We should hurry, though; if we don’t we’ll miss the best part of the sunset.” Chase glanced at Jack; then he tentatively reached out for Jack’s hand. Jack responded immediately; his grasp, given the shape he was in, was firmer than Chase expected it would be. Chase’s mouth curved up into a slight smile.

“Careful now,” Jack warned, pointing out a patch of ice covering part of the path.

“Careful? I didn’t think that word was in your vocabulary,” Chase teased. Once they passed the ice, Chase glanced up again, only to see that two Centurions were marching towards them. “Okay,” Chase added, pointing at them, “now it’s my turn to say that we should be careful.”

“Yes sir,” Jack responded, stepping to the side along with Chase. But once the Centurions marched away, Jack didn’t start walking again. Instead, he gently pressed Chase up against the edges of the tent against which they’d been leaning and drew him into a slow kiss. When he pulled away, Jack whispered, “I love the way you taste.” Chase was about to reply, but Jack brought him in for another kiss. This time, Chase’s tongue found its way into Jack’s mouth. Chase felt desire course though him. He was tempted to try and frak the other man right then and there, but he restrained himself. He didn’t want to miss the sunset, and he didn’t want Jack to think that he was only interested in having sex with him. Jack had enough people who wanted that from him; Chase had to be sure that Jack didn’t think he was among them.

“Shall we continue our walk?” Chase finally said.

“Absolutely,” Jack replied, “provided that you don’t have something rather different in mind.”

“That doesn’t mean that we have to miss out on the sunset, does it now?”

“You’re quite the romantic, aren’t you?” Jack said.

“If being a romantic entails not immediately frakking you, I guess I am.” Chase squeezed Jack’s hand as they began to walk once more.

“You are, babe. Believe me, you are.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well then,” Chase said, smiling, “thanks.” As they continued their walk, Chase realized that he hadn’t felt this good – hadn’t felt anything but an endless emptiness welling up within him – in months.

They made it to the tundra just in time to watch the sun slip away, leaving streaks of violet and dark blue in its wake.


“So what now?” Jack asked as they began walking back towards the city again, arm in arm.

“What do you mean?” Chase inquired. “Do you have something specific in mind?”

“Usually,” Jack began, “this is where I ask the other person where they want to go to frak. But you’re not a client – unless you intend on paying me for my services, of course – so I’m not sure what the protocol is.” Jack paused. “I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t want to move too fast.”

“Who said it would be moving too fast?” Chase smiled. “I’m not a kid, you know.”

“You look awfully young sometimes,” Jack said wistfully.

“I’m not young,” Chase said. “Maybe I was before the attacks. I worked hard; every once in a while, I went out and spent the whole night in Caprica City. And now it’s gone. All of it is gone. Every single building on Caprica City has been razed to the ground; all the people with whom I used to work – all the people I knew – are dead.” Chase stared out into the distance. “I might have been young before the attacks. But I’m not anymore.” Chase paused. “Are any of us, here on New Caprica?”

“I don’t know.” Jack shrugged. “I’m just trying to survive. That’s what I’ve been doing for a very long time now; I don’t remember a time when things were any different.”

“It’s not too late for that to happen,” Chase said, glancing at Jack. “It’s never too late.” Chase then gestured towards the two Centurions standing guard at the next corner. “Even they can’t take everything away from us. Of that you have made me entirely certain.”

“Have I now?” Jack asked, stopping in his tracks and pulling Chase in towards him. “Prove it.”

“I’d be glad to,” Chase whispered, wrapping his arms around Jack and bringing him into a kiss. But just as he surrounded himself with the other man’s taste and smell, Chase realized that Jack was still shaking. After the kiss, he lowered his arms and gently asked, “Are you all right?”

“I’d be better if you hadn’t stopped kissing me,” Jack replied. He looked Chase in the eye. “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” he added. “I don’t mind you looking like you want to frak me right here and now – actually, I’d rather like that – but don’t you dare look at me with pity in your eyes.”

“I’m not.” Chase stepped back. “I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“Believe me, babe, I’m fine.” Jack began walking again; Chase followed him. “I’ve been through a hell of a lot worse.” Jack paused; then, his tone turning wistful once more, he added, “You don’t know the half of it.”

“Maybe you can tell me about it,” Chase said tentatively. “What colony are you from?”

“It’s a long story,” Jack replied, “and I don’t particularly feel like explaining it right now.”

“When you’re in the mood to tell me more about it, let me know.” Chase extended his hand so that Jack could take it. “I’ll be here.”

“Will you now?” Jack asked flirtatiously, taking Chase’s hand in his.

“Yes,” Chase said. “Absolutely.”


They never made it back to Chase’s tent. As they were nearing it, Cally Tyrol came running up to them and grabbed Chase’s free hand.

“Doctor Chase,” Cally said, voice imbued with an urgency that filled Chase with dread, “you’ve got to help us. There’s been an explosion.”

“How many?” Chase asked, weary already.

“Only one,” Cally responded.

“No, how many–”

“Oh. None,” Cally interrupted. “Not yet. But we’ve got some people who are pretty badly hurt. You need to come right away.”

“Can they be moved?” Chase asked.

“I don’t think so,” Cally replied. “And we’d rather this be kept secret.”

“All right.” Chase took a deep breath. “I have to get some supplies first; where should I meet you?”

“Here,” Cally said. “I’ll take you from here. Just hurry,” she urged.

“Understood.” Chase glanced at Jack. “I guess we’ll have to make plans for another time; it looks like I’ve got some business to which to attend.”

“I’ll walk you to the medical tent,” Jack said.

“You will?” The tension in Chase’s features receded a bit. “Thanks. But from what Cally said, we’d better run,” he added before breaking into a jog. To his surprise, Jack was able to keep up despite his condition. By the time Chase got to the medical tent, he was breaking into a slight sweat despite the bitter cold. Hurriedly, he grabbed a bag and opened the cabinet in which they kept their increasingly limited number of medical supplies.

“Explosion?” Cottle queried.

“Yes,” Chase replied, pulling out one item after the next. He arranged them neatly on the nearest cot before beginning to place them in the bag. He had to make sure that he took just enough supplies, but not a single strip of gauze more. They couldn’t afford to waste anything these days. “All right,” Chase said to himself as he counted out the supplies. “This should be everything.” Then he looked up, searching for Jack. But Jack was gone. And so were the pills Chase had ever so carefully placed on the cot.


Chase clenched his free hand into a fist as he ran towards the place where he’d agreed to meet Cally. Jack had probably been lying to him the whole time, all in the hopes that he’d get careless and let him get hold on some drugs. And he had been careless. He had been careless, and now innocent people were going to suffer because of his stupidity. Chase dug his fingernails into the palm of his hand. How could he have fallen for a trick like that? How could he have believed, even for a moment, that Jack wanted something from him other than the drugs to which he was addicted?

“Doctor Chase!” Cally was calling out his name. Chase hurried up to meet her, breathless from his run from the medical tent. “This way,” she added, turning left.

“So what happened?” Chase asked as he fell into step beside Cally. “Or is that something you’d rather I not know?” He hadn’t wanted the comment to sound mean; the bitterness he felt, however, had crept into his tone.

“You can know,” Cally replied. “It’s not as if you wouldn’t figure it out anyway.” She sighed; then, after glancing around to ensure that they wouldn’t be overheard, she continued. “They were putting together a bomb. Something went wrong, and the frakking thing blew up too soon.”

“I see.”

“Here we are,” Cally said, pointing towards a large tent. She ushered Chase inside; then she took him from the main part of the tent to a small area tucked away in the back. Three men were sprawled out on the floor; blood was flowing out of the first man’s injury, and the other two had burns along their arms. Chase started with the most severe case, quickly cleaning the wound and wrapping it up to stop the bleeding. “Thank you so much,” Cally told him as he worked.

“No problem,” Chase said as he tended to the two burn victims. They moaned slightly at Chase’s ministrations. What they needed was painkillers. But Chase didn’t have any to give them. Not anymore.


When Chase left the tent an hour later, his free hand was once more clenched into a tight fist. He still couldn’t forgive himself for having been so foolish. He should have remembered why Jack came to their makeshift clinic in the first place. He should have remembered that, and he should have known not to leave those pills in front of Jack even for a second. As Chase walked, his mind began to wander. He should have known. He really should have known. When he’d worked in a hospital in Caprica City, the doctor who ran his department had been an addict, and he had been ready to do anything to get his daily dose. Chase shuddered. That hospital was gone. It had been razed to the ground by the bombs the Cylons dropped over his city. And every person he’d ever helped cure was dead.

Chase scanned his surroundings as he approached the medical tent. When things got really bad sometimes a line formed outside the tent. Diseases spread faster on New Caprica than he’d believed diseases could spread. If one person became ill, chances were ten more would catch it within the next few days. But the tent was deserted. At least, that’s what Chase believed until he saw a figure slumped over by the side of it, hand lying limply on the muddy ground. Immediately, Chase rushed over towards the man; once he got close enough to identify him, however, he froze.


“Jack.” Chase’s eyes narrowed. “Get up,” he ordered. When Jack didn’t respond, Chase poked him with the tip of his right shoe. When that too failed to produce a response, Chase squatted down by Jack’s side. Could he have overdosed? Drug addicts often did when going back on their drugs of choice after having been off of them. But fury replaced fear once Jack stirred. Chase took a step back and watched as he slowly sat up.

“What’s going on, gorgeous?” Jack finally said. His speech was slightly slurred, and his eyes were shining. There was no doubt in Chase’s mind that he’d already taken most of the pills he’d stolen.

“You don’t even have the decency to be ashamed of yourself, do you?” Chase snapped.

“You’ve got that right.” Jack smiled blissfully. Chase wondered exactly how many pills he’d taken. Then, before he quite knew what he was doing, Chase offered Jack his hand. But once Jack took it and got to his feet, Chase used his free hand to punch him right in the stomach. Jack gasped aloud and stumbled back.

“I bet you didn’t see that one coming, did you?” Chase said as Jack collapsed onto the ground.

“No,” Jack managed to say, “Can’t say I did.”

“Good. Now you know what it feels like to have somebody unexpectedly betray you.” Chase took a deep breath. It wouldn't do for him to kick Jack again; the last thing he wanted was to have to take Jack into the medical tent for a broken rib. So instead he merely said. “I trusted you, Jack.”
“
You should never trust an junkie,” Jack said flatly.

“I thought you were more than just a junkie,” Chase said slowly. “I guess I was wrong.”

When Jack didn’t reply, Chase slipped into the medical tent without saying another word.


After the last patient left, Chase sat down on an empty cot and buried his face in his hands. So long as there were patients he’d been able to keep his mind off of all of it; now that they were gone, however, it all came flooding back. While they were on their date, he’d thought that maybe – just maybe – he meant something to Jack. He’d thought that Jack had cared about him. But Jack had been playing him all along.

“Chase?” Cottle’s rough, raspy voice made Chase lift his face from his hands and look up again. “You want to talk about it?”

“About what?” Chase asked.

“About what happened out there,” Cottle said.

“You heard me?” Chase asked, eyes widening.

“I hate to break it to you, Chase, but this tent isn’t exactly soundproof. Of course I heard you. But we don’t have to discuss it. So long as it doesn’t affect your work here, I don’t care what you do.”

“That’s just the problem. It was personal, but then I made a mistake. A big mistake. And that mistake did affect my work here.” Chase stopped short and forced himself to take a deep breath. He didn’t know exactly why he was panicking; it wasn’t, after all, as if Cottle was going to fire him for having frakked up. He probably wouldn’t even be very angry about it. If there was anything he’d come to know about Cottle, it was that the man was blessed with an extraordinary amount of equanimity.

“For frak’s sake, kid,” Cottle said, “relax.” Cottle stepped over to Chase and placed a hand on his shoulder. “What happened?”

“We don’t have any more painkillers,” Chase responded flatly. “And it’s my fault.”

“Your fault?” Cottle queried. “What’d you do? If you’d taken them all yourself, you sure as hell wouldn’t be so frakking miserable.”

“I’m not miserable,” Chase said. “But I am mad at myself. I left the painkillers on a cot while I was getting ready to go tend to some patients, and while I wasn’t looking somebody took them. All of them.” Chase took another deep breath. “That’s the guy with whom I was fighting out there. I stupidly trusted him, and he took advantage of that.”

“So you were stupid and let some guy you had the hots for cheat you out of a handful of pills,” Cottle said. “That’s hardly the end of the world. We were going to run out soon anyway.”

“That doesn’t mean that–”

“If I’d known it would make the pretty doctor that upset, I wouldn’t have done it,” Jack interrupted as he stepped into the tent. His eyes were still glittering, but he seemed substantially more lucid than when Chase had first found him. “I didn’t think he’d notice,” Jack continued, still focusing his gaze on Cottle. “Apparently, I was wrong.”

“You didn’t think I’d notice?” Chase said incredulously. “I guess you hoped that you’d be able to continue your relationship with me and get a chance to do it again, didn’t you?” Chase got to his feet; before he could get any closer to Jack, however, Cottle strode over to a spot in between the two of them.

“All right, lovebirds. Take it outside. I’ve seen too many patients today to be in the mood to play referee.”

“I’m not going to hurt him,” Chase said hastily. “I just want him to get the frak out of here.”

“I will.” Jack stepped forward. “I just thought you might appreciate it if I returned some of these first,” he added, opening up his hand to reveal five white pills. When neither of the two doctors said anything, Jack looked at Chase and added, “Surprised?”

“I hope you don't expect me to thank you," Cottle said, taking the pills out of Jack's hand. “Now get out of here before Chase starts falling for you again.”

“Right,” Jack responded. “I’ll be seeing you, Chase,” he added.

“Not if I have anything to say about it he won’t,” Cottle sniped. “But if you prove that you two can get together without the evening ending in our medical supplies being depleted, though, I might reconsider that.”

“Yes, sir,” Jack said, raising a hand to his forehead in a salute. Then, after giving Chase one more glance, he left the tent.


When Chase left the medical tent hours later, he glanced around the outside of the tent. He wasn’t looking for Jack, not really; even if the man had partially redeemed himself by returning some of the pills he wanted nothing to do with him. And yet when the search yielded nothing Chase had to admit that he felt disappointed. He concluded that it was because he knew that Jack would help him take his mind off of the questions that were plaguing him. He didn’t want to think about how hopeless their situation was any longer; he couldn’t stand to think about the ultimate pointlessness of life for one more second. It was too much. Maybe that’s why Jack took drugs; maybe he needed to use them to escape. From what in particular he was running, though, Chase had no idea.

When Chase reached his tent he crawled inside and immediately sat down on the floor and shut his eyes. He had no doubt now: he wanted Jack to show up despite it all. He wanted anything but to be here, alone, with old Caprican melodies echoing through his mind. It occurred to him that he could always go back to their makeshift clinic; there he was far less likely to be assaulted by thoughts and memories he’d do just about anything to avoid. Chase slowly lay down. It was gone. Everything he knew – everything he’d known – was gone. He’d had months to get used to the idea, but he still couldn’t block out the images of the bombs bursting out over the city. They’d died. They’d all died. Everybody he knew had died, and if he hadn’t been on a ship going to a medical conference, he would have died too. Perhaps it would have been better that way. Chase shuddered. But just as he was about to feel entirely overwhelmed – submerged beneath his thoughts like a drowning man underneath a raging current – a familiar voice called out his name.

“Come in,” Chase responded.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Jack said upon entering. “What are you doing lying on the floor?”

“It’s more comfortable than it looks,” Chase replied, sitting up. “Now, don’t think that I’m not still mad about what you did. I might not be about to punch you again, but I’m not over it.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Jack paused; then, slowly, he added, “What I did was awful.”

“I’m glad you’re aware of that,” Chase responded. “You used me.”

“No.” Jack looked Chase in the eye. “Everything that happened between us was real. I wasn’t doing it as part of a plan to steal your drugs. It was just that they were right there. I did it on impulse. I’m an addict. I’m hard-wired that way, babe. You have to understand that. You can’t trust me when it comes to drugs.”

“That’s not news to me,” Chase said.

“Good.” Jack looked Chase in the eye. “So long as you understand that, I can do this.”

“Do what?” Chase asked, confused.

“This,” Jack said before leaning forward and drawing Chase into a tender kiss. Instinctively, Chase’s tongue probed its way into Jack’s mouth. Jack reached out and pulled Chase in even more tightly.

They stayed together until the sun rose up over the icy plains of New Caprica.