Jack - Christmas

[logan_echolls]

(continued from here)

Sitting in the boarding area, Logan looked out one of the large windows, watching as planes took off and landed. In a way leaving London felt wrong- As though he was taking a time out from serving his sentence. Though working for Torchwood often felt the same way. He'd given up so much when he'd left America, convinced that it was for the greater good, and now- Now it seemed as though it had all been for nothing. Just one more fuck up in a long line of fuck ups.

He took solace in the idea that at least with Torchwood he stood more of a chance accomplishing what he'd come here to do, but that didn't really make it easier.

Glancing over at Jack, he hesitated slightly before speaking up. "What happens if there's no answers. No solutions?" he asked quietly.

Comments

[im_torchwood]

"That's true. I tried it once, settling down. Wife, kid, the whole thing," he replied. "But clearly that didn't work out."

[logan_echolls]

"I can picture you like that," Logan admitted. "You seem like a lifelong bachelor."

[im_torchwood]

"Let's just say I've been alone a lot longer than I've ever been with anyone," he shrugged. "Which is kinda tragic. I make a great boyfriend."

[logan_echolls]

"We should make you a dating profile," Logan chuckled. "Get you on Tinder or something."

[im_torchwood]

"Oh, yeah, sure," Jack scoffed. "I think I'll pass. When the right someone comes along, I'm sure it'll work out."

[logan_echolls]

"Yeah? I'm pretty okay with the whole dying alone thing these days," Logan snorted- Though there was a sadness there.

Shaking it off, he looked out over the water.

[im_torchwood]

"Yeah...I just don't think that's going to happen," Jack replied simply. Then he reached across so he could grab another beer.

[logan_echolls]

The movement drew his attention away from the waves, and Logan watched Jack curiously for a long moment.

"It's a bad idea, you know," he said quietly. "Mixing work and hook ups. I've done it, before me and Veronica got back together... It gets lonely on base, you know? And shit happens- And it always ends badly. Someone gets hurt, or someone freaks out, and then it's just awkward until one of you gets moved somewhere else..."

[im_torchwood]

Jack listened, even nodded, before taking a slow sip of beer.

"I'm not interested in a hook up, Logan," he replied simply.

[logan_echolls]

"You don't take someone on a tropical vacation just to talk," Logan snorted. "I'm not saying no, Jack. I'm just saying it's a bad idea."

He shrugged then, looking back out at the water.

"I should know. I'm the king of making bad decisions."

[im_torchwood]

Jack was quiet for a long moment. He toyed with the beer bottle a little, rolling an idea around his head.

Maybe it was a stupid idea. It certainly was risky.

"Gotta make a good decision at some point," he shrugged.

[logan_echolls]

Logan snorted at that, then got another beer for himself.

[im_torchwood]

"Maybe not today. Maybe not this year. But, you know, law of averages says you've got to get something right at some point," Jack reasoned.

[logan_echolls]

"Whatever you say, Captain," Logan laughed, cracking open his beer and saluting.

[im_torchwood]

It was a particular kind of hell to be in, listening to Logan say that and recalling hearing it before. Knowing. Remembering what he'd had. And doubly hellish was the fact Logan was spared.

"I could take a nap now," he chuckled, dodging away from their conversation entirely.

[logan_echolls]

"How many beds in the cabin?" Logan asked, glancing towards the door.

[im_torchwood]

"Just the one," Jack answered. He paused. "You can have it. I was going to stargaze for a while tonight."

[logan_echolls]

"We can share, it doesn't matter," Logan replied, looking at Jack for a long moment.

It was a tactical move, in a way. If something happened, it happened, and he could see how Jack's motives shifted after. Though just because he was ready to let this happen to learn more about Jack, there was still guilt there. After all, in his heart he was still married. Leaving hadn't meant he stopped loving Veronica. Hell, in his head he still wondered if there wasn't a future for them still. ...Maybe. If she could ever find it in her to forgive him.

Though he knew Veronica wasn't the forgiving sort.

[im_torchwood]

In truth, Jack wanted nothing more than to sleep beside Logan. The very thought of the younger man curled on him, head on his shoulder, arms around him possessively...

God, he missed that.

"Sure. Okay," Jack agreed before finishing his beer. "But it's a couple hours til dark so we can buzz around the shore some more. Maybe find a private beach."

[logan_echolls]

"Sure," Logan agreed. "Whatever you want, Jack. It's a vacation, we can do whatever."

[im_torchwood]

He nodded, got lost in thought for just a moment, then nodded again and got up. He tidied up some trash, then left Logan there while he went below deck into the storage area.

He came back with a stack of towels. Jack sat them near the edge of the boat.

"Let's get in the water. You know all that about waiting an hour before swimming is a lie. Let's get in the water while the sun's up."

[logan_echolls]

"Yeah, alright," Logan agreed, finishing his beer and then stripping down to his swim shorts.

He wasn't shy about getting into the water, enjoying the slight chill.

[im_torchwood]

Jack jumped right in after him. He'd always loved the ocean. No place he'd ever been had felt like home if there wasn't a sandy shore nearby.

When he had resurfaced and wiped water from his eyes, Jack grinned broadly and then very deliberately splashed Logan in the face.

[logan_echolls]

Logan laughed and splashed him back.

"Seriously?" he asked with a laugh. "Are we going to have a damn splash fight?"

[im_torchwood]

"Oh, yeah," Jack laughed and sent another splash over.