m_findlow: (Jack sad)
m_findlow ([personal profile] m_findlow) wrote2024-12-22 07:42 pm

Challenge 844 - Christmas for one

Title: Christmas for one
Character: Jack, Owen
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 200 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 844 - Alone at [community profile] torchwood100
Summary: Jack prefers to spend Christmas alone. A double drabble.


‘Time to go home, Owen,’ Jack said, standing up and starting to clear away the mass of empty beer bottles. The others had given up drinking and gone home over an hour ago, but Owen had stayed for another round, whilst Jack nursed a scotch for the entire time.

‘Is it Christmas yet?’ Owen asked.

Jack checked his watch. 12.32am. ‘Yup. If you don't go now, Santa might skip your place and not leave you any presents.’

Owen scoffed, peeling the corner of the label from the bottle he was still holding. ‘Nah, lump of coal for me this year.’

‘Still, why take the risk? ‘Jack replied. ‘Go home. Enjoy tomorrow with family, even if you don't always see eye to eye.’

‘Yeah, alright,’ Owen said, pushing himself up. ‘I'm going.’

‘See you in a few days.’

Jack waited until Owen was out the door then heaved a sigh. Another ear, another Christmas. Unlike his team, he was always going to be alone. He might have accepted their offers to join them but it was only papering over the inevitable pain of losing them. It was better to let them live their lives and spend this Earth tradition alone.

 

badly_knitted: (Immortal)

[personal profile] badly_knitted 2024-12-22 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, Jack. Think of all the memories you're NOT making, memories of happier times you could look back on when they're gone. Isolating yourself only makes things worse.