Double Drabble: Precious

[bk_forever]

Title: Precious
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Jack, OMC.
Rating: G
Written For: Challenge 598: Value at tw100.
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: A thing’s value is more than just how much money it cost.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.




“There’s so much junk in here,” the new recruit said, looking around Jack’s office. “How can you stand working among so much useless clutter? It must be a nightmare to clean, and it’s so old.” He gestured at an antique stethoscope, some kind of clunky computer keyboard, one corner badly cracked and several of the keys missing.


Captain Harkness stared at him, expressionless.


“There’s no junk in here. All these things you dismiss so casually are worth more to me than you could earn in a thousand lifetimes. They belonged to people I cared about, people I loved; family, friends, members of every Torchwood team since the last millennium, all those who’ve sacrificed their own lives to save others. By dismissing them you’re dishonouring the memories of the people who came before you. This isn’t merely my office; it’s a shrine to fallen heroes. Do you think you’ll ever be worthy of joining them?”


Chastened, the young man dropped his gaze. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know.”


“You’ve a lot to learn. Value isn’t solely in what something cost, or how useful it is; it’s in the memories it holds and the stories it can tell if you’re willing to listen.”



The End

Comments

[pfyre.livejournal.com]

Good for Jack. It isn't just trite to say "One man's trash is another's treasure." When you're an immortal forced to watch those you love and care about die as you go on - what you value isn't money. You value your memories of those you miss, those who remain with you via treasured memories and/or a small item that was once precious to them.

That is the thing that always struck me about RTD and the other PTB with DW/Torchwood - I never got the impression or read that they truly gave any real in depth thought about what it truly means for a character to be immortal. Beyond the stupidity of them constantly saying "Jack can't die." Which is wrong WRONG WRONG! He CAN die - he just can't stay dead. HUGE HUGE Difference! Anyway the idea of an individual being left to LIVE forever - can't stay dead. Cursed to live while those around them die. Cursed to lose those they love and care for. The idea that Jack immortality is tied to the Time Vortex and that via the Vortex he is a fixed point in time - is cruel. The Doctor really gives him no respect, little thought or care - whether Nine, Ten or Thirteen - basically only caring if the Doctor can USE Jack to defeat an enemy. Look at the crap they did with Ashildr aka Me - talk about a character that was NOT worthy to be a repeat appearance on the show. To be honest the SMARTEST thing for the Doctor to do would be to put Ashildr in touch with Jack. He could at least TEACH from example what good person does when they're immortal and can have far reaching effects into the future. Personally, I like the idea that Jack resurrected after dying as the Face of Boe and reconnected to Ianto and on to have a happily ever after! *g*

Thank you for this.

[bk_forever]

I so agree, Jack has been treated dismissively by both the Doctor (in all incarnations who've met him) and the writers. I never liked Ashildr anyway, but she was so young when he became immortal that she lacked the life experience Jack has ad consequently handled it badly. Jack could definitely show her the way.

hat I was sadly unable to fit in this drabble, because of keeping to the set word count, was that this is set in the future, with Torchwood still going strong and Ianto still alive, immortal with Jack. Te items in Jack's office were salvaged when the Hub was rebuilt after CoE, and there are others that belonged to later team members too. Jack keeps something to remember each lost friend by.

Thank you!