Promises, Like Time and Dreams
āI mean that,ā he said. Ā His voice was quiet, but with a note of steel in it. Ā There was an unshakable conviction there. Ā Everything in Jackās expression - not just his face, but his posture, his voice, his eyes - said that this was no trifling comment.
The Doctor still didnāt seem to believe him. Ā And perhaps he never would. Ā But Jack was deadly serious. Ā And indeed, on a few occasions the matter had turned deadly. Ā But that was just it. Ā Jack truly meant anything. Ā No matter what it was, no matter the cost to himself. Ā Anything.
āI will do anything for you,ā he repeated again, that same tension and weight to the remark. Ā āAnd I do mean anything. Ā Even if that means I die for you. Ā Itās not a promise I make lightly, and I think you know that. Ā I think that scares you.ā
It did seem to make the Doctor uneasy, at the very least. Ā It was something Jack knew the Time Lord wasnāt comfortable discussing. Ā That unwavering loyalty and devotion was the perpetual elephant in the room. Ā But Jack was tired of dancing around it. Ā The Doctor needed to know. Ā Jack needed to make him understand. Ā If for nothing else, then for his own sake. Ā He needed to know that the Doctor understood this. Ā He didnāt expect the same devotion in return, could never ask that, but he needed at least to know that the Doctor understood that Jack meant this.