operation: oh, yeah, it totally happened

[fixedpointintime]

WHO: Jack Harkness, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, and open options coming
WHAT: the three watch news of the riot be suppressed, and do something about it
WHEN: daycycle 127 & 128
WHERE: the clubhouse, the Teela show, other places

Jack watches, waits, expecting to see something about the riot. Nothing comes. So he continues to wait. He asks around, vague enough to keep himself off the radar. He hopes. No one is talking about it. Not really. He waits through two days of nothing, and then he reaches out. To Clint and Natasha. Which... all right, they could blow him off, they have no reason not to. They don't, though. They meet with him, listen to his idea, and are actually game. Which is one of the best silver linings Jack's had in a while.

They work out a rough plan, take the next day to perfect it, and then it's go time. Ready or not, they need to move. Every day that passes, the riot gets closer to being something no one will care about, the violence against them gets closer to being something no one will care about.

It's a pretty solid plan, he thinks. Well, it's the best they can come up with, and it might actually work.

OPEN OPTION

On Daycycle 128, Jack is to the hospital after he collapses during the interview with Clint and Natasha. When his doctors insist on knowing what's happened to him, he will begrudgingly admit that the injuries he sustained during the riot turned out to be more than he could handle and he was too embarrassed to seek treatment. His doctors patch him up, and he's sure that some version of his story is being relayed to Friend Computer. He just hopes he's thought of every angle, that it holds water, and that he'll be able to keep CLint and Natasha from getting into trouble if it doesn't.

From about 1400 on, he's given a positive prognosis and cleared to be able to receive visitors. Given that most of the Specials have no idea that he did this all to himself, he's prepared to field some concerned friends and already thinking of ways to assure them that he's all right. Morgana in particular. Part of him wishes he could have told her, but a much larger part knows she's safer not knowing. He still hates to do it to her. She deserves a better friend than him. Clint and Natasha may stop by. It was supposed to be a surprise to them, too, after all.

[[OOC: If you have any questions about what went down, as it's still being written out, feel free to ask them here and I will get right on that. Also, if your character would come to visit Jack, please let me know what time they would get there so I can figure out the timeline. Thanks!]]

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[fixedpointintime]

Jack was not actually that high any more, but he figured he should be. He wasn't sure how much the doctors here knew about him, what his body did. He didn't want to open that particular can of worms if he didn't have to. So he grinned slowly at Morgana and held out his hand. "Don't frown, baby girl. You'll give yourself wrinkles. I'm fine. Everything is fine."

He would have found it very strange if no one was watching him right now, so he laid it on a little thick. "They took great care of me. You wouldn't believe how good they are here. I feel fantastic. Promise."

[lefey]

It feels like her heart has been paused in her chest for hours when he finally smiles and speaks to her. Only then does she really take a breath as the slow walk turns back into a jog as she crosses what little remains of the distance between them and she takes his hand in hers.

'What happened?' There are a million questions that float in her head. Who did this to you?, How?, Why go on that stupid show if you weren't well? but they stick to her lips like honey that's been left out in the cold. Jack had his reasons for going on the television programme like that, he had his reasons for almost anything - aside, perhaps, from the soft affection he showed.

That didn't mean Morgana didn't worry, or that her free hand doesn't go to his face, to brush gently along his cheek. Too many of them were getting hurt of late, it had to stop before they were outright murdered in their beds.

[fixedpointintime]

He squeezes her fingers between his, trying to be encouraging. "I got hurt during the riot and I pushed myself too far. It was stupid. I didn't want to let anyone down. I'm sorry." She's such a sweet girl. "Come here." He holds out his arm, motioning her toward him for a hug. One, because he knows it will make her feel better, and two, because it'll let him whisper something in her ear with the certainty he's not being overheard.

[lefey]

The specific injury aside, this whole situation was such a repeat of Steve being in the hospital that it feels almost like deja vu. Morgana swallows, fingers tightening around his for a few moments, and like she had with Steve, she hesitates - if only still for a second.

Izzy might have been right in that she couldn't be sure she would see these things coming if she had her horrible dreams back, but it's possible she could have which is enough to stir the embers of guilt in her heart back to a low flame. She hated this place, hated home, hated her powers, hated not having them... it seemed even as she sunk down into his arms that she would never be satisfied, and the people she cared about would never be safe.

'You never said you were hurt enough to collapse.' she said quietly into his shoulder. There had been enough injuries to go around, but she would've hoped he wouldn't be quite so stupid as to risk hurting himself more. Not so soon.

[fixedpointintime]

"I'm so sorry I worried you," he says loudly. Then he turns his face into her hair, puts his mouth right against her ear, and whispers, "I'll explain everything later. I promise."

His fingers run through her hair, gently, carefully. She worries because she cares, because she's looking so desperately for a found family, and for better or worse has decided that he's part of it. She deserves better. It's not the first time he's had that thought. It's not even the first time today that he's had that thought, and it certainly won't be the last.

[lefey]

Worried might have been an understatement, but there wasn't much to be done about that now and if she was anything, a chronic worrier was certainly it. Morgana inhaled, the familliar scent of Jack mixed with the sharper scent of bleach as he whispered.

It wasn't enough to satisfy her, or even calm the thundering of her heart but it would have to suffice. She couldn't blame him for being uncomfortable saying too much here, especially as he wasn't just another nobody citizen. People would be far interested in overhearing him than they would her.

Turning her head just enough to press a soft kiss to his temple, Morgana sighs.

'It's fine. My fault for making friends with all the foolish boys, I suppose.' the smile that comes with the gentle tease is only faked a little. 'Will they keep you long?'

[fixedpointintime]

"I hope not." He raises his voice slightly, to be sure it will carry. "The doctors and nurses here is fantastic. I've never felt more cared for." Then he pitches it low again. "But I can't sleep properly in hospitals, and it's only going to be worse if I know you're worrying about me."

[lefey]

She couldn't help but laugh a little at the idea that she could stop worrying. Morgana shrugged.

'Guess you're going to have to sleep poorly, then, because it seems to be my... number two, at least, talent.'

[fixedpointintime]

"Number two? What's number one? Inquiring minds need to know."

Because this is easier. It's easier to talk to her like this, like nothing is wrong. It's easier to pretend that everything is fine and they're sprawled out on one of their bunks just chatting. No big deal.

[lefey]

'A Lady doesn't tell all her secrets just because the idiot she's friends with is cute,' Morgana teased, 'where would the fun be in that?' and perhaps more importantly, her actual best talent seemed to be defying the rule of law and committing casual treason, none of which were words you wanted to utter in a place like this.

[fixedpointintime]

"Cute, huh? Been a long tie since someone called me cute, little lady. I'm going to let you get away with it, cause I'm tired and high." He'd have let her get away with a lot more for a a lot less valid reasoning, but he's noticed that there is a point where praise, no matter how well deserved, starts to make her uncomfortable. He figures she's had enough of discomfort for today.

[lefey]

'Oh, I thought it was because you let me get away with just about anything,' short of stabbing her dance partners, at least. Even if they might have deserved it. 'But if wearing you out and getting you high helps I'll have to keep that in mind.' she was just teasing, she strongly doubted there was too much she couldn't ask for Jack's help in if she needed it. He never did seem to bore of her endless stream of questions, though sometimes he skirted around them.

[fixedpointintime]

"That's part of it, yes." He's petting her hair now, not just for her, but for himself. It's soothing. It's nice to know that someone who knows him cares. "Did I at least look dashing, before I collapsed?" Jack knows he probably painted a pretty sorry picture, but he wants her to smile. He wants her to think he's bounced back from something unexpected, and is just fine. At least until he can get her alone and tell her the truth.

[lefey]

'Dashing... dashed against the wall. Not too much difference, I suppose.' if she hadn't been at work she would've come so much sooner just to make sure he was okay, even before he collapsed she had been worried just from seeing him. Maybe he tricked the citizens he didn't know with the makeup until he collapsed, but she was hardly a stranger at this point.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't comforted by the way he stroked her hair, carefully nestling closer as he did, her eyes half closed. He was okay. Morgana just had to keep telling herself that he was okay.

She could always slap him for being a fool later.

[fixedpointintime]

He was absolutely fine. More or less. Maybe less. He would be fine, though, and as Morgana nestled in close, it wasn't difficult to shift and pull her into the bed with him entirely. This was common place enough now, for them. Platonic and stemming from nothing more than a need for comfort, but he tucked her in against his side, continuing to pet her hair, and hit the button on his bedside remote to dim the lights. "You still haven't been sleeping well, have you?"

[lefey]

'Does it count as sleeping?' they were gassed every night, after all. She shrugged. 'I don't think it's that, just a lot more work I don't entirely understand since they moved me to a different sector in the department. Saw a banana that might impress even you earlier.' Morgana said, hiding a smile against his shirt.

[fixedpointintime]

"Oh, absolutely. Especially if you're not doing it well." He hugs her to his side, kissing the top of her head. "Banana, huh? You didn't bring it? Too heavy to carry? You could have found a bot to help you. I'd have liked to see that."

[lefey]

'Somehow I think they'd notice a giant banana in my jumpsuit,' she can't help but laugh a little at the idea, though. 'Or a little robot following me around with one.'

'I'm sure you'd have enjoyed the big banana, though.'