Ripper Street/They tried to make me go to rehab...

[thirstforvice]

Jackson loses track of time as he lies on Drake's small bed, the Sergeant safe and warm and alive in his arms, the both of them dozing in and out of sleep. It must be days later, that they're both sufficiently awake at the same time to hold a conversation.

And, as always, Jackson doesn't hang about.

"I need you to do something for me, Bennet. And, no matter what I do, or say, you have to promise me you will do what I tell you now. Even if I change my mind in the future. Can you do that?"

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[thegentlemanthug]

Drake gives Jackson a quick kiss on his cheek and unlocks the door.

Mrs Ramsey looks at him with disapproval and naked relief, before shooing him out of her kitchen with the promise of a hot bath and breakfast to come.

Drake trudges back up the stairs and returns to the bed. "Homer? Bath's on its way."

[thirstforvice]

Jackson sits where he'd been left on the edge of the bed, hands clasped neatly on his lap, so different from the man he had been a week before.

"Thank you," he says, quietly.

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake kneels on the floor in front of him, trying to catch Jackson's eye.

"Something wrong? Are you still hurtin'?"

[thirstforvice]

"Nothing a bath won't fix," Jackson answers, looking up and grinning. Drake seemed honestly concerned; Jackson's sure he didn't mean to push him like he had.

[thegentlemanthug]

"You seemed a hundred miles away," Drake said, concerned. "You'd tell me if there was something troubling you? I'd...I'd do anything for you. You only have t'ask."

[thirstforvice]

"I know. I promise," Jackson nods, shaking off any lingering anxiety. Drake means him nothing but good, he knows that in his heart.

"Just tired."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake smiles and gently strokes his cheek. "When we're done with this-"

But he never gets to finish that thought, as the maids bring in the tub and a tray of fresh-cooked bacon and eggs with thick trenchers of bread.

[thirstforvice]

Jackson's not sure what looks the more appealing, but his stomach speaks for him by rumbling loudly. The bathwater will stay warm longer than the food, anyway.

"I'm starving," he admits with a laugh.

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake offers Jackson his hand to lead him to the table, uncaring what the maids may think. He's had the man locked in his room for a week - they've probably done all their imaginings.

"Then we shall eat."

[thirstforvice]

"When was the last time I ate?" Jackson asks as he sits and pulls one of the plates to him. He's lost all sense of time, thinks he might have laid in that bed for a month for how he feels.

[thegentlemanthug]

"We tried some soup a few days ago," Drake says. "But you, uh, didn't keep much of it down."

Once he's sure Jackson's eating, Drake takes his own plate and takes a grateful bite of bacon.

[thirstforvice]

"Oh." Jackson looks suitably ashamed of himself, knowing full well what he must have been like, even if he remembers little of it now.

"I'm sorry."

[thegentlemanthug]

"You're all right," Drake says easily. It all seems to matter so little when Jackson's looking so well.

"How are you feeling?"

[thirstforvice]

"Tired," Jackson admits with more than a little embarrassment. He's slept for days, he doesn't understand how he can still feel so sleepy.

"But food and a bath will put that to rights, I'm sure."

[thegentlemanthug]

"And..." Drake hesitates, unsure if he wants to bring it back out into the open. "You don't want...it?"

[thirstforvice]

"No," Jackson shakes his head vigorously, mouth full of food.

"Not even a little. I swear it."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake shakes his head.

"You don't owe me any promises, Homer," Drake says gently. "I just want you...to be 'appy."

[thirstforvice]

"I am," Jackson says once his mouth is no longer full of food, stretching a hand across the small table towards Bennet.

"I'm here."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake wraps his fingers around Jackson's and smiles at him.

"And I want you to stay 'ere. If that's what you want."

[thirstforvice]

Jackson nods, suddenly shy, before remembering to speak up.

"If you'd have me. You're a kinder room mate than Susan's ever been."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake's expression clouds at the mention of Susan.

"She ain't coming near you."

[thirstforvice]

"She will when she hears I'm moving in here," Jackson sighs, seemingly resigned to the fact, pushing away his empty plate and turning his attentions to the bath.

"She likes to have me under foot."

[thegentlemanthug]

"She'll 'ave to get through me," Drake says solemnly.

Finishing up his own breakfast, he crosses to the door and makes sure it's bolted. He doesn't want them to be disturbed.

[thirstforvice]

WIth the door bolted, Jackson starts to strip off his filthy clothing, uncaring as to what Drake sees. He's sure he has no modesty left to care about after the last week, and anyway, he's never been big on modesty.

[thegentlemanthug]

The water looks inviting, but the little tin tub will barely fit one of them.

Drake waits for Jackson to strip, averting his eyes before holding out a hand to help him into the bath.