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?"

Comments

[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.

[thirstforvice]

"If I look like I'm about to fall asleep..." Jackson says as he climbs into the tub, sinking down into the warm water with a blissful groan.

"Don't let me drown."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake rolls up his sleeves, kneeling behind Jackson's head and bracing one arm around his chest.

"I've got you."

[thirstforvice]

"I'm going to use up all the water," Jackson realises, rather belatedly, shifting guiltily beneath Drake's arm.

"I'm sorry..."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake frowns at Jackson.

"Don't say you're sorry. I'll get my turn."

[thirstforvice]

"When I'm back to full strength..." Jackson mumbles, thinking aloud more than anything else. "I'll make sure to give you a proper pampering. To say thank you."

[thegentlemanthug]

"I don't need pampering," Drake says with a soft smile. "Tough man, me."

[thirstforvice]

Jackson's eyes close, lulled by Drake's arm around him and the warmth of the water.

"'s always nice... to be looked after."

[thegentlemanthug]

"Then you should concentrate on me looking after you. 'Til you're better that is. The Lord knows you've taken care o'me enough times."

Drake places a kiss in Jackson's hair, caught in the intimacy of this moment. He doesn't remember the last time he felt peace like this. Maybe, from now on, sleep will come a little easier.

[thirstforvice]

Soothed further by the kiss, Jackson feels himself slipping into sleep, catching himself at the last minute and jerking himself awake.

"Help me out?" he asks. "Before I fall asleep and drown in your tub."

[thegentlemanthug]

"Can't be having that," Drake says, using the supporting arm to help lever Jackson out of the tub.

"Should wrap you up while the maids fetch us fresh linens."

[thirstforvice]

Jackson looks down at himself, belatedly realising his nakedness, shivering in the cold air.

"Maybe an idea..."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake moves away from Jackson to pick up his coarse towel and hand it to his lover.

He then fetches a dressing gown from the drawer, an old battered thing but warm and well-darned.

[thirstforvice]

Jackson dries himself off quickly, before wrapping the gown around him to keep in some of the warmth of the water. Moving back to the chair, he sits down before his weakened legs give up on him.

"You have my deepest graditudes, Bennet," he says once he's comfortable in his seat. "I'm sure I have been horrendous to be with over the past few days."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake removes his own soiled clothes and dips a wash-cloth in the cooling water of the bath.

"I've had worse bedfellows," Drake says with a grin. "In Her Majesty's military hospitals."

[thirstforvice]

"They make you share beds?" Jackson asks, incredulous. He is used to a far finer way of living.

"But you have your own private surgeon, now. No more of that."

[thegentlemanthug]

Drake snorts. "Sharing blankets on the sand," he says, more honestly.

He shifts into fresh clothes and rings the bell for the maid.

"I have no intention of sharing you."

[thirstforvice]

"I promise not to go anywhere," Jackson proclaims, head dropping against the back of the chair. He has no intention of going back to Miss Susan, not now.

[thegentlemanthug]

The maid enters and swiftly removes the trays, remaking the bed without commenting on the state of the sheets. He thinks he will soon come to greatly value the discretion of Mrs Ramsay's house.

When they are alone again once more, Drake proffers his hand to Jackson. "Good sir."