Fic-"Little Jack, Little River" [written for crossovers100]

[walkwithheroes]

Title: Little Jack, Little River
Author: walkwithheroes
Rated: G (though there is one little sexual innuendo.) 
Word Count: 536 
Claim: River Tam and Jack Harkness
Fandom(s): Firefly, Doctor Who 
Character(s): River Tam, Jack Harkness (mentions of Gwen Copper and Ianto Jones)
Prompt: 001. Beginnings
Spoilers: None that I could see. 
Pairing: Little Jack/River
Disclaimer: River Tam is owed by Joss Whedon. Jack Harkness and Torchwood are owned by the BBC and 'Uncle Rusty'. The phrase “big damn heroes” came from the Firefly episode 'Safe'.
Author's Note: My first prompt for this pairing. As always, a special thank you to my beta, who always makes sure my stories are the best they can be. 

She fell.

There was no other word to describe what happened to her, she just...fell. Through the Rift, through time, through dimensions and space. For all her brilliance, she didn't even know how or why she fell, just that she did. She fell, she wanted to go home, she wanted...so much and so little.

She was brilliant, but also crazy. When Jack had discovered that, he assumed the Rift had broken her. She rebuffed his theory by speaking of chairs, needles, men with blue hands, alliances, and a thousand other things that Jack didn't understand. For all his brilliance, he tried to discover what she was talking about, where she was from, how to get her home...he couldn't quite do any of it.

“Little Jack fails his task.” Her voice teased, floating in from somewhere deeper inside the Hub.

They had kept her in the cages at first, but Gwen and Ianto had protested, leading their little girl lost to stay with him...alone, at the Hub.

“River?” Jack glanced around. His ears listened for the slightest sound, though he knew River would give nothing away.

A half-crazed giggle echoed against the walls. It was rather unsettling, but Jack ignored it.

“Little River Tam...come out and play...” Jack half-sang, as he moved deeper inside the Hub. “I've brought you a treat.”

“Rivers aren't animals.” River called out from her hiding spot, only sounding a little insulted.

“No.” He lowered his eyes. “You aren't an animal, you're River. We're going to find a way to get you home.”

There was a long and creepy silence, before River's voice floated to him again,

“Because you're big damn heroes?”

Jack smiled, despite himself. “We try to be.”

A small and cold hand touched Jack's shoulder, and he turned to see a wide-eyed River staring innocently back at him. “Then, you are.”

Jack felt his lips tug into a small grin. “I've brought you a soda.” He carefully took the bottle out of his coat pocket. “It's cherry.”

River nodded thankfully. “Cherries for virginal girls.” She took the bottle from him, her long fingers cold to the touch.

Jack's eyes lingered on their bodies' point of contact for the briefest of moments. Suddenly feeling awkward, Jack cleared his throat and moved away from her. “Ianto here yet?”

The picture of innocence, River shook her head. “No. He's coming...they all are.” With one last look to Jack, she walked back into the heart of the Hub.

Seconds later, Jack heard the sounds of a bottle opening, followed by the giggles of a girl that wasn't all there.

Comments

[ashteth.livejournal.com]

Squeek!

River is so awesomely naughty. i've always suspected that half of the fun!crazy stuff is completely done on purpose.

And Jack hunting Wivers? Beyond cute.

[faith-less-one.livejournal.com]

Jack/River????

Why is that so incredibly, completely, unbelievably... perfect? I utterly adore it! Please write more?

[entangled-now.livejournal.com]

This is so lovely, just strange enough to fit, and they're definitely both fractured in their own ways. It's strange the way River seems to fit pretty much anywhere.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

This was lovely and strange, gentle and surreal. I loved Jack's discomfort when he's looking for her. And the heroes comment is perfect. Lovely writing.

[miladygrey.livejournal.com]

This is made of awesome. It would be made of even more awesome if you could stretch it into a longer story, because River reading every member of Torchwood and calmly bringing their issues out into the open would be (in the end) good for all of them.

Thank you for posting this!

[harem-ent.livejournal.com]

oh diderly squeep

[acejillian.livejournal.com]

This would be my first ever piece of fanfiction that I've read from the Torchwood fandom.

Man, what a way to be introduced. Their voices are perfect. A perfect snippet.

[sunstar77.livejournal.com]

Please tell me you've plans to continue this. Fantastic fic with two of my favorite universes.

[mings-kitten.livejournal.com]

Okay i don't read fan fic and I really want to know what happens next.

[firko.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - having River around would definitely keep Jack on his toes, and the reader thing would really come in handy like an early warning system. Great voices.

[sl-podcast.livejournal.com]

I love this.... can I read it on my podcast?

[belleimani.livejournal.com]

I like this, nice blending of the universes.