Six Lies The Doctor Told Jack. . . --- 10/Jack

[A Moment In Subtext]

Doctor Who
Six Lies The Doctor Told Jack (And One He Told Himself)
By. A Moment In Subtext

Rose is the Doctor's first lie.
He tells Jack that she's his best friend and nothing more. She's smart, and she's talented, and she's pretty, and witty, and it’s a pity she isn't his type, isn't it, Jack?
But Jack isn't stupid. He can see the looks they give each other when they think one one is watching, he can see the electricity every time they hold hands. So the Doctor can say there's nothing between him and Rose, but Jack knows better.
Jack is naive, in the same way that all humans are. He sees the Doctor, wandering along, shepherding the human race to the shape he wants it in, and he sees it as good. As noble, or brave, or moral, or altruistic, or a dozen other things it really isn't. Its just that its all he's got left, and its all they can see.
But unlike all the others, Jack doesn't allow his naivete to endanger anyone. He understands, in some form, that the Doctor is an alien, and his moral standards don't always reflect the ones Jack was brought up with. Of course, he can't admit that a stupid ape actually understands something so large, so naivete becomes his second lie.
His third lie is himself. He tells Jack that he doesn't do domestic any way, shape, or form. He doesn't do relationships, he can't fall in love. All he wants is casual, senseless shagging. Therapy. Its not even that he fancies Jack, 'cos he doesn't, he just can't ask Rose because she wouldn't understand, she'd read too much into it. But Jack won't, so Jack will have to do. Jack accepts it without a word. But the thing is, he's never really been so good at the not falling in love part.
The Doctor's fourth lie is the Tardis. She ran from Jack, to the end of the universe. He doesn't even know why he said it, it certainly wasn't true. The old girl was still very fond of Jack, she wouldn't run from him no matter how odd he was. But he needed an excuse, he couldn't admit to Jack the real reason she'd taken them there, he didn't even know the reason at the time, he just said the first thing that came to mind, and later, he couldn't find a way to clear the matter up without admitting that he'd lied.
Jack is his fifth lie. Jack is Wrong. Jack shouldn't exist. Jack can't exist, but he does. It hurts to near Jack, he can feel the wrongness. That's why he left Jack on Satellite Five, that's why he avoids him as much as possible.
It isn't, and he's not. He can feel Jack, but it doesn't hurt. Jack isn't Wrong, he's absolutely Right. He's is the only true Fact in the universe, the only thing left that reminds him of home. In some ways, Jack is a replacement for Gallifrey, something else he couldn't lose. Can't lose. But he can't tell Jack that, that would make him sound vulnerable, and right now he really can't afford to look vulnerable.
Afterwards, after the paradox has been reversed and they've all recovered as best as they can, he offers Jack a ride, as if its nothing. Take it or leave it, it doesn't matter. And he approves of Jack staying with Torchwood, because Torchwood has changed and its alright now. Jack is just doing his job, he's fine with it. So Torchwood becomes his sixth lie.
Standing in the Tardis, after Jack has left him, and Martha has left him (twice), he's alone. He's completely alone (he isn't) and doesn't need anyone (he does), and he's happy (he really isn't). He isn't lonely, he isn't hurt, he isn't broken. Except that he-is-he-is-he-is, and he's gotten awfully good at lying.