**Jack Harkness Has the Flu**
Prompt: Jack harkness has the flu. He hides it from his team because he is scared that they will make him leave the hub. Jack knows that his team has been vacenated and won’t kick him out for being sick but he does not have enywere to go so he is still scared they will make him leave. The team gets mad at jack for being slower then usual, so jack promises to try harder. Eventualy he pushed himself to hard and faints infront of his team. His team takes care of him
The Torchwood Hub buzzed with the usual frenetic energy, the kind that could only be birthed from the endless stream of alien cases and interdimensional phenomena. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glare on the glossy, polished concrete. Jack Harkness, the invincible Time Agent and leader of Torchwood, sat at his desk, his forehead resting heavily against his palm. The flickering screen in front of him was populated with data that only blurred further with each blink. Inside, he felt like he was encased in a fog, his body weighing down under the relentless grip of the flu.
He cast a furtive glance around the Hub; Toshiko was deep in the code, her brow furrowed in concentration, while Owen rummaged through the medical supplies. Gwen was practicing her shooting skills in the training room, the rhythmic pops of firing echoing through the halls. Life surged around him, vibrant and alive, but Jack felt like an intruder in that momentum.
He had managed to keep the symptoms hidden for days. A sniffle here, a cough there—nothing alarming enough to raise suspicion. The team had been vaccinated and were committed to the Torchwood cause, but Jack had learned from experience that vulnerability was a luxury few could afford. He may have felt like a ghost, but he could not let himself become one. If they discovered he was sick, they might want him to leave the Hub to avoid the risk of infection. And where would he go? He had no home to retreat to, no solace to escape into.
“Jack, come on!” Owen’s frustrated voice broke through Jack’s fog. “You’re moving slower than a sloth on a Sunday! We can’t afford to fall behind!”
Jack pushed himself to stand taller, plastering on a grin that felt more uncomfortable than genuine. “You know me, Owen. Just trying to pace myself.”
“Pace yourself? This isn’t some leisurely jaunt through the countryside! We’ve got to be on top of our game!” Owen snapped, his eyes narrowed. Jack held back a retort, swallowing his irritation as he felt another wave of dizziness wash over him.
“Right, I’ll try harder,” he promised, wiping the sweat building at the base of his neck with the back of his hand. The room began to spin slightly, but he shook his head, forcing himself to focus.
As the day pressed on, every task seemed more monumental than the last. Jack powered through paperwork and analysis, frantically typing and switching screens, driven by the need to appear competent. Every call for help from his team felt like a dagger to his heart, and he took it upon himself to push through like it was nothing.
Hours passed, each one slower than the next. The pounding in his head grew, blurring his vision, and breathing became labored. No way would he give in now. The team needed him; he was the captain. The weight of that responsibility crushed down harder than any fever could.
“Jack!” Gwen called, striding into the room. “We need your opinion on this.”
“Be right there,” Jack responded, forcing his feet to move as he approached her. He could see the concern in her eyes, the way they searched his, looking for the spark that usually radiated from him.
“You okay?” she asked tentatively, her voice lowering to a soft murmur.
“I’m fine,” he lied, his stomach twisting with the conviction of it. “Just a little tired.”
Gwen frowned but seemed uncertain. “You sure? Because you’ve been off all day.”
“I said I’m fine,” Jack insisted, a touch too sharply. It wasn’t just the words that came out of his mouth; it was the bright smile he forced afterward, a mask too brittle to withstand suspicion.
The night loomed, quiet but heavy, as fatigue settled over him. He trudged through the tasks of closing up the Hub, his mind reeling from fever as he tried to usher everyone out. Every muscle ached, every cough resonated through his bones, yet he ignored his body’s protests.
The kitchen was empty, a single fluorescent light flickering overhead as Jack poured himself a glass of water—his hand trembling slightly. He leaned against the counter for support, closing his eyes to allow the dull ache to wash over him.
Then it hit. A wave of nausea rolled through him, and the world tilted alarmingly. Just as he clutched the countertop, his vision splintered into darkness.
When Jack came to, he found himself sprawled on the kitchen floor, very much feeling like death. The concern, the panic in the voices reaching out to him pulled him back to reality. He blinked through the haze, and the blurred figures of his team came into focus around him—Owen, Gwen, Toshiko, their expressions rife with worry.
“Jack! What the hell?” Owen’s voice was laced with dread as he crouched beside him, checking his pulse.
“Jack, speak to us!” Gwen was at his side, her cool hands pressed against his forehead.
“Didn’t want to worry you,” Jack finally croaked, the words barely escaping his dry lips.
“You really thought hiding it would help?” Owen’s voice was sharp, but there was an undercurrent of relief that Jack could sense.
“You could have gotten us all sick! Why would you even think to keep this to yourself?” Toshiko added, that scientist’s logic bursting forth amid their worry.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” Jack murmured, the truth of his fear finally slipping free.
The anger melted away, replaced by a palpable empathy. Gwen nodded, her expression softening. “You’re not alone, Jack. We’ve got your back. Always.”
The rest of the team busied themselves fetching blankets and pillows, setting him up in the medical bay while tending to his fever. Jack watched as they moved, a warmth creeping into his chest. They might be angry, but they also cared.
As they settled around him, tensions eased into a quiet camaraderie. Finally safe in their presence, Jack exhaled, allowing himself to surrender to their care, finding solace in the knowledge that he didn’t have to hide anymore.
“I’ll get better,” he promised softly, knowing that in their company, he didn’t have to face this alone. And as his team nestled in around him, Jack closed his eyes, feeling the cold grip of flu slowly releasing its hold, replaced by an unmistakable warmth of belonging.
