"Who are you!" the Doctor yelled and tried to move further away from the other person sitting on the bed.
Jack jumped but didn't move away, knowing he was probably just confused as people did when given the elixir and revert to a time when they felt safe, but it would pass.
"It's all right," he soothed and reached out and touched the Doctor's hand.
He wasn't however expecting the Doctor's reaction.
He leapt away, like he'd received a shock and scrambled off the bed and collapsed.
Jack grabbed him but let go when the Doctor began screaming and tried to rise on legs that wouldn't work.
Jack felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Move away, Jack," Martha said.
Jack shook his head. "No, it'll pass, she said it would pass."
He moved closer to the Doctor who had pressed himself into the corner.
"Please Doctor, you know me," he said softly.
His heart sank when the Doctor whimpered. "Go away, you hurt."
"Jack," Martha warned.
Jack ignored her and closed the space between himself and the Doctor. "Doctor, please. I'm not hurting you, you need to remember."
He reached out again and despite another warning from Martha touched the Doctor again.
But this time the Doctor didn't cry out but trembled like a frightened deer.
"Please, remember," Jack whispered his voice thick with unshed tears.
The Doctor's eyes were as wide as saucers, a confused frown on his face.
"Please," Jack said.
The Doctor looked away and stared into nothing then looked back at Jack and stared at him.
He suddenly clutched his head, his face contorted with pain.
Jack caught him as he fell forward.
"Get him back on the bed," Martha said.
She took out her penlight and lifted the Doctor's eyelids and sighed. She checked his hearts and his breathing, normal.
She began reattaching the wires. "He's slipped back again," she said in a calm voice.
Ianto recognised that tone in her voice; she was too calm, too collected.
So, he wasn't surprised when she turned to Jack and landed a solid punch.
"What the hell did you give him!" she shouted.
Jack said nothing, just wiped the blood from his nose.
"What did you give him!"
"Something to bring him back," Jack growled.
"Get out," she said.
Jack didn't move.
"Get out, Jack. Get out of the med bay and stay away from my patient."
Jack still didn't move.
Martha shoved him. "Get out, get out, get out!"
Jack still didn't move but snarled. "Don't tell me to leave my own place."
He then felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Jack, let's go and get something nice for the Doctor, for when he wakes up properly. How about some Jaffa Cakes, he loves those things."
He pulled Jack away. "Come on Jack."
Martha watched as Ianto pulled Jack out of the med-bay and only relaxed when he was gone.
She let out a long breath and turned back to the Doctor, who was oblivious to it all.
She checked all the wires and sensors and the readings. Then she took the Doctor's hand in hers.
"I'm sorry he did that, but I suppose he's desperate. I don't know what he gave you, but he won't do it again. Oh Doctor, you need to come back and not like that. Come back and I'll help you."
She looked at his face, hoping for some kind of response...nothing. Whatever Jack had given him, obviously hadn't worked.
She checked the monitor again before switching of the light and leaving.
Ianto placed the coffee in front of Jack and sat down opposite him.
He could see Jack was still angry, but at whom he wasn't sure.
"So, what did you give him?"
Jack didn't reply, his face impassive.
"Jack, you have to tell me. What did you give him and where did you get it?"
"She said it would work," Jack said quietly.
Ianto took in a breath; it could only be one person. "Why Jack, why did you go to her? You know she can't be trusted."
Jack looked up then.
A tear ran down his face. "I wanted him back."
Ianto placed a hand over Jack's, felt him trembling. "We all do, but that witch."
Jack sniffed back another tear.
"You didn't see him Yan, back before all of this shit started. He was brilliant, dazzling, thrilling, exciting. I-I just wanted him back."
"And he will, but not like that. She lied to you, told you what you wanted to hear."
Jack closed his eyes and let out a breath. "But what if he doesn't, what if he stays like that forever or-or he wakes up like he was back there. I can't, won't let that happen."
Ianto sat back, not sure what to say next.
"Martha packs a mean right hook," Jack suddenly said, rubbing his already bruising jaw.
Ianto smiled, that was more like Jack. "Yeah, I'd hate to see what happened if you really pissed her off."
The two men smiled at each other.
"He will get better cariad," Ianto said. "We don't need potions and spells. We're Torchwood and he's the Doctor. Besides, you still have to buy him that drink."
Jack's eyebrows went up at that statement.
"Don't think I don't know, Jack Harkness. You may let me share your bed, but I know where your heart lies."
Jack smiled at him. "Ianto Jones, you still surprise me."
He stood up and gathered the bags of shopping.
"Better not waste any more time. You and Gwen have that reports to finish and I have to go make up with one angry doctor."
No-one had taken any notice of the bright fiery trail that had followed the big blue box.
No-one followed its trail, so no-one saw something crash into the mud and the swamp of the Bayous...well no-one human anyway; just the gators and the opossums.
No-one saw a figure crawl out of the swamp and no-one but the gators and the opossums saw the figure fall to its knees and howl in pain.