The Doctor awoke to the soft murmur of Jack's voice, as he still stroked his hair gently behind his ear. It was a pleasant way to wake up despite that he was still sweating and felt clammy. His head was aching and his stomach threatened to release whatever contents it had if he moved. That was all right though, he didn't want to move and let Jack know he was awake yet. He didn't quite want this moment to end. Instead he lay there and listen to Jack.
"I was a medic during my second and third run of WWII because the only thing I wanted to do was make you proud. I couldn't kill anyone anymore then I could con them. You showed me different. I have to admit it hurt me Doctor when you tried to run from me when I finally found you in Cardiff, but I had to know if you could help me. Then you asked me if I wanted to die and I told you seeing all these people living their lives was fantastic, but that was a lie." Jack went silent.
"You want to die?" He asked Jack softly.
"No, not now, but someday I would like to." Jack admitted quietly, not surprised the Doctor was awake. "I have outlived so many and I will continue to outlive everyone I will ever know."
"I am sorry." He didn't know what else to say, which was rare for him. He knew the feeling well. He had walked away from the last great Time War, the last of his kind and more lonely then he had ever thought possible. He outlived several of his companions and knew that if he had kept time linear he would have out lived them all. All except for Jack. He realized that he was selfishly grateful that Jack would out live him and he would be there no matter how much time passed. The two of them went quiet and they sat their in the silence enjoying the warmth of the fire and watching the synthetic flames dance in the fireplace.
"How are you feeling?" Jack asked after awhile breaking the silence.
"Nauseous and sweaty. I think I would quite like a shower." He responded.
"I don't think you could stand long enough to take a shower alone." Jack commented. "I could join you though if you would like, help you stand, wash your back maybe." He rolled his eyes to look up at Jack, who was staring down at him with a playful twinkle in his eyes.
"Jack behave," He responded automatically.
"How about I draw you a bath instead, how does that sound?" Jack asked him.
"Lovely, thank you." Jack was gentle while lifting his head off of his thigh, but his body didn't think so as it reacted violently and he barely found the bucket Jack had brought with them in time. He heaved, gagged and moaned as his body got rid of the little bit of water he managed to drink. He couldn't help the sob that escaped. His throat burned from the stomach acid and his mouth tasted terrible. His stomach ached more then he could ever remember it aching in the past and his headache was worse.
"It's all right," Jack reassured him as he rubbed his back in soothing circles. He collapsed backwards and Jack helped to ease him on to the couch as he tried to catch his breath again. He felt as though he had just ran a marathon and wanted to slip back into the oblivion of sleep. Jack came around the couch and lifted him like a rag doll off of it. He was feeling too ill to complain or feel embarrassed as he was carried into his room and laid gently on his bed. Jack disappeared for a moment and came back with a cool glass of what looked like water.
"Just take small sips." Jack said and helped him to sit up, so that he was leaning against him as Jack supported him. He took a small drink and realized that it was actually a hydration mix from the medi bay. He took another small sip and fought to keep it down. He coughed and Jack moved the glass away. When he wasn't sick again, Jack let him take another drink. The liquid was calming his throat and his headache grew duller. He finished less then a quarter of the glass before Jack moved it away again and sat it on the bedside table.
"Would you still like a bath?" Jack asked him as he relaxed into Jack's arms.
"Please," He whispered and prepared himself for Jack to move. Jack carefully slipped off the bed and while his stomach flipped and begged to empty its contents, he managed to keep it down. Jack stood at the edge of the bed for a moment, before he retreated into the bath and the Doctor heard the water start. He slowly started to unbutton his shirt and had gotten it off and was working on his trousers when Jack returned. He immediately saw lust in Jack's eyes, but rather then comment he helped the Doctor remove them and then get up to his feet. Together they walked slowly to the bath and he hesitated. In order to get in the bath he was going to need help but then Jack would see him naked. He took a deep breath and regretted it. He took quick shallow breaths for a moment and then started to remove his pants.
He stepped out of them and then used Jack's arm as support as he climbed into the bath and lowered himself down into the warm water. He was surprised when the temperature felt nice for his cooler body and that Jack had taken the difference into consideration. Jack had also added bubbles to the bath to help cover him as he soaked. He felt his hearts leap a little at how much Jack had thought about him and his comfort and chastised himself silently. He wasn't falling for Jack Harkness.
"Need anything else?" Jack asked him.
"No," He replied as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
"I will be in the next room if that changes, just call me if that changes." Jack dropped a kiss on his forehead and much to his dismay, he didn't hate it.
