Jack's back ached by the time that he was able to ease the Doctor back onto the bed without waking him. He had moved slowly going only a few inches at a time as the Doctor slept. If the Doctor tensed or moaned, he would pause allowing the Doctor to feel comfortable again before continuing to lay him back. With the Doctor flat on the bed, he carefully moved out of his arms handing him a pillow to curl around instead. The Doctor let out a large sigh as he turned on his side.

"Thank you for your help with him today, Jack," Martha commented softly as he stood up. He stretched his back as he turned to look at her. She was still sitting on the opposite bed with the two little girls. A book was now open between the three of them and she was reading it softly. Cerys had snagged the rest of the Doctor's milkshake and was sipping it happily as Ajessa worked on a bottle. She was tracing a picture with her finger as Cerys watched on. Cerys hadn't said anything besides the word daddy since Martha arrived and she wondered if the little girl was just shy or if she had a learning disability that stopped her from talking. She was going to have to ask the Doctor when he woke up.

"I am going to the hub to work and prepare for tomorrow's meeting. Feel free to call me at any time if you need help or if he just wants company," Jack told her.

"I will," Martha agreed. Jack left the medi-bay going out to the control room. He had seen the extrapolator lying beside the console and decided that he was going to use it to extend the TARDIS shielding further. He wasn't stupid enough to risk using the rift again as he really didn't want to cause another earthquake. Still, he wanted the additional warning if the Master showed up so that they wouldn't be caught unaware. He was able to cover part of the plas but he wasn't able to reach the guest entrance. That was fine, however, as he would make sure that the door was monitored at all times. Setting the extrapolator aside he connected his manipulator to the alert so that he was warned as well of any alarms regardless of where he was located. With everything in place, he went back to his office to work.

He couldn't concentrate and it was almost a relief when he received a message on his phone to return to the TARDIS. Looking at his watch he saw that it had been almost three hours since he had left. Grabbing his jacket, he hurried out across the Plas.

-DW-

Martha spent three hours entertaining the children as the Doctor slept peacefully. Eventually, she took them to the kitchen with her. She made both girls a small bowl of porridge to eat for dinner. Cerys refused to touch it while Ajessa made a mess rather than eat. Sighing, Martha took the girls back to the medi-bay hoping to get their father's advice. The Doctor, however, didn't even notice their absence as he continued to sleep peacefully. Martha wondered when the last time he was able to sleep for as long as he needed to and rather than wake him, decided to allow him to continue to sleep. Pulling out her cellphone, she messaged Jack asking him to watch the Doctor while she got the girls ready for bed.

"Has he woken up at all?" Jack questioned as he entered the medi-bay. Martha shook her head.

"No. I have never seen him sleep so much but he must need it. Please just keep an eye on him while I give the girls a bath and get them settled into bed," Martha stated. Jack saluted her with just one finger as he headed over to the bed taking a seat. All most as soon as she left the room, the Doctor opened one eye to look at Jack.

"I have to use the loo," He whispered, his face turning red.

"Do you need help getting to the toilet?" Jack wondered and the Doctor's face turned redder.

"I'm supposed to use a bottle," he mumbled so quickly that Jack almost didn't understand him. Getting to his feet again, Jack made his way to the cupboard. He had to look in several before he found a bottle the Doctor could use and returned to his side. The Doctor took the bottle from Jack then waited for him to turn his back before moving the blanket down. He unzipped his trousers and pulled himself out to try to use the bottle. He couldn't, though, and he laid there feeling humiliated as he tried.

"Don't need to go after all?" Jack questioned as the room remained silent.

"I do, I just can't," The Doctor sighed.

"Just pretend I'm not here," Jack told him. He hummed to himself softly as he kept his back to the Doctor. He rocked on his feet ignoring the Doctor as he finally let out a soft groan. He waited until he heard the soft clunk of the Doctor setting the bottle down on the table before he started to turn around.

"Jack, wait," The Doctor panicked but it was too late. Jack had seen the Doctor naked many times over the long year they spent together. He still paused sucking in his breath as he saw the dark bruises that were scattered along the Doctor's hips. The Doctor refused to look at him as Jack walked over and gently pushed the Doctor's trousers aside to see that his groin was just as bruised. The Doctor lay there frozen as Jack helped him to remove his trousers and reveal that his legs were bruised from almost thigh to toe. How the Doctor was able to walk was beyond Jack as it was obvious the Master had taken his anger more than once out on them.

"I'm going to kill him," Jack hissed under his breath as he finally took a step back. The Doctor grabbed the blanket from the bottom of the bed and pulled it over himself as he trembled.

"You can't kill him," The Doctor stated softly and Jack glared at him.

"Just watch me. I am going to put a bullet between his eyes," Jack told him firmly. He took the bottle off the table and took it to the toilet to empty it. By the time he returned to the Doctor, he was still trembling as he stared at the chair that Jack had vacated. Jack took a seat on the side of the bed, placing a hand on the Doctor's arm. "I know you don't agree with killing him as he is one of your own kind and the father of your children. That monster can't be contained, though, and as long as he lives you will never be safe. I just don't understand why you can continue to forgive him when he does these horrible things to your body."

"He was once my friend, Jack. I know that man is still in there somewhere," The Doctor whispered. Jack shook his head as he gave the Doctor's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"I was once your friend too and I could never imagine hurting you like this," Jack told him. The Doctor looked up at him with sadness and confusion in his eyes.

"You're not my friend anymore?" He questioned sadly. Jack dropped a kiss on the top of the Doctor's head.

"Of course, I am," Jack replied immediately, even if he wasn't sure. The Doctor saw right through the answer and he stared forward as once again the tears started. Hating himself for being the one to make the Doctor cry, Jack laid down taking him into his arms. The Doctor buried his face into Jack's chest as he sobbed wondering how he could show his friends just how sorry he was for leaving them behind.