The Hub was quiet after the tension of earlier and Jack's lecture on falling for the Doctor's so called helpless routine had left everyone sitting in an awkward silence.
They had drifted apart and started doing the day to day tasks of running a secret alien- hunting company.
The morning drifted into afternoon and there was a sense of unease that lay heavy in the air.
The Doctor had been quiet since his little deception, but anyone who looked at the monitor could see that he was suffering.
They wanted to help, but Jack had barred anyone but himself from entering the cell.
Doctor Stoneleigh looked up from his paperwork when his assistant Stevens knocked.
"Sir, may I make a request?"
"Go on," Doctor Stoneleigh said.
"I know that Captain Harkness has banned any of us from direct contact with the Doctor. But I feel he is missing an important trick."
"How so?"
"Well. The Doctor needs someone to trust and since he isn't likely to trust you or the Captain Harkness' team, I could be that person. We need to gain his trust or he'll just revert back to the mentally unstable condition he was in before he was given heroin, and judging by what I've read, we really don't want a psychotic, all- powerful alien who can control time on our hands."
Doctor Stoneleigh thought for a second. "Maybe you're right. I'll talk to Jack in the morning."
"Thank you, I'll just and get some things that I'll need, just in case the captain agrees."
He let himself out of the Hub and walked across the plaza before making a call.
"I'm in sir and you might find this an interesting development. Your property has an addiction...yes sir, Im on my way to purchase some now. Yes sir, I will inform you as soon as I manage to get him on our side. Thank you sir," he said and rang off.
He moved off and into the less salubrious part of Cardiff to get what he needed.
When he returned the Hub was quiet. It was devoid of any life aside from Captain Harkness who had retreated to his quarters.
He looked round, just to make sure that no-one had stayed late and with a quick glance at the hatch where Captain Harkness slept, he slipped down the steps and into the cell area.
The Doctor had never known such pain...well he had, but never pain in his guts as well in his head; in fact his whole body ached and craved for the sweet bliss of heroin.
He scowled when he thought about the human's refusal to give him what he wanted...well in that case he would escape and find it himself.
They had forgotten he was an excellent mimic and Captain Harkness' voice rang out.
"Harkness, Delta Nine Six Eight, clear."
There was audible hiss and then a click as the door opened.
He was about to go through it when the door to the cells opened. A sense of perverse curiosity made him stop; perhaps he could have a little fun before he escaped.
He was expecting one of Harkness' little helpers but was surprised to see someone different.
He watched silently as the man closed the cell door and moved over to his cell and appraised him silently.
"I don't appreciate being stared at like a fish in a bowl," the Doctor said.
The man looked the Doctor up and down. "You don't look like an all powerful Time Lord."
The Doctor smiled, despite the gnawing pain in his stomach and the bone-deep ache. He took in a deep breath to steady the pain and he caught a familiar scent.
"You have something I want," he said, his voice low and soft.
The man put his hand in his pocket and took a package.
The Doctor stared at the package; a hungry light came to his eyes.
"You want this, don't you? Pity, you're locked in there and I'm out here...but you can have it if you agree to what I'm about to ask."
"Oh, I don't think so," the Doctor replied and pushed the door open.
Stevens thought he had the advantage on the alien in the cell and was already counting the money into his account.
He was sure that the alien's addiction would be sufficient to bring him onto his side and gaining the trust of the others would follow quickly. He had told his employer that he would have the subject out within twenty-four hours.
So when he had stood in front of the cell and held the package up and had seen the look in the alien's eyes, his confidence grew.
What he didn't expect was for the door to the cell to open and find himself struggling for breath.
"I'll take that," the alien said and took the package. "I won't kill you as you brought me a present, but that doesn't mean I won't hurt you."
The Doctor looked down at the limp form of the man who he'd just thrown into the wall and shrugged.
He needed some clothes and the man was just about the same height as him. Oh well, needs must he thought.
He dressed quickly and pocketed the precious package; he resisted the temptation to use as he had to escape...find somewhere quiet so he could stop the pain and the nightmares.
He was careful as he climbed the steps, keeping his face away from the cameras. He had to stop as a violent tremor ran through him and he shuddered...he really needed that fix.
He thanked the gods that the place was empty, but he knew he could not get out the usual way. But he'd been here before and he knew of another way.
Jack stirred as the distance clang of something metallic echoed around the Hub, but he just turned and went back to sleep.
Well, he did for a few minutes until something made him wake up.
He sat up, not sure of what it was.
He got up, dressed quickly, the sick feeling in his stomach increasing...something was wrong, but what?
It was only when he looked at the monitor he knew what was wrong...the Doctor was gone!
He quickly scanned the other cameras and the Doctor was nowhere in sight and the Plaza was quiet.
Where the hell...?
It came to him in a flash of memory...the sewer.
He sprinted to the small pool, ignoring the creature that crooned at him. The sewer lid was off and lying to one side.
He jumped down and stopped; he had no idea which way the Doctor would have gone and it was too dangerous to go after him alone.
He let out a cry of frustration and kicked the water, caring not if it splashed him.
The sewer was cold and wet and smelly, but he didn't care; he cared only for the precious liquid in the needle he placed against his skin.
He grimaced as it broke his skin, but minutes later he didn't care as all the pain and the nightmare images faded and the euphoria of sweet bliss replaced it.