Author's Note:

The Sequel to this story has been completed and will be uploaded today. Here is a sneak peek.

Three burns, four cuts, and one near death on the Captain's part, and the Doctor still couldn't get the TARDIS to function normally. She was almost jumpy, not wanting to go back to Earth to get Donna. Instead she was insistent that she stay floating in the exact place that she had randomly decided to exit the Time Vortex. She had completely shut down for a few minutes, only keeping the barest of the functions running while she ticked over, ignoring the multi-lingual curses her Time Lord had thrown her direction. He pouted all the time, why couldn't she?

Sighing, the Doctor slid out from under the console with his first three fingers of his right hand in his mouth. His eyes settled on Jack staring at him, as he slowly slid his fingers from his mouth and putting his injured hand in his pocket.

"Wha'd'you think's wrong with her, Doc?" Jack asked trying to make sense of the readings on the computer screen, but for some reason the TARDIS was only using Gallifreyan. He shook his head as he leaned back on the Captain's Chair while the Doctor stroked the edge of the console.

"Dunno," the Doctor muttered, looking at Jack and biting his lip. "I'd say she was reacting against you, but she says she's not, so. She's just so nervous."

Jack looked away, and the Doctor mentally kicked himself several times. Looking at Jack wasn't so bad for him since the Year that Never Was, but every now and then it would catch him off guard. It gave him the same sensation of when he was on Gallifrey, wrapped up in his bed, but thinking of the Toclafane. He remembered distinctly, staring at the walls and waiting to see them ready to jump out at any moment from under his bed. Something so terrible ready to come from something so safe and trusted.

"Jack, I—"

"Don't be," Jack said, putting his head down and giving a mirthless laugh. "Even Jenny noticed, you know? She said she knew all along, but was waiting for me to tell her. At least, that's what she told me yesterday."

Nodding the Doctor concurred. "Yeah, she would have. I didn't think she would be able to interpret it, but I guess she's even cleverer than she looks. Hmm cleverer, is that right?"

"I think so," Jack said distractedly. "She made me tell her though. Said that she didn't want me to 'lie' to her."

The Doctor gave a small half smile and pushed his way onto the captain's chair, causing Jack to relocate by leaning on the edge of the console. He crossed his arms and began to roll down his shirt sleeves after he had rolled them up to help the Doctor.

"Mhm… Do you love her, Jack?" The Doctor asked the question out of blue, surprising even himself slightly as he gave the Captain a hard stare. He wasn't there for her when she regenerated, or when she traveled, but he could be here for her now. Jack Harkness was a good man, he'd give him that, but he was still just a man, and he was prone to temptation. Jenny couldn't possibly be ready for a man of his… experience.

"What?" Jack stuttered, obviously caught off guard.

"Do you love her," he repeated, getting up from the chair and standing in front of him. Somehow, the lanky Time Lord managed to look threatening as he leaned forward towards Jack but didn't touch him. "Will you always love her? Even if you know you'll lose her?"

"Yes," Jack said instantly.

"Because, I know, Jack, how hard it is. Watching them grow old, you know that Jenny will wither and die in the end, she only gets to regenerate ten more times, and then that's it. I've left companions without looking back, and I don't want you doing that to my daughter."

The words seemed to pour from the Doctor's lips on their own accord, as he stared at Jack. He knew they sounded hypocritical, and presumptuous, but he couldn't help it. If Rose had never helped him, he might still be leaving companions, or never letting them get close. He knew from experience that a man could be made better by the right person. Rose had proven that, but it took time. Jenny would have to wheedle her way into Jack's heart like his Rose had done, and she would have to hold him back when he went too far, and she would have to push him forward when he thought that he could no longer take another step.

And, he would have to take Jenny's hand and hold it when she reached out. Not hold anything back, like he had done for too long and finally vowed to cease doing with Rose. He would have to run by her side when there was trouble and when she just wanted to feel the breeze run through her hair. He would have to be there for her when all he wanted to do was run away.

"Promise me, Jack."