"Absolutely not. I told you before that I don't want that man anywhere near my son and I meant it," Alice responded as the Doctor started to explain their idea to have Jack help heal Steven use his energy. He had barely told her about using Jack's energy, though, when she interrupted him mid-sentence.
"Would it work?" Martha asked as she considered what the Doctor was saying. She had seen Jack heal quickly from many different wounds as well as coming back from the dead. She had never seen him use his energy to heal others or any evidence that he carried the energy beyond the physical evidence.
"It doesn't matter because my answer is still no," Alice spoke up before the Doctor could speak.
"I understand that you are angry with Jack due to his decision to use your son to stop the 456. If I go tell him that you don't want him to use his energy to heal Steven, he will be upset but it won't hurt him. Nor will it hurt me. The two of us will go back to our studying of the medical books in order to find another way to help your son. You will stay here with your son and I it won't hurt you or Martha to know that you turned away Jack's help. The only person you are hurting by refusing to let Jack help is Steven," The Doctor informed her. His voice was calm but Martha could clearly see the anger in his eyes as he spoke.
"I trusted my father to keep Steven safe and he tried to kill him. I'm sorry, Doctor, but I don't trust him with my son," Alice answered him. The Doctor nodded once showing his understanding.
"I realize that you don't trust Jack. I don't plan on sending Jack in here on his own to try to heal Steven," The Doctor informed her. It wasn't that he didn't trust Jack, he just didn't think that Jack knew how to control his own energy. He was positive that if he sent Jack in by himself, Steven would remain the same as Jack would be unable to share his energy with the child. He could help Jack to learn to control his energy and assist him in giving Steven a small energy transfer. He would be monitoring both Jack and Steven the entire time and would put an end to the transfer if necessary. "I will be guiding Jack throughout the healing while Martha monitors Steven. You will be welcome to stay here by Steven's side the entire time so you can see for yourself that we aren't trying to hurt him."
"Can I have a moment to think about it?" Alice questioned.
"Of course," Martha responded before the Doctor could but that didn't stop him from speaking up again.
"I will give you all the time that you need, but the longer that you wait, the more difficult it will be for Steven to make a full recovery," The Doctor advised her. Alice reached out gently stroking the hair back from Steven's forehead.
"Doctor," Martha warned with her tone. He turned his eyes to look at her and he saw her mouth the word no. He rolled his eyes back towards Alice.
"I'll be in the library," He informed them starting to turn towards the door. He had just placed his hand on the handle when Alice spoke up again causing him to pause in his step.
"Wait," Alice spoke up before he could leave the room. As much as she didn't want to see her father, she wanted her child back more. She wanted to see him up on his feet, smiling at her as they explored the many gardens this place had to offer, not laying in the bed close to death with little hope of a future. "I will let my father help him."
"You've made the right choice. I will go get Jack," The Doctor told her with a small smile. Heading back to the library, he climbed the stairs to the third floor to find Jack still waiting for him. Jack had a book open on his lap but he wasn't reading it as he stared at the railing in front of him.
"She said no, didn't she," Jack spoke up as the Doctor approached him.
"She did," The Doctor agreed causing Jack to hang his head. "At first. I managed to convince her that it is in Steven's best interest to receive the energy transfer and she has agreed that you can help him. We need to go now, though, before she changes her mind again." He reached out his hand to Jack to help him up and Jack took it allowing the Doctor to pull him to his feet. The Doctor didn't release his hand as he pulled Jack close to him, wrapping an arm around Jack. As he released his hand, he held him close, letting Jack rest his head against his shoulder. He leaned his own head so that it was against Jacks, just comforting him for a moment.
"I'm not sure how to transfer my energy," Jack admitted softly from within the comfort of the Doctor's arms.
"Don't worry, I will be right by your side guiding you the entire time," The Doctor informed him. He turned his head so that he could kiss Jack on the side of the head. Jack turned his own head at the last moment so that he caught the Doctor's lips against his own. The Doctor froze as he stared at Jack with wide eyes. Jack didn't press his luck as he tried to break the kiss quickly. The Doctor's lips, however, followed his seeking his mouth. He tried not to smile as he kissed the Doctor softly. The kiss was almost chaste and ended far too soon for Jack. Releasing the Doctor, he continued to hold his hand tightly as together they made their way out of the library to Steven's room. The Doctor squeezed Jack's hand comfortingly Jack as he took a deep breath before entering the room.
"Alice," Jack greeted her, his voice barely above a whisper. He wanted to apologize and tell her how he never meant to hurt his grandson but the words were lost as he felt a lump in his throat.
"Father," Alice responded coldly as she glared at Jack making it perfectly clear that she didn't want him in the room. Jack forced himself to put one foot in front of the other as he moved past her to Steven's bed.
"How?" He asked the Doctor, his voice still soft.
"Just put your fingers on his temples, I will guide you through the rest," The Doctor told him softly. Jack's hands were shaking as he reached out placing one hand on each of Steven's temples. The Doctor followed suit, placing his own hands on Jack's temples from behind as he closed his eyes. He reached out his mind carefully to Jack's asking his permission to enter. Jack willingly opened his mind letting the Doctor in. Doors slammed closed all around the Doctor but that was alright, he wasn't there for Jack's memories even if a void in the back of Jack's mind did entice him. He ignored the doors as he helped Jack to gather his energy. He guided him in guiding the energy down his arms and out the tips of his fingers slowly into Steven's body. Jack could feel a sensation almost like warm water trickling down his hands but as he stared he saw nothing. He liked the feeling of the Doctor in his head and so close to his body that he could feel every inch of the Time Lord. He was almost disappointed when the Doctor helped him to stop the transfer of energy then carefully closed the connection between him and Jack.
"Did it work?" Jack wondered softly as Martha ran through Steven's vitals.
"He is showing signs of improvement, but I would have to run more test to be sure," Martha responded. The Doctor looked at the monitor as well, seeing the changes to Steven's system. He turned back to the boy, and with gentle movements, carefully lifted the bandage on Steven's stomach. The incision showed clear signs of healing beyond the few days since the operation. The Doctor replaced the bandage. He then reached out flipping the switch to turn off the respirator.
"Doctor, what are you doing?" Martha exclaimed in concern. She rushed around the bed to turn the machine back on. As she ran she heard Steven take a small breath. He quickly followed it by another, then a third, falling into a steady but shallow breathing pattern. Martha grabbed the oxygen mask placing it over his mouth and nose as Steven continued to breathe. She didn't remove the tubing quite yet as she didn't want to interrupt his breathing pattern.
"Thank you, Doctor," Alice exclaimed happily.
"It was Jack who gave him the energy transfer, I just guided him," The Doctor replied. He waited expectantly for Alice to thank Jack as well but the thank you never came.
"That's alright Doctor. She doesn't need to thank me. I am just happy I could help him," Jack told the Doctor. The Doctor turned his head to see the tears in Jack's eyes. Without thinking about it, he took Jack into his arms once more, providing him comfort. They could all celebrate later that Steven was alive and thriving and hopefully, soon he would wake.