Jack groaned as the sound of the TARDIS arriving filled Torchwood. Normally he would be happy to see the Doctor but he just wanted to sleep. Torchwood had been busy the last week dealing with the rift acting up and Ianto had gotten hurt leaving Mickey and Gwen to pick up the slack. Still Jack had worried about the Doctor and wondered if he was alright from the moment he said goodbye to him after the Daleks. He knew that Donna had lost her memories of being with the Doctor thanks to Wilfred, but no one had seen him or Rose since. The TARDIS let out a final wheeze and Jack rubbed his face as he realized he was going to have to get up. He really hoped the world didn't need saving at the moment because he wasn't sure he could stay awake long enough to be an asset.
"Jack," The Doctor called out. Jack sat up as he could hear the sadness in the Doctor's voice from that one word.
"Down here Doc, I will be up in a second," Jack replied. He found his trousers and pulled the on before heading up the ladder. The Doctor had parked the TARDIS in his office and was leaning on it for support. Jack froze seeing how skinny the Doctor was. The Doctor usually was skinny, but his body was almost skeletal now. "What the hell happened to you?" Jack cried out in surprise as he came up the ladder.
"Travel with me," The Doctor whispered, not answering Jack's question. He didn't look at Jack as he stared down at the floor.
"I told you before Doc, I have priorities here," Jack told him. He stood in his office moving closer to the Doctor. "I can't just abandon my team. Especially not now. They need me."
"I need you," The Doctor responded softly. Jack rubbed his hand through his hair. He was right the Earth was in danger. He hoped he had time for a cup of coffee first.
"What do you need me to do? It will take a minute to call my team back," Jack explained to him. The Doctor shook his head.
"I don't need your team, Jack. I need you," The Doctor informed him. His voice a little stronger than before. He looked up at Jack. For the first time, Jack could see the tears feeling the Doctor's brown eyes. His eyes were red and he stared at Jack with such hopelessness that Jack was amazed he had gotten out of bed.
"I'm afraid I don't understand Doctor," Jack told him in confusion. He put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder as a way of comfort. Jack barely had time to register that the Doctor moved before he had his arms full of the Time Lord. The Doctor held onto him tightly, wrapping his arms around him and burying his head in Jack's chest much like a lost child. His body was shaking as he began to sob. Jack held onto him, not sure what else to do. The Doctor laid his head on his bare chest and Jack could feel that he was running a fever as his normally cool skin was warm to the touch.
"Shh. It's alright," Jack cooed softly, even though he didn't know why the Doctor was so distraught. He had never seen the Doctor so broken. He didn't know how to help him or what had caused it. He rubbed the Doctor's back, making gentle shushing sounds until the Doctor started to go quiet in his arms. Jack looked down as the Doctor yawned, keeping his face pressed against Jack's chest. Jack held him a little closer. "Want to tell me what that was about?"
"I miss you," The Doctor mumbled into Jack's chest. "Please travel with me again."
"I think the only place you should be going to at the moment is your bed. Once you have woken up again and are feeling better, I don't think you will want me to travel with you," Jack informed him matter of factly. The Doctor looked up at him.
"I will," The Doctor told Jack a little more firmly.
"We'll discuss it after you have rested. I need to sleep to, so if you don't want to go to your bed we can go to mine." Jack expected the Doctor to protest the idea so he was surprised when the Doctor nodded. He took the Doctor down to his room and had him sit down on the bed. Going into the small bathroom, he got a cloth damp for the Doctor to wipe his face with and a glass of cold water. He expected the Doctor to take off while he was in the next room, but going out he found the Doctor was still there. He handed the Doctor the cloth first, then gave him the water to drink. Jack climbed sleepily onto the bed, laying down beneath the blankets. There wasn't much room on his bed. The Doctor didn't seem to mind as he laid down practically on top of Jack snuggling into him. Jack wrapped an arm around him pulling him closer. He gently tucked the blanket around the Doctor, making sure he was tucked in.
"I love you," The Doctor mumbled softly as his breathing began to even out with sleep. Jack had waited over 2000 years to hear the Doctor say those words, but he doubted the Doctor would realize he had said them come morning. Pushing his luck, he kissed the Doctor on the top of the head.
"I love you too, Doc," He whispered. Even with how tired he was, it took him awhile to fall asleep as he held the Doctor. He was confused and afraid the Doctor would be gone when he woke. He was too tired to fight sleep for long though and soon drifted off into an uneasy sleep.