Jack was sitting with the Doctor waiting impatiently for Martha to return with the test results. The Doctor had fought to stay awake as long as he could before drifting off again. Jack wondered how long it took to look under a microscope to find out if the parasites were still there, but he also knew that Martha would want to be through and make sure. That didn't stop him from worrying and the longer Martha was away the more he feared the worse. He lifted the Doctor's hand and kissed his bruised fingers softly. The Doctor's grip tightened and he lowered his hand back to the bed sighing softly.

Jack couldn't imagine the amount of pain the Doctor must be in. The red flush of his fever did nothing to hide the bruises that covered his body from the simplest touch. Jack heard a soft scratching sound and looked over to see the Doctor picking at the tape for the IV.

"I wouldn't do that." Jack commented. "The one you are trying to take out is keeping your kidney's from failing completely. It is the only drug we can safely give you. But if you want to add kidney failure to the list of problems go right ahead." The Doctor stopped picking at the tape and moved his hand upwards towards the oxygen mask instead. Jack stopped him.

"You're just going to be difficult now you are awake aren't you." Jack asked and the Time Lord smiled slightly opening his eyes a crack.

"Don't need it." The Doctor hissed between ragged breaths.

"Then breathe normal and we'll take it off."

"Hurts too much."

"I know sweetheart. It'll all be over soon." Jack soothed. Jack was hoping beyond hope that the test came back negative. He didn't want to think about what would happen if they weren't but it was all that filled his mind at the moment. He knew the Doctor wouldn't want to go through this again and he wasn't going to make him. In his office locked away in a safe was a sleeping pill that was so powerful it had been banned across the galaxy. One pill for most species and they slept for weeks, two pills they may never wake up. Three pills though relaxed the body to the point where every organ shut down, including the heart. Injected into the IV it would be quick and painless and the Doctor would just go to sleep.

Jack heard the door to the room open and up to see Martha coming in, her face was tear stained but she was smiling.

"They're gone." she exclaimed. "The medicine worked. They're gone." Jack whooped as he held up his arm and Martha rushed over to hug him. Jack released Martha and kissed the Doctor's lips.

"You hear that they're gone." Jack kissed the Doctor again.

-DW-

The Doctor opened his mouth to thank Martha, but his hoarse voice broke as he tried. He felt the tears in his eyes and realized what humans meant when they said happy tears. Here he was laying in a bed, blind, hot, and in pain but it was almost over. In three days time the final shot would be given and his body could start healing itself. He could run among the stars he missed so much with Jack by his side.

He hadn't changed his mind about Jack coming with him. If anything he loved Jack more for staying by his side these last two weeks and keeping him anchored to the world. Even as his vision had finally failed him, Jack's hand helped him to keep the connection to the world around him. He had felt as though he was alone for so long, even with his companions. Now even in the darkness that filled his day and night, Jack made him realize he didn't have to be.

-DW-

Over the next three days the Doctor's fever finally broke and he was sitting up in bed more, not just laying slumped across the pillows. The bruising was still prominent across his body but their touch was no longer bringing new ones to the surface. He seemed happy and though he was still having daily seizures he also seemed less tired. His breathing had also evened out more and Martha had removed the oxygen mask.

Martha entered the autopsy room with the final injection. "This is it," she told the Doctor as she moved the blanket and swabbed a place on his thigh. The Doctor winced at her touch and she tried to ignore it. She knew that he was beginning to associate her with pain and was thankful this was the last injection she would have to give him for awhile. She would be optimistic and hope she never had to hurt him again but she was his Doctor and if he ever got hurt, Jack would bring him to Martha.

"Sharp scratch," She warned him and watched as he gripped Jack's hand tighter. She injected the syringe into his leg. "All done." She exclaimed happily. "We'll give your body a few days to recover and then we'll start you on physical therapy."

The Doctor groaned at her. "Do I have to?"

"Your muscles haven't been responding for months now and you have been confined to this bed for two weeks. If you want to run again, in this body you need it."

"I'll be there with you every step of the way." Jack promised.

"Actually Jack can I speak to you a moment about that." Martha said. Jack kissed the Doctor.

"I'll be just outside the room if you need me. Will you be okay for a few minutes?" Jack asked tenderly.

"Don't leave me," The Doctor whined holding Jack's hand tighter.

"Just call for me if you need me and I will be back before you know it." Jack tried to pull his hand lose and when he finally managed the look of desperation as he reached for Jack's hand again made Martha feel guilty.

"Stay with him," She said. "We'll talk later."

"Are you sure?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

He took the Doctor's hand in his again as the Doctor began to panic. "I'm right here sweetheart. I'm not going anywhere I promise." Jack caressed the Doctor's head as he breathed quickly. His breathing evened out again as he held tightly to Jack's hand with both of his. In his world of darkness he had found his light.