It had been a week since the final injection had been given to him. The medicine was finally almost out of his system and he was starting to feel better. That is when he wasn't being stretched all directions. Martha had allowed him two days of rest before she had started physical therapy on his legs. Jack wasn't allowed in the room during the sessions. Martha had all ready become associated to his pain and she explained she didn't want Jack associated any more then he all ready was. It was a little slow going because they had to guide him through the stretches rather then showing him. His muscles were responding well though and he was sitting better and walking slowly on his own. He was still a ways off from running but at least he was on his feet.
His eyes though were a different story. He was still completely blind. Even now sitting in the bath soaking his tired muscles he knew there must be a light on because he could hear Jack in the next room turning pages of what he thought was a report. Try as he may though all he saw was the darkness in front of him. He sighed loudly.
"Need something?" Jack asked concerned.
"No," the Doctor responded and he heard Jack flipping the paper again. Report he decided. He sat up and leaned forward, carefully feeling until he found the plug. He pulled it and heard the water start down the drain.
"Getting out?" He heard Jack coming over.
"I can do it." He said firmly. The foot steps stopped. He grabbed the edge of the tub and helped push himself to his feet before stepping out. It took a moment of thought but he managed to find his towel. After drying off he wrapped it around his waist before walking slowly forward. He bumped his leg on something. Turning slightly he slammed his other knee hard into the object.
"Damn it," he seethed. He kicked the offending object. Now his knee and foot were sore. Putting his hands out he figured out it was the cupboard with the sink. Turning slightly he managed to find the door. Stumbling and bumping into things he navigated his way to the bed. Frustrated he didn't bother to move anything as he flopped down on it. Reaching up he grabbed a pillow and placed it firmly over his face using his arms to hold it tightly over his mouth and nose.
-DW-
Jack sat as his small desk as watched the Doctor stumble out of the bathroom and to the bed. He wanted to help him but he was also happy the Doctor was trying to be independent again. The pillow over the face was a little unsettling though. He waited to see if the Time Lord was trying to suffocate himself. Finally the pillow was thrown aside. The Doctor laid with his back half on the bed and his feet on the floor. His eyes were closed.
"That doesn't look comfortable," Jack commented.
"It's not." The Doctor responded not trying to move. Jack sat down on the bed beside him and rubbed his thigh.
"It'll be all right." Jack stated comfortingly.
"When Jack, when will it be all right. I let you put me through hell so that I can have my life back."
"Let us." Jack scoffed. "You fought, and begged me to kill you every step of the way."
"Look in my jacket in the inside pocket." The Doctor said not looking towards Jack. Jack stood and went over to the wardrobe. He reached into the jacket's pockets and pulled out a variety of objects. But he clearly saw the one the Doctor meant. It was a small vial with aspirin in it.
"You've had this the whole time?" Jack asked feeling his stomach flip. The Doctor nodded.
"Is there more?" Jack asked trying to keep his voice calm when he was screaming inside.
"Yes," the Doctor admitted.
"Where?"
"I'm not saying."
"And I am not standing by and letting you commit suicide." Jack's voice finally broke in his anger.
"I don't plan to." The Doctor responded just as angrily.
"That's what you said before but you still carried around the aspirin."
"Because I didn't want you to have to make the choice. I was going to kill myself so you didn't have to." The Doctor snapped.
"If we hadn't found the parasites how much longer were you planning on waiting."
"Jack."
"How long," Jack yelled.
"That night." The Doctor admitted quietly. Jack grabbed the Doctor's jacket in his hand and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
-DW-
Another week passed. Though Jack slept by him every night things were still tense between the two of them. He could feel Jack next to him by except for the chaste kiss and short hug, Jack made no move to touch him. He knew Jack wanted him to apologize, he also knew Jack knew he wouldn't. He heard Jack snoring lightly beside him and got up out of bed. He didn't bother with a light, it didn't matter anyways. Even though the lesions on his brain were shrinking and his motor skills were coming back he was still blind.
He made his way out of the hub and into the kitchen. It was as he crossed the hub that he realized that little pin pricks of light were piercing the darkness. Smiling he counted the steps as he made his way across the hub. Instead of going to the kitchen, he instead went to the TARDIS. She hummed happily at him as he entered. He had her do a full scan and confirmed that he wasn't imaging things, his eyesight was coming back.
Over the next few days he was beginning to make out objects. Though they were hazy and blurry he could see the outline. The TARDIS was a big blue shape, Jack a hazy mix of blue and pink. He didn't tell the others yet. He wanted to surprise Jack once he could see better. He wasn't going to say an apology but he would find a way to show Jack just how sorry he was that he had hurt him.