Jack worked on reports quietly while the Doctor waited, excited for the cat to come back to the hub. He had a few ideas of what the creature might be but he wouldn't know for sure until he was able to examine it himself. Even though he was tired he forced himself to a little taller in his chair so that Jack wouldn't try to put him back to bed. Though he knew that Jack had his best interest in mind, he looked forward to the day he could take himself to bed again when he was tired or tell Jack wanted he wanted to eat. He was sick of oatmeal but he was positive he would be having it for breakfast tomorrow. His stomach flipped at the thought of food and he groaned.
"Jack," He moaned.
"Yes Doctor," Jack asked looking up. He moved his hand to his stomach. Jack noticed the gesture and how pale he was. He grabbed the nearby trash bin and held it up just in time. The Doctor coughed and gagged as his stomach rejected all of the soup he had eaten. He groaned as he gagged again.
"ugh," he managed as he sat up a little.
"Are you done?" Jack wondered softly as he looked at the miserable Time Lord. His eyes were red and he had tears on his face from getting sick. The Doctor nodded, no longer trying to hold himself up. He slumped in the chair as Jack left the room for a moment. The thought of going to bed again was sounding better and better but he was bound and determined to stay up. Jack returned a moment later, taking in the Doctor's appearance. He wanted to send the Doctor to bed but he knew that would crush the Doctor's spirit. Instead he knelt down in front of him, and wiped his face with a warm cloth.
"There is that better?" Jack questioned as he finished.
"Yes" The Doctor sighed. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of polos. Opening them he decanted several onto the table near the Doctor. The Doctor reached out gratefully and took one, placing it into his mouth.
"When Owen get's here I am just going to have him run a quick examination to make sure that your infection healed up and that isn't what is causing you to be sick," Jack explained to the Doctor. The Doctor nodded, he was still taking antibiotics for the infection, but there was no point in trying to argue Jack. He didn't have the vocabulary at the moment to get his point across. Instead it was just easier for him to agree now and have Owen confirm he ate to much so that Jack would stop worrying.
Jack sat down next to him again. He lifted his head to rest it on Jack's arm, not worrying about the fact he looked tired. He felt exhausted. Jack though went back to his paper work, just letting him rest. He took comfort in the warmth of Jack's arm. He needed to be touched and held in this body more then any of his others. He blamed Rose for that. He pushed the thought of Rose away as he tried not to dwell on how much he missed her again. She was always a thought at the back of his mind as he wondered if she was happy wherever she was. He reached his hand up, trying to take Jack's as he just needed someone to hold on to. Jack gently gripped his hand back and he held on as tightly as he could.
"I've got you," Jack reassured him. Jack kissed him softly on the head and he found himself trying to cuddle closer to Jack. His wheel chair arm was in the way though causing him to growl in frustration. Jack looked over at the growl and saw the way the Doctor was sitting. Laying down his own work he picked the Doctor up, carrying him over to the couch. He sat the Doctor down on it first, then sat down beside him. Lifting his arm he wrapped it around the Doctor's shoulders, pulling him in close. "Is that better?"
"Yes," The Doctor sighed as he snuggled up closer relishing in being held. It was such a small gesture on Jack's part but it meant a lot to the Doctor. He rested his head on Jack's chest, listening to his heart and just breathing in the familiar scent. As much as he wanted to stay up, he found was quickly loosing his battle with consciousness. At the moment that seemed all right though. Jack would make sure that the cat was still there when he woke up. He let his eyes drift closed and had just about given in when he felt another mind tapping against his.
He opened his up as the door to the hub opened. Jack's team entered with a pet carrying cage. Inside the cage was the cat. They were right that it looked like an earth cat, but the Doctor was sure that it wasn't. It was a Dejinshen from the planet... Well the Doctor couldn't remember the name of the planet at the moment but that didn't matter. The creature was only a few years old and probably terrified because it was separated from its family group. He could feel its mind reaching out to them but it wouldn't of course receive an answer.
"Here is your blood cat. I am going to bed," Gwen informed Jack testily.
"Have a good night Gwen. You can go to Tosh, I just need Owen to stay back a moment," Jack informed the trio. Tosh quickly left behind Gwen before Jack could change his mind and make her stay as well. She was tired to but better at not showing it. Jack carefully eased his way out of the Doctor's arms and went over to the cage.
"Did you need something sir?" Owen asked as he sat the cage down.
"The Doctor has been sick to his stomach tonight. He ate a lot of Jammie Dodgers earlier and I was just hoping you could give him something to calm his stomach before you left," Jack explained surprising the Doctor. Owen nodded.
"I have an anti-emetic I can give him." Owen left the room and returned with a pill. "Just hold this under your tongue and let it melt," He informed the Doctor. The Doctor opened his mouth, letting Owen place the pill inside it.
"If he is still feeling bad tomorrow I will have you examine him. For now though you can head home for the night." Jack dismissed Owen. "I do expect a full report on my desk tomorrow about the capture of the creature."
"Will do," Owen answered as he left. Once the hub was empty Jack turned to the Doctor.
"Do you know what we are dealing with because I am beginning to think the rest of them are right and it is a cat," Jack sighed in disappointment.
"Yes," The Doctor voiced. He tried to figure out how to tell Jack what it was. Seeing the keyboard he pointed at it. "Me Jack," He exclaimed.
"You want the computer?" Jack asked. He nodded happily. Picking him up Jack carried him back to the computers and sat him down in front of it. The Doctor reached up for the keyboard. He had to go slow and concentrate as he hit a letter. A few times he hit the wrong one and would tell Jack no, until Jack erased it, then he would try again. Until finally the word Dejinshen was on the screen.
"See Jack!" He exclaimed happily as he pointed at the word then to the cat.
"I have never heard of them. Are they dangerous?" Jack asked the Doctor in concern.
"No," the Doctor answered. Jack eyed him for a moment not sure if he should believe the Doctor. The Doctor though wasn't stupid and he was proving that while his vocabulary and body may not be working properly, his mind was. Jack leaned down and opened the cage. The cat shot out of it, immediately hiding. The Doctor laughed as he watched it run off.
"I will get it some food and it will come out again. Now that your cat is here let's get you to bed," Jack stated. He took the Doctor into his room and tucked him into bed.
"Jack me?" The Doctor asked patting the bed beside him.
"Are you sure?" Jack questioned, not wanting to push anything.
"Yes," The Doctor answered. Jack toed his shoes off before climbing up on to the Doctor's bed. He lay down next to him so that he could cuddle the Time Lord close. It didn't take long for the Doctor to fall asleep in his arms, but Jack didn't sleep as he just lay there listening to him breathe.