The Doctor entered his room to find Jack still asleep. Crawling up on the bed, he kissed his lover softly on the forehead as he ran the back of his fingers down the side of Jack's face. Jack moaned softly as he opened his eyes, once more disturbed from his dreams. Despite it being the man that he loved waking him, he just wanted to return to his dreams where he sat with Ianto as he listened to his father and brother work. It had been a peaceful dream for a change and Jack couldn't remember the last time his dreams hadn't been filled with pain and fear. He rolled so that his back was facing the Doctor, trying to hide the tears that now filled his eyes.
"What is the matter, Jack?" The Doctor asked in concern as he sat up. He had been looking forward to waking his lover and perhaps having a quickie before going to the kitchen to make breakfast. It amazed him how quickly he had gotten used to having Jack as his lover after accepting that he did, in fact, love the con-man who stole his hearts.
"I just want to go home," Jack told him softly. The Doctor nodded. Homesickness he understood well. As a child, all he dreamed about was seeing the stars. He fought every day to get off the planet that he was born on and to travel among them, even going so far to steal the TARDIS in order to escape. After leaving, he had only returned to the planet when he was called or to visit his family but never stayed longer than he had to. Now that Gallifrey was gone he wished that he could return one last time. That he could run through the red grass of Koschei's farm and watch the twin suns rise over the silver trees. His gardens were all that he had left, though. Just a small part of his home that the TARDIS had constructed from his memories in order to help him.
"I could take you there if you want," The Doctor offered trying to help Jack. Jack shook his head no.
"My home is also gone, Doc," Jack responded. While the beach from his childhood still remained, the place itself had been destroyed during the attack. There was no point in returning to find that his parents were still gone and his brother was still missing. Then there was his home in Cardiff with his first wife, that home had also died along with their child. He had wandered for years after that, never really calling any place home until he found Ianto. Yet, once more that home had been fleeting leaving him wandering aimlessly until the Doctor found him.
"Come with me," the Doctor told him as he had an idea. Jack didn't move so he reached down taking Jack's hand into his own and giving it a gentle tug.
"I really don't want to, Doc," Jack advised him not moving.
"I know, but come anyways," The Doctor responded. Jack sighed as he forced himself to move. He didn't know what the Doctor was planning and didn't really care. He could go with the Doctor, then give Steven his energy transfer for the day before climbing back into the comfort of his bed. He shuffled his feet as he followed the Doctor out of his bedroom and down the hall, coming to the control room. He stood watching for a moment as the Doctor danced around the console. Taking the opportunity to escape, he turned his back heading down the hall. He made it about half way before the Doctor caught up with him. Placing one hand on each of his shoulders, he turned Jack around taking him back to the control room and over to the console. He picked up a small round orb that was attached to the TARDIS by several wires.
"I want you to take this in your hands and then concentrate on the place you call home. Form the picture clearly in your mind remembering as many details as you can," The Doctor informed him, continuing on as though nothing had happened. Jack sighed as he took the orb from the Doctor. He closed his eyes concentrating on the beach that he had been laying on in his dreams. He felt the orb growing warmer in his hands as he thought about the way the waves had lapped gently on the beach. In his mind, he could see the complex that was his childhood home standing out among the waves. The orb cooled and he felt the Doctor take it from him. Opening his eyes he watched as the Doctor laid the orb back on the console.
"What did that accomplish?" He asked the Doctor slightly irritated. The Doctor smiled brightly at him.
"You'll see soon. First, though, we are going to have breakfast and then go to see Steven," The Doctor told Jack, giving the TARDIS time to work.
"I'm going back to bed," Jack responded, going back to the corridors. The Doctor didn't give him a chance, though, as he was once more taken by the hand and steered into Steven's room. He sighed upon seeing that Martha and Alice were both in the room sipping cups of coffee. He really just wanted to be alone but it was obvious that the Doctor wasn't going to allow him that freedom. Then again the last time he had left the Doctor when he was feeling down, the Doctor had found him floating face down in the pool. Despite Jack's promise that he would never allow the Doctor to find him in the pool again he knew that it would take time for the Doctor to actually trust him.
"Have you made a decision yet, Alice?" The Doctor asked as he closed the door behind them.
"I have and I don't think it is a good idea to move my son quite yet," Alice answered. Jack looked at the Doctor in confusion. The Doctor hadn't mentioned moving Steven to him or he would have tried to talk him out of it.
"Well I understand your reasoning, I still think it would be best for Steven to see the gardens," The Doctor responded.
"I agree with the Doctor. Despite the fact that Steven still spends most of his days asleep, he is medically stable. A short walk around the TARDIS gardens would be good for him," Martha advised Alice. Alice looked to Martha. While she trusted both of their opinions she didn't want to risk endangering or confusing her son.
"I promise Alice, we won't be going far. The garden is just across the hall and we can return the moment that he needs too," The Doctor reassured her.
"Alright," Alice agreed after a long moment continuing to put her trust in Martha and the Doctor. With the decision made, Martha went to get Steven a wheelchair while the Doctor helped Jack perform the energy transfer. Just like the Doctor expected, once the energy transfer was completed Steven moaned softly opening his eyes.
"Mum," He questioned his voice soft and hoarse.
"I'm right here baby," She told him as she took his hand.
"I don't feel good," he complained squeezing her hand in his.
"I know sweetheart, but you are getting better," Alice promised him, following their daily conversation. It broke her heart every time Steven woke up and she had to repeat her lines as if she were in a play. The words seemed to comfort her son, though, so she would say them until he finally remembered that he was safe and loved. "Today, we are even going to go for a walk in the gardens. Doesn't that sound lovely."
"Yeah, but I'm tired, mum," Steven whined closing his eyes again.
"That's alright, Steven. It will just be a short walk," The Doctor told him causing Steven to open his eyes again. He looked at the Doctor, the confusion clear in his eyes. He looked towards his mum then Jack, a smile crossing his face as they settled on the Captain.
"Uncle," he said happily. "Are you going with us?"
"I am," Jack agreed feeling trapped. Knowing that he had no other choice. He looked towards his lover wondering what surprise he had in mind for the two of them and just like Steven wondered how long it would be before he could return to his bed. Martha stopped him from asking, though, as she returned with the wheelchair in tow. Jack stood to the side letting the Doctor and Martha place Steven in the wheelchair. They buckled him in hooking his IV to a small pole on the side and then hanging a small oxygen tank to the back of the chair. Once he was ready, Martha pushed the chair allowing Alice to walk beside him. Steven held his mum's hand tightly as together they crossed the hall into one of the Doctor's many gardens.
It was one of the smaller gardens, with a long path brick that circled the inside. Blue and white flowers of various sizes covered the ground and in the distance, there was an appearance of trees growing. Jack felt disappointed as he walked with the Doctor. This garden had never been one of his favorites as he had always thought it was too simple. He understood the Doctors decision in choosing it, however, as it wouldn't over stimulate Steven on his first trip out. Still, it was obvious he was afraid due to the change as he gripped his mum's hand tightly the entire way.
"I want to go back," He whispered after a short time.
"There is a bench ahead with a small pond. Do you want to sit there for awhile instead," Martha questioned.
"No, I want to go back," Steven argued sounding more agitated. They hadn't made it as far as she hoped but still, they had gotten him out of his room. Each day they would try again until he was willing to spend more time outside of his room.
"Alright, let's get you back to your room," Martha agreed turning the chair around. They wheeled Steven back to his room, settling him into bed once more. Back in the familiar room, Steven immediately drifted back to sleep and Alice took her place once more beside his bed. With everyone falling back to their normal routines, it was time for Jack's surprise. The Doctor jsut hoped that he took it better than Steven did.
