The Doctor slept late the next day and when he did wake, he didn't want to do anything but lie in his bed with Jack. For the first time in a while, he didn't care Rose was aboard the TARDIS or what she was up to. He didn't care there was another planet out there that he hadn't explored yet or the fact that he could watch a star be born. He even whined at Jack when he got out of bed to get them a cup of tea and something to eat. He knew the Doctor was depressed over the events from the day before, but he had no idea how to help him. So he lay quietly holding him as the Doctor clung to him.
When morning rolled around again and the Doctor tried to stay in bed once more, Jack didn't let him. The Doctor needed to get up and move if he was going to feel better. The Doctor let himself go limp as Jack hauled him out of bed and to the shower. He was surprised how heavy the skinny Time Lord seemed as he moved him. The Doctor didn't help any as Jack undressed him and then undressed himself before getting into the shower.
"Put your feet down before I drop you," Jack told him as he stood in the water. The Doctor was slippery and he seemed to find it amusing as he stared up at Jack.
"I didn't want a shower," The Doctor replied calmly, speaking for the first time since Jack had woke him up.
"Tough," Jack responded, kissing the Doctor on the head. He helped the Doctor wash, spending extra time cleaning the Doctor's groin and bottom. The Doctor was soon a whimpering mess as he tried to find his release, but Jack was making it very difficult for him.
"Jack," The Doctor whined as Jack stopped him from falling over the edge for a second time. His body hurt and was begging for the release. He groaned loudly as Jack began to move his hand again, it was almost torturous for him. He laid his head down on Jack's chest as he tried to breathe. "Please, Jack." Jack couldn't resist the neediness in the Doctor's voice. He lifted the Doctor's head to kiss him on the lips as he finally allowed the Doctor to find his release. The Doctor groaned into Jack's mouth, his body quivering as once more Jack had to help him stand.
"See it was worth waiting wasn't it," Jack told him smugly. The Doctor rolled his eyes at Jack. He stood up straight on shaky legs as he helped Jack clean his back.
"I was thinking we could find Rose, drop her off on an uninhabited planet and then go to breakfast," The Doctor suggested. He was feeling slightly better thanks to Jack and the hot shower, but he didn't want to deal with Rose yet.
"Or we can leave her at a zoo. I am sure they will take care of her and then go to the moon for cocktails?" Jack offered as another solution. The Doctor grinned happily at him.
"There is a zoo in the 72nd century that had alien species as part of its exhibit. I never approved of it, but I think Rose will fit right in. I will get dressed and set the coordinates," The Doctor informed Jack as he stepped out of the shower.
"I was kidding. Doctor, please tell me you know I was kidding," Jack called after him. Jack hurried to wash the soap off of himself so that he could chase after the Doctor. The Doctor ignored him and kept walking though. He had shut the zoo down and took the inhabitants back to their homes a few regenerations ago. He could let Jack worry for a while as punishment for dragging him out of bed. He had just finished drying off and was starting to get his suit on when Jack came over to him.
"Sweetheart you do know we can't put Rose in a zoo," Jack told the Doctor softly. The Doctor didn't look at him as he picked out a light blue shirt with a dark brown tie. The tie had little dark blue swirls on it and he decided on a pair of brown socks to go with the suit.
"I know that. They only take prime examples of the species. They would never except Rose," The Doctor commented. Jack opened and closed his mouth a few times. He was at a loss of what to say to the Doctor. The Doctor smiled at him as he finished dressing. He completed his suit with a pair of red converse before heading to the control room. He wasn't happy to see that Rose was already there waiting for him.
"Where are we going?" She asked stepping forward and trying to loop her arm with his.
"We are going out for breakfast and I have a very important task for you," The Doctor told her, sidestepping her. She turned and he barely avoided it a second time.
"What is it?" Rose wondered.
"I need you to hold this button down while I run a few calculations," The Doctor informed her seriously. He pointed to a button on the top of the console that helped to control the broken Chameleon circuit. "Now this is very important Rose, I don't want you to stop pressing that button until I say it is safe to release it. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Rose told him happily. She pressed the button in and the Doctor sat down in the captain's chair. Right now they were just drifting and once Jack came out of the room, they could decide where to go eat. Jack didn't take long and sat down next to him on the chair, Mickey followed suit a short time later.
"So where are we going?" Mickey asked curiously.
"This er planet thing. Asteroid," The Doctor responded. He wasn't quite sure where yet.
"Doctor why is she doing that?" Jack questioned as he saw Rose just standing and pressing the button. She was humming to herself and didn't seem to care she had been left to hold it down.
"Because I told her to," The Doctor told him happily.
"When was that?" Jack sighed.
"About half an hour ago," The Doctor answered him. He still had a grin on his face, but he could see that Jack wasn't as amused at him leaving Rose to hold the button down.
"And how long's it been since she could've stopped?" Jack wondered.
"Ten minutes? Twenty? Twenty nine?" The Doctor admitted. Jack narrowed his eyes at the Doctor. "I was just, I was, I was calibrating. I was just. No, I know exactly what I'm doing." As if in response to his lies at that moment there was an explosion in the console and the room plunged into darkness. The Doctor swore as he jumped to his feet as quickly as he could. He pressed buttons and hit switches, but the TARDIS failed to respond.
"Doctor, what is happening?" Jack asked him as the TARDIS jolted more than normal.
"The time vortex is gone," The Doctor panicked. "It's just gone. Brace yourself! We're going to crash!"
