By the time that Martha returned to the medi-bay, they had started to make progress on the table. Even with the little girls helping, they had managed to separate out all of the edge pieces and began to put them together. When Martha entered, they happily pushed the table away in favor for a clean one that they could set the food on. For breakfast, Martha made them a simple meal of oatmeal with bananas and chocolate chips. On the side, she made a plate of toast that she buttered and added extra marmalade to them. While the little girls seemed to think that the oatmeal was a special treat, the Doctor picked at it. He wasn't a big fan of oatmeal but he ate more than his fair share of toast. He washed it all down with two cups of tea as well as a glass of water. Despite still being stuck in bed, taking pills that he didn't think he needed, he was starting to feel better.
With breakfast done, however, the Doctor didn't miss the fact that Jack didn't leave his side as Martha cleared the dishes. They worked on the puzzle more as Martha cleaned but he wasn't really into it. He should have been able to distinguish between the different shades of black and yellow easier than Jack but Jack finished most of the edges by himself before starting on the middle. The Doctor resisted the urge to tip the table over as he tried to help Jack fit the pieces together. He was actually relieved when Martha finished in the kitchen and returned to the medi-bay.
"I am done in the lab for the next hour if you want to step out, Jack," Martha told him as she started to run through the Doctor's vitals.
"Yeah, I should really talk to Ianto before the rift starts acting up. I can take the girls with me and have Gwen watch them so that the Doctor has a chance to rest," Jack offered. The Doctor didn't like that they were talking about him as if he wasn't there. He was even less happy when Jack stood up with Ajessa in his arms. He came around the bed, moving the little girl to one arm before reaching out to pick up Cerys as well. The Doctor narrowed his eyes at him as he cuddled Cerys close to him not willing to let Jack take her.
"They can stay with me," The Doctor told Jack.
"I would prefer that you rested quietly for awhile Doctor. It would be easier for you to rest without having the girls in here demanding your attention," Martha tried to reason with him without telling him that they were worried about leaving him alone in the medi-bay with the children.
"They are trying to take your babies from you, Theta," The Master commented softly. The Doctor tried not to look over at where he was sitting in the corner of the medi-bay watching them talk.
"I know," The Doctor agreed softly.
"You know what, Doc?" Jack questioned. The Doctor didn't answer him. Instead, he narrowed his eyes as he held Cerys as tightly against his chest as he could. She hugged him back, not understanding why her daddy was upset but just wanting to be close to him.
"Doctor, Cerys will just be right outside in the hub with Gwen. I know you want to spend time with your children but you need to rest now," Martha advised him softly as she moved closer. The Doctor's eyes darted to the Master. He pleaded silently with the Master to help him but the Master made no move to stop Martha from taking his children.
"It'll be alright, Theta. We will be together again soon. Just let them take the girls out of the medi-bay and I will tell you how you can get them back," The Master informed him moving closer to the bed. The Doctor watched the Master take a seat on the bed beside them. He kissed Cerys on the top of the head before reluctantly letting Jack take them away from him. He didn't want to be separated from his babies for any length of time, though. Cerys was already confused and suffering due to the sudden disappearance of the Master. Keeping the children away from him would only make it worse.
"Can I have a cup of tea?" He asked Martha after Jack had been gone for a minute. He saw her look quickly towards the door but it was too late to call Jack back to sit with him. She turned towards him with a smile on her face.
"Of course," She answered. "I'll be right back." The Doctor watched her hurry out of the medi-bay. He wasn't stupid. He could tell they were afraid to leave him alone and even more afraid to leave him alone with his children. That was alright by him, though. They should be afraid. Turning, he finally stared the Master right in his brown eyes.
"What do I do?"
-DW-
Jack found Gwen sitting at the rift manipulator. She wasn't happy that she was chosen to play babysitter again for the children but she understood their reasoning. Plastering a fake smile on her face, she took the children up to the conference room to try to entertain them. With the children being tended to Jack turned his attention to Ianto. This conversation was going to be even harder as he loved Ianto with all of his heart. It was going to be hard to be separated from him for any length of time but he had to help the Doctor. Taking Ianto's hand, he led him up to his office closing the door tightly behind him.
"We need to talk," Jack told Ianto pulling away as Ianto kissed him reaching for his belt. Ianto stopped. He could see the pain in Ianto's eyes at his words and he could tell that Ianto was trying to figure out what he had did wrong. Leaning in he gave Ianto a soft kiss on the lips and Ianto kissed him back quickly clearly confused. Jack motioned to the seat behind his desk and Ianto took it. Jack sat on the desk reaching out to take Ianto's hand. "I love you. You know that right."
"I love you too, Jack," Ianto answered immediately. "I don't understand. Are you breaking up with me?"
"No. God no. I don't want to lose you, Ianto but unfortunately, things are going to change for a short while," Jack explained to him. He took a deep breath starting to tell him how the Doctor was hallucinating and needed his help. He was trying to work up the courage to tell Ianto that Cerys was his daughter and that he was confused about his feelings for the Doctor when he heard someone scream his name from inside the hub. Jumping to his feet he rushed out the door pausing at the top of the stairs as he tried to take in what he was seeing.
The Doctor was standing in the middle of the hub with Martha standing directly in front of him. He had a tight grip on her arm with one hand and in the other one, he was holding a medical scalpel to her throat. Tosh and Owen both had their guns trained on him causing him to hesitate.
"Doctor?" Jack questioned. The Doctor turned his eyes to Jack and Jack could clearly see the oncoming storm raging in his eyes. Behind the storm, however, he could see a madness that wasn't there before.
"Give me my babies," The Doctor demanded.
"We will get them for you. You just need to let Martha go and we will bring them to the medi-bay for you," Jack told him keeping his hands held up as he walked slowly down the stairs.
"Don't lie to me. You took them from me and I am not leaving until you bring my babies to me," The Doctor informed him, his eyes never leaving Jack. Behind Jack, he heard Ianto's gun click. He saw the Doctor flinch at the sound, his hand moving closer to Martha's throat.
"Guns down," Jack called out.
"Are you sure?" Tosh questioned in disbelief.
"I said guns down," Jack replied firmly. "If anyone shoots, you will be retconned and thrown out on the streets and I mean it. Everyone, put your guns down now." Jack moved slowly closer. The Doctor took a step back, wrenching Martha back with him. She took the step back with him, not fighting him.
"See Doctor, no one is going to hurt you or your babies. You just need to trust us," Martha told him. The Doctor's grip didn't loosen.
"You're lying. You took my children from me," The Doctor growled angrily.
"Doctor, you need to trust me. I know you are afraid and he is telling you that we are trying to take your children from you. I would never do that and deep inside you know it. I would give my life to protect you and your children. There is nowhere in the universe that they are safer besides here and the TARDIS. Now just let Martha go and we will go back to the medi-bay together," Jack told him softly. The Doctor stared at Jack as he spoke. He could tell that he was breaking the Doctor down and the Doctor wanted to believe him. The Doctor glanced towards the TARDIS doors.
"Don't listen to him, Doc. Listen to me. I can help you, Doctor, you just need to let Marta go. Can you do that for me? Just let her go," Jack told him softly. He dared to take a step forward. The Doctor didn't back away as Jack moved closer to him. He reached out carefully taking the scalpel out of the Doctor's hand and threw it to the side. The Doctor's hand on Martha's arm loosened allowing her to move away.
"Jack?" The Doctor questioned sounding like a confused child.
"It's alright, sweetheart. No one was hurt. Now come back to the medi-bay with me," Jack told him softly. He made no promises to the Doctor as he didn't want to lie to him. Reaching out he took the Doctor's arm in his hand and the Doctor started to sob.
"Help me," He whispered sounding like a scared child.
"I've got you," Jack responded. Leading the Doctor back to the medi-bay, he helped the Doctor up on the bed. Reaching out, he hated himself as he took the Doctor's arm hooking it into the first restraint. Before the Doctor had time to realize what was happening. He expected the Doctor to fight being restrained so he was surprised when the Doctor broke down crying. He slumped against the pillows sobbing to himself. He let Jack restrain his arms followed by his ankles as he cried. With the Doctor safely restricted, Jack took a seat beside the bed to watch over him while he waited for Martha to return. The Doctor had taken a giant step back today and now they just had to figure out why.
