Martha sat down at the small table in what posed for a kitchen in the Hub. She really wanted a cup of coffee and some sleep, but she couldn't raise the energy to do either.
She jumped when a cup of steaming black gold appeared in front of her, quickly followed by a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon.
Ianto sat down opposite her. "Breakfast, you need to eat, then you need to sleep. The Doctor's not got any worse, and even if he does, there's nothing we can do. So eat, sleep, I can keep an eye on him. Neither of us can do anything until Jack gets back with Dr Michaels."
Martha closed her eyes and let out a long breath. "I know, but he wouldn't give up if it was you or me. I owe it to him, we all owe it to him to at least try."
"You perhaps, but me," Ianto replied.
Martha opened her eyes and looked at Ianto. "I know you haven't had the best experience, but that's not his fault. You haven't seen him at his best, spinning plates and juggling fire, saving worlds and saving people one at a time. He's wonderful Ianto, and before you say anything, he's flawed, like any person, he isn't a god. But I'll tell you something, if I was him, I wouldn't be as forgiving. All those things he's done for us, and what do we do, we make him public enemy number one when he needs us most."
Ianto went to reply but the sound of the main entrance to the Hub opening distracted him...they were back.
Jack shoved Dr Michaels through the Hub entrance, not caring if she stumbled or hurt herself. His only concern was for the Doctor.
He was pretty sure it was Dr Michaels who had poisoned the Doctor, so she better have the antidote, or the rest of her life would be very short.
He shoved her again when she stopped to look around her. "Move!" he growled and this time kept shoving her along, not allowing her time to look at her surroundings.
She suddenly whirled round and planted herself.
"Pushing me around will not get you whatever it is you want!" she snapped.
She was surprised when the woman stepped forward and grabbed hold of her and pulled her forward.
"Do you think you have any rights here?" the woman snapped, and shoved her backwards. "Now do as he says and move!"
Sarah looked at Jack, but she could see by the impassive look on his face that he wasn't inclined to stop the woman.
She let out a huff of pretend offense and turned back, and began descending the stairs.
Martha tensed as she saw the woman appear at the bottom of the stairs. All she wanted to do was slap the woman so hard, rattle her teeth. But she reined in her temper, it wouldn't help the Doctor.
She nodded at Jack and opened the door to the med-room, and gave the woman her best stare as she was shoved through the door.
Sarah Michaels stared at the figure lying on the bed, a figure that should have been dead hours ago and definitely not here.
"How did he...?" she began, but was interrupted by Martha.
"The chemical, I take it you have an antidote?" she asked, her tone frosty.
Sarah didn't reply, instead she walked towards the person on the bed, only to be stopped by Jack.
"If you want my help, I have to examine him."
Jack looked over at Martha, who nodded and stepped forward as he let go of Sarah's arm.
"If she thinks you're hurting him," Jack said, the tone of his voice warning her.
She raised an eyebrow and approached the figure.
"You are amazing, this should have killed you within hours," she said as she placed a hand on his neck, feeling the weak double pulse.
She moved to his face and opened one of his eyes, seeing the thin white film that covered the deep brown iris. Curious, she thought, that wasn't part of the virus's programming. Perhaps it was side effect of Time Lord physiology, there were so many factors that White Coat in his arrogance had chosen to ignore.
She turned from the bed and looked at Jack.
"I'll help, but I have certain conditions."
Jack slammed his hand against the wall of the med-room, making everyone in the room flinch.
"There's no way I can do that!" he yelled.
Martha stepped closer to Jack and stood in front of him. "We don't have a choice Jack. I can't help him, only she can. If that means she walks out of here, she walks."
Jack looked for one moment like he was going to argue, but instead he seemed to sag physically.
"Fine, but she's not leaving till he's better."
Ianto tried his best to distract Jack from what was happening in the med-room. He's only just managed to placate Jack, after Martha and Dr Michaels had insisted he stay away.
Eventually he gave up and left Jack to pace outside the med-room and stare at the blinds that had been pulled down.
Gwen returned from a supply run and quickly passed by Jack and entered the med-room, who tried to see inside, but had the door slammed in his face.
Gwen reappeared a few moments later, and was stopped by Jack.
"What's going on in there?" he asked, his tone expecting an answer.
Gwen looked at Jack. "I'm sorry Jack, I can't say."
"Gwen?" Jack said again, his voice low and dangerously quiet.
Gwen ignored it and took hold of Jack's arm. "Come away Jack, you can't help."
"Gwen, what's going on?"
"Come away Jack," she said again, more firmly this time, and she started to pull him away and up to the central Hub.
Jack sighed and allowed himself to be pulled away, knowing that Gwen wouldn't stop until he did.
They'd just made it to the top step when a cry echoed up the stairs.
Jack stiffened when he heard the cry...the Doctor!
He moved back towards the stairs, but Gwen's grip on his arm tightened.
"No Jack, you have to leave it," she said, still pulling at his arm.
Jack glared at her, and started to pull away again. "Let go of me Gwen," he growled.
"I'm sorry Jack, but no."
"Let go of me!" Jack roared as another cry echoed upwards.
Gwen's face hardened. "I'm sorry Jack," she said.
Jack felt something sharp against his neck, and tried to spin round, but the floor and light fell away from him.
"I'm really sorry," Ianto said as he caught Jack.
