With the Doctor properly medicated again, Jack could hear him being more active upstairs as he sat talking with Sarah Jane and Wilf. He was glad the Doctor was having fun as he heard barks of laughter along with the occasional slurred shout as he got overly excited about something. Luke had turned out to be a very good thing for the Time Lord and already Jack was planning with Sarah Jane on how they could get the two together again. It was agreed that they should let the two spend as much time as possible together, even if it was difficult since they lived three hours apart. Plus Luke had school and other activities while Sarah Jane worked.
"It would be easier if he could drive his TARDIS," Sarah Jane commented. Jack nodded his agreement.
"In the last six months, though, he has only driven it once. I agreed to a day trip because he was bored and we ended up at Demon's run. The panic attack that followed prevented him from driving home and he hasn't even looked at her controls since," Jack informed Sarah Jane. While Jack could drive the TARDIS for short trips, he didn't feel comfortable taking her to and from Croydon on a regular basis.
"He doesn't go on the TARDIS?" Sarah Jack wondered in surprise.
"I didn't say that. I can't get him off the TARDIS somedays, especially if he knows that he is supposed to have an appointment with Martha. It is the console that he avoids," Jack laughed. Wilfred shook his head but he couldn't help but smile as well. Once more they turned to small talk as Sarah Jane dug out her scrabble game. She set it up on the table between them and they played as they talked. They had almost finished their second game when the Doctor came down the stairs. He yawned sleepily as he stepped over Jack's legs in order to plant himself firmly on the Captain's lap.
"Banana?" The Doctor asked as Jack wrapped his arms around the sleepy Time Lord.
"This isn't home. Do you really think that Sarah Jane would go out of her way just to make sure that she has a banana for you?" Jack questioned the Time Lord. The Doctor nodded.
"She like me," the Doctor told Jack sincerely causing Jack to laugh.
"Are you sure?" Jack teased him.
"Yep," The Doctor answered popping the p at the end. It was Sarah Jane's turn to laugh.
"He's right. I will get him a banana then start supper," Sarah Jane commented as she stood. She got the Doctor a banana before starting their meal. Jack offered to help but it was obvious that he was going to have trouble standing up with the Doctor happily eating the banana on his lap. She declined as she preheated the oven in order to bake the steak and kidney pie that she had made the night before so she didn't have to spend the time cooking while the Doctor was there. She served it around the table and while the Doctor sat with them, he didn't seem too interested in the meal choosing to feed bits of it to Artemis.
"We should be heading home," Jack told the small group as the Doctor leaned heavily against him yawning. He stood helping the Doctor to stand. The Doctor groaned as he was forced to move towards the door. He promised Sarah Jane and Luke that he would see them again soon. He also told Wilfred that he would be in contact within the next few days. He wanted to give Wilf a chance to see the Time Lord without Luke to distract him. Wilfred didn't mind, though, as he was just happy to see the Time Lord happy. The last time he had seen him, the Doctor had just taken Donna's memories and it was obvious that he was in pain from his decision. Even if he couldn't tell them.
Helping the Doctor into the SUV, he sat in the backseat cuddling with the Time Lord until he drifted off to sleep. Carefully extracting himself, Jack closed the door as quietly as he could before moving to the front seat and starting the engine. He drove back to Cardiff keeping one eye on the Time Lord happy that he remained asleep the entire way. Arriving back to their house, he carried the Doctor into the house rather than waking him. Ianto was waiting up for them and he opened the door letting them inside. Jack thanked him as he headed straight up the stairs to take the Doctor to his bed. He removed his shoes, tucking him into his bed. Then went back down the stairs.
"I'm sorry," Jack told his young lover upon seeing him. He had a lot of time to think during the three-hour drive. With the Doctor safe and happy, he could only think of Ianto. He had treated Ianto horribly and he would understand if the Welshman walked away from him. He was just thankful that he stayed.
"You have nothing to apologize for," Ianto responded.
"I do, though. I have been so stressed over the Doctor that I haven't been treating you right. I promised you when we started dating again that I wasn't going to put you second. Yet, I have time and time again. I have treated you horribly and blamed you for hurting him when you were only trying to protect him. I can't take back what I did, but I promise I will try harder in the future to treat you the way you deserve. If you can just forgive me," Jack apologized.
"There is nothing to forgive. I understand and I love you," Ianto replied. He walked over to Jack, wrapping his arms tightly around the Captain. They pressed their lips together and stumbling back towards the couch collapsed on it in each other's arms. Ianto may not think he was owed an apology but Jack was still determined to make it right. He would show Ianto just how much he loved him and spend the rest of his life proving it.