Jack was slow as he made his way across the control room. The TARDIS hummed at him encouragingly blowing warm air on him. His legs were shaking from the walk after laying in bed for so long and Donna stayed one step behind him in fear that he might fall. He was determined to make it to the medi-bay on his own, though, she didn't support him as he walked. Making his way out into the corridors he was thankful to see that the door to the medi-bay was the first one on the right. He made his way inside, pausing in the doorway.
From his vantage point, he could see the Doctor sleeping in the bed closest to the wall. His hair was a mess showing that he had been sweating and tossing his head on the pillow. His leg was in a sling suspended from the ceiling and Jack could see the bandages wrapped around the thin ankle. He had a blanket covering his other leg and it was pulled up to his chest. The rest of his lithe body was covered in his undershirt with his bare arms resting on the bed. In one arm, he had an IV leading up to a bag of what looked to be a clear liquid. On the bag, however, Martha had drawn a large red T as a warning of the medications that were inside. Ianto was in the chair beside the bed holding the Doctor's other hand loosely in his. Jack made his way slowly over to the bed and Ianto immediately stood to allow Jack to take the chair. He sat down heavily, happy to be off his feet after the short walk.
"How is he?" Donna asked coming to the Doctor's other side.
"He tore a ligament and cut his ankle pretty badly when he tripped over the root. Martha has given him medicine against the pain and cleaned the wounds well before putting a couple of stitches in to hold the skin closed. She wants to perform a quick surgery to repair the damage but he told her no. He insists that he can sleep off most of the damage," Ianto commented softly sounding doubtful.
"He can, it is called a healing coma," Jack spoke up. He had seen the Doctor do it before. When he was in his last body they had spent a hard day running like normal. It was only after they came back to the TARDIS and settled down for the night that Jack realized the Doctor had hurt himself. His elbow was a swollen mess under his long sleeves. He told Jack that he just needed to sleep it off and by morning his elbow looked better. Even if it was stiff for a few days. Not that Rose noticed as the Doctor tried his best to hide it from her. He didn't want Jack to know either but Jack was the one who helped him to undress that night and tend to his injury.
"We should leave and let him sleep," Donna brought up dropping her voice as well.
"If he is in a healing coma, our talking won't wake him. We could even have an orgy on his bed and he would sleep through it," Jack commented. Even if his words sounded like his old self his tone was still almost emotionless.
"I would prefer you stayed off his bed as I really don't want to have to set his ankle again," Martha told Jack as she came into the room. She wasn't sure why they were discussing having an orgy on the Doctor's bed and wasn't going to ask. She was just happy to see that Jack was out of his bed and talking again. She had been worried about his mental health and despite staying out of the room had intercepted the Doctor on his daily run for updates about Jack. She was unhappy that he hadn't been eating but the Doctor refused to let her force feed him again. He was trying desperately to build a safe zone for Jack where he could open up to them and letting Martha in would ruin it. Exceptions would be made when Jack was ready to give birth and because the Doctor had hurt himself.
"Spoilsport," Jack replied with a small smile. Ianto reached over squeezing Jack's shoulder, just happy that he was seemingly feeling better. Jack reached up patting Ianto's hand briefly.
"I am going to check on the Doctor's vitals, then go to get something to eat. Would anyone else like anything?" Martha questioned.
"There is a loaf of bread with meat and cheeses in it in the Doctor's room. Jack and I already had some but I can get you a slice if you are hungry," Donna informed Martha. Martha stared at the screen checking the Doctor's vitals as she tried not to look at Jack. She was suspicious about his sudden change of behavior and hoped that he wasn't up to something. She glanced at Ianto and could see that he was staring at Jack. He was also concerned by his sudden willingness to eat and talk. Unlike Martha, though, he had no problems questioning it. Jack's voice was once more hollow as he mentioned that he had agreed to let Donna adopt his child.
"Are you sure that is what you want?" Ianto asked softly. This was a conversation that he wanted to have in private but he feared that once they left the room Jack would stop talking again.
"It is. I can't raise him and with Donna, he will have two parents who can love him in a way that I never could," Jack responded. Ianto kissed Jack softly on the top of the head. As he stood up straight again, Jack leaned into Ianto seeking his comfort. A part of Jack still wanted to raise his son, even if letting Donna raise the child was the right decision.
"We won't lie to him. He will know who you are and you can see him as much or as little as you want," Donna told Jack.
"I would like that," Jack smiled. He moved his hand down to his stomach as he felt the baby kick. His son was making his presence known and soon Donna would be able to hold her child in her arms. For now, he reached out taking her hand. He put it on his swollen abdomen letting her feel her son kick. A large smile crossed her face as she felt her baby moving. The only thing that was missing was Lee. Dismissing herself, she ran out of the room eager to tell Lee she had felt their son move. As she rushed into the room, Lee looked up from where he was sitting in a large chair reading a book. The smile on her face said it all. He threw the book aside as he stood pressing their mouths tightly together. In just a few days, they would be a family and she couldn't wait for that next part of their life together to begin again.