The Doctor had his TARDIS and Sonic back. Once he had found the TARDIS, it was agreed that it would be unfair to take it away from him again. He was allowed to go to her for a few hours a day, as long as he told someone prior. He wasn't happy with that agreement but he knew that she could be moved again while he slept. So he played by their rules for now. He still had free range of the hub and was allowed to access the mainframe as he pleased. He had his lover and best friends to entertain him when they weren't busy. Yet he was restless.
He missed the stars and the feel of a new planet beneath his feet. The last time he had spent so much time on Earth is when the Time Lords had banished him here. Now he was stuck by his well meaning friends. Yes his leg was still healing and he had to use crutches to get around. He could still outrun a Dalek easily if he needed to, he was sure of it. Rolling over in bed, he looked at Jack. Jack was still sound asleep and so he got out of bed being careful not to wake him. Hopping on one foot he went and stood in front of the mirror.
His face still looked to thin. His cheekbones stood out prominently on his shadowed face. He hadn't bothered to shave for a while nor style his hair. His pajama shirt hung off of his body, being to big for him still. Lifting it up he could tell that he had ganged a little weight since arriving, but not as much as Martha wanted him to. He didn't want to get fat but Martha assured him that he wasn't going to be fat, just a healthy weight once more. Pulling his shirt down, he climbed the ladder. Grabbing the crutches that were kept in Jack's office, he headed down the stairs to the main hub. Martha was on duty until three that night to watch the rift computers and he went looking for her.
"When am I going to be allowed to leave?" He asked her as he entered the kitchen, where she was making herself a cup of coffee.
"Is this really an appropriate conversation at 1 in the morning?" Martha questioned. She pulled down another cup and began to make him tea as well.
"One in the morning your time," He answered her cheekily as he sat down at the table. Martha put his cup of tea in front of him and then sat down across from him.
"Fair enough and in answer to your question that depends on you Doctor. I am not going to give you a time frame. There are certain milestones you have to meet in order to travel again and until you meet them the TARDIS is going to remain locked," Martha informed him. He growled softly. Martha lifted an eyebrow at him and he stopped.
"Such as?" He wondered finally. He knew he wasn't going to like her answer but still he had to ask.
"Well as we discussed yesterday, I want you at a healthy weight or where I can trust you to continue to eat to get to that weight," Martha told him.
"I do eat," The Doctor whined.
"I have seen the way you pick at your food and while I am not saying you need to stuff yourself, you do need to eat more at meals," Martha scolded him slightly. "Your leg needs to be healed. Your wrist also needs to finish healing. Finally you need to heal mentally. While you have made huge leaps in that with having Donna back and your relationship with Jack, you're not there yet. I have to be able to trust that once I do release you to travel, if you go on your own that you will be fine. Not your fine but actually fine."
"I am taking your pills," The Doctor snipped. He didn't like her terms very much because she was right it was all on him. He could be out of the hub in as little as two months if he continued to heal. The longest part of that would be the phiso on his leg and gaining their trust back. If he fought them though, he could be here for years.
"And while the pills are helping. You still need to work through what brought you to the point of killing yourself in the first place," Martha informed him, her voice soft. The Doctor looked down at his wrist. The stitches had been removed but the scar was red, showing where he had sliced his arm, desperate to end it. He rubbed it softly with his thumb.
"I talk to Jack," He told her.
"That is good. Continue to talk. If something is bothering you tell us, don't hide away until the pain is too much again. You need to remember Doctor that you are not alone and you never have to be. Someone will always be here for you to talk to," Martha reassured him. She reached out and took his hand off his wrist, squeezing it comfortingly. He squeezed her hand back before releasing it to pick up his tea. He drained it.
"I'm going back to bed," He informed Martha as he stood.
"Sleep well Doctor," Martha said. She picked up his cup and placed it in the sink to wash later as he left the room. He went back up into Jack's office and then made his way back down the ladder. Jack was laying with his arms folded behind his head staring at the ceiling.
"Do you always take off in the middle of the night," Jack questioned as he climbed back into bed. He was slightly annoyed the Doctor had left. He had awoken as the Doctor climbed out of the room but he decided to give him half an hour before going after him. The Doctor returned before that time, but it didn't help Jack's annoyance.
"I wanted to talk to Martha," The Doctor answered. He wanted to cuddle with Jack but Jack made no move to let him. Instead he sat up slightly on his side as he recapped the conversation he just had. Jack nodded. He all ready knew the conditions as he had the same conversation with Martha a few weeks ago. It was before the Doctor got bit, but he was aware the Doctor's leg had been added.
"Come here," Jack told him. He moved his arm so that the Doctor could lay with him as the Doctor was clearly distraught by the conditions. The Doctor lay close, pressing himself against Jack. "I know you don't like her rules, but she is trying to keep you safe. I can talk her into a day trip, if you continue to show progress, but you have to work with her or she won't let you."
"Two day?" The Doctor asked and Jack laughed.
"Don't push your luck," Jack chuckled. He kissed the Doctor and when the Doctor responded he deepened the kiss. Still kissing him, he reached down and slipped the Doctor's trousers down. The Doctor started to turn over but Jack stopped him. "Ride me." The Doctor turned bright red.
"I..I.." He stuttered. Jack sat up and helped him to remove his trousers the rest of the way. Jack then removed his own and laid back down on the bed, still flat on his back.
"I've got you," Jack reassured him as he helped the Doctor straddle him, being careful of his leg. The Doctor just hovered there though, unsure of himself. Jack took charge, easing the Doctor back until their bodies were fully joined. The Doctor's bite his lip and Jack could see the concentration in his eyes as he started to move. Jack grabbed the Doctor's hips, helping him to stop thinking as he was guided. Eventually though, he leaned forward and laid on Jack's chest as Jack guided them through their release. He could have laid their all night in the safety of Jack's arms but he had to move so they could get cleaned up. Still after Jack had pulled him back so he was laying on top of him and he cuddled him close not sleeping but just listening to the heartbeat of the man he loved. As long as he had Jack, he could stand living on Earth awhile longer.