Jack had been right that the Doctor was going to take up all of his time again for awhile but he didn't find it as hard as he thought he would. Unlike when he first began to care for the Doctor, the accomplishments he was seeing were ones they could both rejoice in. He knew he wouldn't end up with nightmares unlike the Doctor's first minor accomplishments of that he had survived the night or that he still could swallow so it was unnecessary to shove a tube down his throat. In his nightmares the Doctor had died or ended up needing on life support in order to live. To watch the Doctor living and interacting had helped to slow the nightmares but Jack wondered if they would ever be completely gone. Though he knew it wouldn't give him nightmares to see the Doctor use the walker, it still broke his heart to watch the Doctor struggle.
It took a few days for the Doctor to warm up to the walker. Even though it allowed him to stand and move around without help, he still looked at it like it was a dalek. He refused to stand at it without Jack's help and when he did walk it was only for a few steps at a time. He was making progress though and that was what counted in Jack's eyes, regardless of how stubborn the Time Lord was being. He was talking better even without the computer to assist him and for the first time since he woke up, Jack was hopeful that the Doctor would be able to have his old life back. On the third day since receiving the walker, Jack stood behind the Doctor as he very slowly walked out of his room on his own. His face was a mask of pure concentration but he was getting into a good rhythm of moving the walker first and then shuffling forward after it.
"Can you make him a cuppa?" Jack asked Gwen as they headed to a chair.
"Of course," Gwen answered happily, just as proud to see the Doctor walking. She had been there to support him almost as long as Jack and while she wasn't as involved in his care she still knew of his struggle and how far he had come.
"Jack," The Doctor whined as he started to wobble. He was close to his destination but he didn't feel as though he could make it.
"Just a few more steps," Jack reassured him. Rather then picking the Doctor up and carrying him the last few steps, he stepped forward and placed his hands on the Doctor's hips. The Doctor took a deep breath and then shuffled forward again. He made it to his chair and flopped down in it feeling completely worn out and ready for a nap. Though it wasn't even ten feet from his door to where the chair was waiting he still felt as though he had ran a marathon.
"No mo-mo-re," The Doctor whined as he panted.
"For now but you will be up walking again later. Then tomorrow Martha comes in and she is going to want to evaluate your progress and see what she can do to help you walk better," Jack informed him. The Doctor didn't have his computer but Jack didn't need it in order to understand the look that the Doctor was giving him. He still went to get it for the Doctor though as Gwen came over with his tea. She held the cup and allowed him to drink some of it before setting it on the table. Jack sat his computer down next to the tea. The Doctor pecked at the keys for a moment before glaring at Jack.
"I don't need to be poked twice a week," he complained.
"She does more then poke you. Martha has worked hard on developing stretches to keep you from developing atrophy as well as keeping you healthy these last two years. We will talk to her tomorrow when she comes and if she says you can cut the amount of appointments you need down then we will at that time. If she says she still wants to see you twice a week though I am going to keep letting her see you twice a week," Jack told the Doctor.
"Fine," The Doctor sighed. With a shaking hand, he picked up his cup of tea and tried to take a drink. He ended up spilling some of it on his suit. He didn't ask Jack for help though, so Jack let him drink without assistance. He made the Doctor toast with marmalade for breakfast. The Doctor ate happily though he was suspicious of Jack. His suspicions were answered as after breakfast Jack carried him back to the bedroom, laying him down on his bed.
"Jack?" He questioned in concern as Jack closed the door behind them. He had all ready been bathed and he wasn't tired so he wasn't sure what was going on.
"You're all right. I am just going to remove your catheter. Now that you are able to stand and walk the distance to the loo, you no longer need it," Jack explained to him. He nodded though he wasn't sure about having it removed. He hated it and normally he had the bladder control that he didn't have to worry about making it to the loo. He was finding though that nothing on his body was working right and he would be mortified if he ended up wetting his trousers. "We can put it back in if you still need it, but I think you are ready to use the loo or a bottle if necessary."
"K," he answered at last. He lay there stiff as Jack removed his trousers then removed the tube. Jack pulled his trousers back up.
"Let me know when you have to use the loo and I will help you get to it," Jack told him as he was carried back to his chair. He nodded, his face flush with embarrassment. There was a lot Jack had done for him the last two years, but he hadn't been awake to know it. Now he was going to have to let Jack take him to the loo when he had to use it. Looking at his tea he decided he didn't want it anymore.