Even if his memories were finally coming back, there were still gaps missing from them. Like he could remember landing on the base but he couldn't remember the events that led him there or stepping off the TARDIS. He could remember the names of his children and knew that he once had a family, except they were hazy to him as he had never actually brought them aboard the TARDIS. In a way, his limited memories were almost worse than not having them at all as he was quickly becoming frustrated at trying to connect the gaps together. He could see Jack aboard the TARDIS with him, then Jack was gone but he came back and the Doctor couldn't figure out how. Not that he minded as he needed Jack there just as much as before. Jack still kept him safe from Charles and others who were out to hurt him. It was with the restoration of his memories that he learned just how many enemies that he had and the fact that Jack had managed to keep him safe from all of the was nothing short of a miracle.
"Morning," Martha announced interrupting his thoughts as she entered the kitchen. She didn't bother to ask how the night went because based on how tired Jack seemed the Doctor had another long night. The tea and toast sitting in front of the Doctor were virtually untouched, but on the positive side he was eating again even if it was a small amount. She wondered how Jack had finally coaxed him into eating as for the last two weeks he had ignored their every attempt. Still it wasn't enough to sustain his body and she was going to have to supplement his body via an IV once more. As she walked over to the Doctor, he held up his arms for her to examine. She took his hand in her as she looked for new cuts or bruises on his arms that would need tending to. She was surprised but relieved when she didn't find any indicating the night hadn't been as rough as she first thought.
"Right after you finish breakfast, I want to get him hooked to an IV so he doesn't become dehydrated. At that time, I will also need to draw blood to see if he is deficient in anything. If necessary, we may need to place him on a second IV tonight after dinner to make sure that he has the nutrients that he needs in his body," Martha explained to Jack as she finished her examination. Satisfied the Doctor hadn't hurt himself she turned to get a cup of tea as she continued to speak. " You may have to place the second IV yourself as this afternoon I need to operate on Sky's leg."
"Fine," Jack replied not looking up.
"Depending on what I find during the operation her leg may have to be amputated," Martha advised him as she sat down at the table and looked at Jack.
"Maybe she will finally learn her lesson," Jack sighed loudly, running his hand down his face as he leaned back in his chair. "Is Ianto with her?"
"No, he still refuses to go to her," Martha responded. "Is something wrong Jack?"
"Besides the fact the Doctor is gone and we are trying to save the life of the woman who helped injure him just when he was starting to come back to us?" Jack spat.
"Yes," Martha replied calmly not taking the bait to start an argument with him.
"I made arrangements for him to go to Flat Holm the day after tomorrow if he doesn't improve," Jack told her sadly as he finally looked at Martha. His eyes were screaming with pain as he silently begged her to tell him that he had made the wrong choice.
"We knew it might come to this from the beginning," Martha offered sympathetically. "I am not saying you are making the right choice, but we both know that they can take care of him better than we can. As much as it would hurt for you to lose him, it might be beneficial in the long run so that you can start to get your life back, Jack."
"Maybe," Jack muttered as he reached out to take Martha's hand in his. It wasn't the answer that he wanted even if he knew she was right. She squeezed his hand in hers as he yawned loudly.
"When is the last time that you slept?" Martha wondered. Jack shook his head.
"I don't need to sleep," He responded immediately.
"Let me rephrase my question. Why don't you go to sleep for a few hours this morning?" Martha questioned.
"Because I can't leave his sight. I can't go anywhere without him clinging on to me making sure that I don't leave his sight for a minute. Hell, I haven't even had the shower to myself in a week unless I shower at night. Nothing I do matters though as all he does is stare into space letting himself die. If we didn't stop him by providing him nutrition through an IV, I am positive he would be dead by now. Then just when I think I have his routine figured out, he breaks it sleeping on the couch next to me all night," Jack ranted growing louder as he went. He ignored the Doctor's steady whimpers as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
"He slept last night?" Martha asked in confusion.
"He did. The night was going normal and I was getting ready to take him down to the cells for the night when he suddenly decided to curl up against me to sleep. I didn't sleep the entire night as I kept expecting him to wake up in a panic," Jack admitted to her. Martha looked over at the Time Lord who was still picking at his toast as he listened to them talk about him. She thought for just a moment that she saw an understanding in his eyes that hadn't been there before, but it was gone quickly.
"Then you need to sleep today. I will sedate him so that he keeps the IV in while you rest, but you need to rest," Martha informed Jack. He didn't argue her as he nodded knowing that he needed the sleep even if he didn't want it. After they finished breakfast the three of them headed down to Jack's room. Martha made a quick detour to the autopsy room, returning with a fresh bag of saline for the Doctor as well as several syringes. She hung the IV off of the IV stand that had become a permanent fixture in Jack's room the last two weeks. Jack had just finished changing into a pair of sleeping trousers as she entered the room. He helped the Doctor change into his pajamas before he climbed up on the bed. Laying down he lifted his arm for the Doctor to join him. The Doctor hesitated as he stared at the IV, but he gave into Jack climbing on the bed and snuggling against Jack. Jack wrapped his arms around the Time Lord holding him tightly as Martha inserted the needle into the Doctor's arm taping it into place. Jack had to hold his hand tightly as immediately The Doctor tried to take it out.
"Leave it alone," Martha chastised him softly." Until you start eating and drinking again you need the IV. I really don't want to put a feeding tube down your throat as well but if you don't start eating soon that is the next step." Though Martha directed her statement at the Doctor it was more to let Jack know of her plans then because she thought the Doctor would take the threat seriously. Pulling three syringes out of her pocket, she filled them from the vials she had brought. She then emptied two of them into the port in the Doctor's IV before turning to Jack with the third still in her hand.
"This will help you to sleep," She told him. Jack nodded his permission holding his arm out for her. Martha gave him the injection, then covered the two of them. As she left the room Jack kissed the Doctor gently on his head as they drifted off in each other's arms. When Jack woke up several hours later, the Doctor was staring at him gently stroking his hair with the hand that had the IV in it. Jack looked up to see that the IV bag had recently been replaced and wondered briefly how long he had been asleep.
"No, go, Jack," The Doctor whispered when he saw that Jack's eyes were open.
"I'm not going anywhere," Jack promised as he took the Doctor's hand in his own. He kissed him softly on his knuckles "I will stay here with you if you want to go back to sleep."
"Doctor no go, Jack," The Doctor tried to make Jack understand as his eyes filled with tears. The Doctor's mouth opened and closed several times as he made several strange noises struggling to find the words he wanted to say. "S-S-Sorry," he finally managed to spit out.
"You don't have anything to be sorry about." Jack released his hand pulling the cool body closer to him into a tight embrace. "You have done nothing wrong. No matter what happens I need you to understand that I am not punishing you, I am only trying to help you." The Doctor jerked away from him suddenly at his words and Jack released him. Before he could stop him, the Doctor jumped up and grabbed the IV from the stand. He hesitated before running out of the room. Not wanting to go alone, he pulled on Jack's hand. Curious of what the Doctor was up to Jack stood up, holding his hand as the Doctor pulled him out of the room heading towards the TARDIS. Together they went through the control room to the classroom that had been set up. The Doctor released his hand going over to the chalkboard in the corner. He laid his IV bag on the table as he erased the board. Then picking up a piece of chalk he began to draw.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked as he took a seat on the table. As he watched on, the Doctor drew a vague picture of Dalek. The Doctor grinned as he pointed at the Dalek.
"Rose," He announced happily.
"That's not what Rose looked like," Jack whispered sadly thinking the Doctor was confusing his memories again. The Doctor's face fell as he shook his head no furiously. Trying to make Jack understand, he turned back to the board drawing misshapen circles above the Dalek. He drew a stick figure lying on the ground and wrote the word Doctor above it in childish block letters. He tapped on the board with the chalk as he tried to make Jack understand even if he barely understood it himself.
"I don't know what you are trying to tell me," Jack informed him. The Doctor glared at him before he furiously erased the board. He threw the eraser at the ground then ran his finger's through his hair, Glaring at Jack again, he started to draw on the board once more. He drew a rough picture of the TARDIS with more stick figures in it. He wrote his name again above one of them as he pointed at himself
"The TARDIS does belong to you if that is what you are trying to tell me." Jack trailed off as the Doctor growled. He thought that his head was thick with the memories. He stomped over rapping Jack on the head with his knuckles. "Hey," Jack protested as he pushed his hand away. The Doctor ignored him as he stormed back to the board. He then pointed at the TARDIS again. He then gestured to Jack, followed by himself.
"Jack go Doctor," He announced as he pointed at the TARDIS once more.
"We can travel together when you're better," Jack informed him standing up and picking the IV bag up. "Now let's get you back to bed. The IV is doing you no good laying on the table." The Doctor looked at Jack with disappointment as he followed him off the TARDIS. He didn't know how he was going to make Jack listen to him. Part of him wondered if Jack was on purposely not understanding what he was trying to tell him as it was easier just to think that he was confused than to realize that he was able to remember what happened.
"There you two are," Martha exclaimed as they came out of the TARDIS together.
"Martha," The Doctor sounded relieved as he hurried over to her.
"How did the surgery go?" Jack asked casually as he kept up with the Time Lord to keep him from pulling the IV out of his arm.
"I wasn't able to save her leg. Once I got in there I found that there was too much damage from the gunshot as well as the infection. In order to save her life I had no choice but to amputate her leg below the knee," Martha stated. "Mickey is with her now and will explain when she wakes up."
"What about Ianto?" Jack asked in concern.
"He left as soon as the surgery was finished without saying anything," Martha responded. "If he doesn't come back soon, I will send Mickey after him." Jack shook his head at her.
"He probably just needed a few minutes alone. If he doesn't come back though we aren't sending Mickey. Over the last month, I haven't really been there for him and it is time I changed that. If he needs anything it will be someone who can comfort him. I know him better than anyone else so I should be the one who goes after him," Jack told her. Martha didn't argue as she had been hoping that Jack would step up. She was about to comment but instead turned to the Doctor who was pulling on her sleeve eagerly.
"Yes, Doctor?" He pulled her arm, leading her through the TARDIS back to the classroom. Once there he pointed at the TARDIS he had drawn.
"Martha go Doctor." He smiled, "Jack go Doctor."
"One day," She told him casually not knowing if he would ever be able to travel again.
"No," He yelled in frustration as he stomped his foot. Jack moved closer ready to restrain the Doctor if necessary except he didn't continue with his fit as he went still. Tilting his head he listened to the TARDIS humming to him. He smiled broadly grabbing on to Martha's arm again and dragging her out into the corridors. He opened the door to the third door down to reveal the room Jack used when he traveled with him. The Doctor hurried in, picking a picture up off of the nightstand holding it out to Jack. Jack took it looking at the familiar picture that Mickey had taken of the three of them together as they rested in Cardiff. The Doctor leaned over tilting the picture so he could see it better. "Rose Jack Doctor," He pointed to each of them in turn, recognizing that the northerner with the big ears as himself. Jack turned to look at him, barely able to contain his hope as the Doctor recognized a picture of himself in his previous body.
"Banana good," he told Jack seriously before breaking into a huge grin.
"You remember that?" Jack asked as he smiled back at the Doctor. The Doctor nodded eagerly. "How?" The Doctor ran his hand along the TARDIS's wall. They all felt warm air as she hummed happily at him.
"Doctor no go," He told Jack again as he laid his head against the doorframe.
"If the TARDIS is helping him we can't send him away from her," Martha stated calmly.
"No, we can't." Jack agreed relieved that he had a reason for the Doctor to stay with him. He took the Doctor into his arms hugging him tightly against him.
"You would miss him," Martha chuckled as she nudged Jack with her shoulder.
"So would you." Jack retaliated not arguing her.
"I would miss him more, if he was a better patient, besides Flat Holm would have never known what hit them if we sent him there." Jack laughed knowing she was right. He released the Doctor and rather than taking him back to the hub, led him to his room. He helped the Doctor to lay down again, hanging up his IV bag before taking a seat beside the bed. Glancing at the time, he decided to give Ianto a little more time before going after him because as much as he needed the Welshman to be alright at the moment he didn't want to leave the Doctor as his wish had finally come true. Despite all odds being against them, the Doctor had returned to him.