Jack sat holding the Doctor for a long moment on the floor of the vault. The Doctor cried, holding his son tightly to his chest after his admission that he had tried to change the body that was no longer his own. And even though Jack desperately wanted to, he wasn't sure how to help the hurting Time Lord. Memories, he could have handled. He had his own memories that caused him pain that he would rather forget. He could have talked to the Doctor for hours about pain from dying or that was inflicted on him by his once friend. During their hours together in the boiler room, they had discussed their lost childhood homes and different people they had met over the years. They had even at one point discussed the children they both had over the years. The Doctor had been vague about his three boys but Jack had told him about all the children he knew were his including his own son that he had carried at one time. Despite understanding the toll the Doctor's body had gone through, he had no words to help the Doctor with the fact that he no longer felt his body was his own.
"Do you still want to regenerate?" Jack asked the Doctor softly.
"Yes," The Doctor admitted. While he was trying, given the chance he knew that he would take the knife to his wrists again.
"Is there anything I can do to help you change your mind?" Jack questioned and the Doctor shrugged. Jack had already done so much for him. Both him and Ianto had spent three days cuddling him and making him feel loved. He didn't want it to end even if he did feel like he was intruding in their lives. "Would going back to the flat help?"
"No," The Doctor answered. He used his sleeve to wipe his eyes. He started to pull away from Jack, but Jack held him tightly not letting him move quite yet. He just needed to feel the Doctor's cool skin against his and know that the Time Lord was safe in his arms. The Doctor sighed, resigning himself to the fact that Jack wasn't ready to let go yet. Not that he really minded. Jack body ran hot due to the autron energy that kept him alive and it felt good in contrast to his cooler Time Lord body. The moment was ruined as Ianto came running into the vault.
"Jack," Ianto gasped slightly out of breath from running down the stairs. "I'm sorry but you're needed."
"What's the matter," Jack asked quickly but carefully extracting himself from the Doctor's arms and getting to his feet.
"Something organic has come through the rift landing right in the vicinity of a known weevil den," Ianto stated.
"Shit," Jack swore starting towards the door. He stopped mid step, almost tripping over his own feet as he remembered the Doctor. He couldn't take the Doctor with him and put him at risk with the weevils. Nor could he leave the Doctor behind when he was still suicidal.
"Go, I'll stay here with him and Conner," Ianto told Jack.
"Are you sure?" Jack wondered. As Ianto nodded, Jack took a step towards his Welsh lover. He pushed their mouths together kissing him deeply for a brief moment before turning towards the door. Both Ianto and the Doctor could hear Jack yelling orders at the rest of the team as they rushed towards the exit on their way to the weevil den. The hub went silent of human noise leaving Ianto and the Doctor alone with Conner in the vault. The Doctor didn't look at Ianto as he pulled himself to his feet turning back to the artifacts. He wasn't able to hold his son, hold the tablet and sonic while looking at the artifact but that didn't stop him from trying. Ianto left the Time Lord alone for just a minute as he went up to Jack's room. He quickly found what he wanted returning to the Doctor's side.
"Here try this," Ianto offered, holding out the baby carrier. The Doctor glanced at it before returning his attention to the artifacts.
"I'm not wearing that," he advised Ianto. Ianto sighed stepping closer.
"Jack said the same thing at first and I will tell you the same thing I told him. Wearing this will free up your hands allowing you to keep Conner close to you in order to continue to work unless you want me to take him or to put him in his cot," Ianto suggested. The Doctor resisted telling Ianto mine as he held Conner a little tighter. Ianto held out the carrier again and the Doctor debated with himself as he turned allowing Ianto to help him put the carrier on. Once Conner was secured to his chest, he turned back to the shelf picking up the tablet and his sonic. He had to admit that it was easier to work now that he had both hands free. Feeling more confident he set to work. Keeping one eye on the Doctor, Ianto left the vault returning to his filing.
When Jack returned a few hours later, he was covered in mud and had a very unhappy dog like creature in a crate. The animal was whining continuously as it scratched at the pet carrier. Jack ignored the animal for a moment, setting it down in his office. Going to his room, he stripped off the muddy clothes throwing them in the trash bin. He showered, then dug the clothes out transferring them to the laundry basket for Ianto to wash. He dressed in a clean pair of clothes then headed down to the vault to see his lover and the Doctor. Going down the stairs, he could hear music playing loudly and going into the archives, he found the room empty. He moved further in, a surge of angry surprise going through him as he looked in the vault.
His once clean vault was torn apart with piles of artifacts spread all over the floor. He watched on as the Doctor picked up an item scanning it with his sonic before handing it to Ianto to put away. Ianto made sure to put the correct archive card in front of the artifact. Neither one of them noticed him as they laughed and listened to the music. Pushing the anger aside, Jack went further into the vault. The Doctor turned smiling at him and revealing Conner strapped to his chest. Conner was awake but content on his daddy's chest.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked the obvious as it was clear to him they were reorganizing the vault. The Doctor pointed his sonic towards the door and the music went quiet allowing him to speak to Jack.
"Cleaning," The Doctor answered. "Your catalog of artifacts was hard to understand so I decided to fix it. Once we are finished you will be able to find an artifact quicker and will also be able to easier identify as well as store new artifacts that come through the rift."
"Is it safe to leave them laying on the floor like this?" Jack questioned. He knew what was in his vault and he didn't like thinking of a hyper bomb laying on the ground regardless of whether or not it was defused.
"All the dangerous artifacts are near the back of the vault and the explodey ones are stored already," The Doctor responded. "It is going to take me a few more hours to finish rearranging the vault and then I have several items that I need to identify."
"Then that can wait until tomorrow. Right now, I need you to come with me and help me to identify the animal we found," Jack informed the Doctor. The Doctor's eyes lit up and he happily followed Jack out of the vault. Ianto secured the vault behind them causing the Doctor to chuckle as they all three knew he could just let himself back in. Hooking his arm through Jack's, Ianto kissed him softly on the cheek welcoming him back. Jack took Ianto's hand squeezing it as they approached the office. The creature had gone momentarily quiet but it began whining again as they approached.
"What has the mean Captain done to you?" The Doctor cooed. He unhooked Conner from his chest, passing him to Jack before kneeling down in front of the crate.
"Careful Doc," Jack warned as he adjusted the baby.
"He's terrified, Jack. Think how you would feel if you were just taken from your home by a rift and then forced into a cage that is too small for you, by a creature you have never seen before," The Doctor chastised Jack as he opened the crate. The creature scrambled as far back in the cage as possible as the Doctor held his hand out to it. "I'm not going to hurt you. I know the mean Captain put you in this horrible cage but he was just trying to help. You're safe, though, I promise no one is going to hurt you. So come out and let me see you."
Ianto and Jack watched as the Doctor slowly coaxed the creature out of the crate. It walked out, sniffing the air as its large brown eyes searched the room. In the light of the hub, it was clear to see that it looked like a small dog with large pointed ears and a rounded face. Its body was long and skinny with canine front legs but its back legs were longer and almost rabbit like. It was a strange looking creature with its fluffy gray fur and short tail. The Doctor placed his hand on its back stroking its fur slowly.
"You are beautiful," He cooed. Jack didn't see it as the creature looked weird to him.
"Do you know what it is?" Jack questioned and the Doctor nodded.
"It's a CaniOryct. They live on a small planet on the other side of the galaxy. It will be a quick jump in the TARDIS to take him home," The Doctor explained.
"Is he dangerous?" Jack wondered.
"He can be, just like all creatures but he isn't going to attack for no reason if that is what you are asking," The Doctor explained.
"Alright, then can you please put him back in the crate so we can get him back to the flat. We can take him home real quick and then settle down for the night." The Doctor ignored Jack as he picked the creature up in his arms heading for the hub doors. Jack and Ianto exchanged as Jack started after him. Ianto picked up the crate chasing after the two men as together they left the hub.