Jack passed off watching the hub to Ianto since he was intent on staying at Torchwood for the night. He then messaged the Brigadier that he was leaving but that he would be available at his home number in about a half an hour. While the Brigadier was always welcome to call him on his cell they had to be careful about what they discussed. His home phone, on the other hand, was a secure line where they could talk more freely. With everything in place, he led the Doctor straight out to the SUV to begin the journey home. The Doctor was quiet for the first few minutes, knowing that Jack didn't want to hear another explanation or the apology that he desperately wanted to give him. Still, he had questions and as the silence between them became overwhelming he decided to risk asking them.
"How long are you going to make me stay on Earth?" the Doctor wondered as he continued to stare out the window.
"For one month to start with. After that we will reassess your condition and whether or not you think you need to stay for longer," Jack asked him.
"You trust me to make that decision?" The Doctor questioned.
"I do because you know the consequences if you lie to me again. I was also with you the last time you withdrew and remember how hard it was on your body. I won't unlock the TARDIS after a month if I feel you run a risk of immediately relapsing," Jack replied.
"Last time I was also pregnant," the Doctor reminded him.
"I remember, you were also on several drugs as well as an aphrodisiac," Jack glanced over at him but the Doctor was still refusing to meet his eyes. Turning his eyes back to the road, Jack continued. "Are you still on the same mixture of drugs?"
"No.
"Then what about the dosage has that changed at all?" Jack questioned. The Doctor rolled his eyes refusing to answer a question that they both all ready knew the answer to. The dosage had gone up over the years as he built up a tolerance and how to take more in order to achieve the relief that he yearned for. He wasn't sure how much more he was taking, but he knew this time was going to be more difficult for him to withdrawal then the last time.
"Why are you helping me?" the Doctor asked instead.
"Because believe it or not, Doc, I do care for you. I maybe furious at how you handled the situation but I don't want to find out that you went messing due to be dead somewhere due to your drug addiction. I would rather have you at home with me and Emily building a life again while I figure out how to forgive you," Jack explained.
"For what it is worth, I am sorry," the Doctor told Jack again.
"I know and I am sorry that you had to be the one to pull the trigger," Jack responded.
"Yeah." The SUV went quiet again as neither man knew what to say to the other. They remained quiet as Jack drove the familiar streets to their home then pulled into the driveway. He put the SUV into park but didn't shut off the engine right away as he wanted to talk to the Doctor before he had time to disappear on Jack again.
"Once we get into the house we are going to go straight up stairs to our room. I don't want you to touch anything along the way and I will search any room you disappear into so there is no use trying to hide in them. Once we reach our room, I would like you to strip out of your clothing and hand it to me. Then I will give you a fresh pair of pajamas to wear while I move your coat and jacket to my office. Is that understood?" Jack questioned.
"Yes, sir," the Doctor spat sarcastically.
"Don't make me into the bad guy here, Doctor, or act like I am just another stupid ape. You had ten minutes alone in the TARDIS to do anything you wanted with the bag of drugs that was laying on my desk. I don't trust you and I don't believe for an instant that you gave me all of the drugs you had on hand. So I will be taking your clothing and I will search it then destroy any drugs that you have hidden in your many pockets," Jack replied with a snip to his own tone.
"Fine," The Doctor sighed.
"Good." Jack turned off the engine and the doors unlocked finally letting them out. The Doctor looked down the street, just wanting to run as fast as he could down the long road but knowing that Jack would never forgive him if he did. Taking a deep breath, he turned towards the house following Jack inside. Together they went straight up the stairs to the bedroom they shared and Jack closed the door behind them even though they were home alone in order to make the Doctor more comfortable. He stood near the bed and had the Doctor take off his coat first handing it to him. He then had him strip down completely until he was completely bare still standing in the same spot. The Doctor was shivering softly but not from the cold as Jack stared at him.
"Go shower, then come directly back here," Jack ordered him changing the original plan slightly. The Doctor nodded leaving the room quickly. With him gone, Jack started searching the Doctor's clothing. He turned the pockets inside out on the bed as he rummaged through all the knickknacks that the Doctor always seemed to have on him. Among the sonic, pieces of paper, notebooks, toy mouse, and various other pieces of metal he found two more bags containing white powder as well as an unused syringe. He left everything but the drugs and syringe in a small pile on the bed for the Doctor to deal with. Pocketing the items, he went to the wardrobe to pick out a pair of pajamas for the Doctor. He settled on a nice light blue cotton pair that he had given the Doctor a few years prior. He laid them on the bed, then set out to check every nook and drawer he could think of in the room.
"I didn't hide anything here," the Doctor informed him as he emerged from the shower a little while later. His hair was plastered to his head and he had a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Sorry if I don't believe you," Jack replied as he continued his search. The Doctor didn't wait for permission as he stepped forward picking up the pajamas. He put on the shirt then moved to get a pair of pants. It was clear Jack had all ready searched their as the items were in disarray. The Doctor didn't comment as he pulled out a grey pair and putting them on before his trousers. Once dressed he collected all the random items Jack had collected and put them in his bedside drawer. "All the room looks clear."
"It is," the Doctor interrupted. Jack pretended not to hear him as he continued.
"I am going to search the rest of the house then start supper," Jack advised him.
"I'm not hungry," the Doctor answered.
"You should still try to eat something as it is going to be a long couple of days and you are to have to be strong in order to get through them," Jack told him.
"I'm fine," the Doctor answered.
"No, you're not but you will be," Jack promised causing the Doctor to smile. Jack smiled back. He headed down the stairs to check the living room, kitchen, and dining room as well as his office. Once that was done, the home would be secure and the Doctor would be free to roam in its wall though Jack doubted that the Doctor would want to leave the safety of the room for the next few days. He didn't think the Doctor would be stupid enough to leave drugs in the home where Emily might find them but he couldn't be sure and had to check for all their safety. Still, he wasn't surprised when his search came up empty.
"What do you want for supper," Jack called up the stairs once his search was complete.
"I'm not hungry," the Doctor answered from the room.
"Hamburgers it is," Jack replied. "Do you want chips?"
"Please." It wasn't the healthiest option but at least it was something. Jack made their meal and then called the Doctor down to eat. He was pleased when the Doctor ate more than his fair share of chips along with one of the hamburgers. He then disappeared back up the stairs leaving Jack to clean up the mess. Jack didn't mind as he really didn't want to spend time with the Time Lord right now. So as the night went on, he found a spare blanket planning on camping out on the sofa. He checked on the Doctor periodically but the Time Lord was sleeping as his body was still relaxed from the drugs he had taken. That would soon change and Jack would need to be ready. Laying down he closed his eyes as he tried to rest.