Chapter Four: Three Doctors and an Unhappy Tea Boy

Ianto brought up the subject of the Doctor early the following morning with Martha during her morning check up with Jack. She finally agreed to call him, but warned Ianto that he may not come. Ianto knew better, he'd met the Doctor once and knew that the man would never forsake his former companions.

Four days later, the Doctor arrived in his TARDIS. Jack's state had worsened to the point where he was under heavy sedation most of the day, unaware of who was sitting with him and talking. The only times he appeared even semi lucid when Ianto was in the room with him, and even then it was only because Ianto had taken to singing Welsh lullabies to the dying man.

Ianto sat in the tourist office when the door opened and a man in a pin stripped suit stepped in. Ianto took a moment to study the man before him. Wild brown hair, equally wild brown eyes. He was skinny, a little too skinny for Ianto's taste, though he was quite handsome.

"Ianto Jones I presume." The man spoke with a sure tone about him.

"You're the Doctor?"

"That would be me, Martha said this was important?"

Ianto nodded as he pushed the button that led to the hub. "Follow me." The Doctor nodded and followed the younger man down. Moments later they were standing in the hub of Torchwood. Brown eyes gazed upward. "He never was much for decorating. Nice pterodactyl." He stated casually.

"Thanks, her name is Myfanwy. Welcome to Torchwood three."

"Right, where's Jack?" The Doctor assumed this had something to do with his former traveler.

Ianto walked off without replying. The Doctor took the hint and followed the man down a set of stairs. Ianto stopped at a heavy wooden door, glancing over his shoulder he sighed. "You might want to prepare yourself. He looks—bad."

The Doctor's eye brows rose in surprise, but he felt all the air rush from his lungs as Ianto pushed the door open. There on a bed in the corner lay Jack, or at least someone who looked like Jack. He was covered in red welts and bloody sores. White bandages covered nearly every part of his upper body; several bandages were patched with red spots. There was an IV by the bed but Jack wasn't hooked up to them. Jack's body was thin and frail; nothing like the man the Doctor had come to know. "What happened to him?" The Doctor raced over to the man's side, bypassing the sleeping figure of Tosh.

"He has radiation poisoning. He's dying a very slow and painful death."

The Doctor looked at the figure and felt his hearts ache at the sight. Reaching out, his hand shaking, he gently brushed the hair from Jack's face. "Oh my sweet Jack. I'm so sorry." He whispered sadly. "Why isn't he on painkillers?"

By this time Tosh had woken and Martha stood in the doorway. "Because the site of the IV port wouldn't stop bleeding, we had to remove it. His bone marrow is completely destroyed, his internal organs are melting."

The Doctor looked over at Martha. "You've been here the whole time?"

She nodded. "He needed me. Because radiation alters DNA we're not actually sure if he's going to come back to life this time. Ianto decided you should have the chance to say goodbye should he not come back."

"Martha you know—"

She shook her head. "Do I? Because what I saw in New New York isn't anything like what I'm witnessing here. You said it yourself Doctor, time isn't a straight line, you can be born in the 51st century, live through the twentieth and twenty-first, go to the ends of the universe and still die in the twenty-first."

"His time line gives me a headache." Murmured the Doctor gently.

"Can you stop this?" Ianto questioned.

The Doctor sighed as he looked at Ianto. "No, I can do many things but even I can't stop radiation sickness. Certainly not this late in the game. He's only got a few more days, if he's lucky."

"Seems more like unlucky to me." Ianto replied. "Doctor may I see you privately?"

The Time Lord studied the younger man, Jack's lover. Nodding briefly he gave a quick glance back to Jack before he stood up and moved towards Martha in the doorway. Without hesitation he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "How's UNIT?"

She smiled. "They're good."

Nodding he pulled out a key and handed it to her. "Go to the TARDIS, in the medical bay I've got some strong pain medication that will help him. Ask her where it is, she'll show you. Bring it back here and we'll administer it."

"Okay."

Once he was finished speaking with her, the Doctor followed Ianto back up to the hub, moments later he was standing in the middle of what he assumed was the conference room. "What can I do for you Ianto?"

"If he lives, I want you to change me."

"I'm sorry?" The Doctor replied scratching his head.

Ianto nodded. "He needs someone. Obviously it isn't you, but he shouldn't have to go through the rest of his life without someone."

"It doesn't work like that Ianto."

"Then make it work like that. Find a way, you're a Time Lord—I've done some research of my own Doctor. You do impossible on a daily basis."

"I didn't make Jack immortal."

"No, maybe not but I'm betting you know more than you can say."

Sighing, the Doctor rubbed his eyes, squeezing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "Why would you want to live forever?"

"I spent eight months without him, the worst eight months of my life. I lost my girl friend in Canary Warf, but the idea that I may never have to lose Jack—it's a security blanket knowing he's always going to be there. He doesn't have that. He's going to spend his entire life alone."

"No he won't—"

"Don't you get it!" yelled Ianto. Suddenly realizing he was yelling he took a slow deep breath and straightened further. "I've seen the pain in his eyes Doctor. When one of us gets hurt there's a look of sheer panic there. No, naturally he doesn't want us to see it. But he lets me in. Tell me something Doctor, if you could have spent the rest of your life with someone you loved, would you do it? If you could have saved Rose, if she had lived forever—"

The heat of the Doctor's glare was almost painful. "No, no one should live forever."

"No one should live alone forever either. But you two are stuck on the same road, the only difference is you can come and go. He can't. He's going to spend the rest of his life trying to catch up with his past. He shouldn't have to be alone. I'm willing to give him something no one else will."

"I would have."

"You called him wrong."

It was the Doctor's turn to squirm slightly under the heat of Ianto's stare. "Let's say I can do this. What do you think Jack would say? Because you're going to have to tell me. I'm not going to change you and suddenly let him find out when you get shot then come back to life in his arms."

"It's not his choice."

The Doctor shook his head. "That's where you're wrong. You better make sure you both know exactly what you're doing. This isn't some decision like what puppy to buy. You make this choice you'll be making it forever."

"I'll speak to him—will you stay?"

"I'll stay."

o0o

It wasn't until nearly a day later that the Doctor got up the guts to sit down in the same room with Jack. He had Martha and Ianto to blame for that. Sighing, he slowly stepped into the room. Jack was getting worse, it was apparent at this point that Jack's time was coming sooner rather than later. While he knew the truth that Jack would likely survive this just like every other time, he wouldn't deny the slight shudder deep in his hearts.

Guilt raced through his veins as he looked at the man before him. Ianto was right, Jack had suffered so much and most of it was the Doctor's fault.

"I wish I'd never met you Doctor, I was better off as a coward." If he'd known, all those times they'd seen the face of Boe, they'd never even noticed. Jack realized the face of Boe was just as prevent in their travels as Bad Wolf was. He'd never noticed. Jack had been following them. The ancient being following those he loved simply to get one more glimpse of them.

He felt his eyes burn realizing what he'd done. He would swoop in, cause catastrophes then leave before cleaning up after himself. This time Jack was the victim. At the time he'd wanted to believe he'd left Jack for all the right reasons. But truthfully Jack had been right, he'd been prejudice. He'd been terrified of Rose's creation. He was the reason Jack was on that space station where he was killed by the Daleks, and if that had been all it was he probably could have lived with Jack's death. But he was also the reason Rose took it upon herself to commit the ultimate Lazarus. He was the reason that Jack had died so many times, the reason Jack had been tortured and the reason Rose was gone.

"Feeling sorry isn't going to make it go away." Jack's weak whisper mixed into the Doctor's thoughts.

"I keep forgetting you're telepathic."

"Only slightly, though to be fair the dead could probably hear you with the amount of guilt you're laying on yourself."

"Do you blame me?" The Doctor questioned as he came over and sat down on the bed, looking at the figure before him.

"Sometimes yes. Doesn't matter. I've learned in my time that when you've got forever there are better things to do than stay bitter."

"I'm so tired Jack."

"Me too Doctor, but these people are worth all the exhaustion."

"Even the death?"

"Especially the death. If it means I get to wake up to their faces—I love them."

The Doctor smiled sadly. "You love Mr. Jones?"

Jack's smile turned into a grimace. "Probably most of all."

"The intergalactic play boy has been domesticated."

Jack let out a sharp laugh that rapidly turned into a hacking cough. Both men grimaced at the sight of the blood on Jack's hand as he took it from his mouth. "God this sucks." Jack murmured.

"What if I told you I could lengthen his life span?"

"Yan's?"

"Yep. What would you say?"

Jack shook his head. "No one should be forced to live forever."

The Doctor shrugged. "Wouldn't really be forcing as he's the one who demanded I do it."

"Did you?" Jack's eyes were full of hope and perhaps a shred of fear.

"No." The Doctor was stunned when he saw the hope and fear turn into sadness before walls were suddenly slammed back into place. "But I could."

"How long?"

Shrugging the Doctor busied himself with checking a few of Jack's bandages. "Probably should change your dressings soon."

"How long?"

"Probably a millennia, maybe two if you're lucky, he'd still get sick, injured an' all that. But I could slow down his aging process considerably and speed up his healing process. He'd essentially become immortal like you, at least for a long time."

"Does he know?"

"He doesn't know how long, but he knows I can do it."

Jack felt the hoping thudding through his aching body. "It's his decision."

"Yes it is, but seeing as you'd be the one spending forever with him, you should probably take part in that decision. Tell me Jack, would you actually settle down? You really don't strike me as that type of man."

Jack smiled weakly. "For him I might."

o0o

Night had descended upon the Hub, the Doctor had taken off for a few hours, promising to be back before morning and that he had to check some things out. Gwen had gone home to Rhys feeling completely worn out from the past several days. In truth this was taking a toll on everyone having to watch Jack suffer so horribly. Martha had gone home with Gwen after a lot of persuasion. She would be sleeping on the nice comfy couch and get a home cooked meal. Rhys had been all too happy to have the company as well, he'd found a special place in his heart for Torchwood—and they'd found quite a spot for him as well. Owen was out for a few hours, getting a shower and such. He needed to unwind, he'd promised to keep his phone nearby at all times in case of an emergency. Leaving Ianto and Tosh alone in the Hub. With Jack being in the later stages of radiation sickness they'd decided two people should be at hand at all times. Ianto was cleaning up and handling some unfinished paper work. Tosh was seated beside Jack's bed side.

"You know it's funny because we always talk about how Torchwood rules our lives. But sometimes, this is the only life I have, Jack. I guess this is my way of saying that I don't blame you for Mary or Tommy. I've waited all my life for someone, anyone to notice me."

She jumped nearly a mile when she felt a hand against hers. Looking down she noticed Jack's eyes were open, though filled with pain and one was red from an earlier hemorrhaging problem. "I did." He whispered, his voice cracked and strained. "You are special. It's why I chose you."

"We were all special?"

"Every one of you in your own way."

"Sometimes I hate myself for letting Torchwood consume me."

He smiled sadly as he managed to squeeze her hand. "Beautiful an' he's out there."

Leaning over Jack, Tosh pressed her lips to his, mindful of his sores. When she pulled away she noticed the grin on his face. "What?" she questioned.

"Just gettin' all the kissin' action." he replied.

"At death's door and you still talk about sex." She huffed playfully.

"You could bury me an' I'd still be thinkin' bout sex." He answered as he tried to hold back a moan of pain.

"Oi!" Ianto stated as he entered the room. A smile was on his face, it was all they could do some days to keep sane. It made him feel better to hear Jack joke at these moments.

"She kissed me!" Jack offered in return, though he was weak, he tried his best to appear that he was feeling well.

"Your charms are just that irresistible."

Tosh smirked as she stood up slowly. "Call me if you need me, I'm going to step out for a bite."

"Of course." Ianto watched her leave, his hands shoved in his pockets he turned back to his lover. "I miss you."

"Miss you too. It's almost over." Jack's voice was full of pain now. A part of Ianto felt honored in knowing that Jack didn't feel like he had to hide anything from Ianto. He didn't feel like he had to be strong for the younger man. Perhaps it was Jack's way of saying he knew Ianto was strong by himself.

"Can you feel it?"

Jack arched in pain slightly and nodded, his eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry you—keep seeing this."

Ianto shook his head as he stepped over to the bed and took Jack's hand. "Don't be."

"When I get back—you and me are—" he cried out in pain, curling in on himself as he struggled to maintain composure. "We're gonna talk."

"Shh, just try and relax. It's all going to be over soon."

"Tell—tell Owen DNR."

Ianto knew what it meant, he merely nodded. It wasn't like trying to resuscitate Jack would help at this point. He was going to die, Ianto could feel it too. "This isn't the end Jack, when you come back we'll have forever."

"Love you." Jack whimpered as he arched up in pain one more time before he collapsed, unconscious.

Ianto felt his heart begin to pound in his chest, reaching out he pressed to fingers to Jack's neck. His pulse was weak and thready. "I love you too." Ianto whispered as he closed his eyes and placed his head beside Jack's.