PLAGUE

EIGHTTEEN

That's how Ianto found the two of them a few hours later when he came looking for Jack.

At first he was embarrassed having come upon them like that, but Jack opened his eyes, smiled and winked.

"Would you make me a coffee?" he mouthed silently.

Ianto nodded and padded out. Jack pulled his numbed left arm from behind Rose and shook her gently.

"Rose, wake up. We're gonna need your help."

She opened her eyes and he could tell by watching her face the memories of the preceding night were replaying in her thoughts; she shook herself free of them and nodded.

"Can I get some tea?"

"Go find Ianto; he'll make you a cup."

She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything."

She left him alone with his thoughts, which were gloomy at best.

Still, it was a relief to not worry about The Doctor. He picked up the pillow from the bed and held it to his face – he could still smell a bit of the Time Lord on the linens – a combination of wonderful spicy scents unlike anything else in the cosmos, which was and could only ever be The Doctor.

Jack hated to admit it but he was actually a bit thankful The Doctor was gone. It was true what he'd told Rose, there was nothing they could do for him; and if he wasn't in any condition to help them, he'd be a source of constant concern and a distraction.

Besides, while he respected Owen as a physician, he wasn't sure he would ever let the man loose on his precious Doctor…

Not that he didn't miss the Time Lord, especially now when everything seemed to be going to hell; Jack deeply inhaled the fragrance from the pillow one last time and then sheepishly put it down, smoothing the fabric carefully with his hand as he reflected.

He did trust Wil; that had also been the truth. It was curious though – he allowed his mind to wander for a moment and wondered who had fired up the TARDIS.

Jack did a series of neck stretches and finished looking at the ceiling. If it had been Wil at the console, then what relief he'd managed to muster was tinged with more than just a tiny bit of apprehension.