Jack's eyes opened in the dim light of the infirmary. As the blurred shapes came into focus, he turned his face and saw his brother sitting by his bed, reading to him from a letter penned long ago. Gray's face was gaunt and lined with worry.

Jack tried to speak, but his throat was dry resulting is a raspy whisper.

"Grey?"

His brother turned his head in surprise. "Jack?" He dropped the letter and reached for the Captain's hand. "Jack? How…are you OK?"

Jack gave a wan smile. "Getting there."

Gray scrambled to his feet. "I need to tell the others!"

"Wait," Jack whispered as he struggled to sit up, but fell back.

Gray quickly came to his side, and lifted his brother's shoulders as he arranged the pillows to make him more comfortable. He turned to leave, but Jack gripped his hand.

"Wait," he whispered. "Stay with me. We need to talk."

Gray dropped the Captain's hand and slowly sat down in the chair. A wave of regret washed over his face. "I'm so sorry, Blue." His face twisted in anguish as he looked away. "I…I never meant…"

"I didn't understand, Gray," Jack whispered. "Not really. The years…what they did to you…"

Gray's shoulders trembled as he avoided Jack's gaze. "I'm no better than them. Look what I did!" He tried to pull away.

"But you survived," Jack insisted as he tightened his grip. "You… we… survived." He struggled to sit up again. "I forgive you. Please…forgive me." He leaned closer. "Gray, look at me. You were only a child…with them for years. " He took a deep breath and continued "If we can't get pass this… they win."

Gray met his Jack's gaze, then burst into tears. He embraced his brother, burying his head on Jack's chest as he sobbed. Jack pulled him closer, kissed him on the top of his head, comforting him like he did when they were boys on the Boshane Pennisula.

The Doctor stood in the shadows of the hall, quietly watching the two brothers. He had come to relieve Gray from his vigil at Jack's bedside. Good to have you back, Captain, he thought to himself as he turned to go wake the others. As he went down the hall to the sleeping quarters, he stopped and patted the TARDIS wall.

"Good work, Kira…bringing him back."

The TARDIS had all systems humming, but he could feel her warmth responding to his touch. Silent words played at the edges of his mind.

"Yes, he does have a good heart," the Doctor replied. "Cheeky sometimes, but a good heart. But then, you've known that from the beginning. It took longer for your mother and I to understand him." He patted the wall again, and continued to the sleeping quarters to wake the team.

Gray finally stood up and composed himself.

"Are you feeling stronger, Jack?" he said. "Do you think you can stand up?"

"Yeah," the Captain said as he propped himself up, and attempted to pull his legs over the side of the bed. "Give me a hand."

Gray reached around his brother's waist and placed Jack's arm over his shoulder. Jack winced as he pulled himself up, but then got his feet under him, and stood unsteadily relying on Gray's strength.

He looked down at the hospital gown and joked. "Not quite the fashion", he smirked, "And a bit breezy."

Gray laughed. "Since when did you get so modest?"

"Dad!" Toshi rushed into the room and wrapped her arms around her father, almost knocking him down. "Dad!"

"Easy, baby girl," Jack soothed his daughter as he used his thumb to brush the tears from her eyes. "You know me, I always come back." He kissed her again as she held him tightly. Over her shoulder he smiled as the Doctor entered followed by Mara and Adjit.

"Good to see you back," grinned the Doctor as he folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "Was getting a bit worried."

"Me, too!" Jack shot a worn smile as Toshi stepped aside, allowing Mara and Adjit to greet the Captain. The Catkin doctor wept in relief as she hugged him, then noticed Ajit was standing to the side. The teenager looked uncertain of what to do next. Jack joked "Group hug!" and then opened his arms and drew both in.

Jack looked up and saw a tall Adyan figure silhouetted in the hall light. His body stiffened and fear flashed through his face, then disappeared as Chi stepped into the light of the infirmary.

"Chi!" he cried out with delight.

"Captain." The Adyan bowed low in greeting, and said. "I gratified to see you well."

"I thank you, my friend," Jack said as he extended his hand towards the Adyan physican. "Without you…"

The Adyan interrupted as he clasped Jack's hand. "Captain, you have many friends who care for you, more than you know."

"OK, I need to check him over," ordered Mara. "Everyone out!" She bustled around the infirmary pulling out instruments and scanners.

"Aw, Ma, do I have to?" joked the Captain. "The party was just getting started."

"Do you mind if I stay?" asked Gray. He hesitated. "Just to make sure…he's..."

Mara looked at Jack with questioning eyes.

"Sure," Jack said as he noted Gray's worried brow. "Family."

Toshi started to argue she wanted to stay, but Jack stopped her. "Guys only," he laughed, "But you could do something for me. Go to my room and get my clothes. I won't feel myself until I'm properly dressed."

Toshi turned and ran towards the sleeping quarters to retrieve his clothes.

Mara carefully closed the door to the infirmary, and turned to Jack. "Now, how do you really feel, and don't give me any of that Time Agent bravado."

"Still not up to speed," Jack admitted. "A little shaky…" He glanced at Gray who looked alarmed. "But I can tell the strength is returning. I'll be in fighting shape in no time.

"Mmm," the Catkin doctor folded her arms and gave him a skeptical look. "What do you remember?"

"It's hazy," Jack shook his head. "I remember pieces of the rescue." He looked at Gray and smiled. "I remember you." He looked down trying to concentrate. "Fever…I felt something in me…everything fading... dark." He frowned as he concentrated. "I was stuck…I couldn't come forward…glass everywhere…someone." He looked up and shook his head again in exasperation. "I can't remember."

Mara nodded and slipped on her white coat and stethoscope. She ordered him to lie back on the hospital cot as she took his vital signs. She motioned to Gray to sit by his brother's side and help as she began to scan for damage.

"Gray," Jack whispered as Mara moved to the monitors, and turned her attention to the results. "That letter you were reading. Over there on the floor. That was from Mom, right?"

Gray took a deep breath, as he picked up the yellowed pages, spread them on the bed, and nodded. "Yeah. A long time ago."

"Mom always liked to write the old fashioned way…letters." Jack said as he thought back. "Remember the books, Gray? She and Dad always had books around."

Grey look down. "She grieved, Jack. She never lost hope, but she grieved. Did you see her before she died?"

Jack was quiet for a moment, and then said, "No. She died before I earned enough leave from the Time Agency to come home. The letters are all I have left."

The brothers were quiet. The monitors continued their beat as Mara continued to read through the results of the tests.

"Gray, where did you get the letter?"

"We took turns staying with you," Gray explained. "Hoping by telling you stories, shared memories…you would come back to us." Gray took his brother's hand. "But you didn't come back. Toshi remembered a box of letters you had showed her when she was a child."

Jack nodded. "She was so little, I'm surprised she remembered."

"She went into your room and found it. We took turns reading what we could…hoping you would remember and come back." Gray searched his brother's face. "So many…lives, Jack."

Jack's eyes clouded for a moment, and then he tipped his chin up and smiled. "Good memories. I'll need to tell you about some of them."

Mara returned to his bedside looking satisfied. "Your vital signs are strong, and your body has reset as usual." She sat down next to him. "You've been through an ordeal that had emotional impact. I can't measure that, but I want you to take it easy for the next couple of weeks…"

Jack started to argue, but the Catkin doctor held up her hand to silence him. "A couple of weeks, doctor's orders."

Jack reluctantly agreed.

There was a rap at the door.

"Dad, are you decent?" Toshi said. "I've got your clothes."

Gray went to the door, opened it a crack so she could pass the bundle of clothes inside.

He handed them to the Captain who dressed quickly. After he slipped on the brown boots and laced them, he called, "You can come in now."

Toshi, Adjit, and Chi poured into the room. A few moments later they were followed by the Doctor.

Jack stood tall, dressed in his favorite blue shirt, trousers, and braces. As he slipped on his coat, he pushed the collar up . He placed his hands on his hips, flaring the coat around his body, and with a cocky grin said, "I'm back and lookin' good!"

He looked with pride over each person in the room, his family, his team. And then he frowned as his eyes searched the room again.

"Where's Jens?"

He turned to the Time Lord. "Doctor, where's Jens?"

Reader's Note: I've been talking with other writers and readers, and have decided that this story belongs on the Doctor Who site. Even though it has some Torchwood characters, it is far in the future away from the Cardiff roots, and has a strong Doctor presence. Jack is drawn more like the Doctor Who Captain. Since the next story will be more about the Doctor and Jack so I'm going to group all the Chronicles on the same site after I finish this one.