It had been just the two of them traveling for the last month, and as much as he loved his son, he had to admit he was lonely. Having only a 15 month old as company was becoming wearisome and after spending another night comforting a fussy teething toddler. He decided he need a break.
He landed the Tardis in Cardiff, on the rift, and smiled when he saw Captain Jack, on the screen, coming out to meet him.
Leaving Kiam in the playpen, he went out and stood in front of the Tardis, keeping the door open behind him.
"Captain," He said happily.
"Doctor."
He rubbed his neck and looked at the building. "Would you mind watching Kiam for me?" He asked.
"Anything wrong?"
"No, Nothing, Forget I asked." He starts to back up into the Tardis.
"I get it," Jack laughs. "You need a break." He looks at Jack relieved that he understood.
"It's just been us since Martha left a month ago." He heads back inside to the control room and sees a look of concern cross Jack's face.
His once empty control room was a mess. There were toys, kids books and a few bottles littered all over it. A baby blanket was draped next to his coat. Next to the wall, strapped down tightly was a playpen, holding his son.. He had several of his books stacked on the Pilot seat and a cup of tea, that was long forgotten sat on the console. Hanging on the back of the chair was a diaper bag Martha had purchased him.
"Take a few days," Jack says heading over to Kiam. "My god, it looks like you cloned yourself, except for the eyes, he has Rose's eyes."
Jack scoops him up and heads back over to the Doctor and leans Kiam over to him. "Tell Daddy goodbye." Kiam smiles and waves.
"Still doesn't talk?"
"Nothing to be worried about." Though he was worried. "It's normal for premature human babies. He should start talking soon."
He kissed Kiam and handed Jack the diaper bag. He watched them leave and then looked around again. He sighed and began to clean.
-Dw-
It had taken a while but the control room was clean again. The only immediate sign when you walked in was the playpen. Everything else had been taken to its rightful place and he was enjoying a moment of peace. He was under the controls working on it when he heard a key in the Tardis door and then the door open. He shoots up and hits his head and falls back down. "Ow," He moans.
He hears laughter and eases out from under the controls and sits up a little slower. He sees Captain Jack standing there and feels his blood go even colder.
"Something wrong, Captain," He ask, thinking of everything that could be wrong with Kiam and he could think of quite a bit.
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
"Kiam?"
"He's fine. Ianto has him."
He relaxes a little but not completely. "Ianto"
"My partner. Now back to my question, you have been sitting out here for the last six hours. Something wrong."
"No, I cleaned up and have just been fixing her."
"Don't you have anything fun you can do." Jack looked exasperated at him.
"This is fun" He replies.
"Come on," Jack grabs his arm and drags him off of the Tardis.
-DW-
He was sitting in a booth at a local club. He had all ready tried to leave twice but Jack had insisted he stay. He didn't know how watching Jack dance with all the men and women in the club was better then fixing the Tardis. But still the Captain was trying to help. He looks down at his napkin which he has covered with writing. He was trying to figure out how to reconfigure the Tardis controls to boost the speed through the Time Vortex. He didn't think it was possible but it passed the time until Jack let him leave.
A glass slams down on the napkin covering his work. He looks up and sees Jack standing there holding a second glass. "Drink"
"No thanks," He says moving it.
"That wasn't a question."
He picks it up and takes a sip. Tasting straight whiskey, he spits it back in the glass and makes a face. Jack laughs at him.
"Come on Doctor loosen up. Drink it. ."
"The last time I loosened up, Seven month's later Kiam was born"
Jack sits down across from him in the booth and leans against the wall, putting his feet up.
"Still miss her, huh."
"Everyday."
"Wanna talk about it." He shakes his head at first and then changes his mind. He stands up and leaves the club with Jack beside him. They walk through Cardiff and he tells Jack everything, including how he would sit at the bottom of the pool. Jack doesn't say anything and just listens to him. He finds himself back at the Tardis and sits outside of it leaning against the cool wood.
Jack sits with him and they sit outside until the sun starts to rise, neither one saying anything. When the others arrive to work later that morning, he collects Kiam from Ianto. He turns to Jack.
"Thank you."
"Anytime." he watches as Jack takes Ianto's hand and they head off.
"Come on Breakfast." He tells Kiam.
-DW-
Later that day, he chased Kiam around the Tardis control room, listening to the baby squeal with laughter. He laughed right along with him, feeling better. He catches Kiam and throws him in the air, watching the happiness on his face. He catches him one last time and then heads to the controls. He sets the Tardis in motion and starts talking away to Kiam. "New, New York, So nice they named it fifteen times."