As the Brigadier left the Doctor's room he found that Jack hadn't gone far. Despite his anger about how the Doctor was treating everyone, he wasn't going to abandon the Time Lord in his time of need. Instead, he was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall just across from the Doctor's room. The Brigadier crossed the hallway sliding down the wall to sit next to Jack without asking whether or not Jack wanted his company first. Jack stared straight ahead not speaking as he continued to stare at the Doctor's door. They could both still hear his faint attempts to scream his anger at being held through his soar throat.
"I have known the Doctor a long time now. This isn't the first time that we have argued nor am I foolish enough to believe it will be the last. He will push us away, but we will always be there when he needs us. I know you don't want to leave his side, but perhaps it would be for the best to leave him here while he recovers. You can return to Torchwood and I will make sure that doctor Jones keeps you updated on his condition. If you would like I could even order that he have no visitors until he is well," the Brigadier informed Jack. Jack finally looked away from the door as he turned to Alistair. The Brigadier was giving him a way out. A way to leave without the Doctor knowing that Jack couldn't handle him. As tempted as Jack was to take him up on the offer, he couldn't do it. The Doctor needed him to stay by his side and be strong enough to carry him until he could hold himself up again.
"I don't want to leave his side," Jack answered him, leaning his head back against the wall. "He needs us more than he ever has in the past and I am not going to be the one to abandon him. I just needed a moment to myself."
:"I understand. Take as many moments as you need. I am afraid that I cannot offer you housing here on the base, but you are welcome to stay here in the hospital wing with him until he is ready to move to Martha's flat," The Brigadier explained.
"Do you know how long that will be?" Jack questioned. The Brigadier shook his head no.
"It all depends on the Doctor," Martha responded coming into the middle of their conversation. She handed Jack a cup of coffee as she sat down next to him. He took it gratefully taking a sip as Martha continued. "Not only does he have to withdraw from the drugs he also has to heal from the injuries that he received. I will release him while he is not fully healed as long as he is showing progress and eating again without having to receive nutrients from the IV. Then after he is released we will have to watch him closely to make sure that he doesn't try to relapse while he is still in the recovery phase. Drug rehabilitation programs can take up to ninety days and depending on the individual there can be a lifetime of help and meetings to aid in their ability to continue to avoid relapse."
"I don't think the Doctor will relapse," Jack told her optimistically.
"I didn't think he would ever take drugs in the first place," Martha replied. They all looked at the door again as the screaming suddenly stopped. Jack started to stand up to go check on the Time Lord, but Martha put a hand on his leg to stop him.
"I will check on him. You sit here and finish your coffee," Martha stood up going into the Doctor's room closing the door tightly behind her. He lay with tears streaming down his cheeks and his eyes closed tightly. If his hands were free he would be holding his head as it was pounding from the drugs leaving his system. He wished that Martha would just sedate him as he felt that she was punishing him by making him stay awake and suffer. He wasn't human he could learn to cope without the drugs without having to go through withdraw to be clean. Martha, of course, would refuse to listen to him, though, as he had lost his right to offer opinions about his medical care. Maybe one day Martha would trust him again, but the Doctor doubted that it would ever be the same between the two of them.
"Please, Martha it hurts," He whimpered.
"What hurts?" Martha wondered as she approached his bed.
"My head," He moaned as it sounded as she was screaming at him even if her voice was soft.
"Would you like an ice pack?" Martha offered. The Doctor opened his eyes just enough to give her a look of disgust before closing them again. "You can have a hot cup of tea, an ice pack or you can lay here and suffer, the choice is yours."
"I'll suffer," the Doctor snipped at her even if all the anger in his voice was gone. He was just more tired, sore and nauseous then he could ever remember being in the past and didn't have the TARDIS to help soothe him into a deep relaxing sleep while he healed. He put up with her giving him a quick examination trying not to get grumpy with her before she finally left the room. He wasn't even alone a minute when the door opened again as Jack returned.
"Please lay with me," The Doctor begged Jack as he shivered alone in his bed. Jack came over to the bed sitting down in the chair across from it as he didn't listen to the Time Lord's request.
"What about the fact that you are worried I am going to take advantage of you as soon as you let your guard down?" Jack asked him.
"I shouldn't have said that," he replied softly.
"No, you shouldn't have," Jack snapped at him not caring if he had a headache or not. The Doctor winced at the loudness of Jack's voice and Jack sighed. Moving the chair closer to the bed, he laid one arm on the bed resting his head down on it as he placed his other hand on the Doctor's head. His body ran hotter than a normal human's due to the Autron energy and he hoped it felt soothing to the ailing Doctor. Jack got his answer a few minutes later as the Doctor sighed, trying to push his head further into Jack's hand. Jack chuckled leaning forward to kiss the Time Lord on the cheek before nuzzling him with his head.
"Lay with me," The Doctor asked again sounding sleepy this time.
"I'm not going to release your restraints," Jack informed the Doctor as he hesitated about joining him on the bed.
"Alright," The Doctor agreed. Jack stood up removing his hand from the Doctor's head as he kicked off his shoes. He laid down next to the Doctor, stretching out next to him as close as he could get. He held him the best he could with the Doctor's arms and legs still restrained to the bed. He was gentle as he laid his head down on the Doctor's chest listening to his heartbeats. The Doctor wiggled trying to get closer as he silently wished he could move more into the warmth Jack provided. Jack reached up laying his hand back on the Doctor's head.
"Sleep sweetheart. I've got you," Jack whispered. Showing how bad he was feeling the Doctor didn't complain about being called sweetheart as he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.