"Jack, slow down a moment," Martha called out as she rushed out the doors after him. Jack was already halfway across the hospital grounds but he stopped turning to look at her. "I know that he upset you by causing himself to have seizures by refusing to take his pill. Running away is not the answer."
"I just can't deal with him anymore at the moment, Martha. I'm tired of being worried about him constantly and fighting to help him while he continues to resent us for trying," Jack told her as she caught up to him.
"I know these last few weeks have been difficult for all of us. What I don't know is how you have managed to stay by his side for so long without running away before now," Martha informed him. Jack smiled weakly at her. "Regardless of whether or not he wants to admit it, he needs you here by his side, Jack."
"I know. Don't worry Martha I am going to be back later tonight. I am upset with him, but he isn't going to drive me away permanently," Jack informed her. "God knows that I have tried to be mad at him enough times over the years. I have wished for his death, yet when he calls or even appears in Cardiff, I always come running. Right now, though, I badly need a drink and a few hours to myself. He will be fine without me for a few hours even if he will probably just wallow in self-pity until I return."
"But you are coming back?" Martha questioned and Jack nodded.
"Yes, just do me a favor and don't tell him that," Jack told her wrapping her in a side hug.
"I won't," Martha agreed. She watched Jack continue across the compound before going back inside. Taking her time, she asked the nurses to watch the Doctor's door for any escape attempt. She thought about temporarily stationing a nurse inside his room with him, but decided against it as she didn't have one to spare. She also wasn't going to waste time and ask the Brigadier for a soldier since Jack would be back later. Making the Doctor a cup of tea she returned to his room, taking a deep breath before going inside.
"Jack has gone off site, so you are going to have to use your call button if you need anything," Martha informed the Doctor as she entered the room. She set his tea down on the bedside table noting that the Doctor didn't seem to care. Nor did he look at her as he sniffled softly.
"Did he say when he is coming back?" The Doctor wondered softly after a moment.
"No. He has stayed by your side for weeks now when he has other things he could be doing. He cares about you and is only trying to help you, yet, you continue to repay him for his kindness to you by telling him to bugger off and swearing at him," Martha scolded him. Pulling out her stethoscope she placed it to his chest. The Doctor groaned at the coolness of it but otherwise didn't complain.
"I didn't mean it," The Doctor whined realizing that he missed Jack. Jack had made him feel safe inside the walls of UNIT and giving him the comfort that he didn't feel that he deserved but desperately wanted. He didn't think that he could continue to go through this without Jack by his side providing him the strength that he needed to overcome his drug addiction.
"Then you shouldn't have told him it in the first place," Martha responded. She finished checking his vitals then handed him his cup of tea. "I know you were angry, but Jack wasn't here for you to take your anger out on."
"I know," The Doctor sighed. "If you see him tell him I am sorry."
"I will," Martha agreed. She left the Doctor by himself after that, checking on him periodically throughout the day. Just like Jack predicted he stayed in his bed pouting not really caring about what was going on around him. Even though she had other patients to tend to, she still made time to join him for his dinner so that he didn't have to eat alone. While they ate she tried to talk to him, but on only received several grunts and sighs in response. He barely touched his meal, though it took him the same amount of time to eat a quarter of it as it took her to finish her own. She didn't scold him for not eating but instead placed the remainder of his meal in the fridge for later.
When seven o'clock rolled around, she was slightly worried that Jack still wasn't back even if she knew he needed time. She had planned on going home for awhile, but instead made the decision to stay on site for the night in case she was needed. Around nine, she went to the Doctor's room. She was surprised to find that he was still awake and staring at the wall.
"Can't sleep?" She asked him softly. He shook his head no.
"I miss, Jack," He whispered.
"I know," Martha sat down in the chair beside his bed and reached out to take his hand. He gripped her's back tightly just seeking the comfort her touch provided. Eventually, he fell into an uneasy sleep and she let herself out of his room making sure not to wake him. She went back to her office, settling down with a book to wait for Jack. It wasn't until almost eleven, though, that she received a call from the front informing her he was coming back onto the base. Martha thanked them, going out to meet him as he entered the hospital. It was obvious just by looking at him that he was more relaxed than when he left. "Did you have fun?"
"I did. How is he?" Jack wondered as he worried about the Doctor. He hadn't meant to stay out for so long even if he had needed it.
"He is sleeping at the moment. Just like you predicted he spent most of the day pouting and refusing to talk to me. He wanted me to tell you, though, that he is sorry and that he misses you," Martha responded.
"I missed him," Jack replied. He went to the Doctor's room opening the door to look in. The Doctor was still sleeping, but the soft whimpers that came from him indicated that the sleep was no longer peaceful.
"Go to him," Martha whispered as Jack stood in the doorway. He gave her a quick hug, then went to the Doctor's side. He hesitated for only a second before he kicked off his shoes to climb up on the bed. Laying down beside the Doctor he took the Time Lord into his arms snuggling him close. The Doctor wrapped his own arms around Jack as he opened his eyes a crack.
"I didn't think you were coming back," The Doctor informed him as he held onto Jack tightly. Jack could feel him trembling in his arms and he ran his hand along the Doctor's back trying to soothe him. "Please don't leave me again."
"I won't," Jack promised. To his surprise, the Doctor leaned up kissing him softly on the cheek. He looked down at the Time Lord as the Doctor pressed their lips together. Jack pulled away from him, carefully but firmly moving himself away from the Doctor shocked that he was kissing him. The hurt on the Doctor's face was immediate. He moved further away from Jack, turning over so that he was facing the wall.
"It's because I'm tainted," The Doctor whispered so quietly that Jack almost didn't hear him.
"You're not tainted. I love you despite the fact that you always push me away and if I thought this is what you really wanted, Doc, I wouldn't hesitate to be with you. It isn't, though, and we both know it," Jack told him softly. He heard the Doctor sniffle softly.
"What if it is what I want?" The Doctor questioned. Jack smiled sadly as he reached out, pulling the Doctor so that the Doctor's back was pressed against his chest. He kissed him on the back of the head as he held him.
"Give yourself time to heal and think about what you are saying, Doctor. If you still want this once you are healed, nothing will stop me from returning that love. But, if you want to forget about tonight and go our separate ways again I'll understand that too," Jack informed him. The Doctor tried to roll over so that he was facing Jack, but the Captian held him in place. Rather then feel restricting, the Doctor found it comforting to be held so tightly but someone who cared for him.
"I won't change my mind," The Doctor informed him with a yawn. *Yes you will,* Jack thought to himself.
"Just sleep now," Jack told him out loud. The Doctor yawned again and soon after his breathing evened out. Jack just lay awake, though, wondering if he had made the right decision by pushing away the only man he had ever waited for.