Upon reaching the library, the Doctor didn't sit down. He was too restless to read or relax. He just wanted more than anything at that moment to run. Run away from the hospital, the endless blood test, pills, and seizures that would plague him for the rest of this regeneration. The medication wasn't working as well as Martha had hoped at stopping the build up and in the morning they would be trying a new one. Martha wasn't overly concerned, but the Doctor hated the fact that he would have to take pills the rest of this regeneration. Stopping in the middle of the library he looked up at the top of the stairs. It was just high enough that if he fell head first he could cause himself to regenerate and end this once and for all.

He stared up the steps as he considered the right angle. He didn't want Jack to find him laying half dead on the library floor. Jack would try to save this body again and he could end up paralyzed in a wheelchair. If that happened nothing would stop him from regenerating in order to be able to run again. Regardless of who tried to stop him. He just had to make sure he hit right so that didn't happen. He felt as well as heard the TARDIS as she hummed angrily at him blowing cold air.

"I know, but I want my life back," He informed her. She hummed through him in a comforting way letting him know that she was there for him. While it made him feel better it still didn't give him what he wanted. He wanted to be traveling the stars not stuck on Earth. He started towards the stairs to the third floor and she hummed angrily. He placed his hand on the rail receiving a small shock that made him pull back. He understood she was trying to stop him, yet he ignored her, determined not to end this night the same man he started it as. Still calculating the angle, he placed his foot on the bottom step of the stairs right as a furry creature bounded into the library wagging his tails.

Osiris had brought a small stick with him that he had found in the garden. He pushed it into the Doctor's hand lowering his head to the ground with his bottom in the air. Both tails were wagging so hard that they were hitting against each other as he excitedly waited for the Doctor to throw the stick. The Doctor lifted his hand to throw it as a glint of blue caught his eyes. He looked at the stick in his hand realizing that he was holding his sonic. He quickly flipped it to the torch setting testing it out. It glowed blue with the familiar buzz showing him that it was working. He smiled.

"Thank you, old girl," He told the TARDIS knowing that she had given it back to him. He didn't think about it as he stuck it in his pocket where it belonged. Osiris barked at him going in a circle before nosing the Doctor's hand. The Doctor reached into his other pocket pulling out the beanbag. He threw it across the library watching Osiris skid on the floor as he took off after it. Turning back to the staircase, he placed his hand on the railing. It seemed as if he just decided to climb again when the beanbag was pressed to his hand. He turned throwing it immediately further as well as harder this time. Osiris barked happily as he took off after it his tails wagging furiously.

"I know what you are doing," the Doctor told the TARDIS with a sigh. He couldn't help but smile as he watched his pet chasing carefree after the beanbag. Osiris scooped it up happily running back towards the Doctor. The Doctor took it from him ready to throw it again. As he did the side door just outside the library opened. He waited for Jack to come out to check on him but no one left the room. He felt her nudging him towards the door and letting his curiosity get the best of him he went to it. The entire way Osiris was nipping at his heels trying to get him to throw the ball again. He obliged him throwing it down the corridor. Looking inside the room he wasn't surprised to see one of his many gardens in front of him. It was one of the largest giving him plenty of room to run. Looking down he saw his converse were sitting just inside the door. He sat down pulling his shoes on, lacing them up. He patted his leg calling Osiris to his side as he took off at a slow run.

Air blew stimulating the wind and he closed his eyes imaging that he was on a new planet running carefree with Osiris by his side. He picked up his pace pushing himself to run faster. Sooner than he would have liked, his thighs were burning and he was breathing hard. He kept pushing himself to run faster ignoring the pain. Hitting his limit, he fell to his knees breathing hard. His lungs burned as he struggled to catch his breath. He felt weak and pathetic as he forced himself to his feet again, pushing himself to run. It took all of his willpower to keep placing one foot in front of the other. His chest burned along with every muscle in his body. His head was aching from the lack of oxygen. He didn't remember falling, but he woke up with Osiris whimpering as his face was being licked. He was laying on his side with a thumb gently stroking his cheek.

"Sweetheart? Can you hear me sweethearts?" Jack questioned him softly. He moaned forcing his eyes open to find that he was still laying in the garden. He could have continued to sleep right there in the garden, only Osiris, and Jack wouldn't let him. Osiris kept nudging the Doctor with his nose until he tried to force himself up.

"What happened?" He asked, struggling to sit up. Jack wrapped his arms around him easing him up.

"Easy. I'm not sure what happened, but I was awoken by the TARDIS to find you passed out here in the garden. I've called Martha and she is on her way to examine you," Jack explained to him. He groaned unhappily. He didn't want to be examined. He wanted to curl up on the bed in Jack's arms to sleep.

"I just want to go to bed," The Doctor complained.

"We will soon," Jack promised. He tried to pick the Doctor up, except he was stopped by a hand on his chest. The Doctor instead tried to force himself to his feet. Jack helped him to stand and with Jack's help, he stumbled a surprisingly short walk to the door. The door across from them led to the medi-bay and Jack helped him over to a bed. He collapsed upon it breathing hard once more from the short walk while he was exhausted. Jack grabbed the oxygen mask and the Doctor shook his head no, trying to move away from it. Not wanting to distress his lover, he held it above his mouth and nose letting him breathe in the oxygen.

"Did you miss me that much?" Martha asked coming into the medi-bay.

"No," The Doctor answered honestly.

"Be nice," Jack scolded him softly. Martha came over to the bed, checking the Doctor's pupil response before making her way down his body examining him. He was grumpy with her groaning the entire time. His vitals were off and his lungs had a wheeze to them once more. She hoped that it was just from over exerting himself, but she couldn't be sure. She planned on continuing to monitoring him due to his medical issues over the last few weeks. He didn't put up an argument as he was too tired to care that she was going to keep him in the medi-bay under observation until at least the morning. Martha took over holding the oxygen mask while Jack removed the Doctor's converse and got a blanket from his room before climbing up on the bed with him. The Doctor curled into him laying his head on his chest. Jack held the mask so the oxygen was still near his mouth and nose as the Doctor drifted off to sleep.

-DW-

Jack awoke slowly in the softly lit room of the medi-bay. He hadn't meant to fall asleep again and didn't know what time it was but he was relieved to still feel the cool breath on his chest as the Time Lord slept soundly with their bodies pressed together. The oxygen mask was laying on his chest close enough to the Doctor's mouth that he was still benefiting from it. He could also feel an unfamiliar weight on his legs. He didn't have to open his eyes to figure out that Osiris had also joined them in the middle of the night. That was alright, though. Osiris made his lover happy and therefore he could put up with the large dog that demanded most of his attention. Jack kept his eyes closed as he reached down finding the side of Osiris's head. He scratched it softly before pulling away. Osiris yawned laying his head further up on Jack's leg going back to sleep.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?" Martha questioned softly noticing that Jack was awake. Jack opened his eyes to see her sitting in a chair near the bed.

"Please. How long have I been asleep?" Jack wondered his voice barely above a whisper.

"Not long. Maybe an hour most," Martha answered him. She picked up the cup of coffee that she had just poured for herself offering it to him. He took it gratefully taking a long drink.

"How is he doing?" Jack asked.

"The same. His energy levels are a little off as well as his vitals. He just needs to sleep at the moment and I will reassess him when he wakes. His lungs are sounding a lot better, though, which is the main thing I was worried about," Martha explained to Jack. He nodded gently brushing the hair back from his lover's forehead.

"He was hoping that he would be able to take the TARDIS on a short trip soon," Jack told her. The look Martha gave him said it all. She didn't think it was a good idea for the Doctor to take a trip no matter how short. "Before you say no because of his physical health, you need to consider his mental health as well. Being trapped here is killing him just as slowly as the drugs were. And he isn't asking to be released from the injunction or travel full time again. All he is asking for is a short trip."

"I'll think about it," Martha responded knowing Jack was right. She ran through the Doctor's vitals the best she could before making herself another cup of coffee. Settling down by the bed, she continued to speak quietly with Jack as the Doctor slept on.