-Early that morning-

The Doctor woke up terrified. It was only the human heat of Jack's autron fueled body that reminded him that he wasn't asleep in the Master's bed aboard the Valiant. He was safe in his own bed, in the arms of Jack. He snuggled further into Jack for a moment, not ready to relinquish the comfort he received from Jack just being able to hold him. After a year of being tortured on almost a daily basis, he needed the gentle touch of someone who loved him. Sure he could have turned to Martha, but Martha needed her family more. That was alright though for while he cared about her, it was Jack who had stolen his hearts years before now. Scolding himself about being sentimental he carefully got out of bed making sure not to wake Jack up.

He made his way slowly down to the kitchen, every step he took he was cautious. He couldn't help the worry that the Master was going to appear from one of the side rooms and punish him for wandering without permission. The Master was gone he reminded himself. It didn't help much, only time would allow him to put the year behind him. Only time would help him to erase the memories of what his once friend did to his body. He shuddered, picking up his pace a little but still barely making it to the trash bin before losing everything that was in his stomach. He stood there for a moment not wanting to move before forcing himself to the kettle. The TARDIS hummed at him, but she was unable to connect with him properly at the moment.

"I'll fix you, I promise," The Doctor reassured her as he rubbed one of the walls. The TARDIS blew warm air on him. Trying to smile, he turned to the kettle. Making sure it was full of water, he placed it on the stovetop to heat. While he waited he got the cup, with the tea ready. He didn't bother looking for food as he wasn't hungry and knew the search would be futile. Once the kettle boiled, he poured his tea. He took a sip of the hot liquid, enjoying the taste of it for a moment before venturing out of the kitchen. He could feel the TARDIS nudging him towards the medi-bay and even though he had renewed his body, he followed her advice. He continued to hold the tea as he set her to scan him.

That is when he saw it. He almost dropped his cup, seeing the word pregnant on the screen. He opened and closed his mouth several times as he stared in disbelief. The Master would have been pleased as he had been trying to get him pregnant for almost the entire year. The Doctor had been sure though that once he renewed his body any trace of a pregnancy would have been wiped out. Setting the teacup down, he practically ran to the medicine cabinet. He didn't open it though. He didn't want this baby but at the same time it was the last of the Time Lords. It was also part of him and the man he once considered a friend. He could raise this child to love the stars as he did.

*Until the Master teaches his child to hate,* A small voice taunted him. He left the medi-bay heading towards the doors to the outside world. He had to make sure the Master was gone. The Master had died and returned before, but this time the Doctor had burned his body. If his body was ashes, he couldn't return could he? He flung the doors open as he rushed into the cool morning air. The funeral pyre was a gray blanket on the ground. Not caring how dirty he got, he collected all of the ashes. He didn't know what to do with them after that. Bringing them onto the TARDIS, he put the ashes into the morgue. Once the TARDIS was back to full power she could store the ashes for him.

He tried not to be sick again as he stumbled his way to the shower. Peeling his clothes off of himself he climbed into the warm water. Grabbing a wash towel, he began to scrub his body, turning his skin red as he tried to get every trace of the Master off of himself. He scrubbed his stomach, until his skin was raw and still didn't feel clean. Dropping the towel, he let the water wash the tears off of his face as he stood numb under the warm water. He still felt numb as he finally dressed, and then stumbled his way out to the control room. That is where Jack found him, sitting on the captain's chair with his feet up on the console.

He invited Jack to come with him again and Jack started to decline. He couldn't let him decline though. He needed Jack to travel with him. He didn't want to be alone and he was positive that Martha was going to leave him. Jack understood what they went through on the Valiant and Jack had no problem putting him in his place. Jack would make sure that he never became like the Master. He was able to convince Jack to stay long enough to repair the TARDIS before they could start he needed to make sure that Jack was healing after what the Master put him through. Together they went to the medi-bay and while Jack waited on the bed, he went to the medicine cabinet once more. This time he opened it searching for the pill that would allow him to end the pregnancy. He couldn't find it though and Jack got tired of waiting, clearing his throat to get his attention. Reluctantly he gave up, returning to Jack.

His hearts skipped several beats upon discovering that Jack was pregnant as well. He didn't have to go through his pregnancy alone, he would have someone there who understood. He opened his mouth to tell Jack he was pregnant as well but stopped himself as he answered Jack's questions instead. Jack declared he was hungry and together the two of them left the TARDIS in search of food. The entire time they walked the Doctor tried to figure out how to tell Jack he wasn't alone. He couldn't find the words though.

Once at the diner Jack made it easy. Jack wanted to discuss abortions and the Doctor blurted out that he wanted to keep his baby even if he wasn't sure. He wanted Jack to tell him that it was wrong to keep the children and for them to return to the TARDIS, taking the pill that would give both their lives back. Jack didn't and instead compared the Master to Lucifer. The Doctor once again found himself arguing Jack. He didn't even know why he was arguing Jack that Koschei was not evil. Except at the same time, he knew exactly why he was. If the Master had been evil then he had been beyond saving and the Doctor had wasted that year trying. He had to believe the Master was just insane and that he could save him from the madness.

Jack forgave him. He didn't deserve Jack and Jack would have every right to leave him. He just hoped that he could find a way to get Jack to stay. He helped Jack to eat is meal and then the two of them went shopping before making their way back to the TARDIS. The Doctor was grateful to be back as the large crowds made him uneasy and only Jack holding his hand had kept him from returning to her safety earlier. Once on the TARDIS he crawled beneath the console. He didn't work as he laid there staring up into her controls. Under the console, he could feel the TARDIS humming through him and he stayed there, trying to clear his mind until she lulled him off to sleep. Jack woke him and he only stayed long enough to climb into his own bed before once more giving into the comfort that the darkness brought.