Jack didn't know when he fell asleep. He had closed his eyes as he was laying there listening to the gentle breathing of the Doctor interrupted by the occasional soft snore. The Doctor always snored lightly as he slept, not that he would ever own up to it when awake. Jack had tried teasing him once and the Doctor had become offended, swearing to him that Time Lords did not snore and Jack was making things up. Still Jack didn't mind the Doctor's snoring as it let him know the Time Lord was alright, safe in his dreams. It was when the snoring stopped and the whimpering began that Jack would worry. He was awoken to a soft kiss on his head and the hair being brushed back from his forehead. He opened his eyes to see the Doctor staring down at him with concern in his eyes. The Doctor smiled, though, upon seeing that Jack was awake.
"Morning," Jack whispered as the Doctor leaned down and kissed him softly. The Doctor didn't bother to correct Jack that it was the middle of the afternoon as time really didn't matter aboard the TARDIS and he would be the first to complain if someone tried to make him conform to Earth's hours.
"How are your hips?" The Doctor wondered.
"Still sore but not painful," Jack answered as he moved to sit up. The Doctor put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"You shouldn't be moving until your pelvic bone has healed itself. While you were sleeping, I retrieved your laptop from the office and routed it through the TARDIS so you can still work if you feel up to it," The Doctor informed him. He set the laptop on the bed next to Jack. Jack looked over and out of the corner of his eye he saw a cup and a few bowls sitting on the table.
"What's all this?" Jack questioned motioning to the food. He took a deep breath in through his nose trying to smell it. The smells mixed together making it hard to pinpoint what the Doctor had cooked.
"I made you a cup of coffee, bangers with peanut butter, chicken noodle soup, and chips," The Doctor told him happily. He stood up, picking up a small table off the bed next to Jacks. He placed it across Jack's lap. He then came around the bed to help Jack prop his shoulders up with pillows so that he didn't have to bend at the waist. As he did Jack saw that the main blanket on the bed had been switched out for one that was thicker and softer.
"Sweetheart, you should be resting as well. Your hips may not be as far along as mine, but they are beginning to split as well," Jack tried as the Doctor but another pillow under his shoulders. He wondered how long the Doctor had been awake for that he was able to accomplish everything.
"You need me," The Doctor answered simply as he moved back around the bed to transfer the food to the table.
"I need you to not hurt yourself because you are trying to take care of me," Jack argued him. The Doctor looked at him like he was insane.
"I'm fine Jack," He answered. Jack moved to sit up further, forgetting for a moment why he was propped up on the pillows. He cried out as a sharp stabbing pain shot across his abdomen. The Doctor took his hand holding it tightly. "Breathe Jack, it will go off again, just breathe."
"I'm trying," Jack moaned as he slumped back down to the pillows. The Doctor released his hand and went over to the medicine cabinet. He returned a moment later with a syringe full of a clear liquid. Jack didn't even argue as he held out his arm for the Doctor to inject the painkiller. The sharp scratch of the needle was dull compared to the pain within his hips and he barely noticed as the medicine was injected.
"There now give that a moment to work," The Doctor cooed at him. He set the capped syringe down on the table and sat beside Jack. Gently he stroked Jack's head as he placed his other hand softly on Jack's abdomen. The coolness felt soothing against the pain and at that moment he truly appreciated the Doctor's lower body temperature. He closed his eyes and just concentrated on breathing as he waited for the painkiller to kick in. As he did, he could feel a sense of calmness coming through the bond and he latched on to it using it to relax his body further. It took a while, but the pain finally began to fade. He didn't dare move until it had dulled to the annoying ache that Martha said he was going to be stuck with. That is when he finally dared to open his eyes again.
"Better," the Doctor wondered as he continued to gently caress Jack's head.
"Yes, thank you," Jack responded. With the pain all but gone, he was hungry again. Reaching for one of the bangers he made sure it had a good amount of peanut butter on it before taking a bite.
"I still don't see how you can eat that," The Doctor commented.
"Because it is delicious. Try a bite." Jack offered him a small piece. The Doctor sucked his lips into his mouth as he turned green. Jack shrugged eating the piece himself. The Doctor didn't look comfortable sitting there as he adjusted himself several times. "Sweetheart, lay down with me."
"I can't yet. I have to.." The Doctor started to argue him, but Jack interrupted him.
"I can't relax if I am worried about you. I know you are uncomfortable, if not in pain yet. I don't mind if you keep your hand on my stomach, just lay down with me for a little while," Jack told him. The Doctor hesitated for a moment before giving in. Jack was right it was putting pressure on his hips to sit and he just wanted to lay down. He had to take care of Jack, though. He made sure not to put any pressure on Jack's stomach as he stretched out beside him. "There isn't that better?"
"Yes," The Doctor grumbled. He turned pressing his cool body against Jack once more.
"Rest for a little while and then you can fuss over me again as long as you make me more coffee. I will only let you fuss over me, though, if you lay down when you need to. If I think you are pushing yourself, I will call Martha in here instead," Jack informed him. The Doctor glared at him.
"I can take care of you without Martha," The Doctor insisted.
"We can take care of each other for now, but we are going to need Martha so I wouldn't push her away quite yet," Jack responded. He offered the Doctor his soup and the Doctor took it, taking a bite. He wasn't hungry, though, and he laid back down against Jack resting his head on his chest. Jack smiled, kissing him on the head as he returned to his own meal. As much as he hated to admit it, it was nice to be taken care of for a change. He looked up as the door to the medi-bay opened. Martha came in carrying a large book.
"Finally decided to listen to me and lay down?" Martha stated as she looked at the Doctor. She had tried several times to get him off of his feet while he was cooking Jack dinner. He refused stating that he had to be there for Jack. Martha was almost tempted to sedate him until his hips were better, but the Doctor would never forgive her if she did. She was going to have to find a better way to keep him in bed.
"I asked him to lay with me a while and then he can fuss over me later," Jack told her. Martha smiled as Jack winked at her.
"As long as he lays down when he needs too," Martha agreed.
"He will. Also you will know when he doesn't feel good because he will become cuddly and whiny," Jack stated. The Doctor lifted his head.
"I'm not whiny," He whined as he frowned at them. He didn't like the fact that they were talking about him as if he wasn't there. Jack motioned to the Doctor and Martha chuckled. The Doctor looked at Jack trying to figure out what was so funny.
"I never said you were," Jack informed him. He kissed the Doctor as he continued to stare. The Doctor laid his head back down not quite liking that he wasn't in on the joke because he was sure it was about him. Martha waited until Jack was finished eating before moving the table and then running through his vitals. She wasn't happy to hear that his pain had progressed to needing painkillers but she was pleased he took them without argument. With a lot of fighting, she managed to get through the Doctor's vitals as well. He only calmed down as she stopped touching him, letting him relax into Jack again. Once more she exchanged looks with Jack, this time neither of them pleased at the Doctor's fighting. Once the Doctor was feeling better she was going to have to have a long conversation with him. She just hoped that he would listen.