Over the next half an hour, Jack watched on as the Doctor began to fade. It started simply enough with a single yawn, progressing to him laying his head down on Jack's shoulder as he tried to stay awake. The teacup tipped in his hand, spilling the warm liquid across the table as his eyes closed for just a moment. He forced them open again frowning at the mess he made.
"Jack my tea," He whined. Mickey covered his mouth to keep from chuckling as Jack turned his head and kissed the Doctor softly on the top of his.
"I will get you a new cup, but I think it is about time we head back to the medi-bay," Jack suggested. The Doctor scowled at him.
"I don't need to be in the medi-bay," He argued. He glanced quickly at Mickey as he forced his eyes open wider. He wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and rest, but he always tried not to show any weakness when Mickey was around. He had to be faster, stronger and overall fine, despite any pain or sadness he was feeling.
"No, but the girls do. I think it is about time we went back and helped Martha with their feeding and nappy changes," Jack told him, giving him an out.
"Okay," The Doctor agreed standing up. Jack stood with him. "Do you want to come and meet our daughters?"
"You trust me around your children?" Mickey asked in surprise.
"No," The Doctor admitted. "Jack trusts you, though and that will have to be enough for now." The Doctor started forward not caring if Mickey was following them. He leaned heavily on Jack as they went through the hub, into the TARDIS, and down the short corridor to the medi-bay. As he entered it, he loosened his tie, letting Jack help with his jacket. By the time he climbed up on his bed, he was shirtless, wearing just his trousers with no belt nor shoes. He smacked his lips sleepily as Jack tucked him into bed. Next to the bed, Martha had set up a new bag of saline, filled with the antibiotics the Doctor needed. Rather than arguing her, he held out his arm for Martha to place the IV.
"Hello, my name's Mickey and you are," Mickey flirted upon seeing Martha.
"Stop it," The Doctor sighed forcing his eyes open.
"Martha," she told him blushing slightly over the attention Mickey was giving her.
"Can't he say hello?" Jack wondered the Doctor rolled his eyes towards his lover.
"Don't you start," He warned him. Jack leaned down putting his lips almost against the Doctor's.
"All he is doing is saying hello," Jack whispered. He pushed his lips firmly to the Doctor's kissing him before the Doctor could respond. The Doctor kissed him back, glancing towards Mickey and Martha as he did. He broke the kiss quickly by turning his head away from Jack. Jack didn't push it, realizing that he made him uncomfortable, while they had kissed many times in front of Martha it was completely different for the two of them to be kissing so passionately in front of Mickey. He sat up more, not ready to go to sleep yet, despite how tired he was feeling.
"Can I feed Kui'la?" He questioned Martha.
"I just fed her not too long ago. I am sure she could do with a nappy change and a cuddle, though," Martha informed him. Reaching into the incubator she carefully got out the tiny baby. Mickey couldn't help his gasp of shock.
"That is the one that Rose tried to take?" He asked looking at the tiny baby. Not only was she small, due to her Time Lord energy she was also very lithe looking in general, like her father. The Doctor nodded as he pulled her close to his chest, setting her upon the bare skin. Jack picked up the second child holding her out to Mickey.
"And this one is Cerys," Jack told him. Mickey took a step back.
"I'm not good with babies," Mickey responded.
"I am. Oh give her here," Jackie said as she entered the medi-bay. Jack glanced at the Doctor, who nodded. Jackie didn't notice as she took Cerys from Jack cuddling her.
"How did it go with Rose?" Mickey wondered.
"They are holding her unfairly and starving her," Jackie responded summarizing her conversation with Rose.
"I assure you Jackie, we haven't been starving her," Jack spoke up as the Doctor raised an eyebrow at him.
"I know that. It is never her fault. She will be home soon enough and I will contact Pete to make sure she gets the medical help that she needs," Jackie informed them as she cuddled Cerys close to her. She sat down on the bed next to the Doctor's to look closer at the baby. "You are a sweetheart. Makes me miss my Tony."
"How old is Tony," Jack wondered as he watched the Doctor's head falling back, his eyes closing. He moved closer to the bed, ready to take Kui'la if necessary.
"Three," Jackie responded. They all looked at the Doctor as a soft snore escaped in reply. Jack chuckled, he took Kui'la off the Doctor's chest and held her for a moment.
"As you can see, he is still sicker than he wants to let on. We will get you back to the other universe to be reunited with your son, but my first concern is him and our daughters. I am not going to let him move the TARDIS if it puts any of them in danger," Jack explained.
"Rose will be taken care of while she is down in the cells?" Jackie questioned.
"Three meals a day and you can visit her whenever you want to," Jack responded.
"Then we can wait," Jackie told him. It was nice to hear that Jackie was agreeing with him, even if he hadn't really gave her a choice. He meant what he said, he wasn't going to let the Doctor take them back if they were in danger. The other universe could disappear entirely as far as Jack was concerned as long as the Doctor didn't know. He looked at his sleeping lover, he now just had to convince the Doctor it was alright to wait.