Author's note: Sorry for the shorter chapter, but this whole scene just really felt like it should be self-contained before moving on to the next part of the story.
I am going to be at fanexpo through labor day so there will be a bit of a delay before the next update. Thank you again for all your comments, they're like manna from heaven. :)
The Doctor made his way to the medical bay, shaking his head softly at the impatient prodding of the Tardis in the back of his mind. Having finished scanning the timelines for temporal disturbances, she let him know that it was really only the rift in the Medusa Cascade that required their immediate attention and she had already completed the calculations necessary for their trip.
The Doctor was mentally preparing himself for that trip because he was not quite sure what effect it would have on Donna. She was holding up far better than he had expected, but she was definitely in complete overload and needed time to begin to heal from the trauma of the last few days. If he was completely honest with himself, he also needed the time to recover as well. He hadn't had a chance to just hold her close and revel in the fact that she was still with him, and that they against all odds had managed to defeat the angels though the cost had been so high. He was quite ready to spend days on end rediscovering her, and helping her come to terms with all of the changes that they were both facing.
He followed the sounds of laughter through the corridors of the Tardis, happy once more to hear Martha and Jack's voices in his ship. He realized that he had missed traveling with the two of them, though the last time they all had been together hadn't been in any better of a situation. Gods he really did need to visit them all when the world wasn't in such terrible danger, and they could all just sit and properly catch up.
However, that was not the way with him. It seemed that even though his destiny was once more open to anything, the universe still tossed him about to where it needed him most. He only hoped that it would give him some time before it threw him into the fire once more.
He turned into the medical bay just in time to hear Martha say. "You will heal far more quickly than you would expect otherwise, Ianto. That's one of the joys of having access to the Tardis medical facilities, she was able to accelerate the bonding of your bones and you will most likely be able to start moving your shoulder again within a week."
She looked up and nodded when the Doctor walked into the medical bay, but she did not otherwise take her attention off her patient. Ianto was laying on one of the diagnostic beds, his skin had an unhealthy pallor to it and his eyes were sunk deep into his face while his arm was strapped across his body so that it was completely immobilized.
Ianto smiled wanly when he saw the Doctor though he made no attempt to get up to greet him. "You're looking better than I would have expected, Ianto."
He laughed softly and threw a grateful smile up at Martha. "I had a good doctor, two good doctors actually!"
Martha smiled in reply and leaned close to check on his dressings. "Flattery will get you almost anything, Ianto but it is not going to get you out of that sling any sooner." She then fixed Jack with a steely look. "As for you Jack, remember to behave yourself with him. You know how medicine from the future works and if he were to reinjure himself when the Doctor and the Tardis are NOT here then it will take even longer for him to properly heal."
Jack's face was the picture of innocence, though that devilish smile was playing about the corners of his mouth before he playfully snapped off a mock salute. "Yes, Ma'am! Don't worry I will make sure to take extra good care of him. I'll also make sure he stays here with me in the hub so that I can take care of him properly." He managed to imbue those words with all sorts of innuendo, while his eyes were flashing sparks at a furiously blushing Ianto.
The Doctor just shook his head with a laugh. "You never change, do you Jack?"
Jack shook his head, gaze darting from Ianto to the Doctor with a grin. "Why would I want to? You can't mess with this level of perfection."
Martha and the Doctor both groaned at that comeback. "You just go on believing that Jack, cause no one else will."
"Cut a man down to size why don't you, Martha? I'm crushed!"
"Hardly, Jack." She chuckled softly before continuing. "Seriously though, I want him to have several days off before even thinking of resuming his duties. Just because he is going to heal very quickly, does not mean that there will not be residual stiffness and weakness in that shoulder. Also, don't expect the vertigo to go away very quickly. That was one thing that the Tardis was not able to rush, and you will be shaky on your feet for several months at least. I also do NOT recommend that you handle a firearm during that time either if at all possible."
Ianto laid his head back with a soft sigh when he heard the list of instructions that Martha gave to him. With Jack there to hear them, he knew that he would most likely go nuts from boredom before Jack would let him even lift a finger. "I do feel a bit groggy right now and keep seeing blurry afterimages if I move my eyes too quickly."
"That's because of the temporal distortion that your body experienced, Ianto." The Doctor piped up, his gaze concerned as he pushed off the doorjamb with a question in his eyes. "Ianto, would you allow me to merge my mind with yours to make sure that you are all right? I won't look into anything that you don't wish to share."
Ianto found himself falling into the Doctor's eyes, the dark, brooding stare reaching into the deepest reaches of his mind and tugging at things he had thought long since buried. His breath caught in his throat, suddenly feeling trapped beneath the intensity of that stare. The ancient knowledge and power that he suddenly sensed within the Doctor that had been hidden before caused his heart to skip a beat. "I… I don't know how to block you out Doctor." He gulped. "And actually I'm scared to even think about it."
His frightened gaze jumped to Martha and Jack, his one free hand clenching tightly in the fabric of his shirt as he realized that he really couldn't deny the Doctor in the end. The fact that he was even asking was showing him a courtesy that he would never have expected.
Jack was nodding softly to his unasked question, his lips forming the words "trust him" while Martha was standing back and not asserting any pressure on him one way or the other. Though he could tell just by the set of her shoulders that she also felt he should grant the Doctor's request.
The Doctor nodded softly at his words, pausing for a moment so that his presence would not overwhelm or in any way unduly influence him. "It's simple really Ianto. I am not going to be delving too deep into any memories that you have, though I do need to relive what you experienced when you saw the angel. I just need to make sure that I understand completely what happened during that encounter. However, other than that, I will mostly be searching through your mind and body to make sure all the effects of your injuries have been dealt with. Martha and the Tardis are both excellent healers, but even they don't necessarily understand all that we are dealing with here." He paused for a moment, his gaze growing distant before he continued. "I need to leave soon, I have to check on things throughout the universe that I feel the rift in Cardiff may have affected. However, I don't want to leave until I know you are safe. Please Ianto, I need you to trust me."
The Doctor stopped at that point, letting Ianto mull over his words while his gaze darted between Jack and the Doctor. He knew that Jack trusted the Doctor with his life, with more than that actually and that in the end the Doctor had been responsible for so much in Jack's own life though sometimes he could tell that the memories were painful for Jack. Ianto licked lips suddenly gone dry, and before his courage deserted him, he nodded in response. "Okay, Doctor. But please tell me how to protect myself."
The Doctor smiled at his request, leaning back for a moment while he turned to look at Jack and Martha before he took a deep breath and jumped in with both feet. "It will feel very much like an invasion, though I will try to keep my touch light. I do need to sort through the events of yesterday as well as delve deeper into your mind and body to make sure that all residual effects from the angel are gone. I will make sure that you feel every movement of my mind and that you have plenty of time to react to it. If you feel threatened or that I am entering an area of your mind that you do not wish to share, simply imagine a door closing and I will make sure to retreat. However, know that I need to delve into your memories of yesterday completely and though it may be uncomfortable and possibly painful I need you to trust me that I am only doing so to make sure that I completely understand everything that happened."
He felt a soft gasp in his mind and looked up just in time to see Donna standing in the doorway of the medical bay, her eyes locked on his when she instantly realized what he was going to do. Her eyes were shining with her concern, and though she had seen him delve into people's minds before, she was still worried that there might be some lingering trace of the angels that could harm him.
He reached out to her with a soft whisper, his mind stroking across hers gently in what he hoped was a soothing caress. I'll be fine, Donna. You've seen me do this plenty of times before, besides I need to make sure that Ianto is completely safe.
She could only numbly nod as she stepped into the medical bay, her eyes never wavering from his gaze. Can I do anything to help you?
He smiled softly and gently shook his head. Not this time, Donna. I need you to promise me that you will not reach out to me no matter what happens. I'm going to have to block our bond to protect Ianto's privacy, but mostly because I can't risk you. Not ever. You're not used to this type of mind touch, and you could easily lose yourself if you were to attempt it with me. If I don't respond within 15 minutes, then you can come charging in.
She took a deep breath, nodding at his instructions before whispering. You be careful, Spaceman or we'll have words. He grinned softly at that, his eyebrow quirking slightly in reply before he turned his attention back to focus fully on Ianto.
Ianto listened to the Doctor's instructions, his heartbeat accelerating while he tried to prepare himself for the next few moments. "I'm ready Doctor. What do I need to do?"
The Doctor smiled in what he hoped was a soothing manner, his hands rising so he could rest his fingers gently on either side of Ianto's face. His fingers spread wide against the touch points, he murmured softly. "Simply relax, Ianto and open your mind to me. I'll do the rest."
Ianto tensed when he felt those fingers press against his temples and cheeks, his breathing turning ragged and erratic before he closed his eyes and forced himself to relax. He took several calming breaths, fingers twitching against his body nervously, he then let his mind open itself to whatever may come.
He gasped when he felt the mind of the Doctor press within his own head, the disturbing sensation of being completely invaded caused him to instinctively tense and his mind to thrash against the Doctor's in response.
Shh shh shh. It's all right, Ianto. I'm only going to look. He jerked when he felt the brush of those words against what felt like his very soul, his eyes flying open to lock onto the Doctor's even though his gaze seemed to be looking right through him.
"I can hear you! Inside my head Doctor." The Doctor's lips quirked into a smile before he let his eyes slide closed, his forehead leaned forward to better focus on the memories and sensations that were swirling through Ianto's mind.
The Doctor delved deeper into his thoughts, past the agony of his last hours of consciousness and deeper still to the traumatic events of the day before. He could feel Ianto shuddering beneath his touch, his wide open eyes staring up at the Doctor with utter terror while tears leaked uncontrollably from his eyes. He felt as if he were reliving those terrifying events, his terror laid completely bare for the Doctor's perusal. He wanted desperately to shove the Doctor out, to somehow squirm away from the moment of cowardice that he had experienced when he wished he could hide away in the Tardis. However the Doctor brushed right past those thoughts as if they were of no importance, his touch feather light while he sifted through each every moment with excruciating detail. Ianto took a shuddering breath, knuckles turning white where they clenched and clawed against his side.
Jack was hugging himself against the mad desire to rush to Ianto's side and shoulder some of the pain that he was experiencing even now. He definitely would trust the Doctor with his life, had already done so on numerous occasions but there was something different about watching the Doctor with someone he loved. He knew the Doctor needed to do this in order to make sure that Ianto would be better in the end, but it did not make seeing Ianto's very real pain any easier to bear.
Martha's hand rested on Jack's shoulder, her fingers digging into the clenched muscles just in case she had to pull him sharply back. She had only seen the Doctor delve into someone's mind like this once before, and then it had not been when the person had just suffered such a significant trauma. She was worried about the strain on Ianto's system and though she knew that she and the Tardis had checked Ianto out thoroughly, the Doctor's touch would be far more adept and likely to catch anything that they might have overlooked. It wouldn't do for any trace to be left behind, because she truly believed that if the Doctor weren't there with them in the future then she would most likely not be able to save Ianto again.
The Doctor turned away from thoughts when he felt Ianto pushing him towards his memories of the day before, everything that he could remember and everything that he felt was laid bare for the Doctor's perusal. The Doctor was as gentle as he could be while he sorted through the sensations that Ianto had felt the moment he had felt the touch of the angel, he felt the agony that Ianto did when it had broken his shoulder and the surreal sense of feeling himself begin to float towards unconsciousness.
It was that very real sensation of floating that the Doctor latched on to, because even though Ianto had been gravely injured, he should have been able to continue functioning through the pain that it had brought. The Doctor used that sensation as a guide while he let his mind stretch deeper into Ianto's, his thoughts focusing on the meticulous work that the Tardis and Martha had performed to bring him back from what could have been a very gruesome death.
He felt the time shift in Ianto's mind and body, felt the strange resonance that was echoing through his own mind and sight and was causing the blurry afterimages to dance across all that he saw. The Doctor pulled back with a relieved sigh, it was merely a residual effect from the damage that had been inflicted on his body, but would not leave any lasting mark. He saw no other effects that would have any effect on Ianto, Martha truly had reversed all the damage that the angel had inflicted and with time and some much needed rest Ianto would indeed be fine.
The Doctor's eyes opened and locked onto Ianto's own tormented gaze, his mind gently disengaging from Ianto's though his fingers retained contact for a moment more. Ianto gasped softly when he felt the Doctor pull out of his mind, the sudden loss of the connection that he had felt with the Doctor left him floundering slightly while he tried to calm the raging of his mind.
He had barely brushed against the essence of the Doctor while he had moved within his mind, but the brief contact was enough to leave him in absolute awe and terrible sadness for the man sitting before him. The endless aching loneliness that had been his life, the never-ending struggle that would be his curse until the day he finally died and the promise that the years would very rarely be kind to him left Ianto floundering in a grief that he could barely comprehend. The Doctor's life had been torment for centuries, with only brief shining moments of happiness and in the end Ianto somehow innately knew that such would always be his lot.
He swallowed convulsively past the lump in his throat before he reached out and grabbed hold of the Doctor's hand like it was a lifeline causing the Doctor's startled gaze to leap to his own. "Is it alright Doctor? Am I going to be alright?"
The Doctor looked at him with fathomless eyes before he nodded softly in response. "Yes, Ianto. You'll be fine, though as Martha said it is going to take a while for the vertigo to fade. All traces of what the angel did to you are gone."
Jack gave a whoop of delight at the Doctor's words before he rushed across the medical bay and grabbed Ianto up in a big hug, making sure to take care of his injured shoulder but still crushing him in a near bone breaking hug. "Thank you Doctor! And thank you Doctor Jones for saving him, I honestly don't know what I would've done otherwise."
The Doctor smiled before he rose to his feet, pausing when he felt his legs quiver slightly with the movement. He jumped when he felt his left arm lifted before Donna snuggled up against his side and offered her own shoulder for support. He could barely contain the sigh of relief as he felt the delicious stretch of her mind reaching out to him once again, her thoughts stroking against his lightly while she assured herself that he was alright.
"I'm glad I was able to help, Jack but really the thanks should go to Martha and the Tardis. They did all the hard work, and I've thankfully got more information on the angels then I think anyone has had for untold centuries. I'll be ready for them should I ever come across them again."
Martha turned to him at that comment, her brow furrowed while she thought of all that she had heard of the events leading up to the sealing of the rift in Cardiff. "Doctor, I thought you said that you'd trapped them in that pocket of time and that they'd never be able to touch this reality again?"
The Doctor was shaking his head even before she finished. "That was just one group of angels from an alternate universe, they're still alive and scattered throughout this universe. They unfortunately will always be out there, and I can only hope that when I do run into them again they'll be as easily dealt with."
Ianto was looking from Martha to the Doctor before he turned his gaze back up to Jack. His mind was still shuddering in the aftermath of the strange joining with the Doctor, and he knew he would be reeling for a long time to come. He suddenly felt hemmed in, trapped almost and he wanted to be out of the Tardis and back into the hub with Jack. Just someplace quiet where he could finally close his eyes and begin to heal from his long ordeal. He shifted slightly on the diagnostic bed and struggled into a seated position. Jack scowled at the motion, his eyebrows rising as he demanded. "Just where do you think that you're going, Mister?"
Ianto tried to hide the wince that flashed through him at the sudden movement, but he was not deterred and slowly made his way to his feet. "I'd like to go and properly rest now if Doctor Jones would allow it. No offense Doctors but hospitals of any kind, whether they be on earth or in an alien's spaceship have always made me uncomfortable."
Martha smiled at him and nodded. "You go ahead, Ianto. Jack make sure he gets plenty of fluids and rest. I'll be staying in Cardiff for the next few weeks to keep an eye on your recovery."
Ianto nodded softly before turning to the Doctor. "Thank you Doctor for everything. Thank you for all that you've done. I don't know if words will ever be enough, but they're all I've got."
The Doctor smiled abashedly at Ianto's words, his hand rising to rub unconsciously at the back of his neck. "Ianto, it's been my honor. Thank you for standing strong in the face of such terror, it's because of your courage that the angels didn't win the prize that would have tipped the scales completely in their favor." It was Ianto's turn to blush, the Doctor's gaze letting him know that he had felt those thoughts that had flitted through his mind when he had been faced with the specter of the angel but that in the end he had chosen not to act on them. Somehow, he knew that the Doctor was letting him know that it had been alright to be afraid and that he would never judge him for that fear.
Ianto smiled softly in response, standing a little bit straighter before he turned to Donna. "Be well, Ma'am. I'm glad to have met you."
"Take care of yourself, Ianto and good luck." He then nodded to Martha and Jack before he turned and slowly made his way out of the medical bay.
Martha was looking at the Doctor with far too much knowledge in her gaze, her eyes taking in the barely contained tension in his body. "You're leaving so soon, Doctor?"
He nodded in reply, his gaze shifting between her and Jack before he answered. "I have to, Martha. We need to check on the Medusa Cascade rift and seal the rupture before it can threaten any planets. The Tardis has scanned it and deemed it safe for the time being, but that won't be the case for long."
Jack sighed softly when he heard those words, having hoped that the Doctor would stay for a little while longer but he knew that that was not the Doctor's way. He was forever moving and running from one disaster to another, and this unfortunately was one of those times. "Thank you for coming when you did, Doctor. I hate to think what would've happened if I hadn't been able to get a hold of you."
"Of course I came, Jack. You know if at all possible, I will always come should you need my help. The both of you know how to get a hold of me should you ever have need. Do me a favor though and let me know when the memorial service will be for Andy. Donna and I want to come and pay our respects."
Jack nodded before snapping rigidly to attention and saluting. "It'll be my honor, Doctor. Safe journey and please for god's sake go off somewhere so the two of you can relax. You both deserve it." He laughed when the Doctor growled at the salute, having known how much the Doctor hated them he had decided to tease him with it anyways.
So much had come of this visit with the Doctor, and Jack had found a resolution with the Time Lord that he had honestly thought would forever elude him. It had gone a long way towards healing that gaping hole that Jack felt when he thought of his former life and finally allowed him to feel that he would eventually know peace. It was as good a place as any he supposed.
He grabbed Donna up in a tight hug, laughing when the Doctor growled playfully behind him. "You take care of him, Donna. God knows he needs it!"
She chuckled in response and squeezed him in return. "I will, Jack. Someone has to keep him out of trouble."
Jack grinned and winked up at the Doctor, before he turned back to Martha. "I'll see you in the hub when you're ready Martha." With a final jaunty salute, Jack turned on his heel and hurried out of the room.
Martha was looking at the Doctor, her arms crossed over her chest when he turned those dark eyes to her. "Thank you, Martha, for coming so quickly. I'm sorry that I couldn't stay longer."
She shook her head before throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing for all she was worth. "Mickey will want to see you both again, Doctor. Please don't be a stranger, and maybe one time we can visit when the world isn't about to end. Maybe even have dinner like proper friends do, catch up on old times."
The Doctor hugged her tightly in return, rocking with her for a moment before he pulled away. "I'd like that Martha. Please give Mickey our love and let him know that he better take good care of you or he'll have me to answer to."
She laughed softly at that before she nodded. "I'll let him know, Doctor. Don't worry, we take good care of each other."
"Good, I'm glad to hear that Martha."
She then turned to Donna and grabbed her close for a tight hug of her own, whispering into her hair. "You take care of yourself, Donna and make sure to take care of him as well. You both deserve only the best."
Donna was surprised by Martha's words, but could only hug her tightly in response. "Thank you, Martha. That means the world to me."
Martha pulled back and quickly ran her fingers over her cheeks before she flashed a smile up at the both of them. "Right then, off you go! I'll see you again soon, don't you worry."
Without another word, she turned and made her way out of the Tardis and back into the hub. Donna jumped slightly when she heard the doors of the Tardis close soundly behind Martha and the slow stretch of the Tardis within both of their minds as she let them know that she had already plotted the coordinates for the Medusa Cascade and was merely waiting for him to say the word.
The Doctor let out the breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding, turning to look at Donna with a fierce intensity that caused her breath to catch in her throat. She felt herself falling into the stormy depths of his gaze, her mind opening willingly to the sudden almost harsh, penetration of his thoughts. His hands rose up to cup her cheeks, thumb brushing lightly along her jaw before he murmured. "Alone at last. I've been needing to do this all day."
She barely had to time to gasp in response before she was crushed against the hard length of him, his arms wrapping about her in a near painful embrace while his mouth savagely claimed hers. She melted against him in helpless response, her hands rising up to tangle in the wild mass of his hair while she strained against him in her own desperate need.
All the fear, sorrow and rage that had burned through them in the last day poured out in the near brutality of their kiss, his tongue ravaging her mouth while her nails were digging into his scalp desperate as if she in turn were trying to devour him. They were both caught up in the fire that instantly roared through them, their minds completely lost in the others as they finally let go and just reveled in being together again.
With a groan that was torn from the very depths of his soul, the Doctor ripped his mouth away from Donna's and began to rain fiery kisses down the side of her neck. He was growling softly against the soft flesh, his teeth nipping and tongue laving in a scalding caress that screamed through her body to pool deliciously within her belly. Her head fell back while her body arched up against his in helpless response, her mind completely lost in the tidal wave of heat that was crashing through her senses.
It was then that they both became aware of the insistent prodding of the Tardis in the backs of their minds, her touch growing in intensity before they were utterly lost to each other and to her as well. She was reminding them both that time really was of the essence and that they had to get moving before they were able to indulge in anything else.
Donna froze against the Doctor, her eyes flying open when she realized she had one thigh wrapped high about his hips and was clutching him tightly to her aching core while he had one hand tangled in her hair and the other was crushing her tight against his throbbing length.
Donna could only laugh softly at the growl of pure frustration that rumbled against her breasts, the Doctor's gaze locked with hers in a fiery promise to finish what they had started when his impatient ship was dealt with.
As she unwound her leg from about his hip, it was her turn to growl in frustration before she leaned forward and brushed a soft kiss against his lips. "It's just as well, Doctor. If the Tardis didn't move soon, we would've run the risk of Jack coming in to check on us. Or to try to join us, you never can tell with him."
The look of horror that flashed across his face at the thought was enough to cool the raging fire of her unspent passion. She couldn't suppress the grin when she saw that it was that thought which also allowed the Doctor to reign in his own passion as well. "Perish the thought, I'd never get rid of him then."
The Doctor shook his head with a laugh before taking Donna's hands in both of his, his hands pressing hers tightly to his chest while his thumb stroked the delicate pulsepoint on the inside of her wrist. "Which reminds me, how did the call with your granddad go, Donna?"
She smiled softly and leaned close against him, their joined hands pressed tightly against their still pounding hearts while she just reveled once more in the comforting feel of his mind within hers. "He sends his love, Doctor and is eager to see us again soon. He missed us very much but understands that we have some things to do before we can come visit. He did say soon though, it's been too long since he's seen his only granddaughter."
The Doctor threw his head back and laughed, reluctantly pulling away from Donna and leading her out of the medical bay towards the control room. "Quite right it has. And with that in mind, I guess we should be on our way so we can get to visiting him soon." They stepped into the control room where he stood hesitantly by the controls before he turned to look deeply into her eyes. "Are you sure you're up to this Donna? I wish I could give you more time to rest before we go deal with this, but we really do need to take care of it as soon as possible."
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with her absolute trust and devotion to him. "Yes, Doctor, I'm sure. You'll be there right beside me and we'll be in the Tardis if anything goes wrong. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
He grabbed her up in a tight hug, his lips brushing soft kisses to her temple before he pulled away though he did keep her tucked right against his side where he was not likely to let her go for a long time to come. "All right then, here we go!"
He threw the final lever home, both their eyes rising up as the time rotor pulsed in its casing and the whirring sound of dematerialization filled the hub before the Tardis disappeared back into the time stream leaving earth and all its trauma far behind.