"He didn't kill me. Never could." The Doctor raised a shoulder, glancing to the console to avoid looking at Jack or in the Master's direction. "He needs an audience." He licked his lips and shook his head, rubbing his eyes as he kept talking. "We've known each other since... No, he's not my son. But friend, he used to be my friend. I was his only friend."

With a quick shake of his head he turned fully toward the console, but only for a second. Then, at Jack's questions, he stared at him for a few seconds before closing the distance between them. There was the slightest hesitation when he put a hand on his shoulder. "I... I used the vortex energy. It shouldn't change anything about you." He looked him over, frowning. "It didn't. I told you, what happened to you, I can't change that."