I feel the need to vent again… and poor Ianto is, as always, my vessel. I can't help it. He's just convenient. Thus… this.

Disclaimers: The boys belong to each other… which is good. They need each other. And I need them. Ianto especially. I always give hugs and coffee when I'm done with him.

Ianto needed reassurance. Not that jack was there… but that he cared. Ianto wasn't usually the type to need reassurance. He was a loner; he didn't really get on with people that well. Did better on his own most of the time. But when it came to jack…. Ianto needed reassurance. Ever since jack had left him for the Doctor… Ianto needed to feel needed by jack. He knew the older man needed him. But jack never showed it. Oh he would leer at him, or make his innuendos… or even corner him in the dark corners of the Archives for a quick kiss...or if they had the time (sometimes even if they didn't, much to the team's chagrin) a quick shag… but Ianto needed real reassurance. And that wasn't usually forthcoming from Jack. Jack who hid his feelings behind more walls then an Irish castle. Jack, who smiled at everyone, flirted his way through life. Sometimes it made the younger man feel like he wasn't necessary. I mean, if Jack could leave him that easily…. Then what was he doing here still? Why did Jack need him around if something or someone else was always going to distract him away? Did Jack need him around? It was the not knowing that hurt. But they didn't talk about their feelings. Ianto knew that Jack couldn't do that. Wouldn't do that. If he hated the word couple so much, Ianto could only imagine what he would think of the other words that floated through his mind when he thought of Jack. He continued on though, hiding his tears in the quiet moments when no one was around. Keeping his sadness veiled, letting it out only when he was alone. He never asked for reassurance, it would feel forced in that case. He wanted Jack to want to tell him. That wasn't Jack's way. And Ianto suffered in silence.

Reviews are love, as always.