Just a thought from a sleepless night.
Set during Exit Wounds.
Grey's face was peaceful for once. Jack stared at the still face, committing the features to memory. Freezing the image as he'd frozen his brother. Finally he slid the tray closed.
"He killed Tosh." Ianto's voice, behind him. Jack waited for the hand on his shoulder, the arm around his waist. Waited for something that didn't happen. He turned, realizing that maybe this time Ianto needed comfort more than he did. But when he reached for his young lover Ianto moved away, sharply, as if Jack's touch would burn.
Reddened eyes regarded him gravely from a pale face. "He killed Owen," Ianto continued "and we still don't know how many other people out there."
Jack nodded, not sure where he was going with this, but certain he wasn't going to like it.
"And still," Ianto added. "Still, you're doing everything you can to keep him alive."
"He's my brother," Jack said numbly. "He's my brother, and I failed him." This time Ianto allowed the embrace, but it felt stiff, forced, and it was Jack who moved away.
Ianto regarded him across a distance greater than the space between them. "I always hoped one day you'd understand how I felt about Lisa, why I did what I did. I'm sorry it's taken this."
Anger flared in Jack's soul. He knew Ianto had never accepted what he'd had to do, but he thought they'd at least worked past it. Forgiven but not forgotten, to use the old cliché. Bringing it up now was a lower blow than he'd ever believed Ianto capable of.
"That was different," Jack hissed.
"It was," Ianto agreed, too calmly. "You want to know why?"
Jack waited.
"Because I'm not demanding you kill him." Ianto turned away, back ramrod straight, footsteps sharp as gunshots.
"You know why else?" Jack called after him, keeping his own voice level with an effort.
Ianto didn't even pause.
"If you do it, because I can't," Jack said, forcing the admission past clenched teeth. "I'd forgive you."
This was intended to be a one-shot, but…anything could happen. Hope you liked.