Aftermath
Ianto Jones sat on the tailgate of the SUV. He was alone. Gwen was being taken to the nearest hospital with Owen riding along, Tosh was been driven back to Cardiff in a police car and Jack was…well, Ianto wasn't quite sure where he was. He hadn't seen him since he himself legged it out into the open and the safety of the SUV.
He touched two fingers to his throat and they came away bloody. He shivered, thinking of the way SHE held the meat cleaver against his neck, and the way it cut into his flesh as she applied pressure. If it hadn't been for Jack…well, he just didn't want to think about what might have happened. Didn't want to think about his shoes being added to the pile in the room where he and Tosh had been held. He squeezed his eyes shut, stemming the flow of tears that he knew were just waiting to shame him. His whole body ached and he couldn't wait to get into a steaming hot shower.
Turned his head to the right, Jack came into his eye line.
"Better get you back to the Hub and get you looked at."
"I'm fine. I just need a shower."
Ianto stood, shut the tailgate and made his way to the passenger door.
Jack didn't want to argue with the young Welshman. The look on his face told Jack that there was absolutely no room for compromise. So, getting in the SUV, Jack buckled up and started the engine for the drove back to Cardiff.
"Can you drop me off at my place?" asked Ianto.
"I thought…sure, if that's what you want."
"I'm not good company at the moment. I just want to relax in my own place." He didn't look at Jack. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Absolutely not!" Liar "If you need me, you'll call, right?"
Ianto just nodded.
Jack sighed, turning to look at his lover every now and then. But the younger man was looking out of the side window and Jack couldn't read his facial features.
"You should eat, too," Jack said.
"Not hungry."
The thought made his stomach turn over and his skin crawl.
"No, I guess not." Jack sighed again. "I'm sorry, Ianto."
"What for?"
"The whole thing. Bringing you along. You gettin' hurt. I should have left you back at the Hub."
"I thought this is what you wanted. Get me back in the teams good books, you said."
Jack shook his head. "I know what I said. I was wrong."
"So, they still don't trust me." Ianto turned sorrowful eyes on Jack. "Do you trust me?"
"You know I do."
"Do I? Why, because we started sleeping together again?" Ianto laughed. "Right. Trust built on sex. That'll work."
Jack pulled over, turned in his seat and pinned the younger man with a stare.
"Whether you like it or not, I care about you. I always have."
"I think they call it lust."
"Bullshit!"
"With some of that mixed in, yes."
"Will you just listen to yourself. You made me feel used, Ianto. Getting my attention on to you and away from what you were doing in my basement!"
"Used? You wanted me," His voice lowered to almost a whisper. "Just like I wanted you."
"You wanted somewhere to put Lisa! You wanted to use the recourses at Torchwood Three!"
"At first, yes. But …in the warehouse…when Myfanwy nearly fell on us. I…wanted to kiss you." He looked at his hands. His knuckles were almost white from wringing them so hard.
Jack closed his eyes for a moment, then reached out, pulling an unresisting body into his arms. "I'm sorry."
"I never expected to fall in love with you."
Jack kissed the top of his head, his hand running circles over the younger man's back.
"I know."
"Make it go away, Jack. I don't want to feel like this. It hurts."
"Shh, it's gonna be okay. I promise."
Ianto cried quietly against Jack's shoulder, as they sat there halfway to Cardiff.
"And for the record, I wanted to kiss you, too."
Jack heard Ianto laugh. "Yeah?"
"Mmm, you were so damn sexy in that suit. I wanted to take you right there and then."
Jack allowed Ianto to pull back. He wiped at the tears on his face and sniffed. Jack smiled at the innocent look on his lover's face.
"Better get you home."
Ianto nodded.
TBC