Ianto closed his eyes as Toshiko helped him onto the sofa. It had been a long day, and all he wanted to do was sleep. His first field mission had gone disastrously wrong, and Ianto was desperate to forget it.
He could hear Jack's voice in the distance, thanking Toshiko for everything and that she could go home or stay the night, it was her choice. Toshiko had plumped for the home comforts of her house, and so she'd left the Hub, not before making Jack promise to call her if Ianto took a turn for the worse.
Ianto smiled when he overheard this. Tosh was the one member of the team he could count on to look out for him. Owen's sarcasm meant Ianto never knew whether he was being serious or not, and Gwen was too new for him to really know her that well. And Jack was a whole different kettle of fish.
But when Ianto did succumb to the much-needed sleep, he was plagued by recollections of the cannibals. He dreamed that they killed off the rest of Torchwood and forced him to eat their flesh.
Ianto woke with a scream. He looked around, expecting to be in his bedroom at home, and when he realised differently, he screamed some more.
"Ianto?" Jack hurried from his office to the place where Ianto was screaming. He was only half-dressed, but the young Welshman didn't even notice. "Ianto, what's wrong?" He sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around Ianto.
"They killed you," Ianto stammered in between sobs. "They killed you and made me eat you. Jack, it was horrible. It was so real." He clung tightly to his boss, sobbing uncontrollably into his shirt collar.
Jack stroked Ianto's back softly. "It was only a dream," he reassured him. "They're not going to hurt you now. I promise."
"But it was so real," Ianto insisted.
Jack pulled back and looked at the young man's tear-streaked face. He couldn't help but notice his beauty, and he took Ianto's face between his hands. "Look at me."
Ianto obeyed, and fought back emotion.
"Right," Jack declared. "Nobody's going to hurt you, or anyone else for that matter. You are going to fall asleep, and I'm going to sit here with you until morning. You're not going to be on your own, I promise."
"Really?" Ianto asked.
Jack nodded, and cradled Ianto's head on his lap. It didn't take him long to fall asleep, and Jack looked down at him, sadly. He couldn't even begin to understand how Ianto was feeling, and he felt guilty for not protecting him. When he was sure Ianto was definitely asleep, he kissed him on the forehead.
"I think I love you," he whispered. "But I know you're not that way inclined, so for once, I'm going to do the sensible thing. I'm going to be your friend. Nothing more. God knows I want you in more ways than a friend, though. But it's my fault you were hurt today, and I don't want to hurt you any more. That's what I do, though. Let the people I love get hurt because of me. It's always been like that, and it always will be."
Jack was sure he heard Ianto murmur a response, but no matter how much more he tried to engage him in conversation, he remained firmly asleep. Sighing, Jack stroked the young man's hair softly.
When Ianto awoke in the morning, he was surprised to find Jack's lap was being used as his pillow. He sat up and eased out stiffness, before turning to his boss.
"Did you sit here all night?" he asked.
Jack nodded. "I said I wasn't going to leave you, didn't I?"
Ianto smiled in appreciation. "I thought you were just saying that, Sir. I didn't think you meant it. And it can't have been a comfortable position to sleep in either."
"I don't need much sleep," Jack shrugged. "And I'd prefer you to call me Jack. It's a lot friendlier, I always think."
Ianto nodded as he stood up. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "Sir."
Jack rolled his eyes as Ianto headed towards the kitchen, no doubt to make coffee. He could have sworn there was a hint of jest in the last word, but that was typical Ianto. Jack stood up and hoped for a better day.