Ianto's Question

Ianto slid back down the ladder quietly. He padded over to Jack stopping at the side of the bed. Jack was still shouting he did this sometimes when he slept he screamed and screamed but he never told Ianto why.

Ianto knelt down to his side he leant into his ear and placed a hand on his chest whispering softly to him.

"Jack.." Jack shot up suddenly eyes blinking madly.

"WHAT ?..what is it what's wrong?...are you okay?" was his final question as he turned to look at Ianto kneeling by the bed. Ianto nodded patting Jack's chest to get him to relax a little.

"Im fine Im fine I promise" he anwered soothingly.

"You were shouting" Ianto said looking to the floor.

"Wa...was i i'm sorry" Jack replied softly. Ianto continued to look at the floor for a few seconds then asked.

" When...when are you going to tell me Jack" Jack leaned forward cupping Iantos face and turning it towards his own.

" Are you sure?....Your sure you want to know why"

Ianto looked deep into Jack's eyes before replying.

" Yes Jack yes i want to know if its your trouble then its mine" he said quietly

Jack smiled softly at those last words before sliding over on the bed sitting up cross legged he patted the empty space he had left. Ianto climbed up onto the bed and sat cross legged facing Jack. Jack looked at Ianto before asking again.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes I'm sure"

Jack Lent forward slightly taking Ianto's hands as if bracing himself for the story he was about to tell. Ianto squeezed his hands lightly to let him know he was there. Jack closed his eyes and began to speak.

" A long time ago...in my past and what will be many peoples future." he paused.

Ianto squeezed again "come on Jack you can do this im with you".

Jack started again. " A long time ago...in my past and what will be many peoples future...I travelled with the most brilliant man and brilliant women you could ever meet" "we would travel and fight and travel and fight and always be able to laugh about it we would laugh so much" Jack paused again and took a deep breath in.

" It was the doctor..." Ianto's eyes opened slightly wider.

"As in.."

"Our doctor..yes..the very same" Jack answered before he could even ask.

" okay ..continue" Ianto replied.

" He was a brilliant man Ianto a genius a funny charming genius at that." Jack smiled softly. "And he taught me so much. He showed me there's so much in the world that happens everyday that is worth fighting for and protecting"

"Only one day on our adventures we ran into a time lords largest enemy"

Ianto waited and when Jack didn't say anything he asked quietly.

"And who is that?"

" Have you heard of the Daleks Ianto?"

Ianto looked up in horror. Jack looked up when he didn't answer.

"Ill take that as a yes then" He said before looking back down again.

"Well they'd been rebuilding themselves on the edge of the universe in the dark space. And there was this station the game station they called it. It was a massive reality TV station but the programs didn't have happy endings." Jack paused again squeezing Ianto's hands.

"Still okay? Want me to continue?" Ianto just nodded slowly. Jack smiled at him reassuringly.

"Well me the doctor and rose all got caught in a transmat beam coming from the station sucked us out of the TAR...erm the doctors spaceship and we got trapped in the games." Jack sighed softly and Ianto moved closer putting his arms around realising it was getting harder for him to talk about this.

"Shhh..Jack in your own time" Ianto whispered softly.

"Well the doctor was the first to get out of the games me second but rose was still trapped...we got there just not in enough time she was shot with a disintegrater beam" Ianto gasped aloud. Jack looked up "you okay?"

"Yes yes Ianto answered hurridly sorry I just caught up in the story a little too much" he said smiling slightly at Jack.

"Well the doctor was distraught stormed up to the top floor of the building demanding to talk to the controller of the game station. I headed for the TA...the doctors spaceship I knew she could work it out if I asked and helped a little."

"She.?" Ianto questioned.

Jack grinned "Doctor's choice not mine" He answered.

"Well that's how we figured out it was the Daleks they had rose and we had to save her so we headed right into the middle of the newly regrown Dalek fleet to get her."

"YOU DID WHAT?" Ianto exclaimed suddenly.

"Hey..you know me never to leave a girl in distress and near mortal peril" Jack said smirking slightly.

"Never to leave a man in those circumstances either" Ianto replied sarkily.

Jack just grinned. "Anyway as i was saying so we flew right into the middle of the Dalek fleet to get her we did almost got shot to pieces in the process but we did it"

"Well we went back to the satellite station the Daleks plan was to invade earth kill everyone and then use the body's to make more Daleks but once they found out the doctor was still alive he became the main target the last of the time lords the Daleks greatest foe."

"So the Daleks headed for the game station. Only the doctor had a plan. He just needed time so i offered to round up troops and get the time. I kissed him and rose goodbye knowing id probably never see them again." Jack stopped eyes welling up now tears starting to softly run down his face. "Ianto...I ca...I can't" Ianto took hold of him pulling him close into a tight hug.

"Shh Jack shhh you don't have too you don't have too its fine it can wait"

Jack cried and cried into Ianto's chest and Ianto didn't say anything. He just stroked his back soothingly and shushing him. Jack yawned softly. Ianto still said nothing just kept stroking but there was a small frown upon his face. Jack closed his eyes and the next time Ianto looked down to check on him he was asleep. Ianto slid out from underneath him and layed him in the bed pulling the covers up over him. He climbed up the ladder and wandered up into Jack's office took a post it note and scribbled on it. He stuck it to the monitor of Jack's computer then headed back down to Jack laying beside him on the bed and falling asleep.

Jack got up early the next morning and headed up to his office to take and early conference call he had with U.N.I.T as he sat at his desk waiting for his phone to ring. As he sat down the bright orange of the post it note caught his eye he picked it up.

and read to himself

Dinner my place?....maybe i can hear the end?

Jack smiled to himself tomorrow night was going to be interesting.