Disclaimer: I own neither Torchwood nor the poem used below. I'm just borrowing them.
Oh, and this was written very late at night, so if it makes no sense I apologize. Enjoy. :)
O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
-Walt Whitman, O Captain! My Captain!
Ianto stares at Jack, cold and dead on the floor. No. No, not again. His heart beats a little faster and he runs to Jack's side. He kneels in the dirt, not caring that it was going to ruin his brand-new suit. All he can think of is Jack. His captain.
"Jack," Ianto says, shaking the man's arm violently. Pleading him to be okay. "Please. Please, Jack. Wake up. Please!"
No answer. Ianto isn't surprised. Sometimes it takes Jack a little while to come back. But… A gun shot. A gun shot is simple. Why is it taking so long?
Ianto forces away all the panic, and pulls on his business face. He rearranges Jack so that the man is lying somewhat comfortably on the ground. Then he crosses his own legs and begins his silent vigil for his lover.
Five minutes pass. Does it always take this long? Ianto racks his brain. Yes, gun shots, though simple, are a bit messy. The spin and tear and rip. Of course it takes a few minutes for Jack's body to heal itself.
Fifteen miuntes. Ianto begins to get nervous. He glances at his watch. Why isn't he back yet? It never takes this long for a bullet… What if this is it?
No. Ianto violent shoves away his fears and forces the calm onto himself. He will not panic. He will not. Jack will come back. Jack always come back.
Thirty minutes. Ianto is almost ready to call the others. Tell them that Jack is still dead. Why hasn't he woken up yet? Is something wrong? Is this it, the end? No, it can't be! It wasn't enough time!
Then he hears it. The gasp as Jack's eyes fly open and he's forced back into life.
And as painful as it is, Ianto knows he will always selfishly want Jack to return, no matter how painful it is.
"Jack!"
"Ianto?" Jack gasps, looking around. "Wh… What happened?"
"We were attacked. Some guys came out and tried to mug us. They… They tried to shoot me, but…"
"But I got in the way."
"Yeah."
Ianto looks at Jack. Jack, his boss. His captain. The man he's fallen completely and totally in love with. The man who says, "Well it would be impossible to find a replacement who makes coffee as good as yours!"
They laugh, though Ianto feels a little deflated. Does Jack not realize how terrible it is, being the reason the one you love is dead?
No, that's stupid. Of course he does.
Jack stops laughing. "Ianto, are you okay? Did something happen when I died?"
He hates how casually he says it. He died. Business as usual…
"You were gone for a long time," Ianto explains, trying to hide the fear. "I just thought… I thought you were gone for good this time."
"Oh."
Oh. All he says is oh. But no, that's not all.
"I'm sorry. I know it must be hard, seeing me die."
Ianto bites his lip. "It… It is. Every time I'm afraid that your luck has finally run out. That you won't come back to me."
Jack sits up slowly and takes Ianto's hands in his. "Ianto Jones," He said softly. "I promise that as long as you want me I will always come back to you."
Ianto squeezes Jack's hands gently. "I'll always want you." He murmured.
Jack kisses Ianto lightly. "Then I'll always be around," Slowly he releases Ianto's hands and stands. "Now come on. The others probably think we eloped or something."
This time Ianto laughs wholeheartedly. Because Jack made a promise.
And Jack always keeps his promises.