"So… what you said about Isherwood. Was that true? You knew him?"

"Yeah. When he was in Germany. Have you read Berlin Stories? It was crazy what we got up to. Jean was a blast. And Eddie Forster, though he could be a little uptight. A lot uptight, actually, though I understood why. I kept in touch with Chris for a while after he met Don."

"You've had sex with -"

"I never said we had sex. Well…."

"There! You did."

"Not quite. I mean, we shared a bed for a while. And a lover."

"You had a threesome with Christopher Isherwood and another guy?"

"A series of threesomes, actually. But Chris and I weren't… it was just about Rudi. And then Chris ended up head-over-heels for another guy and Rudi was kind of left with me."

"You were in love?"

"Not especially. He was vulnerable, though. I mostly wanted to protect him. Things were ok in Berlin at the time but it was about to change. I helped Rudi leave and settle in Ireland. I still wish I'd helped Chris's boyfriend too." Jack sighed. "I could have helped a lot of them."

"Jack. You're doing it again."

"What?"

"Beating yourself up for not being bloody Superman."

Jack sighed again. "You know, I've done plenty of things I'm not proud of. But it's the things I didn't do or didn't stop that I regret the most."

"As you've explained it to me, it's a really bad thing to go around wilfully altering history, no matter how bad you know it turns out."

"Yeah, it is. Usually. I could have done more though. Even if it didn't change everything."

"You helped one, Jack. And you fought, the proper way. That's something to be proud of."

Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto tightly. "You're such an anchor. Thank you," he said, kissing Ianto's neck.

"You're allowed to get broody, but I'd prefer if you'd give me the chance to make it better when you do."

"You're good at it," Jack said, running his thumb over Ianto's lower lip. "Sometimes I worry about you listening to these things though. Not like anybody around here needs to take on more."

"It's not taking on more, Jack. It's sharing. None of us has to deal with things alone. That helps all of us."

"Yeah, but I have extra -"

Ianto pressed a finger to Jack's lips. "We aren't workmates at the moment. Personal issues on personal time."

"I know, but most people in my life haven't -"

"Jack… when have I ever been 'most people'?"

Jack had to laugh. "You got me there. Must be rubbing off on you."

"That sounds hot…."

"Yeah," Jack grinned. "Definitely rubbing off."