Torchwood isn't mine, but I'm happy that people are willing to share :)


During work, Jack watched Ianto. He would sit in his office and look through the glass and watch him make coffee, or joke with the rest of the team. It was when Jack watched his lover, when he noticed the things he loved most about the younger man. He noticed how, when it got really quiet, Ianto would sing under his breath, he noticed how carefully Ianto made the coffee, and how sure he was as he walked around the Hub, distributing the cups.

He also became very good at noticing when something was wrong.

It was a Thursday morning, the night before had been the first time in weeks that the two of them slept had in different places, well Ianto slept, and Jack tried to. He hadn't been lying when he told Gwen he didn't sleep, it was always too quiet, but with Ianto by his side, he had begun to slowly reform a sleep pattern that he'd lost a long time ago. When everyone else was on their way out, Jack had stolen a kiss from the younger man, but he had simple mumbled an excuse that Jack didn't really catch and made his way out, only to turn around for another lingering kiss before he left. Jack had stood in the Hub for a few minutes after that kiss, he realized he wouldn't fall asleep next to Ianto that night, the first night in ages. Jack sighed, going off to do some long put off work, something that would keep him up for as long as possible. It didn't bother him, everyone needed and break, and he was more than happy to give Ianto one. However, when he looked a little off the next morning, that was when Jack began to worry. Sure, Ianto can have off days, Jack has off days, everyone has off days, but Ianto looked downright sick, and Jack didn't like the look of that. He had been debating how to confront him about it when he saw Ianto turn a pale shade of green and run down to the archives. Jack worriedly ran out of his office and down the stairs, ignoring the looks that Owen, Tosh, and Gwen shot him. He knew that Ianto was in the archives, it was where the Welshman often went to get some alone time. Jack had often found him sitting in the corner reading a book while the rest of the team was working on paperwork. This time, however, Jack found him holding something else.

Ianto was kneeling on the floor in the archives, panting and holding a trashcan to his chest.

"Oh Ianto," He whispered, crouching next to him and placing a hand on the younger man's forehead. "Why did you even come to work? I could've...you should've called me."

"Jack, I'm fine, really just a-" He jerked forward, dry heaving into the trashcan. Fumbling in his pockets, he pulled out a pill bottle, shakily took out two pills and dry swallowed. Jack frowned and took the bottle out of his hand, reading the label.

"These are antibiotics to fight a kidney infection."

Ianto nodded, "I'm prone to them. I don't know why, but I've been getting them every since I was a kid. I've been getting them for so long...and it didn't seem that bad last night...I thought I'd be fine."

Jack rolled his eyes, typical Ianto. "I hate to break it to you, but you are not fine."

He nodded, "I realize that. I can usually tell when one's coming on, and I thought that if I took the antibiotics last night and went to bed early, I'd be fine in the morning. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. "Most of the time, if I take the pills a day or two early, I can prevent it altogether, but as you can see, it doesn't always work like that."

Jack frowned, he'd never seen Ianto like this, he looked weak and tired. "Ianto-"

"I'll be fine Jack, really I'm used to it by now." He stood up, and Jack almost sighed with relief, until he saw Ianto sway and he was by his side in seconds. "Ianto, please, let me take you home."

He knew the younger man must be feeling worse than he let on, because he nodded slowly. "Stay here okay? I'm going to go talk to the team."

Ianto slid down to the floor when Jack left the room. He thought his stomach had settled, but within a few minutes, he had puked up his pills. Ianto sighed, he couldn't take them again for a few hours, and they kept his symptoms in check. Going home with Jack was sounding better and better.

"Hey, I talked to the team, gave them the weekend off."

"You can't just... T-Tosh was in here with a fever last week.."

"And I sent her home. They understand that this is more than a cold. We all need a little vacation anyway. Now everyone will be in on Monday happy and rested."

Ianto opened his mouth, but Jack stopped him. "I already sent them home, they all send their best. Now come on." He gently helped him up, with one arm securely around Ianto's waist. "I had Gwen bring the car around to in front of the lift, I thought we'd take that, less walking."

"Thanks Jack, I...I don't relish you seeing me like this."

Jack smiled and kissed him on the forehead as they rose to the sidewalk. "I've seen you in practically every other way, it makes no difference to me." They had reached the car, "Now do you want to lie down in the back or sit up front with me?"

"Ah, I'll, um, sit up front."

Jack eased him into the passenger seat and sat in the driver's seat. A few minutes into the ride, he heard Ianto shudder and he took the younger man's hand, rubbing it in small circles with his thumb. "Sure you'll make it?" He asked, attempting to add some levity, but noticing the absence of it in his voice.

"I threw up my pills."

"Can't you just take them again?"

He shook his head, "The antibiotics are strong, even if I throw them up, I have to wait four hours to take them."

"That's how often? Every four hours?"

"Tomorrow its every two hours, but today and Sunday its every four, and on Monday every six, if I need it."

"Okay, I'm on it. You can count on me."

"Jack, it's okay...you just need to drive me home."

He parked in front of Ianto's building and turned toward him. "I'm letting you know right now that I am solely yours until Monday morning. I'm not leaving Ianto, I'm sorry if you'd prefer otherwise, but you're sick, so you don't really have a say."

Ianto's eyes widened and Jack could've sworn he saw them water,"Okay...can we go up? I feel...I feel like I'm either going to pass out or puke."

"Oh! Oh okay...um, I'll come around."


Ianto managed to change out of his suit and into something more comfortable without Jack's help. (even though he had offered with a cheeky grin)

"So, we can do whatever you'd like, within reason of course, you are sick." Jack said, sitting next to Ianto on the couch and putting his feet on the coffee table.

"Um, a movie would be nice, I guess."

He stood up, "Okay! Your pick, as always."

Ianto chuckled, he'd let Jack pick the movie once and it hadn't done either of them good, the immortal just didn't have good taste in movies. "There's one in there already, I watch it so much, I don't even bother taking it out."

He got Ianto the remote and sat back down, "Do you want to lay down? It might be more comfortable."

Ianto shook his head, "No, I'm good-"

"Love Actually? Really?"

"Yes Jack! It's not all just hearts and candy anyway."

Jack sighed and put his arm behind Ianto's head, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Ianto shushed him and Jack smirked, glad that this little illness hadn't hidden Ianto's usual demeanor entirely. Oh, he sighed, as the movie began, he'd forgotten how much he liked Hugh Grant.


Woo! Go me for not making this totally depressing! This is a multi-chapter fic, I already have Ch.2 done, and a good part of Ch.3, so hopefully this'll be finished pretty quickly. I hope you enjoyed it! Please review! :)