Jack stared soulfully at the sleeping figure that lay beside him. He had often wondered what went on inside Ianto's head when he was asleep. He looked so peaceful and relaxed. Jack smiled at the slight smiled that was pulling at the corners of Ianto's lips. He stroked at Ianto's hair.
Ianto Jones was well aware of the fact that Jack was staring at him. He wasn't quite asleep but he wasn't quite awake either. He contemplated just laying there forever but Jack had begun to stare at him, making a small smile twitch at the corners of his mouth. Ianto shifted a little and sighed, 'You know that its rude to stare?' Jack laughed, he knew that Ianto had been awake for the past few minutes but he just couldn't help himself. 'Yeah I know. But what are you gonna do about it?' Ianto opened his eyes and propped himself up into his elbow.
Jack grabbed at Ianto's free hand and entwined his fingers in his. It had been ages since they had been together like this. Ianto leant forward and sought Jack's lips with his own. Jack pulled Ianto into an embrace and held his tight. Ianto released Jack's lips from his own and let a smirk cross his lips. Jack looked up at him curiously, 'What's that smirk for?' Ianto didn't respond but his face turned into a grimace of pain and he slumped forward. Jack grabbed him and laid him on his back. 'Ianto?.... Ianto? Look at me. Can you hear me Ianto?' Jack wasn't so much panicking but was now thoroughly worried. He knew he needed to get help and he knew there was only one place he could get this help.
Jack jumped up and dialed Gwen on his phone. He needed to get help to Ianto and fast. He needed him to be ok. After getting off the phone to Gwen, he rushed back to Ianto, who hadn't moved but the pain he was in was evident on his face. 'Jack leant down to him and whispered in his ear. 'Hold on Ianto. I just need you to hold on a little longer.' Jack looked into Ianto's eyes; they were full of fear and welling up with tears. Jack saw Ianto make a slight movement; it was very minute but Jack knew Ianto was nodding to him, to say he was going to try to hold on for as long as he could.
Jack thought about the moment they had shared just before Ianto was struck with this mystery illness. It had been one they hadn't had together for a while. They had been taking things slowly since he had gotten back and after seeing Tosh and Owen miss each other completely; they had wanted to make sure they did this right. Jack sat next to Ianto and held his hand tight, waiting for Gwen and most likely Rhys to arrive to help. He had instructed Gwen to get the scanning equipment from the medical bay in the hub. He needed to find out what was wrong with Ianto and save him before it was to late.
Every now and then Jack could feel a slight squeeze of his hand; it was Ianto letting him know that he was still holding on. Jack moved to kneel beside Ianto and look into his eyes. What he saw was a look he often saw working for torchwood; it was one of sadness, fear, pain and the fact that they knew they were all going to die young. Jack decided to try and put Ianto's mind at ease; that was even if Ianto recognized what he was saying. He had stopped squeezing his hand and the only thing Jack could hear in the room, apart from his own heart beating, was the slow rise and fall of Ianto's chest. He hoped that Gwen would arrive soon. He didn't know how long Ianto had left. He just hoped it wasn't already to late.