Jack sat by the hospital bed, warming a cold hand between his warm ones, protecting it from the chilly, antiseptic smelling air.
Blue eyes were opening slowly, rolling a bit, out of focus. It took a few moments for the eyes to lock onto Jack. Even though they didn't seem to be able to focus, he was aware.
"Jack," Ianto said, his gaze shifting to Jack's hands wrapped around his. His teeth ground together and he let out a stifled groan. Ianto swallowed hard.
"Ianto," Jack responded. "Look, Owen is in his lab trying to figure it out right now."
A ghost of a smile danced on Ianto's lips, and he winced. His fingers gripped Jack's tightly and his face went white as a sheet.
A wave of nausea rolled over Ianto and he flinched.
"Jack…"
"Yeah. It has happened three times in the last hour." Jack looked pained. "Not sure what it is,"
Ianto linked his fingers with Jack's and let his unfocused gaze wander.
Eventually, he looked back at Jack, smiled, and kissed the back of his hand.
Ianto leaned back against the bed and closed his eyes, drifting off.
Jack blinked and a single tear fell from his eye, and he gave Ianto's hand the gentlest of squeezes, letting it fall back onto the clean white blankets.
Jack stood, clenching his jaw, and nodded. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the hospital, driving back to the Hub.
"Tell me you've got something," Jack said, his coat swishing behind him as he walked into Owen's lab, his boots thudding against the concrete. Owen looked back at Jack with wide brown eyes.
"Someone's got timing."
Jack grabbed the syringe Owen was holding out and left, trailed by the rest of the team.
He jumped into the SUV and allowed precious seconds for Tosh, Owen, and Gwen to hop in. They had barely buckled their seatbelts when Jack stepped on the gas pedal and they sped off.
They were at the hospital within three minutes, Jack going at the speed he was.
Jack leapt out of the vehicle and ran through the automatic doors, so fast he almost slammed into them.
Jack ignored all of the doctors and nurses in green scrubs asking him to slow down.
Ianto was still asleep when Jack barreled in, cupping Ianto's face in his hands and kissing Ianto's forehead.
Ianto's eyelids fluttered and he squeezed them shut; he rolled his head a bit. His hand went up to touch Jack.
"Ianto," Jack said, tapping his cheek.
Ianto's head rolled and his eyes opened.
"Hey. Hey," Jack said, giving Ianto a smile. "Look, we've got something. It's going to hurt for just a second."
Ianto blinked a few times and nodded, holding out his arm. Jack held Ianto's hand, twining their fingers together. With the other hand he gave Ianto the shot.
Ianto tensed and gripped Jack's fingers, exhaling. His eyes flew open and color returned to his cheeks. His eyes focused for the first time since he'd gotten sick; since the alien had bit him.
Ianto gave Jack the ghost of a smile and he closed his eyes, his head falling towards Jack, into his arms.
Jack tensed and glanced at the team, who had filed in behind Jack but not said a word. Jack's eyes were full of fear as he looked to Owen.
He nodded, pointing to Ianto's vitals.
Ianto was fine; in fact, the vaccine had worked. He was better; he was fixed.
Jack let out the breath he just realized he'd been holding and pressed his lips to Ianto's forehead, not caring that everyone could see him.