AN: This is an experimental piece.... not sure how it is going to pan out really so of course all ideas and suggestions welcome and crit is helpful.... anything written in Italics represents dream or vision.

THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS

Ianto was not unlike Arthur Dent in his dislike of Thursdays. Admittedly there were no bulldozers setting in his drive and he didn't own a dog or have an alien friend by the name of Ford Prefect, but he did have an alien friend. Said friend was still snoring into the duvet and Ianto could only shake his head fondly at the relaxed state of Jack Harkness, drooling, snoring with one socked foot poking out from under the covers hanging over the side of the rumpled bed. Ianto rolled out of bed and quietly gathered up a t-shirt and PJ bottoms from the floor before creeping out of the room. It was chilly in the flat and Ianto quickly pulled on his garments and headed to the kitchen. It had been one of those weeks with no let up. The Rift had been totally oblivious to Tosh's flu and Gwen's being on holiday with Rhys, so he, Jack and Owen had been run ragged for 6 days without so much as more than the odd half hour nap on the couch in the Hub. Amazingly they muddled through it without murdering one another, crashing the SUV or failing to stop hordes of screaming slimy aliens from invading. It was fortunate that Owen no longer needed sleep was all Ianto could think as he autopiloted his way through making coffee.

It was unfortunate that once again sleep had eluded him with its usual clinical efficiency and after waiting for Jack to finally release him from his slumbering grip he had slipped away to his beloved brew and a few hours worth of reading on the couch. It was no good really, he would have to see Owen about sleeping pills. Ianto hated taking them, but at least they allowed him to rest even if they did leave his mind feeling slightly fogged up for the first couple of hours in the day. He knew today would be another day of proplus and coffee in order to stay on his feet and that was never a good combination. A quick glance at the clock on the stove told him it was 0400hrs and Ianto sighed annoyed with himself for being awake at such an ungodly hour. For a man who supposedly didn't sleep, Jack did a pretty good imitation of it and Ianto found himself wishing he could doze half so easily.

Coffee mug in hand he made his quiet way into the lounge and his copy of 'Flesh Market Close'. Ianto had developed a private love for Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus and decided if he was going to be stuck with wakefulness he may as well do it with the fictional, acerbic Scottish detective. The moment he was settled he heard the soft padding of furry feet as Moses took a flying leap from his basket and landed rather inelegantly on the arm of the couch. The black and white cat turned on his engine and climbed daintily over the cushions and got himself comfy in the crook of Ianto's legs behind his knees. He began to wash a limb, still purring happily. Unconsciously Ianto gently rubbed behind his ears as he read.

Jack rolled over and stuck out his arm and stretched extravagantly over the entire width of the bed, he was not surprised to discover an empty cold space beside him and huffing out a sigh he sat up in the dim light and reached across the quilt and grabbed his T-shirt. He pulled it on, shivering at the chill and got up, pulling on a pair of pyjama bottoms as he made his out of the bedroom. He could smell coffee and toast and hear radio two coming from the kitchen. Following the enticing smell he discovered Ianto munching on his breakfast and reading the Guardian at the breakfast bar. Jack wandered in and helped himself to coffee before sitting opposite the younger man, who looked far too serious for this early in the day. It was clear that Ianto hadn't slept, the darkened circles around his beautiful blues and the slumping of those normally so straight shoulders was enough to show how tired the man was. Jack knew better than to pass comment, it would do no good to put Ianto in a bad mood so he settled for kissing his cheek instead.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself." Ianto didn't look up from his paper until he finished reading the column he had started. Finally their eyes met and Jack shuddered at the look he was given. Ianto didn't look tired, he looked shattered.

"Rough night again?"

Ianto squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose as he nodded and failed to stifle a yawn.

"Yep. I'm going to have to ask Owen for some sleeping pills, but I hate taking them."

"Maybe you need a break, not a prescription. You haven't had a day off since.... well certainly since I've been back from my trip. That was months ago." Jack sipped at his coffee and gave a contented sigh.

"What would I do?"

Jack arched his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Ianto was frowning. "What would I do, if I had a break?"

Jack shrugged. "I don't know. Visit your relatives? I'm sure your sister would be pleased to see you."

Ianto appeared to slump further and Jack watched him with concern. "You're exhausted Ianto. You've been spending extra time trying to keep Owen sane, you've been running errands and looking after Tosh whilst she's been ill, and taking care of me and the Hub and Myfanwy..... Where does Ianto Jones fit in with all this?"

"Who?"

"Precisely!"

Ianto sighed. "I'm gonna get a shower." He really didn't want to have this conversation. He was stopped by Jack's hand clamping his arm.

"Sit down. You are not going in to work today and when Gwen is back from her honey moon you are taking a couple of weeks off. You need some Ianto time, a holiday."

Ianto rolled his eyes, impatiently.

"Don't!" Jack reprimanded. "I'm serious, you've allowed yourself to be overlooked again. I don't know how you manage it so successfully, or why you do it..... That's the old Ianto, the one who was hiding Lisa. Have you looked in a mirror lately?"

Ianto hadn't, he hated mirrors. Jack gently pulled on the arm still in his grasp and Ianto sat back down in his dining chair.

"Do I really look that bad?"

Jack nodded. "You look like......like someone has pulled out the plug, your skin is grey, you've lost weight and, you look lost." He wasn't one to over dramatise where his feelings were concerned but Jack had to admit to himself that he was very worried about the man sitting in front of him. "You've been restless for weeks, ever since we had we had those missing two days. I know you've had nightmares again, but you can't work yourself to death to make it better, we both know that does not help."

Ianto winced, suddenly feeling angry. "Is this my boss talking, or my lover?"

This time it was Jack's turn to roll his eyes. "Both, for reasons that you know all too well. Don't get defensive with me, I am trying here." Ianto could be extremely exasperating at times, especially when he was tired and cranky.

The younger man closed his eyes and sagged back into the chair. Jack reached across the table and gently grasped his fingers.

"Ianto?"

"I'm sorry. I just..... I'm t....."

"Tired, I know. Go back to bed, you see Owen tomorrow. Try to get some sleep and lay off the coffee. Rift permitting I'll drop by tonight with dinner."

Ianto looked at him. "Promise to call me if you need me to come in."

Jack shook his head. "You are in no fit state, Tosh is much better if I need anyone else I will call her. I'm ordering you to try and rest, now come on go back to bed."

Ianto didn't move.

"Come on Ianto, I'll tuck you in and read you a story." Jack added with a smile. Ianto felt his resolve melt under Jack's affectionate gaze.

"Ok."

"Good."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jack sat at his desk ploughing through the paperwork that had backlogged over the last couple of weeks. It had been so busy in the month leading up to Gwen's wedding and with Owen somewhat distracted a lot of things hadn't been done. Fortunately they were coping and Owen was finally getting his head round being in his undead state. Jack had kept a watchful eye on his medic and was pleased to see that Owen seemed to be coping. The doctor had even began experimenting on himself in order to learn more about the state that he was in. It was both morbid and relieving at the same time. They really had no idea how long Owen had, or how long he would remain in the condition that he was in. Jack was grateful that the rest of the team seemed to be coping as well. They all treated Owen as Owen, even though Jack had insisted on down scaling his field work, for his own safety. Owen was adjusting, they all were and Jack took a moment to reflect on how proud of them all he was. He was staring into space when Owen stepped into the office.

"Where's Tea Boy?"

Jack smiled. "I gave him the day off, he's catching up on some much needed rest."

Owen nodded. "About time, he looked like shit yesterday."

Jack couldn't argue with the observation. "He'll see you tomorrow."

"Good, I was going to suggest it. Tosh should be back in another couple days, I dropped by her place this morning, she's much better."

"Glad to hear it."

Owen plonked himself down in the chair. "Can I ask you something?"

Jack put his pen and smiled. "That depends on what it is."

The medic just sort of shrugged. "What's the deal with you and Ianto?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I'm concerned about him, he's been quiet lately. I know how much this thing between you two means to him, I was wondering if.... well if the two of you had had a fall out because you weren't exactly behaving like a man in a relationship at Gwen's wedding..... to put it politely."

Jack had to admit he wasn't expecting that. "I see. I'm really not sure it is any of your concern."

Owen chewed at his lip for a moment. "As his doctor his welfare is my concern. Personally I don't give a toss who you shag, but he obviously does. You and Gwen weren't exactly subtle and I know for a fact that Ianto practically had to hold Rhys back whilst you and his wife were eye fucking on the dance floor. I know your values are way different to ours, but you've been living in our time for long enough to know better."

Jack sighed and leant forward resting his elbows on his desk.

"It's not like that Owen. It's not about sex and love and relationships. Gwen is..... represents everything we fight for.... everything we protect. Ianto has had all of that stripped away from him. Gwen is like a little sister to me. I can't deny I am attracted to her, she's gorgeous, vivacious, but she's unavailable, always has been for a number of reasons." He paused for a moment gathering his thoughts. "Ianto and I haven't had a fight, if that's what you mean. He's just gone insomniac on me, keeps having nightmares. He's taking some leave when Gwen gets back, whether he likes it or not, the break will do him good."

"Have you told him this?" Owen was well aware how Ianto would react to having time off.

Jack smiled. "Yeah, kinda went down like a lead balloon, so back me up when he comes in tomorrow."

Owen nodded. "No problem boss, he'll be pleased, it'll get him out of having to look at honeymoon photos."

"Uhm, I didn't think of that, you'll have to pitch it to him. So how is everything?"

Owen took that as a 'this conversation is now closed'. "Fine, just one more autopsy to get through, should be just a formality for the weevil database really."

"Ok, well the predictor program hasn't flagged anything due to happen in the next 20 hours, so once I'm done here I'm going back to Ianto's to make sure he is fact getting some rest, I'll drop in on Tosh on the way back. You ok to take the alert tonight?"

"No problem. I can just carry on here, there's notes I need to transcribe, Ianto normally does it, but now I have more time.... well."

Jack understood. Owen needed things to do to whittle away the small hours of each day.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He looked down the street and waved enthusiastically at his friends as they departed through the school gates each going their separate ways. Slinging his little pink back pack over his shoulder he trotted happily down Cromwell Road, pigtails swinging. He didn't question the bag or the gender change, or the fact that he was 6. It was a lovely day and it was great to get out of school. Mam would be at home with all her leaflets and boxes all over the kitchen and David would no doubt be hogging the PS3 once again, but it didn't matter. He smiled, skipping along before turning into Kemp Avenue to take the short cut past the garages.

Suddenly he was lifted off his feet, a hand over his face and in terror he wriggled to free himself, kicking his legs, unable to scream he tried to bite, but couldn't get his mouth open. The bag fell away and stars exploded in his vision. Everything went black.

Ianto lurched upright with a frightened howl. He was shivering and cold with sweat. The phone was ringing at his bedside. Shaking the tail end of the nightmare from his head he picked up his mobile and answered the call. It was Rhiannon.

"Ianto? Is that you?"

He nodded, immediately alerted to the panic in her voice.

"Yes, Rhi, what is it?"

"It's Mica, someone's taken my baby Ianto, she's gone."