A/N: I'm ba-ack! Thank you for all the favourites, alerts and reviews I've been getting while I've been gone.
This is for Harkpad for being there during the stress and panic. You make me smile and I am so, so grateful :)
He Said It With Actions:
He couldn't say it with words. Instead he said it with actions.
*
Unexpected coffee with just a hint of vanilla, delivered with a gentle kiss to the top of Jack's head as he sighed and rubbed his eyes when the tiny print of the reports danced before his eyes.
*
A simple hug at the end of the day, arms slipping around the captain's waist as he shut down the computers for the night, only allowing himself to relax a little when he felt Ianto's cheek pressed between his shoulder blades.
*
Acceptance.
He knew there were some nights Jack wouldn't be coming home with him, and wouldn't be staying at the hub. He accepted that. It made the times (more often than not, now) that Jack did come home to him all the more special, because Ianto knew that Jack was doing it because he wanted to be with him, not because he had to. He knew the others pitied him, but he went about his day with a smile. He pitied them. They didn't understand.
*
A bullet.
Jack insisted that he would come back. "Always."
Ianto wasn't so sure. He'd never been a risk taker. He'd rather not test how long the immortality would last.
A bullet to halt the raging weevil.
*
Clean up.
No one liked doing it. So no one did. The responsibility always fell to Jack. Ianto took on the job, so the captain didn't have to. He saw the way he looked at the broken body of the young woman. He saw the guilt clawing its way out.
A few ruined suits, the burning of his rubbed raw hands, the incessant feel of blood - it was all worth it when he saw the momentary peace shining from Jack.
Until the storm clouds covered the light once again.
*
The car keys swaying from one finger and his coat folded over one arm. He knew when Jack needed to run. He never stopped him.
He knew (hoped?) (trusted?) he'd come back when he was ready.
*
A squeeze of his hand.
*
Fingers twining.
: Under the table as the team was presented with another threat, another death, another problem to solve.
: As they walked back from dinner, smiling shyly, neither speaking. The silence was enough. It was comforting and didn't hold its usual terror, not when they were together. They could fight it, conquer it. Together.
*
"I love you -"
"Don't"
It didn't need to be said. It never needed to be said. Jack knew. He'd said it with his actions. Every day.