48 HOURS

It wasn't often that Ianto got bored.

In fact he could probably count on one hand how many times he had been bored in his entire life. Boredom just didn't figure in his world. Ianto was always busy, not always with tasks he enjoyed, but he could not recall a time when he had been at a loss for something to do or being uninterested in what he was doing.

Until now.

It was Owen's fault. Well Ianto liked to blame it on Owen anyway, because he needed someone to blame. In reality it was just down to sod's law and because Ianto happened to be Torchwood's only archivist. His predicament had proved one thing.

The lockdown mechanism worked very efficiently.

Ianto sighed unhappily and paced for the umpteenth time around the confines of the isolation room, which resembled a large, oblong goldfish tank. He'd been sealed in there for some hours now and he watched as the rest of the team finally removed their hazmat suits on the other side of the glass.

It had been one of those stupid things. Exploding artefacts? Well that had been his first. Not in the bomb sense of the word. An innocuous soft glob of what had shown up on Toshiko's scanners as completely lifeless and pointless and therefore harmless.

Oh yes, the 'H' word.

Ianto had taken the object, which felt like putty even through his handling gloves, and placed it in a plastic tray and carried it down to the lower levels for storage. Tray held carefully in both hands he made his way to his precious archive, shuddering at the change in temperature (because it was cold and damp in the tunnels) and the bloody thing had exploded with a massive puff of fine powder that covered Ianto from head to foot.

The lockdown happened in a chorus of shrill alarms and the sealing of the doors both in front and behind of him. In the same instant Ianto had dropped the tray in surprise and backed away from the object. Too late of course. He remembered thanking God he'd been wearing a paper surgeon's mask because he'd had a cold and was kind enough not to share his unwanted germs with his colleagues.

Right now he was annoyed as well as bored. He'd had to wait some hours before the team had rescued him from the sealed corridor and bundled him into the iso containment area. Gwen and Tosh had then been sent away to clean the mess up. Ianto had had to strip and endure a scrub down under hot and then freezing water and then UV lamps until his skin felt raw and tingly and his entire naked body was on view for all to see. Owen had then examined him, thoroughly and finally allowed him to dress in a set of cotton surgical scrubs before he was sealed into the holding area to wait out his decontamination period.

Ianto contemplated the bored factor of his predicament and wondered if that was somehow inappropriate. He should probably be worried. The others certainly looked worried on his behalf.

Jack shooed them all away and then stood on the outside with his hand against the glass and Ianto thought he looked thoroughly forlorn. He stepped forwards his hand meeting Jack's on the other side of the physical barrier between them.

"You okay?" Came softly over the speakers in his cell.

Ianto thought it was a rather daft question, but he smiled at Jack anyway because Jack looked like he needed him to.

"I won't need another shower for a week."

"We should have you out of there in a couple of days. I'm sorry, but we have to be sure."

"I know Jack and I don't mind, really. Well I do because it'll get in the way of my doing my job. I'm already behind on the mission log filing for this week."

It was nice to see Jack's sombre expression lift with an affectionate smile. "Only you would worry about that. I could do some of it for you?"

Ianto wondered at this moment how to avoid offending his boss, friend and lover all rolled into the delightful form of one Captain Jack Harkness.

"Please don't Jack. I have a system that works well and make sure no one touches the coffee machine, Starbucks is just round the corner."

Jack chuckled. "Now that's just mean, but don't worry I will guard that machine with my life. I don't want it damaged either." Jack paused for a moment. He hated this waiting whilst Owen ran his tests to make sure that Ianto was indeed safe.

"Is there anything I can get for you?"

Ianto stepped back from the glass and dropped his hand to his side. "Can I have a networked lap top? At least then I can deal with my emails and the digital logs for this week."

Jack sighed. "I was meaning something nice, like a drink or food."

"Uhmm, not hungry really but one of your cups of tea would be nice. You make good tea." Ianto sat down on the cot and picked at the sheets neatly folded beside him.

Reluctantly Jack moved away. "Okay, no problem. I'll be back down in a bit."

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"I've got the lap top."

Tosh's voice startled Ianto from his doze and he sat up on the cot, scattering the covers to the floor.

She was smiling through the glass and Ianto could only manage a long yawn in return. He wondered where Jack was and how long he'd been asleep. He noticed a cold mug of tea in the air lock chamber. He stood up and stretched.

"Thanks Tosh, what time is it?"

Toshiko slid the laptop through the exchange slot in the air lock. "It's almost mid night. Jack and Owen are heading back with a new weevil that was hit by a car. Owen's going to try and patch it up before they release it back into the sewer. Gwen's gone home for the night and I shall go home once Owen and Jack get back. I wanted you to have this before I left and to say good night." She also placed a plate of salad sandwiches and cake with a bottle of water on the tray.

"I made some supper for you. I hope it's alright."

Ianto nodded. "Thank you Tosh."

She hesitated at the glass. "Well, good night Ianto, I'll see you in the morning. Is there anything for breakfast you'd like me to bring in?"

Ianto came over to the glass and smiled gratefully at her. "A bacon and mushroom butty from Cathy's Café, she knows our usual breakfast order. That would be lovely."

He looked at her closely noticing the fine worry lines around her dark eyes. "I'll be alright Tosh, Owen is on the case and the first set of tests were fine. Go home and get some rest. The only thing that is going to do me in here is boredom." He said gently.

Toshiko nodded. "Okay, rest well."

"Good night Tosh."

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

It was ok for a couple of hours. He had about a dozen reports to proof and send to Jack's email for printing and signing off. It didn't take him long to do. After that he checked his emails both professional and personal (not many of the latter) and dealt with those.

Now he had nothing to do or at least nothing he could do from the confines of the iso lab. He set the lap top aside and stretched out on the cot and stared at the ceiling and the air filtration vent. His gaze went to his socked feet and he wriggled his toes and then stretched his feet down and back again. Ianto knew logically he should try and go back to sleep, but he had no way of lowering the light levels and did not want to disturb Jack and Owen who'd be working in the main area of the Hub. It was weird being surrounded by the soft whooshing of the air con and faint buzzing from the pumps the filtered the air. But there was no other sound unless he made it himself and he missed the bustle of his team mates moving and chattering around him. He wanted to get up and tidy up the Hub and make coffee. Ground himself in his monotonous routine. It wasn't until now did he realise how much he relied on the mundane tasks to keep him anchored and coping with the craziness of a Torchwood life. He flexed his fingers and toes, hyper aware of every nuance of his body. The slight persistent ache in his lower back, the tension in his left calf muscle and the unconscious sense of wrongness in his skin at the point on his throat where that cannibal had almost…. After all this time the ghost of that experience still made him feel like he'd somehow survived that day when he shouldn't have.

The silence was making him think too much.

Ianto lurched to his feet and began pacing the length and breadth of the room. His soft footfalls not enough to disturb the quiet.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"What is he doing?" Owen was watching his CCTV monitor with worry. Jack handed him a mug of tea and looked at the screen.

"He's pacing." He replied, unconcerned. "Ianto does that a lot at home too. When he has nothing to do and he can't sleep, he paces."

Owen frowned at Jack. "You know this how?"

"Tosh and I were monitoring him during his suspension, but I am pretty sure you've figured out by now that I regularly stay at Ianto's flat. I was kinda hoping it would encourage him to work fewer hours, but all he does is that instead." Jack explained.

Owen's gaze went back to the monitor. "He's still having the nightmares then?"

Jack nodded. "Most nights, but he does sleep better than he used to. Anyway I shall take him down some tea and keep him company for a bit. I take it nothing untoward has shown up on the iso sensors?"

"So far, so good. The analysis of the powder has also come up okay. We probably don't need to keep him down there, but we have to be sure Jack."

"I know. I shall pass on the good news though; hopefully he won't be quite so worried."

"Yeah, good idea."

TTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWWTWTWTW

"Hey, I brought you some tea and biscuits." Jack took the tray into the air lock.

Ianto swung round, startled out of his reverie. "Thanks Jack. Everything alright with that weevil?"

Jack shook his head. "It didn't make it, which is probably a mercy considering how bad it's injuries were."

"Any clean up required?"

"No, the driver of the car was so drunk he had no idea he'd even crashed his car, so we just put in an anonymous call to the police."

Ianto retrieved his tray. "Thanks for this."

"You're welcome. Owen completed his tests on the powder, looks like it is nothing to worry about. It's still running through Tosh's machine but I suspect that will come up negative too. All the bio sensors in here are coming up green. So are you feeling ok?" Jack grabbed himself a chair and sat down by the glass and Ianto joined him on the opposite side, his mug of tea in hand.

"I'm bored."

"Yeah, I saw you pacing. You were asleep earlier."

"I think I was just exhausted, being scrubbed down inside and out is pretty unpleasant."

Jack couldn't agree more, having to do it had been no fun either. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"Don't apologise Jack. It had to be done. It's not the first time I have had to go through it. I'd rather this than be responsible for some horrid plague sweeping through Cardiff."

"Yeah I know."

Ianto glanced over his shoulder and took in the room. "I might make some changes to the set up in here though, at least then I'd be able to make myself a hot drink without having to bother everyone else."

Jack smiled. "It's no bother, but you're right. We didn't think of that. Once you're out of there, set that up. I have no doubt we'll have to make use of this thing again at some point in the future."

Ianto turned and met Jack's look. "Can you do you me a favour?"

"Of course."

"I'm going to have a very hungry cat by the end of tomorrow, could you or Tosh drop by my house and feed him?"

Jack smiled. "I can do that. I'll bring over a set of clothes for you too, since we had to incinerate what you were wearing when…. Well powder puff happened."

A grin broke out on Ianto's face and Jack thought it made him look ten years younger.

"I thought naming things was my job?"

"Actually Owen came up with that one."

Ianto rolled his eyes in amusement. "I liked that suit."

"So did I. I shall have to find you a new one to replace it."

"You don't need to do that. My expenses account will cover it."

Jack shrugged and offered up a gentle smile. "I know, but I want to."

Ianto felt himself blush. "I'd like that." He took a sip of his tea and closed his eyes. "Uhmm that's good, thank you."

Jack just drank in the sight.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

The overhead lights were giving him a headache, why they hadn't thought to make them adjustable was beyond him. Ianto buried his head under the pillow and groaned as white pain shot through his temples. It took him a moment to register Owen's voice and when he moved the pillow a shadow loomed over him. Ianto jumped and let out a rather girly shriek.

"Oh shit!"

The suited bulk of the medic stepped. "It's me you twat! I need to run some tests."

Ianto closed his eyes and leant back against the steel wall. "Sorry, you startled me, is all."

"Yeah well, you look like shit, so I am running some more tests. How do you feel?"

Ianto held out his arm to Owen so he could attach a blood pressure cuff.

"I have a headache. It's probably the lights and the filtered air though." He replied, his other hand going to his forehead.

"Any nausea, dizziness?"

Ianto nodded. "Feel a bit sick, but then I normally do if I get a headache like this."

Owen finished his readings and then took a blood sample, which made Ianto's queasiness worse at the sight of the needle. Another needle was held up.

"I have Imigran here for the headache, seems to be one your normal migraines."

Ianto nodded.

"Show me your backside then."

Ianto obliged and winced the needle went in. Owen stepped back medical appliances in his gloved hands. He looked like some bulky monster in the Haz Mat suit. Ianto settled himself down and pulled the covers over himself.

"Jack's working on the lights."

As if on cue they dimmed considerably and Ianto sighed with relief. "Thanks."

"Get some rest mate."

Ianto fell into sleep.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"Owen, how is he?"

Owen glanced up to the gallery level of the autopsy bay to see three pairs of eyes staring down at him.

He huffed out a sigh. "He's fine. It is just a bad headache. His blood work, BP, Pulse and resps are all fine."

There were collective sighs of relief. Jack was the first to move. "Okay, back to work everyone. I'm going to Ianto's flat to feed his cat and bring in a change of clothes. Pizza for lunch ?"

There were nods all round. Jack left, going by his office to don his greatcoat and lamenting the fact that Ianto wasn't there to help him into it.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Tosh stood at the glass and was smiling at the sight of Ianto sprawled on his back, the blankets bunched around his waist and the sound of gentle snores filtered through the speakers. She had never seen him quite so relaxed and she wondered (quite correctly) if Owen had added a sedative to meds he had given the younger man.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Not only was Jupiter hungry, he was rather disappointed by the fact that it was Jack feeding him and not Ianto. Jupiter still managed an obligatory purr and rub of the booted ankles, but he tucked into his dinner the moment the plate touched the floor. After that Jack was ignored.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Ianto studied the little box in his hand and then smiled up at Tosh.

"It's a dimmer control for the lights." Tosh explained. "Just turn the knob."

"Thanks, it's a brilliant idea."

She was beaming at him. "Jack made it. We'll sort out something permanent when you come out of there."

Thankfully Ianto was looking much better, rested.

"Is there anything else I can get for you?"

Ianto shook his head. "Not unless you can you send me some work to do on the lap top."

"I can actually. It's pretty tedious stuff, just data analysis but…."

Ianto nodded eagerly. "No problem, send it down to me."

"Alright then."

Toshiko turned to leave and sighed to herself, wishing there was more she could do to help Ianto.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"Is the food alright?"

Ianto glanced up from his Chinese takeaway, he swallowed his mouthful.

"Heaven, Mr Choi's does the best special fried rice."

Jack smiled then continued to eat his fish and chips.

"You know you could be eating that in the comfort of the boardroom with the others." Ianto commented.

Jack shrugged. "Yeah but I thought you'd like some company."

They continued to eat for a while before Ianto spoke again. "Thanks for this."

Sometime later and they both put aside empty containers and wrappers and sat facing one another. Ianto had a bottle of water which he idly moved from one hand to the other.

Jack leaned forward his chair resting his elbows on his knees. "You know Ianto, have you ever thought about what you would have done after Canary Wharf if you didn't have Lisa to think about?"

Ianto arched an eyebrow, taken aback by the question. "No, not really. I dunno, I just assumed I'd always be with her and when I lost her, well there was just nothing. I think maybe I would have killed myself. I don't think I could have lived with the memories."

Jack nodded, saddened by the answer. "But you're here now, you survived and you are living with the memories."

Ianto shrugged. "I survived Jack because you gave me no choice but to. You wouldn't execute me or give me Retcon. You made me live with my guilt and shame and you helped me come to terms with it all, as best as one can do. If I'd not had that…. Well you understand." He wasn't sure he wanted to talk about it, but with Jack asking he would never refuse to talk, not now.

"We could've lost you yesterday." Jack whispered.

"Jack you could lose any one of us any day. That's Torchwood. I nearly got my brains blown out by that idiot Dale a few weeks ago. That last weevil we dealt with too."

Jack didn't want the reminder. "I could have lost you. I'm not ready for that." He added quietly.

Their eyes met through the glass and Ianto found himself holding his breath for a moment. "I'm not ready for it either Jack."

"You could leave, start a new life, no retcon. Be a father, have a job at the university or something…."

Ianto raised his hand to the glass. "Jack stop this and listen to me. I like my job a lot. I care a great deal about the people I work with. I'm good at what I do and I am needed right where I am. I choose this life."

Jack's hand met his. "But…"

Ianto brought his face closer to the glass. "I am the happiest I have ever been Jack. I feel like I am part of something special. You take that away from me and there is nothing and I'd rather not have the memories at all."

There was a gentle thud as Jack's forehead touched the window. He was relieved.

"I am glad to hear it."

"Good, now can we get onto talking about something more interesting please?" Ianto smiled at him encouragingly and then Jack's face lit up as he sat back in his chair.

"I have an idea." A naughty grin spread across his face.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Gwen didn't really know what to do with herself. She felt awkward around Ianto at the best of times, especially since the incident with the whale from space. She was also certain that Ianto had been very unhappy about Rhys being aware of Torchwood, but privately she thought it more to do with her own words spoken in desperation to the team as a whole. Ianto's life hadn't been cold and lonely until the Cybermen took it away from him. Her speech had hurt him and yet Ianto had been too polite and too loyal to Jack to make comment. Gwen was also aware of how much her presence in Jack's life impacted on his 'relationship' with Jack. She wasn't stupid, it was clear Ianto idolised the man and Gwen could understand that. Jack was magnificent, beautiful and sadly, not hers. Gwen shook her head as she made her way down to the vaults where the iso chamber was set up. She only had to ask Ianto about some files she needed and make sure he was okay. It would be fine. Perhaps a chance for her to talk to him and mend a fence or two. Gwen turned the corner and stepped through the door and stopped….

"Oh my God!"

"Jeez Gwen!"

She turned her back walked straight out again blushing furiously, but not before getting an eye full of Jack's naked arse. Gwen pulled the door to.

"Get your clothes on Jack; I want to talk to Ianto about these files you asked me to look at." She wondered why her boss was naked and then decided it was best not to think too much about it. At least Ianto was getting some entertainment.

"Okay come on in."

Gwen sighed. Jack was still pulling on his t shirt when she entered the chamber. There was a massive smile on his face. Ianto on the other side of the glass looked mid-way between mortified and trying not to laugh, his face flushed pink.

"Well at you two are enjoying yourselves, the rest of minions have been working." She said with a smile.

Jack gathered up his things. "We'll continue this later Mr Jones." He sauntered past Gwen and out of the room.

Gwen stood there for a moment, gaping like a fish.

"Er Gwen?" Ianto's voice brought her back to herself.

"Sorry I interrupted."

Ianto shrugged. "It's okay. Was there something I could help you with?" He asked quickly regaining his composure.

"Oh yes. Jack wanted me to get some files from the archive, but I thought I'd run it by you first." She stuck her hands into the pockets of her jeans.

"Is it urgent?"

Gwen shook her head. "Not really and to be honest I think he was just trying to annoy me. He's been in one of those moods today."

Ianto rolled his eyes knowing exactly what Gwen meant. "What were the files?"

Gwen had to think for a minute. "From 1967, a downed space craft near Luton and another….."

"1972, a similar incident in the Lake District?"

Gwen nodded. "Wow you really are walking library."

"It's my job to be Gwen. I'll talk to Jack and try to find out what it is he's trying to find out about….. that's a terrible sentence."

"I understood it, that's good enough for me."

Ianto scratched at his head. "So, how's things?"

Gwen took the chair and sat down and Ianto followed her move. "Things are good. It's easier you know, being able to talk to Rhys and not lie to him all the time."

"And he's okay about it all?"

Gwen wasn't sure. "Sometimes. He doesn't like me being in danger and he thinks Jack is far too handsome for his own good."

Ianto nodded. "I'm glad it's helping. I just worry about the risk to him. It's why I protested about the Retcon."

"Yeah, Jack grilled me about not giving too much away, but at least now I can share some of it. He won't tell Ianto, Rhys is a good bloke."

"I know he is, you're lucky to have him."

Gwen looked up and saw deep sadness in Ianto's eyes. "Yes I am. You know I am sorry about what I said the other week."

Ianto waved his hand as if to brush the apology aside. "Just make the most of what you have with Rhys. I know Torchwood makes things difficult, but he's the anchor to the real world that you have and the rest of us don't. He's the reminder of why we do what we do."

Gwen pushed her dark stray tresses away from her face and offered up a heartfelt grin. "Yes he is. Can I ask about you and Jack?"

Ianto shrugged. "You can ask."

"Right, sorry. Not my business."

"Leave the files Gwen. I shall get them for you tomorrow, Jack knows you lot are banned from the paper copies and that section of the archive hasn't been digitised yet."

Gwen took that as a polite dismissal and stood up. "Thanks Ianto."

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

The shower was heavenly. Hot water massaging sore muscles and Jacks fingers kneading at his flesh in small circles over his slick back, their game of 'quarantine strip' over. It was the most intimate thing they'd ever done together and Ianto relaxed into the fold of Jack's arms around him and sighed with content.