Chapter 2
Jack slammed the glass down on his desk, oblivious to the golden liquid spilling out over his hand, over his desk. Horror and realisation filled his mind. His heart beat rapidly, painfully in his chest. He stood abruptly, pulling away from his desk and reaching out to grab his coat before he sprinted out of his office, down the stairs and out of the hub door to the SUV. His brain was in overload as he realised with sickening clarity, that Ianto had always left him saying 'goodnight' and not 'goodbye'. Even when they had had an argument.
Before kicking the SUV into life again, Jack speed dialled Ianto's number and held on for a few moments, willing the Welshman to pick up his phone. He knew Ianto would not be sleeping, he would be wide awke, probably in tears. At least he hoped that's how Ianto would be. His own eyes began to fill when his phone just rang on and on until the answer machine clicked on.
Jack nearly had several accidents as he desperately raced through the streets of Cardiff, his panicked mind screaming a mantra over and over in his head… please no … no, no, no, no … please no! Slamming the brakes til the vehicle skidded to a halt, Jack launched himself out of the SUV outside Ianto's building and seeing the Out of Order sign on the lift, he cursed sulphurously. Then he raced up the stairs, oblivious to the startled grunts from hastily opened doors as his boots beat out a panicked rthymn, echoing through the stairwell.
Reaching Ianto's door, Jack fumbled in his pocket for the key he had, shoved it in the lock outside and ran through the flat, yelling his lover's name, fear dripping from his voice.
"Ianto! Ianto! Where are you? Answer me!"Jack's fingers flicked lights in his frenzied dash through Ianto's home and he stopped in a daze in the kitchen. The lounge, the bedroom, the kitchen – all empty! But Jack knew, he just knew that Ianto was here. The bathroom.
Jack shuddered when he tried to open the bathroom door and found it locked. From the inside. Panic overtaking him, he screamed out, "Ianto! Ianto! Open the door! Open this bloody door!"
There was no response. No stifled sobs. Nothing. Just a drip, drip, drip. Bracing himself, Jack stepped back quickly and threw himself at the door. Adrenalin gave him the strength needed to bring the door down nearly off it's hinges, and he pushed it aside as it tilted precariously inwards. Then Jack's hand reached around to turn the light on.
Before the fluorescent light showed his horrified eyes what his brain refused to acknowledge, Jack's nostrils caught the acrid smell of blood. He threw himself to his knees next to the bathtub which held Ianto's naked and blood-streaked body, oblivious to the slippery, red pool he was sliding in. The bathwater swirled with deepening streaks of red as one wrist dripped into the bath and the other hung limply over the bath dripping onto the floor.
"No, Ianto, no, no, no, no! Please, Ianto, NO!" Jack sobbed as he looked agonised on his lover's impossibly white body and closed eyes, despair streaked across his still features. Jack's trembling fingers lifted to his neck and he gasped when he felt a fluttering pulse.
Frantically Jack searched in the vanity, pulling out towels and flannels, bandages and antiseptic creams. His hands fumbled with the bandages forming two tourniquets around Ianto's arms, praying desperately it wasn't too late. Then he wrapped the other two bandages carefully around his cut wrists. Jack pulled his coat off laying it on a clear space on the floor and lifted Ianto out of the bathtub, laying him gently on his greatcoat, then wrapping it carefully around his cold, cold body.
He stood up, pulled his phone out and shaking fingers speed dialled Owen. His voice choked when he cried out at the bleary voice who answered, "Owen! I need you now! I'm at Ianto's. He's dying! Bring your gear … and have Tosh come with you! Please, please hurry!"
Jack hung up and collapsed to the floor, lifting Ianto's head and shoulders into his lap. Then he sobbed in agony, his heart guilt-ridden and torn, tears falling from his face onto Ianto's body. This is my fault. All my fault.
Leaning down to his lover's face, he whispered, "Please don't go! Please don't leave me Ianto! Please don't go!"