Owen raced over to Ianto ignoring Jack. Jack would heal regardless of whether Owen helped him, but Ianto needed attention.
Owen drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the injured man, but quickly fell into 'doctor' mode. He checked for a pulse and let out the breath he didn't realise he was holding when he found it strong and steady, Ianto was unconscious not dead.
He quickly assessed the young man's injuries and forced his shoulder back into its socket whilst Ianto was still out, saving him the additional trauma of being conscious for the procedure.
The only other obvious injury was indicated by the blood trickling down Ianto's legs. Owen realised Jack had assaulted the young man but he would not examine these injuries whilst Ianto was unconscious. He tucked a blanket around Ianto and turned to his next priority, finding Toshiko.
He switched on the internal comms and shouted.
'Tosh where are you?'
'Owen? Ianto locked me in the vaults, let me out. Is he alright? Is Jack alright?' Toshiko asked breathlessly.
Owen unlocked the vault and answered,
'come up and see'.
He walked over and stood above Ianto, then sat on the floor next to him,
'thank you' he whispered to the unconscious man, relieved beyond words that Toshiko was safe, and impressed beyond measure that Ianto had saved her at the expense of himself.
Toshiko was by his side moments later, she knelt next to Ianto.
'What happened? Owen is he ok?' she asked with tears in her eyes.
'He's alive' answered Owen 'he saved you Tosh.'
'What do you mean saved me? He locked me in the vaults, I would have been fine' replied Toshiko still indignant about being imprisoned.
'You would not have been fine Tosh, look what he did to Ianto, he ripped his shoulder out of its socket and...and other stuff' stammered Owen.
'Oh' said Toshiko 'what do you mean other stuff?' and she looked at Ianto again concerned.
'He's bleeding Tosh..all down his legs..Jack must have assaulted him' Owen gulped his emotions down.
Toshiko looked at Owen in disbelief, she lifted the blanket slightly and looked at Ianto's legs, tears beginning to roll down her face.
'Jack wouldn't do that. Not to Ianto' she sobbed still trying to deny the evidence.
Ianto was beginning to stir now and was groaning in pain. Owen leant over him.
'Ianto it's ok. Try to stay still, until I can strap your shoulder.'
'Jack?' asked Ianto.
'He'll be ok. When he starts to revive I'll drug him. It'll all be over by tomorrow' said Owen, knowing that this time it would not really be over until Ianto was recovered.
'Did he hurt Tosh?' asked Ianto.
'No..you saved me Ianto..thank you..but you should have let me help' answered Toshiko.
'Owen insisted I keep you safe' smiled Ianto and Toshiko looked at Owen with gratitiude.
Owen placed a sling around Ianto's arm and shoulder to give it support as it healed. He showed Ianto a syringe,
'painkiller?' he asked and Ianto nodded.
Ianto waited a couple of minutes after the drug had been administered then began to look around for his clothes. Toshiko gathered them up for him and he smiled at her.
'Ianto...before you dress...Jack hurt you..I should examine you' Owen said tentatively.
'No!' insisted Ianto 'I'll be fine'
'Ianto'
'No Owen!' Ianto was beginning to panic.
'Ok ok' Owen backed off quickly.
'I want to get dressed' announced Ianto.
'Let me help' said Owen.
'No! Please Owen, it's embarrassing...Tosh would you help?' begged Ianto.
Toshiko just nodded. Owen was amazed that Ianto would allow Toshiko to perform such an intimate task for him, maybe he just didn't want another man near him.
'I'll see to Jack' he said.
Half an hour later Toshiko and Ianto had left the hub for Owen's flat. Owen had insisted Ianto not go home if he refused to be examined and Ianto had asked Toshiko to stay with him.
Jack gasped and drew air into his lungs, Owen had him strapped down on the autopsy table in case he was still suffering the 'darkness' and the ampoule of sedative was ready in his hand. Jack struggled to get up.
'Jack?' questioned Owen.
'Owen..what the fuck is this...what's happened' asked Jack.
'You ok?' asked Owen, Jack appeared normal but he would ask a few questions to be sure.
'Of course I'm ok, what happened? Did I die? And why the hell am I tied down?' Jack was confused and exasperated, but he was definitely Jack. Owen released him.
'Jack...the 'darkness' took you..do you remember?' asked Owen.
Memory began to pass across Jack's face,
'Oh my God Ianto. Where is he? Is he ok?'
'You hurt him Jack' said Owen sadly.
Memory flooded into Jack, he leant forward and sobbed into his arms.
'Where is he now?' he asked.
'At my place with Tosh, I'm going there now...we'll look after him...bring him in tomorrow' said Owen.
Jack just nodded and as Owen left the hub he collapsed sobbing to the floor.
XXXXXX
When Owen reached his home he was surprised to find Toshiko and Ianto were not in his lounge or kitchen. He trotted to the bedroom and found them both in bed asleep, Toshiko wrapped in Ianto's arms.
Owen went and sat in his lounge with a bottle of beer and tried to work out what was happening. Toshiko and Ianto were obviously a lot closer than anyone realised. First it was her he wanted to help him dress, and now this.
He was still on the sofa brooding when Ianto joined him an hour later. He sat next to Owen on the sofa and said,
'thank you' and indicated his shoulder.
Owen shrugged.
'So.....you and Tosh?' he questioned not liking the spark of jealousy he felt.
'We're friends Owen..nothing more' explained Ianto.
Owen raised an eyebrow at him.
'We spend a lot of time together...not so much now..with Jack..and we often sleep together' said Ianto.
'Just sleep?' questioned Owen.
'Just sleep' agreed Ianto.
Owen nodded slightly.
'Well I wouldn't blame either of you...she's gorgeous and so are you' admitted Owen.
Ianto looked at him in amazement,
'me?' he asked.
'Don't be naive Ianto, when you joined Torchwood I fantasised about you for weeks' admitted Owen.
Ianto looked at him and laughed, momentarily forgetting all his pain.
'Don't get smug teaboy, I got over it' said Owen frowning at him trying to hide his own laughter.
'Well you never said anything' Ianto smiled.
'Yeah, I knew you were straight' said Owen.
Ianto quirked an eyebrow,
'oh come on..Jack was your first don't deny it...I knew it would take a better man than me to make you want to try it' he smiled.
'He had the patience to tease you into it...I just wanted to shag your brains out' he continued laughing.
'I didn't realise you liked men' said Ianto smiling back at him.
'I don't ...not often..but occasionally a sexy bloke in a suit appears, making your cock twitch every time he calls the boss SIR.'
Ianto and Owen looked at each other and laughed uproariously, the horrors of the night forgotten in a moment of friendship and laughter.
Ianto became serious for a moment.
'Owen...have you and Jack ever...?' he asked.
'No...I like to be dominant...he would have fought me for control...I don't think either of us thought the result would be worth the effort,' he shrugged, 'you're different.'
'I'm not a girl Owen' insisted Ianto affronted 'Jack might be the boss at work, but he's not always in charge at home...not always' he repeated.
Owen looked at him sympathetically.
'I know..I see that...but what he would have fought to keep me from having, he gives to you willingly...he loves you Ianto.'
'It didn't feel like love last night' gulped Ianto.
'No...I don't imagine it did' said Owen softly.
He put his arms around Ianto as the younger man broke down and wept, stroking his hair and planting a small kiss on the top of his head, feeling the tears prick behind his own eyes.
Toshiko arrived downstairs in time to witness Ianto just recovering and Owen gestured to her and gave up his place holding Ianto for Toshiko to take over. He went to fix them all a drink.
When they all had coffee Ianto asked Owen to tell them about Jack's condition.
'I don't know much, only what I told you on the phone. I've only seen it once before and then Jack knew it was coming and asked me to sedate him...he calls it the darkness because all he feels when it takes over are dark emotions, hate, pain, anger' he stumbled '...lust.... It's not him Ianto...Jack's not like that...you know that more than anyone.'
Ianto nodded trying to assimilate this new information about his lover. He didn't know how he was going to cope with seeing Jack in the morning, but he was already beginning to wonder if he was ok on his own at the hub.
'Stop worrying about him Ianto' said Owen.
'How did...?' asked Ianto.
'You're biting your lip, twiddling your thumbs and frowning' laughed Toshiko 'you always do those things when you are worrying.'
'Do I?' asked Ianto, pleased at how well his friends knew him and at their obvious concern.
'Yes' they answered together.
'You going to be alright tomorrow?....you don't have to go in you know.' said Owen.
'I know' said Ianto 'I have to see him...I have to know the real Jack is back...I want Jack' and Ianto broke down again, but briefly this time.
'Do you want to go back to bed Ianto' asked Toshiko gently.
'Yes please Tosh' said Ianto 'Owen..come with us.'
'That is REALLY kinky teaboy' laughed Owen.
Ianto smiled at him, starting to feel happier in the comfort of his friends.
'Well it is your house...the sofa is not too comfy...and I think I'd like to feel safe between you both...and yes I am a bit kinky..it sounds interesting' he laughed.
It was a strange scenario, the three teammates in bed, but Ianto was right it did make him feel safe, and it was no stranger than everything else in his life right now.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Next chapter – what happens the next morning. How do they all cope with seeing Jack.