AN: Thank you for your wonderful reviews. I am really excited about this story… and I hope I can do it justice. Please keep reviewing – they make me smile, and they make me write.

It was a cool evening in Cardiff when Jack stepped out of the Tourist Information Office and locked the door securely behind him – he'd use the invisible lift when he got back. Pulling his coat around him he walked over to the railings at the edge of the Plass and leaned on them looking out to sea. Two weeks had passed since Ianto had been suspended, and Jack, and the rest of his team no doubt, were missing the young Welshman. Even Owen. Jack didn't regret his decision to suspend him, after what he had done, after the betrayal and the danger he had brought to the Hub it was the only thing he could do. He just wished he hadn't had to do it. Jack missed Ianto terribly, and that was why he'd decided to break his own imposed contact ban, and go to see him. If any of the others found out, he'd spout some story about rehabilitation, how he was the boss and the rules didn't apply to him. He'd think of something. Pushing back off the railings, Jack turned his back on the sea and set off down the familiar route to Ianto's flat. He hadn't warned Ianto that he'd be coming around, but he knew he would be in. Jack had walked past Ianto's flat every night of his suspension at this time, each time almost braving going inside, but every time glancing up at the window, seeing the light was on, and walking past. The light gave Jack hope that Ianto was there, that he was alive, that he might even be alright. As he turned onto the road where Ianto lived he saw the light on in the window. He never saw movement, never saw life, but the light was always on, so Jack assumed he was in. Walking inside and climbing the stairs, Jack thought back to the visit he'd paid exactly two weeks before when he had suspended the younger man. This visit, he hoped, would be a little nicer.

TW

Ianto was sat on his sofa watching a movie. Over the past fortnight he'd worked his way through half his DVD collection, watched movies he hadn't seen in years, finally watched movies he'd bought but never got around to watching, never finding the time. Time was something he had in buckets at the moment. The flat was immaculate, a mass clean, tidy and de-clutter filling most of the first couple of days. Everything had been deep cleaned – the cooker, the coffee machine, the fridge, everything pulled out of the kitchen, the room blitzed and everything replaced. He'd gone through his bedroom, throwing out every trace of Lisa he could find, every photo, every item of clothing she ever bought him, everything of hers he'd hoarded, and it had become a very cathartic process. Full of laughter, full of tears. He'd swept through the lounge like a demon - vacuuming, polishing, dusting, and cleaning. Odd jobs he'd always put off till he had five minutes were finally completed. Jobs he didn't even realise needed doing were also taken on and finished. The flat was sparkling and clean, like a fresh start, a new beginning. But by the end of the third day, he'd run out of things to do. He'd nipped to the corner shop to stock up on milk, coffee, bread, some vegetables, a bit of fruit, and a few personal items. He hadn't really felt hungry; his stomach hadn't felt right since the incident in the cellar, so he noticed he'd lost a little weight in the past fortnight, but nothing he couldn't handle. So he'd started watching DVD's. Sat all day on the sofa, eating rarely, drinking coffee after coffee watching DVD's. Speaking to no one… seeing no one. Every morning he would look out at the Millennium Centre to check it was still there, to check the Hub was still there, hoping to spot one of them crossing the Plass. At this distance the only person he'd ever be able to recognise was Jack with his long coat flowing out behind him, but maybe that was the only person Ianto wanted to see, but he never did. He had just finished watching a movie and was rising out of his seat, pressing the button on the remote to turn of the TV and about to head into the kitchen to make a fresh coffee, when he heard a knocking at his front door. Placing the remote onto the side table Ianto walked slowly into the hall. It was a little after 9pm and rather late for visitors, especially to a flat that had seen no visitors for almost two weeks. Unlocking the door and pulling it open, Ianto's jaw dropped a little in shock when he found Jack stood on the other side.

"H…hey." He stuttered, surprised and a little nervous to find Jack outside.

"Hello Ianto… can I come in?" Jack asked.

Ianto nodded, stepping aside and allowing Jack in. "Coffee?" He asked.

Jack nodded. "Thanks… I have missed your coffee… Starbucks can't compete." He said, trying to sound light-hearted but sincere.

Ianto smiled gently as he wandered into the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later with two steaming mugs of coffee, finding Jack browsing his, recently alphabetised, DVD collection.

"Thanks." The older man said taking the mug from Ianto.

"As you can see I have spent my time productively." The Welshman quipped as Jack returned to scanning his movie collection.

Jack smiled. "Whatever keeps you're happy." He said before sitting down on the sofa. Ianto sat down too at the other end and took a sip from his mug before setting it down on the table.

"How are you doing Ianto?" Jack asked.

"Other than working on my OCD issues?" Ianto remarked trying to deflect the seriousness of the question and the obvious discussion that was approaching. "I'm doing okay sir. Good days and bad. I regret what I did… mostly. I certainly regret how I went about it. Above all I'm sorry… for what I did… to the Hub… to the others… to you." He bowed his head.

"I wanted to make sure you were feeling better… make sure that you were planning on coming back to us… that you hadn't decided to walk away." Jack explained.

"I miss my job. I miss the Hub… I miss Gwen's overbearing concern… I miss Toshiko and her quietness… god I even miss Owen throwing things at me to get my attention rather than just asking… I miss you sir. I'm going slightly more out of my mind than I already was when you suspended me… rightly so by the way. But I wouldn't walk away from Torchwood… I have a lot of making up to do." Ianto replied.

"You look like you haven't eaten in days… when did you last sleep?" Jack asked concerned.

"I don't really sleep well… not doing anything to warrant rest during the day… and when I do fall asleep… well…" Ianto faltered.

"Nightmares?" Jack offered.

Ianto nodded. "I keep seeing her… led on the floor… covered in blood… hear her… saying we're not compatible… breaking my heart… and I wake… screaming… so afraid… so angry… so alone." He broke down.

"You are not alone." Jack said, pulling the young man towards him into a comforting embrace.

"I am sir. But that's okay… I deserve to be." Ianto said pulling out of his hold, wiping his eyes.

"You need to eat… you're wasting away. You wont be much good to me if you don't keep your strength up." Jack said smiling, changing the subject.

"I haven't anything in… I haven't been out in ages." Ianto said softly.

"Got any beer?" Jack asked. Ianto nodded. "I'll call for take-out… you grab a couple of beers." Jack said grabbing his mobile from his pocket.

"You don't need to babysit me sir." Ianto pointed out.

"I know." Jack said simply. "And please Ianto, stop calling me sir. You don't need to. And anyway, we're off duty." He said. Ianto nodded, getting up and going into the kitchen as he heard Jack dial the local Indian restaurant and ordering a small mountain of food. He smiled properly for the first time in so long as he opened the fridge door and pulled out a couple of bottles. Closing it he took a bottle opener from the drawer and headed back into the lounge. Jack was back at the DVD's, his finger trailing down the edges of the boxes as he read each title.

"It'll be half an hour." He said with a smile of thanks as he was handed an open beer bottle.

Ianto nodded. "Thanks Jack. For… for not retconning me. You probably should have. I appreciate you giving me a second chance. I won't let you down again." He said sincerely.

Jack smiled. "Let's forget about work for a while yeah? Let's just chill out… watch a movie… talk?" He said.

Ianto nodded. "I'd like that." He said smiling once more.