3. You'll Never Walk Alone.
Jack slowly walked Ianto out of the hovel and into the sun. Jack silently thanked the Gods for a weather as Ianto sighed and turned his face up to the sky like the warmth was kissing his skin.
"OK, sweets?" Jack asked, sliding an arm around his shoulders.
Ianto looked at him while biting his bottom lip, then he nodded. Once.
Jack walked with him to the SUV, opening the front passenger door. Spike opened his mouth to object and Jack pounced. "Yan always sits up front with me! Always has, always will!"
Ianto had hesitated and now he turned to look at Spike. Then he turned back and smiled softly at Jack before climbing into the front seat, pulling the coat around him like a security blanket. Spike snorted and then climbed in behind him as the rest of the team chose their seats.
Unable to do much else, Jack kept up a one sided conversation with Ianto as he explained the new hub, the upgraded SUV and his small home he had finally moved into so Anwen could feel more in charge. Although Ianto never answered he did grunt occasionally as though he understood.
Jack dropped off the team who were all staring at Jack like he had lost his mind before he headed for home.
Gwen had come to the side of the SUV and looked in through the front window at the young man who was drifting in and out of sleep. She was astounded to see that he hadn't aged a day since she last saw him.
"How?" she demanded of Jack who shrugged hopelessly.
"I don't know. He just is. I don't care, OK? Colour me selfish. I didn't do this to him, not like Rex. I have no idea and I don't bloody care!" Jack had snarled before slamming the door on her and roaring out of the compound.
Getting Ianto out of the SUV was easier than he thought as Ianto made a break for the front door. He beat Jack to it and was frantically trying to open the door with soft whimpers. Jack reached out and unlocked the door with a swipe of the card hanging on his keys. He noted how Ianto's eyes followed the card and he removed it from the keys, handing it to Ianto as he reminded himself to replace it was the spare in the desk. Ianto stood holding the card with a look of pure disbelief.
"Come on sweets. Let's go in" Jack urged and Ianto raced into the house.
Ianto began to run from room to room so fast Jack knew he wouldn't be able to even register which room was which. Finally Jack called out softly and Ianto crept into the room, still clutching the card.
"OK? Hungry Sweets?" Jack asked and Ianto nodded.
As Jack went to leave the room Ianto hurried over and grabbed at his sleeve. "Want to walk with me Yan?"
"Never walk alone" Ianto warned him seriously and Jack's heart clenched at the lyrics to one of Ianto's favourite songs to sing in the shower.
"That's right Hon, You'll never have to walk alone again" Jack promised.