4

A wolf spider.

The antiserum was administered as Ianto sat in a white gown almost as pale as he was, the blanket Jack pulled over his legs doing nothing for the shaking. Dylan was scared now, wanting to cling to Ianto which made it difficult for the medical staff but each time they tried to separate them both would become panicked.

Finally Ianto started to respond to the treatment and his breathing evened out, Jack clinging to both of them with horror at how easily he had almost lost him.

A spider.

A bloody wolf.

A bad one too.

"I love you Ianto" Jack whispered and Ianto sighed softly as he leaned against him and accepted the words that could either heal or tear apart, whispering them back.

Jack drove them home and settled Ianto in their bed, Dylan allowed as well with Jack knowing the poor kid wouldn't sleep otherwise and he rang Andy who was now a close friend and Andy asked if he could come over in the morning to spend some time with Dylan to give Ianto some quiet time. Jack knew Andy was right, Dylan would not want to let Ianto out of his sight after this scare and school would have to be contacted to tell them Dylan would be away.

Poor kid.

Jack thought back to the emergency room, the frantic way Dylan was clinging to Ianto and then he thought of his own hands clutching at Ianto's and he knew that if he had lost him something in him would have been broken beyond repair.

"Dyls, I am going to the shops for some food and stuff so we can have a movie night, just us" Jack said as he watched Ianto pulling the covers over the child more, the love raw.

"Can I stay?"

"Of course you can love, I want to be in there too, but we need some food and stuff for a movie night" Jack smiled "I can't wait for a snugglefest, any movie choice?"

"Can if have a dog in it?"

Jack laughed softly as he slid from the room, the boy definitely a dog lover even as a kitten scuttled along the hallway chasing a little ball with a bell inside it.

Jack returned with some pizza, fizzy drink and chocolate. He was pleased when Ianto didn't even roll his eyes, instead asking for a piece of chocolate first. Jack slid into the bed and they were soon enjoying the classic Milo and Otis as Dylan screamed with mirth between them, the scare forgotten.

Long after the two loves of Jack's life were asleep he lay thinking and knew he had to make some changes, step up. The next morning he was up early and preparing, it was Valentine's Day ya know and he wanted to make it special.

Ianto came out to find the table set for breakfast, Dylan helping place the plates down so with a soft smile he settled in his chair, then saw an envelope under his plate. He glanced at Jack and felt a blush as he slid his own card under Jack's and then they settled to eat.

Ianto kept glancing at the envelope and then when they had finished eating he slid it out and eagerly opened it, his heart stalling out as he recognised the picture visible under the flap.

"Oh my" he said, trying to look excited even as he felt his heart sink and he slid the card out, opening it to Dylan's scrawled message of love.

Jack then noticed his and stared at it, "What's this?"

He slid it out and looked at it long and hard as Ianto sat trying to remain calm. Dylan was looking between them and then he frowned, "Ianto? You didn't get me one? You said that one back means love."

"Yes I did" Ianto rose, "It is one I have in another room, wait there love."

Ianto walked woodenly to the other room and opened the door to the laundry, glad the old man had remembered and placed the little fluff in there. Ianto walked back in and placed the puppy into Dylan's shocked embrace, "Happy Valentine's Day."

Jack watched his son gush over the little puppy they had been keeping in the Gardener's Cottage for the last few days and he grinned as he leaned over the table, "He's lovely. What are you going to call him love?"

"Valentine" Dylan squealed, "Val for short!"

Jack settled back and grinned, "Excellent choice."

Dylan was still smiling as his eyes slid to the card by Jack's plate and his smile started to fade as he looked at Ianto and the single card from him.

"Dad? You didn't get a Valentine for Ianto?"

Ianto took a breath to tell the boy it didn't matter but Jack answered first, "Yes I did. Andy is coming over to babysit you this afternoon and I am taking Ianto for a special picnic where I will give him his Valentine's gift."

Ianto let the breath out with a whoosh.

Oh wow.

He hadn't expected that.