Coffee Shop Chronicles

Chapter: 7

Pairing: Jack/Ianto

Chapter Summary: Ianto and Jack work through Ianto's grief on the anniversary of Ianto's parents death.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the ideas in my head, the words on my page and the love of Torchwood that is shared by people all over the world

Author's Note: I'm sorry this took so long Derek ran away again. . . I really nust get him a lead. Anyway read and enjoy

Sci-fi

"Hey Jack" Jack looked up from his bagel.

"Yeah?" Ianto avoided Jack's inquisitive gaze as he scratched the back of his head wondering how to phrase his question

"I … need to go and see them" Blue met blue churning with emotion

"Sure. Anything you need. Shall I drive?" Ianto's shoulders sagged with relief.

"Please, I don't think I could drive today." Jack nodded and without another word the pair left the café.

=In Jack's car a while later=

The raindrops slowly making their way back to earth, defying gravity even for a short period of time captivated Ianto. He didn't feel the air blowing on his arms, he didn't see Jack's nervous glances between him and the road, all he saw were the blurring greys and greens of the outside world.

As the car slowed he was jolted back to reality.

"I'll go and get them to open the gates"
"Ok sure. Do you want me to come?"
"No its fine."

The rain had slowed to a misty drizzle and was barely noticed by the mourning teen.

The black marble columns of the front office of the cemetery welcomed Ianto in. A bell jangled as the door swung open. A quick glance around his setting let Ianto know that nothing had changed since his visit last year.

"Hello, love. Can I help you?" Ianto turned to face the small motherly looking receptionist

"Yeah Ianto Jones to see Mary and Jason Jones" She walked over to a computer and taped a few keys.

"If you drive on through I'll open the gates"
"Thanks"
"You go on through when you're ready, dear" Ianto nodded his thanks and walked back out to the car. Jack looked at him with obvious concern as Ianto slid into his seat.

"We can go on through" Jack winced at the dead hollow sound of his boyfriend's voice

"Ok" He started up the car and pulled smoothly through the wrought iron gates.

They drove along the small winding road. After a few minutes in heavy silence Ianto pointed to the start of a row of graves.

"Just pull in here" Jack stopped the car and half turned to face Ianto. Ianto's eyes looked as dead and hollow as his voice. They showed Jack a world of pain that he had never known to exist in Ianto, the person who had helped him through so many things from the loss of his favourite goldfish to partying all night long with Tosh and the gang, another world Jack hadn't known existed until he met Ianto.

"I'll be back in a while" A blast of cold air hit the flesh on Jacks arm raising goose bumps.

"Do you want me to come?"
"No I'll be fine" Ianto slid out of the seat and shut the door with a 'bang' Jack watched in hopeless desperation as Ianto's form faded into the mist the surrounded the car.

He walked past gravestone after gravestone searching for the pair that had and still did mean the security everyone didn't know they needed until it was gone, the warmth of a mothers love, the feeling of a fathers pride, the sense of belonging only a family could bring.

The familiar pure white marble gravestones rose up like a pair of teeth from the well tended grass. A small bunch of red, yellow and purple tulips sat in the flower holders at the bottom of the graves.

"Hi Mam, Tad I've missed you" A small smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.

"Tosh I don't know what to do. He seems so dead and hollow, like he's missing part of himself. What do I do to fix him? I'm so lost I've never felt so helpless"
"It's ok, Jack he goes through this every year. Just be there for him. Hug him, let him know he's loved"
"But I love him more than anything and he knows that"
"I know that he does but he always feels lonely after he sees them so just really let him know he has someone to turn to"
"Ok I will, thanks, Tosh"
"No probs, Jack"
"See you tomorrow I guess"
"Yep yep see you"

Tears rolled unchecked down his face. Adding to the water already wrapping around him, soaking him to the bone.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around much its just… so hard. I've tried I really have but I get half way here and I can't make myself come" He took a deep breath trying to settle his racing heart, the ragged breathing that was sounding more and more like sobs

"You remember Jack? Things are going so well. He's basically living with me now. You would have loved him, you really would. His Mam sends us cooking sometimes when she makes cookies or slices or anything else she makes" The ragged gasps finally turned to sobs and he fell to his knees. His arms wrapped around his body trying to stop the pain in his heart ripping him in two.

He was getting nervous. Ianto had been gone for almost half an hour and the rain was getting heavier. The heater was starting to falter and the radio didn't hold his interest so he switched to the CD player. It was the CD Ianto had given him for Christmas last year. The slow mournful rhythm of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus began to fill the car.

When I see your smile

Tears roll down my face

I can't replace

He knew what he had to do.

As his sobs subsided he realised that he was soaked through. He hauled himself off the sodden grass and gently touched each of the stones pretending for a moment that he could feel the warmth of his parents hands in his.

"I'll always miss you."

He turned and walked back towards the car, but he wasn't moving fast enough to escape the feelings rushing up behind him. He moved faster and faster until he was in a full out sprint. He passed a startled body but pushed faster still. Cries of his name were falling behind him.

He headed out into the mist to find Ianto. The squelching of his steps echoed in the fog. He shuddered to think what could be out there. As he neared the place where Ianto's parents were buried hurried footsteps started coming towards him.

"Ianto? Is that you?"
A blur streaked past him and he turned immediately to follow it.

"Ianto! Ianto come back" The figure didn't slow. Soon he was left alone sprinting after his distraught boyfriend.

As he reached the grove of trees that lay to the north of the cemetery Ianto slowed to a stop. His breath filled the copse of trees and filled it up but made it seem as if Ianto was the only one in the whole world at the same time.

"Ianto!" He whirled around to face the other person.

"Jack" Jack put his hands on his hips trying to stretch out the stitch in his side as he paced around the space in the trees. Ianto watched impassively as Jack walked over and stood less than a foot away from his chest. They stared into each others eyes trying to find the answers that were buried there. With a strangled cry Ianto fell into Jack's waiting arms.

"It'll be ok. It'll be ok" was whispered like a mantra into Ianto's ear as Jack tried to calm him.

Finally Ianto's eyes ran dry and he pulled back from Jack's embrace. They walked hand in hand back to the car and began the long ride home.

When they arrived at the flat They walked through the empty lobby and into the lift. As the lift itself ascended Ianto leant on Jack looking for warmth and the love he needed. He stood as Jack unlocked the door and pulled him inside. He watched Jack run a bath and let the warm water flow over his body and wash the sadness from his body as Jack held his hand over the top of the bath. He let Jack dry him and help him into a clean pair of boxers. Together they lay holding each other and looking into each others eyes finding g only love and support.

"I love you"

"I know"