Cor turned on the tap and, once he decided that the flannel was wet enough, he handed it over to Adrian.
"Thanks, love," Adrian said, and he walked up to where Jack was. The former time-agent was busy rubbing the unconscious Ianto's hand, as if that would somehow revive him. Still, Adrian supposed that it was better than nothing. "Here."
Jack nodded and he caressed the pale face with the cloth. The wet sensation seemed to have some effect, for the eyelids fluttered gently.
"Ianto?" Jack whispered. "Ianto, can you hear me?"
Ianto's eyes finally opened, and they almost instantly locked with Jack's, now free from the coloured contact lenses.
"Jack…" Ianto's wonder and confusion changed to indignation, however, and the man instantly sat up in spite of his condition. "What kind of sick joke is this?"
"It's no joke, Ianto," Jack said softly. "I am real. I am here."
"No… You died two years ago, when the 456 came. I buried you."
"It wasn't me," Jack replied, trying to keep his tone calm and collected. "That man is truly dead and gone, but I'm here, and I came for you." He reached for Ianto's hand, but the younger man pulled back as if he was dealing with a snake.
"Don't touch me!"
"I'm sorry. But I wanted to show you that I'm real. I'm not a ghost."
"I don't know who or what you are!"
"Mr. Jones, please, listen to what he has to say," Adrian said.
"Why should I?" Ianto demanded. "So you can laugh further at my expense?"
"So you can decide if he's telling you the truth or not," the blond man replied. "After that, it will be your move."
Ianto shook his head. "No, get out."
"Ianto…"
"I don't know what you thought you'd find, but it isn't here!" Ianto cut in, "Get out, all of you!"
"Ianto, listen to me!" Jack said. "You were born in 19th of August in 1983. You were always an average student, and you were once convicted with shoplifting…"
"Stop it!" Ianto said.
"You came here as soon as you turned 18. You never said why; you just wanted out…"
"Don't act as if you know!"
"You claimed your father was a tailor; he never was!"
Stunned silence filled the room, and Ianto stared at Jack for many long moments before finally speaking his mind once more.
"You went through a lot of trouble to know about me. I don't know if I should be flattered or creeped out."
"Ianto, I know these things because they were important to me. It's part of what I used to have with you," Jack said softly.
"Stop saying that," Ianto snapped, his voice like a growl.
"Ianto, you have to believe me," Jack said. "This isn't a joke or someone toying with your mind. If you listen, I'll explain everything. Just five minutes; that's all I ask."
Ianto pursed his lips, eyes still locked on Jack's form. "If I listen to what you have to say, you are to keep your distance. And if I don't like what I hear, you and your friends will leave and won't bother me again. Otherwise, it's the restraining order. Got it?"
"Got it," Jack said in a soft tone and he sat down on a nearby chair. "What do you want to know first?"
It was then that Adrian, who had seen the entire scene play before his eyes, felt Cor gripping his hand gently, tugging him away. Adrian followed without fuss, for he realized now that what both Jack and Ianto needed was privacy. So, he put up with the cold as he and Corben exited quietly and settled on a bench outside. Suzie rested her chin against her master's thigh, appreciating the gentle strokes on the top of her head.
"Do you think Ianto will listen?" Corben asked gently.
Adrian shrugged. "The first five minutes will tell."
Corben nodded his understanding, yet Adrian couldn't help but notice that his partner's expression had become quite thoughtful.
"You okay?" the blond man finally ventured.
"You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Corben asked. "That's why you wanted us to talk to Ianto first. To prepare him."
Adrian knew he could have lied if he wanted to, but… he couldn't bring himself to. He was already hiding one important thing from his lover. Hiding more would only add to the pile and, in the end, there would barely be anything honest and pure left.
No. This would have to stop now, before it got any worse.
"Yes," he replied.
"Because of your fight with Jack?"
Adrian sighed. "Yes."
Corben nodded his understanding. "Care to fill me in now?"
Adrian winced, but he knew there was no turning back now.
"It's about your sight," he said. "I know you believe that one day, you will have it restored, but I had a talk with Dr. Stevens and…" he swallowed hard as his voice failed him at that crucial point.
"And?" Corben prompted.
"And…" Adrian closed his eyes, bracing himself for the violent reaction. "It's not happening, Corben. I'm sorry."
Silence followed, and Adrian opened an eye to check on his partner Corben didn't seem angry or shocked, though. Instead, he was carrying a thoughtful expression, as if processing what he had just been told.
"Corben?" Adrian said softly. At this point, where the blond man felt like he was utterly exposed and vulnerable, he would have liked to hear just about anything; the silence was simply too nerve-wracking.
"Oh, sorry," Corben replied, and then Adrian was shocked himself when the blind man drew him close into an one-armed hug. "How long have you been worked up about this?"
Adrian blinked. "About…" Halfway through, however, another question that begged for an answer flowed out of his lips. "You really aren't angry?"
Corben smiled softly. "No, not really," he said, his tone sincere. "I guess… I've gotten used to things just the way they are now."
"I still know what it meant for you to believe that you would get better, though," Adrian pointed out.
"I really wanted it, yeah," Corben said. "But it was also at a time when I felt shocked and afraid and vulnerable. Now I'm actually coping. I can live my life even like this; I don't mind anymore." Fingers tenderly stroked Adrian's face. "There are things that I'll regret never seeing again. But I can hear your voice, feel your touch, smell your cologne. And that goes for Suzie and everything else."
"You can smell my cologne on Suzie?"
"You know what I mean!" Corben said, slapping his partner's arm lightly before sobering once again. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that… I don't think it'll be the end of the world if I stay like this. I have a life again."
Adrian smiled and kissed Corben tenderly on the lips. "Thank you. You have no idea how happy you've made me."
Corben smiled weakly. "I'm glad," he murmured, then pulled back, just a bit. "So now we wait."
Adrian nodded, hoping that Ianto would be as understanding as Cor had been. It would be a shame to have been through so much and finally fall in those few final steps…
"…Well?"
Ianto still stared at Jack with a neutral expression, his lips pursed and his arms crossed. This kind of tense silence couldn't be a good sign, and the former time-agent actually felt nervous.
"So your name is Jack Harkness," Ianto finally said.
"Yeah," Jack replied.
"Captain Jack Harkness."
"Yes."
"And you've come through a wormhole because you wanted to come searching for me."
"Pretty much, though I came through a Rift."
There was another moment of silence. "I really don't know what keeps me from kicking you out."
"Because some part of you believes me," Jack replied.
"Unfortunately," the young Welshman admitted grudgingly. "That's why I'll just ask you to go."
Now that was something that Jack didn't expect to hear, especially since Ianto had just said that he actually believed him. "Why?"
"Because I've already had a Jack Harkness in my life, and I'm still mourning him."
"I've already had a Ianto Jones too, and I've lost him as unfairly as you have," Jack pointed out. "That's why I came here, to have a second chance; to do the things that I always wanted to do but I was never given the time."
"Don't you mean things that you wanted to do with that other Ianto?"
"No, I mean the things that I wanted to do with Ianto Jones, regardless of the world he's coming from," Jack replied, and he took a step forward. "You're the Ianto Jones with a deadpan humour, with the amazing coffee and the same beautiful smile that makes my heart just stop."
"When did you see me smile?"
Jack shifted on his legs. "Just before walking in. It was brief, but it was there."
"It's not that every stalker hasn't used that line before," the younger man said under his breath.
"I'm not a stalker," Jack replied indignantly.
"How do I know that when I don't even know you?" Ianto asked.
"Then get to know me," Jack said determinately.
"How?"
"You tell me. How can two people get to know one another?"
Ianto looked at him dubiously. "If you're suggesting we…"
"I like the way you think, but I'm talking about a more innocent way," Jack said, amused.
"Then that leaves conversation."
"Conversation over dinner or a movie, to be exact."
Ianto blinked. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Interested?" There. There was a familiar dance between them. The flirting banter that urged Jack, to accept the challenge and win. Of course, there was also the chance that he was coming on too strongly, and that would have meant the end.
Ianto, however, blushed, his eyes reflecting his flustered expression. It was obvious that a part of him saw the potential and it drew him very much like a flame drew a moth.
"Is that a yes?" Jack prompted.
Ianto shifted on his legs, his eyes avoiding contact. "Yes."
Jack smiled. "Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow at… What time do you finish work?"
"Uh… around 9, but…"
"Then I'll pick you up then."
"Uh… sure."
Jack smiled and he headed outside to join Adrian and Corben. The two men looked up at the sound of footsteps, and the blond one obviously noticed the smile on the former time-agent's face.
"I take it everything went well?"
Jack nodded. "We'll try to work things out."
"That's good," Corben said smiling back. "What's your next step?"
"We've arranged a date for tomorrow. After that… we'll see."
"Okay then," Adrian said.
Jack frowned; if he didn't know better, he'd say that Adrian sounded almost… rueful.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Not wrong, exactly," Corben replied. "We just feel… we should go."
"Go?" Jack echoed. "Go where?"
"When I took that leave, I took it with the agreement that it would be for just a few days. We figured it would be to help you find Ianto and… well… you did."
Jack's heart sank, for he realized in that moment what they were telling him. "You're going back home."
"Yeah. We have to if I'm to keep my job," Adrian said.
Well, Jack couldn't really argue about that. Still… "I didn't have the chance to pay back for the clothes… and the room… and…"
"This isn't goodbye," Corben said with a gentle smile. "You can always return to Rhossili and pay as a visit along with Ianto."
"Really?"
Adrian nodded. "I'll leave you some money for the B&B and whatever little extra you need in the right direction so you can earn your happy ending. The rest is up to you."
Jack nodded and held his two friends close. "Thank you for everything."
"Take care of yourself," Corben said softly, patting the former time-agent's back."
"Or we'll come back and give you a good finger-wagging," Adrian said, half-teasing, half-serious.
"Yes, sirs, whoa!" Jack said, standing in attention and saluting. He sported a massive grin, but, in truth, he couldn't deny that simple and yet heartbreaking truth. He was going to miss both of them.
"Have you got everything, love?" Adrian asked his partner as he closed his own suitcase.
"I think so," Corben said, hands roaming through the things in his wide-open sports bag gently. "Do you see anything out of place?"
"No, I think that's that," the blond man said, nevertheless he scanned the room once more to make sure."
"Then I guess we're ready," Corben said. "Did you talk to Tom?"
"Yeah. We'll leave the key at the reception desk."
"Okay, good."
Adrian felt uneasy, however; the idea of leaving Jack behind didn't sit well with him. Yes, they had fought just hours ago, but they had moved beyond that. Besides, he could understand Jack to some extend, and he had come to consider him a friend. Leaving now felt more like abandoning him, something that Corben clearly thought as well. His partner was never able to hide from Adrian, especially now that his lack of sight made him far more open and vulnerable.
"What do you think will happen to them?" Corben asked in that moment, breaking the silence.
Adrian sat down next to his partner. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "It will be good if they manage to get together. On the other hand…"
"They need to get over the weird feeling," Corben completed, following his lover's train of thought.
"And they'll have to fall in love with the other because of who they are, not who they look like," Adrian said.
"Still… I think there can be something between them," Corben said thoughtfully. "The first step was the most important one, and they've both taken it: they're willing to give it a chance."
"That doesn't mean things won't take a bad turn down the road," Adrian pointed out softly. "It will depend on Jack realizing that he's doing this for the right reasons. And you've seen how he can be."
Corben nodded with a great smile.
"Charging head on, grabbing the bull by the horns and not letting go."
"Which may be good when dealing with aliens, but certainly not good when dealing with someone you want to woo."
Corben frowned. "You didn't say anything when I insisted on our second date."
"Only because you were cute about it."
"Cute?" Corben echoed, then sighed in a mock mournful tone. "I was going for suave."
Adrian chuckled heartily and hugged his lover. "That's one of the reasons I came to love you," he murmured with a smile. When he had met Corben, Adrian had the image of a tough, ruthless cop with piercing eyes… only to always see him acting awkwardly and often babbling like an idiot; hardly what one would expect from one of the best drug law-enforcement officers. But when he had realized that Corben only acted so goofy whenever he was around Adrian, well… it made him feel more than just a little flattered. And it also made him realize that there was a sensitive soul beneath that tough surface; one that Adrian felt drawn to.
"Love you too," Corben murmured back, his smile indicating that he was mentally recalling the same memories. In the next moment, however, he sobered. "If Jack screws it up though, he won't have a second chance."
"No, he won't," Adrian agreed. "That's why I keep thinking that maybe you should stay here."
Corben cocked his head. "You do?"
"He needs someone to act as the voice of reason in case he does something rush. More importantly, he needs a friend. I can't stay because of my job, but you can."
"Yeah, I can, but…" Corben said softly, and he clasped Adrian's hand tenderly. "We've never been apart since my… incapacitation. Now that's weird."
"I know. And I will miss you," Adrian said. "But it won't be forever.'
Corben nodded slowly. "It still won't be the same."
"You won't be alone," Adrian said, trying to encourage Corben. "You'll have Jack and Suzie, and we'll talk on the phone all the time." He leaned forward, his lips gently brushing against his lover's ear. "And not just talk…"
"Adrian!" Corben exclaimed in a feigned scandalized tone, but Adrian simply chuckled. The slight slap on his arm was retaliated in good humour, until both men practically wrestled like overeager cubs.
"Not fair! You're taking advantage of my plight!" Corben declared as he was pinned down.
"You?" Adrian scoffed. "You're as weak and vulnerable as a kitten… before it mauls its owner's hand."
"…True." With that, Corben's legs wrapped around Adrian's waist and, before the blond man would react, he was maneuvered on the mattress with Corben straddling him. Adrian's cry of surprise turned into laughter, its music accompanying his lover's. He could feel his cheeks red and hot as his blood rushed through his veins, urged by the exhilaration… remind him how very much alive he was.
He looked up, seeing Corben's grin and the healthy rosy colour that he had missed back on his cheeks. Even his sightless eyes were bright, shining with mirth and joy. In that moment, Corben was more than just beautiful; he always was in Adrian's eyes. Now, however, he was utterly desirable.
"Corben…" the blond man whispered.
Corben picked up the tone, for his mirth ebbed to be replaced with something else entirely. His hands cupped Adrian's face tenderly, his fingertips stroking the smooth jawline. Adrian watched him, his heartbeat quickening just a bit even at that simple touch. The sound of Corben's breathing reached his ears deeper, slightly tremulous… trying to stay in control and yet failing.
They both leaned forward at the same time, but it was Adrian who locked their lips together, while his fingers moved rapidly to unbutton both shirts out of the way of soft skin that begged to be touched. Bodies pressed in an almost desperate manner as they tried to feel the other as close as possible, uniting the very core of their souls before they'd be parted by morning.
It was the best farewell and the best promise that the two lovers could give the other.
TBC...
