AN:..... Don't hate me!

A STOMACH FULL OF RATS PART 9

Ianto sighed at Jack's departing back and once he heard the front door slam closed, Jack was never subtle, he reached into the pocket of his jeans pulled out a lighter and a packet of fags. Coffee withdrawal was a bitch and be damned he wanted, needed something. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag, his ribs complaining bitterly about the deeply drawn breath. Ianto closed his eyes letting the nicotine do its work.

Ianto was rudely awoken the following morning, far too early to be healthy, by the sound of someone banging on his front door. Cursing and bleary eyed he crawled awkwardly into his clothes and trudged to the door. Jack was looking far too cheerful and Ianto glared at him through half lidded eyes.

"Get your arse in gear I'm taking you to the Hub for a medical."

There was no mistaking the order.

Jack surveyed the old T-shirt and track pants, slumped shoulders and almost two weeks of beard growth, funny he hadn't noticed that yesterday. It put years on the younger man and Jack longed to see him clean shaven, suited and walking tall, if quietly.

Ianto sighed heavily.

"I need shower, give me a few minutes."

Jack nodded and smiled, "Need a hand with that?"

"Fuck off , sir."

It was worth a try. Jack closed the door and went down to the kitchen as Ianto slowly made his way back up the narrow staircase. He was surprised to discover an empty cigarette packet on the dining table and a saucer-cum-ashtray, filled with spent fags and ash. There was an empty apple juice carton and Jack sniffed the half empty glass sitting next to it, checking for alcohol. He surveyed the dim kitchen, there were boxes still unpacked on the bench and Jack decided to investigate. He found cutlery, mugs and other kitchen items so he decided to set about unpacking them, finding cupboards that Ianto had obviously tried to clean out before using them. It had clearly been too much effort, the task abandoned early on. Jack left it, wondering why Ianto had seemingly had no one who bothered enough to help him. Jack had failed to make contact with the illusive sister.

Sometime later Ianto appeared, wet hair still dripping from the shower, in jeans in hoodie. He towelled at his hair as he entered the kitchen.

"When you've finish snooping......"

Jack straightened up and grinned. "You'll need some help with all this."

Ianto shook his head. "No I won't. It'll just wait until I am well enough to do it."

He still needed a shave, he still needed that humorous sparkle back in those beautiful, soulful blues.

"You ready?"

Ianto picked up his phone, keys and wallet.

"Yes, sir. Though I might I suggest driving within the speed limit. I'm still feeling a bit fragile."

Jack gawped for a moment and then laughed heartily, genuinely, leaving Ianto wondering what he had just said.

It was awkward getting into the SUV, mainly because his ribs hurt and his muscles were still protesting from the beating of two weeks ago. His stomach complained about the motion and Ianto realised he probably should have eaten something before setting off. He settled his head back as Jack drove slowly and considerately. Jack decided to dive in with a question that had been foremost on his mind.

"Can we talk about your personnel folder?"

"You're asking?"

"Yes, I am asking. The incident at school.....with Liam..... can you tell me about it?"

Ianto want didn't to, he really didn't, but something in Jack's tone told him he should. They had trust issues and Ianto realised he needed to trust if not like, trust was more important right now.

"He was my best friend. We both had..... issues at home and at school. Liam and I were opposites really. He was tall and tough and nobody messed with him, I was small and weak and..... not well liked. I was bullied a lot because I was the smart kid in the class and..... I didn't have any street cred. Liam and I were always friends though. I used to help him with his homework because his reading was rubbish. His dad was in the army and he wanted to join up when he left school, but he also wanted to get his GCSEs too, so I used to help as best as I could."

It took Ianto a moment to realise that Jack had pulled the SUV over to the side of the road not far from the entrance to the Hub garage. Jack was watching him intently and Ianto's hand went to his own face, it was wet. He stared at the tears on his fingertips for a moment, stunned.

"Go on." Jack coaxed softly.

"One day after school, some kids had surrounded me and started calling me queer and then saying that I was...... with Liam..... I was 12 Jack..... I didn't understand some of the things they were saying. Then one of them started shoving me and I ended up on my arse on the floor. Next thing I know Liam is standing there, right over me, shielding me. There was a lot of shouting and the boy that pushed me... he and Liam began to fight. Then the kid got a knife and stabbed him, three times, but the moment I saw the knife I got up and lunged at him to get him off Liam. He got me in the arm and shoved me off then he and the other kids ran away and left us there. When I looked at Liam he lying on his back, his whole shirt was red and he was crying. I'd never seem him cry over anything before. I started screaming for someone to help and then I sat with Liam In my arms I had my hand on his chest trying to stop the blood and he was looking up me and smiling and then he died......." Ianto chewed at his lip and the tears rolled over his white face and disappeared into this beard. Jack grasped his hand.

"What happened after that?"

Ianto shrugged. "The usual, the police, counsellors, social services. The boy who did it was let out of prison after a five year sentence. Nine months ago when I came back to Cardiff with Lisa, I found him, quite by accident, and put a bullet in his head, his body is in the bay"

Jack closed his eyes. "Jesus Ianto."