Title: Back Of My Head

Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Captain Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones

Warnings: Fluff/Angst

Summary: Ianto's waiting for Jack to come back from the year that never was (Ianto's POV)

Author Notes: So, my friends told me to do a challenge, a story for each song by short stack to which I replied SERIOUSLY!?!? Bring the two things I love together!?!? Haha enjoy.

Disclaimer: If I owned Torchwood Ianto would still be alive and if I owned Short Stack, I'd be married to Andy Clemmensen but I don't cue crying sequence

Prompt: "…Are you out there? Are you anywhere?
Just say goodbye, just like in my nightmare
Are you lost without me? Are you're better off dead?
You should keep it all here In the back of my head…"

It was cold, so cold outside. I sat on top of a building. I knew this one well; it was one of Jack's favourites. I felt the chilly night air down to my bones and I tried to wrap into my coat further.

It had become a regular thing now. Every night I would go to a building and sit into the early hours of the morning, watching, wishing Jack would come back.

The stars were somehow a comfort. When I looked at them I imagined Jack out there, somewhere, no doubt saving a world. He seemed to have that effect on people.

Sometimes I spoke to him, even though I knew he couldn't hear me. I told him about my day. I begged him to come home. He never did and I felt just a little bit colder inside.

On this particular night I rested my head on a nearby wall on the rooftop, looking up into the beautiful, sparkling sky and I felt like Jack was there, somewhere.

"It's another bloody freezing night Jack." I sighed, my voice sounding loud in the silence, no matter how quiet it really was.

"I know, if you were here you'd wrap me up in that coat of yours, take me inside and we'd have some coffee. I wish you'd just come and do that. Please."

I sniffled and wiped my eyes of the fresh tears stinging at them.

"I miss you so much Jack…where are you? I want to hear about your adventures. I want to hear your voice."

How long had it been now? A month? A month and a half? The time seemed to move so much slower while Jack was gone. The hub was always quiet and I wasn't the same.

"I'm lonely without you Jack. So please, just come home, for me. I actually thought I saw you the other day. It wasn't you obviously. How pathetic is that? I've started seeing things." I chuckled, "I'm sure you'd have plenty to say about that."

I reminisced on the times I had shared with Jack. There was always flirting and laughing, joking. He was my friend, more of a friend than anyone else ever was, and could ever be. Our first kiss. I laughed at the thought of it. I didn't know what to do at the time and as usual, Jack had taken control.

"No regrets, that was what you always said to me. I do regret one thing though Jack," I let out a shaky breath, "I really wish I had taken up your offer that one night and just bloody fucked you, just because I could have felt closer to you, one more time. Does that make me selfish?"

I glanced at my watch and sighed. Three o'clock in the morning. I didn't want to leave that night. I wanted to stay close to Jack, even if it wasn't actually him.

I stayed on the roof until three thirty and I knew I'd have to leave.

If I wanted any sleep before I got up at six, I'd have to leave. Sometimes I really hated looking after the team. I needed Jack there. I looked after the team and he looked after me but now it was left to me to pick up the pieces, at least most of them.

"I better go." I looked to the ground and then back at the sky one last time that night, "Goodnight Jack. I'll be back, same time tomorrow."

By far, my favourite Short Stack song, I seriously suggest this song to everyone, it's worth listening to. I love that Andy does this one himself.