ALRPGALW Chapter 10
Laying Ianto back down on the bed, Jack took off his own coat and boots, got on the bed and took his lover into his arms. He sighed, kissing the sleeping man's forehead. Somehow, Jack had to make his lover see sense and return with him to the Hub the next morning. It wasn't going to be easy, but Jack was up for the challenge.
Ianto slept soundly for the rest of the night. Jack was relieved.
Ianto heard his usual alarm go off but, he didn't bother getting up. He let it ring and when it ended, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep. He wasn't going back to the Hub with Jack.
Jack let the alarm ring, he was awake anyway. He felt Ianto move and then drift back off to sleep. He sight. It was going to be one of those mornings, he could feel it in his bones. Ianto was going to take some persuading, but Jack knew he'd win out in the end.
Ianto slept til around midday, when he stirred. He stretched and turned in Jack's arms. "You should be in work."
"I was kindda hopin' you'd join me." Jack sighed, kissing Ianto's forehead and stroking his hair. "Please, reconsider. I want you with me. With Torchwood."
"No, Jack," he said and closed his eyes. "I'm not going back to Torchwood. Hire someone else."
Jack sat up, bringing Ianto with him. "You can be one stubborn so-of-a-bitch when you want to." He threw back the covers and put his legs over the edge, turning his back on his lover. "Okay, so what if I wanna protect you. You'd do the same for me." He turned to face Ianto. "But I did need you in the SUV, you know that, but won't admit it." He sighed. "Come on, Yan. Please, do this for me."
Ianto lay back down on the bed. "I have to go to the job centre today, to look for another job." He was determined to show the others, he wasn't going to run back to them after a day. He was stronger then they all thought and he'd show them.
"Where does that leave us?" Jack stood up and faced the younger man. "You gonna replace me at the job centre, too?"
"No of course not. I still lone you, you know that."
Jack pushed his hands deep into his pockets. "Are we?" He sighed. "I'm not so sure. You openly defied me, twice. Put others at risk. Now you wanna leave Torchwood. I can't let you. You know too much."
"Then retcon me," he said, looking at Jack blankly. "If you think I'm going to betray you, then retcon me!"
Jack shook his head. "That wouldn't work, and you know it. Your mind's too sharp to be retconed. I'd have to triple the dose and you'd be lift with brain damage."
"Are you leaving me Jack, is that it?" he sat up. "Because I want to do something different, are you going to leave me because of that!"
Jack's eyes turned black with anger. "I am not leaving you! You're the one lookin' for a new job. But I can't stand by and watch you throw everything away. I won't stand by!"
"I am not throwing everything away. Have you ever thought that maybe I want to go to university or learn something different? I am still young!"
Jack nodded. "Yes you are. And I'm over 1500 years old." He backed away, holding his hands up. "You do what you wanna do, Yan. I'm outta here."
"Yeah go on, walk away like you always do. I'm not going to be running to you anymore!"
Jack leapt at the younger man, grabbing him by the shoulders. "When have I ever made you 'run to me'? You came to me because you love me." Jack let him go. "Or so I thought. Not enough it seems. You jump ship at the first sign of a leak."
"I'm not jumping ship, Torchwood has been the best and worst times of my entire life. i lost Lisa there, but i found you. maybe i don't want to risk my life every time i go to work. Maybe I want to grow old and be with you. I want to be normal. I want to be a secretary or work in a library. What's wrong with that?"
"You knew what you were getting into when Torchwood One recruited you. You lived through Canary Wharf. What happened to Lisa was tragic, but you got through it. You're life will never be normal. Not after what you've been through. What you've seen." Jack looked away. "As for me. Well...if you want normal, forget me. Have a normal life. Get married. Have kids. Be a secretary. 9 to 5 humdrum job. You'd get bored in a week. No, a day. Admit it." Jack sat down on the bed and put his boots on. "I'll leave you to it then, shall I? Send me a post card from your 'normal' life."
Ianto sat on the bed looking at Jack. He sighed, got off the bed, walking around to Jack and pulled his boots out of his hand. "I want a life with you in it. I just... Torchwood, they don't give a damn. They don't notice me, let alone appreciate me. You haven't even noticed, it haven't you Jack?"
"They appreciate you in their own way. Hell, I was the same before... Live with it, Yan. Not everyone falls over themselves to be nice." Jack picked up the boots Ianto had dropped. "Let me know how your new life goes."
Ianto watched him leave, half expecting him to turn around when he got to the door and return to the bedroom. Jack kept on going, shutting the door behind him with a loud bang.
I single tear slipped down the young Welshman's face.