"How about a hot bath?" Jack suggested, back in his stateroom.
"Could do with that," Ianto admitted. "Not sure about anything… afterward, though. Just… not at the moment."
"No, not at the moment," Jack agreed. "Just some quiet time. Tea?"
"Maybe iced water."
"Sure. Give me a second," Jack said, kissing Ianto's cheek.
Ianto went to closet in the room to switch his suit for a dressing gown.
Jack pulled him into a hug as soon as he came back into the room. "Bath's drawn. Let me know if there's anything else you want, ok?"
"It's a big bath," Ianto said. "We could both use the relaxation."
"You sure?"
"I feel better when you're there," Ianto said.
"Then I'll be happy to join you," Jack said softly, kissing Ianto's ear.
"Wow, that smells good," Ianto said, walking into the bath.
"Jasmine salt. Regular Earth kind," Jack said.
"Oh yeah," Ianto sighed, stepping into the bath.
"Too hot?"
"Perfect."
"Good," Jack said, stepping in after him. "Come here."
Ianto lie back in the bath, settling into Jack's arms and resting his head on Jack's shoulder.
"Something I didn't ask you earlier," Ianto said after a while. "You mentioned Rhi…."
"They're fine, safe," Jack promised. "I sent Gwen and Rhys."
Ianto nodded. "Thank you. Maybe… maybe you could go back, just briefly, let them know I'm ok?"
"I could, if you want me to."
"My family weren't always very close, but I don't want them thinking I'm dead either."
"I understand. There's a lot of you in your sister, Yan. I heard they took in the whole neighborhood of kids to keep them safe."
"I'm sure Johnnie loved that," Ianto chuckled. "Well, unless he could get a few bob out of it."
"Ten quid a kid, that's what I heard."
Ianto rolled his eyes.
"Not sure how I ought to explain myself to them…."
"Well, you don't have to," Ianto said. "I kind of did that."
Jack stopped for a moment. "Really?"
"Yes. Well, ok, I might not have, but Rhi said one of her mates saw us at dinner. I think she was a little surprised, but… she was ok with it, actually."
"That's good," Jack said, holding Ianto a little closer. "I will go back, eventually, and let them know."
"I suddenly wish I could see them," Ianto said quietly. "I wish we could go round for Christmas dinner, the kids' birthdays, normal couple stuff. Sorry, know you hate that word."
"I don't if you don't. I want that too, you have to know that. I'm not giving up, Yan. I swear I'll find a way…."
Ianto just held onto Jack's arms around his chest. "I believe you."
"See, I'm convinced it's destined to happen. I know I keep going on about that place in the country and rainy days, but I used to have this dream over and over again, a long time ago when I was a Time Agent. Just a short one. I was always lying on a couch in front of a window open, with a man in my arms, just like we are now. It was spring, I could see the flowers on the trees and the bright green new leaves… that fresh, earthy smell. Had a nice lawn and a little terrace. It was raining softly. I remember lying my head down on the arm of the couch, looking at the trees and listening to the rain while he slept on my chest. And I remember being so happy and feeling like no matter what I'd been through it was worth it to be with him. But there was nothing like that on Boe, nothing like that anywhere I'd ever been. So how could I have known about some damp little island with flowering trees and the most wonderful men in the universe?"
"If we ever get back," Ianto said, "that's us, no question." They were quiet again for a while, Ianto feeling like he could easily nod off in the hot bath with Jack after a few drinks. "Hey, Jack?" he whispered eventually.
"Hmm?"
"When you said you'd never told me you love me? I've no idea what you meant. You told me so many times, so many ways. I even heard your whispers a few times when I was almost asleep."
Jack decided the best response to that was a kiss. "I know it's kind of early, but maybe when we're done here we should just have a little dinner sent up and turn in?"
"Yeah, that'd be alright." After a minute, Ianto said, "Jack? If I'm asleep by then, don't wake me."
"Alright," Jack said hesitantly. He'd make sure Ianto had a decent breakfast in the morning, anyway.
A couple hours later, Ianto was sound asleep, still in one of the ship's dressing gowns. At least he'd had a bit of soup for dinner first, Jack thought, tucking him in. Jack left a note on the table that he'd be back before long. He needed to walk and think… there had to be a way.