PART TEN

There was no one there when Ianto woke up. Somehow he wasn't surprised, after all what else could he expect? Torchwood were always busy saving the world and his sister had three kids to man handle the biggest one being her husband. He blinked at the ceiling and just lay there waiting........

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He received a subdued, but no less enthusiastic greeting from his team mates when he came back into work. Owen ordered him straight down to the autopsy bay for an examination and Jack came down there as well having sent Gwen and Tosh out to look into a minor Rift spike out at Penarth. Tosh was wholly aware it was a ruse to get them out of the way for a couple of hours, it was clear that Jack didn't want Ianto overwhelmed on his first day back even though Tosh wanted nothing more than to give Ianto a hug. She gathered up her bag and coat and followed Gwen out of the Hub.

Ianto sat himself on the exam couch and removed his tie and jacket so Owen could take his blood pressure. Owen had already checked him over the day before at home, declaring him physically fit for work and Ianto wondered why he was being subjected to this routine again, but he said nothing. Jack hung about to his left looking somewhat awkward as he exchanged a look with Owen that did not go unnoticed by Ianto.

"Are you two going to tell me or do I have to guess?"

Owen took hold of his arm and secured the BP Cuff. "I'm recommending you see a clinical psychologist. I know you won't talk to one, you didn't last time so you are going to have counselling sessions with me instead."

Ianto's eyebrows shot up and he swung his head to gape at Jack. "Was this your idea, sir?"

Jack folded his arms and assumed a defensive posture. "No, but I am ordering you to comply, otherwise I am going to have to take you off duty. You need help Ianto; you tried to kill yourself ten days ago, you are lucky not to have brain damage."

Owen smirked. "Who says he hasn't."

Jack glared.

Owen wrote something down on his chart and removed the cuff as he spoke. "Look, Ianto we just don't want you to feel that there is no other option, I mean what you did was extreme. You have to trust us to help you. I'm your doctor, anything you tell me will be in the strictest confidence."

Ianto looked from one to the other again and slumped his shoulders. He finally nodded resigning himself to his fate.

"Alright."

Jack and Owen both heaved out audible sighs of relief.

"I need to ask you something Ianto. The night you took the overdose, what happened?"

Ianto reached over and grabbed his tie, needing the action of securing it in place to ground him.

"I had too much to drink for a start, you know I can't handle it. I kept remembering things that I didn't understand, like dreams. I don't know Jack, I just got up and followed this girl out of the pub and then I tried to kill her. Suddenly something just snapped in me and I realised what I was doing. I let her go and ran home. I can't remember much else."

Jack and Owen were both watching him closely.

"Look, Ianto we have no way of knowing what happened during that missing period, you told me that you remembered killing someone. I've checked, thoroughly and nothing was flagged, no murders, no missing persons reports, the only reported incident was from the woman you let go the night you overdosed. Owen and I have discussed this at great length and both agree that you would not hurt anyone unless it was out of self defence, and even then you're reluctant. If either of us had any doubts I would've Retconned you back so far you'd forget how to speak Welsh......" Jack shoved his hands into his pockets. "What I am saying is, we trust you, you need to trust yourself, but if it helps we will be watching and if at any time you are not sure of yourself, you say so. Can you do that?"

Ianto looked directly at him and nodded. "Yes, Jack." He sounded relieved to Jack's ears.

"Good, now for the sake of not over dramatising your return, can you please make me some coffee and bring it up to my office, we have things to discuss. Owen is there anything you want to add?"

"Yes." Owen gave Ianto a stern look. "You are a tosser, let me just make that clear. Next time you feel the urge to off yourself, talk to me first. The paperwork is a fucking nightmare! Your first chat session will be this evening at 6pm, Rift permitting, don't be late!"

Ianto slid off the exam couch and pulled on his jacket, he wasn't in the least bit happy about the situation, but he knew that Jack and Owen were actually trying to help him. He graciously smiled at Owen.

"I'll bring coffee and biscuits."

Owen patted his back. "We understand each other perfectly, but it's not a date Ianto, that's what he's for!" He gestured to Jack and Ianto dipped his head with embarrassment. Jack decided it was probably time he headed back to his office. Owen waited until he was out of earshot before speaking again. He reached out a hand and grasped Ianto by the wrist firmly, pulling him round so that they were properly facing one another. Ianto was about to protest.

"Look Ianto, I know you and I are not the best of mates, but I'd like to think that we are mates and I promise you, any time you need to talk, or go out and pissed or anything...... You've been through some rough shit and none of us have really understood that or helped you deal with it. I know I'm a twat, you're a twat.... we've got that in common at least."

Ianto looked down at his hand and then at his face and was surprised to see genuine compassion there.

"Thank's Owen."

Owen nodded and released Ianto's arm.

"Not a word to the girls mind, I've a bad arse reputation to uphold."

Ianto shook his head with a smile. "I'll get the coffee on then!"

"Good plan, Tea Boy!"

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Twenty minutes later and Ianto tentatively entered jack's office with a mug of Kenyan and a plate of chocolate Hob Nobs. He placed them on Jack's messy desk, careful to avoid the paperwork, but unable to find the coaster for his mug. Jack gestured for him to sit. Ianto took the chair and rested his hands on his lap. He watched as Jack's eyes closed in bliss on his first sip of coffee.

"God, I missed that."

Ianto offered up a faint smile.

Jack lowered the mug. "Right. Ok, we have a guest arriving tomorrow morning. She's from UNIT and going to be helping on this new case that's come up. I was planning on putting her in a hotel, but with the Rugby and some big concert in the Millennium Centre there's no rooms. I was wondering if she could have your spare room for the duration?"

Ianto nodded. "She doesn't mind cats does she?"

Jack shrugged. "I've no idea, can't say we've discussed cats before. Ianto..... its Martha Jones, Dr Martha Jones."

Jack watched the puzzled frown on Ianto's face morph into slow comprehension.

"As in, the Martha Jones, Saxon's enemy number three?"

Jack nodded. "You ok with that?"

"Of course Jack, she'd be more than welcome. Does she remember?"

Another sip of coffee was taken. "Yes, she does, you two didn't meet, did you?"

"No, we didn't. I heard about her so much, Saxon was livid every time she evaded capture, he really was afraid of her, you know." Ianto was surprised to see a wicked grin alight on Jack's face.

"That's my girl."

Ianto allowed Jack a moment to lose himself in some memory, before speaking.

"Was there anything else?"

Once again the mug was put down and Jack got to his feet and circled round the desk. He came to stop and perched his backside on the edge of it, right in front of Ianto. A cautious hand was held out and Ianto automatically took it, allowing Jack to entwine their fingers.

"You gonna be ok?"

Ianto nodded. "I will be Jack. I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble."

"Stop apologising. Just let me take care of you, once in a while. You've always been there for me. We've drifted and I know that's my fault......"

Ianto was shaking his head. "You don't owe me anything Jack."

"Yes, I do, more than you could possibly imagine."