10
Jack ushered the twins into their bedrooms with orders to made "Get Well" cards for poor Taddy with his bumped head.
Both kids gleefully rushed off as they loved art.
He walked back to the kitchen where CJ was still holding out a shirt while speaking softly to the shocked Ianto who sat at the table with a blood stained shirt on.
"Hey baby" he said softly as he slid into the chair next to Ianto.
"I fell on the path" Ianto said with wide, Shockey eyes.
"You asked me to salt that. God, I'm sorry honey" Jack sighed.
"I hit my head and there was so much blood" Ianto kept talking as he blinked owlishly.
"Dad. Taddy is trying to tell you that he just died out there!" CJ barked, making them both jump.
Jack gaped at his son who glared back defiantly.
"He was out there on the ground, frozen to the earth with his own blood from his cracked open skull." CJ said slowly into his father's face, "Dead! Eyes glazed over and skin translucent. No pulse or breath when I checked, I go ... Dead!"
"CJ" Ianto said softly but CJ wasn't finished.
"I tried to call you. I was scared and my Taddy was dead out there and I was all alone with him" CJ whined, tears forming, "Then he's talking and laughing like he just slipped and landed on his butt or something!"
"I was scared" CJ fell to his knees and buried his face in Ianto's chest as his Taddy threw his arms around him.
"When you asked why I haven't aged, I didn't have an answer" Ianto rubbed his boy's back and shoulders as he sobbed into his chest, "I guess this answers it now. When your Dad loves me, he shares his life-force. Since he's forever, he has a lot to spare."
"So you'll live forever too?" CJ sniffled, looking up at his Tad.
"I don't know baby" Ianto frowned, "This may have been a fluke, or I'll just age slowly … I just don't know. I won't know until it happens."
"Oh Taddy, I don't want you to leave me" CJ said sadly and Ianto crooned.
"I love you so much, I never want to leave you either, Bug" Ianto sighed.
"I don't understand but I know I don't care as long as it works" Jack smiled, thanking Rose for this new development.
He rose from the table and went outside, slipping several times before reaching the bloodstained ground.
Dead. Yep, too much blood loss to be just a wee bump on the head.
Jack felt his knees go weak as it hit him.
Ianto died today and he wasn't here for him.
Ianto who has held him so many times, waiting, loving, welcoming him back.
He had died alone.