Chapter Ten: Unforeseen

"Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds."
George Eliot

It was well past midnight when the concert let out. The arena, located nearly an hour away by train, was small but it had been packed (well past what Ianto would have presumed should be the legal limit, in fact.) Despite the best possibly fiftieth century air conditioning, the place was hot and thick with sweat, smoke, spilled alcohol and super-charged pheromones, both human and alien. Ianto hesitated to think what else might have been swirling around in the air that his twenty first century senses were ignorant to.

Still, he was glad he they had gone. Jack was right, they were only going to be there six more months. They should enjoy it. When they got back home…

He noticed Jack's grip getting tighter on his hand as they made their way towards the exit with the rest of the crowd after the fourth and final encore. "Are you all right?" he had to shout to be heard over the din.

"Just a little tired," Jack shouted back. Their ears were ringing. "Don't worry," he added, waving off the look of concern on his partner's face. "I just need a little fresh air, that's all. I'll be fine. I think you were right about it being a little too crowded in there," he added with a smile as they reached the exit at last.

Ianto nodded and held the door for him… and then several other people, just to be polite. By the time he got out into the cool night air himself, Jack was leaning up against a light post looking completely out of breath. "Cariad?"

"I'm fine. It's been a while since I've been up this late," he flashed a weak smile.

Ianto put his arm around his shoulders, "Let's get you home and to bed, then."

Jack gave over a decidedly lascivious smirk, mostly to try and cover up how exhausted he was finding himself. He didn't want to ruin Ianto's night out by causing the younger man to fret and fuss over him like some over protective mother hen. All he really needed was a little rest and he'd be fine.

They got to the tram well before the next train was expected; Jack didn't have to be told twice that he should sit down while they waited. He eased himself slowly down to the bench, ignoring how sore his whole body felt. He'd spent most of the concert on his feet and his feet and ankles were swollen up like water balloons.

"I was thinking," the younger man began slowly, talking mostly to take his mind off of being worried about just how tired his partner seemed.

"Hmm?" Jack cracked one eye open; he didn't quite remember closing them… he reached over and took Ianto's hand. "What were you thinking, Sweetheart?" he asked.

"What would… I mean… how would you feel about… our daughter… her middle name… how does Seren Toshiko sound?" he asked hesitantly.

Jack's smile was all the answer he needed, "I think Tosh would like that. I know I do."

Ianto leant in… the kiss was interrupted several moments later by the arrival of their train.

As soon as he was settled into their seats, Jack laid his head back, resting lightly against his partner's shoulder. He closed his eyes. Just for a minute. Just a little shut-eye to take his mind off his ringing ears and swollen ankles…

He didn't realize he'd dozed off until Ianto woke him up. "This is our stop," he said softly.

"You're getting to be a regular whiz at navigating," Jack teased.

"Just don't make a habit of falling asleep on me."

He chuckled at the younger man's tone, insisting on hauling himself to his feet without Ianto's assistance. It was just a dozen blocks to the park… a few minutes across the green… and then he could beg for a foot massage.

They'd got as far as the park when Jack's fatigue started to get the better of him… his whole body felt heavy. Maybe he'd skip begging for a foot rub and just go to bed… sleep was what his body seemed to be telling him it needed more than anything… it niggled at the back of his mind that he hadn't been feeling this run down since he got out of the first trimester…

The sound of Ianto's voice… his tone… made Jacks top in his tracks.

"Jack," he breathed. "Cariad… you're bleeding..."

He wasn't sure if it was the realization that he was bleeding that made him feel suddenly light headed or if he was light headed because he'd probably been loosing blood for quite some time, he just hadn't noticed...

"Oh God… what do I do?" Ianto was trying desperately not to panic, but he didn't know the first thing about… about anything. This wasn't his time. He didn't live here… he didn't… Jack was looking faint. He caught him before he fell over and eased him to the ground. "Cariad, talk to me…"

Jack looked past him before slipping into unconsciousness…

The Welshman followed the direction of his gaze. John. He knew it was irrational but his first thought was to wonder what the other man had done to Jack.

"He needs to get to the clinic," Hart said simply. "Help me get him up."

"You…"

"What, expecting the Tooth Fairy, Eye Candy?" his tone was snide. "Help me get him up," he repeated.

Ianto didn't move. "Why are you here?"

"I decided to stick around, make sure you boys didn't need anything. Good thing, too. Although this wasn't what I was expecting." He almost rolled his eyes; he already had Jack by one arm, however, trying to get him to his feet.

Ianto shook himself out of his stupor. If nothing else, John was right, Jack needed medical attention and he wasn't sure he could get him to the clinic without help. As much as he hated to accept assistance from Jack's former partner, he slid Jack's other arm around his shoulders.

"What are you doing this?" he asked of the other man as they started to move a barely conscious Jack in the direction of the clinic. John seemed to know where he was going… how long had been here? "What were you expecting to happen?" Ianto wanted to know.

"I told you. I thought the Agency was going to try something."

"Have they?"

"What, this? No, I doubt it. Don't get all conspiratorial on me, Eye Candy," he added to the look the young Welshman was shooting him. "The Agency might be clever, this isn't their style."

"All right," Ianto conceded. Somehow the fact that it was just a medical emergency didn't make him feel any better.

Despite the fact that John seemed to be helping him, he still didn't trust him, either. There was nothing in his experience to suggest that Jack's former partner was the least bit altruistic... which, later when his head was clearer, would make him wonder once more what Jack had really been like before he met the Doctor…

"We thought you left," he said.

"Trust me, as soon as we've got him to a doctor, I'm out of here. I don't want to be around you and your happy little family any more than you want to have me around."

"So you were stalking us…" his tone was accusatory.

John scoffed. "You wish. I was only hanging around… nothing better to do on this boring little moon anyway. You should be fucking grateful, you know," he added. "Instead of all these bloody questions, a 'thank you' might be nice. Or do I have to be the one to point out that even if he can't die, I doubt that little bun in the oven is immortal. If he dies, blood stops pumping, oxygen stops flowing… you get the picture. Not to mention having to explain that to the locals. Fiftieth century might be enlightened, but trust me on this one, we haven't figured out the key to eternal life."

Ianto felt the blood draining from his face. He hadn't taken the time to think about any of that. "Thank you," he managed. They were almost to the clinic.

"You're welcome."

"John…"

"Oh, don't go and get all sentimental on me now, Eye Candy. I wouldn't think nearly as highly of you if you did," his tone remained snide.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked the question anyway.

"I'm not," the Captain told him, shooting over a sharp glare. "I'm helping him. Don't you ever forget that. If I ever get the chance, I will leave you to bleed. I would be highly surprised if you didn't feel the same about me," he added with an entirely too friendly little smile.

Ianto swallowed. Nodded. It was uncomfortable, but it was the truth and they both knew it.

As soon as they got to the clinic, John made his promised exit...

A/N:

Ok, I have to admit, the characters sort of wrote that last one all by themselves… ;-) It wasn't a direction I'd intended, but I am enjoying it! Now I just have to write the chapter I woke up with in my head...