Picture Perfect Chapter 11
As Jack and Ianto prepare for bed that night, there was a lot of eye contact. Jack helped Ianto off with his sweat shirt and after Ianto took off his jeans, Jack said, "They stay on." pointing to his boxers.
Ianto nodded, getting into the small bed.
Jack got undressed and slid in beside him.
Although Ianto's left arm was still bandaged, his right arm and chest were not.
"Lift your head," Jack asked Ianto.
Ianto placed his head on Jack's chest so his forehead was level with Jack's lips. It was so tempting that Jack kissed it, bringing a smile to the younger man's lips.
Jack out his arm across Ianto's waist and Ianto got comfortable.
"Kinda small, huh," Jack said, referring to the bed.
"Cosy," replied Ianto. "I like it."
"Go to sleep."
"Mmm."
Ianto was asleep within ten minutes, but Jack was awake for most of the night. He was always awake. Usually he would be roaming around the Bay or walking around the City Centre. It was going to be different, mow that he had a lover.
Ianto hardly moved all night and Jack was still holding him when the Rift alarm went off at just before 6am.
"Jack"
"Rift alarm just went off. I gotta go."
"Let me help you."
"No."
"Then at least let me direct you. You need me, Jack." Ianto stared at Jack, as the older man got dressed.
"Okay."
Ianto dressed and followed Jack down into the Hub.
Looking at the large monitor, Jack said, "Bute Park again."
"Go!" said Ianto. "I'll call you when I know you're in the SUV."
Jack kissed him and then he was gone.
Ianto booted up Tosh's computer and brought up Bute Park. It showed a ghostly figure moving slowly across the green. Ianto put his ear piece in.
"Jack?"
"Go ahead, Ianto."
"There appears to be just one. Moving very slowly."
"Can you make out what it is?"
Ianto looked closely. "No."
"Okay. I'll be there in about 7 minutes."
"I'll let you know if I see anything." Then he added. "Be careful, Jack."
Jack allowed himself a smile. "You know I will."
Ianto sat down and leaned back in the chair. His arm was beginning to really hurt. Closing his eyes, he bit his bottom lip, trying to keep the nausea at bay.
"Ianto! Answer me!"
Ianto was brought back by a frantic voice in his ear. " I'm, here.""Where were you? Are you okay?"
"Just a bit nauseous. I'm fine."
"Go back to bed. I can handle this."
"No, I told you. I'm fine. It's stopped near the centre of the Park."
"Ianto?"
"I'm okay, Jack."
Ianto heard Jack sigh.
"Stop worrying about me." Ianto told him. "Are you there yet?"
"Just getting' out."
"It's about 200 yards in."
"Got it."
There were a few seconds silence, then, "I'll have coffee waiting for you when you get back."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," Ianto said in his best 'Coffee Boy' accent, "Sir," he added.
He heard Jack laugh. "Okay, I'm goin' in."
"Switch on your own internal tracker. I wanna know where you are at all times."
Ianto saw another figure appear on the monitor.
"Got you."
"How close to it am I?"
"100 yards."
"I can't see anything."
"It's almost on a straight line to you."
"Still can't see it."
Ianto turned away for a second and then looked back at the screen. "Jack! It's almost on top of you."
Ianto heard Jack call out. "Jack? Jack! Talk to me!"
His pleas where met with silence.
"Jack?"
He heard heavy breathing.
"Jack, answer to me, dammit!"
"Ianto. It….it's a Zaneokite."
"A what?"
"Six feet high. Long tongue. Short arms. Sharp teeth."
"Are you okay?"
"It bit me, but I'm fine."
"Where is it, Jack?"
"Dead. I killed it."
"Jack…."
"I had too, Ianto."
There was silence for a minute or two.
"You still there, Yan?"
"Yes."
"I'm bringing it back."
"I'll make the coffee."
"Yan? Ianto!"
Ianto turned his ear piece off, then collapsed.