A/N Just a wee teaser to keep you going. I thought I would have finished this by now, but obviously I haven't made it.
Next scene will be the last!! (Or this Parrot will be finding a perch in the funny farm)
Jan 9th
Jack sat, his hand resting gently on Ianto's. It had been three days now and Ianto was still seriously ill. Jack wasn't terribly surprised; he'd seen this with other victims of rift travel in his hospital on Flat Holm Island. They were often extremely susceptible to infection for several weeks after their return and for that reason there was a policy that if a staff member even suspected they were coming down with something, however minor, if they even had an infected finger nail, they were off work on full sick pay until they were completely well. Rift travel seemed to wipe out a person's immune system temporarily.
The infection in Ianto's knee had developed into full blown septicaemia. Although he was still in the UNIT affiliated hospital Owen had special access and was treating the infection with rather specially tweaked antibiotics which appeared finally to be having some effect. The surgeons were treating Ianto's injuries. They had decided to operate on his shoulder saying that although it would heal on its own there could be long term problems if it weren't "tidied up a bit." His arm was now strapped to his body and he was positioned semi reclining so that there was just the lightest controlled traction on the joint from the weight of his arm. His knee had been cleaned of stone chips, and the torn and sliced ligaments realigned and stitched back together. The cracked bone was expected to heal on its own. His leg was in a brace that held his knee at a precise angle leaving access to the bandages and drainage tubes that snaked out of the wound.
And Ianto himself just lay there, at best semiconscious and delirious, but usually deeply sedated, limp and burning with fever. Jack refused to leave his side. There was a fan blowing, helping cool the patient. It made Jack cold so that he wore his vest and sometimes his bomber jacket. He was getting used to it. He rested sometimes on a recliner chair right next to the bed. When Gwen brought him in food, he did his best to eat it. He wasn't going anywhere for anything, not even the end of the world, which fortunately decided to not happen that week anyway.
Sometimes, when the cycle of sedation and painkilling drugs got out of kilter with each other Ianto's sleep would lighten. He would toss his head, moan a little. He might even open his eyes although there was no sign of recognition in them. Jack found that very disturbing.
Jan 11
On day five the infection was finally coming under control and Ianto's temperature lessened. They started to reduce the sedation. Now he was more like a natural sleeper and was at times obviously dreaming. Jack himself had passed into a strange state of waking coma induced by long term boredom spiced with fear. But when Ianto started talking in his sleep he suddenly sat up alert.
Ianto was tossing lightly, moaning with what was obviously a bad dream. He didn't seem to be in pain. 'No,' he said, probably a little predictably. No one ever said "yes" in nightmares. 'No,' he moaned some more. And then 'Rose I don't want to go back.' That was quite clear. And then 'Rose,' again. Who the hell was Rose? Ianto said her name with such longing; she had to be someone he loved. But Ianto, as far as Jack could remember had never mentioned anyone called Rose before. Jack only knew of one Rose and that could not possibly be who Ianto meant. And Rose? Not Lisa? Jack knew Ianto's nightmares. Usually they involved flames, Lisa and cannibals or sinister machinery. He moved closer to the bed, staring at its occupant, grabbing his hand. Was this really his Ianto?
'Jack,' Ianto breathed.
Relieved Jack bent and kissed him. Ianto's eyes flickered open but he didn't really seem to see him. 'It's me.' Jack told him. 'I'm here.'
Then Ianto said something that really got Jack's attention. 'Starla?'
Jack's heart leapt. Shocked he cupped his hand on Ianto's face. 'It's me,' he told him. 'It's Jack.'
Ianto fought him weakly. 'Fuck off Starla.'
If Jack hadn't been so dumbstruck he would have laughed.