JUPITER PART ELEVEN
Jack watched worriedly as Ianto settled into an uneasy sleep. They had moved him from the autopsy bay to the isolab with as little fuss as possible but the manhandling of his weakened body had left the younger man crying with exhaustion and pain. Owen had added a heavy sedative to the mixture of drugs already going into his IV and finally left Jack to sit with the younger man until he had settled into sleep. Tosh was busy bustling about the room in a remarkably quiet fashion checking the sensor link to Owen's terminal was working properly and also rigging a monitor so that Ianto could watch the cat cam when he woke up. The only sound was the rustling of her plastic hazmat suit and her gentle footfalls on the tiled floor. Jack could hear her breathing over her throat mic through the ear piece in his helmet. He hated wearing the suit, it was hot and uncomfortable, but also slightly frightening to look at and he found himself sincerely hoping that his youngest team member would be cogent enough when he woke up not be freaked out by it. Owen was probably being over cautious, but it was worth it, things could go wrong in a spectacular way if Ianto turned out to be infectious. Jack didn't want to think about it. There was still the problem of ensuring that the weevil population didn't pose a risk, there also the question of whether or not this was an isolated incident... there were still too many questions and with the Rift the way it was, no certainties. It was like living on top of time bomb for anyone who wasn't blessed with immortality.
Blessed.
Jack pondered that word for a moment. In no way was he blessed.
He was distracted by Tosh's monitor and the sight of five tiny kittens suckling on their evening milk and Jupiter washing their ears with her rough tongue. He could even hear the purring over his head piece. He wished that Ianto was awake to see it, but was wholly aware that his lover was probably better off unconscious for the moment.
Ianto slept for latter half of the day and didn't wake until late into the evening. He blinked open sore eyes and sighed as he thrust the blanket away from his body with his left hand. He felt unbearably hot and he winced with the pain brought on by his movement. Not wanting to risk an onset of nausea he kept his head still, cradled by the pillow.
"Hello."
It was a somewhat tinny rendition of Jack's voice through a speaker to his left.
"Sorry Ianto, Owen has enforced hazmat protocols so we're all suited up for the time being. You hungry?"
Slowly Ianto turned his head aware of the large shapeless bulk of an environment suit seated beside his gurney.
"Not hungry, thirsty and hot though, any chance of a drink?" His throat was raw and his voice ragged to match.
"Owen says you can have diluted juice or water, any preference?"
"Juice, thanks."
Ianto caught sight of the monitor positioned just to the side of his bed and suddenly realised he was looking at his cat. His eyes widened at the sight and a surge of intense emotion welled up in his chest causing his breath to hitch painfully.
"Ow...Oh... Jack look... the kittens."
He heard Jack chuckle and felt gloved fingers gently rubbing at his hand. "Yeah Tosh, well she thought you might to like to see how they are doing."
Ianto wanted to cry but he sucked in a more gentle breath to reel in his feelings. "That's lovely, tell her thank you."
The suit nodded.
"She says you're welcome."
Ianto watched the screen intently oblivious to Jack releasing his hand and going to the hatch to get Ianto's newly arrived drink. A plastic cup with a straw was held aloft.
"You wanna sit up a bit to take this?"
"Yes." Ianto didn't really, he was too sore but he knew he should move into a better position.
"How long have I been in here Jack?"
He was being helped upright, pillows piled behind his back, tubes and cables repositioned out of the way.
"About eight hours, you slept pretty well after the whole moving process. Here can you manage this?"
Ianto held out two shaking hands and Jack decided to assist him with holding the cup.
The cold weak pineapple juice tasted like ambrosia to Ianto's parched tongue and he quickly consume almost half the contents. Jack pulled it back before Ianto was ready for it to be finished.
"Owen says to go gently. You can have some more in a few minutes."
Jack placed the remaining drink out of reach and Ianto went back to looking at the screen.
"So, how am I? What's going to happen to me?"
He heard Jack's sigh over the speaker.
"Owen says you have a viral infection, which is why we have instigated the quarantine. He's sent samples off to UNIT to see if they have anything on their medical database that matches. You're on broad spectrum anti viral and antibiotic drugs, but there hasn't been any significant improvement. You've been brought in here for your protection as well as to avoid any other cases of infection. Though at this point it seems unlikely that the virus is airborn... Owen wants to be certain that there are no risks to any of us."
Ianto nodded. "I see." He faced Jack unable to see his face clearly through the hazmat mask. "What about the staff at the hospital?"
"UNIT are following that up, but there have been no other reported incidents so far."
"That's good." He went back to cat watching for moment. "Jack, what happens if Owen cannot cure this?"
"Ianto, you know that is highly unlikely."
"Just answer the question Jack."
Jack shifted his position slightly. "He believes that if you survive you could be left with serious brain damage, the virus is tracking through your nerves, you may already be experiencing some loss of sensation and functionality."
Ianto sighed. "If I don't make it Jack, I know a cover story will have to be made to explain my death to my family, whatever that ends up being, would you be the one to tell my sister please?"
Jack didn't hesitate. "If that's what you want."
Ianto nodded. "It is, and I need you to take care of the cats, make sure they are homed properly, especially Jupiter. My will is on record, the details haven't changed, my sister's kids get everything."
"Ianto, that's being a bit pre-emptive. Can you at least try to be more positive about this."
Another nod. "I just want it clear. I won't it mention again." He kept his gaze focussed on the screen. "They really are rather cute. Have you named them yet?"
Jack was glad of the subject change. "Gwen has called one of them pancake, but I think you should be the one to name them, you're good at naming things."
Ianto smiled. "Uhm, well Tosh named Jupiter, I shall give it some thought." He failed to stifle a yawn. "God I'm so tired."
"Hardly surprising, given how sick Owen tells me you are, come on lets get you settled back down so you can rest."
Ianto reluctantly allowed Jack to get him laying back down and snuggled into the covers again.
"Jack wouldn't it be best if I was in a hospital? I mean there's not exactly enough of us here for one of you to be looking after me."
Ianto found his fingers tightly wrapped in a gloved hand. "I want you here. Owen wants you here so he can keep an eye and run his tests. We'll manage Ianto, we have state of the art gear and you'll have your friends around you. I'm not certain I trust UNIT with your life and we can't hand you over to the NHS, not that I would anyway."
Ianto nodded. "Ok. I just don't want any of you put at risk because there aren't enough of you out in the field."
Jack was smiling sadly and Ianto could not see it. "Always thinking about everyone else. We can get some help out there if we need it. Right now Owen and someone called Dr Ranjan are working to fix you and that's our first priority, ok?"
"It shouldn't be Jack. The Rift has to take precedence."
"Let me be the judge of that. Now rest up. All the monitors are on so just call out if you need anything. Tosh will be down here shortly to watch over you for a couple of hours." Jack patted the bed covers and then stood up. "Good night."
"Night Jack." Ianto focussed his attention back to the screen showing his new kittens, Jupiter had left the basket, clearly fed up of her five hungry charges.
AN: I know I am sorry it took ages but I caught the head cold from hell straight after Sex Wales Anarchy III and my head was full of snot... thought you'd like that image... Anyway SWAIII was very cool, Blue Gillespie rocked and Gareth was as charming as ever.