11

Carl wasn't sure how to get him past Bets once he had settled him in the chair with a crocheted rug over his legs.

Ianto was impatient and growling softly like Ton might so Carl simply decided to go for it, pushing him out through the kitchen and out the back door into the yard without Bets turning around.

"Why does this feel like a jail break?" he hissed as he started to giggle, watching Ianto shakily engage the power and the wheels crunched over the gravel pathway to the sidewalk.

"If we get caught, I will say you stole me" Ianto huffed with a look of glee and Carl laughed as he walked with one hand on the chair, heading into the village and towards Ianto's office.

They entered the library and several people gasped with delight as Ianto powered past to his office and by the time Carl had moved the 'throne' to one side so Ianot could fit at his desk there was a line of people wanting to see him.

For half an hour Ianto smiled, let people hold his hand as they told him how glad they were to see him up and about and basically assured everyone that he was tired but still able to do his job.

Several people told him that his job was to recover, they needed him and it was filling him with more pleasure than the chocolate John had been sneaking him.

Bets arrived with a look of thunder and she quickly softened as she saw Ianto's face, full of joy as he cradled a baby lovingly, cooing as the young mother explained about her benefit problem.

"Jarred, call Angie" Ianto rasped out and Jarred nodded, picking up the phone. He called social services and as soon as he said Ianto Harkness-Jones wanted to talk to the girl's case manager things started to move.

Bets found a chair and watched her boy bark at the speakerphone for a meeting, a squeaked response by the case manager and her superior apologising for the 'mistake' in refusing the single mother aid.

Ianto was flagging, rubbing his eyes but he knew there were still people so he looked to Bets who rose and clapped her hands.

"My boy is naughty and over his rest time" she declared, "He will be back tomorrow for a few hours and Jarred will make appointments. Henry, you should come walk us home while you tell Ianto about the new tractor. He will find that interesting."

They headed back up to the chalets where the next hurdle waited.

Jack was leaning against the fence with his arms folded and his face betraying his immense anger. He pushed off and opened his mouth to let loose a volley but then saw Ianto's face, full of delight and more relaxed than in days, talking animatedly with Henry.

"Cariad!" Ianto called as they drew near, "I'm so hungry I need to eat a hamburger the size of my head!"

Everyone laughed and Jack felt a lift in his heart as Ianto spoke fluently without the hitching or pausing that he had been doing. There had been no forcing of words, it had been spoken without effort and with a huge smile.

"Well, I hope we can measure against one of the children's, you know my head is huge!" he tried, hoping for an appropriate response.

He got what he wanted as Ianto laughed heartily, "I meant the one on my shoulders, not your …oh you are so bad!"

Henry leaned in to pat Ianto's shoulder and bid him farewell, walking back to his house with his own huge grin as news spread that the mayor was back on watch.

"Ianto, love" Jack said softly as he helped him from the chair to the bed, "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"The children came across from the school with flowers, did you see? Oh, no. Jarred put them in a vase on the desk for me, oh their wee faces, I am so mad that their school got used for …for …" Ianto seemed to stall out and Jack felt his heart flip as he glanced up, expecting to see confusion but he found a soft smile, "Oh Cariad, my handsome man. I missed you today."

"I came home as quick as I could love" said as he reached up to stroke Ianto's cheek as he dropped his sneakers by the bed, "I wanted a cuddle."

"Lovely" Ianto sighed happily, "What a grand day, a cuddle would be so perfect before my hamburger feast."

Jack climbed on the bed and kissed him, gathering him close as Ianto sighed and started to drift.

"I love you" Ianto muttered and Jack held him a wee bit tighter, thanking the gods.

He was glad he hadn't gone off on one like he had been going to, glad he had acted calm and given Ianto his dignity.

After all.

He was fine.