AN: Thanks to my reviewers. Thanks this chapter also goes to my friend Rory and his husband Ieuen who helped with the Welsh translations later in this chapter – thanks guys x Keep reviewing x

Jack didn't come back that night. He sent Ianto a text a couple of hours later telling him he was snowed under and he'd come back in the morning. The morning turned to noon and Ianto was still in bed, too tired and sore to bother getting up, and the lack of visit from Jack began to worry him. As he rolled slowly over on to his side, wincing at the pain that ran through his ribs he heard his front door open, and shoes being removed in the hall. Socked feet padded down the hall and Jack soon appeared in his bedroom doorway.

"Hey." Jack said softly.

"Hi." Ianto replied.

"I'm sorry… for going yesterday when we needed to talk… and for not coming back… and for sulking." Jack said.

"You can't help when aliens attack… though a schedule would be useful." Ianto replied with a soft smile that told Jack he was forgiven.

"I should have come back… I just thought… it's been a hectic couple of days… I thought a break would do us both good." Jack said as he padded into the room.

"Did it?" Ianto asked.

Jack shook his head. "Nope. I just missed you."

Ianto smiled as he reached out one hand and patted the bed beside where he was led. Jack slipped onto the bed, sitting up and leaning back against the headboard as Ianto scouted across and settled his head onto Jack's lap, smiling as he felt Jack's fingers drift through his hair.

"I love you." Ianto said simply. Jack's fingers flew to a halt.

"What?" He asked.

"All this trying to tell you… trying to explain myself… I thought it'd be best if I just threw it out there before an alien got in the way." Ianto said, his head still resting on Jack's lap, his face turned away.

"That's why you gave me the key?" Jack asked as his fingers returned to their journey through Ianto's hair.

"Yep." Ianto replied. Jack nodded unseen by Ianto from his current position.

"Jack?" He said as the silence continued.

"Sorry. I was thinking." Jack spoke. "I love you too by the way."

"You do?" Ianto said, rolling his head so he could look up at Jack.

Jack nodded. "I do." He said, as he leant forward and placed a soft kiss on Ianto's lips.

The Welshman smiled. "So how are you feeling?" Jack asked.

"Sore. These painkillers are useless." Ianto winced as he shuffled in the bed, sitting up and leaning into Jack's hold as one arm was wrapped around his shoulders.

"I brought some from the Hub. They're in my coat actually… not the best place. They're stronger than the ones you get in hospital – the team swears by them." Jack explained.

"How's Owen?" Ianto asked.

"Hobbling around. He might pop in later. Wants to check you're okay." Jack said. "Have the police spoken to you?"

Ianto shook his head. "Something about getting a note from my doctor saying I'll go to see them when I'm better. My doctor knows nothing about it though. I thought I'd better talk to you first."

"Tosh faked the note to give us time to talk. Owen told them you came to his rescue… a big man with a knife was attacking him and you jumped in and saved him. The man ran off. He gave them a pretty vague description which he can fill you in on when he comes around later." Jack explained.

Ianto nodded as he yawned.

"Tired?" Jack asked.

"I wasn't. I think it's you… that aftershave… always relaxes me to the point of sleep." Ianto mused.

Jack smiled. "That's not aftershave… that's just me."

"You smell like that naturally?" Ianto asked.

"Afraid so." Jack grinned as Ianto nestled closer. "You can sleep if you want… I promise I won't molest you… much."

Ianto chuckled lightly. "I need to get up… walk around or I'll never leave my bed. Come on – let me make you a coffee whilst you get me those pills." He said pulling reluctantly out of Jack's hold and sliding out of bed, creaking into an upright position. Slowly but steadily he made his way across the room towards the door, turning to see Jack was still sat on his bed watching him with a small smile on his face.

"What?" He asked.

"I love you." Jack said.

Ianto smiled. "I love you too. Now please find me some painkillers before I cry." He said.

Jack climbed off the bed and walked over to Ianto, resting his hand on the Welshman's cheek and kissing him softly.

"That also works." Ianto replied when the kiss ended.

Jack smiled. "Coffee." He said.

"Pills." Ianto replied as they wandered out the room.

TW

"Cachi!" Ianto exclaimed as he leant over to pick up the spoon he'd just dropped on the floor.

"You okay?" Jack asked as he walked into the kitchen carrying a small plastic bottle.

"It just hurts… every time I move." Ianto hissed as he clutched his back.

"Come on… sit down." Jack said gently as he went over and guided Ianto to the nearest kitchen chair and helped him settle into it. He then took a glass from the cupboard, filled it with water and placed it down on the table.

"Take two of these now… and another two in four hours. It should take the edge off." He said handing Ianto two small blue pills. Ianto tossed the pills into his mouth and washed them down with a large gulp of water.

"Were you speaking Welsh when I came in?" Jack asked as he settled onto the chair opposite Ianto, who nodded.

"I only ever swear in Welsh. I learnt the language at school… but it's not something I use often. The odd word just slips out now and then." He explained.

"You should speak Welsh more often. That accent of yours… delicious." Jack said with a smirk.

Ianto laughed softly. "Dwi'n falch fy mod wedi cyfarfod ti." He said with a smile.

Jack's eyes widened. "Delicious." He said. "But I have no idea what you said – you could have told me to bugger off for all I know… but it sounded great."

Ianto laughed again. "I said, I'm glad I met you." He said softly.

"Me too. God bless my coffee addiction." Jack replied, reaching his hand across the table and taking hold of Ianto's.

"Dwi'n gobeithio bod ti'n caru fi mwy na fy nghoffi." Ianto spoke again in Welsh, sniggering as Jack's face broke into a wide grin and his eyes sparkled.

"Am I going to need to buy a dictionary?" He asked.

"I hope you love me more than my coffee." Ianto translated.

Jack nodded. "I promise." He said softly. "So… gonna teach me Welsh?"

Ianto laughed. "How long do we have?" He asked.

"Long enough." Jack replied.

"Okay – here's a useful phrase for you." Ianto began. "Jack yw fy enw i, a dwi'n hynod o olygus."

"Okay one of those words was Jack. My name is Jack?" He guessed.

"The first part is my name is Jack." Ianto confirmed.

"And the second?" Jack asked.

"Learn the phrase, and I might tell you." Ianto replied with a smirk.

"Can you write it down?" Jack asked as he tried to remember what Ianto had said.

Ianto nodded. "Pass me the pad from the fridge."

Jack got up and crossed the kitchen, taking the pad down from the front of the fridge and handing it to Ianto along with a pen. The Welshman wrote the phrase out that Jack had to learn and then handed him the piece of paper.

"So ten years in Cardiff – no rugby, no castle visit – other than to catch aliens – and you have learnt no Welsh?" Ianto asked.

"Are you ashamed?" Jack asked, bowing his head theatrically.

"Terribly." Ianto replied with a grin as he rose cautiously to his feet. "Okay these pills are brilliant. I can move… and it doesn't hurt!" He exclaimed.

"Well just take it easy anyway. No exertions – you still need to heal." Jack said sounding rather like Owen.

"Looks like you're not staying over then." Ianto replied with a wink.

"What do I know? I'm no doctor… maybe you should exert yourself." Jack mused with a grin.

"I'll spend the rest of the day with my feet up… and when you come back tonight you can look after me. As long as you've done your homework that is." Ianto said, rolling his eyes at Jack's backtracking.

"I will do my best." Jack said as he rose to his feet, glancing at the clock on the wall. "But now I have to go save the world for a few hours. I'll send Owen round in a bit – is it okay if I lend him my key, that way he doesn't have to get you up?"

Ianto nodded. "Good idea."

"Okay. I'll come back tonight… bring Chinese or something. Promise me you'll rest?" Jack asked.

"I couldn't not rest if I tried. I will be on that sofa watching James Bond back to back by the time you're back at the Hub." Ianto said.

"Okay. I love you." Jack said kissing him gently.

"I love you too… be safe." Ianto replied.

"Always am." Jack said with a wink as he wandered out the kitchen, leaving Ianto to make his coffee with greater ease than earlier thanks to Owen's prescription.