A/N - Thank you all for your patience. I hope you enjoy this next chapter, and I'll try not to be so long between postings, but I can't promise anything! Song lyrics are from Pinata Novia, by Steve Carlson.

This takes place after Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and before Sleeper.

"Looking through eyes that wept
I confessed my love
and as you slept I asked for help from above
I said the strength of my affection
has taken all my time
like an hourglass, my heart fills up
but I'm losing my mind over you"

"So strange," Ianto said in a quiet voice, breaking the odd silence that had settled between the two men. They were walking together, having just left the Hub through the tourism office on their way to dinner.

"What?" Jack asked, glancing sideways at the younger man.

"That," Ianto pointed to the exterior wall they were passing. It was plastered top to bottom with "Vote Saxon" posters. "He was everywhere for months and months. I was going to vote for him. Then he just disappeared. It's strange."

Jack nodded, forcing a smile as a lump formed in his throat constricting his ability to speak.

Picking up the pace slightly, Jack suddenly needed to get those damn posters out of his sight. Thinking about that psychopath made him sick; made all the invisible scars from his year on the Valiant tingle with painful sensations.

Jack glanced sideways at Ianto once more. He felt a little desperate to drink in the sight of the younger man. He looked quite handsome in his suit and necktie; still put together even after the long day they'd had running around after that damned scoundrel John Hart.

It had been a blessing in disguise, coming back to an active case. It had allowed for distraction, a means for Jack to avoid giving any details to the difficult questions like where he'd been for the last four weeks. It had allowed for Jack to gauge the condition of his team; to see how mad, or sad, or disappointed, they were in him. It had allowed for Jack to create a feasible story in his head. One he could tell that wouldn't be entirely the truth, but that also wouldn't be outright lies.

Over the course of the last day Jack had watched his team run like a well-oiled machine and he couldn't help but feel proud; and responsible. They had all grown so much in the weeks he'd been gone. Ianto especially had changed. He appeared more confident and sure of himself, and he asserted himself with the others in a way that frankly, turned Jack on.

There was also a new sense of camaraderie between the team that Jack couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of jealousy about; he wanted to be included. He knew eventually they'd let him back in, but after the disappearing act he'd pulled he knew he had to be patient and understanding of their desire to keep a slight distance from him; at least for the moment. But it was torture, more so each time he looked at Ianto. All he wanted to do was put his hands on him. Touch him, stroke him, kiss him. Rip off his clothes and fuck him hard. He ached for it. They were so close to each other, yet he still felt so far away.

"Where're we going?" Ianto asked, distracting Jack as they strolled past the water sculpture and down a side street.

"It's a surprise," Jack winked, trying not to feel disappointed when all he got in response was a small, tight-lipped smile.

I can't expect things to be just like they were before I left, Jack thought as he tried to suppress his frustration. He could only imagine the level of betrayal and feelings of abandonment Ianto must be dealing with. But he obviously still cared; he did agree to this date, after all.

"Don't worry, you'll love it," Jack added, as he turned off the side-street and led them down a narrow alley.

"I never noticed this before," Ianto said as they walked deeper into the dimly-lit alley.

Jack smirked into the dark as he led them towards a low, orange glow emanating from an open doorway at the far end of the alley.

"Jack," Ianto's voice was hesitant. His hand reached out and grasped Jack's arm, bringing them both to a stop a few feet from the doorway. Jack could hear the soft music playing inside, and the smell of the exotic Indian food made his mouth water in anticipation.

"It's okay," Jack smiled, "I've been here before. There's no need to worry."

"That's not it," Ianto's face was screwed up tight in an expression Jack couldn't read. Suddenly afraid, Jack placed his hands on Ianto's shoulders, pulling him closer.

"What?"

"You just left," Ianto blurted and Jack felt all the air in his lungs escape as if he'd been kicked in the gut.

"Ianto,-"

"I'm sorry. I don't think I can do this. I thought I could but…"

Ianto pulled back and Jack, unwilling and unable to force Ianto to do anything he didn't want to do, reluctantly let him go.

"I'm sorry too," Jack whispered, watching Ianto walk away and disappear from view as he turned out of the alley.

He knocked again. Pressing his ear against the cool metal of the door, he sighed. He could hear muted sounds from the other side.

"Ianto, I can hear you moving around in there," Jack called softly, once more rapping his knuckles lightly on the door.

"Please open the door."

When he heard the lock mechanism turn, he stepped back. He'd let Ianto walk away from their date, but after an hour of wandering around the Bay with nothing but his thoughts to distract him, Jack couldn't stand it any longer. He needed to see him; to talk to him; to try and explain as best he could. He had to make Ianto understand and forgive him, somehow.

"It's late," Ianto's tired face peered out from the door.

"Let me in," Jack gently pushed against the door, forcing it open another few inches. He watched as a rainbow of emotions crossed Ianto's face in that moment. Stubborn resistance gave way to anger which turned into surrender. Jack pushed the door all the way open as Ianto sighed heavily and stepped back, giving Jack silent permission to enter the flat.

"I need to clear the air," Jack closed the door behind him, "I need to explain."

"You did explain," Ianto crossed his arms and stared at Jack. Jack could practically see the defensive wall going up before his very eyes.

"You found your Doctor," Ianto added, shrugging. Jack sensed that Ianto's ambivalence was a mask and he couldn't blame the younger man for being distrustful. He'd gone through a lot since coming to Cardiff and Jack's behavior in the last few days before he'd left with the Doctor hadn't exactly inspired anyone on his team to believe in anything he might have to say.

"Yes," Jack, frustrated, raked his hands through his hair, causing it to stand up on end.

"Sit," Jack reached out and grabbing Ianto by the shoulders, moving him to the couch. With a slightly resentful look, Ianto sat and stared up at Jack expectantly.

"I don't know where to start," Jack smiled nervously.

"How about starting with how it is you don't stay dead?" Ianto responded and Jack couldn't help but flinch at his accusing tone.

"Okay," Jack nodded, and started talking.

He told Ianto everything, starting with his first meeting with the Doctor and Rose in London during the Blitz and ending with an abbreviated version of what had happened while he'd been gone.

"A year?" Ianto, who had listened to Jack's entire story without comment, questioned. "You were prisoner for a whole year? And this Saxon guy was really an alien? Like your doctor friend?"

"A Time Lord," Jack nodded, his senses heightened as he watched Ianto try to process all he'd been told. For Jack, it had been cathartic to just tell his story. He felt lighter; freer.

"Right. A Time Lord," Ianto nodded. "That's quite a story."

Jack sighed.

"It's true," he said softly, pleading with his eyes for Ianto to believe him. He'd left out the torture and multiple deaths and he hadn't told of what the Master had done to Ianto and the others in the alternate timeline. There was no need to burden Ianto with that information. Jack was happy to carry that on his own, as a reminder.

"I know," Ianto replied with his own soft sigh.

Jack slowly moved towards the sofa, having been standing before Ianto as he'd told his story. Sitting next to the younger man, Jack placed a hand on Ianto's knee, stroking his thumb across the cap.

"What about John Hart," Ianto didn't look at Jack when he brought up the man that had spent the last day wreaking havoc on the team.

"John Hart is someone from my past. From the Time Agency. We were friends once," Jack reached out and turned Ianto's face to him. "We were more than friends, for a time, but it was a relationship of convenience. I never would have left with him, because this is my home now."

Jack couldn't read the expression on Ianto's face, and he wished the younger man would just talk to him.

"I don't know what to think," Ianto said, finally.

"We have time to work this out. I'm not going anywhere," Jack leaned in and placed his lips on Ianto's. There was some resistance at first, but as Jack gently pressed his lips and worked his tongue out to coax Ianto's lips apart, the younger man started to respond.

Jack let his hand slowly move up Ianto's thigh while his other hand gripped the back of Ianto's neck. The kiss was electric, and Jack felt his stomach knot and twist with anticipation and excitement as their kisses turned from soft and gentle to more hungry and passionate.

Squeezing Ianto's inner thigh, Jack's hand moved towards Ianto's crotch. Brushing his dick, Jack felt Ianto start at the touch. His cock growing hard in response, Jack traced his fingers up and down Ianto's hardening shaft. Breaths coming harder, Jack's lips travelled across Ianto's jaw and to the crook of his neck, nibbling on the sweet spot that he knew drove the younger man crazy. His fingers started to unbutton and unzip Ianto's trousers.

"Wait," Ianto, panting and breathless, grabbed Jack's hands and pushed them away. Pulling back, Jack met the younger man's gaze. Ianto's cheeks were flushed and Jack could see he was hard, his cock pressing against his trousers, undoubtedly uncomfortably tight.

"I can't," Ianto averted his eyes from Jack and stood from the sofa.

Jack nodded and the two men were silent for what felt like several minutes. Jack willed his erection to soften while he suspected Ianto of doing the same.

"I don't want to leave you," Jack said finally.

He stood and approached Ianto from behind, wrapping his arms around the other man's torso as he pressed his lips to the nape of his neck.

"We don't have to do anything, just please don't make me leave," Jack whispered, holding on tight to the one person that had given him the strength and the will to fight as hard as he did to get back.

Ianto gave no response for what felt like several minutes. Finally, Jack felt him nod and with a relieved sigh Jack hugged him tighter, relishing the feel of him and how they fit together so perfectly.

That night they slept together in Ianto's bed. It was the first time Jack had stayed at Ianto's and he had to admit, it was a lot more comfortable. They had fell asleep holding each other, and even though Ianto had a giant king size bed, most of it remained empty as the two men slept in each other's arms through the night.

Undoubtedly up at dawn, Ianto's movements in his flat woke Jack from his sleep.

"We should get to the Hub," Ianto, already showered, shaved, and dressed, stood over Jack who was still half asleep and wearing only his boxer shorts.

"Breakfast first?" Jack questioned just as his stomach rumbled. "I never did eat dinner. You see I had a hot date, but he abandoned me."

"Right," Ianto offered a shy smile as he picked Jack's clothes off the floor and threw them on the bed. "Get dressed and we'll go get breakfast."

Jack grinned at Ianto's back as the he turned and left the room. Jack could tell he was slowly breaking down that defensive wall and it made him giddy with hope.

During breakfast, Jack pressed Ianto for details about the last four weeks. He was surprised to hear that there had been little action; that the rift had been essentially dormant. In all honesty, that worried Jack. Especially since his return had coincided with the first big, active leap in the rift. Really it had been John Hart actively using his wriststrap to travel through the rift but what if that had boosted the strength of the rift, and more things started coming through? Jack hated not knowing more about the damned thing. He kept his concerns to himself, though. Until he had something to report, he'd remain silent. He certainly didn't want to panic the team.

Jack and Ianto arrived at the hub before the others, much to Jack's relief. He quickly changed his clothes while Ianto made coffee. When Jack emerged from his bunk wearing a clean button-down shirt and trousers, his blue and white striped mug was sitting on his desk steaming with fresh brew.

"It's nice to know some things don't change," Jack said to no one in particular.

"What was that?" Ianto appeared in the office doorway and Jack grinned.

"The coffee," he inhaled the steam, then took a sip, "as good as I remember."

Jack moved out into the main area of the Hub. He heard Ianto shuffling behind him. Just then, the cog door rolled open and Owen came strolling in.

"Morning Owen," Jack sipped his coffee, nodding at Owen.

"Coffee? You on that again?" Owen walked past them, leveling his eyes at Ianto before he went down into the autopsy bay and tossed his bag.

Jack looked at Ianto with a questioning look.

"I stopped making coffee for awhile," Ianto shrugged.

It really wasn't a big deal, and Jack realized this. Yet for some reason, knowing that Ianto had stopped making coffee while Jack had been gone finally made him realize the actual effect his unexcused absence had had on him.

Jack, cradling his mug like it was a delicate egg, approached Ianto and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

"Oh God, please keep your fucking sex life out of the workplace," Owen was at the top of the stairs that led up from the autopsy bay, a scowl on his face.

Jack raised his eyebrows at Ianto.

"Everyone knows now," Ianto shrugged again.

Jack was startled, and a little guilty that his first thought was to wonder what Gwen's reaction had been…

"But just because we all now know doesn't mean we want to see you hugging and kissing and being fucking romantic," Owen grumbled.

"Speak for yourself!" Tosh called as she came in through the door, grinning. "I think it's sweet."

"Oh for fuck's sake," Owen rolled his eyes and Jack couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sure that time's gonna take its toll
and I know that my tattooed heart
may make you lose control
but grab a hold of something
preferably my heart
oh and promise you won't let it go
and swear you'll never part

away from me"

-Piñata Novia, by Steve Carlson