Affairs of the Heart

Chapter 21

"What's your problem today" Jack asked as he and Ianto began to unpack the equipment out of the back of his car in an attempted to understand Ianto's sullen mood. He had been brooding ever since he had picked him up to come out to do the survey at the standing stones. It was their second field trip and he had been looking forward to coming back here. This time he had lunch plans that didn't include lunch boxes, but it was clear something was bothering his assistant.

"It's nothing", Ianto stated as took out and unfolded the tripod for the theodolite.

Jack looked at him surprised at his tone "Well sounds like something", he retorted.

Ianto held the tripod and began to extend each leg.

'You've hardly said a word since I picked you up", Jack added. "Is it something I've done or not done", he took a look at Ianto, "or something I could help with?"

"It's not you, I'm annoyed at myself", he explained looking up surprised Jack could think this was about him.

"Is there anything I can do to help then"? Jack repeated his offer, as he took out the case that held the theodolite.

Ianto let out an audible sigh, "I have lost something, something I thought I had put away very carefully, I was looking for it this morning and its gone", he explained angrily.

"That doesn't sound like you", Jack commented as he opened the case that contained the main piece of the equipment.

"It's not like me" he repeated Jacks statement, "and it was left to me because my grandfather knew I would take care of it properly", he handed the now extended tripod to Jack.

Ianto hesitated and closed his eyes for a second as he struggled to admit what had occurred he – took a breath, "It's my grandfathers stopwatch, I've misplaced….lost it", he said standing still.

Jack dropped the tripod at the significance of Ianto's statement hit him.

"Maybe, you put it somewhere safe", He said slowly his voice cracking as he bent down to retrieve the tripod.

"No I've looked, searched my whole bloody flat", he said anger and frustration evident in his voice, "It was the only thing ever left to me of any significance and I've lost it"

He now took the tripod from Jack and began to set it up ready to place the theodolite on top, "I can recall I put it somewhere very safe", he stopped and he closed his eyes in an effort to recall, "Nope" he declared, "can't remember".

"What…." Jack attempted to say but found it hard to speak and coughed to clear his voice,

"What was it like", he managed to ask.

"It was silver, antique, and very old fashioned", Ianto replied too caught up in his description to see the look of shock on Jacks face, "with a chunky knob on the top" he mimicked the action of pressing the button.

"When did you last have it", Jack asked cautiously as he finally got control of his voice as placed the theodolite on top of the tripod.

"That's the problem Jack I can't remember" he said tightening the large screw that held the theodolite to the tripod. "I can't bloody remember".

Jack tried as best he could to concentrate. They were making a detailed survey of the stones so they could precisely map them out, but he was having difficulty focusing.

He was not sure he was fully in control even now and it was four hours after they had arrived. His heart rate had gone down at least he thought. He resisted the urge to feel his pulse.

He saw that Ianto was now in position with the marked stripped pole and he looked down the eye piece noting all the figures in a small pocket book he was carrying with him. He looked and waved to Ianto who now moved into position by the next stone.

Tosh was right there was a lot more going on for Ianto than he realised – a lot more.

Ianto held the stripped pole moving backwards watched for Jack to indicate when to stop.

Where the hell could he have put it? He had racked his brains trying to remember, all he had was this vague recollection he had put it into a large grey cupboard. Problem was he had never owned a large grey cupboard and when he thought about it had never been in any place that might find the sort of cupboard he recalled. And why the hell would he put one of his most a treasured possessions in such a place, so the image must have come from one of those bloody dreams.

Those dreams he thought of the vivid images that had started to wake him, in the middle of the night for weeks now. It was like he was dreaming he had lived some other life and some of the them. He felt himself flush hot, at what had occurred only two days before when he had been awoken by a particularly erotic dream about Jack. Last time he had awoken like that he had been twelve. It was so embarrassing he's your boss for gods' sake he told himself.

He took a deep breath, it was only after that awakening that he had recalled his stop watch and began to look for it. How the two could be connected he couldn't fathom but he had to admit that the dream had included some incredibly innovative ways of using a stop watch which he was sure …

He brought himself back and saw Jack wave and he moved to the next stone. And secondly he would have to come back on his own and retake all those photographs; thank god he had been the one to check them. What the hell would Jack think if saw them? What the hell had been going on for him to have taken them in the first place? He was interrupted as dream images of himself with Jack flashed through his mind again and he bit his bottom lip in remembrance. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, concentrate on the task he told himself and watch for Jacks instruction to move.

He saw Jack waving frantically he moved backwards again and looked up briefly as he saw Jack now running towards him. He tried to make out what he was shouting, too late he felt something give way and his left foot slipped from under him and he fell backwards.

The ditch was steep and he rolled several times... He landed with a heavy thump on top of a partially exposed boulder. He struggled to breathe but found it impossible other than short staggered breaths.

He attempted to push himself up on to his knees but found it momentarily impossible. It was like his brain was sending instructions his body was refusing to obey. He opened his eyes now and found he was looking at grass and grey stone. He heard movement to his left and he tilted his head slightly and saw Jack sliding towards him fear written on every line of his face.

"Ianto" Jack shouted as he reached him. Ianto was face down, right arm twisted under him at the bottom of the ditch.

"I'm Ok", Ianto struggled to say but found himself unable to speak. He tried to get onto all fours but slumped back down again. He managed to pull his right arm from under him and brought his wrist into view, it looked very odd and for the moment he could not work out why.

"Ianto", Jack repeated as knelt down next to him and put his hand on his head, as he did Ianto attempted to move again.

"Don't move", he repeated emphasising each word as he saw Ianto struggle to rise.

"I'm fine" Ianto said as he found his voice and tried to shrug off Jacks hand.

"Trust me you're not fine", Jack said placing his hand on Ianto's shoulder in an effort to get him to hold him still.

He felt him try and move again, "Ianto keep still", he commanded using his most forceful voice.

Surprised more by Jacks tone than his request Ianto laid still as he felt Jack run his hands firmly over his body in order neck , chest, pelvis, back, down one leg then down the other leg

'Ahhhhhhh" Ianto cried out as Jack gently felt around his left knee he then ran his hands down to his left ankle "Ahhhhhhhh" Ianto repeated

"I'm going to take off your shoe on your left foot", he told Ianto ,"your ankle is very swollen and your shoe is restricting the blood flow I will try and be as gentle as possible"

Ianto gritted his teeth as he felt his foot being supported and his shoe eased off , even so he let out several grunts of pain.

"Does it hurt anywhere else", Jack asked kneeling by him side his hand on his back.

"Just my wrist, knee and ankle", he told him his voice filled with agony as he now rolled over and sat up with Jacks help.

"Well its clear your wrist is broken", Jack told him as he took off his great coat and placed it around his shoulders. Ianto looked at his wrist and now recognised why it looked so strange. Jack looked up the bank and then at Ianto as he pulled out his phone.

Ianto saw him and his eyes widened , "No please ,I can make it to the car", he pleaded his voice breaking up with pain.

Jack looked down at Ianto as he cradled his broken wrist, his face twisted in agony and pale as his white tee shirt, and his ankle tuning a deep blue.

"Ianto", Jack said as he breathed out in frustration.

"Please Jack," Ianto asked again as he saw a stubborn look cross Jacks face

Jack thought for a moment, "Alright I'll make a deal ,if you can stand up and walk one step, unassisted I won't call an ambulance", he offered.

Ianto put his left hand down, to give himself some leverage, now he put his uninjured right foot down and pushed up, but the movement jarred his wrist, he bit his lip in pain and sank back.

"Hand me the pole" he asked as he contemplated his second attempt.

Shaking his head Jack picked put the pole and put it Ianto's his good hand. He stood back as Ianto now used the pole for support. His second try was no better and he fell back defeated.

Jack pursed his lips then dialled 999 "I need an ambulance…"