25
Jack called out as he carried a sleeping Babbit inside and Stephen pulled the bags in behind him.
Ton came running, calling out with glee with his little arms raised, then pulling at Jack's trouser leg until Babbit was on the sofa and Jack's arms were free.
"Steady on little man" Jack crooned, "It was only two nights away!"
"Two nights and the better part of three days" John said as he exited the kitchen, a bowl in his hands. "Here, you go feed your husband."
Jack looked at John blankly as John knelt to kiss his child's forehead and the Jack walked thought to the bedroom and entered an obvious sick zone.
Walter was asleep, snoring on his side of the bed and Ianto was sitting up, working in his laptop with his glasses perched in his nose. He looked up with a soft smile that faded to a frown when he saw Jack.
"You're back then" he said and Jack snorted.
"Obviously." Jack leered, "John said to give you this."
"God!" Ianto sighed, reaching for the bowl and peering at the soup.
"Chicken! Eat!" came a call from the main room and Ianto poked his tongue at the wall in the direction of the voice and then lifted the spoon and took a mouthful.
"Little fella still sick?" Jack sat and reached out to feel Walter's forehead.
"No, he's been keeping me company" Ianto huffed, "Been worried since John was stupid enough to tell him what a diabetic coma was."
Jack felt the blood draining onto his shoes and looked up. Taking in the blood shot eyes and pallid skin of his husband.
"Did you have fun?" Ianto asked, "Because John has done his best to have fun with us. Ton was so happy he stayed to nurse me and Walt instead of going on to the village like he had intended."
"You were sick" John said as he entered and pointed at the bowl, gaining an eye roll as Ianto picked up the spoon again.
"Thank you John" Ianto smiled softly, "You have been a wonder. I am sorry about early this morning as well."
"It's OK. Scared the fuck out of me but it's OK" John laughed softly, "Never knew you sleepwalk."
"Sometimes" Ianto sighed, "When I'm upset or out of sorts."
"Yeah …well. Nice view anyway" John grinned, turning to look at Jack as it sank in that Ianto slept naked when running a temperature.
Ianto blushed and cleared his throat, offering the empty bowl back and John bent over to kiss his cheek as he took the bowl.
"I would have come back if you had said" Jack accused, his annoyance evident as he folded his arms.
"I did ring, it went to answer phone." Ianto retorted, then huffed. "The boys would have never forgiven me, they no doubt loved the whole thing."
"They did love it" Jack agreed, "Connor slept out with us as well."
"Did Bethy not?"
"No. She worried about snakes" Jack deadpanned and Ianto laughed, then collapsed into a coughing heap.
John flew in and started patting his back, reaching for a menthol spray and spraying a handkerchief then offering it for Ianto to place by his face.
"Still hasn't broken. I reckon a hot steamy bath and then another back massage might break more up" John said almost to himself, "You keep that there and I'll run the bath. Then I'll get the cough syrup."
"Don't forget bubbles, Babs will hear the water running for sure" Ianto rasped.
"How are your sugar levels?" Jack asked, reaching for the diary and finding John's handwriting.
"He has taken good care of me" Ianto said, snatching back the book, "He has been following the dietary plan and I am fine there!"
Jack rose to help with the bath as a squeal told him Ton had smelt the bubbles as well.
He shouldn't have gone.
Damn it.