Chap 29

Ianto was still steaming as he dished the evening meal. As he carried hot plates through to the dining table, Walter flew past hooting at Jack while laughing at some game they were playing. As they collided, Walter's head pushed the air from Ianto's lungs and threw them both back against the doorframe. Ianto barely had time to register the hit before he was on his back, blinking up at Owen's worried face.

"Hey, just lay for a sec and get your wits back, yeah?" Owen said softly as his hands continued to slide over Ianto's body.

"You couldn't wait till he left? If you wanted a taste you only needed to ask, Owen. Ever since you wore those boxer shorts I've been waiting for you to make your next move," Ianto joked, and he frowned as he heard the slur in his words.

"OK, sit him up, slowly," Owen advised, and Ianto felt Jack's trembling hands help him into a sitting position.

"Owen!" Ianto barked as he felt vomit in the back of his throat, and as he threw up all over his pristine floor Owen swore softly.

Jack held him against his chest as he continued to dry heave.

"He has a nice egg on his head but I don't think he's badly concussed. A mild one though," Owen droned in the background. Ianto wanted to tell him to go away.

Gradually his senses came back and he was aware of someone's crying. Looking up from Jack's shoulder, he saw Walter crying in Tosh's arms as he watched his parents on the floor.

"Wally, come here baby," Ianto croaked, and Walter flew into his arms.

"Sorry Taddy, sorry," Walter sobbed into his father's chest.

"It was an accident, buggy bum. It's OK. Taddy's OK," Ianto soothed.

To Ianto's horror, the wail of an ambulance got closer, and he gaped at Owen, who stood to meet the EMTs. As they performed their checks, Ianto continued to fume. They declared Owen to be correct but wanted to take him to the emergency department just to make sure. Especially when Owen said he was undergoing Chemo.

"Actually, I'm in spontaneous remission," Ianto informed the room as he refused to go. "I'll not scare Walter even more!"

"Oh my God, when were you two going to tell us?" Tosh squealed, and Ianto finally looked at his husband.

"When I eventually told Jack, probably," Into said as Jack plucked Walter from his arms and walked into the kitchen.

Ianto followed them and watched silently as Jack served a fresh plate for Walter. "Go eat that in the other room, Walter."

"We don't let him eat in front of the telly when we have dinner, Jack!" Ianto admonished, and Jack rounded on him.

"Sorry. Were you talking to me? Oh. I didn't realise I warranted a conversation!" Jack snarled.

Ianto stepped back. He stared at Jack for a few moments, then turned and walked out of the kitchen.

"Ianto, wait!" Jack called, and hurried after Ianto, nearly falling over him as he knelt on the floor, picking up broken plates.

"Since you've dished Walt's, can you do everyone else's? I need to get this up before the beetroot stains the floorboards," Ianto said as he dumped a handful of spoilt food into the bucket he'd pulled over from by the fire for the ashes.

"Ianto." Jack squatted and reached out to him. Ianto's flinch hurt, and Jack withdrew his hand with a huff of displeasure.

"I'm sorry. Please. I don't like where we are," Jack sighed.

"No. Me neither, cariad." Ianto sighed, then frowned. He took a breath and Jack was watching him begin to form a word when a shriek made them both turn.

Walter had dropped the remainder of his food on the white fur rug.