Same Ianto, Different Jack

Chapter 35

by Gracefultree

A/N: Please enjoy the newest chapter. We have the return of some characters we haven't seen in a while. Have a great day.

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Ianto woke slowly, aware of the sunset warming his skin and the comfortable ache of well-used muscles. He turned his head to see Jack, His Jack, sleeping soundly, hugging his pillow. He ran his hand down Jack's back, watching as Jack twitched and squirmed, hugging the pillow tighter. Ianto smiled.

"Well, if I know you, you'll be wanting a coffee as soon as you get up," he murmured softly to himself. "And I could use one, too," he added, stretching and climbing carefully out of bed so he wouldn't wake Jack. He pulled on a clean pair of boxers from his side of Jack's dresser (and that Jack left him an entire half-dresser, and half-closet, as he soon discovered, amazed him, since Jack hadn't know when, or even if, he'd come back,) and wandered around the flat, taking its measure.

Most of the flat looked like it was never used, including the library, the spare bedrooms, and the formal dining room. The office, done entirely in leather and dark wood, clearly saw frequent attention, and a quick glance at the piles of papers and files strewn about told Ianto a lot about the new Torchwood. 20 field operatives, including Bruce and the other Team Leader. Medical team of 5, Research team of 5, Esther had four people with her on the computers team, Minnie and four assistants managing the Archives, and Jack, Gwen and Rex, of course, along with Gwen's PA, a woman named Lois Habiba, who looked vaguely familiar. Andy Davidson, now a sergeant with the police, acted as their liaison and occasionally did contract work for Torchwood.

The living room, when he found it, also looked lived-in, if the pizza stains on the sofa and condensation rings on the end tables were any indication. And the empty Chinese take away container left under the coffee table. There were more Torchwood files on the coffee table, as well as a discarded newspaper, remotes for the entertainment system, and a piece of alien tech that Ianto vaguely recognized from Alien Housewares and a half-finished mug of tea. He sighed. He could hire someone to clean, he realized. That wouldn't be so bad, and then he could go over it himself to make sure it was up to his standards. He didn't think Jack would mind.

The kitchen stood out as the most modern room of the flat. Everything was chrome and a deep charcoal-colored marble, though the cabinets were maple, and the walls painted eggshell blue. He smiled at the sight of the coffee machine. Not the one from the Hub, it was a similar model, and it looked like it had been restored perfectly. And never used. The sink had three mugs in it, with dried out teabags still sitting in them, as well as a dirty plate and silverware. He wondered about that briefly as he put the pug from the living room in the sink. Did Jack not drink coffee anymore? He couldn't imagine Jack not drinking coffee.

A card with his name on it was propped against the coffee machine. He picked it up, running his fingers over his name as written in Jack's elegant hand.

"Dear Ianto,

I've left a cabinet full of coffee beans for you to experiment with. I hope they're good enough. I never knew what kind you bought for us at the Hub.

Love,

Jack"

The letter was dated his birthday, just a few months from the current date. He wondered if that's when Jack bought the beans. He opened the cabinet in question and discovered at least twenty different varieties and brands. He selected three that he knew would combine well and set about making a coffee that Jack would love. After he did the dishes and gave the living room a quick straightening up, of course.

Jack had rolled over onto his back and released the pillow by the time Ianto returned to the bedroom with two large mugs of coffee. One of his better efforts, if he thought so himself. He put his own down and sat on the bed next to Jack.

"Jack, time to wake up," he murmured, leaning over to kiss him.

Jack woke suddenly, with a startled shout, sitting up and lashing out with his hand, knocking into Ianto and sending the coffee mug flying. Ianto cursed, standing up. He stepped backwards, his foot landing in a puddle of hot coffee. He cursed again. Jack sat up in bed, panting in fear. He looked around as if he were scouting the area for danger, his hands searching the bedding for something. Probably a gun, Ianto thought. His eyes settled on Ianto.

"Ianto?" he asked, that same half-hopeful, half-disbelieving voice from before when he'd come back to life in Ianto's arms.

"You, um, you startle waking, too, huh?" Ianto asked. "It's not just when you come back from dying?"

Jack blinked a few times and rubbed his hand over his face. "Shit, forgot about that. I haven't had anyone in bed in so long, and if I'm at work they send someone who knows how to wake me. Did I hurt you?"

"No," Ianto answered, moving forward again. "Just spilled the coffee."

"Coffee?" Jack asked, a perplexed frown on his face.

"You know, brown beverage, made from beans that you've got a whole cabinet full of in the kitchen?"

"Oh. Yeah. It's been a while since I've had any," Jack admitted. "Let me clean that up," he added, getting up and motioning to the puddle. Ianto stopped him with a hand on his chest.

"How long since you've had coffee?"

"Since you got taken," Jack answered. Ianto sighed.

"Do you actually want some, then? I can make you tea instead."

"No, coffee would be good, if it's yours. That was the problem. It reminded me of you being gone."

"Jack," Ianto whispered, pulling his lover into a hug. "I'm so sorry."

"You didn't do anything," Jack protested, his arms circling Ianto.

"I'm sorry you've been in such pain."

"Me, too." He paused. "I said eight and a half years, but that's Earth years. It's been thousands for me," Jack explained. "I was buried alive for 2,000 years, and when I went off-planet, they tortured me for over 60 years. That's why I'm the way I am. Gwen doesn't know. None of them know. Well, they don't officially know. I think Gwen and Esther suspect."

"I'll help you any way I can," Ianto promised.

"I've been counting on that." Jack sighed sadly. "I could never get you out of my head. Three years, thirty years, hell, in three million years I'll still pine for you."

"Jack," Ianto gasped, his voice cracking. "I'm here, now. You have me for a long time, yeah? I'll keep to the Hub, mostly, stay safer? That'll help, won't it? Having me around?"

"I'm so broken, Ianto," Jack whispered, his expression sad, haunted, and much too old for his face. "I can hold it together for a while, a few months, a few years at a time, sometimes, but it never gets easier. It never gets better."

"I'll make it better. I promise, Jack. I'll make it better."

"I've killed myself so many times, just to get some peace, but it never works." He paused and looked at Ianto. "And it's not just because you weren't here. I've seen so much death, so much bloodshed, so much violence, it's a wonder there's a planet still standing. It's a wonder there are still humans alive here, sometimes. I do what I can to protect people, but it's not enough. It's never enough.

"I've died so many times," he finished.

"I'm here, now," Ianto reassured him. "I'll hold you until you come back."

"Not a good idea. I can't control myself when I come back. You saw it earlier. I almost killed my own men!"

"Then I'll train you out of it," Ianto persisted. "You didn't hurt me earlier, did you? I'm never letting you come back alone again, if I have any say in the matter."

Jack choked on a sob, lowering his head. "You wouldn't offer that if you knew the things I've done…"

"I love you, Jack. I'll do anything for you. Anything."

"For now, just hold me," Jack asked.

After five minutes of just holding each other, Jack moved to kiss Ianto, which quickly led to other things, and Ianto had to make a new pot of coffee because by the time they got to it, the coffee in his mug was stone cold and the stuff in the pot had burnt and was no longer drinkable.

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"Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"We should really get cleaned up if we're going to my sister's," Ianto said, nuzzling Jack's neck.

"But I like holding you!"

"We'll have lots of time for that," Ianto reminded him. "Come on, I'll give you a massage in the shower, unless you think that might trigger you."

"Why would it trigger me?" Jack wondered, pulling Ianto on top of him, kissing along his jaw.

"Well, you startle so violently, and you mentioned torture, so I don't want to do something that will make it worse. Your reactions, I mean."

"Oh, that makes sense. But you don't have to worry. If I'm awake and can see it coming, or know the touch is coming, I'm fine."

"Well, that's good," Ianto said. He climbed off Jack. "Now let's go. I don't want to smell like I've spent six hours having sex when I see my sister for the first time in three years."

"Eight," Jack said, following him.

"What?"

"It's been eight years for her."

Ianto stopped so suddenly that Jack bumped into his back. "Eight years. David must be old enough to go to university. I've missed so much of their lives…"

Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto from behind and kissed his shoulder. "He's just started at Cardiff University," Jack said. "He wants to join Torchwood, someday." Ianto shuddered in Jack's arms. "I told him no," Jack reassured him. He let Ianto go and they entered the en suite. Jack worked the controls of the shower expertly, setting the water to Ianto's preferred temperature without having to think about it, even though it was a little cooler than he tended to like it. He'd gotten used to Ianto's tastes and trained himself into the habit while Ianto was away. "Mica's got two more years until university. She wants to be a nurse or doctor."

"Rhi? Johnny? They're still together?"

"Johnny's a district manager for a construction firm. Rhi's been studying online, though she keeps changing her mind about what she wants, so she'll take a semester or two in one topic, then switch to something different."

"She's not working?"

"She doesn't have to, with Johnny's job. She's been learning so many different things, she'll rival you for knowing everything." Jack laughed. "Though her memory isn't as good as yours."

"Never thought Johnny would have a job like that," Ianto commented, picking up the shower gel that he used to use. "Where's your brand?"

"I like smelling like you," Jack explained without shame. "It helps me stay focused. I pulled a few strings, got Johnny a job. Don't worry!" he added when Ianto was about to protest. "He quit that job after a year and a half and got something better, and since then he's been working his way up the hierarchy. He just needed that first job where someone actually believed he could do it and nurtured his talents in the right way."

"He's not embarrassed you got it for him?"

"All I did was get him the interview. Really." Jack took the shower gel and opened the shampoo bottle instead.

Ianto let out a groan as Jack started rubbing shampoo into his hair. "Mmm, that's nice." They drifted in silence for a few minutes as they washed each other, then Ianto turned Jack to face the tiles and started the massage he promised.

"Oh," Jack breathed, his whole being relaxing at Ianto's skilled touch. "Oh!" He moaned.

Ianto shifted his stance, placed Jack's hands on the tiles over his head. "I think I missed a spot," he murmured, kissing his way down Jack's spine. He got on his knees and parted Jack's cheeks. Above him, Jack drew in a sharp breath and widened his legs. Ianto's tongue flicked out. He started stroking Jack's cock.

"God, Ianto!" Jack's knees gave out when he came. Ianto, expecting this, caught him under his arms and slowly brought them down so they were sitting on the floor of the shower, water still cascading down on them. Jack leaned his head back against Ianto's shoulder. They sat like that for a moment while Jack caught his breath. Jack reached out his hand and ran a thumb over Ianto's lips. "You plan on kissing your sister with this mouth?" he asked cheekily.

"I'd rather kiss you," Ianto replied, suiting action to words.

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Jack, fueled on Ianto's coffee (and perhaps on Ianto himself,) didn't stop grinning the entire drive to Rhiannon's house. She still lived in the Cromwell estates, even though they could afford to move, because she wanted Ianto to be able to find her when he came back if he didn't find Jack first, Jack explained as he drove. He bounced on the balls of his feet as they waited for her to answer the doorbell he rang so enthusiastically. It reminded Ianto a little bit of when New New Jack introduced him to the Doctor. A little kid, wanting to show off his favorite toy. Smiling to himself, Ianto reevaluated that thought. There was no way Jack was a child, not after the kinds of things they'd spent the day doing together.

He noticed movement at the window, most likely Rhi checking to see if she could get a clue as to who was at the door. She'd see the Torchwood SUV and know it was Jack. A moment later, the door swung open, warm light bathing them and dispelling the darkness.

"Jack Harkness, don't you ever think to call before showing —"

"Rhi, look who I —"

Rhiannon shrieked, interrupting Jack's greeting. She shrieked louder than Ianto had ever heard anyone shriek, ever, including an alien race known for their vocalizations. Before he knew it, she'd thrown herself at him, babbling and hugging him and shouting over her shoulder for Johnny and the kids. Jack's hand on Ianto's back kept them both upright, her hug was so violent. He heard a nearby front door open.

"Susan! Susan!" Rhi yelled, right in his ear, but he didn't care because suddenly he had his arms full with his niece and nephew as well as his sister. Johnny simply clapped him on the back and went to get the scotch he could tell they would need when the commotion died down. "Susan! It's Ianto! Jack found him!"

She let go of Ianto briefly to hug Jack, squeezing him tightly and already crying. "You bastard! You bloody bastard! You found him and you didn't think to give me warning? I don't have a thing in!" Jack laughed and hugged her back.

"I've got takeaway," he told her, indicating the bags at his feet that she hadn't noticed yet.

"Oh, you knew you'd get away with this, didn't you?" She miles affectionately at Jack and patted his cheek before grabbing onto Ianto again.

Neighbors started pouring out of their houses at the commotion, and soon the entire block turned up on Rhi's doorstep to hug, kiss, and congratulate her, Jack for finding him, and Ianto for turning up after all these years. Everyone was talking at once, and the joy and happiness of the crowd felt overwhelming to Ianto. He looked over their heads at Jack, who was leaning against the house with Johnny chatting amiably and drinking scotch, having secured the takeaway inside. He begged Jack with his eyes for either scotch or a rescue. Jack winked at him and took another sip of his drink.

"All right, everyone, time to go home," Jack said five minutes later. "Time for Ianto to visit with his family." Within two minutes he'd herded everyone away and joined the family in the sitting room, where Ianto finally got some of the scotch.

"So what happened?" Rhiannon demanded, taking the seat on Ianto's left side, since the right was occupied with Jack, who had an arm around his lover. "Where were you? Were you on other planets, like Jack said?"

Ianto glanced around at the kids, at Johnny, still in his shirt and tie from work, at the house he barely recognized because it was clean and the furniture different, though still with that lived-in quality. "Um," he started, breaking off to look at Jack with a question in his eyes.

"Torchwood's public, remember?" Jack asked. "As long as it's not a confidential case, you can tell them whatever you want."

Reassured, Ianto started talking, telling his family about some of his adventures, though he kept out the part about sleeping with all the Jacks. Jack, who hadn't heard much of this either, sat next to him with an attentive look on his face. Ianto could tell by the occasional shift of his eyebrows or lips or tightening of his grip on Ianto's hand that he was reacting to certain things, but he didn't worry about it. Jack had read (and memorized!) his diary, after all, so he knew the major points.

Hours later, after a rowdy dinner that included David's girlfriend Tracy, Mica's girlfriend Sioban, and several of Rhiannon's closest friends that Ianto knew from childhood, Ianto retreated to the kitchen to help his sister with the dishes.

"You look completely knackered," she observed.

"Well, haven't been back for very long yet."

"Jack'll take care of you," she said. "He's been wonderful, keeping in touch with us, looking after us. Honestly, I didn't expect it. I mean, I only found out about him when you went missing, and —"

"Yeah. Was going to tell you," Ianto muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, I know that, you daft sod. You just didn't know what it was with him, and wanted to wait before you said anything. Jack explained it all."

"He did?"

"He's a wonderful man, Ianto. He's been through a lot, waiting for you."

"I know. I know, and I wish it hadn't been so long. It was only three years for me."

Rhiannon paused in her washing, looking over at him with a speculative look on her face.

"What?" Ianto asked, frowning.

"Did he ask you to marry him yet?"

Ianto felt the blush on his cheeks. He looked away, noted the picture of him and Jack tacked to the refrigerator. "Informally," he answered.

"And?" she asked, turning off the water and putting her hands on her hips to give him the patented older-sister question-glare.

"And he'll get his answer when he asks me when we haven't just had sex."

"Too much information!" Rhi declared, though she was laughing. She pulled him into another hug, sighing as he wrapped his arms around her. "You'll be around more, now?" she asked hopefully. "Now that you're back?"

"Yeah," he affirmed, letting go of her.

"For a while, I thought you were mad at me. I mean, you left so soon after Dad died…After university, you stopped coming by, except Christmas…"

"It was work. I was at Torchwood in London, before I transferred to Cardiff." He sighed. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"What ever happened with that Lisa girl you were seeing?"

Ianto shivered involuntarily. "She died. In London. Right before I came here. That's why I came back. I couldn't stay in London any longer."

"I'm sorry."

"Me, too," Ianto responded, remembering the horror of a half-converted Lisa moving about the Hub, threatening his friends, killing Dr. Tanizaki and Annie. "But now that I'm back, I can go on, build my life the way I want it." He grabbed the flannel to continue drying the dishes for her. "And I'll keep in touch better. We'll have those monthly dinners, like you've been doing with Jack."

"You'd better," Rhi muttered good-naturedly. She turned the water back on and started on the dishes they'd abandoned.

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