49

Where are you?

Jack's voice boomed through Ianto's mind as he huddled behind the shelving unit.

Ianto?

Ianto knew he was close and peered under the shelf, watching the boots as they scuffed past.

Jack was getting angry now, it had been almost three hours that Ianto has hidden from him and Jack knew that whatever the reason, it was probably a misunderstanding for something he forgot.

"I know you're in here somewhere!" Jack growled to the archives, "I can feel you listening."

Bugger off then.

"Ianto?" Jack swung to peer at some shelving to his left.

I'm busy. Go find someone who cares.

Cares? Jack frowned, whatever he had done, it now seemed that Ianto was taking it personally.

"Baby. Please?" Jack tried for begging, "I need you."

Silence.

"Ianto? I know you are angry. Please help me understand so I can fix it" Jack sighed.

"You told her that you were unmarried" Ianto said out loud, causing Jack to spin and look at the opposite set of shelves.

"Who?"

"The Unit bitch on the phone. She asked if you were available. You said, totally. You told her that you were not married to you job, or anything else!" Ianto started to snuffle and Jack knew he had been crying.

"Ah shit, baby, I wasn't talking about love. We were looking at our diaries trying to sort out a date for a meeting. Not married to my job, I said that because I wasn't agreeing to an evening meeting. I was telling her that I don't work evenings anymore" Jack tried to explain as he took a step towards the sound of shuffling.

"Really?"

"Baby, I love you. You are my everything. We are not married, that's true but I am definitely yours. I couldn't be more yours if we tattooed your name across my butt." Jack crooned.

Ianto peered around the shelf, a scuffed and bedraggled teddy in his hands. That shook Jack, the teddy hadn't been seen in months and Jack thought he had put it away. He now knew Ianto had a secret hiding pace and wondered what else was behind the shelves.

"Baby, please come here and give me a cuddle, I was scared when I couldn't find you" Jack pouted exaggeratedly and Ianto finally came out from the shelves and shuffled into his arms.

"My love" Jack crooned as he rubbed his back.

Ianto gave a shuddering sigh and Jack knew he had really hurt him, even if it was by accident.

"I am yours. I will do anything to prove it" Jack assured him softly.

"Really?" Ianto leaned back and stared at him. Hard.

"Really."

"Well, remember you said that!" Ianto said cryptically, "I will call you on it later."

"OK baby" Jack grinned, "anytime."