19
Ianto looked pale but alert, his relief on his face broke Jack's heart as he raced to the bed and gently pulled Ianto into his arms.
"Oh Jack" Ianto sighed softly, melting into him as he let a few traitorous tears escape, the thought of what might have been too much and Jack knew his own face was not dry as he soothed him gently.
"It's OK. It's all going to be OK" Jack crooned, more to reassure himself than Ianto at this point, the adrenaline still racing as he ran his hands over him before accepting the sling was the only sign anything had happened.
And Ianto's swollen knuckles.
Slugger.
"Gray is with the kids. They are OK, don't know everything, just that you had an accident." Paul said as he watched the two men, their love so raw. This had gone too far. He hoped the Mountain folk were enjoying their new toy, if he was still alive at all. Not his jurisdiction. The Wilders were from another realm altogether as far as the town was concerned. You do not fuck with them, they do not fuck with you. Poke that bear at your own peril.
"We have another problem" the doctor said as he entered the room. "Mister Harkness, you flying home unexpectedly and the haste at the airport has brought some followers. You have a media pack forming outside."
"Shit" Ianto sighed.
"No. Come on. You slipped, fell and injured your shoulder. All they have to know" Jack said firmly "We walk out of here, calm and smiling. Sheepish because you lost your footing or whatever. I will look relieved and sheepish because it was something I was supposed to fix… whatever. We are just relieved you are OK."
They walked out with Jack's arm protectively hiding him against him, their smiles for the cameras slightly forces but their heads were high and they made eye contact, making sure no one saw any form of alarm.
"What happened?"
"How long have you owned property here?"
"Does this mean you are back together?"
The shouting was mixed, loud and excitable, Jack waving a hand at them before saying softly "Ianto slipped and fell running along the path behind our house. The path I was supposed to have chipped or paved due to the mud. He has damaged his shoulder, the doc says it will be fine, he needs some rest and to get better soled shoes for wet ground." Jack informed them "Yes, we own a house here. Well … Ianto does. I am still trying to wheedle my way in there after upsetting him and almost ruining our relationship due to my pigheaded work ethic. Ianto and I are trying to make another go of it, this time with me hopefully a better boyfriend and less of a pig. We shall see … I am quite the ass at times behind the scenes ya know. I don't think I could live with me, don't know how he does it really."
As hoped, everyone laughed and the questions became lighter, the cause accepted and not as important as the megawatt smiling movie star that rarely gave interviews let alone let them see his elusive boyfriend.
"Does this mean wedding bells in the future?" someone yelled cheekily and before Jack could react Ianto did.
"Steady on there … he has to ask me yet. If he stuffs that up we are all lost" Ianto said firmly and the press melted as that voice flowed like chocolate drops and warm milk. Many had never heard him speak before, seeing only a silent figure behind Jack peeking out. To have him front and centre, speaking with an accent that was so delicious had them in raptures and Jack watched as Ianto did one of the things he hated most in the world.
He interacted with people.
"I came here with my sister. She got the cancer. She's gone now. In the cemetery back a ways. I like it here. I am not a city boy anymore, I find myself being a country boy after all. I find myself …. Calmer here. Happier. Jack and I had a bump, but bumps are there to slow us down and refocus us on the road once more, yes?" Ianto smiled as more than one sighed softly at the handsome man they had NEVER seen like this before "I have forgiven his brain fart and we are moving on to the next step. Yes, when he finally asks I suppose I shall say yes. I don't' know… if he does it in song I may kill him."
Laughter now as Ianto leaned into Jack, letting him speak once more "Come on now, Ianto is mine and I do not share him willingly. I know you lot, now you've met him you will want more. I don't blame you, he is pretty damned special right? Now if you will excuse me, we have children waiting for us … no I will not tell you about that. Our kids are not your business OK?"
Now Jack had them in raptures as they yelled and begged, the prospect of a hidden family now making them slather.
"If you want to see them… come to the premier of the next movie. Mehaps I will let them come for the evening as a treat." Ianto promised and Jack looked at him with surprise, then they were in the Prowler, the Sherriff driving them through the throng of reporters with a glare that left them in no doubt he might run one over if they do not move.
"Do you mean that?"
"Hmmmmm?"
"If I get it right?"
Ianto snorted "I do not care if you say it with Morse code in the form of an interpretative dance with a flower pot on your head ya silly twat. I just want it to be …. Memorable."
"OK" Jack nodded as he looked out at the world fling by, his world in his arms "OK. I will do that. A flower pot, eh?"
Ianto let his head lay against Jack's shoulder and closed his eyes.
His own world finally settling to revolve once more around the man that brought the warmth to it.