14

Dusk at the Helipad on the Harkness Estate.

Ianto looked around as the helicopter took off again, Jack shielding him as he waved and then turned to lead Ianto along the pathway to the back door of the house. Ianto felt weird being here.

"Jackson, where have you been? Your father… oh. Ianto?" Jack's mother stood on the steps with surprise.

"Hello Daphne" Ianto said softly, letting Jack help him up the steps as his ankle started to ache.

"Mama, Ianto's house collapsed on him, he's a bit bruised and in need of a bath and some rest OK?" Jack said as he glanced up to find his mother's face changing to one of horror.

"Oh darling, you poor boy. Come on… Jack if you start your bath in …"

"NO!" Ianto barked then grimaced as he clutched the door frame "I mean… a spare room?"

Jack felt the sting but knew he was doing well to get Ianto to come home with him in the first place. He would take what he can get "Mama. I will put Ianto in the room next to mine, the red one. Ianto likes red."

I don't care if it's bright yellow… I just need to sleep" Ianto muttered with annoyance. Jack's mother glanced at him with surprise, not knowing Ianto to ever speak rudely or out of turn.

"Come on, I will run you a bath…"

"No, I would not be able to get back out once I start to seize up. No, a hot shower and then sleep. Sleep is good" Ianto sighed, not caring anymore. His home was gone, life was all shook up… literally and the last thing he wanted to do right now is be feckin polite to the family of the man who hurt him.

Saved him.

Loves him still?

Jack started the shower, knowing Ianto's preferred temperature was not scalding but that slightly overly comfortable hot. Ianto was already undressing as Jack's mother bustled in with some of her husband's PJs complaining that Jack never wore any like some Neanderthal and then she turned and her words died in her throat as Ianto carelessly dropped his shirt on the floor revealing the vivid scars and the smattering of bruises in a myriad of colours over them.

Ianto didn't care anymore. The water was calling and if it is one thing Ianto hates, it is bloody filth. Ianto stepped towards the shower and Jack knew what would drop next… followed by his mother's jaw so he gently pushed her out with a whispered thanks and kiss to her cheek before pulling the door closed to watch Ianto's pants hit the deck followed by his boxers as he shuffled into the water and groaned with relief.

"I have your preferred shower gel…I… sometimes I use it… at night before bed so it feels like you are close to me. I know it sounds sappy but… I miss you" Jack said as he watched Ianto stand with his head down under the spray of water.

Jack thought maybe Ianto hadn't heard or didn't care so he turned to leave only to hear a soft "Well I got your aftershave. Better for the sheets."

Jack placed his head on the door and then told himself not to spoil it so he said "I will turn your bed down Tiger"

Jack went to the Red Room that wss actually mostly white with some red accents. It was crisp, clean and bright. Ianto. Jack found his mother already there placing some roses down. She swung to face him "The garden is getting shaken up, the Earthquake resistant foundations might save us but not my poor flower beds so I've picked what I can salvage. I seem to remembers that he likes roses."

"Yes Mama, he loves them. Roses and lily of the valley. His mama used to wear the perfume that smelled of Lily of the valley" Jack said as he walked to the bed and started to turn it back. "Thanks, he will be touched in the morning when he sees them. Right now he can barely see two feet in front of him."

"Is he insured?"

"Ianto is smart. First thing he would have done is insure the place. Yeah… he will be upset he lost some things but Ianto will get over this. Rebuild or buy something else. He is nothing if not versatile" Jack said as he straightened things to make the room look more… symmetrical. Ianto was pedantic about levels, angles and shapes. Something Jack had learned. Knew full well to mess with during an argument to piss him off. Right now, for maybe the first time ever… Jack was trying got fix it.

Finally Jack saw the irony of his actions and froze, then he let his hands drop to look around the room. It would take more than arranging some knickknacks and the fucking lamps to salvage this.

Ianto appeared the doorway, looking around blearily "God. White."

"Yeah, clean. Come on, in you get." Jack rushed to help Ianto who looked at him with mild amusement as he hobbled to the bed.

"Nothing broke Jack… just a sprain and some bruises and abrasions. You are the one who got your ribs badly bruised too ya nutter" Ianto scolded "Stop fussing."

"I am not" Jack said as he knelt to remove the slippers Ianto had found waiting by the PJs. "come on, in ya get.

Ianto settled in the bedding and Jack pulled the covers up, tucking him in then checking he was comfortable before looking towards the door. The he dragged over a chair "I will stay a little while, until you are asleep. OK?"

Ianto nodded with gratitude.

He was still angry with him and he had a long way to go to fix things.. if it was possible... but Ianto was still shaken and afraid. Earthquake and Fire are his two most scary nightmares. To know his house not only fell on him but then burned after he was saved… Jack knew as well as Ianto that he was going to have nightmares.

"Just a little while" Ianto agreed.

Jack settled for the night in the chair.

.

..

.

You've caught up to me now... single posting now folks.