Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or its characters

Chapter 10

Tosh gave him a hug as she left. "Proud of you Ianto" she said.

"Thanks Tosh. I'll let you know how Jack is tomorrow."

Tosh nodded and left, Ianto closing the door behind her. He walked back into the living room to see Jack curled up on the sofa. As soon as he sat down Jack shuffled up and curled up against Ianto. Ianto wrapped his arm round him and held him close.

"That man is a part of my past isn't he?" Jack asked a while later.

Ianto rubbed his hand up and down Jack's arm, trying to sooth him. "Yes he is. His name is John Hart. You and he worked together a long time ago. I don't know much about that. You weren't that forthcoming about your past."

Jack looked up at him. "Why?"

Ianto thought how best to answer this. He was entering dangerous territory now. He didn't know enough about Jack's past to help him navigate this potential minefield. "You were a very private person. And I don't think you ever expected to see him again so didn't see the point. You concentrated more on the here and now. Your past was more of a need to know basis."

Jack looked confused. "But why wouldn't I share my past with my friends? You say you are all my friends so why wouldn't I have trusted any of you enough?" He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm so confused."

Ianto pulled him closer. "It will all make sense when we reverse what's been done. Owen says he is making good progress."

Jack snorted. "If people like John Hart are in my past, I don't think I want to know."

Ianto cursed John and Gwen. He thought he had made progress on that front with Jack. Now he was back to square one.

Ianto was startled awake by a scream. He listened, thinking it was a fox before he heard it again, coming from the bedroom.

He threw the blankets off and ran into the bedroom. Jack was lying on his back, eyes wide open and screaming. Ianto leapt onto the bed and shook him.

"Jack! Jack! It's just a dream! Wake up!"

Jack suddenly arched his back and the screaming stopped. His eyes closed before they opened wide. Jack started panting and crying, rolling to the side. He noticed Ianto and grabbed his hand.

"It hurts!" he cried.

He rolled back clutching his back. "It hurts! Make it stop!"

Ianto grabbed him as he rolled again, stopping him from falling off the bed. Jack was clutching the middle of his back.

"Jack listen to me. I need you to lie on your front. I need to have a look at your back."

Jack cried out as Ianto helped him roll. He looked up at Ianto with tears in his eyes. Ianto carefully pulled up Jack's t-shirt as Jack whimpered. There was nothing obvious, no swelling or redness.

"Jack I'm going to gently touch along your back. You tell me when it hurts, ok?"

Jack nodded and grimaced. Ianto started pushing gently down Jack's back. Jack winced as Ianto moved further down. As Ianto touched the middle of his back Jack started screaming again.

"I'm sorry Jack." He touched Jack's arm. "I won't touch any more. I'm going to call Owen and he can give you something to help with the pain."

He left Jack sobbing into the pillow as he grabbed his mobile from the living room and sped dialled Owen as he ran back into the bedroom.

"Owen! Something's wrong with Jack. Something physical with his back. Ok see you in ten minutes."

Jack's sobs had reduced to pants and whimpers. He turned his face sideways to see Ianto. Ianto could see the agony in his eyes. Ianto took his hand and Jack squeezed.

"Owen will give you some medicine and make it go away. Just hold on Jack he is coming."

Less than ten minutes later Ianto let Owen in and led him through to the bedroom. Owen knelt down to talk to Jack.

"Alright mate. Ianto says your back is hurting." Jack gave a small nod and whimpered. "Ok. Jack I'm going to need to touch your back to have a look. I won't touch more than necessary. As soon as I have finished I will give you something for the pain."

Owen gingerly moved onto the bed as Ianto explained what he had done. Owen pushed gently down Jack's back, gaining the same reactions that Ianto had got, including the agonised scream.

"Please no more!" Jack begged.

Ianto grabbed his hand to see tears flowing down Jack's face. Owen approached with two syringes.

"I'm just going to give you a couple of injections now Jack ok? This will help you relax and give you some relief." Owen injected Jack in the thigh and Jack's eyes slowly closed as his body relaxed.

"What did you give him?" Ianto asked as Owen put them away.

"Morphine and a sedative" he replied. "Should be out for a few hours. I'll stay until he wakes up and see how he is."

Ianto tucked the covers around Jack and placed a lingering kiss on his forehead before joining Owen in the kitchen. He started making them some coffee.

"You noticed didn't you" Owen said.

Ianto turned and nodded. "The pain was where his back snapped after John pushed him off that building. His back ached for days afterwards. I'm worried what he's remembered. I'm hoping he hasn't remembered what happened. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain his immortality to him. He freaked out about the fast healing." Ianto ran his hands down his face. "I could kill John and Gwen, more Gwen since she brought him here. He's terrified of being on his own again and he doesn't want to reverse the memory loss."

Owen muttered something rude under his breath as Ianto finished making the coffees. "Don't get me started on her. She had the cheek to text Tosh asking how Jack was, even after you told her not to contact anyone."

Ianto rolled his eyes but he was too tired to get angry.

"What are we going to do if Jack refuses to reverse the retcon?" Owen asked cautiously.

Ianto shrugged. "We can't force him. We just have to hope he will take it when it's ready. If he doesn't, we will have some recruiting to do."

"You would make a great leader. You'd have my backing" Owen said, watching for Ianto's reaction.

Ianto laughed. "I was thinking you would be better. Tosh has made it clear numerous times she doesn't want to be in charge. You have the skills and experience, even if you are a miserable sod most of the time!"

Owen gave him a friendly punch on the arm. "Says the king of sarcasm!"

"I know the first thing I would do. And I'm guessing it would be your first thing as well" Ianto looked over his mug, eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Fire Gwen!" they both said at the same time before bursting out laughing.

It was 4 hours later before Jack started to stir. Ianto sat beside him whilst Owen lurked outside the door.

"How are you feeling?" Ianto asked gently as Jack blearily opened his eyes.

"My back doesn't hurt any more" he croaked, his voice hoarse from his earlier screaming.

Ianto saw Owen leave and heard the tap running. He appeared a minute later with a glass of water. They both helped Jack sit up into a more comfortable position and watched carefully as he sipped the water.

"Thank you" he said, his voice sounding clearer. He gave Ianto the glass who put it on the bedside table.

Owen carried out some checks on Jack, including prodding his back again. Apart from a mild ache where he was in pain before, he passed all tests.

"Thanks Owen" Ianto said as Owen gathered his things.

"No problem. Give me a shout if the pain returns, but I doubt it will" he yawned.

"Go get some sleep" Ianto said as Owen left.

He walked back into the living room to see Jack sitting gingerly down onto the sofa. Ianto made some coffee and handed it to Jack before sitting carefully down, not wanting to cause Jack any more discomfort. They drank in silence before Jack put his mug down and turned to Ianto.

"I had a dream last night. Except it felt real. It felt like a memory." He stopped and took a deep breath. Ianto took his hand and squeezed it in support. "I was standing on a roof. I threw something off of it. John looked so angry. I was laughing. I don't know why considering his expression. Then he pushed me. I fell backwards. I fell so far." Jack shuddered. "It felt like I was falling for hours, then I landed. There was a crack and pain. So much pain. Like the pain I had last night. Then there was darkness. I was floating in the dark. I felt cold and so alone. Then there was a pull, right here." Jack pointed to his stomach. "Then there was this pain. I was being pulled backwards and it was agony. Then I opened my eyes and you, Tosh, Owen and Gwen were looking down on me." Jack was breathing heavily, almost in a panic. "Ianto, did I die?"

Ianto closed his eyes. So he did remember. He prayed Jack wouldn't remember that night with John. He could strangle both him and Gwen. He opened his eyes to see Jack's frightened ones looking into his. The only comfort he could take from this is that unlike his first revival, someone was here to explain things to him. He squeezed Jack's hand.

"Yes you did Jack. The fall killed you."

Jack's expression turned to one of disbelief. Ianto could see he was on the verge of falling apart. He pulled Jack into his arms.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Jack. I was hoping I wouldn't have to. You can die Jack. But you don't stay dead."

"How? Why?" Jack mumbled into Ianto's shirt.

"I'm sorry Jack I don't know all the details. All you said was that something happened to you a while ago in your past, and since then you haven't been able to die. It's something you didn't like talking about. None of us knew apart from Gwen until you died and revived in front of us."

Jack looked up at him, his eyes glistening. "But why wouldn't I talk about it? Why wouldn't I tell anyone?" He sat up straighter. "Why wouldn't I talk to you about it? You of all people, how could I not confide in you?"

Ianto was about to respond before Jack leant forward and kissed him.