Trigger warning for this chapter: (I suppose this story in general.) Mentions of domestic violence/abuse.
Jack shut off his TV and flung the remote across the room in frustration. He was already bored and fed up with day time TV, and he was only the second day into his week off sick. His arm was throbbing, all of his four friends were working and he felt well and truly sorry for himself.
He was just about to see how well he could manoeuvre a pizza into the oven with one hand when his phone began to vibrate, coming up with a number he didn't recognise.
"Harkness." He answered abruptly, abandoning the pizza on the side and dry swallowing some pain relief medication.
"Um… I'm sorry, I think I misdialled."
Jack's mind snapped to attention as he recognised those beautiful Welsh vowels.
"Ianto? Jones, Ianto Jones?"
"Erm…."
"Hey, it's Jack." He said calmly, sensing the man's distressed tone. "You don't have to say anything, but I am guessing you called for a reason?"
Silence at the other end, although Jack could hear the young man breathing.
"Ianto, look. I could do with a walk. Day time TV has me going stir crazy so, how about coming along? I can meet you at the bay in, say, ten minutes?"
More silence but, then so quietly that Jack almost missed it came a soft "Ok."
"Ok," Jack echoed. "I'll see you in ten."
Jack hadn't realised how much he had missed the feeling of the breeze on his face; he spent so much of his life at work, and so much of his work took him to the streets of Cardiff, it was hard to imagine he still had several days before he could return to a normal routine.
He found a familiar blue eyed, brown haired young man sitting on a bench and made straight for him. Ianto only glanced up briefly as he joined him on the bench, preferring instead to stare down at his feet.
Jack didn't fail to notice a new cut just above Ianto's right eye. The poor man was going to run out of space if he kept this up.
"Another fall?" Jack asked softly.
Ianto shuffled uncomfortably. "This was a mistake. I shouldn't of…"
"Ianto wait." Jack placed a hand gently on his arm, ignoring the unsurprising shudder from the young man. "You called me for a reason, you agreed to meet me here. I don't know what is going on but I do know I want to try and help you, if you'll let me."
"Why?" Whispered Ianto, trying to choke back the sob that threatened to escape, along with months, maybe years of hurt and pain that seemed to be accumulating in his chest.
"Because…" Jack hesitated. "Because I care about people. And not just because it is my job, but because it's who I am."
"How do you know I'm even worth it?"
Jack liked to think he was a hardened man after his years in the force, but hearing that sentence from the beautiful man in front of him made his heart ache.
"In all my years on this earth, I have never met anyone who wasn't important." He growled.
"Even the guy who gave you that?" Ianto indicated to Jack's arm.
Jack chuckled.
"Oh he's important alright," he said, flexing the fingers on his injured hand. "He led me to several of his fellow drug dealers and long story short, the streets of Cardiff are soon to be a little safer once he and his buddies get put away where they belong."
Ianto made a sudden realisation.
"You're a cop." He whispered, and Jack heard the fear.
"Detective, actually." Jack corrected, squinting at the man in front of him. "Is that a problem?"
"No, I mean," Ianto stammered. "Well I don't care, it's just…. Oh god."
Jack watched as Ianto buried his head in his hands and his shoulders began to shudder slightly.
"Ianto, please." Jack lowered his voice near to a whisper and leant in closer. "Talk to me, I can listen at least, even if you think I can't help."
"I'm just so damn tired," Ianto's voice was thick with emotion. "I keep it all inside every day, all this pain and hurt, not just the bruises but…"
Ianto glanced up and Jack saw his eyes wet with tears.
"I am not pressing charges."
"Hey," Jack raised his hand. "We're talking as friends, right? Besides, I'm not currently fit for active duty."
Ianto nodded.
"Right, of course."
"Why don't you start at the very beginning?"
Ianto flashed Jack a small smile which almost made Jack's heart melt.
"A very good place to start," He sung softly. "Well… I met Lisa at Uni and we hit it off pretty much instantly. I mean, she was always a bit funny with any female friends I had, but she wasn't the only girl like that you know? I guess it was just so subtle and then it all grew over time. The jealousy, the suspicion, the controlling, the…"
"Abuse?" Jack offered the word quietly.
Ianto looked down.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of Ianto Jones."
"I am so tired of living each day in such fear," He whispered to his feet. "But I am just too scared to do anything about it."
"You've already begun to do something about it," Jack explained. "By being here, talking to me. Accepting my card and dialling my number this morning, this is a huge step for you. You should be proud of yourself. I am proud of you."
Ianto squinted in the sunlight up at the tall American sat next to him.
"You don't even know me, Jack."
"No," Jack admitted. "But I do know what it is like to be afraid. I spent long enough living in fear of my father, and some years after that I was in a dark relationship myself."
Ianto remained quiet, allowing Jack to continue.
"His name was John, and oh did I love him!" Jack chuckled slightly at the memory. "He was gorgeous, and strong, and he was amazing in bed!"
Ianto blushed.
"But he threw his weight around, liked to make sure he was the man of the house; broke my arm twice."
"What happened?" Ianto asked, softly.
"Like you, I realised I was tired of walking on egg shells. I realised I would rather be alone than be hurt any more. I ran away, made it to a friend's place. I left everything behind me, clothes, books, memories… and all the hurt and fear."
Jack looked at the broken man beside him.
"But look at me know. I have my own flat, a job, a group of friends." Jack smiled. "It doesn't have to be like this for you Ianto. You can change your life too."
"I'm scared." Ianto admitted, "Scared she might…"
"Hurt you again?"
"Worse."
Jack tensed.
"Has she threatened you?"
Ianto let out a soft laugh.
"Only on a daily basis. If I tried to leave she has made it very clear she will find me and…"
"She's threatened to kill you." Jack finished. "John said the same to me."
Ianto nodded.
"I can protect you. If…"
"No!" Ianto turned angrily towards Jack. "I said I am not pressing charges. You said you would talk to me as a friend, not as the police!"
"Ianto…"
"This was such a big mistake." Ianto jumped to his feet and ran his hand through his hair. "I really shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have come. I need to go."
He began to walk away, but Jack followed him.
"Ianto, wait a moment!" He called. "Please, think about what I said! If you have to go now, I understand! But don't forget, you have my number! Any time of day or night, Yan, I will answer you! I promise!"
Ianto stopped a few feet in front of Jack, then turned to face him.
"I never said you could call me Yan." He said softly, before turning away again. This time, Jack didn't follow him.