Trigger warning for this chapter: (I suppose this story in general.) Mentions of domestic violence/abuse. Also just a quick note - I am not a doctor and nor do I work for the police force. I apologise for any mistakes I make in this case.

Jack's arm did heal pretty fast as the week came to an end. It still throbbed occasionally, but the stitches were out and Owen had assured his friend the scar should fade over time.

Jack returned to work in full working order the following Tuesday, waltzing back into the office ready to tackle the huge stack in his in-tray head on. The smiles couldn't mask his tired eyes, however, and Gwen Williams realised he looked more exhausted than she'd seen him in a long time. Of course, what Gwen didn't realise was that this had little to do with his injured arm, and much more to do with a certain Welshman who had been firmly on Jack's mind all week. So much so, that the strong detective had lost more than a few nights of sleep for worrying over him.

Jack hadn't dared to text or call Ianto; the last thing he wanted to do was upset his home life any further, and he could only imagine the sort of repercussions that this "Lisa" would have in store for Ianto if she happened to read a text, or god forbid, answer his call.

Gwen swept into Jack's office, a hot mug of coffee in her hands, and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Morning love, god it's good to have you back!" She purred in her thick welsh accent, placing the coffee down in front of him. "How's the arm?"

"Oh you know me," Jack smiled at her. "I heal well."

"Good to hear! Hey, Rhys said to ask you round on Saturday, I think Owen and Tosh are off too. Rhys is cooking, so bring some wine and we'll make a night of it, yeah?"

"Perfect!" Jack grinned at his friend. "Sounds great, just what I need."

"Are you sure you're ok Jack?" Gwen probed. "You seem a little out of sorts."

"Sleepless nights I guess." Jack stretched out his injured arm. "It bothers me more in the night because it's the side I usually sleep on."

"Well, if you're sure it's just that…"

"I'm fine Gwen," Jack reassured. "More importantly, what have I missed?"

Gwen launched into a long and detailed review of the week's events at the station, a mixture of case updates and staff gossip. Jack allowed her to babble on as he began clicking through his emails, until suddenly she caught his attention.

"…involved with another domestic between a Mr Jones and Miss Hallett."

"What?"

Gwen blinked. "What?"

"The domestic, what were you saying?"

"Oh," Gwen sipped her coffee. "This couple Owen has had on his radar a while now. The bloke keeps turning up at A&E with all sorts of injuries, clearly a DV case but Owen can't get him to admit it so there's been nothing we could do. Well, until now. Neighbour's called regarding a public disturbance two nights ago, our boys turned up to a smashed window and Miss Hallett feeding them some cock and bull story about vandals. Low and behold, Owen text yesterday to say her fella had turned up in A&E with several glass wounds. He had to pick bits of glass out of the poor bloke."

Jack's stomach catapulted and for a moment he thought he might throw up his coffee right there onto the desk.

"Have we managed to get a statement from him?" He asked, already guessing the answer.

"No, there was a wellbeing check down for first thing this morning but I haven't heard anything."

Jack brought up the case file on his laptop, and felt sick as he read the words, "No further action."

"Dammit!" He growled, thumping the desk.

Gwen raised her eyebrow. "Jack?"

"Shit," He realised she was looking concerned again. "Sorry Gwen, I just deleted an email I hadn't read."

Gwen laughed.

"Oh it's good to have you back. Right, I had better go and do some work!" She drained her coffee and sauntered off to her own desk, leaving Jack feeling worse than ever.

The day passed in a haze of coffee and paper work. Jack's superior had been clear about his first few days back at work being strictly office based, so when he stepped into the warm Welsh sunshine that afternoon he closed his eyes for a moment to take in the fresh breeze.

He checked his phone for what must be the hundredth time that day. He wasn't expecting Ianto to get in touch, but it didn't stop him half hoping.

He took a wander down to the bay and chose the same bench he had sat on with Ianto only a matter of days before. He turned to his phone again. Eventually he settled on a message:

Gray's window services: Hello customer, don't forget you can now book a window clean via our text messaging service.

Jack read it through several times. It meant nothing, but at least it hopefully showed Ianto he was thinking about him. And if it did happen to fall into the wrong hands, Ianto could simply claim wrong number.

He pressed send.

After returning his phone to his pocket, he headed back to the stations car park to collect his car. Several hours later as he lay on his bed at the brink of sleep, his phone buzzed with a simple response:

I'm ok.

Saturday night couldn't come soon enough for Jack. The week had dragged, he had received no further communication with Ianto, but then neither had the police so at least that was a good sign. He turned up at Gwen and Rhys' doorstep, only fashionably late by twenty minutes this time, clutching a bottle of wine. Gwen ushered him into the spacious living area where Tosh and Owen were already clutching glasses and seated at the dining table. Rhys hollered a hello from the kitchen, but moments later returned with the food and they began to enjoy the meal.

As the meal was devoured and the wine flowed, Jack felt the stresses of the last week begin to leave his body whilst he enjoyed the happy company of his friends. He didn't go overboard this time, he was driving after all, and after a short but sweet debate with Tosh, Owen decided the same. The two designated drivers were therefore sharing coffees together in the kitchen when Jack's phone vibrated across the counter.

"Who the hell is messaging you at this time of night," laughed Owen. "Literally every friend you have in your life is here."

Jack hit his friend playfully on the arm, glanced at his phone and then froze as he recognised the number.

"Jack?" Owen frowned at the expression on his friend's face. "Everything ok?"

"It's Ianto." Jack said quietly. He picked up the phone and opened the message.

Jack – can we meet? Usual place, ASAP. Please.

Jack flashed the message in Owens direction; the young doctor frowned again and gulped down the last of his coffee.

"Right, come on." He said, scooping up his car keys. "I have the first aid kit in the car."

"You're coming too?"

"Jack, the poor bloke could have a bloody knife in his side for all we know, of course I'm coming!"
Jack nodded, grabbed his jacket and typed a quick response to Ianto

I'm on the way.