TRIGGER warning for this chapter: (I suppose this story in general.) Mentions of domestic violence/abuse.

I also would like to point out I do not work for the police force, nor am I a medical professional. Therefore I apologise for any mistakes in that area and assure, you is a work of fiction. Thanks.

Owen pulled up not far from Jack and Ianto's bench; Jack jumped out and hurried through the night. He had finally managed to get Owen to agree to wait in the car, for now at least, whilst he spoke to Ianto first. The last thing they wanted to do was scare him away.

Jack reached the bench and his breath caught in his throat. Even in the dull glow of the nearest street lamp Jack could see how pale he was, his face spattered with multiple tiny cuts, a dark bruise forming on his head. Ianto's light blue t-shirt was stained with blood around his abdomen, and he was cradling his arms against his body.

"Ianto…"

The young Welshman nodded silently in acknowledgement.

"What happened?" Jack dropped down to his knees next to the bench. "Is that your blood?"

"I'm…." Ianto started, but then choked on a sob.

"I'm calling an ambulance."

"No!" Ianto raised his voice and then winced at his own sudden movement. "Please Jack, no authorities."

"Right, listen," Jack used a sterner tone. "I have a friend in the car, you have met him before and he is a doctor. Doctor Owen Harper, and he can help, he wants to help. Let me get you back to my flat if you won't go to the hospital, we can treat you there."

Ianto closed his eyes and nodded again, the tears finally freeing themselves and beginning to run silently down his cheeks.

Later, Jack often wondered how exactly he and Owen had managed to get Ianto into the safety of Jack's flat without injuring the young man further. Owen opened up his medical bag and turned Jack's living space into a pop-up triage and treatment room.

"Harkness, make yourself useful," Owen barked. "Grab me some warm water and a fresh towel."

Jack knew Owen was trying to get rid of him to protect Ianto's decency so he was more than happy to oblige.

"Right, Ianto," Owen's tone softened. "We need to get this shirt off you."

Ianto closed his eyes again, and with the help of the young doctor managed to free himself from his filthy bloodstained clothing.

The majority of Ianto's torso was bruised; a mixture of new purple bruises were mixed with old green and blue ones, turning Ianto's skin into a crazy rainbow of colour. The tiny cuts on his face, neck and shoulder, Owen knew, were due to the window smashing incident several days ago. But now there was a fresh wound on Ianto's left side, which looked to Owen sickeningly like a bad burn.

"I'm going to take some basic obs," Owen continued with his soft tone. "Temperature, blood pressure and so on. But then I am going to have to wash and dress this wound. I can't give you anything stronger than paracetamol I'm afraid."

Ianto shook his head.

"It's fine. I'm ok."

"I have ibuprofen if that helps," Jack returned with the water and a large blue bath towel, tactically avoiding looking directly at the half-dressed Ianto. "I can also do tea, coffee…. Or maybe something stronger?"

"I don't think alcohol is the answer right now Harkness," Owen responded before Ianto could open his mouth.

"Right, of course not."

"But I could certainly murder another coffee," Growled the medic.

Jack grinned, flashed a quick wink in Ianto's direction and retreated again to the kitchen.

"Right, that's got him out of the way," Owen continued, wrapping the blood pressure strap around Ianto's arm. "I have to ask – what happened?"

Ianto swallowed and looked towards the door.

"I'm not the police," Owen reassured. "And you're still bound by doctor patient confidentiality even though we are not in the hospital. The only thing is, if I know the whole story then I know exactly how to treat you."

"I understand," Ianto said softly. "I… well. It was a pan of boiling water."

"Let me guess," Owen was checking Ianto's temperature, "You dropped it?"

"Actually it was thrown on me." Ianto confirmed quietly.

Owen paused in his examination and stared at the man in front of him.

"Lisa. My girlfriend," Ianto continued with a sigh, "She's been hurting me for months. Maybe longer, I've lost track."

Owen nodded slowly.

"You know, if you wanted to make an official complaint…"

"I can't" Ianto's voice started to crack with panic. "At least, not right now, not like this."

"Ok, ok." Owen held his hand up. "I'm not here to make you do anything you don't want to, ok? I want to help. Let's get this wound sorted."

Owen took the bowl of warm water and a dressing and began to clean Ianto's burn. He looked up again into the man's blue eyes.

"But bloody well done you." Owen said softly. "It takes guts to actually say what you just said. You should be proud of yourself."

An hour later and Ianto was fast asleep under the duvet in Jack's spare room, whilst Jack and Owen debriefed on the sofa.

"We can't force the bloke to make a statement, but we can support his choice to stay or leave."

"I sure as hell am not letting him go back."

"Jack, you cannot force him to do anything he doesn't want to do." Owen said seriously. "If he changes his mind you have to let him go, it's not like you can just keep him locked in your spare room."

"Watch me." Jack growled, anger growing in his stomach.

"For Christ's sake Harkness talk sense!" Owen snapped. "If you keep him physically restrained you could land yourself in a whole world of trouble, you'd be no better than the bitch who has done this to him."

"How dare you compare me to that," Jack responded, getting to his feet and pacing his living room. "I have never, would never lay a finger on someone…"

"Calm down!" Owen sighed. "I wasn't comparing I was just saying! You have to face facts – If Ianto decides to go back to her, there's nothing you can do. Unless in the meantime you can convince him otherwise. But Jack, please, don't get too mixed up in this situation."

"Don't get too mixed up?" Jack repeated. "Owen are you fucking kidding me? You were the one who wanted to get me involved in the first place!"

"Yeah, well I didn't expect you to go and fall in love with the bloke, did I?"

Jack stared at Owen who swore to himself.

"What?"

"Oh come on, how long have we known each other?" Owen approached his friend. "I know you Jack. I know when you've fallen for someone and this time you've fallen pretty fast and pretty hard."

Jack was silent. He knew Ianto made him feel things he hadn't felt in a long time, things he hadn't felt since John, but he had put that down to the worry for his safety, he hadn't dared to examine his feelings in that way. But was Owen wrong? Probably not. When Jack looked at Ianto he knew he would move heaven and earth to keep him safe.

"I need to go," Owen placed his hand on Jack's shoulder. "Get some rest, call me in the morning."

Jack nodded, as Owen headed to the door to let himself out. Once he got there he turned back.

"And Jack? Just be careful. Please."