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 awoke the following morning to the most delicious coffee aroma he had ever smelt. He rolled over in bed to find his phone, thinking he was dreaming. As he checked what time it was he realised the wonderful smell was still in the air, so how could it be his dream?
Throwing on a pair of lounge pants he entered his own kitchen to find Ianto Jones holding two mugs.
"Morning," He said softly, "I was just about to bring you this."
"Good morning!" Jack accepted his cup and inhaled the aroma. "Wow, this smells incredible."
"Yes, I err…" Ianto blushed. "I had to rummage around a bit, but I found a cafetiere and nipped out for the coffee. I could only find instant in the cupboard."
Jack chuckled as he took a sip.
"Oh my!" Jack stared into the mug. "Ianto Jones, this is without a doubt some of the best coffee I have ever tasted!"
"No going back to that awful instant then!" Ianto laughed.
Jack smiled at the man in front of him.
"I sure could get used to this every morning!"
Ianto blushed yet again, and Jack hurriedly looked away and corrected his mistake.
"The coffee, I mean, just the coffee." He cleared his throat to move on the awkward moment. "So!"
"So," Ianto repeated softly, looking into his own mug. "Jack, I want to thank you for last night. For answering, for getting me here, and for Owen patching me up."
"You can thank Owen yourself, he wants to head round to give you a once over later this morning." Jack informed him. "And as for the rest, well, you're more than welcome Ianto."
The two sat silently in each other's company for several minutes until finally, Jack spoke again.
"Ianto, I have to ask. What happens now?"
Ianto took a deep steadying breath and held tight to his coffee mug.
"Lisa called this morning. I heard her answerphone message. She said she's sorry…"
"For fuck's sake Ianto!" Jack moaned into his hands. "She's sorry? She has beat you, pushed you through a window, burned you and you're telling me she is sorry? What the hell is it going to take for you to actually leave her?"
"I have nowhere else..."
"There is always somewhere else!" Jack glared across the table at the infuriating young man in front of him. "There are shelters, refuges, and if for whatever reason that is not an option I have a spare room, Tosh and Owen have a spare room. Hell, you could take the sofa in the goddamn staff lounge of Cardiff Constabulary if you wanted! But I am not about to let you disappear back to that life, and go through each day not knowing if the next time I see you you'll need further urgent medical attention, or…"
"Or?" Ianto prompted softly.
"Or if you'll turn up on a slab in the police mortuary." Jack finished.
Ianto nodded softly, clutching his mug again, staring at the grainy pattern on Jack's table.
"Actually, I was just going to say," He finally responded, quietly. "That I heard Lisa's message. She says she is sorry, but I don't buy it, not any more. I'm done, Jack. I'm out."
His raised his head and stared into the blue eyes of the older man in front of him.
"Only I have nowhere else to go. But if you are serious about your offer, I mean, I can afford to pay you rent, chip in with the shopping and utilities. I quite enjoy cleaning, so I am very tidy. You won't be finding my dirty socks on the floor or…"
"Ianto," Jack stopped him babbling, relief flooding his veins. "Yes, I am serious about the offer. If you want to stay, you are more than welcome. You really don't have to prove yourself or earn your keep."
Ianto smiled again, and it struck Jack just how gorgeous he looked when he did so, despite the various cuts and bruises across his handsome young face.
Owen was true to his word and turned up later that morning. Again, he banished Jack into the kitchen so he could examine Ianto in peace. He was pleased to see his injuries looking much better, he redressed his wound, and he even spotted a healthier glow in the young man's cheeks. The damage on Ianto's mental health, however, Owen knew would not be quite so easily managed.
"How are you feeling, Ianto?" Owen asked casually, as he began packing his med kit back up.
"The pain is much better," Ianto responded, buttoning the shirt he had borrowed from Jack and making a mental note to start thinking about replacing his own clothing and belongings. "I haven't needed as much pain relief so far today."
"That's good," Owen nodded, "But I also meant psychologically."
"I'm ok." Ianto responded quietly, not quite catching Owen's eye.
"And what do you plan on doing with yourself tomorrow, while Jack is at work?"
Ianto didn't respond.
"You might feel good at the moment; there's plenty to get used to with learning to live with Jack, trust me, but once you settle in I'm worried you might start regretting your choice, or driving yourself mad going over various "what if" scenarios. Remember that wherever you are, Jack and I are always at the end of the phone, ok? Even if we are both working."
Ianto nodded.
Jack reappeared clutching a bright pink spatula.
"Sausage sandwich Owen?" He enquired, winking at Ianto who felt himself start to blush.
"Cheers Jack, but I need to dash." The doctor got to his feet, medical bag in hand. "My shift starts shortly."
"Not to worry! More for us, aye Ianto!"
Owen bid the two friends goodbye, and as he made his exit Ianto joined Jack back in the kitchen for their brunch.
"I was thinking," Jack began, having demolished his food in record time. "We should make the most of the day, get out of the flat."
Ianto was still working his way steadily through his first sandwich, but he glanced up worriedly at Jack.
"Oh I don't mean locally," Jack picked up on Ianto's panic. "We could take a drive out of Cardiff, enjoy the sun. Maybe take a walk? Before I return to the office tomorrow."
Ianto nodded and finally swallowed the final piece of his first sandwich. As he reached for his coffee, he glanced down at his plate, wondering how best to broach the subject of food without offending Jack.
As it was, Jack was able to begin the conversation for him.
"Not hungry huh?"
"Sorry." Ianto muttered quietly.
"You have nothing to apologise for," Jack responded, reaching over the table for Ianto's abandoned sandwich. "Besides, all the more for me."
He grinned as he stuffed the entire thing into his mouth, lightening the moment as Ianto chuckled into his coffee.
Later, that afternoon found both men sitting in the sun on the grass of a huge, green national park. It struck Jack how easy it was to talk with Ianto, there were no awkward moments of silence or times of uneasiness. The conversation flowed as they discussed favourite books and films, holidays they had enjoyed, and other varying interests.
The conversation turned easily to family; Ianto explained how after his mum died of cancer when he was 17, he had fallen out of touch with his dad, but that he remained close with his big sister Rhiannon.
"I mean, at least until the last year or so." Ianto was staring at his feet again.
"So I assume she knows nothing of Lisa's behaviour?"
"She knows enough to have formed a dislike so strong it caused several arguments. I just thought it was easier to keep them apart, so we stopped visiting as often."
Jack nodded.
"I don't see my brother Gray as often as I did." He mused. "We're very different people."
"I meant to ask," Ianto looked up. "What was with the window cleaning card?"
"Oh, that," Jack chuckled. "A little business venture my brother had a while back, and as I was out of work at the time I took up the admin side, bookings and so on. I kept the cards because they have come in handy whenever I have needed to dish out my number without the Detective Inspector for Cardiff constabulary status."
"Do you make a habit of collecting waifs and strays then?"
"Ianto, you are not a waif or a stray!" Jack gently nudged the Welshman next to him. "And actually, aside from a few undercover operations and the odd one night stand, you're the first I've given a card to in a long time."
"Well I'm glad you did."
Ianto looked directly at Jack, who saw a glimpse of how easy it would to lose himself in those piercing blue eyes.