22

Jack knew things were happening behind the scenes with John walking about in a constant stare of pissery and Owen not much better. Malcolm was silent and broody which told him that whatever was happening, he approved of John's methods. Jack didn't really want to know.

He sat on the edge of the bed looking down at his poor love. Ianto was asleep, the pale sheets making him almost invisible in them with his pale skin and only the now vivid bruising appearing on that alabaster skin defined the contours of his beloved husband.

Jack had taken Owen aside and for a moment, and just held him. They could have died, almost did. Jack knew Owen had done his duty as a friend and a doctor to Ianto and also knew those bruises on Ianto's body were probably matched under the tepid doctor's clothing. Owen had been shocked and openly pleased at the show of affection, leaving the room all flustered and with a rare blush that had Jack again thanking him before moving to sit with Ianto.

He stroked the hair off his husband's handsome face and looked at the mottled multicoloured anger along the side of Ianto's face form his temple along his jaw line where he had struck the car door. The split by his eye now glued shut. He looked like a corpse. A well cared for and carefully arranged corpse and Jack really didn't want to think that way as he leaned over so gently to kiss a patch of forehead that was unscathed.

John watched impassively, and then took a quick photo before slipping out of the room once more and employing that bastardry he was known and feared for, releasing the photo as 'goodbye' as he let people think it was Jack kissing a corpse before Ianto was to be moved into a casket.

He knew it was dirty pool but he really wanted to make a point, not only to those responsible but those who had questioned the need for a royal family at all. Now, in this moment… the entire nation felt a bloodlust.

Jack did not care about any of this, only the man he could not survive another day without and as his children waited for his comfort, he leaned over to say goodnight to his heartbeat.

"We can't keep calling him Blob, you know I hate that" Jack said softly, his fingers still gently stroking as Ianto grunted and struggled to open his eyes, the headache from the head bash still so strong. "What do you think love?"

"Cold."

Jack immediately plastered himself against Ianto as Malcolm moved to get some more blankets and scold the staff who should have known the Righteous King felt the cold so easily and should have been tended to better.

Jack left the hospital to head home to his two older babies and did not think about it as he lamented to Malcolm at the car as he was getting in "So cold. He was so damned cold. I … he hates the cold Mal"

Hearts broke as it was caught and relayed on the evening news. The hearts of the nation bled and soon there was no one willing to harbour those responsible, almost relived to call the tip line and whisper about their neighbours. Some tips were false, but taken down anyway.

One was interesting though, relayed to Malcolm who went to get John and watch impassively as John changed his clothing for sleek black form fitting things "What will you do?"

"Ask a few questions" John replied sagely as he straightened from pulling on THOSE boots up to look back at the man with a cocky grin.

"You know… you are a handsome bastard" Malcolm huffed "Look t you in those clothes, I bet only Ianto could rival you in that outfit."

"Yes, my cousin and I share a good figure" John tined to look in the full length mirror "But you know… I do get my wide shoulders from your side."

Malcolm frowned with confusion and John saw with shock that he didn't know.

"My mother was the half-sister to Ianto's. Why he shows leniency to my… proclivities … and my father… well ... my father was the old king Jonathan. I was named for him… see? I am your uncle also." John was satisfied with his appearance and reached for his jacket "Let's also add the weird and whacky fact that Gray is my son. My sister was a crafty bitch that not only tried to get her entire family wiped out for the betterment of her own advancement, but ensured my loyalty as her brother and lover."

"Why Ianto calls you a puzzle within a puzzle" Malcolm snorted "I once told him that he was an enigma to me and he laughed… pointing at you who were dancing with some lady in waiting and he said, there is the enigma."

"Ah… don't' be fooled by that. Ianto is… more. So much more than any of us could ever be. Why I have faith he will be fine and this will all soon be sorted. I might be a strange and confusing beastie but Ianto… ah… now there is a Strange Kat. So many lives, so stealthy and crafty. And those claws… oh man… I wish I had his claws."

John then leaned over and to Malcolm's shock he kissed his cheek before flouncing out the door leaving him to feel like he had been punched repeatedly about the head in the nicest possible way.

But John was right.

Everyone did underestimate that Tiger.