Torchwood: Divergence
Book One: Dychwelyd

Chapter 46

Just a tiny bit of stolen time alone with his cariad, that's all he needed to gather his crumbling defences and get back to work. So, Ianto was a bit surprised to open his eyes again and find himself strapped into the front passenger seat of the SUV, with the Harwood's building fading in the distance.

"Tell Turlough his is not to activate this thing for any reason," Jack was saying to Gwen over the comms as he changed lanes and accelerated. "Scan only, so we know exactly what it is, then straight into the Sealed Archives part of the Safe in the office. I don't want another 'Zombie Apocalypse' in Cardiff."

[How's Ianto?] Cooper asked worriedly, her voice coming across the younger man's still actively receiving earcomm as well.

"Better," Harkness reassured, looking over to meet the twenty-six-year old's tired, somewhat unfocused gaze. "But still exhausted and in need of some TLC when we get back... I've given him a rough couple of days, so a little extra effort is in order on my part to get him back to his old incredible self."

[You hold him to that, Ianto,] the former constable at the Hub encouraged. [And I'll do what I can to help as well. Lois is about to go fetch lunch for all of us, think soup will settle or are you up to eating at all?]

"Soup..." Ianto replied, wearily hitting the send stud on his headset. "But maybe later..."

"He may not require as much sleep under normal circumstances now," Jack offered helpfully, reaching over to rub the young Welshman's nearest coat muffled shoulder. "But these panic attacks and seizures obviously wipe him out. If you and the team think you can handle any Rift spikes for a couple of hours, he and I are going to bunk in for a nap."

"You rarely sleep," his lover murmured with a slight frown.

"Then I'll just snuggle and let you rest," the Captain countered evenly. "There are few better ways to spend time on a chilly day, than bundled in bed with you in my arms."

[Channel's still open, Jack,] Gwen pointed out, obviously smiling. [Have you managed to make him blush?]

"Yes..." Ianto sighed on his own behalf, but he wore a weary smile as well.

"We're about ten minutes out," Harkness chuckled, stroking the younger brunette's pink tinged right cheek with the backs of his fingers. "Tell Rhys that Harwood's is clear... stray dog removed from the property as far as his drivers and all staff are concerned. I did a sweep with my VM before we left and there's no residual Rift energy, so it should be quiet now."

[Will do,] Cooper responded. [Thanks, you two... see you soon.]

The channel shut down, leaving the SUV in relative silence.

"Think you'll feel up to date night?" Jack queried uncertainly, glancing over at the younger man once more.

"Little lie down, bit of soup..." Ianto breathed, frowning as though seriously considering the situation before smiling agreeably. "Should do."

Harkness grinned, the rest of the drive passing in companionable silence. The younger man was still somewhat unsteady and unsettled when they arrived back at the Hub, but he made his way up into the office unaided as his partner took the strange device they'd found to Turlough. Ianto had hung up his coat and moved into the bedroom to start removing his new "field" clothes, when Gwen appeared in the doorway.

"Jack'll be in shortly," the former constable murmured, coming over to help her friend with his short, alien crafted boots as he sat on the edge of the chair near the bed. "Rhys is on his way for our lunch date. I told him what happened with the dog, and he was very sad. He said to let you know she was a tiny runt of a Shetland Sheepdog that Gerald Finn found wet and starving by the road outside Varteg about a year and a half ago, brought her back to the shipping yard to look after her. They named her 'Hardd', claimed she was their guard dog, even got her a bright red collar to match the firm's new logo. Friendly little thing apparently, like a wee black and white Collie; eager to please, scary smart, liked to patrol the truck barn.

"She disappeared without a trace in mid-March. They thought maybe a passer-by had coaxed her into their car and taken her home. But now he's afraid she got hit on the road or maybe even by one of the Harwood's drivers who didn't see her, and she crept off behind the cargo bin because she was scared and then died there. With all the odd things they haul, the exhaust from the lorries, the fields and other businesses around them, how cold and dry the truck barn is even in summer... they wouldn't have noticed the smell of death. He feels really badly, the more so that she had to suffer twice because of whatever came through the Rift, wishes they'd looked harder for her. But he's glad you showed her some love and kindness before she went this time."

Cooper reached up to put her hand against the young Archivist's cheek, seeing tears in his eyes.

"It really bothers you, yeah?" she breathed, able to see the truth of it.

"She didn't deserve to suffer," Ianto whispered shakily. "Not even once, let alone twice."

"No, she didn't," Gwen agreed quietly, squarely meeting his unhappy gaze. "And neither do you. Not on her account. You gave her comfort when it counted, Ianto, you gave her peace. So don't let it eat at you, sweetheart... what you did was right. Now let it go, and just believe that little Hardd would thank you for helping her today, yeah?"

She stood then, leaned over to kiss the Changeling on the top of the head and turned to walk toward the door to the office. Jack stood in the shadows by the desk, gave her an appreciative nod as she went past him. He entered the bedroom and closed the door, moved to place a gentle hand on his partner's left shoulder.

"Gwen's right," Harkness stated evenly. "You didn't react with horror or fear, Ianto... you offered kindness, sympathy and compassion. You opened your arms to that dog's frail little corpse, let her feel warmth, love and comfort as she passed back to the Dark instead of fear and pain. You allowed her the grace she was denied before. You did a very hard but very good thing. Don't doubt yourself, buddy."

Ianto looked up to meet the older man's eyes, saw only pride and quiet concern in their bright blue depths. He thought about the final sigh Hardd had given lying there in his lap, the silent contentment in her single eye before the light of life had faded from it. He'd promised to make it better, and he had. The young Welshman managed a small nod, received a warm smile in return.

"I'm so tired..." Ianto breathed, leaning his cheek against the hand on his shoulder.

"Then let's get you out of your turtleneck and trousers," Jack suggested, starting to do just that. "And under the covers for a good cuddle."

The Captain had his partner stripped to his boxer-briefs, minus his earcomm and settled in bed in fairly short order, removed his own clothes and headset just as quickly. Then he slid in between the sheets beside the younger immortal, put his arms around the Welshman who sighed wearily.

"Get comfortable," the American directed gently, not tightening his embrace yet. "Whatever way you can relax the best."

Ianto tuned onto his side; his back pressed to the older man's chest. For most species, presenting another with their back was a sign of trust, allowing something or someone to be out of their line of sight as they openly showed their vulnerability. Having Jack close behind him was what made the Archivist feel safest, and wanting to sleep in such a position was as natural as breathing. The implications weren't lost on Harkness; the obvious trust, the deep-rooted devotion, the unconditional love that fostered the rest. He kissed the younger man on the side of the face, tightened his arms around his thin but muscular chest and flat stomach to hold him close. The Welshman in his embrace tucked one arm beneath the pillow, snugged the other over the Captain's where it crossed his abdomen so he could lace their fingers together.

"Get some rest, buddy," Jack whispered soothingly, closing his own eyes out of habit. "I'll be right here when you wake up."

Ianto relaxed and allowed himself to drift. Today had been rather up and down so far. However, he intended to use the darker parts to help himself get stronger, so he could keep things more on the up side in the future. Might work, might not. But at least now he knew that Jack truly did want and need him, really did love him no matter what. And that was more important to him than anything. There would always be bad with the good, but he wasn't afraid to show if it got to him now, wasn't terrified there as something wrong because of the seizures, wasn't worried that his partner would turn his back on him. Like the poor, resurrected Sheltie he'd eased back into the Dark earlier, he'd found peace.

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Welsh Bits:

Hardd - Beautiful

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AN: A sad mission, but at least good things came from it at the end. And the boys' date is still on!

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM