33

Jack was sitting listening to the soft hiss of air in the purifying vents, watching as Ianto slept on the other side of the glass.

It had been almost 24 hours and in that time the other man had died.

Horribly.

First he had gone mad, as they all did when exposed to this virus, frothing at the mouth as he flung himself at the glass wall until the bloody smears interested him and he had then licked his own blood from the glass with moans of delight while his ground beef remains of a nose continued to bleed.

When the blood stopped they knew he had turned, now silent. Standing there staring at them like he was made of stone before he erupted, screaming silently as he now ran straight for the glass, his mouth wide open to show his teeth and his arms flung out, his fingers clawed as he looked like he might actually believe he might be able to consume them.

This is what Ianto had survived once before, running through the corridors as things like this rampaged through the building destroying, consuming … infecting. The fact he had got out in one piece as well as pulling the drugged Lisa out as well…Jack felt even more than ever that Ianto was a survivor.

Then the creature that had once been a man cycled down, sliding to his hands and knees as he regressed to something more animalistic, his teeth gnashing as he proceeded to eat his own tongue, then hip lips… then his fingers….

He was eating his own wrist when Jack entered the room and fired the Webley, the sound not only loud in the space but satisfyingly final. He had then stepped back out and walked the short distance to Ianto, choosing this chair he was now seated in.

Ianto had seen.

He had known, watched from the glass wall he had leaned against as the thing met its fate and as Jack walked to him their eyes had met with understanding. Something that tore at Jack's heart knowing that Ianto was prepared for the same fate, with full faith that Jack would put him down too.

Jack didn't know such a though could hurt so deeply, that someone he loved could trust him to kill them. Love…. Oh gods. He did … didn't he. He does.

.

.

.

.

"Jack?"

Jack snorted as he jerked in the chair, horrified with himself for falling asleep for a moment, blinking as he looked up at Gwen and the plate she was carrying.

"Gwen?"

"You need to eat. You know he will ask. First thing he will ask is if you were looked after. There is not much we can do now except wait the 48 hour period of the infection's life to see if it affects him. Owen and Toshiko have the child, Eggsy and his lot have confirmed the virus, are now autopsying the …body… you need to make him happy the only way you can. Eat something, have a cup of coffee in your hand so he can see it."

"Did the little one eat anything?"

"Yes. Asked for Ianto and we told him Ianto was having breakfast and then had to do some work but will try to call in later. Felt terrible lying to him." She sighed.

"Well … maybe you didn't lie. He's still breathing well, no sign of increased blood pressure or temperature. Keep positive thoughts please Gwennie" Jack said as he rose and instead of accepting the plate of food, he walked to the glass to watch the rise and fall of Ianto's chest.

Gwen sighed as she placed the plate of food down on the table by the chair and looked in on Ianto. Jack was staring intently at him. Ianto slumbered with one arm was thrown back over his head, his head turned slightly and Jack had woken to that vision so many times… not enough times. Not yet. Not ready to … no. Stop it. Positive thoughts. Yes.

Ianto's eyes were open as he watched Jack's face struggling to find a mask that might work for the day and he sighed softly, Jack's eyes flicking to make contact like he had heard it. Of course he did.

Ianto smiled softly and let the hand above his head wriggle it's fingers.

Jack smiled, his hand to the glass and Ianto reached out, close enough to touch the glass and move his hand to meet Jack's … bar three inches of reinforced glass.

"Our little soldier is asking for you" Jack said, the speakers that carried his voice into the room did not hide his sorrow as Ianto smiled.

"Then I better hurry up and shake this flu" Ianto replied with the same weird voice, be it with a slight accent that made Jack grin.

"Yes, I can't wait to give you a thorough going over Mister Jones" Jack said with what he hoped was the right amount of leering, Ianto's soft laughter reassigning him that he had.

No cough.

No grimace.

Jack checked the bank of screens along the wall.

No temperature.

Come on Ianto!