It had been a hard time hard trying to contain Jack - while he clearly thought everything was fine - until the doctor came. Nothing much was wrong eventually, just the flu, with a very high fever.

''He's suffering from a mild delirium because of the fever, try and lower his fever and make sure he eats and drinks something during the day. Not too much of course. '' The doctor said to him, they'd moved towards the living room as Jack had fallen asleep as soon as the doctor finished his medical exam. His peaceful snoring could still be heard from behind the closed door.

''What about the daughter thing?''

''Well, maybe just encourage him to talk about her. The best thing right now is to make him feel comfortable and make him better.'' With a final goodbye, he let the doctor out. He really couldn't let Jack alone when he was this ill, and no way in hell could they go out together. But maybe the worst was, they needed groceries, like right now. They'd just eaten the last of their food. He walked towards the bedroom door and sneaked a peek inside. He was still sound asleep. From his hind side pocket, he produced his mobile and dialled the number he was so familiar with.

''What's wrong?'' She said as soon as she picked up.

''Why must something immediately be wrong when I call you?'' He replied, deeply offended.

''Because it always is. Now spill.''

''Can I ask you a favour? My friend is seriously ill and the doc says I can't leave him alone, Could you get some groceries for us? please I'll pay you back double.'' He was desperate, right now, and the only one he knew who would do him this favour was his dear big sister. His mates wouldn't have the time and his ex was not such a good idea, even though they came to an understanding, friendship was out of the question for now. Not since her betrayal. He tried to help her as best as he could since he heard that the baby daddy had abandoned her for getting pregnant, he wasn't so cruel that he would let his ex-fiance go through the most difficult part of her life on her own.

But every time he saw her he just couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, of being cheated on. This could've been their future, married, a kid on the way. He would've had it all. But it wasn't

to be meant.

''So why can't you just let him sleep and go to the shops?'' she asked him rather intrigued. Over the time they'd been friends Rhiannon had only met Jack once sporadically, and she couldn't help wanting to know everything about the mysterious man in his life. She knew that when he was just a kid he'd asked his parents why the church declared it was so wrong for men to love one another. He could still remember how he'd accidentally let it be known that he found a boy in his year rather attractive. The beating he got afterwards left him with both mental and physical scars he would never forget. So he swore to never be attracted to a boy again, with no such luck. But at least his parents hadn't known that. He liked both men and women, but he hid that part of his life pretty well.

''He's entered the stage of delirium or so the doctor says. I can't leave him alone, he might just burn down the house in a worst-case scenario.'' His confession hurt him more than he would care to admit. It hurt to see a loved one ill, even though he would never say that aloud he did feel something akin to love for his friend.

''What? Is he alright?''

''It's nothing too serious. But I just can't…''

''It's alright. Wait a second let me get a pen and some paper.'' He heard some rummaging on the background and a shout of ''Ahah!'' Before she came back on the phone and started talking again.

''Okay, what do you need?'' Slowly he walked towards the kitchen and found the grocery list stuck against the refrigerator, held up by a threatening red welsh dragon magnet.

''He situated the phone between his ear and his shoulder when he lifted up the magnet and slid the piece of paper out underneath it. He began to read everything on the list out loud, with some time in between every product so she could write it all down without having to hurry.

''Oh, and do you have ibuprofen?'' Rhiannon added on second thought. Quickly he went to the bathroom where he knew to find the cupboard full of medication. Opening it up he couldn't find whatever she asked.

''No, why?''

''Well if he has a delirium then he probably has a fever, you need to bring that down.'' While he was secretly freaking out he could count on his big sister to keep her head cool and practically tell him what to do. What would he do without her?

''Alright, what else?''

''I'll get some light food, oh and if you can get him into a cold bath. Maybe a sponge bath if you can't get him in a bath. Maybe make some ice cubes. The important thing is to get his fever down right now.'' While she went to the shop, he went to make some ice cubes and watched Jack sleeping.

It was about an hour later - during it, Jack had been experiencing a fitful sleep and on multiple occasions screamed muffled names and seemed to be scared of something in his dreams before he once again became quiet - that Rhiannon came to the house with quite a few shopping bags in her car. He'd texted her the address as he'd actually never done that. When he'd accepted Jack's offer he never imagined he'd stay here for longer than a few weeks, but weeks turned into months and still he hadn't found a suitable and payable place to live in. It seemed that Cardiff didn't have that many affordable places, and his job as a nurse at the hospital in Cardiff didn't pay quite enough for the hours that he put in.

" It's everything you need and more." She declared after they brought all the bags inside. Her car was parked in front of the house, but no one would mind if it stayed there for a little bit longer.

"So have you tried the bath?" She asked him questionably. Her eyebrows rose up into her hairline as he shook a firm no. He didn't yet have the guts to wake Jack up and get him to undress for him.

"Why not?"

" It's just… a bit difficult. I'm going to try the sponge bad in a bit." She watched him intriguingly for a while, he held his breath while her eyes searched for something he didn't want to tell. Eventually, she stopped and he let out a prolonged sigh.

"You know I can handle it. If this has anything to do with what Tad did, just say so. You know I can help." Once again he firmly shook his head, this had nothing to do with their Tad and his constant abuse, not really.

"It's different. I can't tell you, first I have to figure it out myself. After that happens, I'll tell you. But until then I just ask you to trust me." She took one step closer and engulfed him in her arms. Her hug was something he'd desperately needed. He closed his arms around her body and let his head fall on her shoulder, just like they'd done when they were younger and she tried to comfort him after his beating.

"If there's anything you want to know, it doesn't matter what or when just ring me and I'll try to help. I've been through this before with David, remember." He did remember that very vividly, David had been so young when he'd gotten ill and had to be hospitalised because of his far too high fever. It had been like a horror movie. They'd been so close to losing their little boy.

"Thank you." He whispered and gave her a kiss on the cheek. As promised he'd paid her double for help and support. At first, she refused it, but he knew she could use it with two young children and too little income.

"You're too good for this world, Ianto Jones." She exclaimed just before she sat down in her car and drove off. He waved her goodbye and stood outside into the unusual sunny Welsh sun. After a few seconds, he wandered back inside and locked the door behind him. He'd already packed away all the groceries with his sister, so he went to check on Jack. Quietly he wandered towards the bedroom door and opened it up with a creak, he had to do something about that soon and watched a wide awake Jack staring at him.

" How are you feeling?" He asked carefully, he had no idea how Jack would react to it all.

"Not so good." A silent groan escaped his lips as he spoke and the sweat on his pale forehead told more than enough about his current state.

"Wait a sec." He said more to himself than to Jack. He left the room and took a tall glass out of the kitchen cabinet and filled it to the brim with cold water. He snatched the packet with ibuprofen from the table and walked with both of them into the room. For a moment he placed the glass on Jack's bedside table and opened up the packet to get one pill out.

"Open up." He told the man in front of him, who refused.

"What is it?" His broken voice made him almost sound like an innocent child who was sick and wanted his mam.

" It's ibuprofen, to make you better." He promised. Jack obediently opened his mouth for Ianto to lay the pill in. He brought the glass towards his mouth and supported his head forwards so he could swallow a good mouthful of water. When Jack finished the whole glass he walked back towards the kitchen and filled it up again. He would need to be kept hydrated throughout it all.

"Do you think you could take a bath?" He walked further into the room and closed the door behind him, even though nobody else would be able to enter. He sat down on his side of the bed and watched as Jack followed his eyes with every move he took. He placed the glass on Jack's bedside table.

"Honestly, I don't think I can stand on my feet." He admitted sheepishly, he didn't think it was possible but a slight blush spread across Jack's cheeks. If it was fever-induced or just shame, he would never know.

" Okay, stay here." He stood up and walked towards the bathroom. He'd taken a soup bowl with him on the way and filled it with ice-cold water. Out of one of the cabinets, he took a washcloth and took those items with him back towards the bedroom. Jack was still awake and was following his every move as he walked back in and set the bowl down on his bedside table. He sat down on Jack's half of the bed next to his legs and stared into his friend's eyes. Slowly he dipped the washcloth into the water, wrung it out a little and then brought it towards Jack's forehead. His breath stopped in his throat as he waited with bated breath for someone to say… something. As he stared into Jack's eyes he could see little brown spots in his crystal blue eyes. He brought the washcloth back to him again and dipped it in the water, wringing it, this time he brought it towards Jack's neck, where he left a wet trail. There was something so arousing about this, he just couldn't help it. He repeated the same process many times more, but never did he fail to find something new on Jack's face. Here and there, there were a few tiny scars. Eventually, he dipped the washcloth once again into the cold water and lay it on Jack's forehead. His wet hair lay flat against it, so with his other hand, he moved it upwards so the washcloth could take all the space it needed.

"Why are you doing this?" Jack whispered when he'd almost finished. His beautiful eyes were so mesmerising.

"Hmmm, what did you say?" He asked shyly when he noticed Jack had said something, but he had no idea what.

"Why are you doing this? You know… taking care of me." His puppy dog eyes stared into his soul while he tried to find the right answer.

" Why wouldn't I?"

" I don't know. You were so distant lately. I thought you… hated me." Jack looked away, his eyes were staring towards the window where the sun was shining inside and the birds were chirping.

"How could I ever hate you?"

"It's rather easy actually. You wouldn't be the first you know." He whispered, his eyes were still facing the window, so his hand - involuntarily - grabbed his chin and turned his face towards him so he could see him. Their eyes met for a second and he could see so much grief in his friend's eyes.

"I don't know what happened to you in the past Jack, but just know that I could never hate you." I love you too much for that he added secretly in his mind. Even though he still denied the love part, he couldn't deny that he felt something more than just friendship for him, and it freaked him out if he was honest.

"Pinkie swear?" A laugh escaped his lips at how serious Jack was looking.

"Sure, pinkie swear." They held up their pinks and entangled them, just like kids did to ensure something would stay a secret or that they really meant something.

" Can I get you anything? Water? Some food? Painkiller?" He asked not sure what to do now. Desperately he looked anywhere expected at Jack.

"Could you just… never mind."

" No what is it?" He said and watched how it was now Jack's turn to deject his look.

" Could you just lie with me? Just for a little while?" Jack's eyes met his and he could see how vulnerable the older man looked all of a sudden.

"Sure." He made sure the washcloth was still a bit chilly before he lay down next to Jack on the bed, but kept his body above the blanket because for once it was rather hot.

He looked Jack into the eye as they both lay on their side facing one another. Jack's hand crept on top of his hip just before he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Mesmerized, he watched the sleeping man in front of him and tried to calm down his frantically beating heart, it was just as if it was beating in his throat instead of his ribcage. Jack's death grip prevented him from moving out underneath his arm, so there was only one thing he could do. Wait it out. He stared at his friend while he wished for him to wake up soon. It took longer than expected because before he knew it his eyes were drooping and sleep was greeting him like an old friend.

When he woke up, It was to be greeted by a shyly smiling Jack and to find out that he had moved even closer towards him in his sleep, he was only an inch deleted from laying flush against him. Quickly he apologized himself and went towards the bathroom. He actually did need to pee, but it had also been part of an excuse.

"What am I doing?" He whispered to himself when he was sure no one else would be able to hear him.

A/N: I hope you like it and please leave a review.

XXXFredAndGeorgeForever