Chapter 22
Ianto jumped as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, breaking him from his thoughts.
"How are you?" Tosh asked
"I'll be fine," Ianto replied with a forced smile, even though both of them knew it was a lie.
"Give me a hand?" Tosh asked gesturing to her workstation which was still a bit of a mess from Abaddon
"Sure," Ianto nodded.
It didn't take them long at all to get her station up and running again, Tosh had done most of the work herself over the last few days and Ianto suspected she was getting him to help to keep him busy and distracted more than anything.
He was just finishing off the connections when he heard Tosh let out something between a gasp and a sob before dashing past him.
Looking up he watched her run across the platforms around the water tower and straight into the arms of…
Ianto's heart stopped, Oh God.
That's not possible, it's been three days.
No matter how much he wanted to believe it he couldn't… shouldn't
He'd given up hope.
Yet there he was right in front of him, Tosh wrapped in his arms whispering softly to her as she sobbed into his embrace.
Gwen a few feet back watching them.
But his eyes were on neither of his teammates. They were locked on Jack. The man he thought he'd lost.
Then Jack's eyes met his over Tosh's shoulder and that was it, he was moving,
Never breaking eye contact, except to look where he was putting his feet.
Tosh moved away from Jack as Ianto got closer.
Only a few feet away from Jack and he paused, slowing his steps.
What if it was a dream or some nasty trick his mind was playing on him.
Meaning that when he finally touches Jack he'll vanish, before his eyes, leaving him with the cold bitter reality of being alone.
Nervously he steps forward hand out unsure whether to touch him, in case he was to vanish.
Jack gave Ianto an odd look reaching forward he pulled Ianto to him.
At the touch a choked sob escaped from Ianto's throat and he buried himself into his lover's arms, burying his nose in his neck and breathing deeply.
Jack didn't vanish on him.
He's here, he's alive, he's real.
Ianto trembled slightly and Jack held him closer pressing a soft kiss to his hair.
"It's all right Yan. I'm home, you helped me find my way home." Jack whispered
"Oh god, I thought I'd lost you Jack," Ianto gasped
"Never," Jack replied fiercely, Ianto felt panic rush through him as Jack began to pull back, not ready to let his lover go just yet.
Only to sigh as warm lips covered his in a gentle comforting kiss full of promises.
After what seemed like hours though was probably only minutes Jack pulled back.
"There's something I have to do," Jack whispered moving out of Ianto's arms and heading towards Owen, only letting go of his hand at the last second.
After everyone had calmed down from their Captain's unexpected though welcome return, they sat down for lunch together.
It was quite just enjoying each other's company though at the same time a little awkward, none of them knowing what to really say after their betrayal of Jack, which had ultimately led to his extended death.
As they finished up the group shifted into gossip and meaningless chatter as Ianto began to clear the table, highly aware of the way Jack's eyes kept flicking in his direction.
Quickly dumping the dishes in the kitchen sink he stepped back into the doorway of the main hub and glanced across to where the other were still sitting around the coffee table talking.
He waited until Jack's eyes flickered up to him, which didn't take long at all, the rest of the team oblivious to the exchange between the couple.
Locking eyes with the Captain Ianto let his abilities take over, his eyes shifting completely to silver catching the light from above making them glow slightly.
He saw Jack swallow heavily, not taking his eyes from Ianto.
Ianto smirked at him before backing into the shadow in the direction of the lower levels, not breaking eye contract until there was a wall between them, even when he was too deep in the shadows for Jack to see clearly.
Jack would get the message, Ianto thought turning and heading into the depths of the hub.
Jack stepped through the doorway of Ianto's training room, he knew the younger man was there somewhere. He could feel it, he just couldn't see him.
"Did you mean it?" Jack asked knowing Ianto would hear him wherever he was.
"Mean what?" Ianto asked voice drifting from somewhere further into the room.
Jack made his way into the room over to the living area, he grabbed a bottle of scotch off the cupboard and poured two glasses.
"Your answer, when you said yes?" Jack replied securing the lid on the decanter.
He found himself spun around, warm lips covering his as he was backed up to the bed.
Feeling the bed connect with the back of his knees he fell backwards Ianto dropping perfectly above him straddling his waist.
Lips parted Jack stared up at the young man above him.
"Yes. I want to be your mate. Yes I want to spend as much of the rest of ours lives together as we can stand. Yes, Yes… Yes," Ianto replied the final yes coming out as a growl as he began covering Jack's neck with open mouthed kisses and nips.
"When do you want to do this?" Jack gasped
"As soon as possible," Ianto replied, hands beginning to unbutton Jack's shirt
"Now?" Jack asked
Ianto paused in his task and stared down at Jack "We can do it now? Right now?"
"If you want to," Jack replied shifting himself so he was leaning up on his elbows.
Ianto thought about it for a moment before meeting Jack's eyes.
"I want to; I thought I'd lost you forever. I don't want to waste another minute." Ianto replied meeting Jack in a passionate kiss.
Jack pushed himself into a sitting position making Ianto shift backwards on his lap to allow him to do so.
Breaking the kiss he pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled something out but kept his hand wrapped around it so Ianto couldn't quite see it.
"We'll need my knife out of my boot," Jack said, expecting Ianto to shift so he could reach down and grab it.
Ianto raised a questioning eyebrow at him and with an interesting show of flexibility he twisted backwards to reach Jack's boot where it was still on his foot.
Jack's hands snapped forward to catch Ianto's waist in case he were to fall.
Ianto sat back up, pocket knife in hand, silver eyes dancing in amusement as he glanced down at where Jack's hands were holding him steady.
"I wasn't going to fall,"
"Just making sure." Jack replied with a small shrug
"What do we need the knife for?" Ianto asked holding it out.
Jack took it from him and placed it on the bed beside him.
Holding his other hand between them he opened his hand to reveal what was clutched within to Ianto.
"That's what Arabella and Dexter gave you for Xmas isn't it?" Ianto asked looking down at the small circular object in Jack's hand.
"Yes, this device is what connect Pirask and non-Pirask as mates, It's how we can form the bond. Ari and Dex figured out what was coming before we did." Jack said with a wire grin
"They're good at that," Ianto agreed taking the object from Jack and examining the engraving's around the centre.
While he was distracted Jack used his knife to stab a small hole in his thumb, just enough for it to bleed nicely.
Ianto's nostrils flared slightly and his head snapped up at the smell of fresh blood.
"What?" Ianto asked staring at Jack's bleeding thumb.
"Here," Jack said gently taking Ianto's hand and repeating the process to Ianto's thumb.
"Press your thumb on one end, in the groove there." Jack said gesturing to the device still sitting in Ianto's hand.
Ianto followed Jack's instruction without pause, Jack pressing his thumb to the other side.
Ianto was just about to ask Jack what they needed to do now when Jack's other hand snaked around the back of his neck dragging him into a deep Kiss.
Ianto gasped pulling away from the kiss as he felt an odd tingling sensation in the back of his mind.
He went to pull his hand from the device only to find he couldn't
Shhh Ianto, relax
Ianto's eyes flew up to meet Jack's
"I heard you, but… it was in my head," Ianto whispered in awe watching the smile spread it's way across Jack's lips
It's easy and clear like this at the moment because the device is working as a booster. It will take time and practice before we'll be able to do it this well on our own.
"So what can we do straight away?"
Feel each other emotionally, maybe send a word or two, since I'm already slightly telepathic and Dexter's given you some training on how to use you abilities. Try it. Jack urged trailing his free hand down Ianto's cheek
Can you hear me? Ianto asked focusing his mind on Jack
Jack broke into a huge grin and pulled Ianto into another kiss.
Suddenly Jack gasped and jerk away from Ianto dropping back on the bed breathing heavily.
Ianto who was still attached to the device and straddling Jack's lap was pulled forward, only just catching himself on his free arm before he smacked into Jack.
A tingling sensation shot up his arm from the device and he looked down to see his thumb break free, it was still attached to Jack though.
Jack gasped and before Ianto's eyes the device seemed to melt onto Jack's hand.
It moved like some form of living liquid before slipping underneath his wrist strap and out of sight.
Ianto sat himself up, eyes snapping to Jack's face but he was breathing peacefully once again, lying there with his eyes closed.
Grabbing at Jack's wrist he quickly undid the buckles and yanked the wrist strap off.
There wrapped comfortably around Jack's wrist, as if it was just another section of his skin was a silver band, the exact same colour as the device had been.
Running his thumb gently across it, it was cold and smooth to touch, but soft and pliant like skin and the same symbols that hand been around it before were displayed in black around the band, making it look like some sort of tattoo.
"What?" Ianto asked staring at it.
"As a Pirask you have the natural abilities to create and keep a mate bond. I don't, so this works as a kind of conduit for me. So I can do anything you can do with the bond, it makes us equal in the relationship."
"Did… Does it hurt?" Ianto asked looking up to see Jack watching him.
"No, it feels, like really bad pins and needles when it formed but now it's there it's comfortable and soothing. It'll only ever hurt me if you're hurt, it'll get hot depending on how much pain you're in so I know and can swoop in as your dashing knight to rescue you." Jack grinned
Ianto smiled back, relaxing a little.
"Will I be able to tell if it's you who needs rescuing?" Ianto asked laying down beside Jack, resting his head on Jack's chest, listening to his heart beat while still staring at his wrist.
"Dex tells me it's like a headache for Pirask when there mate is hurt, if you need to you'll be able to shut it out. We'll get Ari or Dex to teach you, I don't want you passing out with a migraine if I get killed in the field." Jack explained threading his fingers through Ianto's hair, just enjoying being able to told each out and bask in the commitment they'd just made.
"Maybe you should try not to die so much. Save me from worrying about you all the time," Ianto replied pressing a kiss to Jack's chest he turned, sitting up slightly so he could look Jack in the eyes.
"I'll try. I promise," Jack whispered pulling Ianto up into a heated kiss.
Suddenly the rift alarm went off, breaking their moment together.
Jack groaned letting his head drop back onto the pillow.
"A couple of hours… is that to much to ask for?!" Jack bellowed at the ceiling,
Ianto laughing as he climbed off Jack, straightening his suit, eyes returning to normal as he slipped back into the quiet butler and support role.
A role he'd established in the team for his cover, first because of Lisa and now to hide who he really was.
Jack watched sadly as his lover slipped back into his mask, even though he knew it was never for him, it still tore at him a little that Ianto couldn't' be himself around the others.
One day he'd have to fix that.
Ianto turned to look at him mask dropping completely as he smiled at Jack, tossing him his wrist strap.
"Come on, work to do."