DON'T LOOK NOW: PART TWO

Ianto had never been so thoroughly examined in his life. It was quite likely that by now Owen knew more about his body than he did. Ianto found that mildly disconcerting as he buttoned up his shirt. He still found such small movements of his fingers difficult, but it was infinitely better than it had been a few weeks ago. He became aware of Jack's presence above as the older man leaned over the railings grinning...well leering more like.

"Harkness this is a consulting space not a peep show." Owen chided from his desk where he was studying the MRI images from the scans he had run.

"You done with him?"

"Yes. You can take him away and molest him now if you like."

Ianto huffed out a sigh. "I am in the room, you know...Anything Owen?" Ianto moved to look over his shoulder.

"Not yet mate this'll take me a few hours to go through everything, go and make Jack some coffee before he starts drooling would you?"

Ianto smiled and wandered up out of the autopsy bay. "Did you want coffee Jack?"

The smile said it all. "I unpacked your coffee maker specially; Jason never could get it right." He took Ianto's hand. "You OK?"

Ianto shook his head. "I've never felt this...vulnerable before...and don't tell me everything will be OK Jack, because I know it won't be."

Jack agreed, he brought Ianto's hand to his face squeezing it gently. Ianto wished he could feel it properly.

"You're still having trouble?"

"Dr Cameron said that they are as good as they are going to get. I can have more surgery in a few months to remove the scarring, but he doesn't think that the function will improve by very much. It's just little things, like buttons, typing. The pain has stopped though, that's a good thing."

"Think you could handle a gun now?"

Ianto looked up into his concerned gaze. "Only one way to find out." He pulled his hand away from Jack's grasp. It was something that irked him, the fact that they no longer felt or looked like his hands, the skin still reddened and knotted from the flames in Ollie's car. He still hated to look at them, a reminder he really didn't need. The scars were ugly too and Jack's hands were so beautiful, like his used to be. Ianto knew he should be grateful for the fact that the damage wasn't worse, but he wasn't. Jack watched his face closely as all these thoughts played across the frown on the young man's face.

"Penny for them?" He asked gently.

Ianto offered up a faint ghost of a smile that did not even attempt to reach his oceanic eyes. "I was just thinking how much I hated my hands. I can't feel you properly when I touch you, I miss that."

Jack enveloped him in an embrace bringing as much of their bodies into contact as he could and burying his face Ianto's neck. Ianto's arms automatically went around him.

"That better?"

"Yes Cariad. That's better."

Managing a hand gun was proving more difficult than Ianto would've imagined. Twice he fired off shots before he realised he'd even touched the trigger. His aim was fine, his grip was shit and it took four hours of intense concentration on his part to get the 'feel' of the weapon in his hand. The results were disappointing as far as Ianto was concerned but at least he could point it in the right direction and hold it well enough to shoot. Jack stowed the weapons as Ianto made his way back up the Hub. Gwen and Jason had returned by that point and Jason motioned for Ianto to join him in the board room. Reluctantly Ianto followed him to the room and Jason closed the door at his back. They sat at opposite ends on the table.

"I wanted to thank you for including me in the briefing this morning. You didn't have to do that and I appreciate it."

Ianto inclined his head slightly. "It affects Torchwood whatever issues lie between us because of Jack's indiscretions, should not impact on operations here."

Jason shifted in his seat slightly annoyed at the description. "I see. Jack and I were good you know."

"Is that meant to make me feel uncomfortable?"

"You put him through hell."

Ianto glared at him. "Don't even presume to understand my relationship with Jack. I'm sorry if you got hurt, but THAT was not my doing. If you want him back that badly, why don't you ask him?"

Jason gaped then collected himself quickly. "I just don't like being used."

"I'm not using you so why are you saying it to me?"

The door opened and Jack breezed in, pretending like he didn't realise it was a private conversation, neither man was convinced by it. Jason got to his feet and walked out.

Jack hesitantly sat down.

"Do I want to know?"

Ianto sighed, tiredly. "Just another one of your jilted ex lovers being shoved in my face. What is it with you and shagging the staff Jack?" There was no humour in his tone of voice.

Jack at least had the decency to feel ashamed. "I never promised him anything."

"You don't have to Jack, us 21st century folk just make the assumption that when you get into bed with someone it actually means something. It's about time you learnt that lesson, don't you think?"

There was a long awkward silence. Jack eventually ventured to speak.

"Are we ok?"

Ianto nodded. "Yes, we're ok, but HE isn't. You need to talk to him."

"I will."

"I don't want to have to deal with him every time I come in to the Hub."

"You want me to fire him?"

Ianto shook his head, mildly disturbed by the fact that Jack was considering it. "Of course not. I need a coffee." He got to his feet and went out to the kitchenette, failing to notice the slight smile on Jason's face as he passed him. Jack however did not. Jason had to go; it was as simple as that as far as Jack was concerned. He'd done it before, more than once in the past...Retcon level three would do the trick.

Owen snapped him out of his reverie waving a folder about in Jack's line of vision.

"You, me and Ianto, need to talk." He marched straight to Jack's office.

"Ianto, my office, now!"

Ianto came into the room a few moments later with two mugs of coffee and a long suffering look on his face. He passed a mug to Jack then paled somewhat when he saw the look on Owen's face.

"Sit, Ianto we have lots to discuss."

Ianto noticed with some concern that Jack's Webley was sitting on his desk next to his right hand.

"I'm not going to like this am I?" Ianto perched himself on the edge of the ratty couch and gulped his too hot coffee down.

"You are in very good physical health, but I found two...anomalies, for want of a better word."

"Go on."

Owen looked away from Jack and faced Ianto. "There is no easy way to tell you this......."