Just wanted to thank best-in-red for the review. I have no plans of abandoning the fic, I have a rough plan of where I plan this story to go and excited to share the ending. Up dates may be slower than my other fic, 'The Ones You Least Expect' because that's my main focus and the good stuff is just about to start, but I promise to keep this one alive. Luckily I have lots of free time for the next while so what I consider to be slow updates might be often for some.

Chapter 2

"How are you doing, Ianto?" Jack asked not really expecting much of an answer. Ianto has always been a private person and the bigger the problem the more he tried to hide it deeper within.

"I'm fine, sir. Suppose I should be getting back to work," Ianto deflected the question as he jumped off the autopsy table and slid into his suit jacket.

"Its night, you should get some rest."

"Why? I'm dead now. No more need to sleep, its actually rather exciting. Lots to do. Really sleep only served to slow me down," Ianto said in passing as he headed up the steps leading out of the medical area.

"Ianto, don't you think we should talk about this?"

"About what?"

"Well, how about what you said, for starters."

Ianto turned and glared intently at Jack before responding, "And what exactly did I say?" The young man dared Jack to bring up the confession of his feelings in what he had thought was his final moments.

Jack faltered under the intense scrutiny of Ianto's challenging gaze. Jack knew they should talk about both what Ianto was going through and where that left them. But there was something in that look that told Jack now was not the time. Unless he wanted the uncensored version in which would, in all likelihood, be a one sided conversion of Ianto letting Jack know just how monumentally the older man screwed up here.

"Nothing," Jack resigned himself to say.

"I thought as much," Ianto replied rather curtly. "If you need me I'll be in the archives. Have a good night, sir."

With that Ianto was gone. Jack couldn't help but wonder exactly where this left them, surely it didn't mean there relationship was simply just over. They were just starting to get things going to being an actual couple, and for Jack it had been such along time. He hadn't been willing to love since Lucia and that was over thirty years ago. And if Ianto did have the potential to exist forever, would it always feel like he does now? Guilty for condemning another being to a life of forever existing. Jack couldn't help but laugh sardonically to himself at that. He had just forced on Ianto, regardless if it was an accident or not, what the Doctor had forced upon him. Now he could understand the urge to want to run away and hide from your creation. Ianto was wrong. Far more wrong than Jack, because Ianto was condemned to eternity in an unfeeling shell, a shell that could not even repair itself, incapable of the most simplest of human luxuries.

Jack of course wouldn't run from this. He would spend eternity protecting Ianto as best he could if the young man would let him. He knew what it was like to be left behind for something that was out of your control, he would never do that to someone else. Even if it meant an eternity of guilt following him around.

The only thing Jack knew for certain was that Ianto would have to be taken off field missions all together, it was to big of a risk for the young man and to little known about his condition. His body would never mend itself, so a broken leg would be the same as being paralyzed. It was most fortunate that Ianto's responsibilities were all within the confines of the Hub. It was just a shame that every mission that came up seemed reliant on Ianto's predicament.

The energy building up in Ianto's body eventually unleash death upon Cardiff and all hell broke loose. The demon attacked the near by A&E claiming the lives of eleven people before Ianto's intervention with the creature leading to its demise before it could get a foot hold in our realm. Later Ianto would again be needed to invade the mansion of the old man Mr Parker to investigate a strong energy source. Ianto was needed as he was the only one amongst the group who could bypass the heat sensors undetected.

The entire time Jack was far to worried to lead his team, so as soon as the mission was completed Jack made it official that Ianto was not to join any further field missions. Ianto had been livid and fought with Jack every step of the way. Shouting he was not an invalid, but in the end conceded to abide by Jack's ruling.

Things in the Hub had returned to somewhat of a normalcy. Everyone seemed to be doing well, even Ianto was carrying out his job as though nothing was wrong with him. Though Jack wanted to point out he was now working almost around the clock, only breaking to pick up cloths from his flat, but never staying there. He pretty much spent his entire time at the Hub constantly working. In fact the one person that seemed to be taking it the hardest was Jack.

Jack had trouble being near Ianto, he simply felt guilty around the man. As Ianto now spent almost his entire unlife in the Hub, Jack spent as many nights as possible away from it. And as for their relationship, there last kiss had been the one they shared that night on the autopsy table when they thought it was the Welshman's final moments. Ianto barely said a word to Jack, only regarding work. Jack was missing his young lover deeply. Being the tactile person that he is, Jack loves being near people, being close. Ianto hadn't so much as allowed Jack to hold his hand or graze his cheek affectionately.

As for Ianto, the young man was the picture of professionalism he always was. Always working, dressed meticulously well and ever the professional. He hadn't so much as complained once since being cursed with his new affliction. In fact the only sign of emotion Ianto had displayed since then was when Jack told him he was off field duty. Jack knew it was only a matter of time before everything boiled to the surface he just hoped for Gwen's sake it would wait until after her wedding.

AN: I had time skip forward through the 2 episodes Dead Man Walking and Day in the Death for a few reasons. One being I didn't see them playing out much differently than they would've regardless of who was brought back to life. I didn't want to simply retell the same story but change names about. Also I wanted some time to pass before Ianto's inevitable emotional blow out. I really think he would bottle it up and pretend everything was okay until he couldn't take it any more.