Chapter 2: Ianto & Jack

Ianto felt tears from his own eyes fall down his cheek. Ianto went to the kitchen to make him & Jack a coffee, each, then walked slowly up the stairs heading to Jack's office. As Ianto walked he heard echoes of Tosh laughing & Owen grumbling, it was the time Jack & the rest of the team had beaten Owen in a game of 1 vs 4 basketball, Owen being that 1. Ianto smiled, and turned around, knowing that when he did the Hub would be empty.

He lightly tapped on the door to Jack's office, Jack murmured for him to enter. "Jack,"

Ianto spoke so softly that Jack barely heard him, which made him question, "Ianto?"

Ianto spoke louder but still as gentle as possible, "Yes Jack, it's me."

Jack was sitting on his chair next to the desk, Ianto carefully placed the two cups of coffee down & walked to where Jack was sitting. Jack looked up & Ianto placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Ianto you should go home." Jack spoke gently to Ianto, it wasn't an order, it was more of a request, Ianto knew Jack always cared about him & his health.

"I'm not leaving you on your own, Jack." And Ianto cared about Jack & his health too.

"IANTO, I DON'T NEED TO BE LOOKED AFTER!" Jack couldn't believe he'd just shouted at Ianto when Ianto clearly cared, or maybe loved Jack.

Then Ianto's reply made Jack feel even crueller.

"But I need you." Ianto murmured & completely ignoring his cup of coffee on the desk, Ianto headed for the door.

He was stopped as Jack put his arms around Ianto's waist & whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry, babes."

That was it, if Jack had just said sorry then maybe Ianto wouldn't have cared, but Jack genuinely meant it, I mean 'babes' when did Jack ever say that. Ianto couldn't help himself, he had to know why Jack had said that.

"Babes?" Ianto questioned.

Jack immediately took his arms from Ianto's waist, took a step back and asked, "What's wrong with me saying 'babes', Ianto?"

As Jack asked this, he put his hands up and said

"I mean if you've got something against it, then.."

Jack looked so cute and innocent when he was trying to backtrack.

Ianto knew that he couldn't go home, well not without Jack anyway. That's it, Ianto thought. He went back over to Jack, who was now thinking that he was gonna get a smack, so he closed his eyes, hey if Ianto was going to hit him then he really didn't want to watch. But instead he felt a hand take hold of his and a gentle peck on the lips.

Jack was actually shocked; he opened his eyes and saw Ianto step back but still holding his hand.

Then Ianto said something so sweet that Jack thought he would melt into the floor, "It's ok, babes."

Ianto began to tug gently on Jack's hand as though he was leading him somewhere, "Where are we going Ianto?" Jack asked looking very worried.

"We're getting out of the Hub." Ianto replied, making it sound like a school trip.

"What?" asked Jack, "Ianto, do you really think it's the best time to be going out in the city?"

"Who said anything about the city, Jack." Ianto was playing mind games again.

"Where are we going then, Ianto?"

"Like I said before Jack, I'm not leaving you on your own."

At this comment, Ianto turned around to look at Jack.

Jack decided he was going to be sarcastic, "So I yell at you, and I get a kiss, and now I'm going to your place..."

"Stop right there Jack!"

As soon as Ianto said this Jack gave a cheeky smile, Ianto tried to keep a straight face, "I'm going to look after you Jack, nothing else."

Ianto couldn't help it; if he didn't laugh then he'd probably cry.

"Ok, then I'll go and get my coat, and change of clothes."

Jack was now a man on a mission.

"Jack, I thought... Jack, where are you? Jack?"

That's it Ianto was going to kill him.

"YOU'RE A PAIN IN THE ARSE, JACK HARKNESS!"

Jack had gone down to his room before Ianto could have finished speaking. That bit was clear. So Ianto had gone after him to finish what he had been saying, & when he got right up to Jack's bed (that was were you could get the best view of the room, or Jack, which ever way you thought about it.), he felt a pillow come at his head, making him fall luckily onto Jack's bed, how convenient, there was no doubt about who had hit him.

Now Ianto was on a revenge attack.

"Ianto...babes..I'm...sorry." Jack was mumbling between the hits over the head with a pillow.

Jack was trapped, he was stuck lying on the floor without a way of getting up, but... he had the upper hand. He sneakily grabbed Ianto's leg, making him loose his balance & fall on Jack, again how convenient.

"That's cheating." Ianto said, pretending to be angry.

"I thought we were supposed to be going to your place." Jack said, completely ignoring the very important point Ianto had just made.

"Yes we were, but after what you did I think I'll just leave you here." Ianto replied, getting up off Jack & starting to walk away.

Jack jumped up & grabbed his stuff, just as Ianto turned around to look at him, as soon as Jack looked up Ianto ran to the cog door, Jack following close behind trying to catch him. Ianto got to the lift first and as soon as the doors closed, Jack ran back into the Hub and headed for the invisible lift.

He got outside just as he saw Ianto running up, Jack couldn't resist he had to do something.

"JACK!" Ianto bellowed,

"Ssshhh... you're gonna wake up the whole city." Jack giggled.

"You won't have to worry about the city in a minute 'coz I'm gonna slap you stupid." Ianto said, very seriously.

Jack learnt in close to Ianto and whispered, "Is that a promise?"

Ianto playfully punched Jack in the arm and replied, "You've an incredible dirty mind, Jack Harkness!"

Jack looked at Ianto in surprise and said, "You interpreted like that."

"Jack, that's how everybody interprets your comments." Ianto looked at Jack in such a way that Jack had to admit that it was true.

"Anyway let's go back to mine, it's freezing out here." Ianto said as he wrapped his coat closer around himself.

Jack noticed this, wrapped an arm around Ianto and pulled him closer. They walked most of the way in silence, just enjoying each other's comfort & warmth, and then Ianto asked an intriguing question.

"Jack, do you think Tosh & Owen admitted how they felt?"

Jack stopped walking, causing Ianto to loose his balance slightly; luckily Jack managed to catch Ianto before he could fall.

He looked at Ianto & replied "I don't know really, maybe, I hope they did otherwise it would have been a real tragedy."

Jack looked into Ianto's eyes, and tried to lighten up the mood, "Anyway let's go back to yours, beautiful blue eyes."

Ianto knew what Jack was trying to do, "Jack, you only ever mention my eyes when something bad has happened."

Jack looked at Ianto again and smiled, "What, you mean how beautiful they are, Ianto!"

Ianto couldn't help but smile back, "Exactly."

And before they knew it they had reached Ianto's flat, Ianto unlocked the door and they stepped inside.

Ianto hung up his coat and then went to the kitchen, "Do you want a drink, Jack?"

Ianto was trying to figure out what Jack was doing while he asked this question, "Yes please."

"JACK!" Jack had crept up behind Ianto before he replied, causing Ianto to drop the cup & it smashed to the floor.

"Oops."

Ianto shot Jack a dirty look before bending down to pick up the shattered cup, while Jack took this opportunity to stare at Ianto's rear end.

"Stop it, Jack. This is not the time!"

"What?" Jack asked innocently.

"You know full well what!" Ianto replied, as he straightened himself out.

"Go in the living room & don't make anymore mess!" Ianto ordered, while pointing a finger in the direction of the living room.

"You're very bossy sometimes, Ianto Jones." Jack gave him a cheeky wink.

"Jack!" Ianto was getting less angry, but he couldn't let Jack know that.

Ianto grabbed another cup from the cupboard and proceeded to make two strong coffees.

While he did this he heard the distinct sound of music playing, "Jack?"

No answer.

"Jack?"

Still no answer. What was he doing?

"Ja..."

There on the couch, Jack was curled up.

Ianto took a step closer.

Jack looked so cute when he was sleeping.

"Jack."

This time it wasn't so much a question as a nudge for Jack to wake up.

Ianto knelt down next to Jack, he didn't want to wake him but he knew he had to eat something.

Ianto leant in closer.

"Jack." He murmured softly.

"Yes! I knew I'd manage to get you." Jack said triumphantly, his prize being another playful punch from Ianto.

"What was that for?" Jack moaned like a little child.

"Why did you pretend you were sleeping?"

Ianto already knew why, he just wondered if Jack would tell him.

"Well, you're obviously not angry with me anymore." Jack was trying to gain the upper hand and Ianto shot him down.

"Who said that, Jack?"

Jack looked really puzzled and replied "But you were acting really sweet when you thought I was asleep."

Ianto couldn't help but giggle.

"Ianto Jones! You big, albeit very gorgeous, meanie."

Ianto took his chance to quickly get up, Jack tried to grab him but nearly fell off the couch.

Ianto walked around the back of the couch and headed for the kitchen, he looked in the fridge and found some spaghetti bolognaise his mom had brought round yesterday.

She always made too much for just him, Ianto thought.

"Jack, how do you fancy spaghetti bolognaise for supper?"

"Sounds great, but there's something else I fancy more"

Ianto had to ask this question, "What's that Jack?"

He decided it was best to carry on making coffee too stop himself from giggling in front of Jack.

"You."

"JACK! Will you stop sneaking around like that, otherwise you're gonna be eating your supper though a straw."

They both began to laugh uncontrollably.

Sneaking around was Jack's speciality & there was no way that was gonna change in a hurry.

"Spaghetti bolognaise sounds really great." Jack replied, once he had stopped laughing.

"I'm just curious, what other music do you have Ianto?"

Jack mentioning the word curious was never a good sign.

"If you're that curious, the rest of my cds are in my room."

He really didn't want to mention the word bed because with Jack that meant only one thing.

Jack knew what Ianto was doing, "As in your bed room, Ianto?"

Ianto looked up at Jack and was dreading what he was going to say next, "Yes Jack, as in my bedroom."

As soon as Ianto said this Jack had a cheeky smile on his face.

"Oh no." Ianto murmured, "I tell you what Jack, because I know what's gonna happen next, let's eat first. Ok?"

Ianto looked at Jack and knew he was thinking about this.

"Ok." Jack replied simply.

"Well, in that case, supper is served." Ianto said, handing Jack a plate of spaghetti bolognaise, a cup of coffee and a knife & fork.

After they'd eaten, they were both thinking about what had happened earlier today. Jack heard a slight murmur & turned to Ianto.

"Ianto, babes, what's up?"

Jack already knew but it seemed like the right thing to ask.

"I just miss Tosh &... surprisingly I miss Owen too, I mean I don't know why I miss him." Ianto replied, trying to fight back the tears.

Jack put an arm around Ianto and pulled him closer. Ianto couldn't stop himself, Ianto started to cry, I mean he was so close to Tosh.

She was the closest thing to a sister; he was an only child so he really never had anyone else.

Jack lifted up Ianto's chin and kissed him gently. Jack didn't want Ianto to fill the pain that he felt.

Jack grabbed Ianto's hand and whispered gently, "Come on, time you got some sleep."

Jack pulled him carefully from the couch and led Ianto to the bedroom.

"Jack..." Jack stopped him and said simply.

"I'll look after you Ianto, I promise."

When they were both wrapped up in bed, Ianto said sleepily, "I'm supposed to look after you Jack."

Jack kissed him again and said "We'll look after each other then. Deal?"

"Deal." Ianto replied, now half asleep.

"Night Ianto."

"Night Jack."

And they both fell asleep, safe in the knowledge that they could be there to look after each other.