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In this chapter, Ianto and Jack continue to spend the evening together ...

We settled into a routine. I'd be told what pieces to find and he'd try and fit them in. Occasionally I was graciously permitted to fit a piece myself. As it took him longer to fit them than me to find them I had time to sit and watch him. He was totally immersed in the task. His tongue peeked out from his lips from time to time as he tried to work out where one group of pieces linked up with another. I found some CDs and loaded up the player and we sang along to the songs we knew. We were having such a good time, I wondered what his childhood had been like, in the 51st century. Had he spent evenings like this with his parents? I was going to ask but then remembered his reluctance to speak of his life before coming to Earth. I knew the broad outline but none of the details. Probably better to leave it, I decided. No point in upsetting him. He decided to try to get more from his milkshake, even though he'd drunk the lot already, and made an horrendous noise sucking through the straws.

"Enough!" I said, taking the glass. He flashed a grin then turned back to the puzzle that was coming on well. He's a lot better at these things than I am. I took the mug and glass into the kitchen and rinsed them. Then I noticed the time; it was 11.40. "Jack, it's getting late. Do you want to go to bed?" I regretted it the minute I said it. What an opening for him.

"Thought you'd never ask," he cried, jumping down and running over. He grabbed me round the waist, his head resting against my chest. I felt small hands on my arse.

"No!" I said, pulling away, "you are not sleeping with me." I held him away with my hands on his shoulders. He struggled for a while, trying to reach me, but I was way too tall for him. "I'll make up the sofa bed for you."

He stood defeated. "Don't bother," he said, sighing. "I'm not tired. If I feel like it, I can just crash on the sofa as it is." He looked forlorn but I was not taken in, not this time.

"Okay. Go and change into your pyjamas and put on your dressing gown. Keep your socks on or your feet will get cold. I'll get the spare duvet and some pillows." I watched him go, hands in pockets, head down and feet dragging. He was a good little actor, I'll give him that. By the time I'd got the bedding together and put away the CDs he had changed and was back in the living room. He looked younger than ever. "Try and get some rest tonight," I told him, knowing he needed a couple of hours usually.

"Okay," he said coming up to me. "Do I get a good night kiss?" He looked up at me appealingly.

How could I resist. I bent to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek but he moved at the last minute so I ended up kissing his lips. Cheeky bugger. I only made brief contact and then released him. "Good night," I said, walking to the bedroom.

"Good night."

When I looked back, he was standing looking after me. A small boy lost, or so he wanted me to believe. I hardened my heart and shut the door firmly. He was fine, he was manipulating me. I yawned and stripped off, falling into bed straight away. I was whacked, it had been a long and eventful day. I fell asleep almost immediately.

-ooOoo-

I woke slowly, letting myself drift from dreams to wakefulness. I felt rested, relaxed and happy which I didn't always when I woke. My dreams were not always peaceful and I still had nightmares from time to time from which I woke sweating and terrified. The room was still dark so it must be early. I heard the heartbeat under my ear and knew that was why I was sleeping so well, Jack was with me. Jack … was … in … bed … with … me. The full import of the thought came home to me and I sat up abruptly, turning on the light at the same time.

"Jack!" I shouted. The boy, who had been dozing I realised guiltily, started and jerked awake.

"What is it?" he muttered, shielding his eyes against the glare of the lamp.

"What are you doing here!? I told you to sleep on the sofa!"

"I couldn't get to sleep without you."

"Did you even try?" He hesitated and I knew I'd got it right. He'd never intended to sleep anywhere but here. "I knew it. Jack Harkness, you are a devious, lying little toerag!"

"I don't know what your problem is," he said, sitting up. "Nothing happened. I just lay down next to you. It's not as if I could do anything."

"My problem is that I, a grown man, shared a bed with a 10 year old boy. Surely even your permissive century believed that was wrong."

"But nothing happened!" he wailed again.

"It could have," I protested.

"I keep telling you, I can't do anything like that!"

"But I could!" I am not and never have been attracted to young boys, let me get that straight immediately. However, this boy was Jack and while he looked like a boy I saw so many familiar mannerisms and expressions I just might forget he wasn't an adult.

"Oh." He paused, looking at me in sudden realisation. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about how you'd be feeling." His words were soft and sincere. He started to get out of bed, "I'll go."

"It's okay, you can stay." I leant against the headboard, pulling the duvet close. He hesitated and then returned to his position, next to me. "Your touch is still the same, does the same to me." I felt I had to explain but it was rather difficult having this sort of confessional conversation with someone who looked so young.

"I'm sorry, Yan, really I am. I kinda forgot that you might still fancy me." I took a good look at him but he didn't seem to be making fun.

"Don't flatter yourself," I said, smiling and nudged him. He nudged back and we carried on like that for a few minutes. We were both laughing and the air had been cleared. He tentatively laid his head against my shoulder and I put my arm round him. I was just providing comfort, I told myself sternly. We shared a quiet moment or two. "What's it like, being 10 years old again?" I asked.

"Weird! I hate not being able to reach things, I'm just so short! And Owen's stupid comments and not going out on ops, that's irritating. But some stuff's fun. I can do loads of things that I couldn't get away with before," he said perking up.

"Like sliding around on my floors," I said ruefully. He laughed, a good sound.

"Yeah. And going to the movies. And doing the puzzle. Oh and the milkshake." He thought, "Actually, just about all the things I've done with you have been fun."

I was rather pleased at that. I hadn't gone out of my way to indulge him, just let him be a kid I suppose. Perhaps we'd all like the opportunity for a while. The chance to rediscover the uncomplicated joys of life without caring what others think or having the pressures of adult life. Not that Jack was ever bothered much about what others thought of him but at least now he was not criticised for not acting his age.

He was speaking again. "I know the others don't really accept me looking like this, not like you do, but it shouldn't be for much longer. I rang Tosh last night, just to check in. She said she thinks she and Owen have got a handle on the problem. They should have something definite to report this morning."

"That's good," I agreed and it was of course. But there was a part of me that would miss this young lad. "We should think about going in, find out what caused your de-ageing."

He looked across at the clock. "It's only 5.30. There's no rush."

"I usually get up around now. I like an early start."

"Yeah but that's so you can be alone with me before everyone else arrives," he smiled with self-satisfaction.

"Bighead," I commented, moving my arm and pushing him gently away. "If we're not going in yet, I'm going to get some more sleep." I snuggled down in the bed and turned on my side, away from him.

"Could you at least turn the light out?" he said plaintively in my ear. I relented and did as he asked, then I found sleep reclaimed me quickly.

Ahh! Ianto gets a more violent awakening in the next chapter....

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