Author's Notes: That's rather different from mere laziness that Sloth is usually made to be, so I think I managed to stay on topic. I'm sorry for the delay, by the way – I was really ill and could barely function, so there's that. I'm still not feeling very well – that's why this chapter is shorter.

References: The bit about the customised hell is from In the Shadows, which is an audiobook. That was pretty much what happened – he killed Gwen and then went looking for Ianto because he was sure that he'd forgive him no matter what.

I just figured that Jack might have moments like this occasionally – moments of weakness when he can't quite manage to keep going with his immortality (and the lack thereof of everyone around him) weighing on his back, so I hope I did a good job with it and, as always, feedback is welcome.

Sloth – sadness, depression, or the inability to feel joy.

Ianto tentatively knocked on the door of Jack's office and got a muffled 'Come in' as a response. He stepped inside as carefully as he could and closed the door behind himself, trying to keep quiet. Despite the invitation to enter, Jack appeared to be asleep. His arms were down on the desk in front of him and he was using them as a pillow for his head.

"Come here," Jack said and looked up, gesturing at the chair on the other side of the desk. "I was looking for you."

"Yeah, Gwen told me." He realised that an 'Are you okay?' was probably in order, but couldn't force himself to get it out. It was rather obvious just how not okay he was. "What is it?"

"It's just, I can't– I don't–" Jack's voice died. "I'm not even sure. It's just– bad."

"It does get bad occasionally," Ianto agreed. "Do you need something?"

"Yes," Jack whispered, almost fervently. "Yes, I do. But I don't know what it is." When Ianto started fidgeting with his cufflinks – and therefore gave himself time to think of an answer – the Captain continued. "And you always do. That's why I was looking for you."

"I think I might have an idea." When Jack looked up sharply, Ianto smiled. "Are you up for a small trip?"

Jack seemed confused. "How long would it take?" he asked after several moments of silence.

"It's mostly up to you. You decide once we get there, but until then... you'll just have to go by my word."

Jack frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Once we get to the car, this," Ianto pulled out a blindfold, "is coming into action. And no, we are not having sex in my car," he hurried to add when Jack's eyes lit up. "Just– follow my lead, okay? Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do." The answer was immediate and rather heart warming – not that Ianto would ever let his lover know that.

"Good," he said instead. "Up you get then. We can tell Gwen we'll be back in tomorrow. After all, it's nearly eight in the evening; she should be leaving soon too."

After the smallest of pauses, the Captain nodded and followed him out of the office.

o.O.o

Jack had tried to guess the way they were going several times and had failed completely each and every one of them so eventually, he'd given up and let Ianto take him wherever it was he had on his mind. The outward giveaways of their location were rather curious and – if it had been anybody else – a bit alarming. He could hear the street noise fading away gradually and then it was replaced by a silence that neither of them felt the need to break. Jack didn't even have the urge to ask where they were going anymore. Ianto had taken the wheel – both literally and metaphorically – and that was enough for him to calm down.

It was also enough to distract him from the inexplicable misery that had been haunting him for the past several hours. It was something that had risen from the deep and dark corners of his soul where there was no life and no hope for anything; and he'd let it engulf him. He'd felt himself sinking and he'd been unable to do anything about it, except look for Ianto. He remembered the time when he'd been sent in a dimension that created a customised hell for anyone who entered it and how, after all the mistakes he'd made there, he'd still looked for Ianto, because he'd make things right. He'd fix everything. He'd understand.

The road wasn't as smooth now; there were bumps every now and then and Jack was quite sure that they'd got out of Cardiff altogether. Just when he was about to ask Ianto if this was some sort of revenge for a mistake Jack didn't remember doing and if he'd dump him here and leave him to walk back to the city, the car stopped and Jack heard his lover moving about on the seat next to his.

"Are we here already?" he asked. Ianto didn't answer and he continued. "You know, I'm surprised that nobody stopped you while we were still in Cardiff. I'm blindfolded."

"I'll have you know that I'm a very intimidating individual even on a first look," Ianto assured him and Jack scoffed, partially amused and still trying to sympathise with his employee. He knew that Ianto was irritated by the fact that he was younger than all of the officials they dealt with and sweet-faced enough to look even younger than he was, and Jack had always tried to reassure him and tell him that he had to count it as an advantage. He had started doing so, eventually – Jack had seen him, and not just once, pretend to be a new policeman on his first day and he'd laughed wholeheartedly while watching his lover fumble about and bite his lips as if he was too scared to actually deal with the case. It was a tactic that often got them enough information to start investigating.

"There wasn't any police on the way, was there?"

"No," Ianto muttered and Jack felt his fingers snake into his hair and to the knot of the blindfold. "Come on, open your eyes."

Jack blinked several times to clear his vision and looked around. Ianto was already out of the car and standing by his side. They were in the middle of a field, and there was nothing around them. Quite literally, too; the car was the only think that stuck over two inches above the ground.

"Where are we?" He asked, still a bit dazed, and Ianto caught his right hand to help him out.

"Come on, get out. I'll show you."

Jack stepped out of the car and looked around them. There was still nothing all that remarkable on the field and he joined Ianto as he leant against the front of the car.

"Look up," Ianto whispered and Jack followed his eyes. And what he saw there took his breath away.

He could see the stars; probably as much of them as were visible at this time of the year. In Cardiff, with all its lights and car exhausts, he'd be lucky to get a glimpse at one or two of them, but here? There were millions.

"I thought you might miss them," Ianto said quietly and, when Jack shot a look in his direction, he saw that his eyes were glued to the sky as well.

"I did," Jack said. He was only realising it, and it showed in his voice, but he didn't care. "How did you know?"

This time, Ianto looked at him. His smile was sadder and yet more honest now, and his eyes were old as the Universe itself.

"Because I miss them too."