When the ice cold water hit his skin Ianto's eyes widened dramatically. He was used to the cold and the wet, living in Cardiff, but this was ridiculous. He struggled against Jack who was standing behind him in the shower stall.

"It's okay, Ianto. Just stay still."

"F-freezing!" Ianto replied, shivering.

"I know, but we've got to get your fever down."

Ianto wanted to look around to see if Owen was in there with them, but he had a feeling if he wasn't he'd be waiting just outside. Jack was pressed intimately against him, and they were both nude.

"The b-baby is okay?" Ianto stuttered, reaching a hand to his stomach.

Jack hugged him back against him. "The baby is going to be fine, Ianto. As soon as your temperature goes down."

Ianto wondered why Jack wasn't freezing like he was. At least, if he was, his teeth weren't chattering. Perhaps it had something to do with his body chemistry. Ianto had never really envied him that, but now he was having second thoughts.

The next thought that struck him was that he was no longer in pain. Or at least, it had dulled. What had been an excruciating stab of fire through his abdomen was now a gentle throb. The pain killers were mild, yet they'd done wonders. If it weren't for the ice bath he was currently having he'd feel wonderful.

"I t-thought…" He paused, not sure he wanted to voice his earlier suspicions.

"You thought what, Ianto?" Jack asked.

"I…I thought it was the lunch we had."

"How long were you in pain?"

Ianto considered that for a moment. "A few minutes, I b-believe. Felt like indigestion at f-first."

Jack lifted one of his arms and felt Ianto's forehead. He then stuck his head out the curtain, saying, "I think the fever is coming down."

"Give it a few more minutes," Owen replied, confirming Ianto's certainty that Owen was still in the shower room with them. "We don't want to have to drag him right back in there if at all possible."

Jack pulled his head back through and turned Ianto around in his arms. He adjusted the showerhead so that it was aiming directly at the Welshman's upper back.

"G-God," Ianto muttered, shivering anew.

"Just a little bit longer," Jack assured him, cupping the back of his head. "Did I ever tell you about the time I dated an ice princess from the Gamma Epsilon galaxy?"

Ianto's chuckle sounded like a cross between Popeye and a seal. "No, I d-don't think you h-have."

"She was lovely," said Jack, stroking Ianto's wet hair. "Long, silver hair, gray eyes, and a figure that could kill. And I mean that literally. Her porcelain colored skin was actually icy to the touch. Spend too long with her at one time and you'd catch Hypothermia."

"B-but you d-dated her anyway."

"Well, yeah, of course," replied Jack. "She was hot! Well, you know what I mean."

Ianto laughed again and this time it came out as a cough. Jack patted his back until the coughing petered off. Ianto wondered, briefly, how long it would take to catch his death in the ice cold shower.

"She was amazing, though," Jack continued, rubbing circles on Ianto's skin. "The things she could do with her hands. Wow. There was this one time, when we were on the run from her father, the king. We hid in a supply closet. It got kind of boring in there, so we started to…mess around a bit. Let me tell you, when she stuck her finger…"

"Agh!" Ianto cried, trying to cover his ears. "God, J-Jack!"

"What?" asked Jack, an innocent look on his face. He pressed his groin into Ianto's, and Ianto groaned. Jack thrust against him slowly. "I gotta say, Ianto, it's nothing compared to what you can do with your tongue…"

"Alright, Harkness," called Owen, "that's enough of that! Let's get Ianto out of there and I'll check his temperature again."

Jack shrugged, giving Ianto a wink before turning off the tap. He reached his hand out for a towel. Owen handed one to him and Jack dried them both quickly and efficiently. He then wrapped the towel around Ianto's waist and helped him step out of the shower.

"Oi, Harkness! Put that away!"

Jack looked down at himself and Ianto's eyes followed. The captain smirked. "What, Owen, you've never seen a hard on before?"

"That shower was bloody freezing," Owen replied, shaking his head. "Only you."

"I can't help it if Ianto's hot."

"It's the f-fever," Ianto replied, smiling.

"Ha ha," said Owen, pointing towards the pile of clothes on the bench. "Cover up before I lose my lunch."

Jack did as he was told and started dressing while Owen ran the Bekaran scanner over him again. He scowled for a moment as he pushed some buttons, then ran it over him again.

"Thirty-eight," he stated, nodding. "Not where I'd like it to be but out of the immediate danger territory. Plenty of fluids, the Paracetamol, and a bed rest should take care of it."

"B-bed rest?" Ianto asked, frowning.

"That's right, Tea Boy," replied Owen. "I want you off your feet and horizontal."

"Why, Owen," said Jack, buttoning his shirt, "if I didn't know any better I'd say you were hitting on him."

Owen glared. "Yeah, you would think that, wouldn't you?" To Ianto he said, "I mean it. I want you to go home and get some sleep. I'll be over to check on you this evening. And if you start feeling pain again, take two Paracetamol and call me. I'll send you home with them."

"Alright, Owen," Ianto agreed. He reached for underwear and Owen turned away from them, heading out of the shower room.

"I'll take you home," said Jack, handing him his trousers. "I don't want you driving by yourself right now."

Ianto nodded, taking the trousers from him and slipping them on. He wasn't in a mood to argue. He pulled on his socks and shoes next and then looked around. "Where are the rest of my clothes?"

"Upstairs in Owen's lair," Jack replied. "We had to take them off earlier."

"Oh," he said, not remembering a lot of his time right after the incident. "I guess it was even worse than I thought."

Jack put his hands on Ianto's bare shoulders. "You gave us quite a scare."

"I just remember the pain getting worse and worse," he said, rubbing his stomach. "And I could hear you both talking, but only picked up a little of the conversation. I heard Owen say I was too warm, and there was a risk to the baby."

"You asked us to save it."

"I do remember that."

Jack smiled, squeezing his shoulders before releasing them. "Alright, let's get you upstairs and dressed, I'll grab our things and then we'll go."

"Okay," Ianto replied.

He followed Jack out of the shower room and up into the main Hub. When the girls saw him they rushed towards him, both talking over each other and trying to assess how he was feeling.

"I'm alright," he told them, smiling. "Still a bit of a fever but an icy shower took that down quite a bit."

"Oh you poor thing," said Gwen, feeling his forehead and then clucking her tongue. "You're still so warm!"

"It's going to take time," he said.

"Will you be going home?" asked Tosh. "I can stop by after work and bring you some soup."

Jack arrived with Ianto's shirt, jacket, and tie. "Ladies, ladies…Ianto is already in good hands. I'll be taking him home."

"Will you stay the night?" asked Gwen. Her eyes were wide and she was giving them a no nonsense look. "He's going to need someone there to look after him."

"And keep him company," added Tosh.

"Yes, and you're both right," said Jack, giving them a placating smile. "If you can man the fort tonight I will make sure Ianto is taken care of."

Ianto blushed, securing the last button on his shirt before slipping into his coat. He shoved the tie in his pocket. He'd be taking it off again soon enough.

"The fuss really isn't necessary," he told them, shaking his head. "I'm feeling much better. I can handle sleeping just fine."

"And eating," said Gwen. "You don't eat enough, Ianto.

"And plenty of fluids!" warned Owen, coming to stand at the top of the stairs and folding his arms across his chest. "If you haven't been drinking enough fluids I'll be able to tell."

"I'll make sure he drinks fluids," promised Jack.

Tosh giggled and Gwen snorted in a very unladylike manner. Owen just looked disgusted and disappeared down into his medical bay.

"Alright," said Jack, "let's go."

"Your coat, sir?"

Jack's eyes widened. "Right. Not sure how I forgot that." He sprinted off toward the back stairs to his office, appearing again a few moments later with said coat around his shoulders. "Much better."

"We'll grab my things on the way out," Ianto said, turning towards the exit. "I left my mobile, wallet, and keys in reception."

They headed out of the Hub and up into the tourist office. Ianto got his items from the safe in the back room and then they made their way to Ianto's Saab.

"Alright if I drive?" Jack asked him, holding a hand out for the keys.

"That'll be fine," Ianto replied, turning over the keys. "Probably best."

They sat for a moment inside the car before Jack turned to him, leaning over to cup his cheek. He pressed a gentle kiss to Ianto's lips and then pulled back, smiling. He started the car, his hand reaching for Ianto's once they were out on the street.

"I really was worried about you, Ianto."

"I know, sir. Jack." He squeezed the captain's hand. "Thank you for being there."

"I wouldn't have been anywhere else."

Ianto watched the other cars on the street as they went about their business. They had no idea that Torchwood was always looking out for them. Captain Jack Harkness more so than anyone. He looked out for the entire city, and especially his team. Ianto wasn't sure he truly needed anyone to stay with him tonight, but he knew he'd feel safer and more secure with Jack there.

When they got to his flat Ianto opened the door, and Jack left his coat hanging on the rack in the hallway. Wasting no time on niceties Ianto headed straight for the bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and changed into pajamas, sliding into the bed.

Jack smiled at him from the doorway before coming over to sit on the edge of the bed. He brushed Ianto's damp hair off his forehead. "You look tired."

"I feel it," said Ianto.

"I'll get you some water."

Ianto nodded and watched as Jack left the room. He could hear the tap running in the kitchen and smiled when Jack returned, placing the glass and two pills on the bedside table.

"Owen gave me your pills," he explained, rattling the small bottle before setting it on the table as well. "You might not need them, but just in case."

"Always be prepared," Ianto said, stifling a yawn. He reached for the water and took a long drink before setting it back down and rolling onto his back. "You really don't need to stay."

"I think I do," Jack disagreed, tucking the covers over him. "Owen will be here to check on you tonight, but until that fever is gone you shouldn't be alone."

"Thanks, Jack."

"My pleasure," the captain replied. He pressed a kiss to Ianto's forehead before getting up and again leaving the room.