Several weeks later, Ianto had spent several sleepless nights at Jacks' house, usually turning up with blood on his shirt and a new cut to bandage - and not always self-inflicted. Jack didn't mind, but Ianto still wouldn't tell him exactly what was going on, and he was starting to worry that something really bad could happen.

Jack had to admit, he really liked it when Ianto came over at night. He shouldn't, because his best friend was hurt, but he loved going to sleep with his arms wrapped around Ianto's slight frame, in fact, he found it hard to sleep when Ianto didn't come over, for worry that Stephan was hurting him.

Jack still hadn't told his parents that Ianto came over during the night; he left before sunrise, so there was no need to worry them, right? Jack hoped he was doing the right thing.

***

The next day at school, Ianto had his arm in a cast.

"What happened?" Jack asked, when they finally had a quiet moment together. "Did he brake your arm?" They both knew who Jack meant by he.

"No…" Ianto looked like he was going to cry. "Look, I'll tell you tonight, ok?"

Jack agreed, and then they had to go to class.

Ianto came over early – like, an hour after school.

He rang the doorbell, and Jack let him in.

Thinking on his feet, Jack said "Sorry, Mum, I forgot to tell you. I invited Ianto over. Is that okay?"

"Of course" she replied, smiling softly. "I told you, Ianto's always welcome here."

"Thanks Mum."

They left, and walked up the stairs to Jacks room.

Jack said nothing, and waited for Ianto to start the conversation.

Ianto kicked off his boots, and sat down next to Jack, on his bed.

Jack put his arm around him.

"Mam asked me where I went, when I was hurt. She noticed that I wasn't always around."

Jack said nothing.

"I said 'Jack's place' just as Stephan came in – sober, for once. He called me a queer, and a devil-worshiper, and other shit that I don't even want to think about, and said he couldn't live in the same house as me. So I said Fine. Leave, We'll be glad to see you go. And he yelled at me Get Out! You can't push me out of my own home. And I said Like you're pushing me out of mine? And he pushed me out of the house. Literally." Tears appeared in the corners of his eyes. "And Mam and my brothers and sisters said nothing, and I have nowhere to live."

"You can always stay here -" Jack stared saying, but was cut off by Ianto.

"No. Because – as much as I hate Stephan, he was right. I like you more than I should, and I'm sorry."

"Don't be – I, I like you too. A lot."

And Jack kissed him, on the lips, and Ianto hated hi for it.

Ianto pulled away. "Jack, stop. It's wrong to feel like this. I shouldn't have said anything. God will send us to Hell, and it's not right… and I'm leaving. I rang Alice, she'll take me. She lives in London, but I'm meeting up with her this afternoon. I just came to say goodbye, and that I'll miss you."

Jack said nothing.

"So… goodbye," said Ianto. "And I really will miss you."

Ianto gave Jack a small kiss on the cheek, and waked out of the room, out of the house, and out of Jack's life, for the remainder of their childhood.