Chapter 2 – Alarms

Ianto moved quietly back to the bunk, crawling under the quilt next to the sleeping captain. He moved closer to the older man, resting his head on his warm shoulder.

Jack's eyes scrunched shut tighter, "Ianto?"

"Go to sleep Jack." The younger man whispered.

"You're cold." Jack's voice was deep from sleep.

"I just got a drink."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. Go back to sleep."

Jack turned to face Ianto and sighed, "No you're not."

"I'm fine." Ianto insisted, smiling reassuringly.

"Ianto," The older man ran the back of his hand over the Welshman's cheek, "Your face is still red."

Ianto let out a shaky breath, "I'll be fine."

"Tell me what's wrong." Jack's voice was quiet.

"Nothing."

Jack rubbed his eyes, "Tell me, please."

"It's alright. I'll be fine."

The captain looked away for a moment, "It was that dream again, wasn't it?"

"It...I know...you don't really feel like you do in that dream." His voice was uncertain.

"I don't." Jack murmured quietly, "You know I don't. I've never felt like that."

"It just gets to me, you know?"

"Yeah, I know. I understand, honestly. You survived Canary Wharf and then Lisa. It's not fair for someone to have to deal with as much as you have." Jack wrapped his arms around the younger man, pulling him closer, "Don't think about it. The past is the past. You're here, in the hub, in this room, in this bed. That's all that matters now."

Ianto smiled, breathing in the smell of Jack that surrounded him in that little room, "You know, one of these days you'll realise that I have a bed twice as big as this at my place."

"You like this one better though. You said it was softer."

"...I could get a softer mattress?"

Jack chuckled, "If you want me to go home with you, tell me and I'll go."

"You're always busy with reports."

"I'm pretty sure I'd choose you over them."

Ianto smirked, "I know you would but if you don't do it, I end up doing it."

"How about this, I'll work extra hard tomorrow, get lots of work done. Then we'll go back to yours."

"Deal. Can we sleep now?"

Jack smiled, kissing the top of the younger man's head, "Sleep."

- - - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -

Ianto groaned when he heard an alarm sound in the hub. He rolled in the bed and looking over at the older man sleeping next to him.

"Jack? Jack, get up." Ianto shook the captain.

"Urgh, why?"

"Something's going on. You've got to get up Jack."

"Five more minutes."

"No Jack, now." Ianto went to stand up but was stopped by Jack's hand grabbing his arm.

"Don't get up."

"It's..." Ianto looked over at the clock, "Shit, Jack get up! It's ten!"

"What?" Jack's grip on Ianto's arm tightened.

"It's ten o'clock. Get up."

"You're kidding me!"

Ianto grabbed hold of Jack's hand that was still holding his arm and pulled him out of the bed, "Hurry up."

"Alright, alright!"

- - - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -

"Gwen?" Ianto called as he came out from Jack's office, "You in?"

"Thank god you're awake!"

"Well why didn't you wake us!?"

"One, you needed sleep and two, I never want to walk in on you two...not like that."

Ianto blushed for a moment, "What's going on?"

"I have no idea. Everything was fine until that alarm went off."

Jack rushed out of his office, his suspenders still at his sides. He quickly got to their sides, just a little but out of breath.

"What's going on?"

"I was hoping you could tell me." Gwen sighed, "I have no idea Jack."

Jack messed around with the computer for a moment and they knew something was very wrong by the look on his face.

"Gwen, stay here." Jack turned to Ianto, tilting his head to look in his eyes.

Not that he had to tilt his head by much. Ianto was scared. He hadn't seen Jack like this very often but it was never good. Jack's hands firmly held the younger man's shoulders.

"You need to promise me you'll stay here."

"What? No!"

"I have to go and try to fix this now. I don't have time Ianto," Jack pressed his lips to the Welshman's firmly. The kiss completely filled with uncertainty and fear. Ianto could tell Jack was scared and that only spurred on his own fear, "Stay here."

Jack ran out the cog door before they could stop him.

"What the hell Jack!?"

A/N: Sorry for the wait. Words cannot describe how much all your reviews meant to me. I'm SO glad you liked chapter one. Please continue to review.

Cheers,
Gabz
xx