Picture Perfect Chapter 13

Taking out his handkerchief, Jack gave it to Ianto, but the younger man didn't seem to know what to do with it. Taking it from him, Owen held it against his nose, pinching the bridge to stop the flow of blood.

"We need to get him down to the autopsy bay. I wanna see what's going on with him."

"I'm okay. Just a nose bleed. I got them all the time when I was a kid." Ianto told them.

"When was the last time you had one this bad?" Owen asked him.

"After a fight. I was 9."

"And not since?"

Ianto shook his head.

Taking the handkerchief away, Owen tilted Ianto's head back so that he could see if the blood had stopped. It had, just.

"I remember my arm hurting and then….I must have blacked out."

Jack nodded. "I lost contact right after I choked out the Zaneokite. I thought I'd killed it. Ianto was a bit pissed, I think."

Ianto looked at Jack. "He bite you, but he didn't deserve to die."

Jack laid a hand on Ianto's shoulder. "He didn't. He was playing dead. Gwen and I let him go about half an hour ago."

Gwen nodded. "Back via the transporter."

"Good." Ianto tried to stand, but his legs felt like jelly.

"Whoa! No, stay seated." Warned Jack.

"I feel kinda woozy." Ianto closed his eyes.

"How's the pain in your arm?" asked Owen.

"I can't….feel my arm."

"Autopsy bay. Now, Jack!" Owen's voice held urgency.

Picking Ianto up in his arms, Jack carried him from his office to the autopsy bay, lying him on the table.

"Why can't I feel my arm? It hurt like mad before I …."

Ianto closed his eyes.

"Ianto? Ianto!"

"Out of the way, Jack. I need to examine him."

Pulling up Ianto's sweatshirt, Owen managed to get it over his head and put it on the chair beside him. Undoing the bandage, he saw that Ianto's arm looked red and angry.

"He's got an infection. I need to clean it."

Getting warm water and swabs, Owen set about cleaning the wound. Jack watched from the railings above the bay, concern written all over his face.

"I thought it was healing."

"He must have knocked it or something. There's a cut here where the infection got in."

Owen cleaned the wound and then redressed it. Ianto was still unconscious and Jack was becoming more and more concerned.

"I should have said no."

"This didn't happened this morning, Jack. It isn't new." Owen told him. "This isn't your fault, Jack."

"Will his arm be okay? He said he couldn't feel it."

"I'll give him a shot and some antibiotics. It should clear up in a few days."

Jack nodded.

"Do you love him, Jack?" Owen asked.

"Yes."

"You're not just trying to get him into bed?"

"I've had him in my bed."

Gwen shook her head.

"And nothing happened. And nothing will until Ianto wants it too." Jack walked down to stand by the table, taking Ianto's hand in his. "I respect his wishes. He's not ready for that kind of relationship. I can understand that and I can wait."

"You know, for a while there, I thought you might be out for what you could get. A notch on your bedpost, so to speak. But you really do love him."

Jack nodded.

"He'll get through this, Jack and you'll take him on that date. But you better make it a good one. Make up for all he's been though."

"Yeah. I will."

Ianto opened his eyes and smiled up at Jack.

"What's accuring?"