PART two

Jack stomped down the garden path and when he got to the SUV he kicked the driver's side with as much force as he could muster putting a sizable dent in it.

"Shit!"

He yanked open the door and got behind the steering wheel and thumped that for good measure as well. Ianto had to be the most exasperating man on the planet, he tested every ounce of Jack's will and resolve and sometimes Jack just wished he could retcon the little shit back into puberty. He sat there for some time breathing hard and finally his guilt got the better of him and he got back out of the car and locked it. The moment he opened the front door he heard the crying and sighing unhappily he stepped back into Ianto's house and made his way to the kitchen. Ianto was still standing, right where Jack had left him, the gun now on the floor alongside the unwound bandage that Ianto had clearly removed from his injured hand. Cautiously Jack edged into the room.

"Ianto?"

Ianto turned, a look of pure misery on his young face. Jack took a half dozen paces forwards and enveloped the younger man in his arms. Ianto sagged into the folds of his great coat and shuddered out a howl, his hands fisting in the fabric. Jack noted with some degree of startlement........ oh shit.

"Let me see your hand."

Ianto complied, holding it up and looking into Jack's eyes through his own tears. Jack inspected the unmarked skin of Ianto's palm.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He pulled him close, not wanting to wish his curse on his worst enemy, let alone the man he was in love with. There it was, the crux of it, the one thing Jack didn't want under any circumstances was to fall in love again. Ianto just held on, he didn't know what else to do. Finally standing was making his back ache and Ianto just knew he had to lie down before he fell down. He pulled himself free from Jack's arms.

"I'm going to bed, will you come with me?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, sure." He was tired anyway and didn't want to question Ianto's expectation. They'd talk in the morning, at least he hoped they would.

Ianto stripped down naked and clambered under his quilt and he fell asleep almost as soon as he put his head down. Jack tucked him and fussed with his hair for a moment before heading for the bathroom to shower. He was wholly conscious of the fact that he did not want Ianto to wake up with him still smelling of Viv.

Ianto awoke the following morning with his head cradled gently against Jack's chest, and warm fingers gently roaming through his hair. He lay there in silence for a while enjoying the comforting sensation and he closed his eyes again, drifting peacefully on the rhythm of Jack's breathing.

"You awake?"

"Uhmm."

Jack's hand strayed over his shoulders.

"You want breakfast?"

"Got nothing in." Came the murmured reply. Jack wasn't surprised, while Ianto prided himself on looking after his team mates he was generally pretty rubbish at looking after himself.

"Barnaby's will open in 20 minutes. Strawberries and waffles with cream."

It did sound good and Jack knew it was Ianto's favourite early morning treat, along with the special Jamaican coffee that was almost a fiver a cup. It was good coffee.

Ianto stretched out an arm from under the warmth of the bedding. "Ok, can we have make up sex first?"

Jack chuckled but shook his head. "No, we're gonna eat and we're gonna talk and then Owen is going to thoroughly check you over."

"I'd prefer make up sex."

"Me too, but I don't think that's a good idea right now."

Ianto was wide awake now and he sat up, the covers falling away from his milky white body. Jack thought he looked a little paler than normal but kept his mouth shut he'd mention it to Owen later. He realised Ianto was pouting. He certainly knew how to do that.

"Guess I better get up then, did I clean up the kitchen last night?"

Jack smiled at him. "No, I did after you fell asleep."

Ianto sighed gazing into the depths of Jack's oceanic blues and wanting to lose himself there indefinitely.

"I'm sorry about last night."

"Me too."

Ianto rolled off the bed and padded off to the bathroom...............

50 HOURS LATER.....

Ianto waved Tosh out of the Hub and as soon as the cog door had closed he sagged down on to the couch under the tiled logo and buried his face in his hands. Two days was a long time to lose, 48 hours in which God only knew what had happened. It made him very nervous to think of the things they may have done, or even not done. He knew he should put it out of his mind, like Jack had instructed, after all there was stuff all he could do about it anyway. His head ached and all Ianto wanted to do was to go to bed and sleep it off. He felt a warm firm hand settle on his shoulder and Ianto looked up to see Jack smiling down at him.

"You ok?"

Ianto nodded. "Just a bit spooked really, but I think we all are right now."

Jack sat down beside him, leaning back and pulling Ianto with him. Ianto settled his head against Jack's shoulder. "We could've been wide open Jack and we're never going to know."

Jack fingers carded through his hair in soft, comforting touches. "If it is any consolation, everything seems alright with the world and I just got off the phone with UNIT and they tell me everything is ok with the world. I don't think any lasting damage was done, so stop worrying about it."

Ianto nodded and yawned at the same time. "I never did get that medical exam you threatened me with."

"I reminded Owen before he left, he'll do it in the morning."

A comfortable silence settled around them and Ianto yawned again. "I'll go and feed the residents and then I am going home." He eased himself away from Jack's gentle hold. Jack let him go somewhat reluctantly and watched Ianto leave for the cells his shoulders slumped. It easy enough to tell Ianto not to worry but the Hub had obviously been seriously compromised and there was no way of telling how or why it had happened. Jack did not like to feel this vulnerable, it reminded him too much of the time that he had lost Grey. He sighed and stood up and stretched, well at least Tosh got a nice bunch of flowers. He half wondered if Vivian would be working tonight, he needed to vent his angst and sex was always the best way to do it. He glanced at Ianto who was now on the upper gantry underneath Tosh's dragon painting feeding Myfanwy and instantly changed his mind.

"Hey Ianto?" He called out.

Ianto looked him, a salmon dangling from his hand. "Jack?"

"Wanna get some dinner?"

Ianto's expression morphed from bland to stunned in a millisecond and then he frowned, probably wondering what I am after, Jack thought.

"Luigi's is still open."

Ianto tossed the salmon and Myfanwy swooped it up with one snap of her long beak before she veered away into the heights again. Ianto was watching her now and Jack recognised that look of adoration so often focussed on him. Finally the young man replied and Jack realised he'd been holding his breath.

"Ok." He had another fish ready and this time Myfanwy landed on the gantry making a deep chortling sound as Ianto stepped forward and rubbed her neck as she swallowed down her next fish. Jack watched in fascination as she nudged at Ianto's pockets with her beak and Ianto chuckled.

"I know, I know you can smell it, can't you. I hope I haven't been neglecting you this last couple of days." He was feeding her chocolate chunks now. Jack suspected that if that dinosaur could purr, it would be roaring right now. It was wonderful to see Ianto looking so content in her presence, it was rare at best to see him relaxed let alone smiling so Jack just watched, enjoying the moment.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Ianto picked at his food, not eating much and Jack happily ate all of his own and then the rest of Ianto's, though Ianto refused to share his desert. They talked about very little, both of them still out of kilter and neither sure how to express it without going over it again. Two days gone, Ianto had even frightened his sister half to death by ringing her to make sure everyone was ok only to be told off for not visiting. As usual it was raining when they stepped out of the restaurant and Jack was unable to resist the temptation of taking Ianto's hand as they walked hurriedly back to his house. On the doorstep Jack hesitated, waiting to be invited in. Ianto just grabbed his coat collar and dragged him inside.

AN: This is as fluffy as this gets...... from here on in... well it's anybody's guess really.......and thank you so much everyone for the reviews.