AN: Don't really know whether or not I like this one, it just sort of happened :/ Oh well. Review pretty please :)

Also, on a completely unrelated topic, just watched John Barrowman performing Anything You Can Do with Ruthie Henshall (again.) If you get chance, watch it - it's actually hilarious.

Water

Ianto awoke to a cold empty bed. He wasn't surprised really, Jack hardly ever slept in late. And it was late – for the Torchwood team anyway. What did surprise Ianto however was the fact that he couldn't hear Jack pottering about the flat and rooting through Ianto's possessions as he normally would've done. Whatever, Ianto thought, he's probably just crashed on the sofa, or watching the news or something.

It was the morning after Jack had given Jasmine up to the fairies, and the rest of the team were still refusing to speak to Jack, so he had simply told them to take the day off, and he'd call them if there was an emergency. They had walked off without a backwards glance,also ignoring Ianto because he hadn't spoken against Jack, just remained silently by his side. Jack had then drove to Ianto's walking through the doors in the early hours of the morning. Ianto had pulled him in and allowed the older man to collapse in tears, holding Ianto in a bone crushing embrace as the grief took hold. Ianto had just stood and let Jack cry, rubbing soothing patterns into his back as the sobs slowly subsided, whereupon they retired to bed, worn out from all that had happened.

Yawning and stretching, Ianto clambered out of bed with none of the usual natural grace he seemed to possess. Ianto was never coordinated in the morning – he needed at least twenty minutes, plus a shower and a mug of caffeine before he could become his usual self. He smiled to himself as he realised that besides family, Jack was the only person who knew this.

Ianto decided that it would be best to let Jack have another half hour of alone time before making him face the world again, so pulled on a pair of sweatpants and trudged into the kitchen, dragging his feet, and switching on the coffee machine as he passed it. Realising that he'd be in for a long wait for coffee due to the lack of fresh beans in his machine, he figured he may as well take a shower and then get Jack ready so that they could go shopping. Ianto conveniently forgot how much he hated going shopping with Jack.

The shower awakened Ianto, the soapy jets of water hitting his skin, which felt hyper sensitive, rivulets of water ran down the small of his back, caressing each pore they hit and rejuvenating his senses. At least, that's what the shower gel said it would do. Seemed to be doing a good enough job, Ianto thought wryly as he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a large towel tightly around his waist as he did so.

The icy cold air hit him full force as he walked through the apartment, so he dressed quickly in his casual clothes: snugly fitting jeans, and a white shirt open over a band tee. He was glad no-one other than Jack would ever see him like this – they wouldn't take him seriously ever again. He wandered out of his bedroom after checking his reflection, briefly wondering about getting a haircut. Or maybe letting it grow...

His trail of thought was abruptly halted at the sight of jack lying crumpled on the floor, apparently having fallen off of the sofa. Ianto quickly scanned his surroundings, taking in the numerous bottles of liquor, and the tumbler that had fallen from Jack's hand and rolled away.

Ianto took all of this in and sighed. He knew Jack had been upset about losing Jasmine, but did he really need to drink himself into a coma? Ianto felt at Jack's neck for a pulse, which he felt was quickening underneath his touch. This was good, it meant that Jack's body was repairing – he'd gain consciousness soon.

Trying to pass the time, Ianto tidied around Jack, clearing away all evidence of what Jack had reduced himself to; bottle after bottle got thrown away, and Ianto found himself marvelling at Jack's drinking abilities. Although they'd clearly failed him this time.

Ianto went into the kitchen, and returned carrying Jack's mug, which was now cool with condensation. He placed it onto the table then picked Jack up, laying him out on the sofa with his head in Ianto's lap.

Placing the telly on mute, Ianto stared at the screen, seeing colours and shapes rather than the actual picture as he ran his hands through Jack's hair, waiting for the older man to wake. After what seemed like eons of time, Ianto felt the shudders run through Jack that meant he was coming back. With the usual loud gasp, Jack convulsed in on himself, as he was brought back to the land of the land of the living.

"Shh..." Ianto soothed Jack, muttering in Welsh. Rocking him back and forth as Jack's awareness increased. Jack sat up, placing a chaste kiss to Ianto's cheek before leaning against him. He pointed to the mug:

"What's this, Yan?"

"It's just water Jack. You'll be dehydrated after all that alcohol, and, we're out of coffee. Looks like we'll be going shopping." Ianto sighed, the memory of the last shopping trip still giving him nightmares.

Jack sipped at the water, which was ice cold and welcoming to his dried out throat. He smiled at Ianto, somehow, this man knew exactly what Jack needed and when he needed it, knew how to make Jack feel better without meaning to – knew how Jack felt about him without needing the words to be said.

Jack grinned at Ianto -

"Does, this mean I get to come shopping with you again?"

Ianto just rolled his eyes.