Jack stares at Ianto and feels like his heart is going to explode. He's so pale he's practically blending in with the bed sheets. "Oh Ianto," Jack whispers. He moves over to the bed on shaky legs, he sits down on the uncomfortable metal chair and takes Ianto's hands in his. He finds Ianto's bruised knuckles oddly comforting, it means that his boy gave a good fight. Ianto doesn't move, doesn't respond just stays still. His stillness is a reminder of how close Jack could have lost him.

"I was so scared I wouldn't get you back." Jack mumbled. "I thought..." He doesn't finish, he just lets it hang in the air. For a while he lets the silence cover them. The beeping of Ianto's life support machine is all that can be heard. Constant beeping like his heart beat.

"See you have to wake up soon, Ianto." Jack whispers. "I'm sorry." Ianto moves a little, just the faint squeeze of fingers. "Ianto?"

"Jack...?" His voice is dry, thick, his accent more clear in sleep. "Make him stop Jack..."

"He wont hurt you again, baby boy. I promise." Jack's words spill with no thought to them. He moves his other arm over and slowly caresses Ianto's cheek, calming him. "I'm here now, you're safe."

"Jack?" Ianto blinks his eyes open. The light is too bright and he is forced to close them again.

"I'm here, you're safe." Jack repeats.

"I... I thought I wouldn't see you again." Ianto whispers and his eyes water and Jack doesn't care that the nurse said he wouldn't respond well to human contact he just needs Ianto in his arms. He holds him tight, trying to ignore the fact that his lover tenses for a whole minute before his body loosens and reacts.

"I'm sorry, Ianto." Jack whispers.

"Not your fault." Ianto says and he pulls away, he settles back in the uncomfortable bed but doesn't pull away from Jack's hand.

"I should have come with you... shouldn't have put work first..."

"You have to put work first." Ianto says.

"But..."

"Wasn't your fault." Ianto says quietly.

"I thought I lost you."

"But you didn't." Ianto says, though he doesn't feel completely there.

"I... I'll go and get a nurse let them know you're okay... they'll want to check you over..."

"No. Don't go Jack." Ianto begs.

"I wont." Jack says and sits back down.

"Never leave me." Ianto says and he starts sobbing, the past few days catching up to him and he doesn't think he can stop.

"Never. I'll never leave you."