11
It was a few hours later that Adeola returned with Banana Boat and his mate Rhys turned up, Rhys was an old mate from the rugby team. Jack liked him on sight, as much as he did NOT like Banana boat at all.
Martha came to visit as well, her boyfriend Mickey Smith strangely familiar to Jack but he didn't know why. He liked him instantly. The IDs were grand. Jack surprised to find his name was still Jack, but now Michaels was the surname. Ianto was Ifan and it was Ifan Connors.
Once Ianto explained that Ianto is the child version of Ifan, like Billy for William Jack knew that if he accidentally called him Ianto no one would notice as this is common. Jack was relieved to discover that Ianto was even more laid back in blue jeans. Yeah… Ianto's arse looked good in denim.
"So, what's the scoop?" Ianto asked once they were settled with some fish and chips they had brought with them…. Jack likes fish. He would like to do some fishing in the little river Ianto said would be near their cabin.
"Adeola went back and tried to get through the cordon, told them she worked there and got pulled into an interrogation room by some crew from Cardiff. Torchwood 3 apparently. They knew what really happened, loosely admitted it but from what I gather, they think everyone was locked in and are gone. They were shocked to see Adie, they told her she is the only survivor they have come across so far."
"Others got out, we were not alone running from that place. Looks like everyone else is hiding too" Ianto nodded.
"So, I saw the list of people… took a second to take some photos to check and the name of missing and dead… Ianto love, you are on there. You and Lisa are listed among the… I am so sorry" Martha said softly, her UNIT connection a boon as they seemed to have taken over the scene.
Ianto ignored the comment about Lisa, preferring to stay on task "and the official bullshit that it is a terrorist attack?"
"Swallowed with glee by the media. You know what you are going to do now?" Martha asked.
"Lay low, go to the cabin and spend some time just… watching the world turn" Ianto shrugged.
"You. Take a holiday. Ianto 'I'm Too Busy Right Now' Jones?" she laughed slapping at him.
"Well… there are some good shops and such there, and the local clay is good too" Ianto added.
"Oh god, you and your pottery!" she huffed "What if Jack gets too bored?"
"Then he can strip naked and run into the woods to find a bear to shag or something" Ianto said angrily, getting annoyed with her needling.
Jack's roar of amusement made them both turn to watch as he slapped his leg. He shook a finger at Ianto as he laughed and Ianto misled, rising to start making a list.
When they go, they would need things.
And he needed to stay low just in case they were still looking for him, Torchwood and their facial recognition software would find him passing an ATM or CCTV cameras in a second. And although he hadn't asked, he was sure UNIT had the same tech now that they had gained control of Torchwood One. Something Torchwood Three are no doubt still fighting with them about.
God, he can practically hear the waffling and accusations at the meetings over it.
He had to get Jack gone.
.
.
It was late, the move to be happening in the coming morning and Ianto was trying to get some sleep but something kept waking him up. At first he thought it might be a rat or something, a small animal making the noise, like a scratching sound. Then he sat up and turned on the torch to swing around and he found Jack laying on his side on the ground by his cot, in a fetal position with his hand making that noise as it dug into the earth, like he was trying to escape something in his sleep.
This was new.
Jack didn't dream, hell he barely slept but here he was, middle of the night and dreaming of something chasing him or… somehow attacking him judging by the soft moans that were starting.
Shit, whatever it was, it was increasing.
Ianto slid from the bed and gingerly approached, not waiting to get attacked or something. I mean, this was new so god only knows what will happen. He was not wiling to let it just play out though, the fear was cloying and Ianto felt so damned sorry for the man.
"Jack?" he said softly, reaching out to stroke his cheek and Jack lunged, seizing him and pulling him into his embrace like he was drowning, his face in his hair as he cuddled him in. "Easy now… I do still have to breathe."
Jack loosened his grip slightly and they stayed on the floor like that for the rest of the night.
It was not all that uncomfortable, they had done similar floor sleeping in the cell so this was actually a softer floor by comparison to concrete.
By the first tendrils of light from the morning's sunrise, Ianto had turned and was hugging him back. Jack woke to the embrace of a loving man, a good man and above all, a snuggly man.
He lay there for a long time staring at that face, memorizing those lines, dips… frown… grey stormy eyes with flecks of gold in them… oh… he's awake.
Jack grinned.
Ianto leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips then whispered that he had to pee.
It was the hardest thing Jack had done in a long time… letting him go.
He could have held him like that forever.