Chapter Twenty-Six
Yeah, I know I said that I'd put up the one-shot first, but I've got writer's block on it, hence this being put up now. Hope you enjoy! :D
Disclaimer: As much as I love Torchwood, I don't own it. That honour remains that of RTD and the BBC. :(
Jack swam back to reality slowly and sluggishly. The first thing he was aware of was Ianto in his arms and the hard wooden floor of the cabin numbing his behind.
"Jack?" Toshiko's quiet voice asked him anxiously, from where she was kneeling next to him. "Are you back?"
He tried for a smile, but it was more like a pained grimace. "Yeah," he croaked. "'m back." He shifted Ianto in his arms, so that his head was resting in Jack's lap.
The Welshman's face was as pale as it had been earlier, and his chest was still. There were no signs of life, and Jack felt a dull pang of panic. What if it hadn't worked?
Then Ianto gave a loud yell and grabbed at Jack, blue eyes wide and scared.
Jack could have collapsed with relief. He wanted to hold Ianto tight and never let go, or kiss him until he was dizzy from the lack of oxygen, but instead he had to make do with dredging up the last wisps of his energy to smile slackly at his lover.
Toshiko gave a little whimper and reached out to draw Ianto into a huge embrace. "You're back," she whispered. "We'd lost you, but—" she broke off, tears spilling over and flooding down her cheeks. Ianto smiled reassuringly at her, but before he could say anything Owen had grabbed him into a bone-cracking hug. Ianto stiffened in surprise, before patting Owen nervously on the back.
Owen drew back almost instantly, seemingly puzzled as to why he'd just hugged the teaboy. "Glad you're with us again, mate," he mumbled, sitting on the seat again. "Can't say I'm not jealous, though."
Ianto bit his lip. "I'm sorry, Owen. If—" He trailed off and shrugged helplessly. "I'm sorry."
"Nah, not your fault," Owen replied, not meeting Ianto's eyes. "Doesn't matter."
Ianto nodded sadly, his eyes finding Jack's face. He looked troubled at the grey exhaustion there, and he reached up a stiff arm to touch the captain's cheek. "You OK?"
"Shouldn't it be me asking you that?" Jack managed.
Ianto stroked his thumb along Jack's cheekbone. "You look asleep on your feet," he murmured. "Have you been eating properly?"
Typical Ianto, Jack thought with tired amusement. Always putting the needs of others before his own.
Ianto sighed when he didn't answer and shook his head, wincing at the click of his neck. "Ouch."
The Doctor emerged from the TARDIS, where he had evidently been checking for signs of damage. "Ah, you're back."
Ianto smiled tersely at him. "Yes. I am. What are you doing here?"
The Doctor seemed oblivious to Ianto's hostility. "Oh, Martha phoned us and told us to stop by. Have you met Donna?" He snaked out an arm and grabbed Donna's shoulder. "This is Donna. Donna Noble."
Donna wrenched her shoulder from the Doctor's grasp. "Oi! Watch it, spaceman." She frowned at Ianto. "You were dead a minute ago."
Ianto held back a grin. "And now I'm very much alive."
Donna turned to the Doctor. "Right, now I've seen everything. How does that work, then?"
The Doctor sniffed and pulled a face. "Very complicated, Donna. You wouldn't understand."
Donna rolled her eyes. "So, seeing as martian-boy here isn't being helpful, I suppose it can wait. Do you want a cuppa? I'm sure that being dead for a while must be quite dehydrating."
Ianto raised an eyebrow. "I'd kill for a coffee, actually." Donna made to touch his machine. "But I can make it," he said hurriedly. "In a minute."
Jack barely registered the amusement sludging through his brain. All the sounds were loud and clashing, and the floor was rocking beneath his feet. The cabin was dark and everything was fading in and out of recognition. He felt Ianto's hand tighten on his own. "Jack?"
He wasn't aware of making a sound, but he obviously grunted or something, because Ianto was suddenly sitting up properly and wrapping his arms around Jack. He sagged into Ianto's embrace, too tired to do or say anything else, and just closed his eyes, letting the darkness wash over him.
Ianto stroked Jack's hair gently, feeling his fingers come more and more to life with each touch. He flexed them experimentally and shuddered at the cracking sound. "Ssh..." he murmured.
The Doctor frowned. "Have you got a bed in here?"
"Yes – just through that door." Ianto tipped his head at the door to his and Jack's cabin. "Why?"
"Well, it might be an idea to let Jack sleep properly," the Doctor pointed out. "He's just dragged you back from death via the Psychic Realm. That's got to take something out of a person."
"So that's what happened," Donna muttered. "Not complicated."
The Doctor ignored her, instead helping Ianto to pick up the captain and lay him gently on the bed.
Ianto pulled the duvet up over him, tucking him in with methodical precision. He kissed Jack's forehead before straightening up and surprising himself with a huge yawn.
"You might want to have a quick snooze too," the Doctor observed.
Ianto rubbed a hand across his face, exhaustion suddenly swamping him. "I think that might be a good idea."
The Doctor nodded and withdrew from the room to let them have some privacy. Ianto just kicked off his shoes and crawled under the covers to snuggle against Jack's side.
He let his eyes drift shut and listened to the soothing thump of Jack's heart close to his ear.
Sorry that was short, but it seemed the best place to leave it... remember, reviews are huggled and fed chocolate cookies.... :P