Thanks to everyone who continues to read and review your comments are much appreciated and as ever thanks to JonesIantoJones for letting me bounce ideas around. Without that this chapter wouldn't have been written.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Returning to London part 18b
Owen stopped in his tracks. "What do you want Gwen? I really would like to get back and see how Ianto is doing." He said more harshly than he intended but he was so tired.
Gwen looked at him. Properly looked at him and saw how tired he was. The medic looked like he was going to fall over. She hesitated, thinking back over the events of the last twelve hours or so. "Maybe I was wrong about this."
"Gwen?" Owen said bringing her back to the here and now.
"Are you...are you ok?" She managed to get out.
Owen was shocked by the question - he hadn't been expecting that. "Umm bit tired. What with everything that's been going on recently. Gwen why did you say those things about Ianto? You know as well as I do he would never have approached that weevil unarmed if there had been another, safer way to do it. Don't you?" He spoke softly.
Gwen sighed. "Yes I do and I'm sorry for what I said. I don't know why I said them; there's no excuse. While you were up with Jack I've had time to think about it."
"Think about what Gwen?" Owen wanted to know.
"About why he would do that for someone he didn't know." Before Owen interrupted she continued. "Yes I know we do it all the time - protect, save people - but we are armed when we do. Why would he knowingly go into that situation unarmed? He could've been killed." The last bit said so quietly Owen almost missed it.
Owen spoke softly. "Because that's Ianto. Putting others safety before his own. Now if there is nothing else I really need to get back to him."
"No nothing else." Gwen walked away deep in thought. As she got to her desk Jack came over to her. "Go home Gwen. Go show Rhys what you look like. The report can wait till morning."
Startled Gwen asked. "Are you sure?"
"Yep perfectly. We've all had a busy day. You need to think over what you said today. I can't have someone on the team who thinks that little of another team member. Come back in tomorrow and we will talk about it. For now go home to Rhys."
Gwen didn't know what to say so just nodded her head then picking up her bag and coat walked to the cog door and as she got to it she turned. "I hope he's going to be ok."
******TORCHWOOD******
As he approached the stairs to the med bay Owen slowed down. He was afraid of what he might find. He was sure nothing had changed, as Tosh hadn't called him. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad one. He couldn't help but be concerned that the longer Ianto remained locked into wherever he was the harder it would be to get him back to them. He didn't know what else he could try - but try he would. "Alright Tosh. How's he been? Any change?"
Tosh looked up tiredly. "No no change. I talked to him, reminding him of happy times, I even reminded him of when we went and did karaoke. But nothing - it's like...like he's just shut down." She choked back a sob as she got up from the stool. Owen checked the monitors, and as Tosh had said, nothing had changed. Owen gave her a tired smile. "Ok thanks for sitting with him. I'll take over now. If you ask Jack nicely I expect he 'll let you go home."
Tosh squeezed Owens arm gently in support then leaning down whispered in Ianto's ear. "Come back to us. We need you. Especially Owen." She then left to find Jack.
Owen was once more left alone with Ianto. He picked up Ianto's hand again and began talking to him. Like Tosh he was recalling happier times and events, trying anything to pull Ianto back. "Remember when we went to the Pleasure Park at Barry Island chasing that alien, you stayed at the bottom ready to catch it while we followed it onto the rollercoaster. We ended up feeling a little sick from being spun around and upside down. You were laughing so much when we got off you had tears streaming down your face." He chuckled softly to himself remembering it. "It was so good to hear you laugh, you don't do it often enough. I want to make you laugh like that." He didn't know how long he sat there talking quietly before he felt a tiny grip in his hand that startled him. He leant over Ianto to look in his eyes, still talking to him. Ianto was blinking his eyes rapidly and Owen could see they were becoming more focused on his surroundings. "That's it Ianto come back to me. Listen to my voice, try and focus on me. Can you do that for me? Please?" Owen's voice cracked.
"Owen?" What....what happened?" Ianto's voice was barely audible.
"Oh. Thank God." Owen murmured placing a hand to Ianto's cheek and stroking it gently. "I didn't think you were ever going to come out of it. You had me so scared." He didn't realise he was crying until he felt Ianto's fingers brushing the tears away.
"I'm sorry I scared you. I could hear you and Tosh talking to me but couldn't do or say anything. I think my mind was still processing what happened. What did happen - it's still a bit hazy?" Ianto murmured.
Owen took a deep breath. "You got attacked by a weevil in the park, trying to keep it away from a little girl. I should be angry with you for going after it virtually unarmed, but I am too relieved right now to be angry." He then leant in to place a soft kiss on Ianto's lips. As he began to pull away Ianto wrapped his hand around the back of his neck to keep him in place and kiss him again.
Several minutes later the need for oxygen made them pull apart. "I should go tell Jack that you're back with us." Owen said breathlessly, but not bothering to move. "And I still need to check you over properly."
"Mmm." Was the only response he got from Ianto who still wasn't letting him go.
"Ianto the quicker I get this done and talk to Jack the quicker I can get you out of here." Reasoned Owen.
With that Ianto let him go. "Alright."
Owen touched the comm unit in his ear. "Jack Ianto's come out of the shock he was in. Yeah. Ok. I'm just going to check him over then take him home." He touched the unit again to switch it off.
Fifteen minutes later and Owen was helping Ianto up the stairs of the med bay. As they got to the top Jack came out of his office and walked down to them. "How are you feeling Ianto?"
"Heads still a bit fuzzy and the stitches are beginning to hurt and itch. Other than that I feel like I've been attacked by a pack of weevils not just one." He replied dryly.
"Ok see you haven't lost your sense of humour." Grinned Jack. "Are you staying with him Owen?"
"Like I'd leave him on his own. He still needs monitoring and the painkillers I gave him were the strong ones. So yes Jack I will be staying with him." Owen retorted.
"Ok. Don't hurry in in the morning. If anything comes up I will call the girls first." Jack said before turning back to his office to text Tosh and Gwen to let them know Ianto had woken up and would be ok.
Owen put his arm around Ianto's waist to support him. "Right then let's get you home and into bed." He smirked.
"Thought you'd never ask." Ianto smiled back.