Dawn
As soon as Jack entered the unit he knew something was wrong because Geoff Green was waiting for him.
"What's happened?" he asked Carl as he was taken to Dr Green's office.
"I'm sorry you can't see him today," Dr Green told him.
"Why not?" Jack asked putting down the small plant he had with him on Geoff's desktop.
"We've had move him, he had major episode last night. As you know there was a thunderstorm last night, it hit just as we were serving dinner. He became increasingly terrified and started to wreck the place. He then started throwing himself about trying to get out, smashing in himself into the walls. We had to call down the heavies and he's in the safe room," he explained.
"That was last night. Why is he still there?" Jack asked as he felt his stomach twist in fear.
"We can't calm him down. We've tried everything. He's sedated but remains in a highly agitated state," Geoff told him.
"Let me go to him," Jack asked as he felt a terrible feeling grow for Ianto's safety.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Geoff told him.
"If you've tried everything, then why can't I try?" Jack asked trying to remain calm.
"He's very disturbed, currently he's in lock down," he told him
"Lock down," Jack repeated as his concern now hitched up another notch.
"It's full body restraint in the safe room," Geoff explained sadly.
"It's not something we like doing," Carl told him.
"Please," Jack asked, "if nothing's worked I can't make it worse. Maybe I can reach him. I'm not part of the establishment here, please let me try," he pleaded as he saw them hesitate.
"I've gone along with everything you have asked of me, except for that first day have I challenged you in any respect?" He saw Geoff shake his head as he continued. "Then I am asking you please let me try."
"Jack," Dr Green said as he let out a huge breath.
"I'm begging you please, please, let me see him," Jack tried one final time.
"Press the buzzer when you're ready to come out," Geoff told him pointing to the grimy pale object on the wall as he opened the door to the safe room.
Jack entered the bleak padded room. On the floor in a straitjacket, Ianto was secured on his front with side belts holding him to floor.
Ignoring the stench Jack knelt next to him and put his hand on his back. Ianto was shivering violently, urine soaked, struggling to breath.
"What have they done to you?" he asked as he saw the wild look of terror looking back at him.
Ianto was murmuring something over and over again. Jack put his ear to his lips in an effort to hear and tried to work it out. It sounded like a jumble of words but as he listened he realised Ianto was begging.
"I am not going to rape you," Jack reassured him. "I am here to help you. To start with I'm going to undo the floor buckles, so let's start by undoing some of these straps," he said as he started to unbuckle the floor straps. As they came free Ianto brought his legs up to his chest making himself as small an object as possible and backed himself into the furthest corner.
Being as gentle as he could Jack knelt next to him. Stroking his hair he kept telling him he was here to help him.
"I want to get you out of here," he explained.
'Get you out of here.' Ianto jerked his face towards the voice at the words and saw it was the nice man. He shook his head in disbelief; it had to be a trick he felt so confused and disorientated.
"Outside of this room, outside of this building and into the garden," Jack explained trying to keep his voice steady and fighting to control the rage he felt at Ianto's treatment.
His heart pounding, Ianto realised this man was here to rescue him and this was why he had been coming. He forced himself to concentrate as he listened more carefully but kept his eyes to floor in case this was a trick.
"To take you outside I have to take off the jacket," Jack said as he examined the straps and realised one went under his groin. Any touching in that area might be taken he was going to be assaulted, so he kept up a monologue of what he was doing.
"I'm going to release the first buckle; it's around your groin and backside. I will only touch you as much as I need to," he explained as he reached down, undid the buckle and pulled through the leather strap.
Ianto felt fumbling and true to his word the man released the crotch strap pulling it forward.
"I have to reach over to your back, if you could turn," Jack suggested and Ianto to his surprise twisted enough to release the back and arms straps. Standing now and with a large jerk Jack pulled the jacket off and threw it into the other corner of the room. He saw Ianto make a sudden move and wrap his arms around Jack's waist. Trembling he buried his head in Jack's shoulder, gasping short ragged breaths as Jack pressed the buzzer.
"I'm taking him outside," Jack declared as the door opened and he found he was faced with Doctor Green and Carl.
"This is not a good idea," Dr Green told him.
"I'm taking Ianto outside to the one place he has been desperate to get to for months," Jack argued forcefully as Dr Green stood his ground." I promised him in this fucking horrible room, I would get him out," Jack shouted at them. "Now get out of my way," he demanded as Ianto shivered in his arms. Seeing the look of fury on Jack's face Geoff stood aside.
With slow steps they made their way to the main entrance and headed into the grounds, where a light rain was falling. As they stepped out the door Ianto broke down into howling sobs as Jack drew him close. The heartrending sounds were hard to listen to. Jack knew this sound. He knew the sound and recognised the wail and the feeling it represented, because he had made the same sound once himself. He knew one torture victim to another, this sound as it was made could never be explained or understood by anyone other than a survivor. It was the relief of being freed.
Minutes passed as Dr Green and Carl watched the pair. They had never seen Ianto show any emotion other than fear or blankness. Neither was sure what had actually transpired but Jack had some insight into Ianto's plight that had touched the damaged man.
Rubbing his back Jack continued to tell Ianto he was safe and loved. As Ianto's sobs eased Jack manoeuvred him under a large tree whose branches spread out providing a canopy, as it began to rain in earnest.
Finding a dry spot under the spreading branches they stood. Ianto had his arms tightly around his waist. They stood there in the rain for some time when Ianto put his hand out to catch the rain drops and licked them sucking off the moisture with a desperation born of thirst.
Pulling out his mobile Jack made a call, and several moments later Carl appeared with a jug, glass and plate with several sandwiches on it. Jack turned to greet him and felt Ianto stiffen in his arms as he saw him. Jack soothed him telling he was just bringing some water as he must be thirsty.
"Thanks," Jack said as Carl poured the plastic glass full of water and handed it to Ianto who refused to take it. Carl handed the beaker to Jack who then handed it to Ianto who took the glass. He drank the water down greedily and nosily then handed it back.
Several full beakers later he belched. "I think we might try food next," Jack indicated and took a sandwich off a plate and offered it to Ianto who looked at it with suspicion.
"Cheese and tomato," Carl told him and Ianto stuffed the entire sandwich in his mouth. "It's Thursday," Carl commented as Jack nodded his understanding.
Clearing all the sandwiches Ianto started to look uncomfortable and to wiggle.
"He needs a toilet," Carl told Jack who looked at him and the building and he realised that going back inside was not an option at this point.
Moving Ianto towards the back of the tree, and with difficulty Jack unzipped his own trousers, pulled out his own penis and started to pee.
Watching his actions Ianto now followed suit one-handed.
"Now what?" Carl asked as he observed the pair.
"Now we wait until it starts to get dark," Jack told him as Carl raised his eyebrows.
Ianto watched proceeding with wary eyes. He was so muddled; one moment he had been in the room waiting in dread and now he was outside, being held and comforted by the nice man. He had actually shouted at the guards and they have moved aside. Then he'd got him something to drink and helped him pee so he didn't wet himself. Maybe this was a trick. He broke down again as he felt overwhelmed at being outside with the nice man's arms around him. The nice man words came to him in the room and held him tighter he would save him...safe, save, saved, saved, safe became a mantra in his mind.
They stood holding each other for at least two hours and Jack could feel Ianto buckling slightly every now and then from exhaustion. It was going to get dark soon bringing with it a whole new level of fear for him. Jack was glad they were outside in the open air because Ianto was rank from a mixture of stale urine, sweat and body odour but they needed to make move. He looked at the building and took a breath.
"Ianto listen this is important. We got outside but now we need to get back inside," he said as he felt Ianto shake his head.
He lifted Ianto's face by lifting his chin, "I know you are scared of going back inside but you will be with me." He saw Ianto start to shake his head with more force and start to lose it.
"I know you've not had a lot to trust Ianto, but I am asking you to trust me. I will be with you every step of the way and you can keep hold of me all times." Ianto looked up at him then at the building and at the gathering dark.
Ianto started to sob again as Jack decided to take charge. "This is what is going to happen. We are going to walk back, we are going into the unit, you are going have a hot shower, change into some clean clothes, then you are going to have some dinner," Jack told him strongly.
"Let's make a move before its gets dark, and I promise we can come out here again tomorrow." He looked around for a feature of the garden. "See the wall over there? Tomorrow we will get to the wall." Ianto looked at him trying to make sense of what was happening. He could see the dark coming; he could see the unit, He closed his eyes, 'safe, save, saved, saved, safe,' was going around in his mind. 'The nice man had shouted at the guards so maybe the night guards wouldn't come for him and if they did the nice man would shout at them and he could keep them away and they would not take him… safe ,safe, safe hold me, hold me, don't let me go', with reluctant and slow hesitant steps he allowed Jack to lead him back inside as he listened as Jack repeated his promise of safety, outside and trust.
Entering the unit Carl indicated where they should go. Jack led Ianto to the bathroom. As they passed, Carl handed him several towels and some clean clothes. Entering the room Jack turned and locked the door and they were alone. Ianto let out a huge breath, and felt his knees buckle, but instead of falling he found the nice man had caught him and he looked deep into his eyes and the realisation came to him that the nice man would not let him fall.
The next biggest challenge for Jack was getting Ianto into the shower, without having to get in with him, because he understandably refused to let go. Jack continued talking to him describing his every action, as he assisted Ianto out of his clothes. Once undressed he moved to hold onto Jack as close as he could.
Jack waited a moment before speaking as the room filled with steam. "I promise you can have me back, but let's get you cleaned up first," he said gently as Ianto's eyes locked with Jack's then he backed into the shower only letting go of Jack's hand when he was under the spray. Jack soaped up a flannel and handed it over.
Watching as Ianto washed himself down, Jack noted Ianto's physical condition was worse than he had feared; underweight, his hip bones, ribs and back bone were sticking out. He knew that was due to his terrible diet. He was covered in bruises recent and fading. His back, buttocks and legs were covered in a crisscross of raised scars that looked like they were branded on. Jack had read the reports but the sheer savagery of the scars took his breath away.
Ianto, not taking his eyes off Jack, now followed instructions and washed his hair. Turning off the shower Jack handed him a large white towel. Seeing a tear run down Jack's face, Ianto lifted it off with his finger licked it then threw his arms around Jack and clung to him.
"Come on," Jack said as he pulled away slightly, "let's get you dressed," he said gently as he stroked Ianto's face, "And tomorrow we will get you a shave."