Chapter 6

Throwing another log onto the fire Jack looked into the kitchen to see Ianto stirring the pot of stew that they'd worked on together that afternoon. Ianto hadn't been able to peel, chop or dice any vegetables on account of his fractured left arm, but he'd instructed Jack on what to do with everything from potatoes to parsnips, and leeks to carrots. The beef was already in cubes, so that hadn't needed any further preparation. Ianto had poured in a bottle of Guinness to fortify the dark gravy, explaining that the added iron and B vitamins would be good for Jack in his condition.

Jack sighed wistfully, wishing that this domestic idyll could be something more than a brief respite from their hazardous existence at Torchwood.

"You OK?" asked Ianto, hearing the exhalation of breath.

"Yeah, more than OK. I guess that's the problem."

"Now I'm confused – what's going on in that head of yours?"

Ianto gestured for Jack to join him on the large sofa. He could tell there was something on Jack's mind and didn't want to miss the opportunity to discover what it was.

"Ever had one of those dreams you never want to wake up from?" Jack asked, as he wrapped an arm around Ianto's shoulders and pulled him close to his side.

"More often it's a nightmare I can't get out of, but I know what you're referring to. Go on-"

"I just wish I could keep you and the kid here, in this cottage, out of danger-"

"For how long? If your son takes after you, he's going to have itchy feet by the time he's eighteen, if not before."

"I'd let him leave home when he was eighteen as long as he visited at least once a month."

"Good luck with that plan. What about me? How long would you keep me around before I got too old for you?"

"You'd never be too old for me, Ianto Jones."

"Bullshit. I know you, Jack. I've watched you and I know exactly what catches your eye, and it's not grey haired and wrinkled."

Jack shook his head as he wondered how to explain to Ianto that he wanted to see him grow old, that nothing would give him greater pleasure than to witness that grey hair, to know that he'd survived Torchwood. It was an unspoken rule that they didn't discuss the fact that the average life expectancy of any operative was thirty, especially as Gwen, Owen and Tosh were all just over thirty – it seemed as if it was tempting fate.

"It would be if it was you."

"I'm assuming that would be the hormones speaking for you." Ianto smiled fondly as he rested his hand gently on Jack's rounded tummy.

"Maybe, but they're not afraid of telling the truth."

Sitting there, curled up close, listening to the crackling of the logs on the fire, the two men savoured the moment. Both of them knew that they couldn't turn their backs on Torchwood, it wouldn't let them, but whilst they had leave of absence they were going to make the most of it.

"Tosh, are you sure Ianto's alright at home by himself? I really think he could do with a friendly face, he's been looking miserable as sin ever since Jack's been away."

Gwen handed Tosh her latte from Starbucks and took a sip from her own chocolaty mocha as she waited for an answer. She'd not seen Ianto since he'd been discharged from hospital and was anxious to find out how he was doing. After Jack had left on his sabbatical, Ianto had more or less moved into the Hub, sleeping in Jack's quarters and moping around the place, barely smiling at all. Gwen couldn't imagine how nearly falling to his death was going to make him any less despondent.

"Seriously, Gwen, he's fine. Owen checked in on him, said he'd got a lot of sleeping to catch up on and that what he really needed is a break from work."

Tosh could make an educated guess where Ianto was, despite Owen not having let anything slip. In fact it did occur to her that he would be spending a fair bit of time in bed, although not necessarily sleeping. She didn't know where Jack was or what he was up to, but she had a good idea that Owen had taken Ianto to be with him as he recovered.

"I suppose that would explain why he never answers the bloody phone then. Honestly, Tosh, that makes the two of them out of contact. Jack should have returned when Ianto got hurt and he definitely should be here now to help out with the workload. I've a good mind to tell him that when he next checks in."

"Gwen – you know that if that there was any way Jack could have been here for Ianto, he would have been back straight away. Whatever it is he's involved in, it must be very important."

"I'd believe that if he'd tell us what he's up to. You don't know anything I don't, do you Tosh?"

Tosh shook her head. She'd tried to find out – but all she'd managed to discover was Jack's location, from tracing a call he'd made from his mobile to hers when Ianto had been laid up in hospital. It had been one time when Owen and Gwen were out in the field and it was her turn to monitor the situation from the Hub. She was surprised to find that Jack was in Snowdonia. But that was all she had found out.

"Tosh?" Gwen repeated insistently.

"I've not been told a thing, Gwen. Why don't you ask him again, next time he calls?"

"There's no point. But he's hiding something – that's for sure."

"What's that, Gwen?" Owen called out, making Gwen jump. He'd been listening in for a few minutes but had wanted to find out if her speculations were any were near close to the truth. "All those years training to be a copper and you deduce the fact that Harkness is hiding something from us? Step aside Sherlock Holmes-"

"Piss off, Owen. You know where he is, don't you?" Gwen pointed at Owen angrily. She was convinced he knew more than he was letting on and it was driving her mad. The fact that Jack had put him in command in his absence further infuriated her. She was going to have words with him about that when he got back.

"Sworn to secrecy, love, my lips are sealed." Owen grinned, only too aware of how much it irritated Gwen to be kept in the dark. But he agreed with Ianto's decision not to share the information regarding Jack's pregnancy. "I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you."

"How's Ianto then? You've seen him, I take it? Has Jack been in touch with him at all?"

"Ianto's better than he has been in a while and I can assure you that Jack has definitely got in touch with him. Now, please tell me you got me a coffee, thanks to that sneaky bastard I can't stand instant any more. I swear it's his master plan to enslave us all."

"Owen says they're missing you." Jack reported smugly, as he switched off his phone.

"That'll be caffeine deprivation."

"Not just the coffee. Although I'm disappointed you won't make me any."

"You're pregnant and I'm on painkillers, there's no point."

Ianto yawned sleepily, the warmth from the fire lulling him into a state of drowsiness.

"It might keep you awake I guess." Jack took hold of Ianto's hand in his. "Time for bed I think, before you fall asleep where you're sitting."

"It's nice here. I don't think I can move." Ianto winked cheekily at Jack as he snuggled further back into the nest of cushions.

"I could persuade you to come to bed."

Jack grinned as he sat astride Ianto's legs and slowly began to unbutton his shirt, exposing his chest an inch at a time.

"Really?" Ianto's breath caught in his throat as Jack proceeded to unbuckle his belt and tug it free from the belt loops of his jeans.

"Oh yeah. You promised me I'd get to play 'nurse' and I think you've got a swelling here that needs attention. I reckon I can kiss it better."

"Healing lips, huh?"

Jack took the invitation on offer and captured Ianto's lips in a soft kiss. As he leant forward to deepen the kiss, he felt Ianto reach around him under his shirt, one arm cumbersome with bandages, and the other warm against his skin.

"I think you're waking up now," Jack smiled against Ianto's mouth, feeling his lover's arousal pressing firmly against his swollen abdomen.

"I blame your bloody hormones and pheromones," gasped Ianto as he felt his jeans being pushed over his hips.

"Bed?" asked Jack as he reluctantly pushed himself back to his feet and held out a hand to Ianto.

"Oh yes."