Ianto was gone. He had stormed out the door of his flat, into the dark and damp of Cardiff at night. He shivered, cursing himself for not grabbing his coat on the way out. There was no way he was going back now; even looking at that flat would hurt him. Jack was there, in the walls, the sheets, the kitchen. He would see Jack in everything. Ianto groaned, leaning back against the cool stone of a darkened building and pulling out his ringing phone.
It was Jack. He ignored it, trying desperately to fight the tears that burned his eyes. He needed to rest, to sleep and end this nightmare night. He called Tosh.
"Ianto, what is it? Its three AM." Ianto broke down sobbing quietly at the concern in his friend's voice.
"Tosh, I need… can I come over?" He knew that his words were slurring slightly and that his voice sounded strained.
"OK, Ianto where are you, I'll pick you up." The Welshman looked around.
"Corner of Elm and First," He shivered again, the bitter cold eating at his skin.
"Alright Ianto I'll be there as soon as I can. Stay put." The other line of the phone went silent, and Ianto stood there shaking in the wind.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Jack curled up in a ball. Ianto was gone, forced out of his own flat because Jack had opened his mouth.
"Of course he would think that." Jack shook his head. "After everything he does, all I do is shag him, and I expected him to believe me." He ground his head against his knees.
Ianto was out there in the cold of Cardiff alone, in his thin shirt and trousers. He hadn't even grabbed his coat or boots. He's in his socks for heaven sake! Jack bolted upright, snatching the boots from the ground beside him and dashing out the door. "This is my chance. This is how I show that I care."
The sound of heavy footfalls pounding down the sidewalk was drowned out by Tosh pulling up against the curve. Ianto swiftly piled into the small car, letting out a small sigh at the comforting warmth. As the car pulled away Ianto caught site of none other than Jack standing short in the pale light of the street lamp, clutching a pair of his own boots to his chest, stopped and peered after the car.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTW
The car ride was silent, with Ianto shaking in the passenger seat and Tosh radiating fury at whoever had reduced her best friend to this state. They pulled up to her apartment building, both hastily getting out of the car. She ran around to the side, helping Ianto up and letting the exhausted man lean against her as they both walked up the steps to her flat. It wasn't a few steps later, when she felt Ianto wince, and a pained help escaped his lips. She looked down to see that not only was Ianto in his stockings, but there was blood seeping along the white cloth.
"Bloody kids." She rushed him inside, hastily pushing him onto the couch and tearing the sock off of his injured foot.
The bottom of his foot was slashed open, shards of glass embedded in the wound.
"Ianto this is really bad, I don't think I can fix this. Let me call Owen." Ianto just nodded, leaning his head back and trying to control his tears. A few moments, a few hours, Ianto couldn't tell, Owen showed up, swearing softly.
"Tea-boy, bloody hell, what the hell happened? Did you get mugged?" Ianto laughed, the bitter noise, forcing a concerned glance between the dead man and the technician.
"No Owen, I wasn't mugged, it isn't that easy." He yelped as Owen pulled a shard of glass from his foot.
"Did you and Captain Dumbass have a row?" Owen quipped and Ianto's wince confirmed it.
"I ended it." Ianto said, causing Tosh to choke on her water.
"Ianto?" Owen said, now very concerned.
"I couldn't take it anymore. After last night I-I need to forget last night. I spent most of today at the pub, only to stumble home on Jack in my living room, expecting me to comfort him over Gwen. I mean really! How thick can that man get?" Ianto shook his head, tears now streaming steadily down his cheeks. "God I must be bloody drunk. I'm talking about me feelings to Owen of all people." Another bitter laugh and a door slammed. Ianto opened his eyes to see that Tosh had gone, leaving him alone with Owen.
"This is going to need stitches." Owen grumbled, pulling a suture from his med bag. "So, Ianto care to explain exactly why you couldn't grab some shoes or a coat before you stormed out of your flat?" the doctor pulled the suture through Ianto's foot expertly.
"Jack was sprawled out in the foyer. I couldn't reach my boots so I left without them." Owen quirked an eyebrow.
"And why was Jack sprawled out in the foyer."
"He told me that he loved me. I sent him sprawling." Ianto shrugged, wincing as Owen pulled the suture taught and tied off the ends.
"You punched him for sharing his feelings?" Ianto growled.
"No, I punched him for lying to me. I punched him for thinking that those words were enough to fix things. He didn't mean it. He couldn't .You saw exactly what I did." Owen nodded, getting the reference. "Well mate, your foot's all better, now, care to share the rest of the story?"