(Originally posted 14/08/13)
A/N This chapter is dedicated to Buddieswithbilis, who redirected the Nile. Many thanks.
-OOO-
"How's he doing?"
"Better."
"I'm going to need more than that Owen, Jeez."
"Better than before."
"Your bedside manner could really do with some work." Tosh was displaying rare irritation with her long-term friend.
"Well you know how it is, patient confidentiality and all that jazz."
"You wouldn't have this particular patient if it wasn't for me."
"Tis true, but that doesn't change de rules."
Tosh sighed heavily, letting her head flop back against the wall of the closet on the tenth floor, that she had retreated to (she had needed privacy for this call); images of blood and stones came to mind.
Looking around himself Owen made a quick judgement call.
"Listen Ianto's progressing better than we could have ever expected."
"Oh good, that's good."
"He's fully conscious now and engaging with all staff."
"Engaging. Engaging is good."
Owen gave a grunt.
"Too good, he's becoming a right bolshy git, if I'm to be honest. If he wasn't a friend I'd deck 'im."
Tosh burst out laughing at this piece of news.
"What was it I was saying about your bedside manner?"
"Yeah yeah, no need to sound so smug Missy."
Tosh was quick to notice this term of endearment. She would file it away and recall it later, at her leisure.
"Have you any idea on his E.T.A. back at work yet?"
"It's hard to say. I'd toss his arse out tomorrow; but from a medical point of view, he's probably not ready to roll for a few weeks yet."
"Oh I see, well at least there is an exit on the horizon. That's something I suppose." Tosh paused purposely before she continued. "I've got some good news for you too."
"Well spit it out ole girl, time and money blah blah blah."
"I've had Jack."
"You've had Jack?"
Tosh blushed furiously, even though she knew she couldn't be seen. "Not him personally, obviously, I've had his essence in my hand."
"I'm not sure I want to know. What you do in your private life is…"
"Owen, honestly sometimes you can be such a pain. I mean that I've had a sample of his DNA, a handkerchief in my hand and handbag for weeks now."
"That's brilliant."
"I know. I forgot I had it, what with Ianto and the hospital and the like. It slipped my mind."
Owen chewed the side of his lip. He hated himself for doing this, but he had to ask.
"You, you didn't have to compromise yourself to get it did you?" Even before the words had left his lips, he knew how needy they sounded. He hoped Tosh wouldn't spot this.
He'd hoped in vain.
The sides of Tosh's mouth raised themselves quickly in the tiniest flash of joy. Did he care? Like really care? She decided to push the envelope.
"It was a tough job but someone had to do it."
"Tosh no!"
Tosh held her laughter in for all of two seconds. "No of course not ninny. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Tosh actually heard Owen exhale with relief. This was another memory for the vaults. "So what now?"
"What now? You need to get your tidy self over here as quickly as possible Missy. I've got those that can waiting."
"Is tonight too late?"
"What's wrong with now?"
"I'm on my way."
Unbeknownst to each other, both had clasped their phones to their chests and had smiled inanely after ending their call. Symmetry was beginning to assert itself. The stars were beginning to align.
-OOO-
The door was already ajar, but that didn't stop it from announcing Jack's arrival noisily. Ianto turned his head towards it instantly, movement in general now greatly improved.
Their eyes locked. An eyebrow was raised. A smile was beamed into the room, intoxicating all those within a fifty metre radius. Ianto soaked up its healing rays.
"You're late."
"Only just, Yan"
"I was waiting."
"I'm here now."
"I thought you'd forgotten me."
"Never."
"Thought that I was just a blip in time for you. Something on your to-do-list that needs to be ticked off."
"Never ever." Jack assured as he climbed on to the bed, claiming his usual position.
"Er humm. Shoes Captain, don't make me tell you again." The ever-present nurse chided Jack, for his forbidden footwear.
"Sorry Matron." Jack inched his leather soles away from his leather soles.
"It's Sister," she corrected as she moved towards the charts that needed updating.
"Yes Ma'am." Jack didn't want make waves. This particular medical marvel had been an ally from the start, allowing Jack to come and go as he pleased, even letting him stay overnight, as long as he was gone before the third cock crowed. Before the morning rounds were made.
Ianto and he were really appreciative of this.
"You're forgiven." Ianto murmured in a small voice, realising deep down that he was being silly. Jack wanted to be by his side, he was sure of it.
A voice in his head, told him so.
Snuggling down beside his beau, Jack gently moved Ianto's fringe away from his eyes. He didn't want any part of his face obscured from him.
"How are you today?"
"Bored and…" Ianto tried to whisper the next word into Jack's ear "...horny."
Jack's eyebrows shot up.
"My my Mr Jones you must be feeling better."
"I'd rather be feeling you."
"Much much better I see."
A small polite but nevertheless pointed cough was heard behind them, indicating that Ianto had failed in his attempt to whisper. Jack moved his hand and deliciously, slowly traced ever widening silent circles on Ianto's torso. He successfully lowered his voice.
"Maybe this will help baby."
"Mmm too high."
"How about now?" Jack lowered his hand.
"Keep going."
"Now?"
Ianto threw his head back, pressed down into his pillow and raised his stretched-out chest towards the sky.
"Almost."
"Captain Jack…" The Sister cut in.
Jack immediately repositioned his hand, to a more family-viewing friendly spot on Ianto's body.
"Would you like to administer Mr Jones meds? He responds so well to you."
"It would be my pleasure. What's on the menu today?"
"Two of the red, one of the blue."
"Two of the red, one of the blue." Both Ianto and the nurse revealed the same dinner-time dish.
Jack climbed down from the bed and collected his miniscule meal-tray, from his medical supervisor.
"Open wide babe."
Ianto did as he was bid.
Amusement and fire played kiss-chase around his pupils. He made a point of swirling his tongue around the tips of Jack's fingers, every time they entered his mouth.
The air crackled with the un-moaned moans, he was forced to keep to himself.
As consolation Jack gave him an Eskimo kiss, for finishing all of his food.
"Where's my dessert?" Ianto purred as Jack slip-slided across the room in his socks, to hand the tray back.
"That comes later. You need to digest your first course first."
"That I can do. I'm good at digesting things," Ianto just couldn't help himself. Jack was reaching parts of him that had been dormant for weeks.
Open mouthed Jack released a deep-throated chuckle. He was sorely tempted to put real-time on pause and claim his man right then and there.
He didn't.
"What has come over you?" He asked in mock admonishment, as he regained his original position.
"Nothing yet."
"Ianto."
"I know, I'm ravenous, I feel as though I've been on a diet."
Jack laughed and stroked his cheek. "It's fine. I'm rather enjoying this insatiable Sally side of you."
"You say that now but I aim to wear you out."
"Is that so?"
"It is. I'm thinking of making a list."
"Of?"
"All the things I've ever wanted to do."
"Wow that sounds like fighting talk."
"It is. You'd better brace yourself."
"I'm willing to put in the training if you are."
"I'm going to train you."
"To?"
"Do whatever I demand."
"Demands? There'll be demands?" Jack's amusement switched over to curious mode.
"Yup and scripts, role-play and accessories."
"You've given this quite a bit of thought, it seems."
"Just while I was waiting." Ianto shot Jack a cheeky grin.
"Oh so this train of thought is my fault is it?"
"Absolutely. It's your fault for waking me up."
Jack rolled over on top of Ianto. He cupped his crown. He'd stopped playing now.
"Did I really wake you up Yan?"
"Yes." Ianto placed his words directly on to Jack lips. Time slowed down. He felt the urge to trust his instincts. "I felt nothing before you."
"Really?"
"I was lost. I didn't know how to be."
"Oh Yan."
"You were the first person whose voluntary touch I liked." Ianto's piecing blue eyes, pieced Jack's own.
"Yours were the first kisses I longed for. The first tongue I wanted to possess."
As if on cue Jack's tongue ghosted Ianto's lips, leaving behind a trail of promises he was determined to keep.
"Never before Yan. I swear, never have I felt anything like this. You don't know how long I've been searching for someone like you."
Fire consumed them both. Shy teasing; testing words became deep sensuous sentences. Their lips followed their words; they made a pact never to part.
Jack pressed his man down to the depth of his thin medicinal-appointed mattress.
Ianto accommodated him as best he could. It was difficult but not impossible. Like two palms pressed together, they clung in prayer. Each offering up thanks that the other existed.
Jack communed with the gods that he knew. He placed a plea bargain with all of them, just to gain some longevity with this wonderful man beneath him.
Ianto offered up his soul too, in return for some heart-stopping sensuality-now.
He was losing his head. He had already let go of his manners.
"Jack, please. …"
"Please?"
"Take me."
"Yan I…"
"JUST FUCK ME RAW NOW DAMMIT!"
An almighty crash captured the windswept pair's attention.
Heads swivelled.
"I'm so sorry." The Sister bent down to retrieve her tray of dropped instruments. Dishevelled but decent, Jack leapt down to offer her a hand. Pink of cheek and flustered of manner she stammered out her apology. "I I I must h have o o over l l loaded it. It j j just slipped f f from my f f fingers."
"No worries. Here let me help. Where would like these put?"
Snapping back into work-mode the Sister quickly composed herself.
"They are contaminated now. Here leave them in this container. I'll go and fetch a new sterile batch. I'll..." She looked up quickly at Jack and then over at Ianto. "… leave you two alone for a moment."
With Nun like efficiency she pivoted on her soundless black heels and marched out of the room, making sure she firmly shut the door behind her.
There was silence.
Then there was laughter.
"Oh my goodness, I think you scared her."
"Me scare her, I think she was shocked you remembered words like that. You're meant to be a sick man."
Jack actually bent over double, to try to relieve the pain his sides were now inflicting on him.
Ianto and his eyes got through two tissues.
Jack recovered first.
"Now that we're alone, what shall we do? I feel we ought to make the most of it."
The Welshman pouted.
"Does that mean that we won't continue doing what we've been doing?"
"Do you want to continue?" Jack inquired.
Ianto held his gaze and nodded his head slowly.
The American smirked.
"Ok sir, your wish is my command." He clamoured into their crib again. "Now where were we?"
"We're starting a new one today."
"Oh yes, so we are." Jack twisted around and retrieved his battered guest from his bag. "Are you sitting comfortably babe? Good, then I shall begin." Before he did so, Jack ducked down and delicately planted a baby-kiss on Ianto's patient lips.
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"Chapter One. Page One.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
-OOO-
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