Spoilers: Out of Time
Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian
With those questions and theories Ianto occupied himself while he was waiting for Jack to phone or show up. He didn't think about the tension he felt during it. He didn't think of what Elis was going to do with his car. It was too simple to comprehend. Some people just weren't able to take life's strange and hard gifts.
He was angry at Elis when Jack showed up with empty eyes, apologizing like he was to blame for everything, and a stiff Elis in the passenger seat. He took the lead and handled Elis.
"I've got this." He said to Jack when he tried to help. He just nodded and left. Ianto looked at Elis and didn't feel compassion. How he could do that to Jack? After all the effort Jack put into him he could at least have the courtesy to go and do it somewhere else, somewhere where Jack wouldn't have to be involved. Ianto could have chosen that path after Lisa was gone, but in spite of his anger he would have done it properly, somewhere where he would be lost forever. This way the guilt would always be left behind, feeling that he could do more. Jack had done more than enough.
He put Elis's body away and went to Jack's office. He sat looking off in the distance. Everything smelled like exhaustion fumes. He felt the urge to hug and comfort the older man but he wasn't invited, it wasn't his place to do so. He picked up the coat from the hanger. It was also soaked in smoke like Jack; it had been around a very long time surrounded by death.
"Your clothes sir" He suddenly spoke up. Jack twitched surprised by the fact he was still there.
"Excuse me Ianto?" Jack was unable to make any effort to make this a joke.
"I need your clothes sir, they need to be cleaned." Ianto persisted; determine to leave nothing behind of Elis to ambush Jack tomorrow morning.
"Oh" Jack looked down. "It smells, doesn't it?" He got up and started undress right there and then.
Ianto couldn't look away. He saw Jack undress many times now but it was always sexual and inviting, aware of the grateful audience. This time Jack barley knew he was there. It was simply the act of undressing, and when he was done and all the clothes were on the desk he stood there like he was still dressed. There wasn't a feeling that he was reachable or vulnerable just because he was naked.
"I should probably have a shower too." He said distantly and turned. "See you tomorrow." He said like Ianto would follow him at a moment like this. When he disappeared in his manhole Ianto supported himself on the desk. He stood there for a moment shaken and then started to collect the scattered clothes.
Ianto once again cleaned up the mess.