Spoilers: Combat
Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian
Ianto didn't like the Weevil incident one bit. All that crazed driving through the night not knowing what the next turn would bring. That cold silence between Tosh and Jack; Tosh was the last one to doubt Jack, and her anger made Ianto uneasy; especially after that display of Weevil's feelings and pain. Running and shooting, pointing a small gun towards the crowd that surrounded him looking annoyed, not scared. He didn't understand why he was out there in the cold breeze of the night and not at the Hub monitoring and providing directions. In the end Gwen was the one giving him driving instructions. That was just wrong. Why was she sent home in the first place? What did she do? Not knowing drove Ianto crazy, he felt his control was shaken in more than one way. And in the end Owen slumped on the floor bleeding. Who would stitch him up; it was Owen's job to do so. Everything was upside down that night. Then Jack just let that man be slaughtered by a Weevil. It wasn't like Jack to be so distant and unemotional. After he talked to Owen in the hospital Jack just walked passed Ianto who was filling out the paperwork, it was like he didn't even seen him. He was straightened up and serious, his face looked like stone, like he wasn't even connected to his surroundings. The last time he had seen him like that was when he realized that Ianto was the one keeping the Cyber unit in the basement. Owen must have done something because he wasn't like that when he got in. He didn't seem disturbed that Owen was unarmed in Weevil cage. On contrary it seemed that all the running kept him a bit lighter than in the days since Elis past away.
Ianto sighed. Obviously it was his job to get Jack back on track, back to a lighter mood and less serious attitude. He had hoped that Jack would repair himself, but this was dragging on too long, and Ianto wasn't in the mood for it. He also needed their encounters to keep himself sound, he wasn't exactly normal yet. The thought of searching for someone in the outside world, and going through all conventions of setting a relationship he couldn't carry out, made his stomach twitch and his fears to surface. Jack, in his lighter mood, could keep all the demons at bay, keep his sense of reality.
When he thought about it like that, he realized that it was his job to keep Jack sane; it was only fair to repay the favour. That gave him justification and he smiled. A nurse across the counter returned his smile. That startled him a little and he withdrew quickly, he didn't want to be caught in polite conversation that he would have to stir towards an unnoticeable departure. He didn't have time for that. He turned away from Owen's room. If he could put Jack down in just a few moments, he didn't want to see what he had in store for Ianto.
Tosh passed him by on her rush to Owen. He didn't stop her, some things you just couldn't do anything about.
When he got back in the Hub Gwen was crying, holding on to Jack. His face was still distant but a little less so. He couldn't really cut off Gwen, not when her heart burst open. She mumbled something about Retcon, and her boyfriend. It did disturb Ianto a little, the way she hung on Jack, but not much. It was her way, she and Jack shared that touchy side, and physical contact was natural for them. Besides he had to admit that she was doing him a favour. She softened that cold wall Owen lifted up and it would be easier to get Jack to play along, to find himself again. That's why he made coffee for both of them and then distracted himself from the situation. His presence would give an awkward note to their conversation. Before he turned around Jack's eyes touched him with a hint of worry. He smiled at him reassuringly and pointed towards archive doors. There was a slight change in Jack's eyes and his face turned into something almost soft. Ianto walked away knowing Jack watched him go. At the door he glanced back and noticed that Jack removed Gwen to arm's length and took a coffee to stand between them. Ianto smiled, this would be easier than he thought.