A/N: Hi. This chapter switches between Jack and Ianto.

Spoiler alert: audio book Hidden

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Hanging from the edge of the cliff was a mind altering experience for Ianto. Suddenly he was grateful for his co-workers, and for Jack. He was grateful for Jack before, but he never before experienced the fear of losing him, he just didn't have the feeling that Jack could die on him like Lisa did. Jack had that life-force energy, and around him death seemed like a distant worry.

Now Jack was sitting on the edge of his hospital bed and he could still feel the warmth of Jack's kiss on his forehead, he could enjoy Owen's report of his condition without a shred of regret. Yeah, his ribs were broken again, it hurt but it was a familiar feeling and it wasn't followed by powerless grief and loss. Jack was there, he could feel his thigh through the hospital blanket, and his fingers were just an inch away from Jack's. He didn't reach out, it would be spotted, but he didn't linger on that, he was too busy smiling. That was nice feeling, he almost forgot how to smile.

Gwen was chatting something about food, Tosh gave him a report on how it all went down after he got lost to a hospital. Ianto found their voices soothing, but he waited for those short remarks that Jack gave, he waited to hear the tremor of his voice just to enjoy the sensation.

It had been a busy day for Jack.

He was burned in a car crash; that was probably the worst way to die. Jack tried quite a few ways of dying so he was able rank ways to die. Maybe he could write a book about it, surely people would be interested, that way they could prepare. But they probably would think of it as a joke, or it would start some strange cult that would try to control life and death.

He'd been held up by the police without a change of clothes. They'd almost caught his reviving on tape which would have been a tricky mess to dig out of. Maybe the century did turn and he hadn't been butchered in some basement, but science did have interesting and sharp instruments and underground facilities with no cameras.

The police took his phone so his team was forced to dig out the information of his whereabouts. Luckily they didn't have to dig too deep.

He met another almost immortal and then killed him. He had no choice, the man was deranged and dangerous, and with his recourses he could do almost anything without being punished. This time it wouldn't make any different if he hadn't gotten on Jack's radar by killing one of his rare friends that knew his secret.

One of the things he didn't have time to digest was her death, she was far too young.

The whole mess got a cherry on top with Ianto dancing with death. He'd gotten aggravated just hearing the story, and Owen didn't have the courtesy to start with "Ianto is fine".

Jack felt temporarily relieved as he watched Ianto's pale but alive skin under the fluorescent hospital light. Everyone was still here.

When he got out in the hospital corridor he let the rest of them go ahead. He intended to throw one more look at Ianto to make sure he was alive, but he checked his phone before, to give the rest of them time to reach the turn on the corridor. His phone record was full. Ianto's number, which he knew by heart, was repeated over and over. They probably assigned him that task, to reach him when he got off the radar, but still. If it was just a task it would be enough to call his number every half an hour, even every ten minutes would be understandable. The calls came in without pause, one after another. That was the behavior of an anxious person, of someone that fell into panic. Ianto was really scared for him. Jack closed his phone and went after the others.

Jack knew how to recognize an exit sign when it came along. A connection was started to form between him and Ianto, he could feel it for some time now, but it was delusional to think that it could lead to anything good. Lisa, guilt, secrets, immortality, it was enough to make anyone insane.

Ianto got back to work as fast as possible. Lying around just wasn't his thing. He still could feel the pain, but that was something he knew how to deal with.

Jack, on the other hand, was something different. It seemed like the older man avoided any kind of contact with him. He knew sex was not an option, but there were other ways of reaching out, a glance, touch, pat on the back, sitting near, brushing sideways in passing. Usually Jack was a master of that, but now it seemed like he was constantly looking around Ianto, sitting at the far end, passing on the opposite side. That made Ianto sad.

Jack watched Ianto move around from his office. The young man moved around like he hadn't just cracked his ribs. He moved like he wasn't in pain, and like his every move didn't ache. Jack wrapped his hands around himself to restrain them. Ianto's fluid moves gave Jack perspective on where and how the boy learned to steer his way through the pain.

Jack turned away from the window. There must be work to be done.

Sorry guys but I have to descend towards End of days.