Torchwood: Divergence
Book Two: Adferiad

Chapter 59

They'd done what they could to mitigate the horrific amount of damage Ianto had suffered, and the Scieron were working on the rest. Now all they could do was wait.

"You should get cleaned up," Martha advised their Captain. "We can bring you something to eat and drink, let you get your wind back."

"Once he's breathing again, so he'll know why I'm not beside him," Jack insisted, his expression and tone leaving no room for argument. "I promised him I'd be here when he came back."

"I'll stay too," Gwen offered. "I can sit with him when you do go to shower, yeah?"

"Right," the team doctor nodded. "Turlough and I will be just out in the Hub if you need anything. You three, let me know if you experience any dizziness, headaches, or nose bleeds. If you already have a headache and it's not gone or gets worse by 4:00, I need to know."

Then she and Turlough exited the bedroom, leaving Cooper to settle into the chair while Harkness carefully stroked his motionless lover's hair and lower face. Within a few minutes, Ianto took a deep gasping breath, starting to tremble again.

"It's okay, Ianto," Jack reassured, gently resting a hand on the younger man's blanket muffled upper chest, and leaning close to kiss his head just above the bandages. "I'm right here… you're in our room and all the painful treatments are done. Try to lie still and rest, okay?"

"Okay…" the eternal twenty-six-year-old whispered unsteadily, his breath catching in obvious pain.

"Will you be alright for a couple of minutes with Gwen?" Harkness queried uncertainly, turning the oxygen on once more. "I need to go wash up and change clothes, but it can wait if you want me to stay close."

"I… I'm scared, Jack…" Ianto breathed. "The Scieron… say they need to… take me… into the Dark at least… six more times… But… but even then… it could be weeks… before I'm whole again… I'll… I'll be useless, Jack… I… I don't want…"

"Hush," the American soothed, giving the young Guardian a soft kiss on the lips. "However long it takes doesn't matter, as long as you're okay in the end. The rest of us can manage the Rift alerts, and I'll be here with you unless it's something really big. Gwen's more than able to lead missions for a while, we all know that. So don't worry about anything but healing. We'll get through this, I promise."

Cooper rose to restart both IVs to the point Turlough had marked back in the med-bay, then came to sit on the mattress down near her friend's upper legs.

"You won't be in this fight alone, sweetheart," she murmured confidently. "Jack and me have your back. We'll be your arms, legs, and eyes as long as you need us to be, yeah? I'm going to call Rhys; tell him I'm planning to stay over on the couch here or in the overnight room for at least tonight so we can get you stable and Jack doesn't have to worry about leaving you alone to go get a new IV bag or the like. We'll look after you, Ianto. And no, it isn't any trouble and you aren't going to be putting anyone out while you recover. We just want you whole and well again, sweetheart, nothing else is important."

"There's… there's a problem…" Ianto confessed, though he gave a tiny nod to prove he understood and appreciated her words. "I… really need… to… to…"

"Need to what?" Harkness prodded encouragingly, leaning close so the young Welshman could whisper when he gave a small uncomfortable moan of reluctance. "Oh… Gwen, could you let Martha or Turlough know that we need a full Foley catheter and collection kit?"

The former PC was immediately up and out of the room to deliver the message. Turlough quickly gathered the gear and new surgical gloves, disappeared into the hidden bedroom and closed the door. He nodded to Cooper when he emerged, and the raven-haired woman hurried back in to find a much more relaxed Ianto being tucked under the covers by his partner. Jack motioned her over, gave his beloved Changeling a quick kiss, then rose from the bed.

"Gwen's right here to sit with you," he called quietly, stripping off his belt and braces before stepping over to the wardrobe. "I'm gonna clean up and be right back."

Cooper gave him a reassuring smile and eased over onto the mattress to take the spot he'd just vacated, reached out to lightly caress the left side of her injured friend's jaw with the backs of two fingers.

"Relax, sweetheart," she crooned comfortingly. "I won't leave you alone while Jack's showering. You need anything, just let me know and I'll shout up one of the others to fetch it."

"Comms…" the still violently shivering twenty-six-year-old beneath the covers breathed. "Less shouting…"

"Brilliant," Gwen smiled, making a shooing gesture at their leader once he had a change of clothes in hand, and pulling her mobile from her jeans pocket to punch a speed dial. "Turlough… hate to be a bother, but can you grab a headset for me and Jack? Easier to call you or Martha if Ianto needs anything that way. Thanks!"

The redhead appeared within moments with two fully charged Bluetooth devices.

"If anyone hears something like an egg timer go off, let me know ASAP," he warned as he started to leave again. "I rigged a sensor on the catheter's collection bag so it will sound off when it's needing to be changed. And just out of curiosity, Ianto, did you have breakfast before you went out this morning or just coffee?"

"Coffee…" the young Welshman managed in a strained whisper.

"Good," Turlough half-smiled. "Hopefully that means we don't have to worry about solid waste until you're able to be up and assisted to the loo. If not… Jack may want to keep some gloves and wet-wipes handy."

"You're evil," Cooper protested when their injured co-worker evidenced a slight blush and gave a miserable groan. "Off with you. Cheeky little git. Don't fret for it, Ianto. It's not the end of the world if it does happen. And we'll keep you on lovey broth for a span to be safe, yeah?"

"I… I hate… this…" Ianto choked, a strong shudder running through his battered body.

"Do not let it upset you," Gwen stated firmly, gently rubbing his upper chest through the covers, and placing a comforting kiss on his head above the bandages. "It would be the same if you'd been in a motor crash and put in hospital. At least here you know whose taking care of you, yeah? Not an issue. So, relax and don't give it another thought. I know you're in a lot of pain, sweetheart, and worrying over this will just throw you into a seizure and make you feel that much worse. Breathe slow and deep through your nose, think about something nice you and Jack have done, and just let your Shadows and nature run their course."

"I… just don't want…" the young Archivist managed haltingly; his voice barely audible. "I don't ever… want to be a… a burden… to him… He… he bears so much already…"

"Taking care of the one you love is never a burden, Ianto," Jack stated firmly, having exited the ensuite in time to catch the strangled whisper. "You took care of me for years, always went far above and beyond, but for so long I just saw it as you doing your job. Until I came back from what happened when I ran off with the Doctor after Abaddon, and actually paid attention. That's when I realised all the special little things you did to make my life easier were on top of your real, overwhelmingly expanded duties around the base.

"All pages scanned from the old Archives for quick access, the files organised and collated, the place always neat and clean, bodies disposed of or stored, messes cleared, the SUV kept in top shape. That was already more than you signed up for. Formulating reports so all I had to do was sign them, staying late to run firewall tests and fix the weak spots because Tosh was too busy, overseeing the morgue and all off-site storage, fetching me meals, laying out my clothes, keeping my room clean, repairing my coat, handling my wash and dry cleaning, staying till all hours to keep me company and help with projects, volunteering to go Weevil hunting, taking care of all the aliens in the Vaults, keeping the weapons cleaned and loaded so I didn't have to wonder or worry about any of it, taking over the admin duties for Flat Holm even though the place made you have anxiety attacks every time you came back from the monthly visits… all of that was purely for me. And you still do every bit of that plus more. Only now I appreciate it in a way I didn't before. So, being nurse maid for you while you recover isn't a burden. It's a chance for me to do something good for you for a change, and I intend to take the duty very seriously."

"I think you've made him cry," Gwen pointed out quietly, preparing to move off the bed.

The damp-haired American quickly switched places with the former constable, gently touching his partner's lower face and stroking his hair.

"Did I make you cry, buddy?" he murmured contritely, knowing it was likely painful with the damage to the young Welshman's eyes.

"Yes…" Ianto squeaked truthfully, beginning to tremble harder than ever. "But it's not… they… they're calling…"

"Time for another kiss goodbye," Harkness surmised with a sad smile. "It's okay. Try to relax… I'll be right where I am now when they send you back."

Jack shifted to give Ianto a very passionate kiss, the fingers of one hand monitoring the Changeling's carotid pulse. The Captain felt his lover's breath fail him, the instinctive tensing of muscles, then the fluttering beat beneath his fingers stopped as he drew back. Another round of heartache and waiting had begun.

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AN: Ianto has truly embarked on the long, rough road is to recovery now… good thing he has Jack to play security-blanket for comfort.

Sorry for the late post... cable work here has my internet out save for tiny windows of opportunity, so I'm having to go to my Dad's to do anything like posting a chapter. Response to reviews may be very delayed because of this issue.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM