10
Ianto was laughing as he lifted the little boy up and ran for the cover of the cabin, the rain light but enough to ensure that they would get wet. Then he swore softly, handing the toddler off and he ran towards the path that led to the signal fire no doubt to throw the plastic sheeting over the wood to keep it dry.
Jack reached for Ianto's jacket which was hanging on the back of the door intending to chase him and make sure he didn't get too wet and as he lifted it down from the hook something crinkled. He stopped moving, then turned the jacket inside out to see a letter poking out of the inner pocket.
Of course… he opened it with mild interest…. Considered the 'To Whom It May Concern, I am Sorry' written on the envelope… and read it.
.
.
Ianto was drying his hair while talking animatedly to Owen when he became aware of Jack's silence in the corner. He went over and sat on their bed, reaching out to touch his knee only to find Jack moving it away.
OK.
Confused now.
"Cariad? What is it?"
Jack shook his head and said in a low tone "Just not in the mood to amuse you."
"Amuse… amuse me?" Ianto was flummoxed with the weird answer but shrugged rising to let Jack have his alone time… whatever he needed that for. They had all had a little breakdown of sorts over the last few weeks and maybe it was Jack's time for some brain farts. Ianto let it go. Instead, he went to help with the opening of some of the tinned food they had no idea about, the labels gone. The container had no bene fully explored and this was the greatest find, everyone agreed the three crates of non-perishable food was a boon. The labels all fallen off from rubbing together while the container was shaken about at sea not so exciting bit they made a game of it.
"Creamed corn!" Toshiko said with glee, holding hers up. "Over the fire for you!"
"Awwww… bloody baked beans in mine" Rhys huffed.
"Peaches" Owen said, holding them out "Swap ya big man. I eat my beans cold like a savage."
"OI!" Andy frowned, "Careful there!"
"Christ… I meant swap tins, not partners ya muppet. Don't worry… he's your teddy bear all the way! Possessive ain't ya?"
Rhys froze, then went bright red as everyone laughed and Ianto watched Jack leave the cabin to stand on the front porch, the rain from the veranda's eves pouring around him like a cage.
Whatever was wrong, he hoped the Captain would tell him sooner rather than later. A moody Jack is a strange Jack.
.
.
"He still being weird?" Andy asked as he stood with Ianto uncovering the wood now that the rain had passed. There was a breeze now and they were cold. The weather in this island was so changeable.
"Yeah. I don't know what I did wrong but it feels like I took a misstep somewhere and pissed him off" Ianto answered, straightening up to look out over the water and as he scanned the horizon his hand slid into his pocket and he pulled out he letter staring at it with confusion.
How did it get in there? It was never in an outer pocket. It was in the…..
Ianto groaned softly, seeing that it had been ripped open, then he turned to look up the path towards the cabin.
"What?"
Ianto handed him the letter which Andy promptly read then handed back "Fuck. You were gonna top yourself?"
"Yeah. Morose and stuck in a funk I couldn't see the light anymore… yeah. I was going to kill myself after I scattered her ashes" Ianto sighed "And he's read it. Clearly, he is put out. Either by the fact I clearly loved her so fiercely and he's jealous… or the fact I am weak and wanted td die."
"Wanted. As in past tense. Ya know… you need to think on that. Mate, look. I might have only known you a matter of a week… tomorrow. A week tomorrow, but I know you are one of the strongest, bravest fuckers I have ever come across. Come on. Grief is a strange beast." Andy patted him on the shoulder and Ianto grunted, looking at the letter and then to the horizon again.
"Seems I AM destined to be alone, mind" Ianto finally said before shoving the letter into his pocket and heading back toward home, his footfalls heavy with disappointment.
Jack had read his suicide note and was angry. Disaointed and clearly out of infatuation now. And this could only mean one thing. He had never truly been in love with him, or this would have meant nothing. The fact Jack was reacting like a spurned lover told Ianto that he was no longer fun enough for the man.
Like he had with most disappointing things for his entire life… Ianto decided to just accept it.
..
.
.
"No thanks" Ianto said as a tin was shaken at him "I am enjoying the fish. I never knew Fish in coconut milk could taste so nice. And the wild onions are amazing".
"Ta" Rhys said with a puff to his chest, glancing over at Andy before adding "Tomorrow we are opening that container the little guy found and hopefully there is more food in there. We only have about another three days' worth if the fishing doesn't pick up."
"Rain drives them deep" Ianto replied as he took another bite of fish "But tomorrow will be a better day. I am sure of it."
He glanced at Jack and knew he had to stop being passive like usual, this place was not usual, this life was different, and he needed to be too. Head out of arse Ianto, he thought to himself. He needed to confront Jack and clear the air.
One way or another.