Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 15
"I've always got plenty of medicinal kisses stocked up," Harkness offered with a tiny smirk.
"That should do well enough," the Changeling beside him nodded, then smiled the teasing little smile his partner rarely saw but loved. "For now…"
The Captain laughed and shifted to engage the eternal twenty-six-year-old in an intense snog, extremely pleased and more than willing to surrender when the Welshman turned the tables rather than let the kiss end. They were still happily engaged in fact, when Ianto suddenly gasped and pulled away, his entire body tensing with a single sharp jerk of muscles. Tears welled in his eyes and his hand tightened convulsively over his partner's fingers, a strangled moan escaping him as he panted for breath. Their moment of pleasure and comfort had just gone very wrong.
"What is it?" Jack demanded worriedly; afraid he'd somehow hurt the younger man without realising it. "Did I…?"
"Kneecap…" his Shadow reborn Archivist gasped, looking both miserable and apologetic. "Forgot… the bloody kneecap… Just snapped back… into place and yanked hard against the joint… Sorry…"
"Don't be sorry," Harkness sighed, pulling the throw close around his lover and offering what comfort another gentle kiss and warm embrace could give the now violently shivering Scieron Guardian. "This kind of healing isn't something you can control. You just have to ride it out and let nature take its accelerated course. I'm right here for you though, buddy. So, hold onto me, try to take deep breaths when you can and we'll get you through this."
"You… have no idea," Ianto hissed with a grimace, still trying to catch his breath past the pain. "How much it helps… to have someone close who… actually understands what I'm going through… when this kind… of thing happens… I wish I could've done more for you… in the past…"
"Believe me," the undying American stated firmly. "Even without having experienced any of this, you always did the right things to help me through the misery."
"Good to know…" his partner managed tightly. "I'd hate to be a slacker."
Jack chuckled and kissed the twenty-six-year-old on the cheek, held him close as he continued to shiver. Finally, the young Welshman took a deep breath and blew it out very slowly, still shivering slightly but able to relax as the worst of the pain subsided.
"Well, that was an ugly little surprise," Ianto murmured after a moment. "I didn't break your hand, did I?"
"Bruised but not broken," the Captain smiled reassuringly, briefly displaying the hand and wiggling all his fingers before slipping it back under the throw to unbutton the lower part of his companion's well-worn work shirt, and tickle his way along the waistband of his track bottoms. "Yep… works just fine."
"Oi…" the younger immortal protested weakly, squirming somewhat under the teasing touch. "Still healing and stuck in a full leg brace, remember?"
"Wasn't a problem after breakfast this morning," Harkness countered with a wicked grin, snuffling at the Changeling's left ear.
"That's because the door was locked and we weren't being given knowing looks by your 'nightingale'," Ianto explained with a quick smile that turned to a wince as the older man's roaming hand made him twitch.
The Captain went still and sighed, glancing over his shoulder at the white coat clad woman in the doorway.
"Sorry," Martha smiled, her eyes sparking with amusement. "I was just going to ask what you two felt like having for dinner. You didn't put your comm back on after your shower, Jack, so…"
The American shifted to lean back against the pillows with one arm still around his lover's shoulders, and faced the intruder with an unrepentant grin.
"There is such a thing as knocking," he pointed out evenly. "What's the team got in mind for menu choices?"
"They can't decide between soup from the Italian place," the young black woman stated with a chuckle. "Or something homey from the pub, like stew or shepherd's pie."
"Ianto?" Harkness queried with a raised brow as he looked over at the still occasionally shivering Welshman.
"Homey sounds nice," the young Guardian replied equitably. "Something warm and filling."
"Good enough," Martha nodded, wondering why their leader's eyes lit up and he looked to be nearly strangling to keep from laughing as she turned to leave. "I'll just pull this closed, yeah?"
"I'll give you 'warm and filling'," Jack cackled gleefully as soon as the team medic was gone, putting both arms around his partner and holding him close.
"As well as 'minty fresh and tingly' no doubt," his Archivist deadpanned. "But both will have to wait until I'm not trapped in this brace and feeling like a bad 'Mad Max' impersonator. Should I find you that box of tissues you mentioned earlier?"
The Captain laughed long and hard before giving the younger man a searing kiss, then simply relaxed and let the twenty-six-year-old cuddle up in his embrace.
"You're really in for it once that leg's healed," he murmured close to the Changeling's ear. "Total ravaging."
"Whatever you're up for, Captain Cardiff," Ianto countered pointedly, his expression still neutral but his blue-grey eyes glittering with mischief and mirth.
"Man, you get so fiery when you're hurt," Harkness observed with a feral smile. "I really missed that twisted humour and smart-assed commentary after London."
"I'll do my best not to disappoint now that you're stuck with me forever," Ianto half-smiled, relaxing fully in his companion's arms and enjoying the warmth.
"You spoil me, Barista Boy," Jack responded with a gentle smile of his own, honestly just happy to have the Welshman with him at all.
They snuggled beneath the throw and waited for the evening meal, content for the moment to be close and comfortable while the younger man continued to heal.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
AN: Pesky kneecap…
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM