Author:
![[info]](../../img/userinfo.gif?v=87.2){kind=small}
avalon_joanCharacters: Jack, Ianto, Owen somewhat, Tosh and Gwen barely
Rating: PG
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Spoilers: Brief reference to post-End of Days
Set: Sometime in season 2
Summary: When Jack wakes up, he wonders why he and Ianto don't spend more time together.
Parts 1 2 3
Ianto opened his eyes and looked around the room. It was light again, and the Captain was still asleep, tangled under a small pile of blankets. Owen was nowhere to be seen, and Ianto was in the process of sitting up and muttering his frustrations at the other’s departure when he heard the delicate sound of ceramic being set on the marble countertop in the kitchen. He rolled out of bed and, after pressing a kiss to Jack’s forehead, made his way to the kitchen.
Owen stood with a carafe in hand by the far corner, pouring coffee into two mugs. At the sound of Ianto’s footsteps, he looked up. “Sleep well?”
“Very well, thank you.” When the doctor handed him one of the steaming mugs, Ianto took it gratefully and took a long sip. With a smile, he asked, “Have I ever told you how much I appreciate having you around?”
Owen let out a snort of laughter, shaking his head. Clearly unsure of how to respond, he launched into an update on Jack’s condition. “His fever broke around three, and he’s definitely not hallucinating anymore.”
“Did you talk with him?”
Swallowing a mouthful of his own coffee, Owen nodded. “He woke up a few times. Doesn’t remember a thing, of course.”
“Good.” Ianto let out a sigh. “But it looks like he’s in the clear?”
“As far as I can tell, he’s on the mend. He’ll need to rest for another day or so, but other than that—”
Ianto smiled. “Thank you, Owen. For coming here in the middle of the night, and—for staying. I don’t know what I would have done.”
“I must be pretty sick if you two are getting along.” Jack’s voice sounded from the entryway of the kitchen. Both men turned to look at the Captain, who, in spite of being draped in a blanket, was standing as tall as ever. Ianto strode over, taking Jack by the shoulders and guiding him to a nearby chair.
“You should be in bed, Jack,” he said, kneeling down and running his fingers through the other’s hair. “Are you feeling any better?”
Jack nodded. “Less tired, but everything hurts.”
“Let’s get you back to bed.” Ianto stood, offering a hand to the Captain.
“Been in bed for too long.”
“Couch, then.”
Taking a minute to stabilize himself after standing, Jack walked into the living room while Ianto and Owen spoke quietly.
“I’ll call you if anything changes.”
“Yeah. And you take care of yourself. I’m serious.”
Ianto smiled and gave a nod. “I will. Thank you again.”
Owen left the flat, and Ianto joined Jack on the couch. Wordlessly, he put his hands on the older man’s shoulders and gently attempted to work the soreness out of them. Jack let out soft sigh and leaned forward, and Ianto moved his hands lower and rubbed the whole of the Captain’s back. “See?” he said, keeping his voice low, “Taking the day off wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Jack nodded. “I’d had gotten sick sooner if I’d known it meant getting to have you all to myself.”
“You know, you don’t have to be sick for us to spend time together,” Ianto offered, his fingers working their way down to the base of Jack’s spine.
“We always say that we’re going to be together, just the two of us, but something always comes up.” Jack sat up, stretching and rolling his shoulders back. He slumped to the side and rested his head on Ianto’s shoulder. “Thank you for making me stay.”
Ianto smiled. “Can you imagine trying to chase a weevil like this?”
Shaking his head, Jack nestling closer against the younger man. “I’d much rather be here with you.”
“Same.” Ianto turned slightly and kissed the top of Jack’s head. “Have you had anything to eat?”
“Owen made sure that I ate a few hours ago.” Jack sat up suddenly, raising a hand to his nose and stifling a sneeze. He groaned, rubbing his forehead, and flopped against the back of the couch.
“Headache?” Ianto asked, kissing Jack’s temple. The older man nodded, wincing visibly. “Let me get you more paracetamol.”
As Ianto moved to stand, Jack’s fingers circled around his wrist, tugging him back onto the couch. “No,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically pleading, “Stay.”
Ianto sat back down and shifted their positions so that Jack was lying on top of him, his head on Ianto’s chest. He smoothed the hair on the back of Jack’s head and continued rubbing circles on his back. When the Captain’s breathing evened out and his body relaxed, Ianto whispered, keeping his voice low to keep from waking the other, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Part 5