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Description
Part Two.

“A plan?” Ianto asked, Jack could hear the tremor in his voice as surely as he felt it pass through the younger man’s skin.
“Yes. I know where the transporter is. It’s in Lambda’s desk. If I can get to it, I should be able to get us home,” Jack whispered, making damn sure that the only one who could hear the words was Ianto.
“And how, exactly, are you planning to do that?” the young man murmured, quietly. Although, that was probably more to do with his rising fever, and his injury than any real desire to keep their conversation private.
“Well, I started thinking about it when I asked the guards for more water for you. There’s only ever two of them. And they seem to only be armed with the tasars. If I can get them to open the door again, which I’ll do by asking for more water, I can probably fight my way past them,” the captain explained.
“It sounds dangerous, sir,” Ianto cautioned. Jack secretly felt a little touched that the young man was worried about him.
“It’s worth it, Ianto, you’re worth it,” he had never been so sure of anything in his life.
“Once I’m past the guards, I’ll make my way to Lambda’s office. I’ve memorised the directions. Luckily for us, they don’t have any security cameras or sensors between here and there. The lock on her door is easily picked, as well. All I really need to worry about is finding something to pick it with. So hopefully, I should be able to find something suitable on one of the guards. I’ll get the transporter out of Lambda’s desk, come back and get you the Hell out of here.” He felt hope building up inside him, something he’d thought lost, very briefly. There had always been determination, definitely, but the hope had faded out for a moment there.
“Please be careful,” Ianto whispered, his breath tickling Jack’s chest. The captain couldn’t help himself, he captured Ianto’s lips once again, in a kiss so full of emotion it was almost passionate. He released a breath he hadn’t even known he was holding as he felt Ianto begin to respond to the kiss, tentatively. They both knew this was different. This wasn’t about healing or prolonging life. It was about these two men, locked in a cell, cold and blind, seeking comfort in each other. It wasn’t romantic, or sexual. But it was intense. They parted after a long, sweet moment, still clutching each other tight.

* * *

“In… in case it does… doesn’t work, sir… D’you think you could tell my parents that I love them?” Ianto asked. Jack hadn’t even noticed that he’d woken.
“It will work, Yan, trust me.”
“I do, sir, wholeheartedly. But in case it doesn’t… I’ll die, but you’ll eventually find your way out of this. I just… I want you to promise me you’ll tell them. Please?”
“Alright. I promise.” Jack sighed. He didn’t want to admit how much that promise hurt him, even to himself. He couldn’t think about this mission failing, not now. Because if he did, he’d have to accept the possibility that he wouldn’t be able to get Ianto out of here safely. And that seemed like the most terrible thing in the world right now.
“A…and Tosh. Could you tell her… that I miss her and that if I could go back, I’d make sure we never stopped being best friends?” Jack nodded silently, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. He never even knew Tosh and Ianto were friends. It showed exactly how little he’d paid attention to the young man before this had happened.
“I promise. But I don’t need to. I’m getting us out of here, Ianto.” Jack let his hands wander up and down Ianto’s arms, memorising the feel of him. He didn’t want to leave, not yet, he wanted to savour these moments with the man as if they were his last. He didn’t even let himself entertain the notion that could indeed be the case.
“Ianto?” Jack said gravely.
“Yes, sir?” the younger man replied.
“Assuming you don’t have any objections, I’m about to kiss you.” True to his word, Jack leant forward, oh so slowly, and pressed his lips to Ianto’s. The kiss they shared was soft and sombre, the finality of that moment deeply etched into both their minds. Jack didn’t know what he was initiating, whether he was silently seeking comfort in the younger man’s body, or trying to ask for something deeper. His tongue teased Ianto’s bottom lip, asking permission to deepen the kiss. When it was granted, Jack felt a little anguished groan escape his throat, as he tasted Ianto’s lips, his mouth, tongue swirling languidly over the younger man’s palette. It wasn’t the first time he’d kissed Ianto without transferring energy, but it was the first time he hadn’t understood it.
They were both breathing heavily when they parted. Jack found it oddly heartening, sitting in the pitch black, listening to his young colleague breathing. It was the only sound in the room.
“Thank you, sir,” Ianto told him. Jack chuckled, knowing full well that those were the only words his brain could come up with, probably because at that moment in time, all his could think of was…
“You’re welcome, Yan, thank you.” After which, they both fell silent. Holding each other tight as the seconds slowly passed.
Eventually, Jack felt Ianto’s body stiffen, he squeezed Jack’s hand.
“You’re going to leave now, aren’t you?” he asked.
“I was thinking about it, yeah,” Jack replied, “How did you know?”
“Your heart just sped up, and you shifted, just a little, as though you were about to stand up,” Ianto replied. Damn that boy could go on to become a body-language expert.
“I need to get a move on before they try and take you away from me again,” he told Ianto, amazed by the vehemence of his own statement.
“I know. It just hurts that this could be our last ever moment together,” the young Welshman said. Any other time and Jack might have mentioned how romantic that sounded, then chuckled at Ianto’s sarcastic reply. For now, he just said.
“I understand. But, hey, it could be the beginning of hundreds more. Like the first one when we get back home and you kick my ass for being dumb enough to get us marooned here in the first place!” He smiled when he felt the younger man laugh.
“Go quickly, sir, before I change my mind. But be careful, please.”

* * *

Jack positioned himself behind the door. He ran his mind through each and every one of his little ‘attack rituals’, the breathing exercises, the calming techniques. He had one chance to get this right, and he wasn’t going to blow it. He banged loudly on the door, three times, screaming…
“I need some help in here, please! Somebody help!” in his most terrified, pained voice. He let out a well acted, panicked shriek, before thumping on the door some more.
The guards threw open the door, charging into the cell at full speed. The first one spotted Ianto, lying on the floor and bent to check him over. The other had realised Jack was nowhere in sight, and started frantically looking around the tiny cell. He delivered a punch straight to it’s temple, which he knew from experience could either knock someone out, or kill them, depending on the force. The guard slumped down, landing haphazardly on his colleague’s back. The other alien spun quickly, turning to face Jack. He began to say something in its own language, when Jack punched him in the throat. The guard choked, gasping for breath, giving Jack time to grab the weapon from its belt and bash it over the head. He let out a whoop of joy. That was the hard part over.
Then he realised his mistake. He couldn’t leave Ianto alone with these two. What if they woke up? In a split second, he made his decision.
“Ianto, you have to come with me,” Jack hissed, motioning to the door.
“I thought you’d never ask, sir,” Ianto replied, taking the nearest guard’s weapon from its holster.
Side by side, they ran down the corridor, keeping a careful eye out for any obstacles. Jack straightened his arms, keeping his weapon carefully trained in front of him.
“What do you know, they did have guns after all!” he observed, looking at the pistol in his hand.
“That is so encouraging, sir,” Ianto replied.

During their run, Jack noticed a few outward signs of the pain Ianto must be feeling. He limped slightly, swaying, just a little, from side to side. His jaw was clenched, knuckles white against the butt of his gun. Once again, Jack felt impeccably proud of his young friend. Soldiering on for the good of humankind, even if, in this instance, humankind was just the two of them.
“Not far now, Yan,” Jack panted, pointing to the stairs, “Just up here and along a bit.”
“Good,” Ianto’s face was white, more than likely from exhaustion. Jack grabbed his hand, smiling inwardly at the memory of another pair who always ran like that.

Eventually, they reached Lambda’s door. Jack cursed himself for not searching the guards for lock-picking implements.
“Ah well, plan B,” he grunted, taking aim at the door. A single bullet blew the lock to pieces. A second got rid of a little of his anger at these people.
“What if the desk drawer is locked? You can’t just shoot that too, sir, you could hit the transporter,” Ianto told him. Good point.
“I know, Yan, if that happens, I’ll break the lock off with the butt of the gun,” he consoled, playing it by ear. He went to the desk, finding the drawer unlocked. He grinned as he picked up the Chula device, they were home!
“You will put it down, now!” came a chillingly familiar voice. Jack turned meet the gaze of the head guard. The evil alien stood, casually leaning in the doorway, Ianto trapped in his arms. It pointed its gun at his head.
“Leave him alone,” Jack snarled.
“You will be putting the thing down, and I will be putting him down,” it ran the barrel of its gun delicately, cruelly, down Ianto’s cheek.
“I can’t trust you. You’ll hurt him if I put it down. Give him to me first, then you can have the device,” Jack growled. His stomach twisted in fear, this was the one thing Jack couldn’t bring Ianto back from.
“If you are putting it down on the ground, I will be giving him to you. If you are not. He will feel a bullet,” the guard pressed the gun to Ianto’s temple. Jack saw his jaw twitch, trying not to make a sound. His heart ached.
“Okay, just let him go,” he put up his hands, bending his knees slowly. He made a big show of laying the transporter down on the ground, but he stopped, just seconds before.
“But I don’t think you want me to do that,” Jack told the guard.
“What?” the alien looked confused,
“You were right all along. It is a bomb, one only I know how to use. I’ve activated it. In three minutes, it’ll explode. If you give him to me, I’ll deactivate it. If you hurt him, I’ll kill us all,” he lied smoothly. He turned the Chula ‘bomb’ around in his hands, looking at the keypad.
“You are bluffing,” the guard said, although sweat had broken over his periwinkle flesh.
“Try me,” Jack replied. He pressed one of the buttons and a red light began to flash.
“I don’t do ‘bluffing’.” The guard looked from Jack, to Ianto and back again. He was virtually shaking, all the sadism and bravado he had worn in the past was gone, leaving behind a coward. And Jack thanked God for that.
“Fine! Fine! Take him; just do not be killing me!” He pushed Ianto roughly towards Jack.

Jack’s entire body relaxed the moment he had Ianto in his arms, safe. He melted against the younger man, kissing him on the top of the head, quickly. Then he gathered his wits, and keyed in the right combination on the Chula transporter.
“Bye bye then,” he waved as the world started to spin around them. Moments later, they were back in Cardiff, just a few miles from the Millennium Stadium.

Jack let out a scream of laughter, sinking to his knees with Ianto in his arms. He finally released the sobs that had been building up in his chest since they arrived at that horrible place.
“We did it, Yan, we’re home!” he gasped, burying his face in Ianto’s neck.
“We’re home,” Ianto repeated, then slumped against Jack, passing out.

* * *

A week later, things had settled down. Owen checked Ianto over and deemed him fit to go home, as long as someone was there to take care of him. Although Jack offered, eventually Ianto decided he wanted Tosh to come home with him and look after him. When she’d heard about what happened, she immediately went to comfort him. It had only taken a couple of days for the two of them to become the best of friends again.
Gwen had fussed over Jack, trying to psychoanalyse him. But the truth was, aside from the overwhelming anger at those creatures for hurting Ianto, all he felt was confusion.
He sat in his office, looking out over his team. Well, his team minus one. It stung him, just a little, that Ianto wasn’t there. He almost ached for him. To have his arms around the younger man again, to talk to him about ridiculous little things. It was the first proper friendship he’d had in a long time. Sure he had his team, but that relationship was slightly different. He felt more like a teacher to them than anything else, friendly but guiding.
With Ianto… since what happened… he felt like he could trust the younger man. He knew Ianto wasn’t looking to him for answers, or trying to delve into his past uninvited. And it gave him a sense of security.
So why didn’t Ianto want him to take care of him? Why did he want Tosh instead of him? Was it because of that last kiss? If Ianto hadn’t wanted it, why had he responded? Maybe, in the light of day, he realised he hadn’t wanted it at all. It cut. Jack sighed, heavily. He hadn’t felt this unsure in years. Not since… well, it didn’t matter.

Another two days passed, exactly the same. Jack went about leading the team, but his heart wasn’t in it. Every minute he got alone, he spent replaying the events of the week they’d spent in Hell.
Sitting in his office chair, he hung his head. The clack of high heels intruded on his thoughts.
“Hi Tosh,” Jack looked up.
“Jack, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. I don’t want to intrude, but…” the woman trailed off, looking at Jack, a little helplessly.
“It’s okay. What is it?” he asked, sympathetically as he could.
“What happened out there?” she asked, quiet as a mouse,
“We landed in the middle of a political conference. They mistook us for terrorists and locked us up for eight days. We got fed once, cabbage and bread. While they questioned me, they tortured Ianto. Their president told us we were gonna be imprisoned or executed. We escaped. That’s about it,” Jack replied, emotionlessly. Detachment, that was the key to getting over what had happened to them on that planet.
“No, actually, I mean…” Tosh cleared her throat, “I mean, what happened between you and Ianto?” For a moment, Jack felt like glossing over the truth, telling Toshiko that nothing had happened. But he needed to tell someone, just to try and make some sense of it.
“We talked, a lot. About anything and everything. We held each other, both for warmth and support. And, when they would bring him back from hurting him… I would kiss him to keep him alive. He was what kept me fighting, just so I could get him out of there safely. And I found… I found I liked talking to him, liked being around him. So I… I kissed him. I mean, really kissed him. And I don’t know what that means,” he admitted. Tosh’s eyebrows rose and she stuttered as she spoke.
“Maybe I shouldn’t… uh… tell you this… Ianto’d probably kill me. But he… he calls out your name in the middle of the night, it’s like he’s looking for you. He misses you Jack… I think. He wants to see you, but I suppose he doesn’t want to ask…”
“Where is he right now?” Jack demanded. He found his breathing had gotten heavy. His heart was racing and he didn’t know why, all he knew was that he had to get to Ianto. Had to see him.
“He’s at his flat,” she gave him the address alongside her spare key. Jack was out of the Hub and in the S.U.V. before she could say ‘good luck’.

* * *

Jack stood outside Ianto’s door, running over what he was going to say, in his head. What was he going to say? I don’t know why I’m here; all I know is that I feel the need to be with you? I really want to kiss you and I have no idea why? I miss you? God, it all sounded crazy. He took a deep breath and unlocked the door.
“Tosh, is that you? How was everyone at work?” Jack stopped when he heard Ianto’s voice.
“Actually, it’s Jack. I came to see how you’re doing,” Jack called back. He followed Ianto’s voice into what he assumed was the younger man’s bedroom.
“Sir… I’m fine, thank you, how are you?” Ianto sounded flustered. Jack smiled, imagining the look on the young man’s face. He opened the door and lost the ability to speak.
Ianto lay right in the middle of a king sized bed, swathed in red silk sheets. The room was dimly lit by a glowing salt crystal lamp, the soft glimmer highlighting his cheekbones and jaw. Jack’s heart jumped. He looked beautiful.
“I’m good thanks, Yan. Your bruises seem to be healing pretty well,” the captain said, sitting on the end of the bed.
“Yeah… they’re fine,” Ianto seemed distracted.
“I’m glad. I was worried that it would take you longer to get better… you know, with the alien tasars…” Jack fell into a contemplative silence. He slowly inched up the bed, unconsciously. Ianto’s face softened and he pulled back the covers, patting the space beside him. Jack barely had the time to remove his boots before he climbed in beside the younger man, wrapping him in his arms.
“That’s better,” Jack chuckled.
“I was reading something about comfort. That in traumatic events, people find comfort in things they’re used to. I imagine we got used to holding each other while we were in the cell, sir,” Ianto explained, laying his chest on the older man’s chest.
“Maybe…” Jack replied, “All I know is I feel better now.”
“Me too,” the younger man agreed. All the confusion and hurt Jack had felt rushed out of him, leaving him with just a left over feeling of calm.
“Did you ever get that pizza?” Ianto asked him,
“Yeah, and all the sides. How’s the coffee been? I mean, compared to the bottled stuff?” he struggled to keep a straight face.
“What on Earth is bottled coffee?” Ianto’s eyebrows shot up, impossibly high on his forehead.
“You tell me, Yan. It was you who came up with the idea,” he snickered. Ianto shot him a questioning look, before bursting out laughing. Jack relished the feel of Ianto’s chest bobbing against his. Before long, they were both creased up.
“What did you really come here for, sir?” Ianto asked, suddenly serious, although he didn’t move away from the warmth of Jack’s arms.
“I guess I missed you,” he sighed.
“I missed you too, sir,” the younger man replied.
“Good. I wanted to come earlier, you know. But I didn’t know whether you’d want me here. I thought I’d best give you some time.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Ianto looked confused, turning to face him.
“Because… the kiss…” Jack trailed off, waiting for the other man to speak. When he didn’t Jack realised he had to try and explain himself better.
“I thought you’d feel uncomfortable around me because we kissed.”
“It’s not like that, sir,” Ianto told him. His eyes glazed over slightly, as if he were looking into the distance.
“Then what? Why did you want Tosh here instead of me?” Jack tried to keep the hurt from his voice, barely managing to sound anything less than hysteric.
“She’s my best friend,” Ianto began. Then he squeezed his eyes tightly, taking a deep breath to brace himself.
“Sir? There’s something I should tell you…” he said.

To Be Continued.

Description
Part Two.

“A plan?” Ianto asked, Jack could hear the tremor in his voice as surely as he felt it pass through the younger man’s skin.
“Yes. I know where the transporter is. It’s in Lambda’s desk. If I can get to it, I should be able to get us home,” Jack whispered, making damn sure that the only one who could hear the words was Ianto.
“And how, exactly, are you planning to do that?” the young man murmured, quietly. Although, that was probably more to do with his rising fever, and his injury than any real desire to keep their conversation private.
“Well, I started thinking about it when I asked the guards for more water for you. There’s only ever two of them. And they seem to only be armed with the tasars. If I can get them to open the door again, which I’ll do by asking for more water, I can probably fight my way past them,” the captain explained.
“It sounds dangerous, sir,” Ianto cautioned. Jack secretly felt a little touched that the young man was worried about him.
“It’s worth it, Ianto, you’re worth it,” he had never been so sure of anything in his life.
“Once I’m past the guards, I’ll make my way to Lambda’s office. I’ve memorised the directions. Luckily for us, they don’t have any security cameras or sensors between here and there. The lock on her door is easily picked, as well. All I really need to worry about is finding something to pick it with. So hopefully, I should be able to find something suitable on one of the guards. I’ll get the transporter out of Lambda’s desk, come back and get you the Hell out of here.” He felt hope building up inside him, something he’d thought lost, very briefly. There had always been determination, definitely, but the hope had faded out for a moment there.
“Please be careful,” Ianto whispered, his breath tickling Jack’s chest. The captain couldn’t help himself, he captured Ianto’s lips once again, in a kiss so full of emotion it was almost passionate. He released a breath he hadn’t even known he was holding as he felt Ianto begin to respond to the kiss, tentatively. They both knew this was different. This wasn’t about healing or prolonging life. It was about these two men, locked in a cell, cold and blind, seeking comfort in each other. It wasn’t romantic, or sexual. But it was intense. They parted after a long, sweet moment, still clutching each other tight.

* * *

“In… in case it does… doesn’t work, sir… D’you think you could tell my parents that I love them?” Ianto asked. Jack hadn’t even noticed that he’d woken.
“It will work, Yan, trust me.”
“I do, sir, wholeheartedly. But in case it doesn’t… I’ll die, but you’ll eventually find your way out of this. I just… I want you to promise me you’ll tell them. Please?”
“Alright. I promise.” Jack sighed. He didn’t want to admit how much that promise hurt him, even to himself. He couldn’t think about this mission failing, not now. Because if he did, he’d have to accept the possibility that he wouldn’t be able to get Ianto out of here safely. And that seemed like the most terrible thing in the world right now.
“A…and Tosh. Could you tell her… that I miss her and that if I could go back, I’d make sure we never stopped being best friends?” Jack nodded silently, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. He never even knew Tosh and Ianto were friends. It showed exactly how little he’d paid attention to the young man before this had happened.
“I promise. But I don’t need to. I’m getting us out of here, Ianto.” Jack let his hands wander up and down Ianto’s arms, memorising the feel of him. He didn’t want to leave, not yet, he wanted to savour these moments with the man as if they were his last. He didn’t even let himself entertain the notion that could indeed be the case.
“Ianto?” Jack said gravely.
“Yes, sir?” the younger man replied.
“Assuming you don’t have any objections, I’m about to kiss you.” True to his word, Jack leant forward, oh so slowly, and pressed his lips to Ianto’s. The kiss they shared was soft and sombre, the finality of that moment deeply etched into both their minds. Jack didn’t know what he was initiating, whether he was silently seeking comfort in the younger man’s body, or trying to ask for something deeper. His tongue teased Ianto’s bottom lip, asking permission to deepen the kiss. When it was granted, Jack felt a little anguished groan escape his throat, as he tasted Ianto’s lips, his mouth, tongue swirling languidly over the younger man’s palette. It wasn’t the first time he’d kissed Ianto without transferring energy, but it was the first time he hadn’t understood it.
They were both breathing heavily when they parted. Jack found it oddly heartening, sitting in the pitch black, listening to his young colleague breathing. It was the only sound in the room.
“Thank you, sir,” Ianto told him. Jack chuckled, knowing full well that those were the only words his brain could come up with, probably because at that moment in time, all his could think of was…
“You’re welcome, Yan, thank you.” After which, they both fell silent. Holding each other tight as the seconds slowly passed.
Eventually, Jack felt Ianto’s body stiffen, he squeezed Jack’s hand.
“You’re going to leave now, aren’t you?” he asked.
“I was thinking about it, yeah,” Jack replied, “How did you know?”
“Your heart just sped up, and you shifted, just a little, as though you were about to stand up,” Ianto replied. Damn that boy could go on to become a body-language expert.
“I need to get a move on before they try and take you away from me again,” he told Ianto, amazed by the vehemence of his own statement.
“I know. It just hurts that this could be our last ever moment together,” the young Welshman said. Any other time and Jack might have mentioned how romantic that sounded, then chuckled at Ianto’s sarcastic reply. For now, he just said.
“I understand. But, hey, it could be the beginning of hundreds more. Like the first one when we get back home and you kick my ass for being dumb enough to get us marooned here in the first place!” He smiled when he felt the younger man laugh.
“Go quickly, sir, before I change my mind. But be careful, please.”

* * *

Jack positioned himself behind the door. He ran his mind through each and every one of his little ‘attack rituals’, the breathing exercises, the calming techniques. He had one chance to get this right, and he wasn’t going to blow it. He banged loudly on the door, three times, screaming…
“I need some help in here, please! Somebody help!” in his most terrified, pained voice. He let out a well acted, panicked shriek, before thumping on the door some more.
The guards threw open the door, charging into the cell at full speed. The first one spotted Ianto, lying on the floor and bent to check him over. The other had realised Jack was nowhere in sight, and started frantically looking around the tiny cell. He delivered a punch straight to it’s temple, which he knew from experience could either knock someone out, or kill them, depending on the force. The guard slumped down, landing haphazardly on his colleague’s back. The other alien spun quickly, turning to face Jack. He began to say something in its own language, when Jack punched him in the throat. The guard choked, gasping for breath, giving Jack time to grab the weapon from its belt and bash it over the head. He let out a whoop of joy. That was the hard part over.
Then he realised his mistake. He couldn’t leave Ianto alone with these two. What if they woke up? In a split second, he made his decision.
“Ianto, you have to come with me,” Jack hissed, motioning to the door.
“I thought you’d never ask, sir,” Ianto replied, taking the nearest guard’s weapon from its holster.
Side by side, they ran down the corridor, keeping a careful eye out for any obstacles. Jack straightened his arms, keeping his weapon carefully trained in front of him.
“What do you know, they did have guns after all!” he observed, looking at the pistol in his hand.
“That is so encouraging, sir,” Ianto replied.

During their run, Jack noticed a few outward signs of the pain Ianto must be feeling. He limped slightly, swaying, just a little, from side to side. His jaw was clenched, knuckles white against the butt of his gun. Once again, Jack felt impeccably proud of his young friend. Soldiering on for the good of humankind, even if, in this instance, humankind was just the two of them.
“Not far now, Yan,” Jack panted, pointing to the stairs, “Just up here and along a bit.”
“Good,” Ianto’s face was white, more than likely from exhaustion. Jack grabbed his hand, smiling inwardly at the memory of another pair who always ran like that.

Eventually, they reached Lambda’s door. Jack cursed himself for not searching the guards for lock-picking implements.
“Ah well, plan B,” he grunted, taking aim at the door. A single bullet blew the lock to pieces. A second got rid of a little of his anger at these people.
“What if the desk drawer is locked? You can’t just shoot that too, sir, you could hit the transporter,” Ianto told him. Good point.
“I know, Yan, if that happens, I’ll break the lock off with the butt of the gun,” he consoled, playing it by ear. He went to the desk, finding the drawer unlocked. He grinned as he picked up the Chula device, they were home!
“You will put it down, now!” came a chillingly familiar voice. Jack turned meet the gaze of the head guard. The evil alien stood, casually leaning in the doorway, Ianto trapped in his arms. It pointed its gun at his head.
“Leave him alone,” Jack snarled.
“You will be putting the thing down, and I will be putting him down,” it ran the barrel of its gun delicately, cruelly, down Ianto’s cheek.
“I can’t trust you. You’ll hurt him if I put it down. Give him to me first, then you can have the device,” Jack growled. His stomach twisted in fear, this was the one thing Jack couldn’t bring Ianto back from.
“If you are putting it down on the ground, I will be giving him to you. If you are not. He will feel a bullet,” the guard pressed the gun to Ianto’s temple. Jack saw his jaw twitch, trying not to make a sound. His heart ached.
“Okay, just let him go,” he put up his hands, bending his knees slowly. He made a big show of laying the transporter down on the ground, but he stopped, just seconds before.
“But I don’t think you want me to do that,” Jack told the guard.
“What?” the alien looked confused,
“You were right all along. It is a bomb, one only I know how to use. I’ve activated it. In three minutes, it’ll explode. If you give him to me, I’ll deactivate it. If you hurt him, I’ll kill us all,” he lied smoothly. He turned the Chula ‘bomb’ around in his hands, looking at the keypad.
“You are bluffing,” the guard said, although sweat had broken over his periwinkle flesh.
“Try me,” Jack replied. He pressed one of the buttons and a red light began to flash.
“I don’t do ‘bluffing’.” The guard looked from Jack, to Ianto and back again. He was virtually shaking, all the sadism and bravado he had worn in the past was gone, leaving behind a coward. And Jack thanked God for that.
“Fine! Fine! Take him; just do not be killing me!” He pushed Ianto roughly towards Jack.

Jack’s entire body relaxed the moment he had Ianto in his arms, safe. He melted against the younger man, kissing him on the top of the head, quickly. Then he gathered his wits, and keyed in the right combination on the Chula transporter.
“Bye bye then,” he waved as the world started to spin around them. Moments later, they were back in Cardiff, just a few miles from the Millennium Stadium.

Jack let out a scream of laughter, sinking to his knees with Ianto in his arms. He finally released the sobs that had been building up in his chest since they arrived at that horrible place.
“We did it, Yan, we’re home!” he gasped, burying his face in Ianto’s neck.
“We’re home,” Ianto repeated, then slumped against Jack, passing out.

* * *

A week later, things had settled down. Owen checked Ianto over and deemed him fit to go home, as long as someone was there to take care of him. Although Jack offered, eventually Ianto decided he wanted Tosh to come home with him and look after him. When she’d heard about what happened, she immediately went to comfort him. It had only taken a couple of days for the two of them to become the best of friends again.
Gwen had fussed over Jack, trying to psychoanalyse him. But the truth was, aside from the overwhelming anger at those creatures for hurting Ianto, all he felt was confusion.
He sat in his office, looking out over his team. Well, his team minus one. It stung him, just a little, that Ianto wasn’t there. He almost ached for him. To have his arms around the younger man again, to talk to him about ridiculous little things. It was the first proper friendship he’d had in a long time. Sure he had his team, but that relationship was slightly different. He felt more like a teacher to them than anything else, friendly but guiding.
With Ianto… since what happened… he felt like he could trust the younger man. He knew Ianto wasn’t looking to him for answers, or trying to delve into his past uninvited. And it gave him a sense of security.
So why didn’t Ianto want him to take care of him? Why did he want Tosh instead of him? Was it because of that last kiss? If Ianto hadn’t wanted it, why had he responded? Maybe, in the light of day, he realised he hadn’t wanted it at all. It cut. Jack sighed, heavily. He hadn’t felt this unsure in years. Not since… well, it didn’t matter.

Another two days passed, exactly the same. Jack went about leading the team, but his heart wasn’t in it. Every minute he got alone, he spent replaying the events of the week they’d spent in Hell.
Sitting in his office chair, he hung his head. The clack of high heels intruded on his thoughts.
“Hi Tosh,” Jack looked up.
“Jack, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. I don’t want to intrude, but…” the woman trailed off, looking at Jack, a little helplessly.
“It’s okay. What is it?” he asked, sympathetically as he could.
“What happened out there?” she asked, quiet as a mouse,
“We landed in the middle of a political conference. They mistook us for terrorists and locked us up for eight days. We got fed once, cabbage and bread. While they questioned me, they tortured Ianto. Their president told us we were gonna be imprisoned or executed. We escaped. That’s about it,” Jack replied, emotionlessly. Detachment, that was the key to getting over what had happened to them on that planet.
“No, actually, I mean…” Tosh cleared her throat, “I mean, what happened between you and Ianto?” For a moment, Jack felt like glossing over the truth, telling Toshiko that nothing had happened. But he needed to tell someone, just to try and make some sense of it.
“We talked, a lot. About anything and everything. We held each other, both for warmth and support. And, when they would bring him back from hurting him… I would kiss him to keep him alive. He was what kept me fighting, just so I could get him out of there safely. And I found… I found I liked talking to him, liked being around him. So I… I kissed him. I mean, really kissed him. And I don’t know what that means,” he admitted. Tosh’s eyebrows rose and she stuttered as she spoke.
“Maybe I shouldn’t… uh… tell you this… Ianto’d probably kill me. But he… he calls out your name in the middle of the night, it’s like he’s looking for you. He misses you Jack… I think. He wants to see you, but I suppose he doesn’t want to ask…”
“Where is he right now?” Jack demanded. He found his breathing had gotten heavy. His heart was racing and he didn’t know why, all he knew was that he had to get to Ianto. Had to see him.
“He’s at his flat,” she gave him the address alongside her spare key. Jack was out of the Hub and in the S.U.V. before she could say ‘good luck’.

* * *

Jack stood outside Ianto’s door, running over what he was going to say, in his head. What was he going to say? I don’t know why I’m here; all I know is that I feel the need to be with you? I really want to kiss you and I have no idea why? I miss you? God, it all sounded crazy. He took a deep breath and unlocked the door.
“Tosh, is that you? How was everyone at work?” Jack stopped when he heard Ianto’s voice.
“Actually, it’s Jack. I came to see how you’re doing,” Jack called back. He followed Ianto’s voice into what he assumed was the younger man’s bedroom.
“Sir… I’m fine, thank you, how are you?” Ianto sounded flustered. Jack smiled, imagining the look on the young man’s face. He opened the door and lost the ability to speak.
Ianto lay right in the middle of a king sized bed, swathed in red silk sheets. The room was dimly lit by a glowing salt crystal lamp, the soft glimmer highlighting his cheekbones and jaw. Jack’s heart jumped. He looked beautiful.
“I’m good thanks, Yan. Your bruises seem to be healing pretty well,” the captain said, sitting on the end of the bed.
“Yeah… they’re fine,” Ianto seemed distracted.
“I’m glad. I was worried that it would take you longer to get better… you know, with the alien tasars…” Jack fell into a contemplative silence. He slowly inched up the bed, unconsciously. Ianto’s face softened and he pulled back the covers, patting the space beside him. Jack barely had the time to remove his boots before he climbed in beside the younger man, wrapping him in his arms.
“That’s better,” Jack chuckled.
“I was reading something about comfort. That in traumatic events, people find comfort in things they’re used to. I imagine we got used to holding each other while we were in the cell, sir,” Ianto explained, laying his chest on the older man’s chest.
“Maybe…” Jack replied, “All I know is I feel better now.”
“Me too,” the younger man agreed. All the confusion and hurt Jack had felt rushed out of him, leaving him with just a left over feeling of calm.
“Did you ever get that pizza?” Ianto asked him,
“Yeah, and all the sides. How’s the coffee been? I mean, compared to the bottled stuff?” he struggled to keep a straight face.
“What on Earth is bottled coffee?” Ianto’s eyebrows shot up, impossibly high on his forehead.
“You tell me, Yan. It was you who came up with the idea,” he snickered. Ianto shot him a questioning look, before bursting out laughing. Jack relished the feel of Ianto’s chest bobbing against his. Before long, they were both creased up.
“What did you really come here for, sir?” Ianto asked, suddenly serious, although he didn’t move away from the warmth of Jack’s arms.
“I guess I missed you,” he sighed.
“I missed you too, sir,” the younger man replied.
“Good. I wanted to come earlier, you know. But I didn’t know whether you’d want me here. I thought I’d best give you some time.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Ianto looked confused, turning to face him.
“Because… the kiss…” Jack trailed off, waiting for the other man to speak. When he didn’t Jack realised he had to try and explain himself better.
“I thought you’d feel uncomfortable around me because we kissed.”
“It’s not like that, sir,” Ianto told him. His eyes glazed over slightly, as if he were looking into the distance.
“Then what? Why did you want Tosh here instead of me?” Jack tried to keep the hurt from his voice, barely managing to sound anything less than hysteric.
“She’s my best friend,” Ianto began. Then he squeezed his eyes tightly, taking a deep breath to brace himself.
“Sir? There’s something I should tell you…” he said.

To Be Continued.