Guilt - 37/70ish
Title: Guilt
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Ianto/Lisa
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Torchwood is not mine. No matter how much I sometimes wish it was.
Spoilers: Better say everything through s2, just to be sure, although it takes place pre-S1.
Summary: Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you. - Well, what if he did?
This chapter: Ianto tries to thank Jack.
Thanks to: My beta cazmalfoy for all her wonderful work, and my cheerleaders angelzbabe1989 and piper08 for putting up with me when I whine about being stuck.
Fic starts here
Previous chapters at my master list
Chapter Thirty-Seven
When Ianto emerged from Lisa’s room some time later, leaving her, as usual, listening to music, the proximity alarm was going off and the cog door rolled back just as he entered the main Hub.
Greatcoat sweeping behind him, Jack walked in, spotting Ianto a moment later. Ianto couldn’t tell if he’d been in and out and back again during the time he’d been down with Lisa, or if this was him just getting back from wherever it was he’d spent the night.
‘You’re obsessing again, Ianto,’ he told himself, wondering where this sudden pre-occupation with his boss’s sleeping habits had come from, and deliberately blocking the part of his mind that might have provided any truthful answers to that question.
“Morning, Ianto,” Jack called, ignoring the call of his office and crossing the Hub towards Ianto. “How is she this morning then?”
It took Ianto a fraction of a second longer than it perhaps should have to realise who Jack was referring to.
“Pretty much the same,” he told him. “Although she seems more concerned with the wellbeing of the rest of us this morning than with her own.”
He noticed Jack’s look of slight confusion. “I told her about the Bleqaxi yesterday, and she sort of figured out that it must have been a late one.” He indicated his own less than impeccable appearance. “She wanted to know how it went, so I had to tell her.”
He paused, considering his next words. “By the way… thank you for last night. You really didn’t have to put yourself out like that. And although I don’t understand why you did it, I do appreciate it.”
“I told you last night, Ianto,” Jack said firmly. “I really wasn’t putting myself out all that much.”
He raised an eyebrow, almost daring Ianto to contradict him. “And even if I had been, I would still have done the same thing.” His eyes softened. “You’re expending all of your energy looking after everyone else, looking after Lisa. Someone needs to look after you.”
“I can look after myself,” Ianto retorted stiffly, bothered by the implications of Jack’s words. “I don’t need…”
“I know you can,” Jack interrupted calmingly. “It’s just that, from now on, I’m going to be making sure that you do. You’ve been putting yourself as low guy on the totem pole, and that needs to stop. You won’t be any use to anyone, least of all to Lisa, if you run yourself into the ground.”
Ianto deflated, unable to argue with Jack’s logic.
“And on that note,” Jack continued. “Go. Home. Take a shower, get changed. Even grab a couple more hours of sleep if you want to. Barring an emergency, the others won’t be in for another two or three hours at least. I’m sure Lisa and I will both cope without you for a short while if you want to do the same.”
“I’m fine,” Ianto insisted. “I will go home and get cleaned up and changed, though, thanks.” The vague recollection of a conversation about setting up somewhere for him to stay the night, if need be, popped into his mind, triggering another thought. “Maybe I should start keeping a spare set of clothes here at the Hub too… just in case.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Jack said, stopping closer and taking Ianto’s shoulders in his hands. “We’ll talk about it later, after you’ve gone home and rested.” His eyes bored into Ianto’s as he made his point.
Ianto nodded, but after he pulled away and collected his coat to leave, he turned back. “I’m just going to shower and change. I’ll be back within the hour.”
Without giving Jack another chance to argue, he turned again and left.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
All comments and concrit welcomed! (Comments = Love <3)
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Ianto/Lisa
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Torchwood is not mine. No matter how much I sometimes wish it was.
Spoilers: Better say everything through s2, just to be sure, although it takes place pre-S1.
Summary: Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you. - Well, what if he did?
This chapter: Ianto tries to thank Jack.
Thanks to: My beta cazmalfoy for all her wonderful work, and my cheerleaders angelzbabe1989 and piper08 for putting up with me when I whine about being stuck.
Fic starts here
Previous chapters at my master list
Chapter Thirty-Seven
When Ianto emerged from Lisa’s room some time later, leaving her, as usual, listening to music, the proximity alarm was going off and the cog door rolled back just as he entered the main Hub.
Greatcoat sweeping behind him, Jack walked in, spotting Ianto a moment later. Ianto couldn’t tell if he’d been in and out and back again during the time he’d been down with Lisa, or if this was him just getting back from wherever it was he’d spent the night.
‘You’re obsessing again, Ianto,’ he told himself, wondering where this sudden pre-occupation with his boss’s sleeping habits had come from, and deliberately blocking the part of his mind that might have provided any truthful answers to that question.
“Morning, Ianto,” Jack called, ignoring the call of his office and crossing the Hub towards Ianto. “How is she this morning then?”
It took Ianto a fraction of a second longer than it perhaps should have to realise who Jack was referring to.
“Pretty much the same,” he told him. “Although she seems more concerned with the wellbeing of the rest of us this morning than with her own.”
He noticed Jack’s look of slight confusion. “I told her about the Bleqaxi yesterday, and she sort of figured out that it must have been a late one.” He indicated his own less than impeccable appearance. “She wanted to know how it went, so I had to tell her.”
He paused, considering his next words. “By the way… thank you for last night. You really didn’t have to put yourself out like that. And although I don’t understand why you did it, I do appreciate it.”
“I told you last night, Ianto,” Jack said firmly. “I really wasn’t putting myself out all that much.”
He raised an eyebrow, almost daring Ianto to contradict him. “And even if I had been, I would still have done the same thing.” His eyes softened. “You’re expending all of your energy looking after everyone else, looking after Lisa. Someone needs to look after you.”
“I can look after myself,” Ianto retorted stiffly, bothered by the implications of Jack’s words. “I don’t need…”
“I know you can,” Jack interrupted calmingly. “It’s just that, from now on, I’m going to be making sure that you do. You’ve been putting yourself as low guy on the totem pole, and that needs to stop. You won’t be any use to anyone, least of all to Lisa, if you run yourself into the ground.”
Ianto deflated, unable to argue with Jack’s logic.
“And on that note,” Jack continued. “Go. Home. Take a shower, get changed. Even grab a couple more hours of sleep if you want to. Barring an emergency, the others won’t be in for another two or three hours at least. I’m sure Lisa and I will both cope without you for a short while if you want to do the same.”
“I’m fine,” Ianto insisted. “I will go home and get cleaned up and changed, though, thanks.” The vague recollection of a conversation about setting up somewhere for him to stay the night, if need be, popped into his mind, triggering another thought. “Maybe I should start keeping a spare set of clothes here at the Hub too… just in case.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Jack said, stopping closer and taking Ianto’s shoulders in his hands. “We’ll talk about it later, after you’ve gone home and rested.” His eyes bored into Ianto’s as he made his point.
Ianto nodded, but after he pulled away and collected his coat to leave, he turned back. “I’m just going to shower and change. I’ll be back within the hour.”
Without giving Jack another chance to argue, he turned again and left.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
All comments and concrit welcomed! (Comments = Love <3)