In Sickness and in Health (21/35ish)
Author’s note Once again, thanks to royalladyemma for continous hand holding
Summary: Ianto looks after everyone, but who looks after him?
Pairing: Janto
Spoilers: None
Warning: Occasional language, references to child abuse
Rating: 15
“Hey, how you doing?” asked Rhiannon as she entered Lloyd’s hospital room.
“All the better for seeing my favourite daughter,” smiled Lloyd as she sat beside him.
“Mischa drew you this. It’s from when we went to Aberystwyth last year,” said Rhiannon, handing him a piece of paper.
Lloyd smiled, “the sheep have grown.”
“Yeah, she’s a regular little Picasso.”
“Takes after her mother,” smiled Lloyd, glancing up at his daughter who blushed.
“I...I tried to call Ianto but...he wasn’t answering,” said Rhiannon awkwardly as she fiddled with the hem of her t shirt.
“Well...maybe he was at work or something. You can’t just expect him to drop everything just ‘cos his old man has fallen down the stairs,” said Lloyd with paternal understanding.
“Dad, you almost died! I don’t care if he works for the bloody Prime Minister; he should be here,” snapped Rhiannon.
Lloyd reached for her hand, squeezing it soothingly. “Hey, don’t blame him; he has a lot going on at the moment.”
Rhiannon made a disbelieving sound, “like you don’t. He’s being bloody selfish and you know it.”
“Rhi, just drop it; it doesn’t matter,” said Lloyd quietly, turning his head away.
Rhiannon sighed in resignation, “you’re too forgiving for your own good.”
“Maybe.”
They sat in a companionable silence for several moments; the only sound being the beeping of the machines.
“What happened?” asked Rhiannon quietly, staring at her hands as if they held all the answers. No response.
“Dad?” she prompted, glancing up.
Lloyd smiled reassuringly, “it doesn’t matter.”
Rhiannon shifted from her chair to perch on the edge of his bed, taking his hand in hers, “Dad, someone tried to murder you. You should tell the police so they can get them locked up!”
“Rhi, I know you mean well and I appreciate that, I really do, but you’ve got to let it go,” said Lloyd gently, keeping eye contact as he squeezed her hand lightly.
“Dad-“
“Rhi, no. Just...let it go; I’m alive, that’s all that matters.”
“Are you scared? Is that it? ‘Cos there are people to protect you if that’s what you’re worried about,” said Rhiannon in understanding.
“No, it’s just...you know I love you and Ianto more than anything in the world, don’t you?” asked Lloyd, his voice dripping with emotion.
Rhiannon frowned, “yeah, course. What’s brought this on?”
“And whatever happens, promise me you’ll look after Ianto,” implored Lloyd urgently, clasping her hand between his.
“Yeah...Dad, you’ve got me scared now. What’s going on?” asked Rhiannon, unnerved at the vulnerability on her Father’s voice.
“It wasn’t his fault, okay? You can’t blame him, he’s under a great deal of pressure at the moment,” said Lloyd, his eyes swimming with unshed tears.
Rhiannon dropped his hands in shock, “Dad, are you saying Ianto pushed you down the stairs?” Lloyd looked away, unable to meet her eye before nodding slowly.
Rhiannon stood up and started pacing, “but that doesn’t make any sense; Ianto wouldn’t do that. I mean, I know you and him don’t exactly see eye to eye, but to try to kill you...”
“He didn’t know what he was doing, he just panicked, that’s all,” said Lloyd with fatherly insight which caused Rhi to stop her pacing.
“What do you mean ‘he panicked’? Why was he panicking?” frowned Rhi, perching on the bed again.
“It’s really not my place to say, Rhi.”
“Dad, you’ve just told me that my baby brother tried to kill you ‘cos he panicked but you won’t tell me why he panicked?”
Lloyd bit his lip uncomfortably, “it’s...complicated.”
“Dad, GCSE physics is complicated, I still passed it though,” said Rhi in exasperation.
Lloyd smiled proudly, “yes you did; with flying colours if I remember correctly.”
“So tell me.”
Lloyd sighed and fiddled uncomfortably with the blankets, “I s’ppose, looking back, it must have started about six months ago. But at the time, I just didn’t think anything of it. Maybe if I’d’ve done something, things would be different and Ianto would be safe.”
“Dad, you’re not making any sense. What happened six months ago?”
Lloyd exhaled a shaky breath, “I went into one of the pubs along the Quay and they were in there and this man was all over him and I just thought they were mucking about you know? I could tell Ianto was slightly drunk so I didn’t think anything of it.” Lloyd paused to allow the implications of this to sink in before carrying on. “Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, I found out that this bloke had moved in and that they were ‘together’.”
“But...Ianto’s not gay,” said Rhi slowly.
“Exactly. Which is why I was suspicious. I mean, I’m as open minded as the next man, but there was something about that other man that I just didn’t trust; he was too charming, too good to be true.”
“So what are you saying?” asked Rhi suspiciously.
“I’m saying...what if the relationship isn’t strictly consensual on both sides?”
“But...Ianto wouldn’t allow that to happen! He would’ve left!” said Rhi, horrified.
“That’s what I thought, but from what I’ve seen of the other man, he’s a lot more overbearing and older than Ianto and let’s be honest, Ianto isn’t the loudest of people.”
“But...how can you be sure?”
Lloyd sighed, “on the day of my...accident, I was walking past the Tourist Office and I saw Ianto and the other man...Jack, I think his name was, having a blazing row and then Jack just pinned him against the wall and Ianto backed down immediately as if it’d become an instinctive response.”
“Oh...My...God! What happened then?” whispered Rhiannon in shock.
“Well, I didn’t want to go in in case I got Ianto hurt, so I waited in the Plas until Ianto left and then followed him home. I could tell he was upset so I just talked to him about normal things, you know, TV, the weather, rugby. Anyway, I noticed the bruising round his wrists and throat and asked about it but he just clammed up and said he’d walked into a door. When I pressed further, he told me to leave and he seemed genuinely scared so obviously, I didn’t want to distress him further so I left but when we got outside the door, I tried to hug him to tell him it’d be ok and that must have triggered something ‘cos the next thing I knew, I’d woken up in here,” lied Lloyd, tears trailing down his cheeks.
“Oh my God,” murmured Rhiannon in shock.
Lloyd nodded understanding, “and that is why I need you to look after him.”
“I’m gonna kill that bastard when I get my hands on him,” muttered Rhi shaking with barely suppressed anger.
“Rhi, don’t do anything rash; you’ll just make it worse,” said Lloyd calmly.
“Dad, my little brother is being raped and manipulated by that monster and you expect me to do nothing? No chance. I know you mean well, but whilst you’re in here, he’s at the mercy of that monster and I won’t allow it to go on any longer!” declared Rhi as she stormed out of the room, missing Lloyd’s smirk of triumph.
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/16818.html chapter twenty two