In Sickness and in Health (25/40ish) - Part Two

[welsh_scotsman]

Author’s note: Once again, thanks to royalladyemma for continous hand holding. If you’re new, start at chapter one, they’re all hyperlinked:P

So I don't leave such huge gaps between posting ever again, I will be updating once a week on a Wednesday until it's completely written then I might increase the amount of times I post.

Also, would anyone be willing to create a banner for this as I don't have a clue or the skill to be able to create one. I'm open to any styles. Maybe with pics of Jack and Ianto on it (obviously) and the story title and maybe an evil looking dude for Lloyd? Maybe the rest of the team in the background? or just Tosh and Owen as Gwen's not really in it much. Maybe Rhiannon as well? But anything you can manage would be good:P Either say in the comments and we'll sort something out or PM me:P

Okay,  a quick summary. Jack has found out that Ianto's relationship with his Father isn't the healthiest of things and in the last part, Ianto had filed a complaint against Lloyd at the police station.

Summary: Ianto looks after everyone, but who looks after him?

Pairing: Janto

Spoilers: None

Warning: Occasional language, references to child abuse

Rating: 15
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/6120.html chapter one for those who have only just come across this.


25 Six Months Later

Jack didn’t even bother to open his eyes as he fumbled blindly with the alarm clock until silence once again filled the air. Mission accomplished, he sunk back into the inviting warmth of the mattress, automatically reaching for Ianto. However, when his hand fell on the cold sheets rather than the soft warmth of his lover, Jack was forced to open his eyes and turn his face to the once again empty side of the bed.

Sighing, Jack lightly trailed his hand over the rumpled sheets as he tried to forget how much this simple action affected him. It was painfully obvious that Ianto was hurting and as his lover, friend and confidante, Jack should know how to support him but in all honesty, he didn’t have a clue. How did you help a twenty five year old man who had been abused for twenty odd years and would, in three hours time, be the main witness in his father’s trial?

Jack may have encountered hundreds of thousands of people, beings and aliens in all his years of space and time travel, but he’d never, ever met anyone like Ianto Jones. Nor had he ever met anyone who had endured what Ianto had as a child, and quite frankly, he was somewhat chagrined to admit, he felt at a loss as to what exactly he should do. True, he was the poster boy of love and support, listening when Ianto needed to talk, talking when Ianto couldn‘t handle the silence. Yes, he held Ianto in the dead of night when the nightmares of childhood came screaming through their bed; but deep down, Jack felt utterly helpless. It wasn’t a feeling he liked, not one little bit.

Of course, what Jack was truly terrified of was the fact that he may never get his Ianto back. His Ianto may be so traumatised by the memories and ghosts of the past that Jack may never hear his subtle wit; never again see that small, knowing smile reserved only for him

“Pull yourself together, Harkness,” muttered Jack gruffly as he hauled himself into a sitting position, scrubbing his face in order to wake up a bit more before softly padding down the hallway to the kitchen. The sight that greeted him brought tears to his bleary eyes.

“Oh Ianto,” murmured Jack as he leant against the doorframe. All the cupboards had been emptied and their contents strewn across every available surface. The man in question was arranging and rearranging the tins obsessively, wiping each one thoroughly with a towel before setting them down in different configurations across the counters. He didn‘t notice his partner standing there, or if he did, Ianto paid him no mind. Jack could see that Ianto had apparently washed every dish, plate, cup and glass; the dish drainer was still piled high with drying cutlery and utensils.

“Ianto...how long have you been awake?” asked Jack softly as he wandered over to him and rested his hand against the small of his back, absent-mindedly noting how cold the young man’s skin was through the thin material of his t-shirt as he idly rubbed smll arcs with his thumb.

Ianto shrugged silently as he moved away from the touch so his back remained turned towards the Immortal. Jack took this to mean a couple of hours as he followed him to the other side of the room.

“Why don’t you go into the living room and I’ll make you some breakfast, hey?” said Jack gently, placing his hands on Ianto’s hips and attempting to guide him out of the kitchen.

“But I need to do this,” mumbled Ianto as he finally turned to face the older man and Jack was struck by just how young he looked; the ashen pallor of his skin and evident exhaustion gave him an aura of fragility.

“You’ve been doing this for hours. Have a rest, hey?” murmured Jack, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder as he gently nuzzled and kissed his neck until he felt Ianto relax ever so slightly and nod his consent. Taking this a good sign, Jack slid his arms around Ianto’s waist, and held him closer, resting his forehead against his lover’s.

“I just-“

“Shh...I understand,” said Jack softly as he looked into the Welshman’s dull blue eyes, wishing there was something he could do that would reignite the youthful innocence that had been extinguished long before its time. Jack desperately wanted to see the mischievous sparkle that used to dance in those eyes; he’d give anything to see the lustful glint that spoke volumes to his heart.

"Now go and sit down before you collapse,” said Jack gently yet firmly as he nudged Ianto out of the kitchen, “I’ll make us some tea and toast. Or would you rather have coffee?“

Ianto’s lip twitched at the thought of Jack making coffee. “Tea, please,” he answered tonelessly as he wandered into the living room and flopped down onto the sofa.

Jack had waited for him to do as requested before he started to put the tins back for what felt like the hundredth time in six months. He knew that every tin needed to be set with the label facing squarely forward, similar contents grouped together, with smaller cans in the front and the taller towards the back. ‘I’d make a great shelf-stocker in Tesco’s’, he thought to himself with a smirk.

Not that he minded; he knew control was everything for Ianto -- it made him the brilliant field agent and archivist that he was.   Ianto paid attention to the little details when no one else could or would. The dark side of that coin meant that when his control was taken away, Ianto panicked and got scared. Normally, Ianto was able to control his reactions with things like back up plans for the back up plans. However, when Ianto felt out of his depth on a personal level, he would take comfort in simple routines like rearranging the kitchen cupboards, the tins and boxes solid in his hands. He found a stillness in these actions, a quiet place he could centre himself and close out the chaos of the world. Activities like these were fixed and unchanging and it was constants like these that gave him the illusion of control if only for a little while.

Jack had only ever known Ianto’s compulsions to get this bad four times before: after Lisa; after the Breacons; whilst he’d been away though thankfully Owen had been there to look after him; and now. Jack hated Lloyd even more for having such a hold over his son that he sapped all the confidence and energy out of him.

Still, now was not the time for letting his anger get the better of him; he needed to stay calm and in control to ensure that monster got what he deserved.

Taking a steadying breath, Jack straightened and loaded the toaster. Whilst he waited, he glanced over at where Ianto was curled on the sofa, writing something in the notebook Owen had given him several months ago to ‘keep his head clear of shit’. It had been a surprisingly thoughtful gift considering and Ianto obviously found comfort in the simplicity and neutrality of the written word. However, it also meant Ianto remained more aloof than ever.

Still, just a few more days and this would finally be over and Ianto could begin to heal properly thought Jack as he carried the toast and tea through to the living room and placed them on the table before sitting on the opposite end of the sofa to give Ianto the space he so obviously desired.

‘Penny for your thoughts,’ asked Jack casually.

“They’re not worth anything.”

“Can I buy them anyway?”

“Yeah. Course you can,” said Ianto. “Doesn’t mean I’ll tell you though,” he said with a small amount of mocking as he carried on writing, effectively putting an end to the conversation.

“Can I at least see what you’re writing?” asked Jack gently, making eye contact with the younger man as he held out his hand encouragingly. Ianto bit his lip, clearly unsure before he hesitantly handed the book over.

“Thank you,” said Jack warmly as he took the book and glanced down at the extensive lists of pros and cons for testifying. The cons outweighed the pros by far.

Glancing up, he locked eyes with a clearly anxious Ianto who, fearing reprisal, averted his gaze almost immediately. “I just...it helps,” he mumbled as he rested his cheek against his drawn up knee so he was facing away.

“I know,” murmured Jack softly. He knew that making lists was just another way for Ianto to make sense of the chaos that controlled his life and that it helped to see his often conflicted thoughts on paper. It was something Ianto did often when they were investigating stuff and they were trying to work out the best way to do it. He would work out all their options and then present an extensive list of the pros and cons of each as well as the one he believed to be the most effective. Nine times out of ten, Jack would go with his choice as Ianto was usually right.

Having seen enough, Jack slowly closed the book and place it on the table before inching closer and silently placing his arm round the Welshman’s shoulders, giving him plenty of opportunity to pull away as he’d learnt that Ianto didn’t always want to be touched. This time however, Ianto allowed it and gradually relaxed in the Captain’s hold allowing the soothing circles being traced on his arm to calm his frantic thoughts.

“You’re doing the right thing you know,” murmured Jack as he tucked the dark head under his chin and pulled him closer.

“Am I?” asked Ianto wearily, his fingers idly trailing over Jack’s smooth chest.

“Course. What Lloyd did...what Lloyd’s done is unforgivable. He deserves everything he gets,” said Jack firmly, subconsciously tightening his hold.

Ianto said nothing as he closed his eyes and hid his face in the crook of Jack’s neck, losing himself in the scent that signified the love and understanding and security that was just so Jack.

“It’ll all be okay. That man is never gonna hurt you again; you have my word,” murmured Jack, slowly and methodically carding his fingers through the soft hair until he felt Ianto begin to calm under the soothing ministrations.

“Now are you ready to eat?” asked Jack quietly as he gently nudged Ianto upright.

Ianto nodded as he scrubbed his face with his hands having realised just how tired he was now that the adrenaline had dulled to a quiet roar. “Thank you.”

“It’s what I’m here for,” murmured Jack as he placed a chaste kiss to Ianto’s temple. “Now eat,” he said as he pushed the plate forward whilst keeping a supportive hand on his shoulder to provide silent reassurance for this amazing man.

Obediently, Ianto did as requested and Jack couldn’t help feeling a tiny jolt of joy that he’d managed to get the Welshman to perform the simplest of tasks. He knew it was stupid but, considering Ianto had barely eaten a proper meal in over a week, it was quite an achievement and definitely a step in the right direction.

“You've got that look on your face again."

“What look?”

“The one that says ‘thank God he’s acting normally’.”

ack bumped his shoulder playfully. “Cheeky.”

“Always. We should really get dressed before Owen and Tosh arrive,” said Ianto, though he made no move to get up.

Jack nodded. “Okay. You go and I’ll clear up here.”

"Properly?"

Jack mock saluted. “I’ll even dust the taps.” His lightness was rewarded with a small, genuine smile that lit up Ianto’s face.

“And that, Jack Harkness, is why I love you,” he murmured as he hugged him tight.

Momentarily surprised, Jack took a second to respond before he too was holding Ianto tight. “You’re not so bad yourself. Now go and get dressed,” he said into his hair as he pulled back slightly. He felt Ianto smile against his neck before the younger man pulled away, kissing him softly one more time before leaving the room.

Feeling quite pleased with himself, Jack finished off the rest of Ianto’s toast and drank his own cold tea before dutifully washing and drying the mugs and plates and placing them in the correct cupboards. He then wiped down the worktops until they met Ianto’s high standards. Satisfied, he dumped the cloth in the sink before wandering back into their bedroom where Ianto was standing in front of the mirror, staring unseeingly at his reflection; his tie held loosely in his right hand.

“Ianto? You okay?” asked Jack softly as he came up behind him, his hands resting lightly on his shirt clad shoulders.

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I seem to have forgotten what I was doing,” said Ianto vaguely as he instinctively relaxed against Jack as their eyes met in the mirror.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s easily done,” murmured Jack, pressing a chaste kiss to his neck before trailing his hands down Ianto’s arms, relishing the feel of the soft cotton shirt against warm skin.

“You got your stopwatch?” asked Jack casually as he gently eased the tie from Ianto’s hold.

“In my pocket,” muttered Ianto as he watched Jack arrange his collar and hang the tie over his shoulders.

“Good.” The Immortal had quickly learnt that the good memories attached to the stopwatch helped keep Ianto calm under duress. Jack had made a conscious effort to include it in their activities and not just those activities, but simpler ones such as when they were watching TV or were just lying in bed together. All of that had been about preparing Ianto for today. Jack knew the defence would be ruthless and Jack knew that Ianto was likely to struggle but if he had something to ground himself with, then they might just pull this off.

“There. Perfect,” said Jack proudly as he finished tying Ianto’s tie and rested his chin on his shoulder as his arms encircled his waist. “Have I ever told you, Mr Jones, how sexy you look in this?” he murmured against his hair.

“Repeatedly,” replied Ianto dryly. Before Jack could reply, the doorbell rang.

“That’ll be Owen and Tosh. You coming?” he asked as he stepped back.

Ianto nodded. “Just...give me a minute.”

“Okay,” said Jack going to the door before turning back as if he had forgotten something and kissing Ianto properly. “For later,” he promised before leaving the room.

Jack couldn’t help wolf whistling as his two immaculately dressed colleagues walked past him. “Wow. I think we should make suits company policy,” he said appreciatively as he closed the door.

“In your dreams, Harkness,” muttered Owen as he carried on walking. Tosh smiled shyly as she followed.

“Every night,” smiled Jack as he joined them in the living room where Owen was already staring out the window.

“At least I am dressed. Unlike you, Captain Pyjama,” retorted Owen, looking pointedly at Jack’s t shirt and sweatpants combo.

“Damn. You’ve discovered my plan to seduce you,” said Jack as he perched on the arm of the sofa.

“I’m sure Teaboy would have something to say about that. Where is he anyway?”

“Just finishing getting dressed. He’ll be here in a minute.”

“How is he?” asked Tosh quietly, her face full of concern for her friend.

“He’s... mercurial,” said Jack as he tried to work out how to say everything by saying nothing.

Owen nodded. “I’ll talk to him. Can’t have him spacing out on us.”

“Is that a proper medical term or did you just make that up?” asked Ianto as he entered the room.

“It’s a proper medical term. It has a definition and everything.”

“And here was me thinking the NHS was useless.”

Jack couldn’t help smiling at that. At least it showed Ianto was at least capable of being his old self even if he was using his usually natural wit as a shield rather than an amusement. “Right, I’m going to get dressed. I don’t want the lawyers to start drooling now do I?” he said as he stood. “Now play nice and I’ll be back in a minute,” he said as he left the room.

“You got a spare pen I can borrow? Mine ran out,” said Owen as he subtly gave Ianto a cursory once over. Ianto gave him a look that said ‘I know exactly what you’re thinking but I’ll go along with it anyway’.

"Err...yeah. In the kitchen,” said Ianto as he led Owen into the other room.

As soon as the two men entered the kitchen, Owen turned to Ianto with his ‘doctor look’ as Ianto liked to call it.

“Right. How are you really and don’t lie ‘cos I have a list as long as my arm of ways to find out,” said Owen as he leant against the counter, briefly noting that Ianto’s kitchen was a lot cleaner than his and filing that info away in case it was of any relevance.

“I’m fine. Really. A bit nervous but that’s to be expected, isn’t it?” said Ianto as he leant against the opposite counter.

Owen gave him one of his scathing looks before deciding to move on. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes.”

“Drunk?”

“Yes.”

“Slept?”

“...More or less...”

Owen sighed. “I’ll take that as a no then. I’ll leave a sedative for tonight, okay? Now let me take your pulse,” he said as he held out his hand.

“I’m fine, really.”

“I know, but if you faint or do something equally stupid on the stand, Jack will kick my arse. Believe me, your welfare is the last thing on my mind,” said Owen as he took Ianto’s wrist in his. “Okay, it’s slightly elevated but that’s normal for a situation like this. Now listen to me; this is important. If you feel yourself panicking or think you’re going to faint or whatever, ask for a break. Don’t go all martyr-like on us. Jack won’t thank me for it.”

“Okay.”

“I mean it, Ianto: at the first sign of trouble, ask for a break. I’ve spoken to the Prosecution and the Judge about your ‘signs’ and they’ll keep an eye on you and will request a break on your behalf if they think you need it. But it would be easier if you did it yourself.”

“What signs?”

“Everyone has ‘signs’ before they do whatever they’re going to do. You don’t go from being perfectly lucid to zombie-like without a middle road. It’s medically impossible. You have three: your speech, your hands and your eyes. You will start to stammer or slip into Welsh; you will avoid any eye contact; and you will fiddle with whatever’s in your pocket which in this case is your stopwatch.”

“Wow.” Ianto couldn’t help being impressed with how thorough Owen had been. Not that he’d tell him that but it was a nice feeling to know that his friends had taken precautions.

Owen gave him one of his trademark smiles. “See? I’m not just a pretty face.”

Ianto raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t go quite that far but thank you,” he said quietly as he left the room.

“Just doing my job,” muttered Owen as he followed him back into the living room where Jack was talking quietly to Tosh, no doubt going over last minute technical details.

“Okay, everyone, you all know how important it is to get this right so just stay calm and you’ll be fine,” said Jack, giving his typical last minute motivational talk.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get this over and done with,” said Owen as he headed down the hallway.

“We won’t let you down, Ianto,” said Tosh quietly but with determination as she touched his arm reassuringly before following the doctor.

"Well this is it: no turning back,” said Ianto as he exhaled deeply to calm his nerves.

"Would you want to?” asked Jack lightly, as he gently pulled Ianto into one last hug.

Ianto looked at him for several minutes. “No.”

http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/19924.html#cutid1 chapter twenty six