Sick Leave (4/4)
Ianto’s breath hitched as Jack gently applied pressure to his side, the coolness sharp against the dull ache he’d come to know.
“Sorry,” muttered Jack apologetically, empathising and easing the pressure slightly.
“Its fine,” said Ianto, quietly as the low temperature started to soothe the deep bruising.
“So what happened?” asked Jack as he carefully guided the compress over his flat stomach.
“Fell down the stairs” inwardly, Ianto winced, fell down the stairs? He’d been with Torchwood how long and the best he could come up with was he fell down the stairs? Jack seemed to think so too as he stopped what he was doing and looked Ianto in the eye, a sceptical eyebrow raised.
“Stairs don’t have hands,” he pointed out, gently lifting Ianto’s wrist to illustrate his point.
“Do you know what I think? I think you were attacked and this attack left you too scared to come into work. I’m right aren’t I?” he asked, softly, tilting the young man’s chin to face him, seeing the truth in his eyes.
“So why ask?” murmured Ianto, turning out of the Immortal’s tender hold and onto his side, unwittingly giving Jack a better view of the more serious damage that had been done to him.
“Because I love you,” whispered Jack, his breath ghosting over his skin as he leant over and gently massaged his shoulder before moving lower, caressing the broken skin as he did so, stopping at the curve of his waist and moving his hands down and over his stomach, stroking it with his thumb, causing the young man to shiver involuntarily.
“Let me in,” he breathed, nuzzling his neck as he shifted closer, his hand moving up to the centre of his chest, feeling his heartbeat through the warm skin.
Ianto swallowed, closing his eyes briefly, feeling the warm, comforting weight of Jack behind him, protecting him. He nodded once before resting his hand over Jack’s, entwining their fingers, giving him the confidence he needed to talk.
“It was after you left. They saw us kissing on the doorstep, didn’t like my choice of partner so decided to do something about it. End of,” he said quickly and quietly, his hand subconsciously tightening over Jack’s.
“Oh Sweetheart,” murmured Jack, pressing against the contours of Ianto’s body and burying his face in his neck, kissing it lightly.
“What gives then the right to decide who I can and can’t see?” asked Ianto, tears pricking his eyes.
“Nothing. They’re nothing. Forget about them. They don’t matter murmured Jack, soothingly, subconsciously stroking his breastbone, calming and lulling his lover into a semi- comatose state.
“Now I have some bad news” whispered Jack as the Welshman edged ever closer to sleep.
“What?” came the muffled response.
“The peas have defrosted.”
When Ianto calls in 'sick', it's up to Jack to find out what's really going on and give him some much needed tlc. Final part all is revealed;)