Jack screeched the SUV to a halt, executing a perfect handbrake turn and spraying gravel across the ground. It was unnecessarily dramatic but it looked pretty good and taking his worry out on a vehicle instead of shouting at Gwen again and getting the silent treatment for the rest of the day was infinitely more appealing. They ran out and headed for the warehouse, silently communicating with each other as they covered entrances and snuck through into the shadows.

 

Ianto was in the centre of the building tied to a chair and being circled by the stalker who appeared to be venting his inner monologue all over him. Jack moved steadily forward a few paces and realised Ianto’s head was bowed because he was unconscious and blood was seeping onto his shirt. It took all his willpower not to run forward and stop it, grab the stalker, knock him out, beat him to a pulp, torture him for hours, shoot him through the head - anything to punish him for what he had done. Ianto jerked back into consciousness and coughed, wincing in his restraints and crunching up in pain, coughing again, blood splattering the floor and Jack growled as the attacker flexed his fingers round the stained knuckleduster adorning his fist and grinned viciously. He inched forwards until he was close enough for a shot, Gwen nodded and Jack cocked his gun.

 

The stalker whipped round and came face to face with the barrel as Gwen rushed forward to Ianto and checked him frantically.

 

‘Hello Ben. Or is it Patrick – never mind. That’s my Welshman.’ Jack explained slowly, pointing his gun to his forehead, ‘do you think maybe you could explain why you’re damaging him?’ He frowned as Patrick remained silent and shrugged, ‘on second thoughts…’ he reached his arm back and threw his fist hard into his face, meeting his skull with a thick crunch and watching with satisfaction for a second as he fell to the ground heavily before running over to Gwen and Ianto.

 

‘Ianto…’ Jack was trying not to sound panicked as Gwen attempted to stem the bleeding from his head wounds and Ianto barely remained conscious,

 

‘Ianto! Hey. You okay?’

 

Ianto looked up as Gwen untied him and he fell heavily into Jack’s arms, breathing shakily.

 

‘Yeah. Swell. Obviously.’

 

‘Sarcasm, nice.’ Jack joked as he and Gwen had another silent conversation and she took Ianto, walking him awkwardly to the SUV whilst Jack threw Patrick over his shoulder and followed, ‘I rescued you didn’t I?’

 

‘Took your…time.’ Ianto rasped out, groaning as Gwen tried to place him carefully in the back of the SUV and Jack handcuffed Patrick, throwing him in the boot not a bit unceremoniously.

 

Gwen got in the drivers seat and started to the local hospital, she didn’t know what else to do and since Ianto had unspecified head injuries she had to go there. Jack was sitting in the back seat with Ianto sprawled across them clutching his ribs and he quickly realised he had to keep him talking, had to keep him conscious.

 

‘What do you mean took my time? I got here quickly. I drove way over the speed limit.’

 

He grimaced as Ianto coughed blood again and he tried to get a look at the rest of his injuries, handling him gently and wiping blood from his eye.

 

‘Call yourself a hero?’ Ianto coughed up more blood and groaned as pain shot through his body, ‘Myfanwy could have found me faster.’

 

‘You recognise it then?’

 

Jack’s eyes darted from Ianto to the road and Gwen then back to him as he rasped out painfully, ‘the place where you fell out the sky and into my arms. How could I not?’

 

His eyes rolled back in his head and Jack grabbed his wrist, finding his pulse thready and weak and shouting at him.

 

‘Ianto...look at me! Hey.’

 

Ianto groaned as he came back round and Gwen glanced back, informing him they were nearly there and telling him to keep him talking. Jack stroked his shoulder and stared at him, trying to keep eye contact as Ianto fought to stay awake.

 

‘You look spectacular as always.’

 

‘Mmmm,’ He grabbed his ribs and Jack lifted up his shirt slowly, uncovering massive welts and ripped flesh, he bit back a gasp and covered them up again smiling weakly as Ianto looked annoyed, ‘he was wearing my tie!’

 

‘Uh huh. Ianto! Ianto stay awake.’

 

‘Hurts…’ He groaned in pain again and passed out.

 

‘You’re going to be fine, just stay awake. IANTO!’ Jack carefully leant down to avoid his torso and felt for Ianto’s breath.

 

‘Shit! Gwen he’s hardly breathing - faster!’

 

An hour later after much drama and getting rid of Patrick back at the Hub, Gwen and Jack sat quietly watching Ianto sleep in his hospital bed and listening to the soothing beep of the monitor as it reassured them that he was still alive. He had suffered 4 broken ribs, massive concussion and a fracture to his collar bone, his shoulders both had torn muscle and ligament damage and his skin was beaten, bruised and bloodied. Jack held his hand lightly and traced wounds with his eyes.

 

‘Gwen?’

 

‘Yes?’

 

Jack sat quietly and she watched as he avoided her gaze and looked back to Ianto.

 

‘I swear to God, Jack Harkness if you say ‘nothing’ I’m going to kick you in the –‘

 

‘How do you know when you’re in love?’

 

She sat for a moment, stunned at the interruption as Jack looked at her and played gently with Ianto’s fingers, ‘what?’

 

‘How do you know when you’re in love?’

 

‘Jack he knows you love him. You tell him all the time.’

 

‘I tell you both that I love you all the time. I do. I love you both. It’s not what I’m asking. Actually in love? How do you know that? I mean - how can I be in love with someone who doesn’t even know me? How can I expect him to be in love with me back if he doesn’t even know my name?’

 

‘For exactly that reason Jack. Because he doesn’t know and he still loves you. Because you can disappear and break our souls and his heart and he will still believe in you. Because you can send him out into unbelievable danger a million times over and he will still follow you, because you could screw up royally time and again and his loyalty would never waver. Because he knows who are you are right now. In the present. And he’s in love with you.’ She finished ranting and nodded, pleased with herself and making Jack almost smile, she suddenly frowned adding thoughtfully, ‘for some reason...’

 

Jack finally grinned, ‘Oi, I’m a catch.’

 

‘Yeah - 100 odd years old with the ability to defy the laws of nature and an unnatural attachment to military dress. Cardiff’s screaming out for you and your bachelor attributes.’

 

Jack laughed softly and she quirked an eyebrow, ‘nice bum though.’

 

‘`Scuse me?’ Ianto murmured from the bed, his eyes blinking open as much as they could under the swelling. Gwen smiled and Jack beamed as Ianto’s grip tightened almost imperceptibly in his.

 

‘Hey sleeping beauty. I’m gonna get some coffee,’ Gwen said, standing up and grinning wider as a fleeting look of hopefulness crossed Ianto’s face, ‘– none for you!’

 

He tried to look stern and she laughed and quietly exited the room leaving them to talk. They were left staring at each other and Jack watched as Ianto dropped his gaze and focused on his fingers, they were scratched from trying to untie knots and raw from the rope burn and he fiddled with them as a distraction.

 

Jack frowned sadly - he had no idea how to start. He was hurt, needed to understand, wanted to hold him, wanted to rage at him, had to talk, ached to find out what was going on, desperate to shout and yell and curse - at Ianto, at himself, at the person who had done this, at Gwen, at the Hospital staff member who had glared at him when Jack suggested Torchwood get priority over other patients. At everyone and anyone. Instead he reached down and ran his hand softly across Ianto’s brow and kissed him gently, just for a second, closing his eyes and moving to rest their cheeks together, letting out a deep breath and remembering how it felt to be in love with someone.