04.25h

Ianto kept on tossing and turning, drifting through stages of sleep and wakefulness. Visions of blood, knives, gun shots and pain flooded his consciousness making him moan and groan. His heart rate and breathing were irregular, sweat dripping from his forehead, jaws clenched shut and his movements were rapid and forceful.

Jack looked over and saw him kicking and jerking abruptly. Poor kid is having a nightmare. Not a big surprise bearing in mind all the shit he's been through the last two months.

Jack considered waking him up but he hadn't even get out of his sleeping bag when Ianto jolted awake with a gasp, eyes open in intense fright.

"Ianto?"

No response.

"Ianto?"

Suddenly Ianto let out an angry growl and before Jack could stop him he had knocked his fist against the wall. Jack distinctively heard a thud and then a loud cracking noise.

Ianto cursed loudly. Not long after, he started wildly kicking his feet and repeatedly punching the couch with his already sore hand. He wasn't even remotely aware of Jack's voice telling him to calm down. Nor was he wary of a figure approaching behind him and sitting next to him. When two strong arms pulled him closer into an embrace, Ianto suddenly realized he was still at the hub. Ianto struggled against the hug, not willing to let someone comfort him.

Jack held him forcefully, and with his weak hand and injured arm there was not much Ianto could do besides letting Jack hold him. Jack caressed his face and softly pushed Ianto's head on his shoulders. "It's okay. You're safe. You're safe" said Jack.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about everything Jack. I'm so sorry" Ianto said in a low and terrified voice.

"It's ok … I forgive you" whispered Jack.

Those words were too much for the broken man and he started sobbing quietly against the broad shoulders of the man he had loved so much and hated with the same intensity.

It didn't take long for Jack to sooth Ianto back to sleep. With sadness pressing against his heart, Jack realized that Ianto was in a far worse shape than he thought. He was devastated, broken and alone. He held him tight until he was fast asleep, not willing to let go in fear of the demons returning. But after an hour, his arms felt heavy and exhaustion was taking a toll on the captain. He let go of his friend, gently placing him in a comfortable position and went back to his own sleeping bag. Sleep was not to far behind, but his heart remained grave.

08.25

Gwen was the first to wake up. She got up and stretched out her arms, yawning. She was surprised to see Ianto's little gift at her feet and smiled. She read the letter and felt ashamed for the way they all had acted the previous night. They had acted like children, she thought. Bullied him for something he had no control over. She looked at her sleeping teammates and was worried when Jack was nowhere to be seen. From her position she could just make out a blue sleeping bag near the couch. At least Jack was kind enough to stay with him.

She walked over to the pair and saw Jack's eyes were open. "Morning" she whispered.

"Hey Gwen. Happy birthday"

"I already got my first present. Ianto gave me a cupcake and a letter" Gwen responded.

Jack got out of his sleeping bag. "Yeah I know, I saw him do it this morning"

"How did ya sleep on the cold floor?" Gwen inquired.

"Badly" Jack answered. He looked over at Ianto, who was still sleeping with a sad expression on his bruised face.

"He's had a rough night" jack continued. "Nightmares. More like night terrors. He punched the wall actually. I think he might have broken a few knuckles"

"Oh god" said gwen. She covered her mouth with her hand. "Jack, we were mean last night"

"Yes, you guys were" jack said without so much as hesitation in his voice.

"I better talk to him when he wakes up" Gwen said whilst looking at the sleeping man.

"I think he'd like that". Jack put his arm around Gwen and together they went to the kitchen to make some coffee for the rest of the team.

09.07 h

Ianto was jerked awake by a loud noise. He looked over at the main area of the hub and he saw his colleagues laughing and fooling around. Owen was chasing Gwen and teasingly shouting "C'mon birthday girl you can do better than that"

Gwen laughed and chased after him but immediately stopped when she saw Ianto awaken.

She walked over to him, sat on the couch and carefully hugged him whilst kissing his forehead. "Thank you for the cupcake love. And I'm sorry for being a bitch last night. I was working out my frustrations on you and I shouldn't have"

She got up and went back to tease Owen, leaving a dumbfounded Ianto behind.

'Morning sleepy head" said an American voice.

Jack sat next to him and handed him a cup of tea. "This should help you wake up. I take it Gwen liked her birthday present"

"Yeah she did". Ianto eagerly took the cup but moaned when the weight of the full cup hurt his knuckles. Jack quickly took the cup away, placed it on the floor and examined his hand.

"That's gotta hurt" said Jack, mimicking Ianto's pained grimace.

"It's not that bad" answered Ianto.

Jack grinned. "Lair"

Jack relaxed on the couch and put his hands behind his head. "You do know that you don't have to put up a brave front all the time. You've been through a lot"

Ianto snorted. "I don't think Owen would appreciate me breaking down again"

Jack moved one hand to stroke Ianto's back. "Look, Owen is just being Owen. He's still dealing with the whole thing and shoots off his mouth whenever he feels like it. But he shouldn't. he's being a bastard"

Ianto averted his eyes. "Thank you for this morning"

"Anytime" replied Jack. "And I mean that. I'm going to make more time for you. After work, you and me should talk. Just you and me. If not talking, then we can go for a walk. Whatever. But I need to know you are ok. Deal?"

Ianto nodded.

"Cool. Now how is the hand? Truthfully?"

Ianto looked at his hand and bit his lip. "Throbbing like a bitch. But it's just bruised. I'll be fine"

Jack took the Ianto's bruised hand in his and caressed it with his thumb. "Can you manage drinking your tea?"

"Yeah, I still have two hands". Ianto tried smiling but it felt too unnatural.

"Ok, call me if you need me". Jack got up and started walking away.

"Jack"

The captain turned around and leaned on the wall. "Yeah"

Ianto wiped the sleep from his eyes and exhaled deeply before speaking. "Why didn't you retcon me? Or … execute me?"

Jack tilted his head sideways and observed his youngest employee. "Why would I?"

Ianto shrugged. "It's protocol. Yvonne Hartman would've"

Jack clapped his hands and crossed them across his chest. "Like I said before, I've cut all ties with Torchwood London. We don't operate like that. But …Would you have preferred if I had?"

Ianto pulled up his knees on the couch and hugged them. "I thought I did, but I don't. Everyone I've ever loved is gone, and I don't want to leave. Does that make me horrible?"

"No" said Jack firmly. He walked over to Ianto, kissed his lips softly and added: "That makes you a survivor"

Ianto was a bit startled by the kiss but Jack just smiled. "Now drink your tea, take the blanket and pillow and go to my office to rest up some more. It's a lot more quiet there. You're taking today off"

"I'll be okay Jack, The hub is a mess"

"We'll manage and you're exhausted Ianto, physically and emotionally. I need my staff ready and my friends happy. The sooner we'll get you there, the happier I'll be. And by the way, that was not a friendly request, but an order. So get to it"

09.55h

Jack marched up to Owen and beckoned him to come over.

In a serious tone he spoke: "I need you to cut Ianto some slack"

Owen immediately rolled his eyes.

"No Owen" continued Jack. "Stop acting like a dick. He's miserable. He nearly broke his fucking hand because he was punching the wall in his sleep. I'm not asking for you two to be buddies, just have some fucking compassion. He's very close to the edge and it's taking a whole lot of willpower on his part not to go over it. Just back off a bit for a while"

"Jack's right" said Tosh. She had been eavesdropping on the conversation and wasn't ashamed to admit it. "You are very hard on him and he doesn't deserve all this crap"

"Yeah I know Owen" she said when she saw Owen open his mouth. "He could've killed us all but it's not like he planned that to happen. He just wanted his girlfriend back. Surely you can understand that. And besides, he tried to save my life despite his own with the cannibals so I owe him big time"

The conversation was cut short as Ianto walked by them, collecting dirty mugs along the way.

"JONES!" yelled Jack. "I said get some fucking rest"

"But sir, the hub is …" resisted Ianto.

"NOW IANTO!" shouted Jack, now really losing his patience.

Owen cleared his throat. "He's right tea boy"

He walked over to him and took the cups. "You look exhausted and that arm and hand of yours needs a rest. We need you back here as soon as possible. We'll perish without your coffee"

Owen shrugged and walked towards the kitchen.

Ianto looked at Jack with a surprised expression on his face. Jack mainly just pointed towards his office and uttered a firm "NOW!"

Jack clapped his hands and addressed the team. "It's officially 20 past 10 so the lockdown has been lifted. Go home, except for you Ianto, shower, eat and come back in three hours"

10.55

Jack entered his office and found Ianto curled up on the couch under blankets, sleeping peacefully. He sighted and mumbled blessings that for once Ianto had listened to him.

He got behind his desk and started writing up reports, occasionally glancing at the young man on his couch. He sighted heavily when thinking of the assignment ahead. Knowing that his recovery was going to be long and hard, but also fully aware that it would be worth every single second.