PART TWENTY SIX

AN: This will be the final part of this for now... will revisit when I feel up to it... can't believe I went sappy on you all... need some guts and gore now.

Ianto forgot where he was when he woke to the smells of grilling bacon and toast. He stretched out, his foot jamming on the end of the couch and he fell with thump on to the carpet and started to cough. He instinctively rolled onto his side and hugged his ribs as he hacked away between gasping breaths. A firm warmth flooded across his back in gentle circular motions and Ianto felt himself being rolled into an embrace.

"Ssshhhh, you sound like you have TB." Came the cheerful accented tones of Jack.

Ianto tried to hold in a breath to stop the coughing and failed, so he decided to ride it out for another ten minutes, until it finally settled, leaving him gasping and exhausted. He was gazing up at Jack who was wiping the sweat from his forehead and smiling down on him.

"There, better now?"

Ianto didn't trust himself to answer that politely so he squirmed away and sat up beside Jack on the floor and before he realised it a glass of cold water was pressed into his left hand. Ianto sipped at it eager to ease the rawness of his throat. A sigh escaped him.

"Thank you, Jack."

A large hand was rubbing his back again. "You're welcome. Ready for something to eat?"

Ianto wasn't but he nodded knowing full well that Jack would make him eat anyway.

"Is it late?"

Jack got to his feet and held out his hands for Ianto. "No, only about 7 I think."

Ianto pulled himself to his feet with some caution as sore ribs and stomach muscles protested. Still holding his hand Jack led him into the kitchen and sat him down at the dining table. Ianto gazed about at the 70's furnishings and wondered just how long ago it had actually been since any work had been done in the house. He finished the glass of water and his gaze settled on Jack who was busy making their dinner. Whatever it was smelt good and Ianto found himself actually feeling a little peckish. Jack was singing to himself as he worked and Ianto was content to sit back and watch him. It was a rare enough sight to see Jack doing something so domestic, but the older man looked content whilst doing it and that sight was even rarer still. A plate was placed in front of him and Ianto sat there gaping at it, there was no way he was going to manage everything. Another glass of water was placed in front of him and cutlery was pressed into his grip.

"Eat all of it preferably, but as much as you can otherwise, Owen's orders."

Ianto watched as Jack sat opposite with his own plateful and he raised an eyebrow as Jack happily shovelled food into his mouth like it was first meal he'd had in a week. Jack hesitated, forkful half way to his mouth.

"What?"

Ianto smiled at the sauce on his chin and pointed.

"I'm hungry... aren't you?"

He was chewing enthusiastically again and Ianto gripped his fork, dinner did smell nice, even though he wasn't entirely sure what it was he was about to eat.

An hour later and half his dinner consumed and Ianto was curled up on the couch again with Jack sitting next to him looking distinctly nervous. Ianto watched him through half open eyes fighting his tiredness so that he could stay awake and talk.

"I need some clothes Jack, I'll have to go out shopping tomorrow."

Jack nodded. "I'd rather we wait until you were feeling better, but I guess you're right."

"I could always not bother changing my boxers, but I think even you would find that a bit much." Ianto sipped at another glass of water, really wanting a decent cup of coffee instead.

"We could make every day naked Friday?"

They both smiled.

"Has there been any word on who burnt my house down?"

"No, nothing and when you are back on your feet you are not to go out alone and no field ops..."

"Jack I can't be shut up in the Hub forever."

Jack sighed and reached out a hand which Ianto automatically grasped. "I want you safe."

"I will not be made a prisoner of your fear Jack. I know you want me safe, I am glad that you care enough to want that, but I am and have been more than able to look after myself over the years."

"I know that, but... I know I'm sorry."

Ianto smiled. "Don't be sorry Jack, just try not to take my life away with too much concern and kindness, it won't do either of us any good. I'm tougher than I look."

Ianto felt himself being pulled tighter against the warmth of Jack's body.

"Just let me take care of you, for a little while?"

Ianto was concerned by the uncertainty in Jack's voice, he turned his face away from Jack's shirt and tried to meet the older man's eyes with a worried look of his own.

"What's really bothering you Jack?"

Jack's hands fell away and Ianto felt a sudden cooling as he moved away to put a little space between them.

"Jack?"

Ianto tentatively reached out a hand and rested it against Jack's thigh. He was relieved when his hand was engulfed by Jack's warmer and larger one.

"I was thinking about Gwen, away on her honeymoon, living that wonderfully normal life. You could have had that with Lisa, you could have had a family, a nice house and maybe even a dog."

Ianto couldn't find it in himself to smile at that.

"Yes, what if, could have, maybe... Jack we all live with those things that didn't happen for us, that's just life. If I keep hanging on to those things I may as well never get out of bed."

"Don't you regret it though?"

Ianto shrugged, wondering where Jack was going with this line of conversation.

"I don't regret what I cannot control. I miss the people I've lost and I regret the things I could've changed but didn't, but I've also started to learn to live with myself. There are some regrets Jack, but they are few and I would not change things, because those things define who I am. It's why I decided not to take the Retcon. You convinced me I was a better person than I thought I was, how can I regret that?"

Jack turned his head and offered up a faint smile. "Are you happy Ianto?"

Ianto arched an eyebrow, surprised and disconcerted by the question in equal measure.

"I don't know Jack. I've just lost my home. I liked it there and I am angry that that has been taken away from me. It felt like I was making progress, moving on with my life. I'm not unhappy, but I think I'd be pushing it to say that I was happy. I just am, right now, if that makes any sense at all."

It was clear that Jack understood.

"You could always live here with me."

Ianto did a double take.

"What?"

Jack gestured to the room in general. "I know it needs decorating and bringing into the twenty first century..." He blustered and Ianto just gaped for a moment.

"You're asking me to move in with you? Like a couple?"

Jack nodded and then looked at him. Ianto swallowed when he realised just how nervous Jack actually was.

"Jack I... I mean, are you sure? You're not just trying to help me because of the fire?"

Jack smiled awkwardly. "I want you and I to be together, to have a home."

"This is because of Gwen isn't it?"

Jack nodded slowly. "Why can't we have that life?"

Ianto closed his eyes and sighed. "Because we both work for Torchwood Jack, because you can't stay dead, because one day I WILL die? I don't know Jack. There's no reason and then there's a million of them."

Ianto watched as Jack sagged against the couch looking thoroughly defeated.

"I don't you want to do it because you want what Gwen has. I want you to do it for me, because you want to be with me." Ianto told him.

It took a moment for that to sink in and Jack squeezed Ianto's hand. "I want whatever time we have left, together. I want to remember in a thousand years time because we made a life together and made each other happy."

Ianto smiled. "Then why don't we start from the beginning? Lets buy a whole new place that we've chosen together, put all the memories of the past behind us and bury the ghosts?"

"I'd like that, Jones Ianto Jones." Jack was rummaging in his trouser pocket and Ianto watched somewhat gobsmacked when a red velvet box was plopped rather unceremoniously into his lap. Jack released his hand and grabbed the box and opened it. He held aloft two pale gold bangles, one slightly smaller than the other.

"Where I come from we give these things instead of rings. These bracelets belonged to my parents. One day I'd like us to get married, but for now I just want you to have these. I love you so much Ianto, I know I never say it properly, I never get it right. If you ever decide that you want to marry me, you give me this one back." He pressed the precious metal into Ianto's grasp and Ianto sat there gazing at them, carefully running his finger tips over the knot work engravings.

"Jack I ... I don't know what to say, these are. I know what these mean to you." He looked up into Jack's intense and frightened eyes, more blue than ever before and Ianto could have drowned there on the spot. He suddenly thrust the larger of the jewels back into Jack's hand.

"I'm not wearing a dress and somehow I have to explain to my sister why I am marrying a handsome man, and I don't want any nostrovites or weevils."

"Is that a yes?"

Ianto nodded sliding one bracelet over his own wrist and the other over Jack's.

"Yes."

finis