othercaptjack | (no subject)

Jack has spent the last couple of weeks in a strange balance between relaxing and becoming increasingly stressed. The Doctor is conspicuously absent, and it seems almost certain that if he wants to get back to his home universe - Cardiff or otherwise - he needs to go out to the same place he came in from.

That wasn't fun last time.

So instead of going over options in his head again, he's sitting in his new room drafting a hugely belated resignation letter to Lilly - she's another one he can't find.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

likesthecoat

There is a quiet rap on Jack's door.

(Yes, all this time and Ianto still doesn't just let himself in.)

From:

othercaptjack

...while I adore the idea of world-saving whores, who can find the time? I'll...

"Come in," Jack says blithely.

His doom-sense is apparently off.

From:

likesthecoat

Ianto does, and leans against the wall a moment. He's holding his side, under his jacket.

"Jack," he says quietly. "A friend of mine seems to be possessed by a demon and I think I have a concussion."

From:

othercaptjack

Jack's face goes very still, and then he pushes back his chair and is standing in front of Ianto in a few strides. He carefully puts one hand around the back of his neck - no blood, that's something.

"Okay," he says, in a deceptively quiet voice. "What are the signs? Look at me, please."

He watches for pupil dilation as he cups his other hand under Ianto's arm to steady him.

From:

likesthecoat

"I hit my head against the wall," Ianto says evenly. "I saw bright lights and my head hurts. I don't think I'm disoriented but . . . I don't know."

He gazes back at Jack. It's probably not as bad as he fears, but he's in shock right now.

From:

othercaptjack

Jack watches his eyes for a few moments, then nods slightly.

"Come and sit down, Ianto," he says, and keeps hold of him, guiding him there with a light but firm hand. "What happened to your side?"

From:

likesthecoat

"It just hurts." He goes where Jack guides him, sitting obediently. "I hit the wall pretty hard."

From:

othercaptjack

Shit.

"Nobody saw? No intervention?"

Just what he needed; a reminder of how unsafe Milliways is. He can't be everywhere at once. Even, no matter how big, in the same building.

Jack sits down beside him on the edge of the bed, looking over the back of Ianto's head. He doesn't think it's bad, but shock is never kind.

From:

likesthecoat

"It happened fast." He reaches for Jack's hand. "It wasn't a fight. It was just--" He waves a hand. "Like that."

From:

othercaptjack

Jack lets him have it, and nods.

"Is it still down there?" he asks.

He's not too worried about it coming up here. The Jack Harkness School of Confrontation still pretty much consists of 'shoot first, ask questions later if you can be bothered.'

From:

likesthecoat

"No." He holds Jack's hand tighter. "And even if it were--it's too strong, even for you."

He takes a deep breath and says, almost in a whisper, "Stay with me."

From:

othercaptjack

"I'm not going anywhere."

Something he keeps saying and then proving wrong. He exhales softly, and turns toward Ianto again with more purpose.

"Come on, let's get you out of that jacket. I want to check you're in one piece."

From:

likesthecoat

Ianto nods and starts pulling off his jacket, wincing as it pulls on the bruised spots.

"Sorry this is such a bad time."

From:

othercaptjack

Jack snorts, giving him a hand as best he is able - assisting with undressing in an entirely non-sexual capacity is really Ianto's area of expertise.

"Because of course this was entirely your idea," he says dryly.

From:

likesthecoat

"You know what I mean," Ianto mutters.

From:

othercaptjack

"Yeah," says Jack, laying the jacket down and beckoning Ianto closer to he can start on his shirt buttons.

"I know."

From:

likesthecoat

Ianto moves closer but lets Jack unbutton his shirt without getting in his way.

"Could be worse, I suppose."

From:

othercaptjack

Jack nods, just a little grimly.

The other reason that he tends to run into danger first (apart from poor impulse-control) is that he's the one who gets up after.

The shirt that he's unbuttoning slowly reveals the bruised skin underneath, and Jack takes a moment to grit his teeth before undoing the rest.

From:

likesthecoat

Ianto looks himself over and finally the tension in him relaxes. "No bleeding."

From:

othercaptjack

"Yes," Jack confirms, "The suit will be fine. It's the rest of you that concerns me. Stay there, I'll get a cold towel."

It's one thing he could get used to about staying here - the en-suite bathroom.

From:

likesthecoat

Ianto cocks an eyebrow at him but stays put as Jack goes for the towel.

Oddly enough, he was not overly concerned about the suit. He knows how to get blood out. He has to, with this job.

From:

othercaptjack

It's one way to handle things; direct flippant remarks every which way. Jack does it a lot.

He also returns with a creditably icy-cold towel. "Okay with me doing this? Put that blanket around your shoulders. No need to get colder than necessary."

Also, Jack's seen shock before, and few things are as therapeutic yet simple as a soft quilt wrapped around you.

From:

likesthecoat

Ianto nods and pulls the blanket around him. "I'm ready."

From:

othercaptjack

Jack gets down on one knee beside the bed to apply the cold, wet towel to as much bruised skin as he can manage, smoothing it down from shoulder to Ianto's lower back.

"How's your head feeling?" he asks.

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