missthingsplace | Stay Another Day 25/25

Title: Stay Another Day
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately.
Summary: Ianto's in an odd mood
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Angst, may need tissues
Rating: pg13
Lyrics: East 17

Ianto was sat on his sofa nursing a glass of whiskey, he wasn't quite sure why he had poured it as he didn't really want it but holding it in his hands seemed comforting somehow. He looked about the still barren room, apart from the sparse furniture there was nothing to indicate that someone actually lived there.

Sure, there were some CD's and DVD's but there was nothing personal. No photo's, nothing. Ianto took a sip of the drink in his hands and winced a little as it burnt a trail down his throat, he lent his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes.

He missed his old flat, this one didn't feel like home he mused. He'd only been there less than two weeks but he knew it wasn't for him, but he could only afford to move back to somewhere like his last address if he was earning the kind of money Torchwood paid.

His thoughts turned to what Jack had said earlier, he couldn't argue with what he had said. Jack must have lost a lot of people he cared about, loved in his extended life time, what had pulled at his heart strings the most was Jack telling him he wanted to be in his arms when he came back to life.

Once Ianto had left his office Jack let his own tears fall, his own memories of loves lot brought to the surface in one fell swoop. He also knew he was being a little selfish, telling Ianto what he did about wanting to be in his arms when life rushed back into his body.

Hearing the cog door open he wiped his face on his sleeve, Ianto having taken his hankie with him when he left. He didn't move from his chair, he wasn't in the mood to face the rest of the team. His door was firmly closed still as were the blinds and felt like he wanted to hide away till the morning.

The muffled voices from below filtered up to him, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. He wondered what excuse Gwen had used to get them out the hub for a while, true to her word she had said nothing to Toshiko or Owen about what had happened.

It was a good hour before there was a gentle knock at his office door, he called out for whoever it was to enter and was a little relieved that it was just Gwen. She closed the door behind her and moved over to Jack's deck, sitting herself on the side.

“How did it go?” She enquired, the red rims giving away the tears that had fell.

Jack shrugged. “I'm not sure, I told him how I felt about it all and he said he needed to be alone, that he would tell me his decision in the morning.”

“You think he might decide to not come back here?”

“It's a possibility.”

“But he also might do the opposite.” Gwen tried to be positive.

'Yeah.” Jack tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

“Want some company this evening, dinner with me and Rhys?”

“Thanks, but no.”

“You'll just brood all night.”

Jack couldn't help but give a little chuckle. “I'll be okay.”

“If you're sure?”

“Yes, now leave me to wallow in self pity.”

Gwen hopped off the desk and pressed a kiss to Jack's cheek. “Okay, I'll brings pastries in the morning.”

“To commiserate?”

“To celebrate.”

With that she left the office, leaving Jack alone with his thoughts again.

Ianto dumped the rest of the whiskey down the kitchen sink and headed to bed, he had made his decision. He thought about phoning Jack and telling him there and then but he really still wasn't sure it was the right decision, if he still felt the same in the morning then it was the right one.

He stripped down to his underwear and climbed beneath the cool sheets, he was missing Jack's warm body being there with him. They had spent almost every night since he had left Torchwood in the same bed and had got used to it, he loved waking up next to Jack.

Jack climbed down into his small room and lay on top of his bed fully dressed, he knew that the chances of sleep were very slim. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind, trying to block out any thoughts of what Ianto might be thinking.

Three hours later he gave up, climbed back up to his office and started on the pile of paperwork on his desk. He had been putting it off since Ianto left as most of it was things Ianto would normally deal with, hoping Ianto would be back before he had to do it himself.

Now he reasoned, if Ianto did come back it wouldn't be fair to dump it all on him. Plus it would help distract his mind for the remaining night, and that was most welcome. He barely left his office except for a visit the bathroom and get tea.

One day he would have to make Ianto teach him how to use that darn coffee machine he thought as he turned the kettle on, then remembered why he wasn't with Ianto at that moment in time. He sighed to himself as he took the mug of tea up to his office a few minutes later, no point getting upset again at the moment he thought and turned back to his paperwork once more.

When Ianto woke the next morning after a fitful sleep he knew he had made the right decision, it was what was going to make him happy. There was something that still niggled, but he knew he could cope with it as long as he was doing what he wanted, needed.

Ianto showered and dressed slowly and deliberately before h picked up his phone and slipped it in his pocket, he wasn't going to call Jack, this he needed to tell him in person. Finding his car keys he headed out the front door and had to stop himself from almost throwing himself down the stairs to the street.

Ianto let himself in through the tourist office entrance, it was still early and none of the rest of the team would be there yet. At least he hoped so, if the rift had played up in the night they might all be there, or no one including Jack.

The alarm sounded as the cog door opened, he stepped though and looked about. There were no signs of life, he walked to the nearest workstation and turned the computer to the CCTV feed, it only took a few minutes to locate Jack.

Ianto headed into the kitchenette and turned on the coffee machine, dusting it as he waited for it to heat up. Pouring two perfect mugs of coffee he headed up to Jack's office, balancing both mugs in one hand he carefully opened the door and smiled to himself.

Jack was fast asleep, his head on his hands upon the desk. He shut the door and walked closer, placing a mug near Jack, he could almost sense Jack's nose twitching at the aroma of the coffee as it invaded his senses.

He watched as Jack's eye lids began to flutter open, stretching his back as his arms reached for the ceiling. It took him a few seconds to register what he was seeing though his blurry eyes. Coffee and Ianto, Ianto and coffee. Ianto wearing a suit, his favourite suit.

Jack became very awake very quickly at that moment, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as if he didn't believe what he was seeing. Ianto was watching him with a small smile on his face, sipping his coffee.

“Morning Sir.”

“Ianto?” Jack asked still sure he was dreaming.

“Yep.”

Jack got up from his seat and moved around his desk, taking the coffee from Ianto's hands and then taking both of Ianto's hands in his own.

“Does this mean what I think it means?”

Ianto nodded. “I need to be here, with you, doing the job I love.”

“And my ...” Jack couldn't finish the sentence.

“Dying?” Ianto finished for him.

“Yeah.”

“I listened to what you told me, if you can live through losing so many loved ones without losing your mind, then I can be here for you.”

“Damn I love you.” Jack whispered softly.

“That is all I need to know.”

They closed the gap between them as Ianto's lips captured Jack's, the kiss started of soft and tender but soon became heated and passionate as their arms wrapped around each other tightly. They never heard the cog door open, Gwen climb the stairs nor saw her peep though a gap in the blinds before smiling to herself and heading back down to the main hub.

The End.

A/N Okay, I hope you approve of the ending, thank you for your encouragement for this fic that began as a oneshot and has ended up as a 25 chapter long series!