Just Once
Ianto was feeding Myfanwy. Jack stood at the bottom of the ladder admiring the view.
“I should charge a fee,” Ianto called down, softly so he didn’t agitate Myfanwy.
“I’d pay it.”
Ianto climbed down and looked at Jack, the ends of his mouth turned up. “Did you need something sir, or did you just want to ogle me?”
“Started out the former, ended up the latter,” Jack admitted with a grin.
“You are incorrigible.”
“You wouldn’t want me any other way,” Jack smirked. “Speaking of wanting me -“
“Which of course I do,” Ianto interrupted dryly, “each waking moment of my day. Makes it almost impossible to do my job, what with thoughts of you occupying every synapse in my body.”
“Lots of people have that problem,” Jack said cheerfully.
Ianto shook his head, laughter in his eyes. “Impossible man, I really do have work to do. What did you need?”
“Besides you?” Jack stroked Ianto’s cheek with the back of his hand. He looked down a second, his face suddenly serious. “I want to tell you something.”
A small frown appeared on Ianto’s face.
“No, nothing like that.” Jack cupped the side of Ianto’s face with his hand. “I should have told you this before, it’s just -” he paused, took a deep breath. “When Gray - buried me -” his voice cracked but he forged on determinedly - “when I was buried, I only died once.” He looked deep into Ianto’s eyes. “Do you understand? It wasn’t over and over. I died once and didn’t come back till I was dug up. I wanted you to know that.”
How odd that thinking of Jack dead for 2000 years was comforting, Ianto thought, but it was. “Thank you. I have nightmares.”
“I know you do.” Jack smiled sadly. “I have nightmares too.