[RL WITH SULU]

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto had been cleared by John and the attending nurse to be fit to go, and was currently in the process of getting himself presentable enough to be officially discharged. With Jack off on a call about someone having sighted Myfanwy out in the countryside, and Sulu waiting outside for the taxi they'd called to bring him home, that left him with the

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[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu was surprised at how easy it was for him to pick up how, exactly, someone was supposed to get a taxi. Sure, it helped that he didn't have to flag one down on his own, but the fact was that he simply forgot about the idea of taxis until they were presented to him as a viable means of transportation. The cabby that had been sent to pick them up was surprisingly tolerant of Sulu's obvious out-of-town attitude, which definitely helped.

He'd noticed that Ianto was taking a bit too long almost immediately, and so he told the driver that he'd be right back before heading back through the hospital's ICU ward. It was a little weird, he thought, that he'd been to a hospital in the 21st century more than he'd ever been in his own timeline, but it didn't matter. Ianto and Jack were both worth it. Reaching the room, he tapped a knuckle against the door to let Ianto know he was coming in before swinging it open, smiling at him softly.

"Looking good," he commented, because clothes were definitely a step up from a hospital gown.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto turned to where Sulu's voice came from in the door and frowned at him. He didn't want to have to admit that he needed help on something so simple as a pair of trainers, but he'd been trying to get them on for the last few minutes, and he was obviously getting nowhere, so he might as well admit defeat. It was already obvious from the fact that Sulu had come looking for him that he was taking longer than he should have been.

"I look like Jack grabbed the first things out of my closet that he could find and tossed them into a duffel bag," Ianto groused. Alright, so. He didn't look that bad, really. The dress pants with the trainers thing wasn't exactly his style, but other people did it. At least he had a button-down shirt, albeit wrinkled from the abuse of the trip over there. That was the last thing he needed, to end up in dress slacks, trainers, and a t-shirt that he hadn't worn since high school. He knew he still had some of those lying around somewhere, and he thanked whatever gods he could think of that Jack had at least

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu laughed, a little breathless from the fact that he was listening to Ianto whine about his clothes, and shook his head. "Come on. It's not that bad." He moved forward, taking in the fact that Ianto's shoes seemed to be the last things on, the heels flat under Ianto's feet. He could see on Ianto's face a look of frustration, much the same as he had seen long before, when they'd been here for Jack. He frowned a bit and stepped closer.

He knew he shouldn't ask, or offer, because Ianto was as proud as him and it was a bit humiliating, but. He could at least try to make it easier as he stepped forward, kneeling to adjust Ianto's shoes onto his feet.

"I don't want you doing anything beyond sitting, lying down and maybe just a little walking until I know you're okay." He tried to play as overprotective as possible, playing up the fact that he really did want Ianto to do nothing but rest, so that maybe it wouldn't be so bad for Ianto.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto tipped his head back, looking up at the ceiling so maybe the fact that Sulu was helping him on with his shoes would be the tiniest bit less humiliating than it was in that moment. He blushed, obviously a little uncomfortable with having to accept help on this, but at least he was mature enough to be able to recognize when he should just shut up and let people help him sometimes, which was more than he could say for other people he knew

[takeitoutofpark]

"Yeah," Sulu agreed as he quickly tied one shoe, then moved to the other, "Honestly, there's not much else for you to do, though. Jack is sort of taking control of everything." He grinned up at Ianto as he finished tying the other shoe, putting his hands on the other man's knees. "You should be glad that he's wrangling the pterodactyl, otherwise, you'd be leaving in a wheelchair." Which probably wasn't necessarily true, but. Sulu was trying to slide as seamlessly back into his usual attitude as he could. He didn't want to show Ianto just how terrified he'd been. He'd done more than enough crying and fretting the last week and a half for his tastes.

Standing, he offered Ianto his arm. "There's a cab for us outside, but I don't know your address. When we get back to your place, I'll make sure you've got everything you need." The less moving around Ianto had to do, the better, as far as Sulu was concerned.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto sighed, turning his head down to look at Sulu after he felt the other man finish with his shoes, Sulu resting his hands on his knees as he looked up at him from where he was kneeling in front of him. He was joking, of course, but. Part of him also thought that Sulu was right, there. Jack had been more than a little protective of him since the time he had come back, and while he was grateful for it, sometimes it was a bit much. He'd pretty much had to wrangle the phone from Jack to get to call Gwen, as it was

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu shook his head. "That's good. I don't think I can safely pay for anything in this era yet. I can't even hold change without losing it." He kept his arm close, ready to support Ianto at any moment he needed more than just his prescense. He'd never expected to get to do this again, stand close to Ianto, be close to him again. See him blush again

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto stuck close to Sulu as well, as much for the presence of the other man as for the fact that he just plain needed to. He could walk on his own, it wasn't anything as silly or embarrassing as that. He'd flat out refused the hospital's offer to escort him down to the main doors in a wheelchair, the way that policy usually demanded for a person's release. Even if he passed out from the strain, it would be better than to have to be pushed around like some sort of invalid. ...Ianto really, really hated hospitals. As it was, though. They'd only gotten down the hallway, and already, Ianto could feel himself tiring. Only the elevators and another hallway to go before the taxi, he told himself, trying to keep from frustrating himself further

[takeitoutofpark]

"I'm sure I can figure it out," Sulu responded dryly, "So long as you can tell me how to turn things on. I'm a scientist, and cooking is just like any experiment." Except instead of releasing a deadly disease or creating some kind of monster, all you could do was burn or overcook food. Thankfully.

He noticed Ianto sagging, just slightly, against him - probably unconsciously, as if he didn't know he was doing it. He knew that Ianto wanted to be able to do this on his own, to tie his shoes and walk around like anyone else, but he'd been dead. The body he was in shouldn't be able to move. He shouldn't have been there to walk or talk. He needed to take it easy.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get you a wheelchair? I really won't mind. I'm." Worried, he wanted to say, but he refrained. He'd already asked something that he knew the answer was going to be "no," better not try his luck.

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto nodded, shrugging. "Yeah, I think I can manage pointing out where the dials to the burners are. You know, make sure you remember which side of the knife is the pointy bit, and all," he responded back, equally as dry in his sense of humor. He had to wonder what sort of thing Sulu would even make for him. Honestly, as long as Sulu was making it for him out of the goodness of his heart or whatever, he'd be happy with a simple jam sandwich

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu couldn't imagine that making something would be that difficult, really. He might not use a stove or oven in his daily life, but he had dealt with them a few times in his life. Nothing as... rustic as the kind Ianto had, no doubt, but still. How hard could it be?

"Yeah," he said, a little unconvincingly. "I'm not going anywhere for a while. I won't let you fall," he added, knowing he was being too serious for what was supposed to be a light comment, but he couldn't help it. He wasn't planning on letting anything happen to Ianto, no matter what he had to do. He was being unreasonable, he knew, but he wasn't going to stop just because of that. "I'm not even going to let go until you tell me to."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto blushed a little at how serious Sulu's tone was as he said those things to him, and he kept his eyes on the ground for a moment. He knew that what had happened in the last week or two had been hard on them, and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty that he wasn't getting better faster, to reassure them that he was going to be fine, really. It was hard to be reassuring other people of his health when he still didn't feel all that well in general anyway.

As they got to the lift, Ianto reached out and pressed the button to wait for the next one to go down. "You're going to have to let go if we're going to get in the taxi, you know," he said, gently, blushing, but understanding at least to some extent that Sulu needed to be doing this for him, much in the same way that he really wanted Sulu there doing it in the first place. "Or if this lift ends up being crowded for some reason. I won't be going anywhere if you do, though. Really. I promise."

[takeitoutofpark]

Logically, Sulu knew all that. He knew that he didn't need to be keeping a scrutinizing eye on Ianto, that the other was of course a little wobbly, still, but he wasn't dying or anything. He was doing the opposite, really. But there was a part of him that felt if he let go, even for a moment -

"I know, I know," he said plaintively, letting the fact that he knew he was being a little ridiculous show, "I'm just saying. I - I lost you once, and I really don't want to go through that again. I'm just not used to you... being here. I think my mental processes are lagging a few days." He glanced about and, seeing nobody directly looking at them or even very nearby, he tilted his head to kiss Ianto's shoulder briefly, nevermind the fact that it was clothed. "I'm going to be kind of ridiculous for a while."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto leaned sideways, more into Sulu than he really needed to, even for the support that he was giving, the closest thing he could get to hugging him at that moment, without letting go of his arm. "I think you're allowed," he said, softly. "To be a little ridiculous for a while, that is. I just. I just want to reassure you, here. I. I may not be fully recovered yet, but. I'm working on it. And I promise, I'm really not going anywhere anytime soon, alright? I just want you to know that."

The lift made a noise indicating that it was about to arrive, and Ianto carefully, reluctantly leaned back again, away from Sulu a little. Not completely, though, because he really did need the other man there with him, to make sure he made it out to the taxi and eventually back to his flat. On top of just needing him there with him in general. "Lift's here," he said softly. "You ready to take me home, now?"

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu had a lot of things he wanted to tell Ianto, in that moment. They'd been boiling in his brain, but every time he looked at the other man, he was that closer to telling him everything in his head, asking him all the questions he had for him. Like, if he was angry that they'd brought him back. That he was sorry that he'd been so selfish, if that was the fact.

But he didn't. "Anything to get you out of the hospital," he said instead, smiling and leading Ianto onto the lift. "I don't care where I take you, so long as it's away from here."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto laughed, and whether he was just too tired or too sick to take any notice of the other people in the lift with them, or simply because he was comfortable where he was at that moment, he didn't let their presence affect his conversation. "I think I'd prefer it if you just took me home," he said. "Not that I don't appreciate the offer, and anywhere's better than a hospital, but." He bit his lip, allowing himself to show a moment of weakness there, figuring he should be honest with Sulu, since the other man was so concerned about him.

"I don't think I'm really up for anything more than grabbing some lunch and then lying down for a while, as loathe as I am to admit it," he said, turning his gaze to his feet. "Any other sort of adventuring is probably going to have to wait a few weeks, until I can walk the block on my own without getting light-headed or needing to stop and take a breather, really."