In Sickness and in Health (5/5?)
Author's Note please read!!!!!
Am thinking of extending this story as so many people seem to like the whole Jack taking care of Ianto idea. However, I don't want to go overboard so let me know what you think:) I was thinking along the lines of delving more into why Ianto was so insecure about Jack leaving him and why he hid it so well but am unsure as to whether that would take the story into angst city
“Owen! My beloved team doctor! How are you this fine-“
“What do you want, Harkness?” asked Owen wearily, well used to their Captain’s exuberant behaviour.
“Charming. Anyway, I was just calling to tell you so you can’t complain I didn’t warn you that Ianto and I wont be coming in tomorrow,” said Jack, knowing how elated the doctor would be by this news.
“Why, pray tell?” asked Owen resignatedly.
“’Cos Ianto’s ill and I don’t trust him to look after himself,” said Jack, losing his joviality.
“Is it serious?” asked Owen, knowing full well what the Rift could do; alien illness wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
“Nah, it’s just a nasty version of the flu not helped by the fact that he hadn’t eaten or slept for the past three days,” said Jack, accidentally on purpose dropping Ianto in it. Maybe a lecture from Owen would finally convince him to look after himself.
“If I’ve told him once I’ve told him a thousand times,” grumbled Owen. Jack could practically hear the waves of disapproval.
“So I take it you don’t need us then?” smiled Jack.
“Nah, just make sure he keeps his fluids up and gets plenty of rest,” sighed Owen, knowing full well Teaboy wouldn’t do it if left to his own devices.
“Thank you,” grinned Jack, pocketing the phone as he glanced over at where Ianto was fast asleep on the sofa, his cheeks bright red with fever, looking distinctly hot and uncomfortable. Poor kid thought Jack, wandering into the bathroom where he ran a flannel under cool water before returning to the young man, perching next to him and lightly running the flannel over his clammy forehead and damp hair, trying to ease his discomfort.
The Welshman had been reluctant to go back to bed, still shaken by his earlier nightmare so Jack had coaxed him into sitting on the sofa with him where he’d murmured soft reassurances as he’d stroked and caressed him until exhaustion had overwhelmed to boy and he’d slipped into a peaceful or at the very least quiet sleep.
Jack had then carefully arranged him so he was comfortable on the sofa, covering him with his coat before tidying the breakfast stuff away and changing the sweat soaked bed sheets for clean, dry ones. It was around that time that it’d occurred to him that Owen might want to know if the two of them weren’t coming in the following day if only to get his effing and blinding out the way.
“Shh,” murmured Jack, brushing Ianto’s cheek with his thumb as the young man became more agitated; tossing and turning until he woke up shaken and breathless.
“Think I’m gonna be sick,” mumbled Ianto, leaning over and throwing up in the bowl Jack was holding under his chin having had enough foresight to keep it near.
Jack just rubbed his shoulder blade soothingly, helping him drink from a glass and pulling him close, kissing the top of his head as Ianto nestled against him.
“Why don’t you have a shower? It might make you feel better,” suggested Jack, lightly running his hand up and down the man’s side.
“’Cos it worked so well last time,” muttered Ianto quietly, burying his face in the curve of Jack’s shoulder.
“I could join you,” murmured Jack in his ear, his tone anything but flirtatious. When he felt Ianto nod his assent too tired to care either way, he helped him up and to the bathroom; gently stripping him before joining him under the cascading water.
In the shower, Jack pressed his lips against the young man’s neck in reassurance before lightly running the sponger over Ianto’s body, keeping his touch purely professional; knowing anything else would not be welcome.
When he was done, he carefully turned Ianto round so he was facing him before washing his back, allowing the young Welshman to rest his forehead against his shoulder as he did so.
“You’re beautiful you know that?” he murmured, turning the shower off and reaching for a towel. Ianto made a vague disbelieving sound, sleepily rubbing his cheek against Jack’s smooth skin.
“And yet you have no idea,” sighed Jack as he dried him, not pursuing the subject as he knew Ianto wasn’t lucid enough to truly comprehend, Instead, he silently guided him into the bedroom and settled him against him, lightly caressing his skin.
“Thank you,” mumbled Ianto drowsily a while later, his fingers trailing lazily over Jack’s chest.
“Hey, what have I said about that word?” Jack mock scolded, pulling him closer and kissing his damp hair.
“I mean it. You didn’t have to,” murmured Ianto.
“Course I did. I could hardly expect you to sort yourself out now could I?” said Jack gently. Considering the way the illness had progressed in the last few hours, leaving him would’ve been cruel. It worried him that Ianto didn’t see it that way and felt he had to be grateful for a basic right such as being cared for.
“I don’t mind,” replied Ianto, stifling a yawn.
“I think you do; more than you care to admit,” said Jack quietly, tilting Ianto’s chin up and seeing the truth in his beautiful eyes. “It’s perfectly natural to need someone every now and then. Look at us! You’ve looked after me more times than I care to remember and not once have you gotten made or walked out on me so why so you think I will?” he asked softly, tracing his jaw line, trying to ease the tension Ianto had gained.
“I don’t! I just…you’ve got more important things to worry about,” he said, his voice having a guarded quality to it. He knew Jack would never do anything like that; he just didn’t want to bother him that was all.
Jack sighed, “Ianto, we’re in a relationship. Thus fore, we are equal and as for the important things; you are them most important person in my life,” he murmured, kissing him lovingly to emphasise his point until he felt Ianto relax in his hold, reassured Jack meant what he was saying. “I want all of you; not just the part of you that’s clever and witty and funny and gorgeous and caring but also the part of you that does get sick, that does get tired and hungry and upset and angry in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live, ‘til death do us part.”
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/6807.html chapter four
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/7180.html chapter six
Am thinking of extending this story as so many people seem to like the whole Jack taking care of Ianto idea. However, I don't want to go overboard so let me know what you think:) I was thinking along the lines of delving more into why Ianto was so insecure about Jack leaving him and why he hid it so well but am unsure as to whether that would take the story into angst city
“Owen! My beloved team doctor! How are you this fine-“
“What do you want, Harkness?” asked Owen wearily, well used to their Captain’s exuberant behaviour.
“Charming. Anyway, I was just calling to tell you so you can’t complain I didn’t warn you that Ianto and I wont be coming in tomorrow,” said Jack, knowing how elated the doctor would be by this news.
“Why, pray tell?” asked Owen resignatedly.
“’Cos Ianto’s ill and I don’t trust him to look after himself,” said Jack, losing his joviality.
“Is it serious?” asked Owen, knowing full well what the Rift could do; alien illness wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
“Nah, it’s just a nasty version of the flu not helped by the fact that he hadn’t eaten or slept for the past three days,” said Jack, accidentally on purpose dropping Ianto in it. Maybe a lecture from Owen would finally convince him to look after himself.
“If I’ve told him once I’ve told him a thousand times,” grumbled Owen. Jack could practically hear the waves of disapproval.
“So I take it you don’t need us then?” smiled Jack.
“Nah, just make sure he keeps his fluids up and gets plenty of rest,” sighed Owen, knowing full well Teaboy wouldn’t do it if left to his own devices.
“Thank you,” grinned Jack, pocketing the phone as he glanced over at where Ianto was fast asleep on the sofa, his cheeks bright red with fever, looking distinctly hot and uncomfortable. Poor kid thought Jack, wandering into the bathroom where he ran a flannel under cool water before returning to the young man, perching next to him and lightly running the flannel over his clammy forehead and damp hair, trying to ease his discomfort.
The Welshman had been reluctant to go back to bed, still shaken by his earlier nightmare so Jack had coaxed him into sitting on the sofa with him where he’d murmured soft reassurances as he’d stroked and caressed him until exhaustion had overwhelmed to boy and he’d slipped into a peaceful or at the very least quiet sleep.
Jack had then carefully arranged him so he was comfortable on the sofa, covering him with his coat before tidying the breakfast stuff away and changing the sweat soaked bed sheets for clean, dry ones. It was around that time that it’d occurred to him that Owen might want to know if the two of them weren’t coming in the following day if only to get his effing and blinding out the way.
“Shh,” murmured Jack, brushing Ianto’s cheek with his thumb as the young man became more agitated; tossing and turning until he woke up shaken and breathless.
“Think I’m gonna be sick,” mumbled Ianto, leaning over and throwing up in the bowl Jack was holding under his chin having had enough foresight to keep it near.
Jack just rubbed his shoulder blade soothingly, helping him drink from a glass and pulling him close, kissing the top of his head as Ianto nestled against him.
“Why don’t you have a shower? It might make you feel better,” suggested Jack, lightly running his hand up and down the man’s side.
“’Cos it worked so well last time,” muttered Ianto quietly, burying his face in the curve of Jack’s shoulder.
“I could join you,” murmured Jack in his ear, his tone anything but flirtatious. When he felt Ianto nod his assent too tired to care either way, he helped him up and to the bathroom; gently stripping him before joining him under the cascading water.
In the shower, Jack pressed his lips against the young man’s neck in reassurance before lightly running the sponger over Ianto’s body, keeping his touch purely professional; knowing anything else would not be welcome.
When he was done, he carefully turned Ianto round so he was facing him before washing his back, allowing the young Welshman to rest his forehead against his shoulder as he did so.
“You’re beautiful you know that?” he murmured, turning the shower off and reaching for a towel. Ianto made a vague disbelieving sound, sleepily rubbing his cheek against Jack’s smooth skin.
“And yet you have no idea,” sighed Jack as he dried him, not pursuing the subject as he knew Ianto wasn’t lucid enough to truly comprehend, Instead, he silently guided him into the bedroom and settled him against him, lightly caressing his skin.
“Thank you,” mumbled Ianto drowsily a while later, his fingers trailing lazily over Jack’s chest.
“Hey, what have I said about that word?” Jack mock scolded, pulling him closer and kissing his damp hair.
“I mean it. You didn’t have to,” murmured Ianto.
“Course I did. I could hardly expect you to sort yourself out now could I?” said Jack gently. Considering the way the illness had progressed in the last few hours, leaving him would’ve been cruel. It worried him that Ianto didn’t see it that way and felt he had to be grateful for a basic right such as being cared for.
“I don’t mind,” replied Ianto, stifling a yawn.
“I think you do; more than you care to admit,” said Jack quietly, tilting Ianto’s chin up and seeing the truth in his beautiful eyes. “It’s perfectly natural to need someone every now and then. Look at us! You’ve looked after me more times than I care to remember and not once have you gotten made or walked out on me so why so you think I will?” he asked softly, tracing his jaw line, trying to ease the tension Ianto had gained.
“I don’t! I just…you’ve got more important things to worry about,” he said, his voice having a guarded quality to it. He knew Jack would never do anything like that; he just didn’t want to bother him that was all.
Jack sighed, “Ianto, we’re in a relationship. Thus fore, we are equal and as for the important things; you are them most important person in my life,” he murmured, kissing him lovingly to emphasise his point until he felt Ianto relax in his hold, reassured Jack meant what he was saying. “I want all of you; not just the part of you that’s clever and witty and funny and gorgeous and caring but also the part of you that does get sick, that does get tired and hungry and upset and angry in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live, ‘til death do us part.”
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/6807.html chapter four
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/7180.html chapter six