[RL WITH SULU AND MCCOY]--backdated to the 29th

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto wasn't sure whether he was grateful that Sulu was able to carry him or not. On one hand, he really couldn't walk without passing out anymore, so he supposed it was really for the best that Sulu was as strong as he was, but at the same time...it was rather embarrassing, to be carried through the hallways of the Enterprise, having people that

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[takeitoutofpark]

Where Ianto may have had doubts and worries about all of this, Sulu had found himself waking up resolute and sure of what was going to happen. The plan was this: Sulu would take Ianto to the medbay, McCoy would snark and chew them out, and then McCoy would fix whatever was going wrong and Ianto would be fine again. He had nothing but good things to say about his CMO and, in all honesty, if there was anyone he trusted to be able to handle this, it was him

[bornsnarky]

McCoy nodded his way through Ianto's explanation,

"Jack's been on the ship?" McCoy yelped, startled. "Without Jim's knowledge -- no, okay, I guess I'm beginning to understand more about how this goddamn community thing works, but hell, Sulu, you can't tell me this stuff doesn't bother you. I'm not saying Jack's a bad guy or I have a problem with him visiting. In fact I want to meet him and clear up a few things. But he's been on this ship without Jim even knowing."

McCoy pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, sighing, as he felt the incipient headache build. "This community is a hell of a thing."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto didn't protest to Jack coming to visit. So long as McCoy gave him permission to be in his medical bay, he didn't really see a problem with it. Jack wouldn't abuse the right to come, and knowing him, he'd probably even just want to sit there while Ianto slept. He did that, after all, even before all of this. Just came in and watched Ianto sleep. Sometimes Ianto would wake up and catch him at it, but he knew from little things moving around during the night that Jack had been there, regardless

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu ran a hand through his hair, giving McCoy a bashful look. "Yeah, he... it's difficult to explain these sorts of things to someone who isn't part of the community. Now that Jim's aware of it all, though, I can ask for permission." It had been hard enough when Jim had left the community the first time - after that, he'd been more prone to leaving the ship than inviting people over. Jack had just been a special case, at the time.

Sulu could hear the worry in Ianto's tone, and knew exactly what he was talking about. The fact of the matter was that none of them had really recovered from this whole thing. It would take more time than Ianto and Jack were probably comfortable with. Hell, it would take more time than Sulu was really comfortable with. Still, there was no changing that.

[bornsnarky]

McCoy scowled at both of them, not bothering to hide the worry which was growing exponentially. "I don't have a specific problem with Jack, or with what you two've done. But overall it's disturbing."

He sighed, scribbling quick notes on the padd and picking up a hypo. "Ianto, I understand Torchwood has basically nothing in terms of backup? Structure? People who review what's been happening with you guys and give you counselling and support?"

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto shook his head. "No, sir," he said, slippingfalling back on the honorific because it was familiar, even though he'd been reprimanded not to use it, because McCoy wasn't his CMO. He technically was under the man's care at the moment, and did see him as an authority figure, so he hoped that McCoy wouldn't mind too much that old habits died hard.

"There's...there's nothing. Torchwood...well. It isn't the organization that it used to be. We're the only branch left. And it's only Jack, Gwen, and me, so... No. Nothing, certainly not in the support area. We. We don't even have a doctor working for us anymore, not since Owen...not since our doctor, Owen Harper, was killed in the line of duty... And since the Hub blew up, well. We don't even have a base, at the moment. We're..." He swallowed. "Things aren't all too good at the moment, to say the least."

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu bit his cheek again to keep from making a snappy retort about the idea of any of this being disturbing. After all, everything would work out and be better again. What was bad about that?

But then again, there was the issue of Torchwood. Jack had sounded hesitant about even inviting Ianto back into it - and who could blame him, really? But he knew that Ianto would never let Jack push him away from Torchwood, and even though Sulu hated the idea of having to risk Ianto again, he wouldn't stop the other man from strong-arming Jack into letting him help again. That didn't mean he'd like it, necessarily, but... he would accept it. He didn't say anything about that either, though. Actually, he was all but silent on both matters, though his expression indicated he wasn't too happy with what he was thinking.

[bornsnarky]

McCoy rubbed his forehead, letting the use of 'sir' pass by for the moment, as he took in everything else that Ianto described.

Fuck.

"You're telling me you've got a nice little co-dependent unit suffering from serious trauma both emotional and physical, and you don't have anyone to step in to look after you properly because there are no higher-ups and your doctor's passed away," he said briskly, showing sympathy in the quirk of his lips. "Right. Well, I'm not Torchwood, and I obviously can't give you orders, but I am CMO on this ship and while you're here you're under my care. If Jack and Gwen turn up here I'll damn well do what I can for them, too."

He touched Ianto's shoulder lightly. "You've got Hikaru, and now you've got me, too. This is a ridiculous situation, but you're not alone, son. Lean on us."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto looked up at McCoy, nodding. If Jack or Gwen did show up there, he honestly hoped that McCoy might be able to do something for them too. Because it was like he said--they were suffering from serious emotional and physical trauma, especially Jack, so. It would be nice for Ianto to know that there was someone that Jack could lean on that wasn't, well, himself. Just in case...

But no. He wasn't going to think like that. McCoy was going to do his best here, and Sulu was going to be there for him in any way he could and so was Jack and they were going to beat this. They had to beat this. There was so much more that Ianto wanted to do. He was only 27 years old, he still had all the time in the world, it seemed, if he just got past this

[takeitoutofpark]

Sulu smiled at Ianto, pleased that the optimism that had shown itself a little the night before was starting to come through again. It was good to hear the determination in Ianto's voice; despite how physically sick he was, at least now Sulu could tell that his mind was still sharp and focused on the solution.

"You keep saying you're terrible at optimism, but you've been doing pretty well so far," he said with a small grin, before looking to McCoy with a more careful expression. "Between us, though... Jack has been taking a lot of this pretty badly. And I haven't even talked to Gwen..." He felt a little guilty about that, since he did like her, but he'd been occupied with Jack and Ianto and all of this. It was hard to tear himself away from it.

[bornsnarky]

"Ah, because you're human and can't do everything?" McCoy asked wryly. "Point Jack my way, okay? I'm not saying I can fix everything, but at the very least I can be support for him from outside Torchwood. Because it looks kinda like Mr Sulu here has wormed his way into the situation."

He squeezed Sulu's shoulder, making it clear that he had sympathy for him, then he met Ianto's eyes meaningfully. "Ianto, I'll do what I can for everyone involved. Just keep talking, okay? If you keep telling people what's wrong, we can do something about it."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto smiled softly back at Sulu, at his comment about his optimism. He would speak up to say that he had an excellent role model and support system from which he could draw this optimism, and that without it, without Sulu, he would be just as terrible as he was making himself sound. But McCoy was there, and Ianto really wasn't sure that this was the time or place to say that, so. Instead, he said, "I...I try

[bornsnarky]

McCoy'd had to give more than his share of bad news over the years. It never got easy. Watching hope warring with terrible fear in someone's eyes.

Fortunately, this was not bad news. He finished running a quick bloodwork analysis on his padd, then looked up, nodding. "I can't promise a complete fix," he said crisply. "I don't know enough about this yet. But I can definitely substantially improve how you're feeling, and I am confident that I will find a long term fix."

[torchwoodteaboy]

Ianto looked to Sulu as he said his next words. "I... If there isn't a way to completely fix this, then so long as we can treat the symptoms, get me back to as close to normal as we can... So long as there's that, then. I'll. I'll be happy. But. I'd appreciate your input on this too," he said, this time addressing Sulu, even though he'd been looking at him the whole time anyway. "Yours and Jack's."

He turned to McCoy again. "Doctor. If... If something happens, if you need permission to do something, and I'm not able to give it. Jack or Sulu. I'm giving the pair of them the right to make it for me. And... If for some reason, they're unavailable, then. I give you permission to do anything that you think you'll need to to fix things. I..." He blushed. "I'm not sure if that's how it works, anymore, needing permission for things, but that's how it works back where I from, so. Yeah. Is that alright?"

[takeitoutofpark]

It was almost shocking how strange it felt to have that outside source telling him that yes, there might be a solution. He hadn't expected it to feel weird - it never had before. But after this past month... He found himself smiling a little, first at McCoy and then at Ianto as he said, "I trust whatever Dr. McCoy chooses to do, Ianto. I don't think Jack will oppose it, either. Even if it isn't a long-term fix, even if it's no cure." It would be better than this, at least. And Sulu didn't even think about the idea that it'd just be putting off the inevitable, because damn it. Things worked out on this ship. That was how the Enterprise worked, with some kind of insane, beautiful improbability drive. And the fact that Ianto was giving him equal standing with Jack only bolstered his mood, even if the terms were dire.

[bornsnarky]

McCoy took in their reactions and added them to his mental list of "Signs That Hikaru And Ianto Are Impossibly Young And Have Been Through Too Much". He said gently, "We'll get there. Ianto, things are similar these days about consent. Most Fleet members have something on their file, but obviously that doesn't apply in your case."

He lifted a hypo. "I'm gonna have to take some blood, and a couple other samples. In spite of what you may've heard, it doesn't really hurt. That okay with you?"

(OOC: please feel free to NPC him taking samples etc, with whatever amount of pain you deem fitting!)