Title: Human Flu: Sequel
By: cameragirl
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: G
Series: 1) Human Flu
Summary: In Human Flu, Ianto made a statement that floored Jack. Here's Ianto's explanation.

***

Jack sat on the bed, just staring at a sleeping Ianto for over an hour

Jack sat on the bed, just staring at a sleeping Ianto for over an hour. He reluctantly got up when Owen called him from upstairs.

Ianto? The Doctor? None of it made sense. At least, not to Jack. Was Ianto pulling his leg? It's not like he could ask the Doctor. Well, he could call Martha. Jack knew she had a way of getting in touch with the Time Lord. But Ianto was here and Jack would much rather get the answer from him.

"Jack? Are you all right?" Gwen asked. She leaned over and felt his forehead.

"Feeling a forehead is a not the proper way to take a temperature," Owen muttered from his desk.

Jack batted her hand away. "I don't get sick. I'm just thinking," He said a little too harshly.

"Fair enough, only trying to help," Gwen told him reasonably before going back to her own station.

"How is he? Has he got enough fluids down there?" Owen asked Jack.

"Huh? Oh, he's fine. He's just sleeping. I'll bring him more when I go down again," Jack said absentmindedly, still trying to wrap his head around the idea of Ianto traveling with the Doctor.

They would probably get along quite well actually. They could talk about suits and…well, there were probably other things they had in common. And Canary Wharf . Jack took in a quick breath. Canary Wharf . That must have been it. Maybe they were together after Canary Wharf ? No…that wouldn't make any sense…Ianto had Lisa to tend to after Torchwood One was destroyed. It still didn't make any sense.

After a few minutes, Jack decided to go back down the hatch. When he got up, Owen reminded him about giving Ianto juice and liquids.

Grumbling, Jack balanced a carton of juice and a bottle of water as he climbed down the ladder. When he hopped off the last rung, he noticed the bed was empty and that a light was shining through the half opened bathroom door.

"Ianto?" Jack walked over to the attached bathroom, and pushed the door all the way open.

Ianto was in front of the toilet, his warm forehead leaning against the cool porcelain. His hand reached up and flushed the contents, breathing in deeply.

"Jack," He breathed. Jack was already beside him, rubbing his back. Ianto wiped his mouth with a nearby towel and sat up. Jack controlled his movements and had Ianto lean against him.

Ianto tried to get up but Jack held him down. "Slow down, there's nowhere you need to be," Jack insisted.

"Tired," Ianto said breathlessly but stopped struggling and let Jack hold onto him. "You know," Ianto said softly. "You can ask if you want."

Jack's breath caught in his throat. "What? What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. And I didn't mean to shock you earlier. I just never…well, I never knew when to tell you. I wasn't really supposed to either."

"Not supposed to?" Jack asked, his voice sounded blank.

"Mhmm something about, it wasn't time. It was never time for him," Ianto murmured. He discussed the entire topic in a very relaxed manner. Jack was stiff and uptight, not knowing how to handle it. Ianto's harsh coughing brought him back to attention.

"Ianto?" He asked concerned. Jack rubbed his back again and decided it was time to get Ianto back into bed.

"Whatsit?" Ianto asked, his eyes slightly closed. The next thing Ianto felt were Jack's arms around his back and under his knees. He was no longer on the ground but being carried towards the bed.

"It's filthy in there; you're better off resting here," Jack told him.

"Could have gotten up."

"No, you could have stumbled sideways. There's a difference," Jack teased. It became quiet again. He put a blanket over Ianto and lay down next to him so they were adjacent.

Ianto opened his eyes slightly and smiled at Jack, "You traveled with him, correct?"

"Yes," Jack whispered. He still couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ianto traveled with the Doctor? His Ianto traveled with his Doctor?

"How did you measure your time with him? By worlds? By days? By time of almost certain deaths?" Ianto grinned, thinking about his memories.

Jack smiled, knowing exactly how Ianto felt. One never knew with the Doctor.

"I measured in almost certain deaths," Ianto answered his own question. His eyes became glazed over, lost in his thoughts as he told his story.

I was fifteen when I first traveled with the Doctor. It wasn't a great summer. Actually, it was horrific. Then I met the Doctor in the middle of a battle he swore he didn't cause. I saved him and in return, he ended up saving me. He said he had a plan for me and asked me to do what he requested. So I did.

We were both drifters. I felt like I didn't have a home and he could relate. He told me he needed a favor. That there was a group that sought to destroy him. By the time he told me this, we had been on countless adventures and I could see why people could have a love/hate relationship with him.

I was young when I first started working for Torchwood One. I hadn't gone to university but somehow I was called up for a Junior Researching Position.

He probably had something to do with it; he always had something to do with everything. Even boyfriends or girlfriends that I had ended up being a little too good. He never confirmed his input, but then again he never denied it either.

Torchwood One was…mind-blowing. Not in the sense of alien technology, because I had seen the majority of it before. Playing dumb became something of a habit for me. It was mind-blowing in the sense that the Doctor was written into their charter as an enemy. I couldn't believe it and I didn't want to stay there. What if they found out about me? It was too dangerous.

Then the Battle of Canary Wharf happened. I helped rescue the survivors. Twenty-seven survivors. Well, twenty-seven listed survivors. I was one of them. I didn't understand why the Doctor had put me there. It was dangerous, heartbreaking, and the aftereffects were almost maddening.

Two years after our last trip, Torchwood One was destroyed and it would be another year and a half before I saw him again. I would have to wait until after Lisa.

I thought he would have been so cross with me when I told him about Lisa. He just smiled sadly and apologized. He said it was all his fault; he couldn't save them in time. The Doctor said he didn't blame me for trying to save Lisa, he just wished he had been there for me. He told me it was blind love and he once had problems with it too. Reassuring me, he said I'd find someone again and not to worry about it. And would I like a trip in the meantime?

I was on suspension for four weeks, a light term I suppose, after letting a Cyberwoman into the base. So I agreed and went on more trips with The Doctor. We traveled to even more places and I gathered more knowledge. He told me stories of his past companions and of you. He knew that I knew you but decided not to say anything. And I didn't question him; I always assume he knows best.

He dropped me off a few days before I was supposed to go back to work. Close enough so I knew where I was but far enough away so your Doctor detector couldn't sense the TARDIS.

Yes, he knew about your Doctor detector and he thought it was creepy. But he knew why you did it. You need to understand Jack. You and Rose and The Doctor. It was painful enough thinking about her every second of every day. With you inside the TARDIS? He expected to see her around every corner. I suspect he's like that with a lot of his past companions. He tells me I'm the one he comes back for even though I never understand why. I trust him enough though, even through all the heartbreak.

I understand why you left to see him. It must have been heartbreaking for both of you. And probably confusing for Martha, but she seems incredibly smart. That's good for him; he needed someone to challenge him once and a while. I'm sure he'll be back again for me, but not yet. I'd go back again.

"You understand, don't you, Jack?" Ianto murmured. His eyes were closed and his story had been slow.

"Yes, Ianto," Jack responded, he played with Ianto's hair, just smoothing it out to give him comfort.

Jack watched Ianto breathe in and out, he wasn't quite asleep yet. The whole idea was a little more plausible to him but still astounding. Had the Doctor known Ianto was going to end up at Jack's Torchwood? A Torchwood where he finally belonged?

Ianto's blue eyes opened and smiled at Jack, who couldn't help but smile back.

"So, you'll go back again with him?" Jack asked.

"Of course." Ianto said without hesitation.

"Is that why you took three weeks off come the end of spring?" Jack asked, hoping to put an end to the mystery time-sheet he had found on his desk the previous week. He wasn't really expecting an answer though. Just making more conversation, anything to find out more about Ianto. He moved closer to Ianto, lifting his arm so Ianto could fit snugly under it.

"What do you mean?" Ianto asked. He looked genuinely confused and Jack froze in mid-movement. He looked at Ianto's wide eyes and realization came to him.

"I think I know when your next trip is…"

FINITE