Path to forgiveness Part nineteen

A week after Ianto comes back from his suspension; he is hurt by an alien device. Deaging fic. Spoilers up to Cyberwoman. Warnings Gwen bashing and preslash, Janto of course.

This is the final chapter.

Jack was right and Ianto turned back at around seven thirty the next morning, Jack watched silently as Ianto writhed in pain on his bed. No matter how much Jack wanted to help Ianto though the transformation he knew that it would be better for Ianto if he kept his distance.

Jack debated leaving Ianto on his own to get dressed after the chance was completed, after all it would probably creep Ianto out if he woke up half naked with his boss staring at him. But he decided that he didn't want Ianto to be alone just in case there were any after effects of the device.

Once the transformation was complete Ianto shot up in alarm, the last thing he could clearly remember was Jack yelling at Owen to stop planning around with some kind of alien device. Everything in his head seemed fuzzy and he had serious problems in trying to focus in what had happened.

Ianto really hoped that he didn't faint; Owen would never let him live it down. He would spend the rest of his Torchwood career getting reminded of that time when he fainted like a girl. It would be even worse than when Owen got his clothes and key card stolen by Carys. Not that Ianto was ever tempted to tease Owen about it or anything.

"Did I really spend the last week as a child?" Ianto muttered as he finally sorted though all his memories, he wasn't really sure if this scenario was any better than fainting.

"Yeah you did" Jack answered. "Though there's nothing to be embarrassed about, you were pretty cute as a child. Though I think you are just as cute as an adult."

"That's harassment sir" Ianto said without thinking, it was his automatic response to Jack's flirting. Though he wasn't sure that Jack would still want to have their usual playful banter, not after Ianto's betrayal. "I'm sorry sir."

"There is nothing to be sorry for" Jack replied, trying to reassure Ianto, it was obvious that Ianto didn't really believe him and Jack vowed that he would do whatever it takes to get the more relaxed, playful Ianto back. "I've missed your welsh vowels, especially when they're telling me off."

Ianto couldn't help but to roll his eyes at Jack even though he was still slightly confused on why Jack was being so nice to him. He was so sure Jack hated him for his betrayal yet here the Captain was acting like it had never happened. Ianto hoped that this wasn't just Jack being polite to him before he was Retconned back to infancy, he might deserve the punishment but Lisa certainty doesn't deserve to be forgotten.

Any conversation ended when the pair heard the cog door alarm go off signalling Tosh and Owen's arrival.

"I'll go talk to Tosh and Owen whilst you get dressed" Jack informed Ianto as he stood up. "I put your spare suit in my cupboard for you yesterday."

As soon as Jack was gone Ianto quickly got dressed, Owen would definitely need coffee if anyone expected him to get any actual work due before lunch. There were times were Ianto seriously wondered what the team did before he and his coffee arrived at Torchwood. It wouldn't have surprised him if Torchwood Three singlehandedly kept the nearby starbucks open, he almost felt bad for causing them a sudden drop of profits.

"Oi! Teaboy, medical bay now" Owen demanded as soon as he spotted Ianto heading towards the small kitchen area. "You are lucky enough to get a full examination from your favourite doctor, me, and then I'll let you make me my coffee."

Ianto frowned as he headed over to the medical bay, he wasn't sure that he really wanted Owen to examine him. He was sure that he had lost quite a bit of weight in the last few months and wasn't looking forward to Owen's reaction.

"Let's get this over with Teaboy" Owen said as he got out all the necessarily equipment. "Get your shirt off and sit down here."

For the next hour Ianto went through all of the different tests that Owen could think off including getting weighed, getting a sample of blood taken and his blood pressure taken. Ianto couldn't express how happy he was when the examination was finally completed, he always hated getting checkups when he was a child and it was even worse now. Especially when he considered Owen's terrible bedside manner, he always wondered why Owen would become a doctor when he couldn't stand his patients.

"We're done" Owen stated, handing Ianto back his shirt and jacket. "You can make me some coffee now, and then we can discuss the preliminary results in the boardroom. Unless you have any problems with Jack and Tosh knowing the results."

"No that's fine" Ianto said. "I don't mind them knowing."

"Good" Owen muttered as he followed Ianto out of the medical bay. "At least I won't have to put up with Jack harassing me about your health."

It didn't take long for Ianto to finish the coffee, and he soon headed over to the boardroom though it looked more like he was walking towards his death. There was no way that anything that Owen was going to say anything good and Ianto was so scared that Jack would use this as an excuse to finally fire him. Not that he really needed an excuse, if he had betrayed Torchwood One Yvonne Hartman would had put him to death, no questions asked.

Ianto handed each team member their coffee and sat down waiting for Owen to start, luckily he didn't have to wait long.

"There are no side effects to the deaging" Owen stated. "However you are slightly underweight, it's not that bad at the moment but we will definitely be working on bringing it up to a healthier number. For now you should have five to six small meals a day to help bring up your appetite as well as some nutrient drinks. I will give you a check up in about a month to see how you are doing."

Ianto slightly relaxed as Owen finished, he thought that it would be a lot worse and that Owen would give him a full on lecture on taking care of himself properly and not making his job easier.

"Ianto I want you to take the rest of the day off" Jack started. "But before you go I want to talk to you in my office."

Ianto tried to keep calm as he followed Jack to his office. He was so scared that Jack had finally decided to fire him, not that Ianto would blame him if he did.

"I'm sorry" Jack said much to Ianto's surprise, that wasn't what he had expected. "We all treated you like you were invisible."

"It wasn't your fault" Ianto replied. "I was hiding; I didn't want any of you to see me. It was easier that way."

"We both made mistakes" Jack insisted. "But it all changes now, we are going to be here for each other. We need to start acting like a proper team. Just promise me that you won't hide from us, from me, anymore."

"I promise" Ianto told the Captain. "For what it's worth I'm so sorry about what happened. I never meant for anyone to get hurt, I just wanted to save Lisa."

"I know" Jack replied. "I've already forgiven you. Now I want you to get home and get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes sir" Ianto said as he stood up and headed towards the door. "Thank you for looking after me and for forgiving me."