Chapter Five

Blue eyes met, as Jack helped Ianto to his feet.

"Let's go see Gwen, shall we," he said, smiling.

Ianto hesitated, before replying. "Yep." He ran a hand through his damp hair. "I must look like shit."

"Yeah, but I'm sure Gwen won't mind." Jack patted the younger man on the arm.

"I…didn't leave her, Jack," Ianto said, his eyes searching the older man's face.

Jack just nodded.

"You don't believe me, do you?" he laughed. "You think I left her because I was jealous."

"No, I don't," Jack was quick to answer.

"Yes, you do. But I didn't." Ianto walked toward the stairs. "I'm going to take a shower and change. I'll meet you at the hospital."

"You can shower in my quarters."

"No, I can't."

With that, he was gone.

Jack, Tosh and Owen drove to the hospital in the SUV. When they left, Ianto was still down in the locker room.

TWTWTW

Gwen lay patiently on the gurney as a nurse cut away the wetsuit.

'Jack's gonna be pissed,' she thought. 'For me leavin' Ianto and this bloody suit!'

As the suit was removed, it was clear by bruising to her arms and back that Gwen had been thrown against the rocks.

Once a hospital gown was put on her Gwen felt a lot better.

At 9.45pm, the three Torchwood members walked into the A&E department. Jack flashed his ID and a brilliant smile at the receptionist and was escorted to Gwen's cubical without delay.

Tosh was the first to hug her friend, closely followed by Owen. Jack however, remained at the foot of the gurney.

"So," he started. "What happened down there?"

Gwen fluttered her eyelashes, but Jack was having none of it.

"Did Ianto swim off?"

"No!"

Jack looked at Gwen accusingly.

"There was a light, I thought, anyway. I…saw a small gap in the rock. I knew Ianto wouldn't fit through it. I lost track of time. Then I got knocked about a bit by the current."

The bruises were evident to all of them.

"I'm sorry, Jack," she said.

"I blamed Ianto," admitted Owen.

"No, it wasn't Ianto. It was me." Gwen looked at Jack. "Where is Ianto?"

"Here," came a familiar Welsh voice from behind Jack.

Jack turned, a half smile, half frown on his face.

Owen stepped back, meeting Ianto at the curtain. "I'm sorry, mate."

Ianto smiled. "Yeah." He bowed his head slightly and then met Jack's apologetic gaze.

"Me, too," said Jack.

Ianto walked up behind Jack and said in a low voice. "You can show me just how much, later."

They entwined finger.

"So," asked Gwen. "Did you tell Rhys?"

"No," said Jack.

"Good."

The five Torchwood members chatted until the doctor arrived and shooed them out so he could examine Gwen. After an hour, she was discharged.

TWTWTW

Jack held Ianto to his chest, feeling his heart beating in time to his own. Their lovemaking had been slow, but passionate.

"Have I proven to you just how sorry I was yet?" asked Jack.

"Not quite," replied Ianto, his lips coming up to meet his lover's. "But I'm sure by morning, you will have."

THE END