Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just play with them. I'll bring them back when I'm done, promise.

A/N: This is the beginning of a story which follows Season Two so will contain spoilers for the whole season.

Dying evidently changes a man. Ianto observed Jack from his vantage point high up near Myfanwy's nest as he mourned the death (mercy killing) of the alien-cum-meat factory. Since Gwen's dramatic departure earlier Jack had shut himself in his office and hidden until he thought everyone had gone home. Ianto, fearing Jack would do something he shouldn't, had done one of his invisibility routines and simply waited for the object of his affections to reappear. Ianto was concerned about Jack's increasingly odd behaviour around Gwen as her wedding day approached. He knew they'd had a fling (he'd been the one to wipe the CCTV tape clear and besides, who hadn't Jack slept with?) but somehow he'd missed Jack seemingly fall head over heels for her. He knew he should feel, well, something about it, after all he and Jack were…dabbling…but all he felt was sympathy and a deep concern for Jack. Besides which, since when did Captain Jack Harkness grieve so deeply over the death of an alien he'd only just met? Things just didn't add up.

Ianto once again turned his attention to Jack, who was absently inspecting Owen's plants. Sighing he began the descent from Myfanwy's nest with the intention of rescuing the plants before Jack turned any more of their leaves into mush. By the time he reached a less dizzying level Jack had moved on to poke at Tosh's computer, which was trying to run a translation program.

"Tosh'll kill you if you break that."

Ianto had the brief satisfaction of making Jack jump in surprise.

"Thought you'd gone home."

"Had a few things to finish up."

Jack kept his back to Ianto, head bowed, the very picture of defeat. Ianto felt his heart clench at the sight of his proud, brave Captain reduced to the image of a small child. He stepped forward and placed his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Come with me."

Jack allowed himself to be steered over to the sofa and slumped down next to Ianto.

Ianto pulled Jack close to him, wrapping his arms around the defeated man and allowing his love to pulse around them, hopefully beginning to heal Jack's wounds.

"Why are you doing this?"

Jack's voice startled Ianto from his reverie.

"Because I want to."

"I thought you weren't speaking to me."

"Why on Earth would I not be speaking to you?" Ianto was genuinely puzzled.

"Because of…well…the Gwen thing…and…"

"I'm not mad at you Jack."

"No?"

"No."

Jack wriggled in his arms, squirming to get more comfortable. Apparently Ianto's affirmation was all Jack needed to start relaxing. He rested his head on Ianto's shoulder, burrowing his nose into the crook of his neck.

Gradually their breathing synchronised and Jack allowed the warmth of Ianto's body to seep into his tired muscles, breeching the defences he'd built up around himself. Content to be held by a man he knew cared, Jack allowed his mind to wander replaying the events since his return from the Valiant.

The TARDIS had insisted on the Doctor, Martha and himself going into some sort of stasis – a timeless state where they could all heal the damage the Master had inflicted. To begin with, all they had done was sleep. Not wanting to be apart, they'd all piled into one room where the TARDIS supplied enough bedding to make a nest, and curled together like dormice. Nightmares were easier to handle when entwined with two other bodies.

They'd talked a lot, even the Doctor. It had helped, but all of them held something back, not wanting to inflict yet more pain onto each other. Physically they were healed, but inside every single one of them was damaged – the wounds were deep and painful.

Time elsewhere marched on, but inside the protective cocoon of the TARDIS the inhabitants were oblivious. Gradually they slept less, began to eat more and no longer clung so tightly to each other. Jack began to think about those he'd left behind – his team, his family. He was saddened to realise he could no longer clearly picture the exact shade of blue Ianto's eyes were, or the scent of Gwen's perfume, or the feel of Tosh's hand in his. He realised he was even missing Owen's sarcasm. It was then he decided he was ready to go back.

They'd argued, the Doctor and he, over whether he was ready. Looking back, the Doctor was right. He wasn't ready. But is he hadn't left when he did he probably never would have, and he couldn't do that to his team. He at least owed them a few explanations if nothing else.

Jack was jolted back to the present by a soft kiss on top of his head. Settling impossibly closer to this remarkable man, Jack began to count his blessings. Here was someone who accepted him for who he was; who never tried to change him and always forgave him eventually. Here was a man who was strong enough to fight for what he wanted and was loyal to the end, no matter what. Here was a man who may have the ability to fix what broke inside of Jack a long time ago. He found Ianto's hand and twined their fingers together.

"Let me fix you Jack."

It was like Ianto had read his mind.

"I don't know if you can…the pieces are scattered across galaxies…across time…"

"Let me try?"

"OK"

"Tell me about your Doctor."

"You've seen the file."

"No, tell me about your Doctor."

"I can't…it's too…it hurts…"

Ianto felt Jack tense in his arms, felt his heart begin to race.

"Hey shh…I know, but it'll help. I promise."

So Jack took a deep breath and began to talk about his Doctor. He told Ianto about their first meeting, about the Doctor saving him from certain detonation. He told of their travels together, the good times they'd had with Rose, the experiences they'd shared. He told of the battle and of being killed, of waking on Satellite Five and hearing the TARDIS leaving him behind. He talked and talked and talked, all the while with Ianto stroking his hair, wiping away his tears and loving him unconditionally.

He told of the years he had to wait for the Doctor's return, the lives he'd lived, the loves he'd lost. He paused, and then began the hardest part. Jack spoke of the Doctor's return, his regeneration and the missing year on the Valiant. He recounted his deaths, the torture and the agony, and his feelings of hopelessness.

"I forgot what shade of blue your eyes were Yan."

He talked more than he had in centuries, told Ianto things he'd forgotten himself; spoke from the heart until he could speak no more, finally falling into an exhausted sleep in Ianto's arms.

It was only once Jack had collapsed that Ianto let his own tears fall. Tears of relief that he had his Captain safe in his arms, tears of gratitude for being privilege to Jack's innermost thoughts and emotions, and tears of sadness for what this unbelievable man had had no choice but to live through. Jack began to shift restlessly in his arms as the first of many nightmares began to take hold.

"Hush, you're safe…I'm here…"

Mindless words repeated over and over soothing Jack back to sleep, a process repeated until the door rolled back allowing Tosh to enter, heralding the start of a new day.