Jack sauntered into the Hub with Ianto a step behind. Tosh and Gwen looked up from their work and smiled, clearly excited to have more company besides Owen. The doctor, on the other hand, continued with the samples he was examining, and it was a few minutes before he degloved and joined the others in the center of the building.

"This is Captain Jack Harkness ordering a return of control over Torchwood Three from Doctor Owen Harper," he announced, posing somewhat grandiosely with his arms akimbo and head tilted skyward. Once again, Owen gave his response, walking over to the Captain and clapping him on the shoulder.

"You're looking better than the last time I saw you," he commented.

"Nothing like forty-eight hours of beauty sleep," Jack quipped. Owen rolled his eyes.

Glad to see that everything had returned to normal, Ianto made his way over to the coffee machine, hoping that much-needed caffeine would help to dull the headache he'd been nursing since he had woken up, and that something warm would get him to stop shivering. Even with his coat and scarf still on, he could feel the hair on the back of his neck sticking up.

While Tosh and Gwen brought Jack up to speed on the current situation, Owen went over to Ianto and leaned against the table. "You told me you'd take care of yourself."

"I'm fine," Ianto stated, although the tightness in his chest was starting to make him think otherwise.

"Ianto, I can see the heat coming off of you. You need to—"

Ianto held up one hand to the doctor, interrupting him mid-sentence as he turned away and stifled a sneeze against his other hand. Before he could return to face Owen, he felt strong arms circling around him and a hand on the back of his head. He closed his eyes and gave into the touch, resting his head on Jack's shoulder, the scent of the older man giving away his identity. As the Captain began to move his other hand in gentle circles on the Welshman's back, Ianto, exhausted and caught off-guard, let out a sigh that turned into a weak cough. He felt Jack turn his head and press his lips to Ianto's forehead, and nodded in assent when the older man murmured gently, "I think it's bedtime for you."

Ianto allowed himself to be led by the hand to Jack's office, and obeyed when the Captain ushered him onto the couch. He shifted positions when the other removed his coat and scarf, and silently curled up on his side, drawing around his shoulders the blanket that Jack draped over him. He shivered, only able to stop trembling when he felt the other man's warm hands on his face.

"Why didn't you say something?" Jack asked, brushing Ianto's hair off of his forehead. "I would have stayed home and taken care of you there."

Ianto shook his head. "You need to be here. I'll be fine wherever."

Jack leaned close and pressed his lips to Ianto's cheek. "You know, a few days ago, you were the one telling me that I needed to take a few days off."

About to reply, Ianto paused when he heard an alarm go off downstairs. He heard Owen barking orders, and Tosh delivering updates on the Rift monitor. "Go," he told the Captain, his voice audibly congested. "Your team needs you."

Jack peered out the window at the action below, but did not move to rise off the couch. "It looks like they've got things under control."

After turning away to cough, Ianto added hoarsely, "The world needs you."

"The world can wait." The look in Jack's eyes told Ianto that he was staying right there, his warm hands on Ianto's skin. Ianto, feverish and tired and amazed that Jack was still there, reached up and grabbed the older man by the lapels of his coat and pulled him close so that their mouths were almost touching. With his breath hot on Ianto's lips, Jack exhaled, "I thought you said no kissing until we were better."

"I said no kissing until you were better," Ianto corrected. "And you look pretty healthy to me."

Jack's lips curved into a smile. "Can't argue with that logic," he conceded, allowing Ianto to pull him the last inch into a kiss.