Return to Sender

Note: sorry for the delay! School and work are trying to kill me! I'm glad someone's reading this. I had my doubts. I'll definitely work harder in posting as I'm finished with the story now and just fixing any plot holes. Again, thank you for R n R!

That hard lump seemed to have traveled up to his stomach.

As Ianto moved, it felt like knives cutting him open, splitting him apart, but Ianto stopped asking and that's what Jack wanted. Jack felt guilty steering Ianto's questions away like that, but he told himself this was what he needed. He washed away what he could of Hart on the outside, now, he needed Ianto to get rid of him inside.

But, Goddess, it hurt.

Jack knew it was probably a mistake. He felt how swollen and bruised he was, but he told himself this wouldn't kill him. What Hart did was just sex. What he was getting from Ianto was love. There was a difference and it would help kill the initial reaction to shove Ianto off him after the young man straddled him. And begged him. Jack couldn't deny him anything.

But it hurt so much.

The first thrust drove tears into his eyes. Jack couldn't breathe as Ianto's passion grew into a frenzied pace. Normally, he loved to see his Ianto like this: unbridled and caught in the heated throes of their love making. But the sheer agony made Jack's body fight Ianto. He cried out breathlessly in pain, biting his lower lip in an effort to disguise the cries to something more innocent. As Ianto clutched him, moaning as he thrust, Jack gripped him like an anchor, a shield to the pain. Ianto's release nearly made him cry.

It was over quickly. And Ianto, exhausted and nuzzling sleepily on his chest, asked no more questions. And that painful lump traveled during each stroke, twisting his insides as it went, until it remained in his gut like a lump of ice.

Jack slipped out of Ianto's embrace. He stopped briefly to watch him, his cheekbones flushed from sex, mouth swollen from kissing. Jack smiled, brushing a hand over his hair, softening when he heard Ianto mumbled his name.

Staggering, feeling like he was walking bow-legged, Jack climbed out of bed. Fist to his belly, Jack walked painfully to the bathroom, cleaned himself, straightened his sweats, checked for bleeding, then popped three painkillers in his mouth from Ianto's medicine cabinet. Done, he found he couldn't get himself back in bed. Jack ended up sitting on the sofa, pillow over his stomach that didn't help much, dully watching the telly all night on mute.


There was a note on Ianto's nightstand when he woke. It was Jack, explaining he went back to Torchwood, but told him it was alright to sleep in late. Ianto felt hollow inside, realizing he was alone in bed and Jack never woke him. Ianto took the note, crumpling in his fist as he looked around his bedroom.

It was unlike him, but Ianto gave the hamper only a passing glance, too confused and worried about Jack to care about anything else. He scowled into his bathroom mirror as he shaved. Hart. There was good reason indeed to come to work. He wanted to find the bastard. It mildly disturbed Ianto at how violent his thoughts were. But he finished up, brooding over Jack and Hart, dressing in his pinstripe suit that was Jack's favorite and drove to work as fast as he could without the police stopping him.

Ianto knew it couldn't be good when he was greeted with open relief by everyone, except Jack who apparently barricaded himself in his office. He made coffee, tidied up the upstairs information desk, and found excuses to linger in the central area and wait for Jack to come out of his office. He never did.

Owen complained Jack bit his head off when he insisted he wanted to run a check up on Jack. Owen had almost a frightened look as he recounted the murderous look that went over Jack at the mention of Owen's tests.

"He may be immortal but he's not impervious," Owen complained. He scowled at the shut doors.

"What do you expect me to do about it?" Ianto held back his temper. No one was making an effort to tell Owen to lower his voice. Ianto kept looking up at Jack's office. When he returned his attentions to Owen, Owen was looking back at him smug.

"THAT'S why," Owen drawled. "You've been staring up there since you got here. Might as well get it over with and have a look." He sounded like he was doing Ianto a favor. He nudged Ianto towards the stairs. "Come on. YOU, he won't kill. He likes you." He shoved an ear thermometer, a pressure cuff and their scanner onto the nearly empty tray of coffee and toast.

Ianto sighed but he had to admit, he did want to check on his captain, who never ventured out even when he returned with take away for lunch. A subtle inquiry on their IM went ignored; their systems said C. Harkness wasn't online as usual.

It felt like execution drums beating behind him as he climbed the stairs. Jack's weary voice inviting in the knocker was a bit of an anti-climatic.

"Owen sent you, huh?" Jack smiled at him tightly as soon as Ianto closed the door behind him. Jack chuckled ruefully when he saw the medical equipment piled on the tray with his coffee. Jack grabbed his drink, ignoring the rest including the toast.

Ianto sat down on the edge of his desk, his right thigh within Jack's personal space. "You left pretty early this morning."

Jack darted a look at him. "Sorry."

Shrugging, Ianto bit back the words he wanted too say: how quiet and empty it was in the loft. He wasn't expecting it to be.

"Owen wants me to take your vitals." Ianto lifted up the pressure cuff for him to see.

"Owen is just worried," Jack half growled. He wrapped his hands around the coffee and took a long drink.

"So am I," Ianto said quietly. He held his breath when Jack paused. "Jack, this is Hart we're talking about."

Jack looked up. He softened at what he saw on Ianto's face. "I'm fine." He sat up straighter in his chair.

The dark circles under his captain's eyes and the slight slouch Jack couldn't get rid of told him otherwise. But Jack's set jaw warned him not to press. Ianto chewed on his lower lip.

"Stop worrying." Jack tilted his head up. "I can hear you thinking from here." Jack smiled at Ianto tiredly. He reached over, his right hand smoothing a line in Ianto's pants, slowly pressing the heel of his hand inside his thigh. He brushed across the crisp wool fabric of Ianto's pants. "I'm fine," Jack murmured. His voice was husky as he stared at Ianto with dark, smoky eyes. Shivers trickled down Ianto's spine.

Ianto swallowed, his mouth dried as he felt Jack's hand stroke the in-seam of his trousers. "I…I…should really check, s-sir," he stammered. He felt lightheaded and flushed. His skin tingled wherever Jack's hand brushed over his pants. He could feel the heat from Jack's hand as it wandered to behind his knee. It's not fair, Ianto thought desperately as Jack massaged and petted a spot behind his knees. Jack knew all his spots and he was out of reach sitting below Ianto.

"At least," Ianto bit back a moan as Jack's fingers wandered, pausing just over his covered groin. Ianto gritted his teeth, leaning into Jack's hand. "At least," Ianto tried again. "Let me take your pulse."

When Jack didn't say anything, Ianto shuffled closer on the desk. He smoothed a hand down Jack's arm on the desk. He could feel a warm firm bicep under cool cotton. Ianto paused just inside Jack's wrist and left his hand lingering there. He heard the quickened breath and felt encouraged. He slowly lifted Jack's wrist and pressed his lips on the pulse he could feel.

"Pulse's a little fast," Ianto tsked, pressing the tip of his tongue on the frantic beat under sensitive skin. He could feel Jack's eyes on him. "Hm…blood pressure could be a little high too." Ianto kept his eyes on Jack as he stroked his inner wrist with his fingers.

"High blood pressure?" Jack sounded husky, breathless. His eyes were dark, riveted to Ianto as he nipped each finger tip. Jack reached over with his other hand and cupped it over the swelling bulge between Ianto's legs. "Hm…pulse feels kind of fast here, too."

Ianto closed his eyes as he felt Jack's strong, sure fingers squeezed and massaged him. He groaned, feeling himself hardening under Jack's palm. His erection tented in his slacks and Ianto pressed into Jack's hand.

"Jack," he murmured, aching. He guided the other hand still in his hold down to the other, his hands over Jack's to keep them there and the dizzy pressure building between his legs.

Ianto's eyes flew open when he felt the heat of Jack's mouth breathed on his covered crotch, his nose pressed up against his inner thigh, breathing deep like it was oxygen. Ianto groaned, feeling Jack uncharacteristic touched him tenderly, unzipping and pulling him out.

"Wait," Ianto groaned, hating himself for doing this. "Others…outside…" He choked as he felt Jack's warm and wet mouth wrapped around him. He carded his fingers into Jack's hair, his hips jerking, aching to thrust up in that wonderful heat. "I'm suppose to take your…oh God…vitals!"

Jack mumbled something but Ianto could feel him smile around his cock before he resumed sucking, long wet pulls on his arousal. Jack's large hands were braced on his thighs, his thumbs pressing into Ianto's muscles. Ianto could feel his pulse coursing from his groin, thundering under Jack's touch. And God, Jack was taking his time; slow and gentle, so unlike the heated, almost animalistic crashing of bodies they usually do. This, this was different; a Jack unlike he'd ever felt on his body. Ianto felt light-headed, feeling like he could thrust wildly into Jack's mouth and his captain would take it. The thought of Jack this way and the memory of how intoxicating Jack felt around his cock yesterday was too much. Ianto doubled over, buried his face to the back of Jack's hair, and muffled his hoarse cry of release. His hips jerked up so hard, he felt himself slipping past Jack's gag release and spill messily into his mouth.

Spots swam before his eyes and Ianto found he couldn't straighten, slumped over Jack as the other milked him dry with his lush mouth.

"No fair," Ianto panted when Jack pulled away. There was an odd thrill about tasting himself in Jack's mouth when Jack pulled his head down for a kiss. Tongues batted against each other and Ianto moaned into Jack's mouth as he felt Jack gently tuck him back into his trousers.

"Taking advantage of me," Ianto teased lightly. He'd never gotten a chance to take Jack's pressure.

Ianto could feel Jack stiffening against him and with a jerk, Jack pulled away, his chair rolled abruptly back; hard enough it looked like it rattled when his chair hit the wall.

"Jesus!" Ianto cried, startled. He hopped off the desk, already down on one knee as he grabbed Jack's knee anxiously. "What the devil was that? Jack?"

For a brief moment, Ianto caught Jack's face twisted in anguish. He was stunned. Surely, Jack didn't take him seriously?

"Jack," Ianto began. Ianto "I was only—"

"I know," Jack murmured. "I over-reacted." He planted a kiss on the top of his head. His lips lingered, his hand tangling in the back of Ianto's hair. Jack rose to his feet, pulling Ianto up as well. He surprised Ianto by slipping his hands into Ianto's waist band, tucking his shirt back in. Ianto stood there, transfixed as Jack straightened his clothing. He took great care to zip up Ianto's trousers, fixed Ianto's tie, his hands brushed across his shoulders as if he was ironing the wrinkles out with his touch.

Ianto braced his hands on Jack's biceps. He watched Jack's quiet focus on his belt and a wave of protectiveness came over him. "When we find him," Ianto found himself hissing. "I'm going to kill him." Ianto blinked. Where did THAT come from?

Jack jerked, looking just as startled. He cocked his head to the side and considered him.

"I don't think I'd ever seen this side of you before." Jack raised an eyebrow, his mouth curving to a sly smile. "It's very hot."

Ianto flushed. "I have no idea where that came from," he confessed, flushing.

"Keep finding it," Jack drawled. "My beautiful Welsh protector." He smiled deviously, pulling at the tie he just fixed. Their lips hovered over each other.

An alarm rang out. It was Tosh's rift alarm.

Jack smiled grimly. He nudged his nose against Ianto's cheek. "Back to work," Jack murmured before he pulled away with obvious reluctance.

Ianto stared at Jack's mouth. "Uh…yes. I better…well…I should…"

"Maybe you should go?" Jack suggested throatily, his smile was making Ianto's heart thud in his chest.

Ianto stumbled back out of the office, barely holding onto the tray. He swallowed, hoping he didn't look like he just had the most heady blow job from his captain. He stared blankly until he realized Owen was asking him a question.

"Oy," Owen sounded annoyed. "Did you get my vitals or not, mate?"

"Vitals?" Ianto repeated stupidly.

Whoops.