Warnings: This can be classified as hurt/comfort, and the 'hurt' part of it includes mild BDSM/punishment. Yes, I know, what was I thinking? These plot bunnies jump at you out of nowhere…

What You Need by Marita C

-

"Can't imagine the time when this isn't everything. Pain so constant, like my stomach's full of rats. Feels like this is all I am now. There isn't an inch of me that doesn't hurt."

-

Part 1


On Tuesday night, Jack wanders into the tourist office to find Ianto closing up shop. "You're actually leaving at a normal hour?" Jack asks, leaning on the doorframe.

Ianto finishes buttoning up his coat. "Yup," he answers curtly.

"I've gotten used to you staying here halfway into the night," Jack says.

"I have a date," replies Ianto, not looking at him.

Jack is taken aback. Ianto had a date? For the past weeks the younger man has been a wreck. Jack was starting to wonder if he'll ever get over losing Lisa, and was actually contemplating retconning him just to stop his suffering. Now he was going out on a date?

"What's her name?" he asks lightly.

Ianto reaches for his umbrella. "His name is Anthony," he replies. "Goodnight, sir."

Ianto walks out the door.

Jack stands there for several minutes, somewhat disturbed, before going back into the Hub.

***

The next morning, Ianto arrives at the Hub before the rest of the team, as usual for him. Jack looks up from the paperwork on his desk when Ianto brings him his morning coffee.

"How was your date last night?" he asks.

"It was fine," Ianto answers coolly, clearly reluctant to discuss this matter further. As he sets the cup on Jack's desk, his jacket sleeve rides up a little, and Jack's eyes catch the edge of a purple bruise around Ianto's wrist.

He freezes for a moment, and quickly glances up at Ianto. The younger man seems oblivious to Jack's discovery. He turns away from the desk and heads out of Jack's office. Jack stares after him with a dark expression. 

***

Ianto stays at work late that night, and the next one, and the next. It isn't until next Tuesday that Jack catches him leaving at a reasonable hour again.

"So, this thing with Anthony, is it just a Tuesday night thing?" Jack asks flippantly.

Ianto looks up, a little startled, then his expression becomes closed off. "Is that a problem?" he asks with a slight edge to his voice.

"Not at all," Jack says. "Enjoy yourself."

Something flits across Ianto's eyes that Jack can't quite recognize. "I will," Ianto says before stepping outside.

Jack hesitates exactly one minute before deciding to follow him. There's a tracker in Ianto's car, and Jack uses the GPS in the SUV to tail him without getting close enough to be spotted.

When the signal tells him Ianto has parked the car, he stops at some distance and proceeds on foot. They are in the worst part of town.

He spots Ianto crossing the street ahead of him, and entering an old building. Jack doesn't bother going in after him. He knows the place, and he knows what Ianto goes there for.

***

When Ianto comes into work on Wednesday morning, he walks somewhat stiffly. Jack watches him, but says nothing.

***

When they get back into town after their disastrous, nearly fatal trip to the countryside, Owen insists on checking Ianto up, despite the younger man's protests. "I'm fine, just a few bruises." Ianto tries again.

"Do I need to make it an order?" Jack asks from up on the railing. Ianto glares up at him and unbuttons his shirt.

Owen runs his hands along Ianto's ribs, his lower back and his abdomen, and determines there's no serious damage. The doctor pauses as he takes a closer look at some of the bruises.

"These seem a few days old," he says, bemused, then shakes his head.

"Can you give us a minute, Owen?" Jack asks from above. Owen glances up and shrugs.

"I'm going home." he says, and disappears into the Hub.

Jack descends the stairs slowly and stops before Ianto, sitting on the bed. "How long are you going to continue punishing yourself?" he asks, not beating around the bush.

Ianto looks at him blankly. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he answers smoothly. Jack reaches a finger and traces a bruise along Ianto's ribcage. One of the older ones.

"Of course you don't." Jack says quietly.

Ianto stays motionless, but is unable to meet Jack's eyes. "This is none of you business," he tells Jack.

Jack grabs his chin none too gently and forces Ianto to look at him. "That's where you're wrong," he tells him. "This is going to stop. Right now."

Ianto glares at him. "You can't tell me what to do in my personal time," he protests.

Jack lets go of him and takes a step back.

He tries a different approach. "I can help you," he says gently. Ianto frowns at him but stays silent. Jack hesitates a moment, and then says in a rush, "You don't have to go back to that place. I can give you what you need... safely."

Ianto's face becomes flushed and he looks away from Jack. He hops down from the bed and pulls on his shirt. "Thanks for the offer, but no."

"You're playing with fire, Ianto. There's no way this can end well," Jack tries.

"I appreciate your concern, sir. I'm going home now." Ianto walks past him without another word.   

***

Gwen and Tosh leave at 7pm on Tuesday. Owen leaves fifteen minutes later.

Jack sits in his office and watches Ianto on CCTV.

He watches as Ianto seems to become increasingly restless down in the archives.

He watches as he goes into the tourist office and picks up his coat. And right away hangs it back on the coat rack, looking distraught.

He watches the younger man fiddling with his car keys, before returning them to their place.

He watches Ianto stand stiffly, eyes closed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jack switches the monitor off.

Ianto enters the Hub a moment later, and walks slowly towards Jack's office. He stops at the doorway, looking at Jack nervously.

Jack sends him a little nod and walks over to where he's standing. "Come on," he says, reaching out a hand.

Ianto takes his hand hesitantly, and Jack leads him downstairs.

Continue to part 2