Can't Take It

                                    

                                          
This is probably the crappiest/most pointless thing I have ever written but I liked the concept idea, I just had no where to go with it. So uh, just a heads up and I promise the upcoming ones will be better. Enjoy.
                          


                          
It was any normal Friday night in the Torchwood hub for Captain Jack Harkness. He had sent the rest of the team home early, knowing that they would rather be out and about that stuck here filing paper work. Owen was probably out drinking or cooped up at home doing the same. Tosh was most likely clutching her laptop, trying not to fall asleep as she enters lines of code. Gwen was presumably asleep on the couch with Rhys after dozing off during a movie. Ianto was probably - doing whatever Ianto does. 
                          
Despite the two had a growing relationship, Jack still couldn't figure him out. Yes, he had read Ianto's diary. Yes, he had been on multiple dates with him, but Jack just couldn't figure out what the Torchwood teaboy did in his free time. 
                          
It was nearing two am, and Jack found himself shuffling through papers, zoning out every now and again, along with stifling the occasional yawn. Despite it being practically the middle of the night, the Captain still had his ear piece on.  Jack does his best to always have his comm on, just in case his team needs him. To the extent of his knowledge, the entire team would take off their comms as soon as Jack told them that they could head home. 
                          
Jack let out a sigh and rubbed his brow, reaching out to take a sip from his coffee- which was now long cold. Despite that, Jack still enjoyed it. Ianto could make a mean coffee. 
                          
Jack figured it was about time to head to sleep. He snatched his coat off the hanger and clicked off the lamp on the corner of his desk. His eyes froze on the pair of blue and red 3D glasses hanging from the lampshade. A very dear friend had worn those. A friend Jack doesn't want to forget. Jack slowly made his way out of the office, pushing open the thick glass doors.
                          
He began to walk down to the main floor of the hub, when a short scream erupted in his ear. 
                          
"Gwen?! Owen?! Ianto?! Tosh?!?" Jack yelled into his comm. 
                          
The only response Jack got was silence. Then there was heavy panting, and what began to sound like a muffled sob. It was almost as if whoever was crying was trying to avoid being heard, so maybe they were in danger. 
                          
The sobbing slowly became unmuffled as if they had just given up on hiding it. The saddest part was - Jack recognized the crying. 
                          
"Ianto? Is that you? Are you okay?" Jack's mind went to horrid places, like maybe he was being held at gun point, maybe he was- 
                          
"Ah, sorry sir." Ianto responded. "I urm, must have forgotten to remove my comm before I went to bed. Sorry for disturbing you. Good night." 
                          
"Ianto Jones do not remove your comm. What the hell happened?" Jack said, taking a seat on the stairs near the door to the hub. 
                          
"I'm fine, sir."
                          
"That didn't answer my question, Ianto. What happened?" Jack said, his voice becoming more stern as he became desperate for information. 
                          
"Let's just not mention this to anyone else." Ianto said, still avoiding the question. 
                          
"If you do not answer me I'm coming over to your house and forcing you to answer me."
                          
"Jack, please, you don't have to worry about it." Ianto said, almost begging Jack to leave him alone. 
                          
"You know I'm the stubborn type." Jack chuckled. 
                          
"Please, just stop. Just- stop!" Ianto said beginning to sob again. 
                          
"Hey, hey! Calm down, okay, just talk to me." 
                          
"I'll see you tomorrow Jack." Ianto said, then the line went dead. 
                          


                          
The next morning the team trickled into work, everyone tired because they hadn't had their second cup of coffee yet. Ianto was the last to show up, and he did his best to avoid contact with Jack. 
                          
"Ianto!" Jack called out, beckoning him into his office. 
                          
Ianto winced, knowing what was coming. 
                          
Jack shut the doors behind them and instructed Ianto to sit in the chair behind Jack's desk. "Do you wanna tell me what the hell happened last night?" 
                          
Ianto just sat there, looking down at his feet. 
                          
"Ianto, please ju-"
                          
"It was a nightmare." He stated, still not looking up at Jack. "That's all. Just a common nightmare, now drop it, okay?" Ianto rested his arms on the desk and buried his head in his hands. 
                          
Jack leaned on the desk, wondering what to say next. Before he had a chance to open his mouth, Ianto got up from the desk and attempted to leave the room. 
                          
Jack grabbed Ianto by the shoulders and spun him around. "What is wrong with you?" 
                          
It all happened so quickly. Ianto's eyes brimmed with tears, then he practically collapsed into Jack. Jack grabbed him and fell to the ground as Ianto began to sob. Jack pulled Ianto close and rested his his head atop of Ianto's, lightly rocking him. 
                          
"I can't take it anymore Jack, I just can't." Ianto sobbed, his fists tightening on Jacks coat as if he was holding on for dear life. 
                          
Jack kissed Ianto on the forehead. "What is it? Just tell me about it, please." 
                          
"It's at least twice a week, the same one, every time. We get into this awful fight, you and me. You say you hate me and that I'm not worth your time. I say similar things in return. The team is there, and Torchwood's been bombed. You get us to safety and you're so sure that you can make it through. But you just don't wake up. You die, Jack. Your luck just ran out. I know you've told me you're a fixed point in time or whatever, but it still doesn't stop me worrying."
                          
Jack almost smiled. "You worry that much, huh? Like I said, the Doctor says I'm a fixed point in time and space, so I don't think my luck will run out. Not anytime soon at least."
                          
"Will I ever get to meet this Doctor of yours?"
                          
"Well, now that would be a trip, wouldn't it?" Jack began running his hands through Ianto's hair. 
                          
"Hey uh, Jack? I was wondering if-" 
                          
The two boys on the floor turned their heads toward Gwen, standing in the doorway of Jack's office. 
                          
"Never mind, not that important."  She gave and awkward wave and closed the door behind her. 
                          
"Not again." Jack murmured, recalling the incident when Gwen walked in on them having sex. 
                          
Ianto chuckled, also recalling the event. "Let's get back to work?" He suggested, wiping tears from his face. 
                          
"That sounds like a brilliant idea." 
                          


                          
-1151 Words-