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Entry tags:
Challenge 792 - No alternative
Title: No alternative
Character: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 300 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 792 - Protect at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
torchwood100
torchwood100Summary: Jack's worries keep him awake at night. A triple drabble.
Jack lay awake in the bed, hearing the soft tick tock of the clock on the far wall, keeping a metronomic beat in time with his own slow breaths.
Beside him Ianto was asleep, pillow hugged tight against his body. He would have preferred to be clutching to Jack but Jack was too restless and Ianto needed the sleep.
Jack watched the peaceful expression on his face. Often, even in sleep, Ianto held a permanent little frown, as if still worrying about everything that needed to be done, even in his dreams. Tonight though his face was relaxed, content just to be close to his lover.
Jack swallowed down the lump forming in the back of his throat. He'd almost lost Ianto today. The click of the firing pin in the gun snapping against an empty magazine was the loudest sound Jack had ever heard. Just one failed bullet away from death.
He wanted to keep Ianto safe and fire him; remove him from Torchwood altogether, forcing him into a civilian job where people firing guns at him wouldn't ever happen. Of course Jack knew that was impossible. Ianto wouldn't let him do it. He loved this job, even knowing the dangers. Jack knew it because it was the same love he felt for the job. Some things you just couldn't walk away from. Torchwood was one, but Ianto was the other.
Jack loved him more than he could ever openly admit, and losing him would be unbearable. It was that awful thought that kept him awake, simply watching his lover in oblivious repose.
He reached over and leant down, pressing his lips to Ianto's forehead and letting them linger there for an agonisingly long time. 'How am I supposed to protect you?' Jack whispered, knowing there was no answer.
Jack lay awake in the bed, hearing the soft tick tock of the clock on the far wall, keeping a metronomic beat in time with his own slow breaths.
Beside him Ianto was asleep, pillow hugged tight against his body. He would have preferred to be clutching to Jack but Jack was too restless and Ianto needed the sleep.
Jack watched the peaceful expression on his face. Often, even in sleep, Ianto held a permanent little frown, as if still worrying about everything that needed to be done, even in his dreams. Tonight though his face was relaxed, content just to be close to his lover.
Jack swallowed down the lump forming in the back of his throat. He'd almost lost Ianto today. The click of the firing pin in the gun snapping against an empty magazine was the loudest sound Jack had ever heard. Just one failed bullet away from death.
He wanted to keep Ianto safe and fire him; remove him from Torchwood altogether, forcing him into a civilian job where people firing guns at him wouldn't ever happen. Of course Jack knew that was impossible. Ianto wouldn't let him do it. He loved this job, even knowing the dangers. Jack knew it because it was the same love he felt for the job. Some things you just couldn't walk away from. Torchwood was one, but Ianto was the other.
Jack loved him more than he could ever openly admit, and losing him would be unbearable. It was that awful thought that kept him awake, simply watching his lover in oblivious repose.
He reached over and leant down, pressing his lips to Ianto's forehead and letting them linger there for an agonisingly long time. 'How am I supposed to protect you?' Jack whispered, knowing there was no answer.
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