Fffc Bingo Card - In need

[m_findlow]

Title: In need
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack, Gwen, Oswald 
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none 
Author notes: Written for Bingo Card Prompt 87 - Blood at fffc
Summary: Jack is in a bad way but his two best friends will do whatever they can. 

Jack wrapped his arm around his torso even as Gwen was still on the phone to Esther. He caught the deepening frown on Ianto's face and knew he couldn't hide his pain and discomfort any longer. There was something very wrong about this place which is how he knew they were in exactly the right place. In the past year they'd been trying to track down the source of the Miracle with limited success, but finally they were onto something big. 

'Gwen,' Ianto called out, even though both he and Jack knew she couldn't hear him. 'Gwen!' he called out more loudly. 

Gwen's head turned at that exact moment as she was hanging up on Esther, and Jack might have wondered if she had in fact sensed Ianto's distress. Jack didn't bother to ask. A lance of pain shot through him, making him double over just in time for her to sweep over and grab him. 

'Idiot,' Gwen scolded. 'You idiot.' 

'I second that,' Ianto added, hovering at Gwen's side as she helped him towards the filthy bunk bed, easing him back. 

Gwen shook her head at him. 'You told me that was healed. You're not better at all, are you?' 

'I thought there was something not right. You were too quiet on the flight. I know you. You normally can't sit still. You drive the air hostesses crazy.' 

Jack was in too much pain to respond. It was amazing how many times the figment of his own imagination knew so little about what was going on with him. If they ever got through this he was going to grill Ianto on the specifics of how this all worked. He wanted to know how long this was going to last. Would Ianto just cease to be one day, or was he going to follow Jack around, haunting his steps for the rest of eternity? He wasn't sure which he preferred, but right now he had bigger problems. 

Gwen hovered over him, unbuttoning his shirt to inspect his gunshot wound. He knew he was in a bad way because he couldn't even find it in himself to joke about her tearing his clothes off. 'Let me see.' 

Jack winced. 'Sorry.' 

'It's okay. I've got you.' She lowered him further down onto the bed. Every movement was agony. 

'I'm so sorry.' 

'It's all right. Don't be sorry. I've got you.' 

Ianto cocked his head at Jack, coming around the other side of the bunk bed to be closer. 'Where's my apology? Don't I get one? Here I am unable to even do anything to help. God, why did you bring me here, Jack?' 

'Okay, let me take a look,' Gwen said, carefully prising away the soaked bandages. 'Oh, honestly. Oh, God.' 

He heard Ianto hiss at the sight of the wound having split itself back open as if he'd only been shot yesterday. That was about how it felt too. In fact, his whole body felt like the blood inside him was churning, it was simply that this hurt more. Jack winced, turning his head toward her. 'Gwen…' 

'If I had known it was this bad, Jack, you'd never have come.' 

Jack tried to sit back up so he could see the damage for himself. 'It got worse when we arrived. Ah!' he cried as she prodded around the edges. 

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Okay, I've got you.' 

Ianto's head turned away from him and Jack noticed Oswald looking in the exact same direction, curious what had drawn both their attentions before losing interest during a fresh wave of nauseating pain. 

'Fine place to die, in old Shanghai,' Jack said, forcing the words out. 

Gwen scolded at him. 'You're not dying. Don't say that.' 

'She's right. Don't you dare say that,' Ianto demanded. 

'I'm tired, Gwen. This mortal life, it hurts so much.' His pained expression was directed away from her at the person in the room she couldn't see. He needed Ianto to know how hard this had been since he'd returned to earth. 

'I lived it,' Ianto replied. 'I know.' 

Oswald ruined the moment by interrupting. 'Well, now. Can't say I've been to China before, so I'm not well versed in their customs. But I've got to say I never knew about that.' He pointed at the blood drops as they moved across the floor. Gwen sat Jack back up so he could see. 

'What the hell…' Ianto breathed. 

'It's your blood,' Gwen said. 'No wonder it's killing you. I think, I think it's showing us the way. It's The Blessing. It's somewhere over there. And I think whatever it is, it's calling you, Jack.' 

'Why don't you make yourself useful for once, Oswald?' Ianto scolded. Danes just stood there watching them. 

'Oswald!' Gwen yelled. 'Bandage! Now!' 

'I know you're going to hate me Jack, but since you're already bleeding…' She tipped out the last of her bottled water out through the window and pressed the lip of the bottle to Jack's wound, letting a little of it drip into the clear plastic. 

'What is that?' 

'If your blood is able to move like that, I can use it like a compass to lead me there.' 

Ianto pulled a face. 'Oh, that's just…' 

She snapped her fingers angrily at Oswald. 'You keep an eye on him,' she ordered, capping the bottle. 'I'm going to see where this leads me.' 

'I'll watch him,' Ianto promised. 'I wouldn't trust Oswald to watch over a boiled egg.' He set down on the edge of the bunk and curled over until he was lying next to Jack. What broke Jack's heart was the way the bed didn't dip and the lack of warmth of Ianto there by his side. 

Ianto nuzzled up to him, careful not to touch Jack's redressed wound, even though he couldn't physically touch Jack. 'You still smell like you.' 

Jack swallowed hard. He wished he knew what death had in store for him and why his blood was so important.