Waiting Room

[amuly]

Title: Waiting Room
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Word Count: 579
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack reflects on waiting for his Doctor. Season 2.
Warnings: none.
A/N: This is me being “concise” and “careful with my words”. I know, I’m rubbish at it. I tried.

            Jack was watching Ianto as he slept. He had drifted off immediately after sex, with Ianto pressed firmly to his side in a sweaty embrace. But then he had woken up, not even an hour later. And so he watched Ianto sleep. Watched the faint moonlight make its way through the blinds and flicker over Ianto’s skin, turning it a beautiful, soft silver. Watched his eyelashes twitch against his face as he dreamt. Felt the soft whisper of his breath over his skin, ghosting there for just a second on each exhale.

            “Jack?” Ianto was stirring, pulling himself out of Jack’s embrace to look at him.

            “Yeah, Ianto?” Jack’s voice was barely a whisper: he didn’t want to ruin the peace of the moment.

            He smiled as Ianto moved back against him, snuggling up close. Only in these half-asleep or post-coital moments would Ianto succumb to cuddling: when he was fully aware, he’d over think the action, worry about how Jack would feel about it. Jack knew, but he hadn’t said anything to Ianto. No need – so long as he got these few moments with Ianto, that was good enough. For now.

            “Your thinking woke me up. Stop.”

            Jack smiled down at the tired Welshman, speaking with his eyes closed. He pressed a kiss to his forehead, then squeezed him closer. “Usually you’re the one doing that.”

            “Role-reversal. Try it…sometime…” Ianto’s sentence drifted off into a yawn. He inhaled deeply, and Jack knew he was breathing in his scent. Ianto loved his 51^st century pheromones. “Watch’ya thinking?”

            Ianto must be well and truly exhausted, to ask something like that, Jack knew. He’d never pry into Jack’s thoughts, or secrets, even when he desperately wanted to. But Jack didn’t feel like being enigmatic – not tonight. “Waiting rooms.”

            “Waiting rooms? Got a doctor’s appointment?”

            Jack huffed. “Did. Used to.” He paused. He hadn’t noticed when, but at some point Ianto had started stroking fingers lazily over his chest. “When I was waiting for the Doctor, all those years…Earth was like one big waiting room for me. Waiting to see my Doctor.”

            “How appropriate,” Ianto grumbled. It was only because Ianto was half-asleep that they could even have this conversation. If Jack had tried when they were both awake, Ianto would have shut down, and then Jack would have, and they would have devolved into one of their closing-off contests that never resolved anything.

            Jack forged ahead. “Yeah. But now, I’ve seen my Doctor. And even though I’m still here, in the same place…” he paused for a moment, drawing long lines down Ianto’s arm with the pads of his fingers, “It’s not a waiting room anymore. Now I can get on with my life, actually live it. Instead of sitting around waiting.”

            “Why’re you even here, then?” Ianto’s voice was barely even a whisper. It was tinged with nervousness, with self-doubt. He was starting to wake up, to pay attention to what they were discussing.

            Jack held him tight, hugged him to his chest and pressed his lips to his ear. “Because I want to be here, Ianto Jones. It’s my choice. I’m not waiting for him, anymore. I’m living, exactly where I want to be.”

            As Jack drew back, Ianto’s eyes finally opened. Brilliant blue met brilliant blue, and Jack wanted to close his eyes to what he saw in Ianto’s. But he didn’t. He looked back purposefully, steadily. “I’m here,” he whispered.

            Then they kissed. And Jack stopped thinking.

Comments

[jemariel.livejournal.com]

Lovely lovely lovely. Lovely! Closing-off contests, over-thinking things, half-asleep, watching sleep... beautiful.

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Aww thanks! Glad you liked it ^.^

[analia-the-1st.livejournal.com]

*melts just a little*

[amuly.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[bettathnbarbie.livejournal.com]

You're rubbish at what, exactly? I wouldn't change a word of this!!

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Awww you flatter me! *smack*
But I was going for short, and near 600 words isn't exactly short. Shorter than normal, but not short. Grrr.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Nicely done; I like the way the circumstances make it possible for Jack and Ianto to say things they normally wouldn't.

[amuly.livejournal.com]

It's b/c I can't help myself: I have to make my boys say sweet, wonderful things to each other! Glad you liked it.

[kit71971.livejournal.com]

Sweet sweet sweet. I love snuggling Ianto and Jack

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Me too ^.^ TW could have definitely improved if there was more snuggling. Glad you liked.

[jo02]

Very nice!

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you liked.

[lone-star-woman.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is lovely. I like sleepy Ianto, too tired to put up any defences.

[amuly.livejournal.com]

I like both of them less guarded, the sillies - glad you do too ^.^

[mv-girl.livejournal.com]

Aww, very lovely!!!!!!
Thank you!!

[amuly.livejournal.com]

*blush* Just happy you enjoyed it ^.^

[jooles34.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was just lovely. Perfect reading at the end of a rubbish day. I love the touches about them both closing down, and the way we act differently when we're in that half asleep state. And a beautiful end with Jack admitting he is no longer waiting, but living. Thank you for sharing.

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Awww thanks! Glad I could help cheer you up ^.^

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

that was gorgeous

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you liked it.