Title: Under the Weather
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Ianto Jones/Tenth Doctor
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 10_per_genre
Prompt: 6, Illness
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own Ianto Jones or the Tenth Doctor. Please do not sue.

***

"I hate having to stay in bed," Ianto grumbled as the Doctor sat down on the bed beside him. "I don't get sick very often, but when I do, it usually ends up making me bedridden for a few days. I hate that. I'd like to think I have a stronger constitution."

"Like you said, you don't get sick often," the Doctor pointed out, taking one of Ianto's hands in his own. "But the flu if nothing to play with, love. I know it's something that humans catch quite easily, and I don't want to take any chances with your health."

"I'll be fine, Doctor." Ianto sighed, leaning back against the pillows and regarding his lover. "I've had the flu before, and it's not a lethal disease. Well, some strains of it can be, I suppose," he mused, shaking his head. "But I'm not that sick."

"I hope the worst of it is over," the Doctor told him with a worried look. "I was terrified when you said that you were ill and started throwing up." He made a face, trying to lighten the moment a bit. "It wasn't much fun to clean up after that."

Ianto looked contrite at those words. "I'm sorry, Doctor. But I was in no shape to take care of myself at the time. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."

"It was no trouble, love," the Time Lord said softly, squeezing his hand. "I don't blame you for being ill, Ianto. That's something you can't help. I don't get sick easily myself, but I am susceptible to illnesses, you know. Especially the common cold."

Ianto blinked, surprised by the Doctor's words. "You can catch a cold?" he asked, his tone incredulous. "I'd have thought that your race had eradicated sickness by now. Didn't you say they'd gotten rid of most illnesses?"

The Doctor nodded, a rueful smile quirking his lips. "Yes, they have -- but I said most, not all, unfortunately. The common cold seems to be unstoppable. It seems that nearly every race in the universe can catch it."

The younger man couldn't help smiling at his lover's words. "The common cold is insidious, isn't it? I don't think it will ever be stopped. It's something that'll live on in the universe long after human life is gone. People on Earth have said that for a long time."

"But that won't be for centuries yet, my love," the Doctor said softly. "The human race isn't going to die out for a very, very long time."

"Do you know when they'll cease to exist?" Ianto asked, his curiosity aroused in spite of himself. "I know you've been to the beginning of time -- and to the end of it. I just wondered if my race happened to be around at .... at the end of everything."

The Doctor shook his head, looking grave. "No, Ianto, I don't know when the human race blinks out of existence," he murmured, sighing softly. "And even if I did, I doubt if I'd tell you. There are some things that are better left unknown."

Ianto nodded reluctantly, shifting his position in the bed a little. "I suppose it's better for me not to know that sort of thing. It would probably only make me brood. But everyone questions their mortality at some point -- and the mortality of their race."

The Doctor looked down at their hands, studying their entwined fingers. "I suppose you're right," he finally said, his voice low. "Contemplating mortality is common to nearly every race -- except for those who only believe in destroying any race not their own."

"Don't think about it, Doctor," Ianto told him, squeezing his hand in sympathy. "I don't want you to brood and be melancholy."

The Doctor looked up, his dark eyes meeting Ianto's. "You're right," he said, his voice sounding stronger and more sure as he spoke. "You don't need to deal with that right now. What I should be doing is concentrating on helping you feel better."

"I know what would make me feel better," Ianto said, his tone teasing. "But that's not something you'll let me do until I'm back up to feeling 100% myself again." His lower lip jutted out in a mock-pout as he tried to hold back a grin.

"Ah, that attitude alone shows that you're already feeling more yourself!" the Time Lord exclaimed. He raised a hand to wag an admonishing finger at his young lover. "But you're exactly right. I'm not going to let you make love to me until I know you're over this illness."

"At least I know that you won't catch my germs if I kiss you," Ianto pouted, unable to hold back his smile. "Well, I hope you won't, anyway. Have you ever had a sickness like the flu before? I wouldn't want to give it to you and find out that you can get sick, after all."

The Doctor leaned forward to brush his lips against Ianto's, murmuring against his lover's mouth. "Don't worry, love. I'm impervious to your human flu bug."

Ianto reached up to wind his arms around the Time Lord's neck, pulling the other man down to intensify their kiss. When they finally pulled away from each other, they were both panting; their eyes met and locked, their gazes fixed on each other.

"I know that we shouldn't," Ianto finally said, sounding regretful. "I'm not up to speed yet, and I don't want to do anything that could set me back as far as getting back on my feet again as soon as possible. But I can't say that I don't want to."

"You know that I want to, love," the Doctor told him, raising a hand to caress his cheek. "But it's not a good idea at the moment. You're still feeling under the weather, and I don't want to do anything that could sap what strength you have and set you back, either."

"But there's one thing that we could do that wouldn't set me back at all. In fact, it would help me to feel much better," Ianto said, his blue-grey eyes twinkling. "I think it would be better for me than all the medicines and nursing anyone could possibly give me."

"What's that?" the Doctor asked, raising his brows in question. "You know that whatever it is, I'll be glad to do it if it'll make you feel better."

In answer, Ianto pulled back the covers and patted the place next to him invitingly. "Lay down here with me," he said softly, his voice husky. "Just be with me and don't leave me. I like feeling you here by my side, especially if I can hold you."

The Doctor needed no encouragement; he slipped off his shoes, sliding under the covers and snuggling up next to his lover. His thin arms wrapped around Ianto's waist, pulling the younger man close to him as Ianto's eyes closed and he sighed in happy contentment.

"Get some rest, sweetheart," the Time Lord whispered, placing a gentle kiss on Ianto's forehead. He glanced down at his boyfriend's face and couldn't keep back a smile; the young man was soundly asleep, a soft smile curving his lips as he slumbered in his lover's arms.

***