Fic- Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

[branwen_blaidd]

Title: Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Spoilers: End of Days
Summary: Ianto is tired.
Disclaimers: I own nothing!
Notes: Comments please!

 

 

 

Ianto didn’t care about anything except slipping into bed and falling into the deepest sleep ever. It felt like days since he’d slept, days since he’d even sat down.

Jack grinned at him. “You’re wiped aren’t ya?”

“Uh huh,” Ianto murmured.

Jack cupped Ianto’s chin and looked him in the eye. “Far too tired,” he decided.

Ianto couldn’t summon enough energy to respond. Jack took his hand and shot him a grin.

“Come on. Let me sort you out.”

Ianto rubbed his eyes. “I don’t need sorting out.”

Jack grinned wider. “Yes, you do. Come on.”

Ianto grunted as Jack pulled him downstairs. He yawned as Jack got him into his quarters. “Maybe I should go home.”

“Don’t be silly,” said Jack, standing Ianto by the bed. “You’re much too tired to drive home.”

Ianto yawned again. “I could have some coffee.”

“No, you couldn’t,” said Jack sternly.

His fingers moved to Ianto’s jacket buttons and started to undo them. Ianto stood still, scowling and just let Jack undress him.

Jack was slow and attentive. Ianto let his eyes closed as Jack removed each item of clothing and folded it neatly on the wooden chair in the corner. Finally, Ianto was naked and Jack led him to the bathroom so Ianto could clean his teeth and use the toilet before leading him back to bed.

Ianto was almost asleep standing up. Jack laid him down in bed and quickly stripped down himself.

Ianto snuggled on his front, closing his eyes. “My Da used to pray with me every night before I went to sleep.”

Jack settled behind Ianto, got out the massage oil and warmed it in his hands. “Oh yeah? You’ve talked about that before. You were raised really religious then?”

Ianto shrugged. “I suppose.” He smiled. “I know you don’t really understand.”

Jack huffed, rubbing the Soothing Sleep massage oil into Ianto’s back, working out the knots. “You’re assuming a lot.”

“I’m not,” Ianto said, shrugging Jack off.

Jack grabbed the washcloth and wiped the oil off Ianto’s back.

“Last time,” continued Ianto. “I read out a passage from the bible, you called it superstition.”

“Well, what do you expect when you start going on about Daniel asking ‘Master, what is the end of all these things’ and whatever it was about the great devourer leading the world into shadow.”

“Jack, don’t,” Ianto snapped, turning over on his side and scowling at the pillow.

“Now, don’t get grumpy,” said Jack. He lay down beside Ianto and looked into his eyes.

“Go on. I’m listening. I won’t make fun. Tell me your prayer. Go on, the one you used to say with your dad.”

Ianto bit his lip. “You promise you won’t…”

“I promise.”

Ianto smiled and closed his eyes. A wistful look came over his face and he began to speak in a low hushed voice.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, guide me through the starry night, wake me when the sun shines bright.” He kept his eyes closed but frowned a little.

“You think it’s stupid, don’t you? You think it’s stupid superstition. Stupid 21^st century superstition.”

“Do you care what I think?”

Ianto opened his eyes and looked at Jack. “I shouldn’t, shouldn’t I? I mean…you do think it’s stupid. I bet nobody believes in God where you come from.”

Jack shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter what anyone else believes, does it?”

“I…don’t know.”

Jack smiled. “Well, you either believe or you don’t. It’s up to you right?”

“I suppose so. I don’t know what I believe really. All the…stuff in the world. I really shouldn’t. It’s…unscientific. But…I want to believe. I do. It…makes me feel good.”

Jack grinned and settled down, cuddling close to Jack. “Then believe it. Say the prayer again. I want to hear it. It’s nice.

Ianto smiled, relaxing and sighing contentedly into Jack. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, guide me through the starry night, wake me when the sun shines bright.”

“I’ll see you through the night, Ianto,” Jack whispered. “Now I lay you down to sleep, I promise to keep your soul, I’ll guide you though the starry night, wake you when the sun shines bright.”

 Ianto smiled and felt himself moving closer to sleep. Jack repeated the words again, soft soothing and he held Ianto close as they both drifted off to sleep.