:Jack bit back a surge of nausea as he opened his eyes. They were back in the bedroom, had they ever left?, Ianto’s heartbeat was hammering in his ears, his gasps for air bouncing off of the low ceiling.

“I know what do Jack.” Owen said softly, the fear and panic of before missing.

Jack watched as Owen leaned forward, threading his fingers through Ianto's hair and leaning down to his ear. "Ianto. Listen to me, Yan. We love you. It's okay. Come back to us." he ran his hands comfortingly over Ianto's arms and his heaving chest.

Jack followed Owen's example. "Ianto? Love, please come back to us. We love you and we're scared and alone.” The truth of the statement bit into him.

“We need you. We love you and we need you to come back to us." He gently slid has arm under Ianto and pulled the struggling man gently so that he was leaning against him. He ran his hands over Ianto’s body, hearing focused on Ianto's heart, still racing faster then he thought was possible, like something out of a horror movie.

Owen continued to murmur quietly into Ianto’s ear. Hands joining Jack’s.

“Yan, please come back, we’ll take care of you, I promise.”

Slowly, far too slowly, Ianto's eyes opened again. He panted harshly and tried to pull away, but Jack held him, still running his fingers down his arm.

“Oh thank god.” Owen breathed, and made soothing noises as he pressed his fingers against Ianto's throat again. "Pulse still way, way over trip to A&E time, but coming down. Ianto? Are you back with us, Luv? Do you know what happened?"

"I- uh I...my shields?" Ianto panted, short of breath and confused.

Owen kept petting him with one hand, while checking his pulse with the other. “It’s okay, no problem. Just take slow deep breaths okay? Your heart rate is still really scaring me. Remember how Tosh taught you?"

Ianto nodded and tried to slow his breathing down. "Uh, what happened?"

"We're not sure. We were having sex, then suddenly your heart was racing and your eyes were open, but you were zoned.”

Ianto frowned. “Then what?”

“We tried to wake you up, but nothing was working. Your heart rate and breathing were all over the place. Then suddenly we were in a forest,” Jack shifted, leaning against a wall and pulling Ianto more firmly into his arms. Ianto sank against his chest, closing his eyes.

“It was darker than before. We ran for a while calling for you, then we found a clearing where a boeian swamp lion-“

“The pink kitty?” Ianto interrupted. Snickering softly.

“The swamp lion. The swamp lion and wolverine were comforting a black dog. Then- " Jack paused, trying to figure out how to explain it. “They - they changed into us… other versions of us.” He curled a lock of Ianto’s hair around his fingers. “Oh Yan, you were so still.”

Owen pushed him self to his knees, and paused when Ianto's hand clamped down on his arm. "It's okay, Yan, I'm just going to grab my kit so I can check you out. I'll be right back."

“Stay.” Ianto pleaded, turning to face Owen as he opened his eyes again.

“I need to make sure you’re okay, luv. I’ll be right back.” Owen was looking worriedly at Jack. He stroked Ianto’s cheek lightly. “I promise. I have a kit at my desk.” Owen reassured the younger man, waiting for his permission to leave.

After a moment Ianto nodded, reached up with the hand not grasping Owen's arm, and pulled him into a short, desperate kiss.

“Hurry.” He demanded breathlessly.

“Hurry,” Owen agreed, dropping a quick, gentle kiss on Ianto’s lips. He pushed himself to his feet and dashed up the ladder, bypassing the pile of clothes completely.

As soon as Ianto lost sight of Owen he began to shiver and Jack hugged him tighter. "It's ok, every thing's going to be ok."

Ianto looked weaker then a newborn kitten, but still twisted around in Jack's arms to kiss him. Jack could taste fear and relief and Owen all mingling on the younger man’s lips. Jack gently threaded his hands though Ianto's hair, returning the kiss softly, then hugged him to his chest when Ianto collapsed against him. Ianto struggled to breathe, panting harshly against Jack’s neck.

Owen was back in less then a minute and climbing back down, med kit slung over shoulder. He knelt down beside Ianto, reaching out to touch him.

"Okay here we go, deep breaths for me okay?” Owen kept one hand on Ianto’s chest. The younger man was still having difficulty catching his breath.

“Relax. Breathe. Uh imagine the scent of lavender...or something." Owen dug a scanner out of the kit and started to sweep it over Ianto’s body, keeping up a running babble. Jack pushed feeling of warmth, safety and love towards Ianto.

Ianto snorted in laughter. "Gotta stop...watching children’s movies... Coc oen.”

"I thought it was the porn version! ...and then I was too lazy to go back to the rental place." Owen gave Ianto a grin.

Jack had no idea what they were talking about, but Ianto's heart rate was coming down and the tense body in his arms was relaxing, so he ignored it. After a minute Ianto took a deep breath, curling into Jack as he yawned. He continued the conversation.

"Likely story. You were tearing up. I saw you."

"Oh shut up you."

"Sorry. Sorry. I know how sensitive you are. I wouldn't want to make you cry… again." Ianto apologized teasingly, his breaths coming easier now.

"You're obnoxious." Owen decided.

"And you’re not?”

Jack was amused, but wanted to know how Ianto was doing. "Find anything?"

Owen shook his head. "Everything looks good. I'm not seeing any signs of damage to his heart, or from lack of oxygen. Heart rate is down, still too high but closer to normal."

"I'm okay?" Ianto asked, unsure.

"I want to get you upstairs and run some more detailed scans later, but it looks like it. You seem to have amazing luck at avoiding permanent damage to your self.” Owen said putting down the scanner and grabbing his stethoscope to listen to Ianto's heart. “But you’re body’s going to be screaming for some rest and recuperation"

While Owen worked, Jack continued to hold on to Ianto, rubbing small soothing circles on his arms and stomach. Exhaustion was radiating from the younger man. "Can you tell us what happened now?"

"I- well I was shielding and was testing them a little to see if I could lower them a tiny bit, not all the way, and put them back up, then I was in the forest and” Ianto struggled with the explanation. “...I don’t know. My heart feels like it's going to explode and I can't breathe. Then there was this...tug...and I just felt… everything, like...like a riptide pulling me under...and then you two, so worried.”

Owen stroked Ianto's face gently as he listened, then pulled his stethoscope off. "We’re still worried. Can you breathe now?"

Ianto nodded, and reached out for Owen, pulling him in. Owen laughed softly, settling against Ianto and wrapping his arms around the younger man. Jack shifted, and snaked his own arm around Owen, holding on to both of them.

Owen dropped a light kiss on Ianto’s shoulder.

“Sleep then Yan. We’ll take care of you.”