"That wasn't you, Jack," Ianto insisted. "It wasn't. It was a man who had never met me or Lisa and who was angry that I wouldn't sleep with him and incredibly petty about showing it." He sighed. "If that was you, you wouldn't have felt any remorse over it. You wouldn't have cared. But you do care, Jack, and that tells me everything I need to know." Part of him wanted to strangle Jack for being so obtuse, but a larger part just wanted to hold the other man and reassure him that he would never leave. Too many people had left Jack, and he wouldn't be one of them. "What he said and what he did was not unforgivable, Jack, because I'm forgiving it." Simple as that. He wasn't going to let Jack destroy himself with guilt over something that was in no way his fault.
"You didn't do anything to me, Jack," Ianto said firmly. "And you certainly didn't nearly kill me. You say that like you forced me to go with the Master. I chose to stay with Koschei. And he wasn't a threat. He wasn't the Master. Just like that man wasn't you." He looked down. "I am so sorry, Jack. If I had known, I never would have stayed with him. But I'm not hurt. He didn't do anything to me. And the only thing that's hurting me is you pushing me away. I've felt so alone since I came back. All I've wanted was for you to be there...but it's like you're somewhere else entirely. I need you, Jack."
He shook his head in disbelief. "So there's some part of me that was married to Lisa and working for London because it never got destroyed?" He snapped. "Some part of the Master that lived a whole different life? Stop being such an utter twat, Jack! Your logic isn't making any sense here! Even Owen would tell you it's utter shite!" He gave Jack a look. "I am not going to yell or rage or doing anything other than be understanding and forgiving about this, so you'll just have to accept that."
"You are my captain, Jack," Ianto said, moving to sit beside him and pressing his lips to the side of Jack's neck. "You're the leader I would proudly follow to the ends of the Earth. You've saved the world so many times, saved me so many times. You believed in me even when I thought my life was worthless, so why can't you let me believe in you?" He wrapped his arms around Jack for a moment. "You are so much more than that, Jack. So much more. And don't you dare say otherwise. I've seen the tough decisions you make every day...the decisions nobody else could. You are so much stronger than that man, Jack. Don't let him destroy you."
And when Jack called him his partner, that settled it. "You need to let go of your guilt, Jack," he said softly. "It's killing you...it's poisonous. Let it go and let yourself move on. Everyone makes mistakes and yours are no worse than anyone else's. I am not going to let you tear yourself apart." He moved to stand in front of Jack, then pushed him back and straddled him in a smooth move. Holding his hands down on the bed at his sides. "What kind of partner would I be if I let you suffer through this misplaced guilt?"
He looked at Jack seriously, then spoke slowly, making sure every word was clear. "You love me," he said, "and I love you. And we make each other happy...which is something we deserve after all the shite the universe has tossed our way. And I am never going to leave you. You'll have to toss me out the door if you want me to go. Because otherwise? I'm staying. And even if you did toss me out? I'd come right back. I am in this for the long haul, Jack, and I would stay forever if I could." He leaned forward and kissed Jack.
"And that's all there is to it. So either accept it, or make me leave."