Children of Earth: Alternate Ending

by Gryphlet

SPOILERS! Alternate ending for "Children of Earth: Episodes 4 & 5" Thank you, John Barrowman, for being such a fanboy and mentioning the idea that inspired this story. I wrote this while I was in mourning for Ianto, and it helped me to get through it -you know you went through it too!- Ianto was my favorite, so, possible follow-up stories to come!

1. 456

"Ianto?... don't go. Don't leave me, please," Jack manages to whisper, his voice cracking through his tears. In his arms, he cradles the limp body of his co-worker, lover, and friend while they both struggle to breathe.

Every cell in Ianto's body desperately attempts to fight the airborne virus spreading through his system, but to no avail. All of his organs begin shutting down. All he can do is gaze up through his tears at his love, and pray to whatever deity there might be that Jack knows how much he loves him.

As he scans the face of his lover, Jack racks his brain for something he can do to help, to fix him, to save him. The resurrection gauntlets have both been destroyed. There is no coming back.

But then again... he had saved Ianto once before...

Vivid memories flash through Jack's mind... Ianto being choked and thrown across the Hub by his cybergirlfriend, landing face down in the water of the fountain's base. After dragging his unconscious body to safety, Jack was able to revive him, not with CPR, but with a kiss.

A kiss.

It seems like such a cheesy fairytale solution to such a clinical prognosis. But what options does he have left? Jack has been through so much... lost so many during his extended immortal life. "Please... not him," he thinks to himself.

"Not Ianto."

Seeing the slightest glimmer of life left in Ianto's eyes, Jack gently presses his lips to his lover's. While tender and passionate, the heartbreaking desperation of the moment causes them both to gently weep, tears dripping from one man's cheek to the other's. A warm, golden glow seems to melt down into Ianto from Jack's lips, the unexpected heat of which forces them to break apart, gasping. They gaze into each other's eyes through the fog of their tears for a few precious moments before their vision goes black.

"You will die... and tomorrow your people.. will deliver the children." The ominous words of the 456 in the tank behind them echo eerily around the room.

The virus has taken its toll on the pair, and not even true love's kiss seems to have made any difference. Jack unwillingly surrenders his last breath (...for now at least), and slumps to the ground beside his love, who has already succumbed to the dark nothingness of eternity.