bWarning:bDo not read if you have not seen CoE. Contains spoilers.
bTitle:/b End of One?
bRating:/b PG
bSummary: /b Nothing was every easy in Torchwood.
bCharacters:/b Ianto/Jack, Gwen
Author's Notes:
This was written as a fix for CoE and contains spoilers for it. I wrote this in a teeny tiny notebook at midnight without my glasses on and in the dark because it wouldn't leave me alone LOL. Enjoy.
End of One?
Jack held Ianto close as the younger man struggled to breathe. He'd been right about the gas; it'd been too late by the time Jack wanted to get him out. The poison had taken effect as soon as the first breath was taken.
Running his hand gently down the side of Ianto's face Jack gave up trying to stop the tears from falling. Ianto was speaking again, ignoring Jack's plea for him to conserve his strength. "I love you," the words came out stuttered. They broke Jack's heart as he heard then, Ianto's breath becoming harsher with the utterance of the simple phrase. Time was running out.
Jack held Ianto tighter to his chest and with a cut of sob replied back, "I love you too." Ianto smiled briefly before his breath faltered.
At a loss for what to do Jack lent down and kissed Ianto. It wouldn't be long now; he could feel the gas beginning to claim him as well. The fogging effect it had on his thoughts could account for why he failed to hear a woman's voice say, "I bring life my Jack, I bring life," or feel the energy rushing out of him.
As Jack collapsed he knew Ianto was already gone.
****
Later, Gwen walked unsteadily to the bodies marked 13 and 14 in the rows of the dead. With a shaky hand she drew back the red sheet covering Jack and knelt beside him. Briefly running a hand across his face she turned to where Ianto lay.
Uncovering the Welshman Gwen let out a loud sob; she'd lost three friends to Torchwood now. Running a hand down the side of Ianto's face she stopped long enough to ensure his tie was straight; something she felt would have nagged him even if Ianto was dead.
When Jack gasped to life behind her Gwen ignored him, continuing to cry over Ianto. Jack would always come back but Ianto would not.
Jack felt another tear run down his face as he came up behind Gwen to see Ianto's body. He felt another hole tear into his heart beside the one left by Estelle and the other loved ones he'd lost over the centuries.
Both were sent crashing the rest of the way to the floor when Ianto jerked up right gasping for breath. The three starred at each other for moments before Jack broke the tension by surging forward and pulling Ianto into an intense, passionate kiss.
Stunned Gwen stuttered, "H-how?"
Reluctantly Jack disconnected his lips from Ianto's settling for wrapping the man in his arms. "No idea. Don't really care."
"It could be a trap…" Gwen didn't get any farther when Ianto cut her off.
"I am not a trick Gwen. Not everything has to be some great big conspiracies. Can't you just be grateful for once?" With that he turned to look at Jack. "She told me to tell you 'bad wolf', that you'd know what it means."
Jack laughed and the tears started up again. Peaking Ianto on the lips with a kiss he said, "It was Rose. She brought you back."
"Like you?" Ianto asked afraid.
Jack shook his head, "I don't know but you're back!" Jack couldn't keep the grin off his face.
Ianto smiled back, "I think it was. I can feel exactly what you described that energy like."
Jack looked serious, "I love you, stay with me forever?"
Ianto rolled his eyes, "I always knew you were a sap at heart Captain." Before Jack could response Ianto pulled him into a ferocious kiss.