A/N: A story twisting around and through the Countrycide episode with a few spoilers for Cyberwoman as well.

Standard Disclaimer: I've no ties with anything Torchwood. Chapter Two follows a portion of the Countrycide script closely (I didn't want to mess with perfection) but the rest I threw together myself, borrowing bits and pieces from the real Torchwood writers. I hope they don't mind.

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Morning of the Countryside

Their footsteps echoed strangely as the two men entered the large cavernous shooting range. Ianto Jones shivered slightly as he walked further into the room but knew that he couldn't really blame it on the cool air. He was here at Captain Jack Harkness' request, or rather command, to get some practice with the Torchwood firearms. After Ianto's fiasco with Lisa, Jack wanted to make sure there would be no such problems in the future.

A nervous sweat started to prickle the back of Ianto's neck. He knew he could handle a gun. Weapons training was standard procedure at Torchwood One in London and he had quite enjoyed the precision and accuracy that was required to hit your target. In fact he thought he had been rather good for a junior researcher. But that was before. He hadn't handled a gun since the night that Lisa had been killed, …executed, …since Lisa had died.

An assortment of weapons were laid out on a table next to him and Ianto reached out a hand to hesitantly pick one up. It was already loaded. He checked the safety and turned around to face Jack.

The older man stood a few meters away at the firing line looking confident and relaxed, giving Ianto an encouraging little smile. "Okay, lets see what you've got." He held out a set of ear and eye protectors he had pulled from one of the shelves.

Ianto hefted the weight of the gun in his right hand and looked at it. All the memories of that night came flooding back. Having a gun just like this one thrust into his hands with orders to go kill the monster that had once been his girlfriend. Failure meant that his life would be forfeit as well as hers. Faced with the cold hard fact that he had to end the life of the woman he loved he had frozen, gun in hand, unable to follow through with what he knew had to be done.

Shaking off the painful memories as best he could, Ianto moved forward to take the safety gear from Jack. Jack stepped back giving Ianto some room and the young man let out a silent sigh of relief as the older moved away. His awareness of Jack as a man was conflicting fiercely with his feelings about Lisa in a very confusing way.

Ever since he had started working at Torchwood Three Jack had flirted and teased him outrageously. That's just how Jack was and Ianto had come to accept it, expect it, and if he were honest about it, even enjoy it. Then his world collapsed as Jack and the team found out about Lisa and everything changed.

For a while after that night Ianto felt that he had hated everyone, especially Jack, and that the feeling was returned in full force. The team were alive and his girlfriend was dead, shot and killed by them. Still, he had continued working with them, trying to regain the working relationship they had all enjoyed before. But everything had changed. The team seemed to be walking on eggshells around him, wary, careful about what they said or did. The flirting and teasing had stopped.

Ianto had felt empty and alone.

After a time life had moved forward. Everyone started putting the Lisa incident behind them and Ianto could feel the change come across the Hub. He was being included in the fun and joking and Jack was starting to flirt and tease again. Ianto hadn't realized how much he had missed the teasing until Jack started up again. The blatant innuendos, the suggestive looks, the sexy smiles.

An empty space in Ianto's life was being filled with laughter and friendship.

The scuff of a shoe as Jack took a step brought Ianto's thoughts rushing back to the present. He could almost feel the heat of Jacks gaze on his back and felt himself start to tense up nervously as he stood at the firing line. He tried to focus in on the targets on the far wall but memories kept flitting in front of his eyes and all he could see was Lisa.

As he raised his arm to fire his hand shook ever so slightly. Taking a deep breath to control his nerves he quickly aimed and pulled the trigger. The shot went wide, in fact it wasn't even close. He shut his eyes briefly, telling himself to get a grip, before refocusing on the targets and raising his arm again. This time he hit the target. Just barely, but he hit it. He flipped the safety back on the gun and turned to look at Jack pulling the ear muffs off his ears. He knew he could do better but was hoping for a quick escape.

"Not bad. But if this were a real mission you probably wouldn't get a second chance." Jack walked over and put a kind hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Keep your arm straight. Line up your target with your arm, relax and exhale as you squeeze the trigger. Don't pull the trigger, squeeze." His deep voice echoed lightly around the shooting range.

Ianto could feel the warmth of Jack's hand even through the thick fabric of his suit coat and the exciting scent that was Jack was curling through his senses. The chill of the room was being chased away by the heat of Jack and Ianto couldn't pull himself away. The sexual awareness that was constantly humming just below the surface was starting to cloud his thoughts as he looked into Jack's brilliant blue eyes.

Ianto focused in on Jack's mouth trying to process the words the older man was saying, "All you need to do is practice. I'd like to see you down here a couple times a week." Jacks voice trailed off as he noticed Ianto staring at his mouth.

As the spoken echoes died out to silence Ianto quickly sought to break the tension he could feel building around them. "Jack" He pulled his gaze back to the clear blue of Jacks eyes, watching Jack raise his eyebrows with a look of inquiry. "Thank you" The words came out in a rush. A flush of embarrassment tinted Iantos cheeks with a stain of colour and his eyes fell to Jacks mouth again.

The Captains lips twitched into a tiny smile as he asked "For what?" His hand slid up Ianto's shoulder to his neck. Ianto could feel the warmth of Jacks thumb unconsciously caressing the skin he found there, just above the shirt collar. Jack seemed to shift towards the younger man or perhaps it was Ianto that leant towards Jack. It didn't matter.

"I want to thank you for not killing me or retconning me after Lisa. I want to thank you for letting me work here still. I want to thank you for showing me there is still a life for me…" Ianto's voice trailed off. He had probably utterly confused Jack. Hell, he was confused himself.

Giving in to the chaotic state of his mind Ianto leant in and pressed his lips firmly against Jacks. Feeling Jack stiffen slightly with surprise Ianto quickly tried to pull back but it was too late. A strong yet gentle hand had slipped around to the back of Ianto's neck and he was pulled in closer as the captain angled his head and returned the kiss.

Eyes drifting shut Ianto gave a sigh of wonder that he was kissing his boss, a man, and enjoying it. Immensely. And Jack didn't seem to mind it either, sliding his tongue across Ianto's bottom lip requesting entry. Ianto swallowed a moan as their tongues met and the kiss deepened, growing more forceful, more intense. A muffled groan and all he could focus on was getting closer, cocooning himself in Jacks exciting aura.

As he slid his arms around Jack to pull him tighter against his body Ianto's numb fingers dropped the gun he had forgotten he was holding. The loud, echoing clatter of the metal on the cement floor broke through their consciousness and they pulled back from each other both breathing heavily. Ianto looked into Jacks eyes, embarrassed that he had basically thrown himself at the man but needing to see if Jack were as effected by the kiss as he was.

Jack's gaze ran hotly over Ianto's lips as he murmured, "Wow. Your welcome."

At that moment the door of the shooting range slammed open. The two men stepped further apart and Jack picked up the gun that had been dropped to the floor. Owen Harper burst into the room waving his arms and almost shouting, "No, no, and bloody hell NO!"

Gwen followed him closely with a determined look on her face. "Yes. You are coming. They requested assistance and that means that we assist them."

They stopped in front of Jack. He raised an eyebrow at them. "So. What's going on? Is there something you want to share with the class?" He held the gun out in Ianto's direction. Ianto straightened his tie and took the weapon, trying not to think about how it ended on the floor in the first place and hoping that he didn't look as if he had just been snogging the boss.

Gwen spoke as Ianto moved away. "There have been some strange goings on up in the Brecon Beacons area and the police have requested our help with the matter."

Owen broke in, "It's just a few odd disappearances. Why would the whole team need to go. I think it would make the most sense if I were to stay back at the Hub and monitor the Rift. The tea-boy can't be expected to handle it all on his own. I'll watch the Rift, he'll make the coffee and we'll all have a nice cuppa when you get back. There's really no reason for all of us to go traipsing off into the countryside. Right?"

Ianto set the gun and safety gear on the table and was moving quietly towards the exit. Even with his back was towards the group he knew Owen was crossing his arms with an expression on his face clearly saying that the matter was settled. Ianto's thoughts were that with everyone out of the Hub it would be a good time to go down to the archives. Cleaning out a few shelves down there would help him put the pleasant, that is the unpleasant, experience with Jack out of his mind. He had no doubts that Jack would be feeling the same.

Ianto was three steps from the door when Jack spoke up. "Gwen, that's a terrific idea."

Two steps from the door. "Lets get the whole team together and check this thing out."

One step to the door. "Ianto!"

Ianto froze. Caught trying to escape. He relaxed his expression into one of mild inquiry and turned back to the captain. "Yes, sir?" He felt just a tiny twinge of worry as he caught the mischievous glint in Jacks eyes.

"Ianto. I want you out of that suit."

Owen rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Go slip into something a little more comfortable. We're heading out into the country."

Ianto was sure his jaw dropped open. "But…"

It was too late to protest. Jack had already turned away. Gwen was smiling and giving a little clap of excitement and Owen was protesting loudly to no one in particular, "I hate the country!"

Toshiko Sato slipped by Ianto as he turned to the door. "Are we all going then? Good, I'll need some help packing the extra kit. When do we leave?"

"As soon as the bloody Tea-boy puts on his bloody play clothes." Owen grumbled. "Feel free to take your time, Ianto."

Ianto finally made his escape.