Jack woke up from a restless sleep. It had been the first time he had slept in 2 weeks. Granted sleep deprivation was never really an issue with him, but still before the 456 invasion Jack had been able to sleep at least once a week. Now that he finally had fallen asleep he really wished he hadn't. His sleep was filled with visions of all the great times he had had in the last year with Ianto. Just thinking of that man now, still brought a tear to Jack's eye. Not just because he had actually felt something for the quiet and reserved Mr. Jones, but also because he hadn't deserved to die that way or that young.
"Death by Torchwood" Jack thought to himself. The thought provoked a small chuckle. "Ironic isn't it, that I told him to label Susie's death as that only a few short years ago. Writing that down for his cause of death would be an understatement. Ianto was always completely dedicated to the cause. He never strayed or thought it too much. If he had thought it was too much he never told anyone, not even me. Ianto would have been proud to know he died for Torchwood."
Jack is brought out of his thoughts by a sudden lurch in his surroundings. Jack jumped from his seat and ran to the main area of the ship. The Doctor was at the controls, there were flashing lights and whistles chiming. "Doctor what is happening?" Jack asks the man standing directly in front of him.
"Just a bumpy landing, that's all." The Doctor says in a cheeky manner. Jack just shakes his head at The Doctor's inability to properly control his own craft. Every time Jack had ridden in the TARDIS he had moments of fearing for the life he would never be able to lose.
Just as the TARDIS came to a crashing halt, the phone line attached to it began to ring.
"Hello" The Doctor answered the phone warily, the phone hardly ever rang.
"Oh Martha!" The Doctor responded to the caller rather excitedly. "Oh yeah I will definitely tell him."
"Tell me what Doctor?" Jack asks, knowing full well that Martha had a message for him.
"Well I guess I could just let you talk to him then, yeah" The Doctor said into the phone right before extending the receiver towards Jack.
"Hey Martha it's been a while." Jack half-heartedly smiles into the receiver.
"Hey Jack. Listen there is something I need to talk to you about. You think you can come round to my place, now that you and The Doctor are back on this planet."
"Yeah I think I can manage that. As long as we don't talk about what happened a few weeks ago." Jack sighs.
"One of these days Jack you are going to wish you hadn't been so guarded when the ones who loved you tried to help. The emotions you keep inside will eventually cause a mental breakdown if you are not careful."
"Just save the speech Martha. I will come round your flat as soon as I get a chance. I need to try and contact Gwen first." Jack says as he hangs up the phone.
Jack walked out of the TARDIS and wasn't surprised to see that they were in Cardiff once more. Jack slightly hoped he would never have to come back to this place. After all, he had nothing left any more. Ianto, Owen, and Tosh were all gone and Torchwood 3 had been destroyed a few weeks before from the bomb attack. Jack felt guilty being back in Cardiff. He felt that in his quest to save humanity he had had to suffer and sacrifice way too much. If only he could save the world without losing the ones he loved.
Standing at Cardiff Bay, Jack contemplates how to proceed. He knows that he has no transportation of his own. Considering Captain Jack always had funds of some kind, he decides that it wouldn't set him back any to take a cab to Martha's place. Before he contacts a cab though, Jack decides to phone Gwen.
"Gwen Cooper."
"Hey Gwen, it's me." Jack breathes into the phone after Gwen answers.
"JACK! You cheeky bastard! You said you would never come back. If you are calling me that means you are in a place where you can call. Where exactly are you?"
"Cardiff." Jack sighs sadly.
"Oh wow."
"I know. I was traveling with The Doctor and he decided to land here for some reason. Maybe he thinks I need to come back here to feel better or whatever." Jack replies.
"I am sure Ianto's family would love to see you. They knew that you were special to him. He told me about telling his sister about you guys before he died."
"I can't, not yet Gwen. It's still too fresh." Jack admits with another sigh.
"If you wait too long they will hate you for waiting so long."
"Let's just not talk about this right now okay?"
"Okay. Do you want to come round here? Rhys wouldn't mind you coming for dinner."
"Thanks for the offer Gwen, but I need to go round Martha's for something. She said she needed to see me about something."
"You need a lift there? I could be there in a jiff."
"I would appreciate it. I am at Cardiff Bay. I can see they slightly fixed the gaping hole where Torchwood 3 used to be."
"Yeah they are working on making the area look more presentable. I'll be there soon Jack."
Jack hung up his phone and turned to face the ocean. The water spread out like it was never ending, like a dark abyss. Jack remembered a time when he and Ianto had stood here just looking out. Not talking or kissing, just standing there in each other's embrace. Jack felt a tear roll down his cheek. Never in all his years of being alive had he thought anyone's death could affect him in such a way. No one had ever really touched him like Ianto had though. Ianto had made him feel more human.
Half an hour later Jack was standing outside Martha Jones' building. Her flat was on the third level and it was a walk up only. Jack sighs and starts his trek up the three flights. He knocks on the door, a little out of breath.
"Coming!" yells a voice from inside the flat.
Moments later the door opens to reveal a young woman with dark skin and equally dark hair. She smiles at the sight of Captain Jack Harkness on her doorstep. Martha Jones had known Captain Jack since they saved the world a few years back. Their friendship had blossomed almost immediately.
"Umm…Jack I wasn't expecting you this soon. Is there any chance I could get you to stay right there for just a few more minutes? Please?" Martha says with a super pleading look on her face.
"Sure, because everything is worth waiting for, right?" Jack says with a cheeky grin.
"Thanks!" Martha said as she slams the door in Jack's face in her rush to get back in her flat.
After what seemed like hours, Martha returned to her front door and let Jack inside.
"So Jack, how were your travels?" Martha asks as the two friends sit down on her couch.
"Is that really the urgent thing you needed me to come over for?" Jack anxiously asks, obviously not wanting to beat around the bush.
"No, but I really do want to hear all about what you and The Doctor ran into while travelling," she admits with a smile, "You do realize that you have technically only been gone a few weeks."
"Yes I do realize that, but still time is not important to me." Jack deadpans.
"Jack I really wish you would talk about it. Time is important to you, especially when it comes to Ianto."
"Why do you keep bringing that up? Why does everybody think I need to talk about it?"
"Well, Jack because we all know he was special to you. We know, even though you tried to hide it, his death broke you."
"What do you want me to say? That I could hardly breathe after realizing he was gone? That I had to leave the planet in order to stay sane? I will if that is what everyone wants to hear. I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" Jack says as tears escape his eyes.
Martha simply sits across from Jack's slightly turned body on the couch. She wants to reach out and touch him, but is unsure about whether or not he will reject it. Instead she sits and watches as Jack starts to break down. She has never seen her friend this vulnerable before. He is usually so strong. It's at this moment that she realizes just how much Ianto meant to Jack.
Suddenly there is the sound of someone approaching from the back of the flat. Jack hears the noise and looks up towards the doorway, leading to Martha's bedroom. The sight before him causes him to stand up and approach the person.
The dark haired, lean man standing in the doorway suddenly utters one simple word, "Jack"
Jack walks up to the person and after touching him determines that he is real.
"Ianto?"