Story title: "Immortality: Greatest Gift or Greatest Curse"

Chapter title: Secret's Out

Chapter summary: the team finds out Ianto's biggest secret.

Chapter rating: T

Time Frame: After KKBB, before Adam

Okay, you don't have to know anything about "Highlander" to enjoy this fic. This is another AU fic, completely separate than "Not Unbreakable". This idea came into my head awhile ago and I only recently decided to write it out. I hope you like it.


The Raxa—whatever the hell Jack had called it—had Ianto cornered, literally up against a wall. The creature had Ianto by the throat; it had already taken his gun. Ianto closed his eyes and thought before the alien stabbed him, that if he wasn't eaten, he'd have a lot of explaining to do.

…

Jack rounded the corner just as Ianto was impaled "Ianto!" he threw the bucket of vinegar on the alien, which promptly exploded. Ianto slumped to the ground. Jack rushed to him and called for Owen. Jack gathered the young Welshman in his arms. Blood bubbled out of his mouth, his eyes already glazing over.

Owen arrived seconds later and got to work on trying to stop the bleeding. "Come on, Ianto stay with us."

"Ianto," Jack said gently "it's going to be okay. Hang on"

A corner of Ianto's mouth curved upwards "had to happen sooner or later" he choked out.

"No, don't say that" Jack felt his eyes well up.

Ianto stopped breathing.

"No" Jack couldn't believe it, it wasn't right. Ianto was too young. Through his tears he barely registered that Tosh and Gwen had arrived.

"I'm sorry, Jack" Owen put a hand on his shoulder "he lost too much blood and his major organs were…"

"No" Jack hugged Ianto to him, just realising how much the Welshman meant to him "No, Ianto, don't…we were just getting started, come on Ianto. I'm not done with you yet."

"Jack, there's nothing…"Owen began.

Jack didn't notice but the others saw it. Sparks of blue light appeared on Ianto's wound and seconds later, Ianto awoke with a gasp, much like Jack does when he comes back to life.

Jack noticed that. He loosened his grasp on Ianto and looked down on him in amazement. Had his wish actually been granted? "Ianto?"

Ianto's eyes darted to each of them "Well," he said with a nervous chuckle "I guess I have some explaining to do."

….

Ianto eased himself out of Jack's arms and stood up. He examined the damage to his suit before muttering something the others could not understand—though it sounded a lot like Welsh. He was covered in alien goo as well as his own blood. He sighed, yeah, this suit was ruined. He looked around at the others; they were all staring at him as if he were a giant headless roach or something. His gaze settled on Jack whose tearstained face was deathly pale.

"Did you actually cry for me? Thank-you, I'm flattered…" wait you idiot, probably not the best thing to say. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say that, dying loosens my tongue and makes me babble like an idiot."

Jack stood up "What planet are you from?"

Ianto blinked, though perhaps he should have expected that question "What? Is that what you say to everything you can't explain?"

The expression of shock on Jack's face was replaced with anger and Ianto momentarily flashed back to a year previous.

'What else are you hiding from us?'

Jack stepped closer, taking out his gun "What planet are you from?" he repeated.

This really wasn't good, not that Ianto was afraid of being shot as it was preferable to being impaled "Earth" Ianto said "at least as far as I know, we really don't know where we come from."

"We?"

"Yes, I'm not the only one. Look, maybe this conversation is best suited to the Hub."

"Good idea" Jack grabbed his arm roughly "Tosh, Gwen, clean up here. Owen, with me."

…

Ianto was in the back of the SUV, hands cuffed behind his back, which was very uncomfortable but he'd been through worse. In a way he was glad the cat was out of the bag—more or less—he'd been trying to figure out a way to tell Jack what he was, that he was more than a docile teaboy, but for the moment he'd better stay in the role of said docile teaboy, at least until he was out of these ruddy handcuffs.

It was a long drive back to the Hub, especially in the uncomfortable position that Ianto was in. But it wasn't as bad as other positions he'd been forced into in the past. After all, he'd been burned at the stake four (count 'em four) times—how he'd kept his sanity he didn't know. Oh and then there was the time that he and Methos were in a rowboat with a bunch of Irish monks off the coast of Iceland in 730something or other. The boat had no facilities—Methos still hated the water. So, being handcuffed in the back of a posh SUV was a breeze in comparison.

Ianto closed his eyes and decided to meditate. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't remember just what they were doing in that rowboat in the first place. But before he could search his memory for the answer he was pulled roughly from the SUV.

"I'll take him to the cells for now" Jack said to the medic "set up some tests and we'll question him when the girls get back."

"Got it" Owen nodded (not looking at Ianto) and got back in the SUV, presumably to park it. Jack pulled Ianto up on the lift.

Well, at least I haven't been demoted to 'it' yet. Ianto thought but held his tongue.

"You're being quiet" Jack said as they descended.

I'm always quiet. "I thought you were going to wait to question me."

"That wasn't a question" Jack yanked him off the lift before it came to a full stop. Ianto stumbled but didn't fall—he knew how to be a prisoner.

It wasn't till they were halfway to the cells that Jack spoke again "Why haven't you told us?"

Despite the spoken 'us', Ianto heard clearly the unspoken 'me'. Ianto answered with a question "Are you aware of just how much of a hypocrite you're being right now, sir?"

For a moment Jack stopped dead in his tracks "That's different" he said at last and continued pulling Ianto along, only now his grip was less vice-like.

"How?" Ianto questioned him "How is you keeping your immortality from me different than me keeping mine from you?"

Jack didn't say anything till they reached an empty cell next to Janet and then all he said was "I'll uncuff you" he did so and before he could be shoved, Ianto walked into the cell.

"I was going to tell you" Ianto told him through the Plexiglas "as soon as I figured out how" That's gotta count for something doesn't it?

Jack stared at him for a few moments "Your eyes have never looked so old before" and without waiting for a response he walked away.

Ianto slumped onto the bench with a heavy sigh. Right now, he really felt his age, four thousand years old, give or take a century or two. He stared at the opposite wall; he'd been in worse places, hell he could sleep peacefully in worse places. But he decided he'd take some window cleaner down here—if he weren't fired…or worse, frozen.

After what seemed like an eternity, well all right less than that but after a considerable amount of time, his mobile rang. Jack hadn't confiscated it.

He looked at the caller ID, who would be calling him this time of night? It was his home number. He knew in an instant who it was "Methos" he answered "what in the hell are you doing in my house?" as if he didn't already know the answer to that—once someone said 'mi casa es su casa' to Methos, the older immortal took it literally. So, therefore the better question would have been 'what in the hell are you doing in Cardiff?' Methos hated Cardiff…even though he sounded like a native.

Methos chuckled "Somehow, Ifan my dear I knew you'd say that. How'd you know it was me in your house?"

"Only you would call my mobile from my land line."

"You know me too well, Ifan. Anyway, I was in the neighbourhood; I thought I'd drop by. You in the mood for a drink?"

"I'd love one but I'm a little boxed up at the moment. My co-workers saw me die."

"Ouch."

"And wake up."

"Double ouch. You okay? Need any help?"

"I'll be fine and no, just stay there. I'll tell you about it when I get out of here. I work for Torchwood so it's not like they're gonna go screaming to the public."

"Who are you talking to and what language are you using?"

Ianto jumped at Jack's voice and switched to English "I have to go" he said to Methos and hung up. He stood as Jack opened the cell "Just a friend and ancient Welsh" he handed his mobile to Jack.

Jack looked through it, "That's your land line."

"Leave him alone."

Whatever Jack thought of that statement, Ianto couldn't discern from his expression, "He's like you?"

Ianto nodded.

"Come on, Gwen and Tosh are back."

Ianto stepped out of the cell, "Are you going to cuff me?"

"Are you going to run?"

"Unlike you, sir, I don't like to make a habit of being shot."

Jack's eyebrows shot up, "You think I enjoy it?"

Ianto shrugged, "Some people are masochists."

Jack just shoved him towards the door, "Walk in front, Ianto. Interrogation room first."

"Yes sir."

…

How could Ianto be immortal? How was it possible? And he said that there was more than just him—why hadn't Jack heard of them before?

When they reached the interrogation room, Ianto sat down and folded his hands on the table, "All right sir, whenever you're ready."

Jack sat across from him, "What planet are you from?"

Ianto let out an exasperated sigh, "How many times do I have to tell you? Earth, as far as I know. We don't know where we come from, we just…" he waved a hand "are."

Owen's voice came over the com system—the others were watching from above, "What are you then, teaboy?"

Ianto's eyes narrowed, he never liked it when Owen called him 'teaboy'. He rubbed his temples, "I am an Immortal."

"Like Jack?" came Gwen's voice.

Ianto shook his head "No, not like Jack. Jack says he keeps aging. My kind does not age after our first death."

"What is your kind?" Jack asked.

"I don't know. We're always foundlings."

"What do you mean?" asked Gwen.

"Immortals don't have parents, at least not that we know of. We're always found as newborns and raised by mortals. No one knows were we come from but we are Earthlings."

"As far as you know?" said Tosh.

"Yes, as far as we know."

"What do you mean 'first death'?" Owen asked "what's that about?"

Ianto took a breath "Our immortality is triggered by a violent death, if that doesn't happen then a potential immortal will die of old age like anyone else. At least that's been my observation."

There was no denying it, just by the look in his eyes; Jack could tell that Ianto was telling the truth, "How many more are there?"

Ianto shrugged, "I have no idea."

"Are you threats?" said Gwen in her 'cop' voice.

Ianto sighed again, "Depends on the immortal; there are good and bad immortals just as there are good and bad mortals."

"How old are you, if I may ask?" Tosh said gently.

"Four thousand, give or take a century or two, I lost count some time ago."

"Fascinating," Tosh breathed.

"Is there any way for you to die then?" Owen said in a tone of voice that indicated he was very upset with Ianto for not telling them.

Ianto looked at his hands, Jack could tell he didn't want that knowledge in Owen's hands but he answered anyway, "Yes, just one; decapitation. Granted, I'm sure it would kill just about anything" he looked straight into Jack's eyes "though who knows about you, sir?"

Jack suppressed a shudder at the thought—he didn't want to find out if losing his head would kill him.

Gwen spoke again, "Is Ianto even your name?"

Ianto's hands clenched and he honestly looked like he was contemplating going up there to strangle Gwen but instead he took a deep breath "Does that even matter? We don't know Jack's real name and don't you dare say that's different. And before anyone asks, I am in fact Welsh, pre-Celtic Welsh; I was raised in a tribe just west of the Brecon Beacons."

"Why haven't you told us?" that was Owen again.

Ianto looked like he was about ready to kill Owen too, "What was Jack's answer to that question?"

Jack looked up at the other three "That's enough, you three. Leave us alone for a bit, that's an order; comms off" when he was sure they were gone, he turned his attention back to Ianto "you've never let them get to you like that before."

Ianto shrugged, "Cat's about of the bag, sir. I'm tired of being the lapdog."

Jack blinked, "You're not a lapdog."

"Yes I am, it was all part of the role I was playing."

"What do you mean?"

"If an immortal lives long enough, he learns to adapt to his surroundings, be a chameleon as it were."

"You change your personalities?"

"Smart ones do, though I'm going to guess you haven't changed much since you've been immortal but you are young yet."

That was weird, Ianto had just called him young "Then you really have to stop calling me sir. You're something like seven thousand years older than me."

Ianto smiled briefly but then his expression became serious, "I am sorry I didn't tell you, I really was trying to figure out how. It's never easy, telling someone you care about that you can't die. Surely, you understand that, Jack."

Jack did understand that "I do, you're right. I guess it's not different. I was being a hypocrite, I'm sorry."

Ianto shrugged "I understand; you felt betrayed. I felt the same way when you woke up after Owen shot you. Believe me that freaked me out."

Jack arched an eyebrow, "Oh yeah?"

"You're not like me Jack, Immortals can sense each other; I would have known if you were like me" Ianto looked into his eyes "so what happens now? Am I sacked? Or frozen?"

"Why would you be frozen?"

Ianto shrugged, "It's what Torchwood does."

"You won't be frozen or sacked. I understand why you didn't tell us."

"Is there anything you'd like to ask me that we haven't covered?"

Jack thought for a moment "yeah, what kind of friend is this guy over at your house?"

Ianto smiled and there was a fondness in his eyes, "An old friend and a friend who'll mess up my house the longer he's by himself. He takes mi casa es su casa to a whole other level."

Jack laughed "Okay, you can go. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Absolutely" Ianto stood "Jack, you don't mind if I drop the teaboy persona do you? I'm really quite sick of it."

"Go ahead."

"Thanks," Ianto walked out without another word. Jack waited a few minutes and decided to follow him.

…

So, what do think so far? Please review, I can take it. This is just something I thought I'd dabble with, like my 'Ianto is a mutant' story, which I am working on for those of you that read it. It's just it's very likely that it won't be updated as quickly as I'd like because I know more about "Highlander" and therefore this fic will be easier to write.

Reviews make the world go 'round, see the big button?

TTFN

The next chapter we get to see Methos