CHAPTER ONE

Notes

AU- What if there was something more dangerous than a Cyberman in Torchwood three? How far would Jack go to save Ianto? Just what is Jack capable of? And what is Ianto's secret?

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I do not own Torchwood. Captain Jack and all the others are not mine, never will be mine. No money is being made, no permission is asked, only forgiveness.

I don't know how but it will all work out in the end

Reviews gladly wanted.

WARNING!

THIS FIC IS DARK! There will be some bad things done. This plot bunny wouldn't leave me alone. And it boils down to this: If Hartman was as bad as we are led to believe why didn't she have a contingency plan?

CHAPTER TWO

Scene

"Execute her or I will execute you both."

Ianto still could hear those words, feel the cold steel as Jack pressed the Webly into his skull. He could still hear the staccato gunshots that echoed on the walls and celing of Lisa's cell. He didn't think of it as a room, he called the large dank room what it was, a cell, a prison. He still hated Jack. But he still loved Jack too. Charging in where mere mortals feared to tread. Pulling him back from the brink. Rescuing him from the end of the world, and from death itself. Even if he didn't want to be rescued.

Ianto sat up in bed, or at least he tried. His legs wouldn't move, and he pried open his eyes. Cold stone and plexiglass stared back at him, punctuated by the howls of Janet a few cells down. His legs wouldn't move because he was scrunched on the slab in the cell, his heels against the plexi-glass wall, his knees against rough stone. It all came flooding back. He was in the cells.

For one second he had let himself believe that what had happened was just a dream, but as he looked down at himself, still coated in blood, he knew it wasn't. That meant that he had been dragged here after Lisa's death.

His heart clenched. He wasn't sure what he was hoping for. Death? Retcon? He wasn't sure which one was the better option. But he knew that Jack was Torchwood. And according to Torchwood those were his only two options.

Of course, Jack wasn't one for following the rules, and Ianto knew better than anyone what Jack was capable of when angry. He had read of more than a few 'questioning' sessions with prisoners run by Jack bloody Harkness. Of course none of them were this decade, but in his opinion, once capable, always capable.

Ianto tried to supress the shudder as he heard the door open. Jack was standing on the other side of the clear wall, hands on his hips in that pose that made him seem so much bigger than life.

"Up!" The voice was as cold as the gun that had been against his skin earlier. It pulled him from his despair made his heart hammer in his chest. He could hear the barely-controlled fury behind it.

It took Ianto a moment to orient himself enough to stand. When he finally stood it took him two tries to get all the way to his feet, his legs not wanting to do what he wanted. His mouth was dry and tinny, proof that Owen had drugged him. "Turn around." Jack's voice was steady. "On your knees."

Ianto knelt there in the cell, wondering if this was going to be his steel-jacketed retirement party. He did notice that the Webly was still in the holster. But if Jack really wanted to kill him there were so many other ways.

"Cross your ankles, hands behind your head."

Ianto sighed, recognizing the position as one used for prisoners to be cuffed. He didn't know if the sigh was relief or frustration, maybe both? He was being moved. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. He wasn't sure how he felt about anything right now. All he knew was that this man this beautiful, monsterous, lovely, hateful man had killed his Lisa.

"Owen." The name was as much a command as anything could be. In that powerful way that Jack had of commanding them to do their job and giving them the strength to at the same time, often with only their name.

Owen waived the scanner over him. "He's in shock, a little worse for wear, but nothing immediately fatal." Ianto thought he could hear disappointment in his voice. "No explosives, no failsafes, and as far as I can see, no augmentations."

"Good."

Ianto knew that clipped tone. Jack was all business, the cold, clinical man who could be so dispassionate about things instead of the raging monster who had nearly killed him earlier. Ianto heard a gun click, and realized that Owen had drawn his sidearm. Jack approached and Ianto felt something cold slip around his wrists and lock securely.

"Stand up slowly." Jack applied pressure to the arms to help him shift his weight properly since his center of balance was so far forward.

"I'll take it from here Owen."

"Protocol Jack."

"Damn protocol Owen." Jack's voice was tired. "I'm just taking him upstairs to get him washed and changed. I will meet you in the interrogation room."

"Remember Jack, he's a traitor, not your god-damned tea-boy."

Ianto remained still, overly conscious of Jack still holding on to him, and knowing just how fast on the draw Jack could be.

"If we get to the showers and you behave I will let you shower yourself."

Ianto nodded but didn't speak. He didn't know what to say. He was still trying to process. Why wasn't he dead?

Jack helped him up the flights of stairs to the hub and marched him through the hub. The others had the good grace to look away. When they arrived at the showers Ianto saw things laid out. A pair of jeans, a pair of pants, a pull over shirt, a jumper, slip-on shoes. All of these were standard policy for this situation, nothing he could use to injure himself with.

Jack had stopped in a dry patch facing the mirror. "Kneel." Ianto did, mirroring the position from earlier.

"This is how it is going to go. You are going to shower and change. Then you are going to go out into the next room and wait for me."

"Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"We have a few more things to do before we decide your fate Ianto. You really fucked it up this time."

Ianto felt the cuffs slide off his wrists and stood to his feet slowly. He heard Jack walk out of the room and caught just a whiff of him as he passed by.

"I really hope I don't have to lose you Ianto."

#

CHAPTER THREE

It was nearly a half hour later when Ianto stood in

It was nearly a half hour later when Ianto stood in front of the sink looking at himself. He had washed himself as well as the limited supplies allowed to him let him. And he had basked in the hot water as long as he dared. Now he stood, leaning on the sink looking at himself in the mirror. If he was honest with himself, even clean, he looked like death warmed up. And for now, he really was. In that statistical limbo between working at Torchwood and Death by Torchwood. No worse, the limbo between working for Torchwood and Execution by Torchwood.

Ianto tried not to kid himself. Jack was wary of taking that much time, it tended to leave the victim in a vegetative state for a long period, and there was always the risk of seizure or stroke, not to mention flashback psychosis if the dose failed.

He noticed that the razor left for him was an electric. Again, standard policy. Nothing they could use to hurt themselves or others. He shaved, still not able to put himself into those dispassionate phrases. To him it was still 'the accused' not 'me." Jack had at least done away with the standard Torchwood pullover in favor of something from Ianto's closet.

Finally, when even he couldn't find anything to fix he came out, noticing the cuffs on one of the benches, he stood next to them, arms held stiffly, waiting for Jack.

Jack appeared, Ianto still wasn't sure how, but this time the sudden appearance sent a shiver down his spine. Jack stayed back a moment to see what Ianto would do. Ianto forced himself to stay still. It wouldn't, he reminded himself, do any good to run. This bastard would just find him and drag him back. He still had questions.

"I'll dispense with the shackles and leave you some dignity." Jack said, his voice not as cold as it had been. Ianto could smell the pheremones, and the spicy after shave Jack used, and realized that Jack had showered too. Jack didn't look any better than Ianto did. His eyes were hurt, his skin was still pale from the multiple deaths and he was still favoring just a touch. Ianto couldn't tell if it was ribs or knee, but he was walking gingerly.

"Hands in front, palms together."

Ianto complied.

"Lace your fingers."

Ianto did, watching as Jack slipped the Anti-weevil clamps around his wrists. Torchwood's normal pollicy in this case would have been to have the prisoner hold their arms out from the shoulders, finger-tips and elbows touching, with their arms crossed, the wrists would then be locked together. That was usually followed by a pair of leg irons. But that made it really hard to move, and the corridors at torchwood three were windy.

"Thank you" Ianto's voice was soft, and he was surprised it was as full as it was. It was bad enough that he would be walked back through the hub, but the traditional 'war criminal' posture would have made it worse.

"Don't thank me yet, Ianto. There are a lot of things we still have to do."

He nodded and turned when Jack gestured for him.

"Interrogation?" Ianto asked, hoping he had quashed the terror in his voice.

"Yes. You know the way. I know it goes without saying, so I will say it only once. Any attempt at escape will be met with lethal force."

"I know, sir."

"Good." Jack's hand lingered on the back of his head a moment before he squeezed Ianto's shoulder. "Even in my time Ianto, there was no cure." The words were so low that Ianto was barely sure he had caught them. "I'm sorry it used your love for her like that. She didn't deserve that, and neither did you."

Ianto turned and headed back down through the Hub, and stopped at the door of Interrogation. He wasn't quite sure what to expect. Jack opened the door. Owen was sitting near the table. Jack's standard seat was there, a neat file in front of it, across from Jack's seat was the one that Ianto knew he would take. Jack gestured for him to sit.

Owen checked him over again. Just a cursory check Ianto knew. All by the numbers. When he was satisfied he settled Ianto in his seat and placed a small box on the table.

From his new position Ianto could read the heading on the folder as Jack put aside his coat and sat down. His webly was on the table between himself and Owen.

Torchwood Internal Review: Subject: Jones, Ianto. The file said.

Finally it hit home for Ianto. He had really fucked up. This was a full review. There were only a couple of options, and since he was a Traitor, that boiled down to two. Death or Retcon. Of course, Ianto knew he could skip this all together, knew that Jack had to ask him that question.

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CHAPTER FOUR

TX-17

"Torchwood Review, 12 May 2006, Subject: Ianto Jones, Archivist Torchwood Three." Jack's voice was soleumn. "Charged with Treason against the crown, Aiding and abetting an enemy to the crown, Insubordination, Defiance, and Defiance with reckless Abandon. In the room are the Accused, Ianto Jones, Owen Harper, Medical Officer, and Captain Jack Harkness, Leader of Torchwood Three."

Ianto expected some of it, he knew the proceedure, but he had never expected to hear Jack utter those words, never expected to be the one on the other side of the table.

"So far, Mr Jones has not displayed any further threat to himself or the other members of Torchwood, it is in consideration of that that he has been brought in without force or drug." Jack stated clearly for the record.

"Mr Jones." The blue eyes captured him. "You do understand the severity of the crimes named?"

"I do."

"Mr Jones, it is your choice, at this point, you can abstain from this proceeding, which is your right, and would immediately enforce the proscribed penalty set forth in the Torchwood handbook." Jack held up a hand to stop reply. "In this instance, because of the grevious nature of the crime, and the Defiance with Abandon charge, and because of the length of service to Torchwood, the only proscribed judgement at this time would be death, to be carried out within forty-eight hours."

Ianto had to wonder how much of himself Jack had to kill to get those words out. A moment ago he had been toying with the idea of saving himself the steps he knew would be coming next. Just taking the punishment dished out. But hearing Jack spell it out so clearly, so succinctly, it frightened him.

"Do you wish to continue?"

Ianto was silent.

"Mr Jones?" Owen had to remind himself of Ianto's treason. Had to clamp down on his feelings to be as dispassionate as he was. "Do you wish to continue?"

Owen's voice was strained. He hated this, Ianto could read it in every fiber of his being. He hated having to be an accessory. But the choice was Ianto's. He could take the easy option. He could say no, and Jack would take him out and kill him. If he was lucky, Jack would make it clean, and if he was really lucky, Jack would make sure he never saw it coming.

Ianto wasn't actually sure that Jack was breathing. "Yes, I'll continue."

Jack let out the breath he had been holding.

Ianto hadn't been expecting to say that, but the shattered, haunted look in Jack's eyes made him think twice about forcing Jack to kill him, or at least forcing him to do it without any cause.

"Owen." The single word was a softer version of the command that Jack had given at the cells.

Owen put his hand on the small box. Ianto tried not to look at it. He knew what it was. Torchwood's most secret weapon against treason. Tx-17, Truth serum.

"Have you been exposed to Tx-17?" Owen asked as he brought out the cord and alcohol pad.

"Yes.' Ianto's voice shook. "Only once."

"How much?"

"Standard Level 1 dose." Ianto said.

"Any bad reactions?"

"Just vivid nightmares."

Jack's voice was flat. "The doctor will administer a level two dose of Tx17, which, when interacting with human blood chemistry produces pain at every nerve cluster when the body reacts to a lie. The greater the lie, or evasion, the greater the pain."

"Are you still certain that you want to continue?"

Ianto nodded. It was too late to turn back.

"I am administering a solution of 20% Tx17 in in 10 CC of saline."

Owen opened the box to reveal the vial of bright blue serum. Ianto watched as he mixed it with the Saline before finding a vein.

"I'm sorry Ianto."

Ianto nodded. Prepared for the pinch he kept himself from flinching. He put his head down a moment, teeth clenched as the serum began to work.

"Ianto."

Ianto raised his head to look at Jack.

"I need you to answer the questions truthfully."

"Now you tell me," Ianto said with a laugh.

Jack's cold demenor cracked for a moment and he smiled.

"Is your name Ianto Jones?"

"Yes." Ianto knew they started with easy questions.

"Did you work for Torchwood Tower?"

"Yes."

"Were you at Canary Wharf?"

"Yes." Ianto screamed. He'd forgotten the pain of this stuff.

"No." Ianto said finally. "I was Awol that day."

"Why were you not in your assigned area?"

"I-" Ianto closed his eyes, the pain was making them tear up. "I-"

"Ianto, I need you to give me a true answer." Jack said.

Owen was holding one of his wrists limply, checking his pulse while he kept an eye on the scanner. "Jack, his heart rate is increasing, no danger yet."

"C'mon Ianto. True answer and the pain stops."

"Can't"

"Why?"

"I can't." Ianto forced against it. "I can't tell you."

"Ianto." Jack's voice was back to the command he always knew.

"Jack! Back off." Owen was trying to calm Ianto down.

"No, Owen." The raspy voice almost certainly couldn't be Ianto's. "I have to."

"Jack, if this doesn't stop soon you may not have to decide."

Ianto took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before saying, "Program Blue Shield."

"What is Blue shiled?"

"HM project, TW-147234. Target, infiltrate, destroy."

"Who was your target?"

"You are not Authorized." Ianto's voice cracked as the pain flared again. "You are not Authorized.

"Who?" By now Jack was standing looming over Ianto. "I am the Leader of Torchwood, I order you to tell me."

"No-"

"IANTO!

"You!" Ianto screamed, then slumped against the table barely breathing.

Ianto sat with his head against the table for a while. He concentrated on keeping his breathing even until the pain subsided.

"Did you rescue a converted human from Torchwood tower?" Jack's voice was flat. Soft. Deadly.

"Yes."

"What was your intention in rescuing her?"

"Primarily to save her," Ianto said, his voice much quieter. "I hoped she could be unconverted."

"Secondary?"

"To uphold the program orders."

"Who did you report to?"

Ianto shook his head. He bit his lip to keep from whimpering. Meanwhile he was screaming at himself to trust Jack, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Ianto."

"Please, just give me the antidote, It's a deep Program, it will auto trigger the drug."

"Is there anything else pertaining to the cyberman in my base that I need to know, anything directly related to Lisa?"

"I loved her Captain. I just wanted to protect her. They held her over me. Even before Canary Wharf, They threatened to send her away to make me take the training."

Ianto had spoken without pain so the Captain knew it was the truth. "Get him the antidote."

"What are you going to do?"

"Work on the deep Programming."