Ever since Jack became immortal, he hadn't had much need of sleep. What good would it do to a fixed, unchanged point in time and space anyway? Granted, there were times that he closed his eyes and relaxed to a point that it almost felt like sleeping. In truth, though, his mind simply drifted to dream-like thoughts and memories which sometimes had him smile… and other times gasp back into wakefulness, his body drenched in sweat and his heart pounding hard in his chest.

Since the 456 incident, however, the latter kind were the only dreams he ever had. Every single night.

"I love you…"

He shook his head, refusing to believe that this was happening, that Ianto's life was slipping away and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Don't," he whispered.

The blue-grey eyes closed as the young man's strength ebbed, and Jack caught himself panicking.

"Ianto… Ianto stay with me. Stay with me, please… Stay with me, stay with me, please!"

Jack's eyes snapped open as if on their own accord and, for a moment, Jack wasn't sure where he was. The room was small and barren, with just a couple of three dimensional pictures handing on a wall and a couple of pieces of furniture across from him. But, as his sight adjusted in the darkness, he also managed to discern several pieces of clothing left precariously on the sofa. Some of them were his, Jack was sure of it. The rest, though, were certainly not his; they consisted of a naval uniform…

Only then did everything fall back into place.

"Another bad dream?" a young sleepy voice asked.

Jack winced. He had hoped that he wouldn't wake up his lover this time around. Obviously, luck wasn't on his side tonight. Still, he knew it would be a bad idea to play down matters. He had learnt from early on that Alonso wasn't that easily fooled or dissuaded. So telling the truth it was.

"'Fraid so." He pushed the covers aside and he slowly got out of bed, wincing slightly as his feet touched the cold floor. "Go back to sleep. I'll go get some fresh air."

He didn't even bother to hear a reply. He simply put on his trousers and walked out, running a hand through his hair. He didn't care about the scandalous look he received by a female alien that looked very much like some sort of a nobility if the rich, lavish clothing were any indication. This was a big ship, after all, and he was as much of a passenger as she was. Besides, where he was going he wouldn't bother anyone with his 'undignified' state.

Sure enough, his feet carried him down the corridor and to the left, entering one of the small foyers that were scattered about the Voyager's hull. Those small, tastefully furnished areas were ideal if any voyager wished to enjoy the view outside the ship while engaged in conversation over a light meal or a drink. And though they were nothing like the luxurious restaurants and lively bars that were located in the upper decks, they were definitely cozier, so they attracted a fair amount of people. Most of the time, at least. The ship had already declared it was night-time by universal standard hour, so most of the passengers had retired to their cabins. That was why Jack had been 'sleeping', and that was why the foyer was empty but for the man himself, giving him the privacy he needed.

Jack sighed and padded softly towards the huge window to look outside. There was nothing to be seen but the blackness of space and the stars, twinkling weakly in the distance. And though the heating system in the Voyager kept the hull warm, Jack could still feel the cold that practically emanated from the glass. Even so, he didn't step away. He simply hugged himself and remained staring out into space, trying to find comfort in its stillness.

Could Earth be one of those stars, he wondered. And was Gwen there, living her life with Rhys and raising her baby? What about Alice? She was probably still mourning over Steven's death. Jack just hoped she managed to move on with her life in spite of it. Just like Ianto's sister did… what was her name again? Shannon? Sharon?

Great. Ianto had been his lover for almost three years and he couldn't even remember his sister's name. And to think Jack had assured him that he'd never forget him, that he never could. What an idiot he was.

A series of footsteps cut into his train of thought, nevertheless he didn't turn around. It didn't take a great mind to guess who it could be anyway.

"I told you I'd come back," he said softly.

"I couldn't sleep again," Alonso said, and Jack could tell that there was a warm, albeit weak smile on his lips. In the next moment, the former time-agent felt Alonso's arms wrapping around him hesitantly, yet with clear affection. "Besides, you looked like you needed some warmth," he added softly, resting his chin on the broad shoulder.

Jack decided that that was a good enough reason, so he kept any more objections to himself. In the two months that the two of them had been together, Alonso had proven himself not only an eager and able lover, but also with a good heart. It made sense that the Doctor had probably wanted to make amends for everything Jack had lost after their meeting. A form of apology that Jack had accepted, even if it came belatedly. A part of him figured that he should try to make contact with the Doctor in order to thank him, but something told him that he wouldn't find him. Not this time.

"You're always so thoughtful," Alonso commented. "It almost makes me wish I were a psychic."

Jack smiled weakly. "I don't think you would like what you saw in there."

"I don't think I would have cared. It doesn't matter who we were or what we've done; just who we are and what we're meant to do."

"I would have believed that if I didn't know that the past has a way of coming to bite you on the ass."

Alonso's lips tugged to a knowing smirk. "Not unless I have a bite first."

"Hey!" Jack poked the officer on the ribs. "You're becoming almost as bad as me!"

"Shall I take that as a compliment?" Alonso asked, laughing.

"Hmm… maybe," Jack replied, finally turning around to place an affectionate kiss on the younger man's lips. The soft mouth pressed firmly against his invitingly, urging him to taste even deeper, and the black thoughts seemed to disperse, leaving pleasure and warmth in their stead.

"Better?" Alonso asked in a murmur as soon as the kiss ended, leaving the two of them all but breathless.

"Much," Jack admitted, nuzzling the younger man. "How about we continue this in your room?"

Alonso grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."

They didn't say anything else; they simply walked away, their hands clasped together. But little did they realize that, if they had looked out the window just a little while longer, they would have seen a bright flash of light across the vast void of space that vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Captain, there are strange readings on the monitor."

Captain Faraday frowned and walked up to the lieutenant commander, looking over his shoulder. "Is it a ship?"

"Negative, captain," the lieutenant commander said, pressing several more keys on the keyboard. "It appears to be a body of pure energy."

"A supernova?" Captain Faraday ventured.

"No, Captain. Whatever that is, it's a lot longer. Worse, we're heading towards it."

"Then outmaneuvering it is," the captain. "Get all hands on deck. Condition blue."

"Aye, aye, Captain," the lieutenant commander said, activating the communication frequencies. "Attention! Attention! All available hands on deck This is not a drill. I repeat. This is not a drill…"

Jack's hands caressed the willing body underneath him, his lips locking on Alonso's in gentle kisses that had the younger man mewling softly. However, a long whistle from Alonso's transmitter had them both pulling back, startled.

"Attention! Attention! All available hands on deck. This is not a drill."

Alonso listened to the transmission, then got out of bed with a sigh. "Duty calls."

"Yeah," Jack said softly. But as the words sank in, he sat up, looking at Alonso. "Why would they need everyone on deck?"

"Don't know," Alonso replied as he put on his uniform swiftly and with experiences ease. "Sounds serious, though."

Jack frowned, contemplating on the situation. "I can come with you."

"I hate to break it to you, but you're only a passenger, Jack," Alonso pointed out, nevertheless smiling affectionately at the former time-agent.

"I could still offer my opinion if it comes down to that," Jack insisted. "And I could still offer an extra hand if the ship is under attack."

Alonso hesitated for a moment before walking out, clearly considering his options before finally smiling in Jack's direction.

"If you can convince the captain, then it's more than fine by me. But you'd better make a good first impression."

"I always make a good first impression," Jack replied with a wink, and then quickly got out of bed so he'd get dressed. A few minutes later, both men walked down the corridors, heading to the bridge. All crewmembers within the room turned around at the sound of the door opening with a gentle hiss, but they were more than just a little surprised when they saw that Alonso wasn't alone.

"First Officer Frame, is there a reason that a civilian is with you?" the captain asked, raising a critical eyebrow.

"My apologies, captain," Alonso said. "Captain Jack Harkness has experience in moments of crisis and I thought it was appropriate he came to assess the situation."

"Captain?" Captain Faraday echoed, looking in the direction of Jack. "Where do you serve?"

"I'm retired," Jack replied, dismissing the matter at once. "What have we got?"

The other crewmembers regarded the captain, asking for his permission before saying another word. Faraday nodded, allowing them to speak freely.

"The scanners have picked up some unusual readings on the horizon," the lieutenant commander said, pointing at the screen.

"It's not a supernova nor any kind of astral phenomenon we're aware of, yet it's there."

"Can you zoom in on it?" Jack asked, his tone business-like as he looked at the mages on the screen.

"Not as of yet."

It was then that there was a large groan, followed by the persistent beeping of several controls within the room.

"Captain, the autopilot has just been disconnected."

Captain Faraday frowned. "Rearrange vectors and re-establish autopilot."

The ensign nodded, pressing one key after another. "Rearranging failed. The ship is currently out of control."

"Sir, there's been a fluctuation in the readings that coincides with the Voyager's system failure," the lieutenant commander said in that moment.

"Show me," Captain Faraday said.

The lieutenant tapped the order on the keyboard, and everyone saw the linear depiction of the flux. Alonso frowned and looked up at his captain, then at Jack.

"Could this be some kind of a tractor beam?" he asked.

"No, it just packs that much gravitational pull," Jack said, his eyes never leaving the monitor.

"You've seen this before then," Captain Faraday said.

"I'd recognize it anywhere," Jack replied grimly. "It's a Rift."

Captain Faraday stared at Jack dubiously. "A Rift? Here?"

"Jack, the Voyager passed through this part of the galaxy about a hundred times; that wasn't there before," Alonso pointed out.

"Rifts are like whirlpools. They disappear and reappear because the currents of time and space are in constant collision," Jack explained. "They're extremely volatile, sucking into them anything that might be caught in their pulse, only to be sucked out again… elsewhere."

"And we've just been caught in it," Captain Faraday noted with a wry sigh.

"Yeah," Jack answered.

Captain Faraday nodded and he opened the communication frequencies. "Mr. Payne, activate back up engine to full-throttle."

"That will eat up our fuel supplies, captain," the voice from the other end of the link replied.

"It's our best shot," the captain said.

"Maybe not the only one," Jack said in that moment, cutting into the conversation. "How capable are your engineers?"

The captain looked at Jack in thought before addressing his chief engineer again.

"Stand by, Mr. Payne."

"Of course, captain."

With that, the captain turned off his transmitter, returning his attention to Jack for the moment. "To answer your question, my engineers are more than just capable; they're one of the best that have served under my command. My question now is: what did you have in mind?"

"The Rift itself can give you the energy boost you need," Jack said. "All your engineer has to do is modify the engines not to take power from the ship's core but from outside."

The captain pursed his lips for a brief moment before activating the transmitter again. "Mr. Payne, is modifying the engines recommended?"

"Modified, captain?"

"To absorb Rift energy."

There was a pause for a few moments. "It could be done in theory. But the fact remains that this ship's been built to consume standard energy rather than time energy."

"Where there's a means, there's a way," Jack said, unstrapping his Rift manipulator. "Mr. Payne, if I give a part to serve as energy adapter, will it make things easier for you?"

"If such a thing is available, certainly," the engineer said. "Bring it over."

Jack looked up at the Captain, who nodded.

"First Officer Frame, please escort Captain Harkness down to the engine rooms," he said.

"Aye, aye, captain," Alonso replied, and he beckoned Jack to follow him. They had hardly taken two steps to the door, however, when Captain Faraday stopped them on their tracks.

"Captain Harkness?" he said, regarding Jack thoughtfully. "In my experience, there's no such thing as coincidences. And though I don't know what might have brought you here, I'm glad you are here, at the right place and the right time."

Jack didn't know what to say to that. He simply nodded and then headed for the exit, the door hissing closed behind him.

It hadn't been easy for Jack to give away his manipulator. That small piece of equipment had been in his possession the longest, strapped around his wrist during the most important turning points of his life. First when he became a time-agent, then when he became a conman, then the Doctor's companion… and, of course, last but not least, a member of Torchwood and afterwards its leader. And though it had been a long time since it stopped functioning properly, Jack couldn't bring himself to part with it. In a way, it reminded him of what he had been through, what he had gained and what he had been forced to give up. All it took was once glance at it, and everything would just play in his mind's eye in a heartbeat.

Nevertheless, he also understood the importance of the situation they were in. So, he handed the manipulator to the engineer without voicing any objections. Besides, he had suggested the idea in the first place; backing now wasn't an option.

"I haven't seen one of these in a while," the engineer said as he looked at the manipulator Jack handed him over. "Small, but they pack quite the punch."

"Does that mean you can use it with the engine?" Jack asked.

"Definitely. Still, I'll return it to you once we're out of the woods."

"Good. Thanks," Jack said with a brief smile and then turned on his heel, heading towards the exit. He hadn't even realized that Alonso was still with him until his hand clasped Jack's gently.

"This mustn't have been easy for you," he said, smiling in a timid manner. "So thank you for going through with it."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Is this the point where the lonesome hero finally gets thanks?" he asked, grinning slightly.

"I don't know about lonesome, but, yes, you do deserve some kind of reward," Alonso replied with a grin of his own, and kissed him on the cheek… that is, before leaning forward, a mischievous look in his eyes. "Good enough or shall I go lower?"

Jack's grin broadened. "Now that's how a story should end," he teased.

"Persevere and you shall receive," Alonso replied in the same teasing tone. In the next moment, however, he sobered slightly, and he cupped Jack's face in an affectionate manner. "I realize that things… hadn't been easy for you. But I agree with the captain. Sometimes there's a reason behind it all. And maybe you were meant to end up here. With me."

Jack sighed, looking out the window. "If there's a reason, I wish it hadn't been down in such a pain-in-the-neck track."

Alonso smiled. "And if some god batters me far out on the wine-blue water, I will endure it, keeping a stubborn spirit inside me. For already I have suffered much and done much hard work on the waves and fighting," he said softly, playing with the buttons on Jack's shirt.

Jack raised an eyebrow, regarding his lover curiously. "I didn't have you for a poet, officer," he said, half-teasing, half-serious.

"Alas, it's not mine," Alonso said with a shake of his head. "It's part of the Odyssey – the story of a warrior who keeps wandering across the seas in the hopes of one day reaching his home and his beloved."

"And does he ever find it?" Jack asked.

"Indeed," Alonso said, smiling.

"Good. I do love happy endings," Jack grinned, and he placed a soft peck on Alonso's lips. "And once the Voyager escapes the Rift's hold, we can have a happy ending of our own."

"Hmm… sounds like a plan. I'd rather we had our fun without worrying where the Rift will throw us."

It was meant to be a joke, an attempt to light up the tension of their predicament. Even so, the words didn't make Jack laugh, but wonder. What was on the other side of the Rift? He had manipulated its power countless times in order to travel through time and space, and he had heard the Doctor talk about them serving as gateways over and over…

"Jack?"

"Yeah?" Jack said at once.

"You had a strange look there," Alonso said, only to smile in a teasing manner. "Were you trying to imagine us stranded in a desert island?"

Jack plastered a grin in a heartbeat. "You have to admit, that is a fantasy we haven't tried out yet."

"Maybe one of these days," the younger man said with a chuckle, kissing Jack on the lips. "Well… see you later."

"Where are you going?" Jack asked, blinking.

"Though you gave us your manipulator, it doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet Jack," Alonso replied. "I'm needed on the bridge and on standby."

The former time-agent contemplated what Alonso told him, and then nodded. "Okay. Bye then."

Alonso chuckled. "Don't give me that look. I'm not leaving forever." And with a final nuzzle, he was gone, unaware that the idea that had started forming on Jack's mind didn't go away, not really. If anything, it practically manifested to a single thought that kept whispering in his ears, telling him of what it could be if he decided to just take this chance. And though reason warned him that not to abandon this hard-earned peace because of things of the past, things that he knew he couldn't change them…that argument was losing its strength. For reason was never Jack's strongest point; feeling was. And what he felt now guided him towards the engine room, his mind set on one goal alone.

"Mr. Payne," he said upon seeing the engineer. "The captain needs you on the bridge."

Payne raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't he contact me via the transmitter?"

"Don't know. You might want to ask him when you go there."

Unfortunately, Payne wasn't a man who was that easily fooled. Still regarding Jack in a way manner, he reached for his transmitter.

"Engine-room to-"

He never finished his sentence, for Jack knocked him out with a single punch on the jaw. But for Jack catching him in the last moment, he would have certainly collapsed in a heap on the floor.

"I try to be nice, but no, they always have to choose the hard way," he muttered, dragging Payne to a corner in the room before seeing to the other, far more important task at hand. He opened the engine and the first thing he saw was his manipulator, pulsing Rift energy to the rest of the complex system. So much like a key to the other side of the Rift… and all he had to do was reach out and use it.

"Jack?"

Jack stopped midway at the familiar voice, guilt eating away at him.

"Can't stay away from me, can you?" he said, smiling weakly.

Alonso, however, didn't see the humour of the situation. "The Captain sent me back here after an interrupted transmission reached the bridge. And now I see why it was interrupted!" He grabbed Jack by his arm, trying to make the former time-agent look at him. "What are you doing?"

"It's okay, the ship isn't in any danger," Jack said, his eyes still locked on the manipulator.

"That's not what I asked!"

It took several moments, but Jack finally faced the younger man. "What if you and the captain are right? What if meeting you and being in this ship were mere steps so I could end up here and now? I know it sounds crazy but hear me out," he said, seeing the look of disbelief in Alonso's eyes. "Back then at the bar… a friend of mine slipped a note in my direction, telling me your name. I thought at first he just wanted to set us up, but now I'm beginning to think that maybe he knew about this all along and he wanted me to come across it."

"For what reason?" Alonso asked, clearly being overwhelmed and yet still trying to understand the best he could.

"So I could get across! So maybe I could find…" he stopped midway, pursing his lips.

"Find what, Jack?" Alonso asked softly.

"… Find what I lost."

The younger man didn't speak for many moments, lowering his gaze as everything sank in. "You couldn't find it with me?"

Jack cupped Alonso's face in a tender manner. "I care about you; I really do. You helped me get back on my feet when I thought that was the end of the road for me. But you deserve more than someone who's grateful to you. You deserve someone who can offer his heart, his soul, his whole being to you."

"And here comes the 'It's not you, it's me' speech," Alonso said with a sigh.

"You're an amazing person, Alonso. I'm sure you can find someone whom you can make very happy and they'll love you back in return. It just wasn't me."

Alonso nodded his understanding. "Can't say I won't miss you, but… Odysseus needs to keep looking for his home, I guess."

"Yeah," Jack said gently and he leaned forward to kiss Alonso goodbye. But Alonso stopped him.

"Don't make this harder than it already is," he said quietly.

The words stung; nevertheless, Jack took a step back. "I won't forget you."

"That's something, at least," Alonso replied, even though the smile didn't quite reach his ears.

Jack nodded, his eyes never leaving Alonso, and his hand reaching for the manipulator. He pressed the buttons one by one, slowly but surely, yet his heart beat faster and more erratically as he now realized that, once he pressed enter… there was no coming back.

"Goodbye…"

Then everything spiralled into a blur, and Jack felt himself falling into a chasm which had no end. He screamed, yet the sound reached distorted in his ears. He struggled, yet it was to no avail; he had lost sensation of his limbs. Bright light shone down on him and he had to close his eyes.

And then there was nothing else but blackness and silence.

TBC...