Ianto stood on the dockside watching the water crash beneath his feet. The air that morning was close and it had just begun to rain. I could jump in and nobody would miss me, thought the young Welshman.
"I would," said a gentle voice behind him.
Ianto didn't turn around. He didn't want to see Jack's face – the face of a murderer.
"Please come back inside Ianto," Jack pleaded. "Let's talk about it."
"What is there to say?" Ianto asked. "Lisa's dead and you let it happen."
"She was dead already. You know that. There's no way she would have ever recovered – she was too far gone. I had to protect my team or she would have killed us all."
Ianto turned around. Jack couldn't tell if the water dripping down his face was rain or tears.
"We could have done something. What's the point in having all this alien technology if we can't use it to save the ones we love? We could have done something…"
Ianto's voice cracked and his face crumbled in grief. As he collapsed, Jack caught him and they fell gently to the floor together.
Jack cradled Ianto's head as he wept.
"Everything's going to be OK Ianto. Lisa is at peace now and you'll find someone else in time."
"I don't want someone else Jack. I want her. She was everything," Ianto looked up at the Captain. "We were going to get married, have children; have a life away from Torchwood. I should have kept her safe. I tried…"
"It's not your fault."
"No," Ianto suddenly stood up and pushed past Jack. "No it's not my fault – it's yours."
Jack watched as Ianto strode off towards the barrage. Soon he was lost in the curtain of mist.
"I'm sorry Ianto," Jack whispered to the rain. "I had no choice."