In someone's life there will almost always be a series of moments, precious instances, seemingly insignificant seconds of their lives, that they will look back on and know that these are the changing factors that have lead them to where they are today. Sometimes these moments are wonderful, filled with passion and hope and sometimes they are terrible and destructive, leaving nothing but pain in their wake. But one thing that everyone should remember, when looking back on the chapters of their lives is that everything begins with a choice.

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'Owen you take the left side, Gwen your with me. Don't get too close, this one's severely agitated!'

'Compared to wanting rip our throats out just like every other day?'

'Very funny Owen. Go.'

It was meant to be a routine weevil capture, a simple grab and bag but this was Torchwood and things were rarely so easy. Jack and Owen had flanked the weevil, Owen ready to stun the creature while Jack pinned it. Gwen had her gun at the ready for backup. The weevil had taken one sniff of Jack and gone completely feral. It howled and lunged at him with a ferocity that they had never seen before. Owen and Gwen let out a yell of alarm while Jack had lunged backwards to escape the weevil's claws. The weevil lunged again but this time Jack was ready and promptly sucker-punched it in the head, sending it howling off down the back alleys of Cardiff.

Tosh had informed them that the alley way had a left side entrance as well. Jack and Gwen slowly edged forward, guns raised. The sound of Owen cursing the puddle of sick, he had accidentally stepped in, left behind by the participants of student night, was the only disturbance to the silence.

'Thought you would be used to sick by now Owen, with the amount you drink every night.' Gwen commented over the comms.

'Who are you, the party police PC Cooper? What's your idea of fun then? Staying in with Rhys and playing Scrabble?'

Jack's voice stopped any retort Gwen might have had. 'Kids! Can we focus please?'

The weevil came into view, it was crouched low to the ground, moaning in sorrow, but when Jack came into view the moans became angry growls, it's focus completely on the immortal man. It made a great snarl, lunging for Jack. Owen jumped forward, grabbing hold of the weevil from behind, locking his arms around it in a desperate attempt to drag it to the ground. Gwen and darted forward to help. Jack stopped with a yell, grabbing at his stomach and doubling over. Instantly Gwen reached for him, asking him what was wrong. He waved her off.

'Go, go! Help Owen, I'm fine!'

With one more concerned look Gwen was off, pulling weevil spray from her pocket and advancing on the two wrestling on the ground.

Leaning against the wall of the alley, Jack slowly slid down, stretching his legs out in front of him. Pressing his hands to his stomach he desperately tried to still the pain that was ripping through him. It felt like his insides were on fire. The sound of his own painful moans rang in his ears, blocking out the sounds of the other two members of his team fighting with the weevil. And then as quickly as the pain started, it stopped.

Panting, Jack lay in shock, wondering what the hell had happened. His eyes were closed and his head was tilted back as he tried to get his breathing under control. He seemed to drift until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Opening his eyes he saw Gwen kneeing next to him, concerning shining through her own wide eyes.

'We managed to capture the weevil; Owen is loading it into the SUV. What happened Jack? What's wrong with you?'

'Oh now your asking' Jack chuckled.

Gwen sighed loudly 'Jack!' She looked upon him imploringly. She really was too good at that. Jack stirred and hauled his heavy body up to rest against the wall. Gwen grabbed him, putting his arm around her shoulders and her own arm around his waist.

'Let's just get back to the hub. Owen can check me over.' He looked over as Gwen made a sound in the back of her throat. Gwen was looking at the back of Jack's greatcoat. 'What?'

'You've got a massive stain on the back of that; Ianto is not going to be happy'.

Ianto was most unhappy, indeed.

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'Ah, that's cold!' Jack was sitting on the table in the autopsy bay, Owen pressing a stethoscope to Jack's naked chest. Ianto was hovering above them, trying to appear casual as he leaned against the railing but he was letting off a nervous energy. Gwen was standing next to Jack, arms folded and a smile on her face as she observed the grown man acting like a toddler.

'For God's sake Harkness, keep still! You're worse than a kid.' Owen removed the stethoscope and pushed on Jack's chest to get him to lie back.

'All right, you said you had stomach pains? Where about's was it?'

'Right here.' Jack placed his hand just above his belly button.

'Let's have a feel shall we?'

Jack let out a little chuckle before replying 'You just want to get your hands on my body don't you? All you had to do was ask Owen, I'm always willing to try new things.' Jack leered.

'In your dreams Jack, I would rather drink my own piss frankly.' Owen replied before pressing hard on the area that Jack had indicated.

Jack lay back, letting his eyes wander around the bay as Owen examined him. His eyes caught Ianto's, who was standing directly above him, looking down at Jack in concern. He gave the other man a little wink, trying to reassure him. He got the tiniest of smiles in return.

Finally, Owen snapped off his rubber gloves, declaring that there was nothing wrong with the Captain.

'Well nothing besides the obvious.' Owen sniggered.

'What do you mean there's nothing wrong with him? You saw him Owen, he was bent over with pain in that alleyway.' Gwen piped up. She stared at Owen with a look of astonishment.

Jack sat up to look at his doctor. It certainly hadn't felt like nothing when he thought his insides were going to be burned away.

'Are you sure you didn't find anything Owen? Why would Jack react that way if it was nothing?' It was Ianto's turn to speak.

Owen let out a highly agitated sigh, running a hand through his hair. 'Who's the doctor here, me or one of you lot? I'm telling you there is nothing wrong with him, It was probably indigestion. You've seen the way he eats. I'll monitor him for a few days if it bothers you all that much, ok? Now that we have determined Harkness's bits aren't' likely to drop off, can you lot clear off so I can do some real work?'

'Will miracles never cease?' came Ianto's dry reply.

'Ha bloody ha, tea boy. Now get out, the lot of you, and put your shirt back on Harkness, you're bringing up my breakfast.'

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Jack moaned loudly into the open space of the under-ground bunker as Ianto ran his tongue cleanly along his cock. His hands moved up to Jack's hips, pressing the Captain down onto the bed as he bucked.

'Jack, didn't anyone ever tell you patience is a virtue?' Ianto questioned as he bit into Jack's hip.

Jack was panting, eyes closed and his hands carding through Ianto's hair. He loved it when his lover was in control and contrary to some people's belief AKA Owen, Ianto often took the lead in the bedroom. Jack was only too happy to be dominated. Every little helps as they say.

'I have patience when I have to deal with idiot officials all day, every day. I have patience when UNIT try and move in on our jurisdiction. THIS is one place I don't have to bother with the bloody thing, so please Ianto.' The end of his sentence drifted off as a long sensual moan as Ianto continued to tease and nip at the skin on Jack's inner thighs.

Ianto looked up from his position between Jack's legs. Jack was so beautiful when he was like this. When the day ended and the lights were dimmed, when everyone left the hub and let silence descend, that's when the two of them could become themselves. It was like a switch flicking off in Jack. Ianto would watch the transformation from Captain Jack Harkness, to Jack, his lover.

Ianto pressed kisses gently into Jack's skin, licking a path along the predominant hipbone before he came to Jack's stomach. He placed butterfly soft kisses across the small scar Jack had near the cease in his hip. 51st century and you could still get appendicitis. Jack's large hands caressed his shoulders, large fingers trailed down his arms and back up again leaving behind a delicious tickling sensation. Ianto hummed in his throat, dipping his tongue into Jack's belly button before leaving a wet trail around it which he blew on, loving the shiver it sent throughout his lovers body. His eyes were drawn to the point of Jack's recent pain.

'Are you sure that it doesn't hurt anymore Jack?'

Jack propped himself up on his elbows to look down at Ianto.

'It's fine, I won't say that I know what it was, but if it was something serious Owen would have found it. He's a good doctor'

'I know, I know its just that…you looked so pale when you came in before. I've never seen you like that Jack, it…worried me' Ianto looked at him with honest blue eyes.

Reaching down a hand Jack brushed the back of his fingers against Ianto's cheek, watching as he closed his eyes to lean into the gesture. He really was amazing.

'Honestly? I don't remember feeling anything like that before but worrying about it isn't going to help anyone. Besides, if it is anything serious what's it going to do? Kill me?' Jack chuckled.

'That's not funny Jack! What if this turns out to be something alien? Something that can actually kill you for good? What am I..' Ianto stopped himself before he could complete the sentence. It wasn't that he couldn't tell Jack how he felt, he was more than capable of telling someone his feelings. He and Jack were just better at showing rather than saying. He was a man of few words and Jack was a man who talked a lot but really said nothing at all.

Jack reached down and pulled Ianto up the bed, a small smile on his face. He lay back, resting his head on the pillow as he cushioned Ianto's head on his chest, his arms wrapped around his broad back.

'I'm sorry, look, I've died a hundred different ways and not one of them has stuck yet. I'm obviously something so great the universe can't bear to lose me.' He placed a kiss in Ianto's hair.

'Oh yeah, you're something alright.'

'Oi!'

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Four nights later found Jack sitting in his office with his eyes closed rubbing at the spot below his rib cage. The pain had started off at a dull ache a couple of hours ago and had progressed to a constant throbbing beneath his skin. He had sent Ianto home so the younger man could get some rest. Ianto had been working non-stop on the paper work for the residential trip an alien school had taken to Wales in order to see how the lower species lived.

He began to regret his instance to send the Archivist home when he felt a driving flash of pain pulsing from his chest to his gut. Clenching his teeth to stop himself from screaming Jack folded his arms on his desk and placed his head on them, willing the pain to simply stop.

'Can I please not just catch a break?' He growled out to himself.

Sweat broke out across his brow as he panted through the pain. This was worse than dying slowly from poisoning. At least then he knew the cause and could be prepared for what was coming.

When he felt a particularly excruciating pang that made his breath catch in his throat, his eyes widened and his heart palpated. He decided now was the time to call in reinforcements. Namely Ianto. Fumbling for his mobile he located Ianto's name through pain burred vision.

Ianto answered on the third ring.

'Jack'

Another deep pang of pain lanced through Jack.

'Ianto.' Jack breathed.

'Jack? What's wrong? What is it?' Came the panicked reply.

A strong wave of burning pain racked his body.

'Ianto, I don't…I can't..' It was the last thing Jack was able to say before the pain completely over took him. His mind shut down as he crashed to the floor.

Ianto's voice shouting Jack's name over and over again over the phone was the only sound in the stillness that followed.