Wahoo! New story! What happens when the team have to stay overnight due to a lockdown? This is set right after Countrycide. Reviews are very much appreciated!!

Note: Do not own anything remotely related to Torchwood.

Lockdown at 10

22.00h

The lights of the hub suddenly went dark.

"Toshiko, what's with the darkness?"

"Power drain Jack"

"We've been having generator problems all morning" said Ianto from afar.

"This is starting to feel a bit familiar" replied Owen with a concerned look directed at Ianto. "Another girlfriend tea-boy?" Owen smirked but he nervously fiddled with the seam of his jacket.

Gwen poked Owen. "That was a bit uncalled for Owen" she whispered. The woman glanced at Ianto and felt her heart break at the sad expression on his face, still swollen and blue from Brecon Beacons.

"I'll go check" said Ianto averting his eyes from everyone.

Jack soon followed the man in the suit. "I'm coming with, Ianto. Two pairs of eyes are better than one"

Ianto had grown accustom to Jack's presence. Since Lisa, Jack had been watching him like a hawk. He hadn't expected anything different from his boss. What he had done was inexcusable but he had hoped that Jack would have soften his watch after the recent events so he could at least deal with his emotions privately. Nothing was further from the truth as Jack was now more worried than ever and was constantly fussing over his health.

Jack and Ianto went to the lower levels of the hub, in search of the electricity center. Ianto knew exactly where it was, but orientating himself in the darkness proved to be a challenge for him. "It should be here" Ianto said to Jack who was holding a flashlight.

Ianto sighted. "hmm … urgh seems like there a leak in the water system, short-circuiting the main frame"

"There" Jack pointed at a leaking water pipe just above them.

"There must be some tools round here. Ah there". Ianto picked up a wrench and started working on the water pipe.

"Do you always keep tools here?" asked Jack.

"Yep, the hub is old. Needs repairs" responded Ianto.

Jack smiled fondly. "Always at the ready huh"

Ianto nodded but did not understand why the older man was smiling so broadly. "Indeed sir"

Ianto was turning off the water supply to the pipe when suddenly he gasped for air and took hold of his sides. He cursed silently and moaned.

"Alright there Yan?"

"Yeah, just overdid it. Damned broken ribs"

Jack seized the wrench from Ianto and stared at the wounded man. "I'm fine" said Ianto.

"This should do it for now" he continued. "But I'm not used to working with pipes so I don't know how long this will last"

"You've done good Ianto. Thanks"

" 's my job sir"

Ianto took back the wrench, dropped it in the toolbox and stepped back a bit. Because it was dark, he did not see the chair behind him and stumbled onto the ground with a loud thud. As he fell, his left arm scraped against a spike sticking out of the wall. The spike cut the inside of his arm leaving behind a nasty 10 cm gash. Ianto let out a yell of pain and tried to pick himself off of the floor. He reached up to the wall and grabbed the first thing he could find, not knowing that the lever he was pulling was one not to mess with. He pushed the lever with all his weight causing it to fold. Simultaneously an alarm sounded through the hub: Warning, Torchwood institute going into 24h lockdown. Quarantine.

"Shit" cursed Jack. "You ok? "

"Yeah, just hurt my arm and ankle"

Jack reached out his hand to Ianto and with ease he held him up. Whilst supporting Ianto, Jack slowly guided him to the main area of the hub.

At seeing their captain, Owen, Tosh and Gwen spoke simultaneously, resulting in a mixture of complaints, screams and insults.

"QUIET!" shouted Jack. "Tosh, try to get to lights back. Should be no biggie as the source of the problem has been resolved".

He helped Ianto onto a chair. "U sure you are ok?"

Ianto nodded but was looking quite miserable and still clutching his arm and ribs.

"What is going on?" asked Gwen.

"It seems we have gone into a quarantine lockdown" replied Jack.

The three members spoke as one: "Lockdown?"

"Yes" continued Jack. "The worst kind. Dead lock seal. Not even a sonic screwdriver can open that"

"How could a screwdriver open a door?" asked Tosh.

"Long story!" replied Jack and Tosh thought she saw a spark in his eyes.

"What happened?" inquired Owen.

Jack cleared his throat and muttered: "Ianto fell and hit the lever"

"What?" screamed Owen.

Jack feared this moment. Owen had been on the edge since this morning and something like this could just tip him over. When he got like that, there was nothing anyone could do. And unfortunately for Ianto, he was usually the receiving end of his rage. Even more so since the Lisa – fiasco.

"It was an accident Owen. He tripped. It could've happened to anyone. Calm down" said Jack remaining as cool as ever.

"How long Jack?" asked Gwen.

Jack moaned slightly. "If we can't override the protocol, which I doubt we can as it's a quarantine lockdown, 24 hours"

Gwen's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "A whole day? Jack, it's my birthday! I'm suppose to be having a birthday dinner in an hour, followed by birthday sex!"

"I know Gwen, I'm trying the best I can". Jack tried to look apologetic but he was thinking about more pressing things than cake. "Tosh what's the status on lighting?"

The young Asian was still typing vigorously. "Any minute now"

"SO … " started Owen. "Are you telling me that because tea boy over there has the misfortune of having two left feet and half a brain we have to stay here for the next 24 hours?"

"I'm sorry Owen" said a pained voice from the opposite corner.

Owen ignored Ianto's apology. He also ignored the fact that his colleague was looking rather pale. And he certainly did not notice the blood dripping down his fingers. "You're sorry? You've been saying that a lot lately haven't you? Is this another strategy of you killing us all?"

Jack, Gwen and Tosh both shouted a fierce "Owen!"

Gwen smacked him over the head. "No Gwen. It's not right. Am I suppose to act like all is fine and dandy after what he's done? He could have killed us!"

"Owen, this isn't the right time for this. Please" answered Gwen.

Suddenly the lights turned on again.

"Ah at least that's covered" said Toshiko. "Jack I'm starting the process of reversing the lockdown"

"Thanks". Jack was anxious to get the two men on his crew as far away from each other as fast as possible and was so happy that Toshiko at least had remained collected. He turned to face Ianto and his face whitened. "Ianto, have you realized you're bleeding?"

They all looked at the man in the chair, his dark blue jacket revealed a dark patch on the left sleeve and his hands were stained with blood. Blood pooled underneath his soiled fingers.

He brought up his hands to his face and gulped audibly. "I thought it was just a scratch"

"Fucking moron" cursed Owen. "Get to the autopsy bay, you probably need stitching"

Jack grabbed Owen by the arm. "Owen, can you handle it by yourself? I won't have to break you two apart will I? I'll help Tosh deal with the lockdown"

Owen shrugged. "I'm not a child Jack"