Disclaimer: Torchwood belongs to the BBC and RTD. I don't own the characters or concepts. I can only wish.

Many thanks to my wonderful betas, karaokegal and quiet time. They spent lots of time encouraging a first-time posting.

What Should Never Have Happened

How long they stayed like that, Gwen didn't know. She was kneeling on the floor of the gymnasium that they were using as a makeshift morgue next to the body labeled number fourteen. Jack pulled himself up close and she felt his tears on her shoulder as they both stared at what should never have happened. They held each other until their tears stopped.

As Gwen stared fixedly at Ianto's terribly still face, a stranger's slender hand gently began to loosen the double Windsor knot in the tie at his throat. Gwen touched the hand, "Don't," she said. "He wore it like that," and Gwen was the one to pull the red coverlet back up over him. She looked up into Martha Jones's tear-streaked face.

"I got here as soon as I could," Martha said. "I'm so sorry." Martha motioned to the U.N.I.T. people behind her and they carefully put Ianto's body onto a stretcher. "We'll take care of him." She gestured at Jack, who was now resting his head against Gwen's back. Gwen waited until they had moved away with the stretcher, and turned slightly, disturbing Jack into movement. He made a soft sound, and she gently said, "Shh. Martha was here." She turned to take him into her arms. "Let's go home now."

"Where is home?" he gritted out. He shuddered, then stood up, regaining control of himself and helped Gwen to her feet.

"Come with Rhys and me," she said firmly, and took his arm to lead him away.

Outside the door, Jack straightened, cleared his throat, and pulled his arm from Gwen's grasp. "No," he said, "I have something I have to do first."

She watched him stride away, and she was frozen with fear.