INTO GREAT SILENCE

Ianto had made a conscious decision not to get involved in the argument currently playing out in the confines of the boardroom. Gwen and Jack had been irritable with one another all week.

It had started on the Monday when Gwen had come into work early and found Jack and Ianto 'otherwise engaged' over Jack's desk in his office. She had had an argument with Rhys earlier on and come into to work much sooner than anticipated and discovered her boss and colleague in the throes of passion. Gwen had screamed at them and Jack had yelled at her for screaming at them and pointed out to her that out of office hours Jack's office doubled as his home and she had no business complaining about what he did in there. Ianto had quietly dressed himself after the abrupt ending to his wonderful morning shagging and gone to make coffee.

Since then all Gwen could manage was the occasional glare in Ianto's direction and lots of arguing with Jack. Ianto put it down to hormones and half wondered if Gwen were pregnant. Owen had told him she was jealous of his and Jack's excuse for a relationship and Tosh seemed to think it was post honeymoon blues and that she'd get over it soon enough. Ianto didn't much care one way or another so long as it stopped. Her behaviour was affecting everyone especially Jack. Ianto had asked him to talk to her so the rest of them didn't have to keep walking on eggshells and he was seriously wishing he had kept his mouth shut now.

Ianto was currently in the autopsy bay assisting Owen with a post mortem exam on a body they had pulled out of the bay following a rift spike. Ianto was doing the cutting as Owen still didn't quite trust himself with a scalpel after slicing his dead hand open the other week and with Martha back at UNIT it fell to Ianto to help out under Owen's watchful and quietly appreciative eyes. Ianto was many things but he certainly wasn't squeamish and he took to this task as seriously as he treated making his coffee. Ianto was grateful for something more useful and challenging to do and always enjoyed the chance to learn something new no matter how messy. It was nice to spend time in Owen's company too. The two of them had become much closer since Owen's 'death', out of all of the team Ianto had been the only one not to change in his attitude toward the medic and Owen appreciated that far more than he let on.

Tosh was working as always at her computers, head buried in complicated computations when Gwen burst out of the boardroom and ran out through the roller door in a flood of tears. Tosh looked up from her work as Jack appeared from the same room looking highly stressed. Their eyes met and Tosh's narrowed in an accusatory way.

"What did you say to her Jack?"

Jack just sighed and went in search of Ianto, heading automatically in the direction of the archives. Tosh was smiling now.

"He's helping Owen with a body."

Jack nodded and changed direction. He was more than a little surprised to find his lover up to his elbows in human remains with Owen looking over his shoulders into the chest cavity of the corpse in front of them. Jack stood on the upper level and leaned on the railings watching the two of them work together. It was a rare sight to see them both so absorbed in a shared task with out the sarcasm and sniping going on between them. Owen was frowning.

"Well, he definitely didn't drown, there's almost no fluid in the lungs."

"There are no injuries though." Ianto responded.

"Which means a full toxicology screening. Take some samples and do some tests, great, something a bit more interesting than a weevil or a suicidal jumper at least. Here Ianto let me take over for this. I think Jack wants you."

Ianto stepped back and pulled off the latex gloves and disposable lab coat and shoved them in the bin. He looked up at Jack and offered him the faintest of smiles.

"Coffee?"

Jack's patented grin was there in an instant. "Please."

Ianto made his way up the steps and Jack followed him to the kitchenette. He leaned against the doorframe and watched as Ianto washed his hands before starting on the drinks.

"You find out what was wrong with Gwen?"

Jack folded his arms. "Rhys asked her to leave Torchwood, to which she said no and then they had a row about it. He's jealous of me apparently and the fact that she is always here and often in danger etc, you know all the usuals with this job. I told her to take a few days off and try to talk to Rhys without yelling at him."

Ianto paused in his task and turned and faced Jack with a deep frown on his young face.

"He's afraid Jack."

Jack's eyes widened. "Of what? You think I want her?"

Ianto rolled his eyes. "This isn't about you. It's about losing the woman he loves to this job, this way of life and the loneliness that brings. It's the fact that he can't protect her like he feels a husband should. He can't be there to hold her hand or take a bullet. Gwen is Rhys' future, with out her he doesn't have one."

Jack was gaping at him. "How do you know this?"

"I've lost everything to Torchwood to the point that all I am IS Torchwood, my work, my life, my lover…….and don't look at me like that! It's true Jack. With out it I am nothing. If I lose it there is nothing in the outside world for me. If I lose you, I lose everything. That fear is hard to live with. It must be even harder for Rhys because he doesn't understand the true nature of what we do and what it means. I'm not sure Gwen understands that. He only wants her to be safe and happy because he loves her."

"And what about you?"

Ianto returned to his coffee making. "What about me?"

"Is that all it is for you? Fear?" Jack was worried at Ianto's confession.

Ianto sighed and stopped once more. He looked at Jack with an unreadable expression, his eyes darkened slightly.

"Some days all I feel is fear. Normally it's when you are dead and there's that faint chance you may not wake up, or that I'll come in one morning and you've left us again, or one of us is dead and not coming back. I suppose its like family Jack. This is my family everything I care about is in this Hub. It's the best feeling in the world, knowing that I love you all that much, especially you. But it scares the hell out of me too."

"You love me?"

Ianto noted the warmth in the broad grin that spread further across Jack's face.

"Not always. Sometimes I hate you, because you hurt me and I feel like I don't know why I am here or what I mean to you."

The smile dropped.

"Oh."

"I'm sure I am as bad as you. It goes both ways Jack. We've betrayed one another in the past. I'd like to think we are past all that now, but sometimes it still hurts when I see you looking elsewhere for comfort or intimacy. I hoped I'd be the only one you'd turn to, I suppose that is too much to ask." Ianto replied, a slight tremor in his voice.

"You've never asked me." Jack responded a little stung.

"I thought I wouldn't have to Jack. I just assumed we'd be exclusive once things between us became more serious, but you and I come from completely different ages and if I asked you to change you wouldn't be the person I love."

Jack rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Ianto you should have said something. I do not want to be the person that hurts you. I know I'm about as sensitive as a brick through a window but you shouldn't have to put up with being hurt by the things that I do like that."

Ianto closed his eyes and hauled in a long breath. "I don't expect anything from you Jack. I can't force your feelings and I am happy to take what I can get."

"That makes me seem awful."

"You're not, you just don't love me that's all and you've never promised me anything. I am not complaining Jack."

Jack was mortified at what he heard. "You think I don't love you?"

Ianto froze. "Do you?" He hadn't expected to ever be in a position to ask.

Jack stepped forward and grasped his shoulders. Their eyes were locked, blue against blue, skies, oceans and azure like storms.

"How could I not love you? After everything we have been through Ianto. You never lost faith in me. You are amazing. I am in awe of you and yes I do love you and I am sorry that I hurt you."

Ianto was lost for words and he stood there gazing at Jack with his mouth hanging open.

Jack was grinning at him now. "Close your mouth Ianto."

Ianto smiled slightly shaken. "I….. I…."

"It's OK. I see what you mean about Rhys though." Jack dropped his hands.

Ianto nodded still dumbstruck. "That's not all of it Jack. Gwen's in love with you. It was hard for her seeing us together like that. I don't think she ever really believed that we went beyond the flirting, she hasn't said a civil word to me all week. It's hard for us, loving you. You give out such conflicting signals sometimes. I think Gwen would rather be with you than Rhys."

"Does that bother you?"

"Only if you start sleeping with her."

Jack smiled.

"I mean it Jack. It's one thing you going off with people I don't have to face, but if you ever went to her I would never forgive you."

"Right. Ianto I'm not that insensitive you know."

"Actually Jack, sometimes you are. The last thing you did to me before you ran off with your Doctor was kiss me and tell me that you loved me. You broke my heart, I've never got past that because I know you will break it again some day. You are as inconstant as the wind Jack as far as your relationships are concerned. Gwen needs Rhys, she needs that anchor and security. You'd never give her that. You never give me that."

Jack felt thoroughly ashamed of himself.

"What do you want of me?"

"What you have of me, your heart and I know it is something that you cannot give."

Jack sighed. "You really do love me, don't you."

"Yes, I do." Upset that Jack sounded so surprised Ianto went back to making the coffee trying to hold back unbidden tears. He sucked in a steadying breath the moment he felt Jack's arms snake around his waist.

"Jack I..."

"Sssshhh."

Ianto closed his eyes relishing the comfort the contact gave him as Jack tightened his hold.

"Jack. I...."

"Hush now, just let me hold you, please?"

PAST MIDNIGHT: THE VISITING HOUR

Ianto had just assumed they were dealing with another alien. He had followed Jack into the room with handgun raised completely expecting to see the things that were in front of him. He saw these things on a daily basis, people traumatised, crying and the normal chaos that one came to associate with anything that had come through the rift. Owen was a pace behind him and Ianto heard him suck in a startled breath at what was playing out before them. The three of them froze as if caught in amber and watched the scene unfold with sickening clarity.

A girl not more than ten years old was hovering in her pajamas just below the level of the magnolia ceiling. Her straggled hair was whipping about her head as she screamed the foulest words that Ianto had ever heard in his life. Only it wasn't the words she was screaming in itself, the sound cut through the skin and bone like glass and Ianto truly found himself feeling physically sick at the noise. His gun wavered clattering from his grasp as a second voice joined in the screaming. Objects were flying around the room. And a man whose tone was calm and measured, but fiercely determined stood in the middle of the swirling storm of ornaments and crockery. He was pointing up to the screaming child and reciting.....Was that Latin? There was a book in his hand. Ianto's vision darted about the room which was in turmoil as the curtains whipped about and the sound of wind roared in his already deafened ears. The girl's shrill cries regained his attention and he watched fascinated, eyes locked with her's unaware that Owen had backed out of the room in terror and Jack had grasped hold of his arm and was yelling at him to move. Ianto felt like he had turned to stone as messmerised he looked up to the girl who by now was writhing in mid air and hissing. They made eye contact again and suddenly she froze looking right down through his bones into his soul. Everything went black.

Jack gripped hold of Ianto's shoulder and tried to yank him back into the corridor and Ianto sagged into unconsciousness as soon as Jack touched him. It suddenly went very quiet and the girl dropped in a heap to the floor. The strange man ran to her side as she began to whimper in fear. Jack wasn't paying attention as he knelt at Ianto's side. Ianto's eyes snapped open and he screamed. It was primal, gut wrenching.

"It knows you, it knows who you are Ianto Jones."

Ianto lurched up on his bed in a tangle of sheets and bed covers. He heaved in rapid painful breaths as he kicked at the covers to free his legs in a panic. He practically flung himself into the bathroom and threw up all over the tiled floor. A second later he felt two warm hands resting against his arm, Ianto started in fright, then sagged when he realised it was Jack.

"Jeez, Jack you scared me." He hauled in shaky breaths and wiped his hand across his cold damp face. He couldn't face moving and his eyes shuttered closed against the glare of the light. He felt Jack's fingers carding through his damp hair.

"You ok now?"

Ianto nodded not trusting himself to speak.

"Another nightmare?"

A second nod. He felt Jack move away then heard the shower jet being turned on.

"Come on, lets get you cleaned up, then I am calling Owen I want you checked over."

Ianto didn't see the point in protesting as he allowed Jack to help him to his feet, he'd never felt vertigo like it.

"Sorry Jack" He mumbled. He hated feeling ill like this.

He stood under the jet of scalding water hands splayed on the tiles for support as he heaved in steadying breaths to suppress his nausea. Jack was beside him, still in his T-shirt and undershorts as he carefully washed his lover down with the shower gel.

"What were you dreaming about?"

Ianto sighed still trying to make sense of it as it faded into the haze of his wakefulness.

"I'm not sure, there was a little girl who was screaming at me, and a priest. I think it was a priest. You and Owen were there...It's vague Jack. I can't really remember it, just that I was very frightened. Was I talking in my sleep?"

Jack nodded, his hands caressing Ianto's shoulders with tenderness, the knots in his muscles were painfully obvious.

"You kept shouting 'it knows you'. That's when I woke you up, scared the crap outta me I can tell you."

"I'm sorry Jack, didn't mean to do that. I just don't understand what's brought it on. I mean it's not like there's any Cybermen or anything like there used to be." Ianto closed his eyes, relishing the comforting touches on his skin. "It's not exactly been stressful these last few weeks."

"No, but you've still been pulling long hours, you may just be tired."

Ianto sighed and reached out turning off the water. "No more than anyone else."

Jack couldn't agree. "Have you seen your timesheets? You clocked up 97 hours last week and 83 the week before. Am I going to have to order you to take some time out?"

Ianto had a rather goldfish like expression on his pale face. "Only if you take it with me."

Jack grinned. "You got something in mind?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?"

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Father Gabriel Thomas let out an exhausted sigh and turned and smiled at Joanna's parents.

"It's done. The demon has left her, she'll sleep now and when she wakes up she won't remember it all."

They gave him their sincere thanks and hugged him before he departed the South London Terraced house. Gabriel was relieved for the girl, but very disturbed by the fact that the demon had not been sent back into the shadows. It had found itself another soul to torment, someone else to posses. He got into his car wondering who Ianto Jones was and where he could find him.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWT

Ianto actually found himself growling with frustration at the slowness of the traffic. Jack for once in the front passenger seat glanced at the younger man in mild curiosity but said nothing. Ianto had been clearly agitated by his nightmare and even with the extremely rough 'feel better sex' afterwards his dark mood had not been lifted. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and clicked his tongue, two things that Jack himself had frequently been told off for.

Ianto glared out of the windscreen muttering curses in Welsh under his breath at the unmoving traffic. Finally he'd had enough and snapping off his seatbelt he got out of the SUV and started walking up the middle of the road. Jack, completely gobsmacked scrabbled over to take the seat at the wheel.

"Ianto, what the Hell are you doing?!" He watched worriedly as Ianto crossed through the cars and away around a corner. Jack swore and grabbed his mobile dialling Ianto's number. He got the voice mail. Completely dumbfounded and realising there was little he could do Jack then dialled Owen's number as the traffic began moving again.

"Owen its Jack."

"Obviously. Whats up?"

Jack eased the SUV along by another 10 metres before the lights turned red again.

"Grab Ianto when he gets in. I want you to run some tests, there's something wrong with him."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Wish I could, you'll see when he gets there. He's just jumped out of the SUV in the middle of the road and set off on foot. His mobile tracer indicates he's heading for the Hub." Jack explained double checking the small display on the dash.

"You boys had a fight?"

Jack shook his head. "No, but something's really spooked him. Please just do as I ask."

"Sure boss, what ever. Anything else?"

"No, should be there in about 10 minutes." He hung up and dumped his phone on the passenger seat with a sigh.

Ianto ran, like he was on fire. On hearing his mobile ringing he wrenched it out of his pocket and threw it aside. It clattered away from him. He just had to run, for no explicable reason other than the need to feel the air rushing past him as he fled through Cardiff city centre. He realised through the periphery of his vision that people were pausing to stare at him as he went, giving him odd looks. He skidded to a stop outside Starbucks, how fortuitous was that? Hauling in gasping breaths he stepped inside and ordered a triple espresso, he found himself a chair by the window and slumped into it, wondering what on Earth had so suddenly gripped him. It was ridiculous, he never behaved like that. Jack probably thinks he has finally flipped. Trembling Ianto brought the cup to his lips unable to comprehend why he was there. The coffee would help. He glanced edgily around fearful of the faces of the other customers. Why were they all looking at him? Why was he even there? He hated Starbucks coffee. Ianto glanced down into the empty cup a bitter taste on his tongue and panic seized him. Oh, God. Jack, help me!

Anyone looking at the immaculate man sitting in the corner would have no idea. He sat there calm and composed, watching the world go by without an apparent care in the world.

AN: WOULD LOVE SOME FEED BACK ON THIS OPENER....I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT IT! :-) THANK YOU FOR READING AND ALL REVIEWS AND I DON'T MIND IF THEY ARE BAD EITHER......MEANS I GET BETTER....HOPEFULLY.

DON'T OWN TORCHWOOD ETC BUT WOULD PAY VERY HIGHLY TO HAVE IANTO (OR GARETH FOR THAT MATTER!).