Note From The Author—I honestly haven't a clue where this came from, though that's how it usually works. This will be posted in two or three short parts, and I hope as always that you enjoy them all. Feel free to let me know.

Disclaimer—I don't own the characters of Torchwood

When the hidden stone sank into the Hub Jack didn't even look up from the UNIT correspondence he was reading. But when Gwen's panicked voice screamed his name he was on his feet and out of his office as fast as he could go; and when he made it down the stairs and saw Ianto slumped unconscious against Gwen his heart leaped to his throat. When he reached them he fell to his knees, his eyes surveying cuts and bruises.

"What happened?" he questioned, his voice coming out harsh and worried.

Gwen shook her head. "I don't know. We went to investigate that Rift activity we detected earlier and there was this alien, one that I've never seen before."

"What did it look like?"

She couldn't tear her eyes from the Welshman lying on the floor. Tears had welled up in her eyes even as she tried to fight them back. "I don't…"

Jack took her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him instead of Ianto. "Gwen, I need you to focus. Start with what it looked like."

"It had bright yellow skin, and these spikes instead of fingernails. It was sniffing around a group of tourists when we found it, actually sniffing," she said, her eyes wide. "Ianto and I both shot at it and it didn't make a difference."

He tried to keep the worry from his face as he urged her on. "What then?"

"Well it obviously didn't like being shot at, even if we didn't seem to hurt it. It swiped at both of us and took out the com. It knocked me on my back and Ianto got in front of me." Her voice cracked. "One of the alien's nails just raked down his chest and a second later he was on the ground. I couldn't get the com to work and I've left my mobile at home…"

She was panicked, and Jack knew it. He turned briefly from Ianto to pull Gwen into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "You did well, and you got him back here."

Pulling back, she nodded, watching as his attention returned to the unconscious man at his feet. "What was it Jack? I can see you're worried."

"The name is unpronounceable in the English language, too many vowels." He brushed a hand gently over Ianto's hair. "They're a race of industry, and they enslave others for their purpose."

"But what happened tonight?"

When he looked up at her his eyes were haunted. "Those spikes contain venom that they use to weed out the weak. When it enters the blood stream it puts you through hell, and if you survive the venom running its course they know you're strong enough to take what they dish out as slave masters."

"If you survive?" she whispered.

"If," he said grimly. "But Yan's strong, and he's already lived through hell. He can do it again."

God, she hoped he was right. "What can I do?"

Jack shook his head. "Nothing. He'll wake up in a bit, and he's going to have to fight like hell. I don't want you to have to go through this, Gwen."

"And I don't want the two of you to go through it alone." She watched as his fingers stroked softly over the younger man's cheek. "I love him too, Jack," she whispered.

Their eyes met, and for the briefest moment his eyes filled with tears. Then he blinked them away and nodded; his face setting into a mask of resolve. "We're going to get him through this."

Almost as if he could hear them, Ianto's eyes began to flutter. Jack rattled off a list of supplies so fast that Gwen barely had time to blink; and when she hesitated the captain looked up at her with serious eyes.

"Go Gwen!"

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It took time to gather up everything Jack wanted, but Gwen did it as quick as she could. When she got back to the couch, Ianto was awake and aware; aware enough that fear shone from his eyes like torch lights.

"Alright love?" she questioned, bending to kiss his cheek, suppressing a shudder when she felt how feverish he'd gotten.

Ianto nodded, though the movement was small. "Jack's explained it all. At the moment I'm okay, but I can feel the venom starting to work its way in," he told her fearfully.

Jack could hear the worry in his voice, just as he could see it in Gwen's eyes. Putting on his bravest face he smiled. "Yan knows what to expect, and we're here."

"And we'll get you anything you need to get through this," Gwen added.

"I know, I know and I can do this. I can…." He trailed off on a hiss as the first wave of pain hit him, burning white hot. His companions could only watch as his body contorted with the force of the pain and sweat broke out on his brow. "Jesus," he gasped, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Gwen could see that Jack's eyes now matched her own, with terror and worry battling for dominance. Still he managed to push it aside as he knelt by the couch to strip Ianto out of his suit jacket and tie. When the younger man was left only in his pants and undershirt, Jack slipped behind him on the couch, bringing Ianto to rest against his chest. "We're here," he whispered softly, pressing a kiss softly to his temple. "We're here."

It was a welcome respite, and a welcome presence at his back. With a sigh, Ianto let his head fall back against Jack's shoulder as he took a deep breath, feeling it coming back on. "I know you are."

Then he was forced back as the pain ripped him apart again.