AN: Back to the early days of Torchwood with this one. I've not classed it as complete because I'm not sure it is… it all depend on you guys really. Your thoughts and reviews are appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Spoilers: 'Cyberwoman' and 'Fragments' … I think that's all… but if you haven't seen these two episodes, I'm not entirely sure what you're doing on here in the first place!

Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood, Captain Jack Harkness, or Ianto Jones. If I did… well… I'm sure you can use your imagination.

"You used me." Jack appeared on the gantry that ran from his office door across the Hub. The Hub was empty, save from Ianto who was wandering around gathering up dirty cups and plates from the various workstations, taking them to the kitchen to wash them, before leaving for the night.

"Sorry, sir?" Ianto asked, looking up from his position at Toshiko's desk.

"You used me. To get into Torchwood… to get her into Torchwood… to gain my trust, faster than anyone ever has before. You used me. Being on hand to help catch the Weevil… all that turning up every morning with a smile and a coffee… the warehouse with the pterodactyl and I never questioned how you found her or how you knew she liked chocolate. All the flirting… and the banter… and the… the us. You used me." Jack said, his voice a mix of anger and disappointment.

"Sir…" Ianto began.

"Get out." Jack said firmly.

"Sir…" Ianto repeated.

"Get. Out." Jack said louder, more definite.

"Jack…" Ianto said, his voice pleading.

"OUT!" Jack shouted, his face flooded with anger.

Ianto put down the cup he had been holding and made his way towards the cog door. As it rolled open he turned back to look up at Jack as he spoke.

"For what its worth, I'm sorry." He said sincerely, before walking out, the cog door resealing behind him.

Jack sighed as he banged his hand down hard on the railing infront of him, a loud ringing thud echoing around the now deserted Hub. He'd been sat in his office alone all day; the team had turned up randomly, asking for help with a project, reporting back on what they'd found. Ianto had turned up with his usual regularity to bring coffee, and even turned up with a sandwich at noon, commenting that Jack hadn't eaten for hours and needed to keep his strength up just in case. As Jack had sat in his office he'd been thinking, his mind still reeling from the events of recent days, the incident with Lisa still fresh in his mind, the horrors she'd brought to his Hub. Ianto was still unresponsive and down, but Jack expected that. The rest of the team were treating Ianto a little coldly, but unfortunately Jack had expected that too. He'd sat thinking mainly about Ianto; the effect that the Welshman had had on the Hub, on Torchwood, and mostly on him since his arrival in their lives a few months earlier.

Jack flirted with everyone; he knew that. Male… female… human… alien… if there was a pulse, he would flirt with it. He couldn't help himself. But with Ianto… with Ianto Jones… the mild mannered well suited man with those beautiful Welsh vowels… just the thought of him made Jack go weak. Though he'd never admit it to himself… or to Ianto… he felt something for the Welshman that was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. When he had first met him, in the park that cold night when he was out Weevil hunting and things had got a little out of hand, he'd admired the bravery of the stranger before him. He had also been quietly amused by his admission of "loving the coat", but other than a quick research of who he was with him having recognised what a Weevil was, had thought little more of him. It was his persistence that truly attracted Jack's attention. Daily mugs of coffee, each one tasting more delicious than the one before, though irritating at first, soon became amusing, endearing even. It was his assistance during the pterodactyl event that was truly remarkable however. By this point Jack knew of Ianto's experience with Torchwood One, but to act as calm and composed as he had in that warehouse, whilst playfully flirting with Jack, and all whilst looking rather gorgeous in his suit. Well, that had been the wake up call that Jack had needed. Rolling across the warehouse floor, avoiding the creature plummeting from on high at speed, laughing as they went, bodies pressed firmly against one another, faces inches apart. Jack had smiled wryly to himself as he felt the Welshman. His attraction to Jack obvious. But now, in the cold light of day, in the aftermath of the events with Lisa and the conversion unit, Jack had received a second wake up call. This one much harsher and more brutal than the first. Had Ianto merely played on his good nature… used his flirtatious character against him… used his own charms and coffee making skills to bribe his way in… just to get Lisa back… and not to get Jack at all?

Jack sat back in the chair at his desk as he sighed again. He was so used to being in control of situations; he needed to be in control, he craved the power. But this, this had brought him crashing to Earth with a bump. It wasn't just the betrayal by Ianto that angered him; it was his own stupidity, his own reckless behaviour, and his own decision to employ Ianto that had put them all in danger. Whilst he argued with himself that Ianto's credentials earned him a role in Torchwood Three, he had to confess that a major part of his decision to bring the Welshman in was his growing attraction to him. He ached to see more of Ianto, both in and out of his well-pressed suit. He wanted to know him too, learn more about him, learn about the sadness in his eyes, find out where he'd learnt how to make such incredible coffee, discover what made Ianto Jones who he was. Jack shivered as he realised he'd learnt the reason behind the sadness in Ianto's eyes… and probably added to it by executing Lisa infront of him. Pushing his fingers through his hair Jack considered his options. He knew that really he only had one. He knew that really there was only one thing that he should do. He just didn't want to. Reaching out his picked up the lone white pill that was lying on the desk infront of him, twisting it round between his fingers. Retcon. Jack should be over at Ianto's flat right now, slipping this tiny pill into a coffee, handing it to Ianto, and leaving him to sleep. Leaving him to wake up the next morning feeling a little hungover, a little dazed, before the confusion sweeps over him, and he realises that he's lost the last few months of his life. Jack should be retconning Ianto back to Canary Wharf, that way, he hoped, Ianto would assume Lisa had perished in the battle, and he could move on. That way he'd forget all about Torchwood, all about Lisa being a Cyberwoman, all about Jack.

Jack rose to his feet and pushed the tiny white pill into his trouser pocket. Pulling his coat down from the coat-stand he slipped it on, immediately feeling more in control – the coat always made him feel better. Jack walked out of his office, down the metal steps, and boarded the invisible lift. As it glided gently upwards he surveyed the Hub and smiled a little, glad to see it returning to normal after the mammoth clean up that was needed after Lisa's death. Jack's eyes drifted upwards as the paving stone on Roald Dahl Plass moved to one side, and the stone he was travelling on slid effortlessly into place. It was late so the Plass was deserted, the lights around it filtering onto the wet stones below, the Millennium Centre illuminated brightly in the night sky. Jack strode across the Plass and headed along the road that led to Ianto's flat. It wasn't a journey that required the SUV, it was barely a five-minute walk, and Jack needed the fresh air. He also needed a bit more time to organise his thoughts before facing the Welshman again. The night was cool so Jack wrapped his coat around him more, stuffing his hands deep into the pockets as he strolled through the uncommonly quiet streets of Cardiff Bay.

When he arrived at Ianto's apartment block he walked up the stairs one-by-one, not his more characteristic two at a time. He wasn't in any hurry to get to his destination as much as he knew they needed to sort things out. He loitered nervously outside Ianto's front door for a few moments, before taking a deep breath and knocking softly on it. He waited patiently before he felt his heart leap to his throat upon hearing footsteps from inside approaching and the door slowly opened.

"Jack?" Ianto croaked. He'd changed out of his suit and was now wearing jeans and snug-fitting deep blue polo shirt. His eyes were red from where he had obviously been crying and he looked tired and jaded.

"Can I come in?" Jack asked, his tone flat. Ianto nodded lightly as he opened the door wider, allowing Jack to pass him before closing the door, gesturing the lounge to Jack who walked straight through. He placed himself in the centre of the small lounge, unsurprised to find a half-drunk coffee on the small table by the sofa – so typically Ianto.

"I've just made a pot – would you like a cup?" Ianto asked nervously as he saw Jack spot the drink.

Jack shook his head. Ianto sat back down on the sofa.

"Do you want to sit down?" He asked.

Jack shook his head. Ianto took a deep breath.

"Is this the part where you retcon me?" He whispered looking down at the floor, avoiding Jack's gaze.

"This is the part where I should be retconning you, yes." Jack admitted.

"And are you going to? I deserve it." Ianto said glumly.

Jack shook his head. "No. No I'm not going to retcon you. Even though, like you say, you do deserve it. Ianto I trusted you… I trusted you enough to bring you into my Hub… to bring you into my Torchwood… and your broke that trust by bringing that machine into my Hub. God only knows how you managed it. But you nearly destroyed everyone… do you have any idea how bad things could have become if we hadn't taken her out?" He asked.

"I was at Canary Wharf… of course I know. And I am sorry for what I did, but you must know why I had to bring her there, why I had to try and save her." Ianto tried to explain. "I love her. I still love her… even now. I can't just turn that off. I nearly lost her at Canary Wharf… I couldn't risk losing her for good. I had to try and save her… to fix her… I had to try." He wept as he spoke.

"I understand Ianto…" Jack started but was cut off.

"You have no idea Jack… none. You have no idea how I feel." Ianto retorted bitterly.

Jack bowed his head as he sighed. "You are suspended from Torchwood for one month. I don't want to see you near the building… on the Plass… or anywhere we might show up. If I do, I'll retcon you back to birth – do you understand?" He asked, his tone commanding.

Ianto nodded. Jack turned to leave, but stopped and looked back at Ianto.

"Was it all an act?" He asked softly, mentally cursing his weakness.

Ianto looked up into Jack's eyes as he shook his head. "No." He said gently. "With you, it was never an act… sir."

Jack nodded. "One month. Not a day more. Take care of yourself yeah?" He said.

Ianto nodded. "Thank you sir." He said.

Jack walked out the lounge, down the narrow hall and out of Ianto's flat, closing the door gently behind him. Leaning back on the wall beside the door he let out a long steady sigh, before setting off down the stairs.

AN2: Do I continue… or leave this as a slightly angst filled oneshot?