Title: Hart and Jones - Starting Over

Rating: R/M (adult situations, language)

Genre: angst, drama, friendship (may develop past that but we'll see)

Characters: Ianto Jones and Captain John Hart, OC's and mentions of canon TW characters.

Summary: Captain John Hart feels guilty for his role in "Exit Wounds" so he returns to Earth to try to start over. He arrives two years after Jack leaves Earth (Post "CoE" Day 5) and learns that not only has Jack moved on completely but also that Ianto Jones has died. He changes his plan and instead is able to prevent Ianto's death and then pull him from the grave. Captain Hart then gives Ianto a chance to have a new life - with him. Will Ianto Jones give up 21st Century Earth to travel with his former nemesis or will he try to survive in a world where he's been dead for years?

Notes: This story came about after several comments/emails passed between myself and other Torchwood fans. I saw so much chemistry between Hart and Ianto in "KKBB" during their office scene that I had hoped for more scenes like that, maybe even an entire episode where the two of them had to learn to work together or there would be life-changing devastation. Since we didn't get any of that, just (in my opinion) some MAJOR Unresolved Sexual Tension, I decided to take it a step further. Many TW fans have stated they would love a Hart/Ianto show so this is probably the closest we'll get! Enjoy!

Oo0oO

Prologue

Captain John Hart swiveled around in his chair and looked around. He sat in the control room of his personal space-vessel. Bored. He was bored, very bored. From personal experience he knew that this was not only unacceptable, it was also dangerous.

With a hefty sigh he turned back to the front and ran his fingers over the control panel. It had been a slow year for him. Profits had come but at a great deal of personal cost. He may have made lots of money but his ship had suffered so much damage that he'd spent more to repair than it was worth. If it weren't for the fact that he loved the freedom that came with the ownership of his own craft he would have traded it for one of those sleek My'tau vehicles. They might have been fast but they didn't have any room for storage. Which meant that he would either have to make frequent stops to get food supplies or get used to ration packs. He'd had more than enough of ration packs during his time with the Time Agency, thank you.

He stood and stretched.

A vacation. That was what he needed, a little break from the monotony of the last few months.

Earth. He would go visit Jack and his Merry Man and Woman. Yes, that would be nice. He always had fun messing with Jack. Of course, he wasn't really certain that he would be welcomed. The last time he had seen them was nearly six years ago when he had helped Gray. That little incident had gotten two of Jack's friends killed.

Maybe, if he were lucky, Jack would have gotten over it and forgiven him. If he were lucky.

He programmed the coordinates and time frame then sat back to enjoy the ride.

"Twenty-first century, coming up."

OoOoO

Five hours later and John Hart was stunned. Beyond stunned.

Torchwood had become a more worldly operation and utilized people from every government agency. Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper-Williams shared joint command responsibilities. The changes had occurred when aliens transmitting demanded an obscene amount of children in return for them leaving Earth alone. The Torchwood base was destroyed and the small team scattered. Jack and Ianto Jones had confronted the aliens but had no success. In fact, Ianto Jones died during the confrontation. Then, according to the records in the Torchwood Archives, Jack used a child to stop the 456 and save the planet. Jack left the planet a few months later only to return and join up with Gwen.

But it wasn't right. Ianto Jones could not be dead. After his second encounter with Torchwood, Hart had learned all that he could about those that worked at the Cardiff base. His research told him that Ianto had lived to the age of 44. There was every indication that Ianto had lived a full life. Yet instead he had died, nearly twenty years too soon.

It took three hours to download then backtrack through the files to learn what had really happened. He studied the data and frowned. 456... What the hell? He called up a picture of the aliens known as the 456 and his frown deepened.

Their real name was the Huowenig. The Huowenig had once been an illustrious race renowned for their arts and technological advances. After a biological disaster swept through the planet, their scientists found a way to use a natural chemical produced by their offspring to cure many medical ails. Unfortunately they became addicted. In a matter of centuries there was a decrease in population as fewer offspring were born. The Huowenig government sought help from other planets but none were willing to give them children. By the time John Hart was a top Time Agent, the Huowenig became desperate and contacted their last hope.

Jack Harkness (not his real name) had been at the top of his class in the Time Academy and had been given a high position in the Time Agency right after graduation. One of the missions of a Time Agent was to study the past.

Jack's own mission logs told how he had utilized Time Agency technology and acquired the necessary technology to get the Huowenig into Earth's past. This in turn, going by the fluctuations in time and Ianto Jones's past, is what caused the tragic events of the summer of 2009.

"But Eye Candy was supposed to die in a car accident..."

It was always a mystery how the future could change the past.

Hart chewed at his lower lip in thought. The last few years he had tried to absolve himself of some of the guilt (nasty feeling) that haunted him. He had tried to be good but the guilt was still there.

"Ianto Jones was meant to live for several more years," he said to himself. "Maybe there is something I can do..."

He turned back to the controls and got to work.

He had a life to save.

OoOoO

Ianto stood in the Tourist Office rearranging pamphlets while he waited for the others to get back. He hoped it was soon, he was running out of things to organize.

Knowing Owen, he'd probably convinced Jack to stop by the pub on the way back.

He snorted. His new employer was definitely unconventional. The good thing was that the Captain trusted him, even if Suzie, Owen and Toshiko did not (well, maybe not Toshiko). It made it easier to care for Lisa and-

"Eye Candy!"

He looked up and stared at the man who had just appeared on the other side of the counter.

"Uh..."

"Oh dear," the military dressed man said as he looked at his... wrist strap. It looked almost exactly like Captain Harkness's. "I arrived earlier than I planned. Oops. Oh well, no problem. Gotta wipe me from your memory anyway."

"What?" Ianto reached under the counter for the gun he'd hidden there (just in case).

"This won't hurt... much."

Ianto's eyes widened and he let out a little gasp as he felt a tiny shock go through his body. He crumpled to the floor.

Hart moved to his side and ran a quick scan. Good, the little device was already getting to work. It would rewrite Ianto's immune system. The antidote for the virus that had killed the young man was now a part of his DNA. All that he had to do was go to the grave site and dig him up.

With a satisfied smirk Hart then activated another device, this one would erase the last five minutes from Ianto's memory. Once he'd done that he rose to his feet and transported himself to the future. He looked around and saw a tombstone.

According to his wrist strap, Ianto Jones had been buried for two years.

At least the stasis field is holding out.

Eye Candy was still alive, just frozen and buried. But perfectly preserved.

His fingers typed in the sequence of codes needed for transport and voila! He and a cold, gray tinged body were on board his vessel.

He blinked at the sight of Ianto Jones.

"Wow... You've seen better days, Eye Candy."

But at least he was alive. The device he'd implanted inside Ianto in the past was working perfectly. As far as the changed history of Earth was concerned, Ianto Jones had died trying to stop the 456. It was rather quite simple to return the boy to the world of the living as he had never really died..

He sat down in the medical bay and waited for the regenerative process to complete. While he did that he thought about what he was going to do now. Records clearly showed that Jack Harkness had moved on. But maybe he would want to be with his former lover again?

No, Harkness was not the kind to look back. He only moved forward.

Hm, shoulda thought about that before doing this.

It would be difficult, though not impossible, for him to live out his life on Earth. Of course there were also other planets, other times, that might appeal more to him.

Hart touched his chin and frowned.

There was another option... But... No, it was stupid to even consider... However, he was lonely.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I'm the last person he'd consider traveling with. Besides, his condescending attitude would drive me crazy."

He was brought out of his musings by two things. First the beep of the scanner. Second a pair of blue eyes looking straight at him.

"Ianto Jones... About time you woke up."

OoOoO

An hour later and Ianto had showered and dressed in a set of pajamas Hart had on board (not that he wore them). After he ate a meal (ration pack 37h-k) he demanded answers.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

The answer he received chilled the Time Agent.

"Darkness. Dying in Jack's arms... Knowing that we'd failed."

"You did die. That happened."

"And now?" Ianto asked.

So he told Ianto what he knew. Ianto insisted on seeing Jack so after an internal debate, Hart took him first to see his own funeral then to the time just a few years on.

Jack was easy to find with his wrist strap. So Hart used a special perception filter that also blocked sound from getting out and transported them to Jack's coordinates. The found themselves inside a bedroom. Two people lay on the large bed, locked in a passionate embrace. Their bodies moved with practiced ease as they caressed and kissed and made love.

It hurt Ianto to see Jack happy with a new partner but the young man was more than just a pretty face. He looked away from the amorous scene. For him, it had been only days since the last time he and Jack had... copulated like that. But for Jack it had been a few years. Of course he would have moved on.

Just a blip in time... In a thousand years' time...

There was never enough time.

"Eye Candy... We should go."

And so they went back to the ship. Away from Jack.

"Eye Candy, you okay?" Hart asked quietly. He had never gotten over Jack himself so he could not suppress the pang he felt for the younger man.

"It's good that he's happy." Ianto turned and looked out the viewport at the stars. Stars that he used to ask Jack about. Stars that Jack had mentioned in passing that he would love to return to.

"What now?" he asked. "I can't go back. Not only does Jack not need me but everyone I knew thinks I'm dead."

"There are other worlds... in this time that are suitable for humans. There is also the future to consider," Hart said carefully.

Ianto turned away. This was too much. But, it was all he had. When he had realized he was going to die he had prayed for two things. For Jack to be alright and for himself to be able to escape the darkness.

Both wishes had been granted. Jack had someone special in his life and Ianto had his life. Really, he couldn't ask for more than that.

But why couldn't they both go together? Am I really so horrible that I can't even be with the man I love?

He knew that yes, he was that horrible. He had betrayed Jack many times, he had endangered the world for Lisa. And he had deceived his family. He did not deserve to be happy.

"I can't stay here. Too much risk of bumping into Jack or Gwen... But another world? I don't think I could make it."

"You could come with me."

Hart watched as the tension in Ianto's body lessened. So it wasn't the worst scenario then. Maybe this was meant to happen.

"With you? Doing what?"

"Traveling. Exploring. Get to see the universe."

"Conning and murdering. Committing crime after crime," Ianto added. He shook his head. "Sorry, I may not be perfect but I won't demoralize myself just to help you make a profit."

"Fine. I'll drop you off at the nearest space port and be on my way then."

Hart stood and started to leave the room.

"Wait."

Until he heard the soft, broken voice.

He turned and met Ianto's eyes. The pain and sorrow matched what Hart felt inside.

"Maybe," Ianto murmured. "Just for a bit. Until I get settled."

Hart nodded.

"Come on, then, Eye Candy. I'll show you the ship."

Oo0oOo0oOo0oO

TBC