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One.
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"The twenty-first century is when everything changes. And you've got to be ready."
Torchwood, series 1 opening narration.
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"Dinner? Movie maybe?" Jack asked, wringing his hands.
"Jack..." Ianto sighed, "You were gone a while Jack... I moved on."
There was a slightly awkward silence for a while before Jack said, "Oh." Ianto bit at his lip, "Who's the lucky..." Jack trailed off, unsure if it was a man or a woman that Ianto was seeing.
"Scott. He lives near the bay." Ianto said quietly.
Jack nodded, "Are you... Are you happy?" He asked.
"Yeah." Ianto murmured.
"Good." Jack said quietly, "That's good... Umm... I'll search the roof, you search down here." he added, turning to go.
"Jack." Ianto said, halting the man, "It's good to have you back."
Jack gave a small smile, "Good to be back." He said and Ianto winced as he realised the smile didn't meet Jack's eyes, Jack turned and left the room, closing the door behind himself. He rested his forehead against the corridor wall, "Shit, really fucked that one up." He muttered before taking a deep breath and heading up the stairs to the roof.
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"Go home Gwen." Jack said softly, she seemed torn before finally nodding and leaving the Hub. Tosh walked over to Jack and said that she was going to head off as well; he hugged her tightly before saying goodbye.
Ianto approached Jack twenty minutes later, "I'm going home now, Make sure Owen doesn't stay too late?" Jack could only nod and watch Ianto walk away, he wondered what he had meant by the last comment but didn't bother calling after him. He went up to his office, which Gwen had rearranged, and did some paperwork, however four hours later he noticed that Owen was still typing away. Jack glanced at the clock and frowned when he saw that it was nearly ten o'clock, he headed downstairs, "Hey, thought you'd gone ages ago."
"Just have to finish this report." Owen replied, typing away at the computer.
Jack glanced over his shoulder at the report, "Oh that can wait until tomorrow, go home and get some rest." He said gently.
"It's fine, I'll finish it now."
"Owen." Jack sighed.
"Jack." Jack ran a hand through his hair; did he have the right to tell Owen what to do anymore? Probably not, but the younger man really did need sleep... Luckily before Jack had to make the decision to forcefully send Owen home, the rift alarm went off.
"Shit." Jack muttered, looking at the machine, "That spike looks big."
"Should I call the others?" Owen asked, pulling his jacket on already.
"Call Tosh, she's on call. The three of us should be able to handle it. We'll pick her up on the way" Jack replied, pulling his own coat on, Owen began dialling Tosh's number as they headed out to the SUV.
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"You sure you're okay?" Tosh asked worriedly, hating that Jack had died again.
"Already healed." Jack said reassuringly, "I'm fine Toshie." She frowned but nodded and handed him a cup of tea. Jack sighed and drank it, "So... Who's this guy Ianto's seeing?" He asked Tosh and Owen.
Owen sighed, "He's some guy he met in the local shop, seems nice enough from what I've heard. Ianto seems to really like him anyway."
Tosh nodded, "It's early days for them but they do seem happy." She murmured, watching as Jack looked away, his eyes sad, "You okay?" She asked gently.
"Hmm." Jack mumbled in reply.
"Jack… I know we're saying that Ianto's happy but… He really did miss you, he even admitted that as much as he cared for Scott he couldn't compare to you."
Jack nodded, taking another swig of his tea, "I screwed up didn't I?" He muttered, knowing that if he hadn't left Ianto wouldn't even be seeing this Scott guy...
"You made a mistake Jack. Shit happens, you'll fix it eventually. Scott's a nice guy but… Ianto won't be able to resist you!" Tosh grinned cheekily, looking up in surprise as Owen stood up suddenly and kicked his chair backwards, stomping over to the autopsy bay. "What's going on with him?" Jack asked.
Tosh shrugged, "He's odd. Been working like crazy since you left, I had to force him home a load of times. I think he still feels guilty for what happened before you went; he thinks that's why you left..."
Jack groaned, "I better go and talk to him." He muttered, heading off down to the autopsy bay. Owen was tidying up one of the drawers, "Hi..." Jack said gently, Owen glanced up but didn't reply, "I left because there was somebody I needed to find, to ask about my immortality. I had no idea I would be gone so long..."
"Are you practising your 'I'm sorry' speech for Tea boy? 'Cause if so then it sucks." Owen said, closing the drawer he had been sorting and moving some files over to the desk.
"I'm trying to explain why I left." Jack said, sighing when Owen refused to look at him. Owen sat down in the desk chair and began typing something on the computer, Jack moved behind him and looked at the report he was writing, it wasn't all that interesting. "It wasn't because of me then?" Owen asked suddenly, keeping his eyes on the computer screen.
"NO! No... Owen I promise... I forgive you. Billis was manipulating your mind and -"
"I shot you Jack." Owen interrupted, "And I had no idea that you would come back to life." The medic had turned to look at Jack by then but looked back at the computer screen when he felt tears in his eyes. "Owen... Look at me." Jack ordered, Owen did as he was told, struggling to keep eye contact, "I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago." Jack murmured, placing his hand on Owen's shoulder. Owen glanced away as more tears sprang to his eyes, "I have to finish this report." He muttered finally, turning back to the computer and brushing his eyes. Jack shook his head in amusement, same old stubborn Owen, refusing to show emotion. "I'll be upstairs if you need me." Jack said, patting Owen's shoulder one last time before leaving.
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Jack turned over and sighed, Tosh had forcefully sent him to bed an hour ago because he looked, in her words, 'dead on his feet', But Jack couldn't get to sleep, the day's events playing over and over in his mind. Ianto had a new boyfriend, Gwen was engaged, Owen was a workaholic and... What the hell had John meant when he said he'd found Gray? Jack had given up hope that Grey was still alive ages ago... He sighed again as his thoughts returned to Ianto... He'd missed him so much in the time he'd spent on the valiant... Jack groaned and yanked his duvet over his head, begging his brain to shut up.
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Please review :)
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