Jack Harkness pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to pinpoint the exact moment when things had gotten this bad.

It had begun at the end of last season when Ianto had missed out on selections for the Welsh rugby squad for the third year running. When the final team was announced a few weeks later, there had been a great deal of speculation in the local press about homophobia in game, but that just served to make things worse, causing Ianto to be accused of poor sportsmanship and playing the gay card. Ianto had suffered his first serious bout of depression since his University days. Thankfully, the depression had soon lifted, but it seemed to Jack as if the Welshman had undergone a personality transplant when it was over. If he wasn't getting over excited about something these days, he was yelling, a lot, and mostly in Welsh.

A simple argument over whose turn it was to empty the dishwasher had escalated from "why are you so messy," through "whose house is it anyway" to "I wish I'd never met you," and then Jack had thrown oil on the whole damn conflagration by making a stupid comment, a comment which had left his mouth before his brain had registered what he was saying. What said remark was he couldn't accurately recall, only that it had begun with the words, "you people...."

"Y, You people," Ianto had stuttered, "you...people. What the fuck is that supposed to mean. The British, Welshmen, rugby players,....or," and here his voice had dropped to a low, angry growl, "is it just gay men you object to so much."

Jack had sighed and ran both hands through his hair. Actually, he had been referring to Ianto's tortuous inability to say what he meant, a trait he seemed to share with most of his British compatriots. Okay, if pressed Jack would have no problem admitting that insulting the Brits was a bit rich considering he was mostly British himself, having spent the first eight years of his life in Scotland, but Ianto had chosen to interpret Jack's words as a slur against his sexual preferences. Jack's bisexuality had been a huge bugbear in their relationship from day one, and now the American couldn't decide if he could muster up the energy to care enough to put Ianto right. Not that he would have been able to even if he'd wanted to since the Welshman had stormed out the house half an hour ago, slamming the door behind him.

What was it they always said, "The first seven years are the worst." Only it had never been like this with John, not in the first seven years and certainly not in the last. In fact if it wasn't for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Jack would never have left America and he'd still be with his former partner now. It wasn't that he loved Ianto less, just the opposite in fact. This thing with Ianto, went way beyond anything he'd ever had with John. The highs were much higher and the lows, well the lows were devastating, and this latest low had been going on for so long that Jack was beginning to think of it as less of a bad patch and more a parting of the ways.

Jack groaned and dropped on to the sofa, grabbing a fistful of hair in each hand. This wasn't the first time Ianto had walked out on him in the middle of an argument and if this was like those other times, the Welshman wouldn't be back before morning. Jack wasn't sure where he went when he didn't come home but he supposed it would be one of the clubs he claimed to love so much. The kind of club that didn't kick out until the early hours of the morning, the kind that made Jack feel too old. Oh hell, he was too old, he thought to himself, hadn't that been the other half of the problem. Jack was too old....too old and not gay enough. What the hell was a 43 year old man doing with a 26 year old boy anyway? It had been one heck of a mid-life crisis.

Charlie, the Golden Labrador he'd adopted with Ianto when the Welshman had first moved in, had taken up residence under the sofa when the yelling had started and was now growling mournfully. Jack's own beloved dog, Cherry had had to be put down the year before.

The American slipped off the sofa on to his hand and knees, crawling around to face the dog.

"Don't worry boy," he soothed, "Mommy and Daddy still love you." He hitched a short, humourless laugh. "Just not so sure we love each other anymore," he sighed.

He cocked his head to one side as if listening to something.

"Ya know what, boy. You're right. I'm not going to sit around waiting for him to come home? How about I take you for your walk then I think I'll hit the town."


Jack pushed open the door of the bar. He wasn't really sure why he'd chosen this particular establishment, probably nostalgia he thought. He and Ianto were regulars here, or at least they used to be back in the days when they still went on dates. The bar, though growing in popularity was small enough for regular patrons to be known to the staff and although it was primarily a gay bar, it had a reputation for a laid-back, tolerant atmosphere and attracted people of all sexual persuasions. When Ianto had brought him here the first time, the Welshman had apologised for bringing him to the place where he'd met Jay, but Jack had just laughed and told him not to be silly. He'd been confident of his place in Ianto's heart back then and knew that even when his younger lover had been engaged to Jay, it had been him and not the brash, Australian who had owned all of Ianto's heart.

The young, black man who was keeping bar, glanced nervously about the room as soon as he spotted Jack.

"Um, hi, haven't seen you in a while," he said.

"Hi Mickey," Jack answered, "No. I've been busy. How ya doing, how are your studies."

Mickey Smith was a London boy, orphaned at an early age and brought up by his Gran on an estate where most boys aspired to be either drug dealers or bank robbers. When his Gran died and his girlfriend left him for another man, Mickey decided to buck the trend by applying for University. He was currently working part time in the bar to support himself while he studied Computer Science at Cardiff Uni. The kid was straight but confident enough in his own sexuality to handle the regular come ons from the patrons and he was popular with most of the regulars.

"What can I get you?" Mickey asked, "by the way, sorry about you and Ianto."

"Ianto?" Jack replied, "what about me and Ianto?"

"Um," the barman's eyes seemed to dart over Jack's shoulder before flicking back to his face, "I just thought....."

Jack narrowed his eyes at him,

"Thought what?"

"Look, Jack," the barman held up his hands in surrender, "I don't want any trouble. I just assumed you weren't with Ianto anymore. I must have made a mistake, I'm sorry. Now what will you have."

Jack didn't reply but narrowed his eyes even further, glaring at Mickey suspiciously. Mickey held out for as long as he could but then sighed, nodding his head towards the back of the crowded pub. The American turned his body in the direction the barman was indicating. His heart dropped. His Ianto, the man who until recently he had thought of as the love of his life, was locked in a passionate embrace with another man.

"Sorry," Mickey apologised, "I honestly thought you knew."

"How long?"

"Jack......"

"I said how long?"

Mickey sighed.

"About 4 weeks."

"Same guy?"

Mickey nodded once.

"I'm sorry."

"Forget it. Look, Mickey. I'm gonna head off. I'd appreciate it if you don't tell Ianto I was here."

"Um, that won't be a problem actually and best sit tight for a minute or two.....he just left."


Jack woke early the next morning, and as expected he woke alone. After months of rows and high drama it was a relief in some ways. Or at least it would be once he'd made sure he was still clean. He cursed himself for his stupidity in trusting his younger lover enough to forego condoms. He should have known better.

By the time he heard Ianto's key in the door, Jack was showered and dressed and had a pot of coffee on the go.

"There's coffee in the pot," he barked.

"Jack, I...."

"Yeah, Ianto. Don't bother," he snarled. "All I want to know is were you safe?"

"Sorry, what?" Ianto looked startled.

"I said, were you safe? It's not a difficult question. Did you put a hat on it, were you dressed for the occasion, did you put something on the end of it? It's important, I need to know."

Ianto gulped, he stared at Jack, wide eyed like a rabbit caught in head lights.

"Do you know what?" Jack sneered, "Forget it. I probably won't believe you anyway. I'm making an appointment with my doctor today. I suggest you go and see Owen if you think you need to."

"Jack, please. Listen a minute."

Jack held up his index finger and wiggled it in front of Ianto's face.

"Nuh, huh!" he said, "I'm done listening to you. We're through. I'm not going to throw you out, fuck knows why but I still care about you. I'm going to work now, please move your stuff into the spare room while I'm out, you can stay there until you find somewhere else."

With that he picked up his messenger bag from the kitchen counter and walked out.