So was originally going to finish this story in this chapter but I decided to split it into two different ones so you'd have something to read while I finished. The last chapter should be up soon…hopefully.

~Enjoy~

Jack never actually had that feeling of falling. That moment where you feel like you took a step but there's nothing beneath you so you just fall for an eternity. He's never gotten that. Not even during any of his numerous deaths has he felt like he was tumbling into an abyss.

Not until now.

Because now he was looking into the eyes of the man he loved, thought to be dead. He was seeing the same sweet, soft face that he had kissed at every possible moment. He saw the dark, wavy hair that he had loved to run his fingers through. And now, as he stared into his bright, blue eyes Jack felt a sense of wrongness, because he wasn't meant to be seeing these things anymore.

"Oh my god, it's really you." Ianto whispered as he embraced Jack, wrapping his arms around him tightly. Jack didn't do the same, only stood there stiffly. Ianto sensed the rigidity because he pulled back and looked Jack in the eyes.

"Jack?" He asked softly. Jack took a step back, causing Ianto's arms to fall to his sides. His face, which was formerly full of surprise and hope, was now crestfallen. "Jack, are you okay?"

Jack swallowed back a lump in his throat. "I'm staring at my dead lover. Do you think I'm okay?"

Ianto blinked and the frown on his face turned into a thin line of forced restraint. "The Doctor warned me about this." He sighed and reached out to touch Jack's cheek but Jack flinched away.

"What the hell is this? A taunt?" Jack spat out. Ianto flinched at the harsh tone and sighed.

"I've got a lot of explaining to do, I know. But if you'll just-"

"Just what? Listen to you? I don't even know how you're here!" Jack shouted. Ianto winced and glanced around. No one was looking their way. Why would they? It was a lover's spat in the street, nothing more. "You died, Ianto Jones. You died in my arms and I have been suffering ever since-"

"Will you just shut up for a fucking second and let me explain!" Ianto exploded. That made Jack fall silent. In that moment he saw that spark of energy Ianto always seemed to have hiding beneath the surface. In that moment he saw his Ianto.

Ianto was breathing heavily and it was apparent that he was trying to calm himself. He took a deep breath and let it out.

"What did the Doctor tell you?" He asked quietly. Jack stared for a moment before answering.

"He said he was sending someone through the rift." Ianto nodded.

"So therefore…" He trailed off, gesturing to himself. Jack noticed that he was wearing his usual attire; a clean-cut suit paired with a red vest. It almost made him smile.

"But I don't understand." Jack said shaking his head. "How could he have sent you through? You died." Ianto shook his head and gave a small chuckle.

"Oh Jack, whatever happened to your open mind?" He murmured to himself. "Have you ever stopped and thought that maybe there was a parallel you…or a parallel Ianto Jones?" Jack's eyes widened slightly.

"You're the Ianto from Pete's world?"

"I'm assuming that you're referring to Rose's father, so yes." Ianto said. Jack swallowed back another lump.

"So that means you're alive in the parallel universe." Ianto nodded "But I don't understand. Why would the doctor send me you? You have your own universe, your own life." Ianto shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

"Could we maybe talk about this somewhere else? Like in the hub?" Jack began to nod but then stopped and shook his head.

"No, Gwen's in there. I don't to have to explain all of this to her when I don't even know what's going on yet." Jack touched the com on his ear.

"Gwen? Gwen, are you there?" A brief moment later, the Welsh woman responded.

"Jack? What's going on? Are you alright?" She asked worriedly.

"I'm fine." He reassured her. "Listen, why don't you just head home for the day."

"Why? What's going on Jack?"

"Nothing. I just have some things I need to sort out." He said glancing at Ianto who was now staring down at his feet. There was silence on the other end until Gwen answered.

"Let me know if you need anything." She said finally.

"I will." He assured her. He turned back to Ianto who had looked up from his feet and was staring at Jack again. "Let's go." He ordered and began walking.

"Go where?" Ianto asked, jogging to catch up with him.

"My place."

"So you actually own a flat?" Ianto asked as Jack unlocked the front door to the home that was never used.

"I never really use it. Usually I just stay in the hub." He swung the door open to reveal a sufficiently furnished flat with a great view of the bay. "It's easier that way." They stepped inside and Jack hung up his RAF coat on a rack by the door.

"I'm guessing parallel me either doesn't have one or he never showed you it either, seeing as how you didn't know about it." Jack speculated as he looked over at Ianto. Something mournful flashed in the Welshman's eyes and for a moment Jack thought he had said something wrong. But it was gone in a second as if it had never been there.

Ianto gave a curt nod as he walked over to sit on the couch in the main area of the flat. Jack followed him and sat down as well, although not as close as he normally would when he was near Ianto.

"So," Jack began looking sideways at Ianto. The man turned and locked eyes with him and for a moment Jack lost his train of thought as he stared at him. "You said you have some explaining to do." He said. Explain away then." Jack leaned back into the couch. Ianto gave a slight smile and a nod.

"I'll try my best sir."

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