The Unexplained Chapter 2

TWTWTW

Ianto managed to stand. He looked around again, taking in the vast open space. The mountains and the dust. He coughed as the wind blew the loose soil into the air. It stung his eyes. Got into his throat.

"Drannarmia 6, Eye Candy, and it's all ours." He laughed. "Jack will never find you here."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Ianto.

"Because I can, of course. Why else? Jack will suffer. He'll move heaven and earth to find you and I'll stay one step ahead of him. It'll take forever to find us, and by then, you'll be old and gray."

Ianto half smiled "And he'll still love me more than he ever did you."

John hit him across the face with an open hand, making Ianto fall back.

"Watch your mouth. He's not here to watch your back now, you know."

Ianto put a hand against his cheek.

"Arh, did that hurt? Good."

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"Where did Ianto go, Jack," asked Gwen.

"I don't know where he is," said Jack, pacing the Hub floor. "John just took him."

"So what now?" asked Owen, taking off his blood soaked coat and putting a lab coat on.

Jack shook his head. "I really don't know."

"Come on, Harkness. This is the man you love we're talking about. You can't let Hart get away with it."

"There are a lot of Planets out there, Owen. I can't search them all. It'll take far too long."

"What about places you went with Hart?" said Tosh.

"Pilonia. Fakzon. Tyron Major. Iona Delta 4." Jack shook his head. "He's not stupid enough to take him to any of those. He'll pick a deserted Planet."

"You have to try, Jack. You can't leave Ianto out there with John Hart."

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"Stop fretting, Eye Candy. I had this planned. Well, it was for me and Jack, but you'll do. I like you, in a funny way that is. I'd have preferred Jack, but….best laid plans and all that."

"Take me back. Now!"

"You are in no position to threaten me. I have to vortex manipulator. I have the weapons," he smiled. "You just have the looks." He touched Ianto's cheek, still red from where he'd slapped him. "Sorry about that."

Ianto pulled away. "No, you're not."

"On your feet. We have a way to walk and a dust storm will be upon us within an hour."

John pulled Ianto to his feet and pushed him ahead of him. Ianto pulled his arm away from John's grip, coursing him to wince with pain.

"You bring it all on yourself. You just don't give up, and I like you for that. You've got spunk, I'll give you that. But you won't wind. The steaks are too high and I will win Jack back."

"He doesn't want you. Will never love you again. Give it up, please and take me back."

"Never."

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"Don't argue with me, Jack. I'm going with you and that's final."

"You're in no fit state to…."

"Don't," interrupted Owen, holding up his good hand, silencing Jack. "You need me. You can't do this alone, Jack. I won't let you."

Jack smiled, knowing his wasn't going to win this argument. "Thanks."

"So, we look at some deserted Planets, get a list and tick them off one by one, like a pub crawl, without the drinks."

"Perfect," said Gwen, her face grim.

Tosh bough up the solar system and marked off deserted, inhabitable Planets.

"They have to sustain human life, else John would die, too."

"Not a bad idea," said Gwen. She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. "Jack, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…."

"It's okay. I know what you mean." He tried to smile.

"I didn't quite understand how much you really loved Ianto, until now," said Owen. "It's not just the sex, is it?"

"No, it never has been. I was content to hold him. The physical love came later."

"We'll get him back, I promise you."

"Yeah."

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They crawled deep inside a cave, away from the dust storm. It swirled around the entrance, coursing small partials to make their way inside. John threw Ianto a piece of rage.

"Put it around your nose and mouth, and keep your eyes shut. It should he over in an hour or so."

Ianto wrapped the piece of material around his head, securing it at his throat. He watched John do the same.

'I'd love to pull that tight and throttle you' he thought.

John looked at Ianto, a stern look on his face.

'Can he sense what I'm thinking? Please God, find me soon, Jack'