Chapter 1

Ianto watched them dance and felt a cold spread around his heart. It was happening. He had known all along, somewhere deep inside, that this was going to happen, but had told himself that it was with him Jack spent his nights, and Gwen went home to Rhys. He hadn't expected them to show their feelings so openly in front of everyone at Gwen's wedding. He had done everything he could to make things work, and Jack had too. There was nothing more to say, she had won. Ianto had thought that he had found the one: every time Jack held him, he felt like he was home, he had been telling himself that Jack felt the same. And he had permitted himself to dream, to think of a future with Jack. But now, these dreams were shattered, and he felt his heart break. He knew what he had to do now. He just wanted one last dance with Jack first.

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At 6:45 the morning after Gwen's wedding, Ianto called Tosh, who answered sleepily.

"Tosh? I'm sorry if I woke you!" he said.

"Mmm, that's ok, I would have had to get up soon anyway… Can I help you with something, Ianto?"

"Well, actually, yes. Please Tosh, don't be too mad at me for this. I'm not coming in today… Or actually, no day… I'm leaving… But I just can't bring myself to face Jack, would you please help me and give him my letter of resignation."

Tosh was completely shocked, and didn't know what to say.

"I don't want to go to the Hub, to be reminded… A while back, I was offered a job with UNIT, and I said no, everything was going so well, but I've changed my mind, I need to leave, so I called UNIT last night, when I got home, and apparently they had yet to fill the position. So I'm starting tomorrow…"

There was a short pause, while Tosh tried to get her head around what her friend was saying.

"Would you mind terribly if I pop around yours to leave you the letter and say goodbye. I'm leaving in a couple of hours."

"No, of course not, see you in a bit…" she said hoping that she would be able to dissuade him, but knew deep down that it wouldn't be possible.

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The cog wheel door rolled open and Jack looked out of his office, generally Ianto would have been there hours ago, but he supposed the younger man had needed to rest after last night's clean up operation, so he had decided not to call, risking waking him from the much needed sleep.

"Ianto?"

"No, Jack, it's us" he now saw Tosh and Owen come through, "Ianto called me this morning and he won't be coming in."

"What? Why? What's wrong, is he sick or something? Why didn't he call me?" Jack asked, perplexed.

"It's not just today, Jack" Tosh said, sadly. "He wanted me to give you this" she handed Jack a white envelope, "it's his letter of resignation."

"What?" Jack spat.

"He's got a job with UNIT, and he's apparently starting tomorrow…" Owen answered as calmly as possible, he and Tosh were both very sad to see the young Welshman go, and could only imagine what their Captain would think about losing not only their colleague and coffee-god, but his shag-buddy.

The words were hardly out of Owen's mouth before Jack took his coat and ran out of the door. He was feeling so confused, what was going on? Everything had been going so well, at least he had thought so. And now Ianto was leaving, without as much as coming to see him, talk to him. Jack's insides felt like they were on fire. He needed answers, he needed to know why Ianto was leaving Torchwood, why he was leaving him! No, he thought, what he really needed was to stop Ianto! He threw himself into the SUV and raced to Ianto's flat, when there was no answer, Jack opened with his key, the key Ianto had given him only a few weeks ago. Everything was so quiet, Jack knew instantly that Ianto wasn't there. He took up his phone and called Ianto on speed-dial. Number 1. But the answer was very unsettling for Jack.

"The number you have dialled, is not in use."

Jack slumped on the couch, and felt warm tears run down his cheeks. Ianto, his Ianto was gone, and he had no idea how to get him back.