** THESE CHARACTERS BELONG TO RUSSELL T. DAVIES**

Part Two:

Deabricated by Slime

"Before anyone could react the small ball exploded..."

Why are we still alive?" Owen asked dumbly into the ground.

"Maybe we were too far away..." Tosh said. " Oh, I can't look up. I mean, Ianto..."

Keeping my face down I felt the grass brush against my cheek. The moment the bomb went off the three of us dropped to the ground. It was instinct. I should have ran to him. I shouldn't have just let him... Oh, Ianto. A shaky sigh left my body as I felt tears behind my eyes. I should have done more. Anger flooded my veins, grief invaded my mind and emptiness plunged its way into my heart.

"I didn't know. I thought it was harmless. Ianto, oh Merlin, Jack I'm sorry." Owen rambled guiltily.

Sniffling could be heard over the comm system and right between the two men who laid next to the small Asian woman on the ground. Pulling myself back together I hauled my body up off the ground. Looking ahead of me there was a Welshman who stood, arms folded over his chest and with an expression that could kill.

"Yan?" I asked my voice hoarse with emotion.

He was stark naked and covered in a clear slimy liquid. There were scratches on the back of his legs and bum from being thrown unto the concrete ground that covered the sidewalk. Fragments of the metal ball were also strewn about and Ianto's clothes were nowhere to be seen. A gasp and intake of breathe sounded from behind me as the others saw the scene.

"How?-" Tosh and Owen began.

Ianto's expression intensified.

"Let's go." I told everybody walking towards the young angry Welshman.

Taking off my coat I silently wrapped it around his shoulders. Resting my arms on his shoulders for a moment longer than necessary, our eyes met. His stony glare met my relieved concerned ones. There was a flicker of remorse in his eyes as I walked past him.

"Gwen, we're coming back... with Ianto." I said.

–-

Ianto was sitting on top of the autopsy table, still only covered in my RAF coat. Owen was checking his vitals while Tosh and Gwen stood watching. I had my eyes on Ianto the entire time, almost afraid he would disappear. Today had been too close.

His eyes followed Owen as he worked on him, only looking away when he took a sample of the clear goo that covered his body. He turned his head in my direction so he could see me in the corner of his eye and I moved forward offering my silent support. His shoulders were still tense, and jaw clenched together making my teeth ache.

His hands were closed into fists.

Owen was bothering him and the girls watching him wasn't making this any easier.

"Tosh, why don't you go run some more tests on the fragments you retrieved from the blast." I ordered. " Gwen, go get Ianto's spare suit from his office." I said giving her a pointed look when she opened her mouth to protest.

Rounding the autopsy table so I was standing in front of Ianto, Owen took the sample of goo and put it into the processor. Within seconds the alarms were going off putting the Hub in to lock down. Gwen's scream of surprise sounded as she barely made it back into the main area. While Tosh groaned in utter frustration and Owen launched a slew of curses at the machines in front of him. I frowned as Ianto's eyes slowly closed wishing that the day would end.

"What happened?" I asked.

"No, no, no, that can't be right." Owen mumbled to himself.

"WHAT happened?" I asked uncrossing my arms.

"There is no possible way this could be right." Owen turned around his eyes meeting mine.

"What set off the alarm?" Gwen asked as her and Tosh approached.

"Owen, what was it?" I stepped forward and rested a hand on Ianto's knee soothingly.

"He's covered in," He paused, choking on his words. "Radiation."

This is just NOT Ianto's day.

I must confess, a giggled at writing his reactions.

3 for Ianto! He's such a trooper. XD

ava-bell-yan to fond me on tumblr.