3

Jack was waiting.

It was that time of day when the Valiant's engines had reversed and the grinding noise was vibrating up though her chassis, through the chains to wake him from his snooze.

He heard the footstep and let his head drop to his chest again, deepening his breathing for a few more moments of peace before the game began.

"Hello Freak" the syrupy sweetness filled the room along with the tepid smell of the cologne the Master preferred.

Jack knew he couldn't keep up the pretense or he would 'do' something to get a response so he waved one of the manacled hands like a puppet, gaining a soft laugh.

Jack focused on the bright red stilettos walking past him to place something on the table, the dainty ankles turning before the journey was repeated back towards the Master, a daily blessing to Jack who looked forward to seeing what shoes she had chosen that day.

"Now. I have a wee surprise for you today" the Master was crowing, "I found you a little entertainment for the afternoon."

Jack felt tendrils of dread, telling himself not to snow it as he raised his gaze to the face of the mad man. He chose a smile of interest.

A struggling captive was dragged into the room and thrown to the ground at his feet.

The pinstripe suit made him hesitate but then he looked at the shoes and felt himself relax.

Brown brogues. Not black oxfords.

"Bastard" he snarled, finally looking at the face of the man lying at his feet.

"He took some finding, this cat and mouse game he likes, but here we are" the Master crowed, "Finally, the mighty Ianto Jones!"

Jack raised his chin to stare defiantly at the Master as the man at his feet started to struggle to his feet, standing with a gentle poise as he looked into Jack's face.

"I am sorry sir" he said softly, "I did manage to take some out."

"That's OK" Jack said softly, trying to smile reassuringly as they both knew what would come.

"So! India, what am I playing with today my dear?" the Master crowed as he skipped over to the table and looked down at the instruments his assistant had carefully placed down for him, all polished and placed with such preciseness that it screamed OCD.

As always, she had outdone herself and he clapped as he looked at the corkscrews, "Oh darling girl. Where did you find this?"

"It's for the old blocks of ice that vendors used to sell for ice boxes" she purred, "Large enough to hold so much weight. I hoped you would find it interesting Sir."

Jack watched those red shoes move as she walked over to stand behind the Master just a smidgeon of space between them as she leaned around him, "And that, see it has two different points?"

"Oh!" the Master exclaimed as he was shown another toy he had overlooked.

Jack turned his attention to his fellow prisoner and took in the look of lethargy.

"You've been running for quite some time" he said softly and the Welshman smiled softly as he agreed. "Are the others OK?"

"Grand" he replied.

"You look so tired, are your feet giving you grief? You always had problems with your arches" Jack commiserated and a soft chuff of amusement answered him.

"Are we done?" the Master asked, a polite smile as he waited.

"Sorry" Jack smiled, "Just wanted to hear those Welsh vowels one more time."

"Ah" the Master smiled, "It is a lovely accent, isn't it."

"Yeah" Jack smiled back, "Thanks for that."

"Anytime old man" the Master giggled, then began his game.

"Sir, sorry to interrupt but there had been an attack on a stronghold" her gentle voice purred and the Master groaned at the interruption, looking up form where he knelt over the man he was blinding.

"Really?" he turned to look at her with slumped shoulders like a child told it was bedtime.

"I'll finish up if ya like, you go shout at someone" she commiserated, "I believe Ferrediks was in charge of the sector, you know he annoys you with that moustache."

"Really?" the Master frowned, "You know, it is creepy. Yes. He has let me down."

"Damned hard to get good help sir, you deserve so much better" she sighed, her head canting to one side as her ponytail swung, "Not like you ask for much."

"No, I don't do I" he pouted, "all I want is world domination!"

"You almost had it, but apparently he can't hold his own dick to pee sir" she snarled, "Sorry for the inconvenience. I think Jeffries is champing at the bit to prove himself worthy of your attention."

"Yes, a good man" the Master smiled, stepping forward and murmuring softly, "Thank you India."

"Just doing my job sir" she sniffed, "Like you ask. Not a lot to ask."

The Master's face changed into to a mask of fury as he turned back to Jack, "Bloody inconvenience if you ask me and .. WILL YOU STOP THAT!"

He was screaming at the writhing man on the floor, the pinstripe now vivid reds as entrails were cruelly walked into the grating.

She shot him in the head and the Master jumped.

"SHIT!" he screamed.

"Didn't get any on your shoes did you?" she asked, "I was sure of my trajectory."

"I wasn't finished" he stomped.

"Hush now, you know you would have taken out all your anger on him when you need to show those idiots up there that you are the Master here. Go take it out on the one who deserves it, let them all see what happens when you fall asleep at the switch around here!" she demanded and he puffed out his chest, then swept from the room.

Jack was weeping softly as he looked down at the body of a man he had thought a great deal of and the hand sliding around his neck made him freeze.

"Hush now, I couldn't do any more" she whispered, "Hush Cariad. He's not in pain now."

Jack nodded and closed his eyes as the crisp scent of green apples pushed past, thinking of Ianto and his freshly washed hair.

"Easy now" she said to someone, "Take him down to the Shute, drop him over the water. He liked the water."

"Ma'am"

Jack lifted his head as they left, those red shoes clicking away along with the green apple shampoo.

She was right though.

Rhys Williams had loved the water.

His last thought before the door closed was that he had lost a lot of weight to have fitted one of Ianto's old suits like that.

Poor bastard, brave until the last.

Loyal.