Did he really think I was going to open my arms to him when he finally returned? Ianto thought to himself.
Jack stuttered, not sure how he was meant to answer that question. Yes, he wanted to stay. To put things right. But at the same time he wanted to go of and explore the rest of the universe, move on from Ianto as Ianto had from him.
The cog door opened, showing a happy couple giggling at silly jokes and mistakes. Owen Harper stopped laughing as soon as he looked up from his linked hands with Toshiko Sato-Harper, seeing Jack.
"Jack Harkness, never thought I was going to see that face again" Owen said, no emotion on his face. "Actually, I wished so hard that I wouldn't see it again. Someone must seriously hate me if you have returned."
Tosh finally looked up, sighing as she did. "You, Jack Harkness, owe us all more than an apology! You abandoned us all! You murdered me, Owen and Ianto! You have kept Ianto alive with your bloody immortal-ness, luckily. But me and Owen…we had no chance! Gwen managed to get in touch with your 'doctor' and he managed to save both of me and Owen. Staying for long because I don't think we need you here."Tosh walked over to her desk, Owen following her but to his own. Ianto passed Jack, placing two cups of coffee on each desk.
"Your morning brews, Mr and Mrs Harper" Ianto smiled at them both.
They both thanked Ianto before he left to go to his kitchen. Jack went over to where Gwen and Rhys had wandered off to.
"Gwen!" Jack walked into his old office.
"What do you want Jack? To kill me and Rhys then go running off to do some flirting?"
"No, I want to know how much it will take for you to all know that I didn't want any of you to die."
"We will hold a meeting, in five minutes, you can tell us there and we will see if your excuses are good enough" Gwen said, before pushing Jack out of her office.
Jack sighed, walking over to the board room, rubbing his face with his hands.
It was a few minutes till the rest of the team entered the board room, sitting down in their normal seats. Jack stood at the front. Ianto kept eye-contact away from Jack, not wanting to feel the lost connection.
"I know I have been a prick for the years you have all known me. I know three of you have died due to Torchwood. But I want all of you to know what I was doing in my three year absence" Jack started, taking a breath before talking again. "I went to different planets, trying to find a way of bringing you all back. To stop what had happened. I didn't want any of you to die, not one bit. Especially you Ianto, you changed me. You changed me for a better person. Every planet I went to, it was because of you. Because I wanted you back. Because I needed you. Out of all the people and aliens I have been with, I have never wanted anyone more than you. I know you all hate me, and I know the reasons why. But I want you all to forgive me, but only if you can. I don't want any of you to do anything you don't want to."
When Jack had finished his speech, the board room was filled with silence. Ianto was staring at Jack, his mouth a gap. Jack looked at them all in turn, keeping eye contact with Ianto for longest.