Author's Note: Again, huge thank you to everyone who commented and added the story to their alerts. You make me happy :) Here's the next chapter. I'll put up the forth one tomorrow and then I'm going away for a week so you'll have to wait until I get back.
Disclaimer: If you know it, it aint mine. (Sigh.)
Soulmates
Chapter Three
Jack stumbled as he walked out of the other side of the Rift. His ears rung and he felt slightly shaky, as though his legs wouldn't quite support him. He took a deep breath and steadied himself, observing his surroundings as he did. He found himself in what looked like it was once a field, but the grass was burnt a dark brown and the trees had no leaves. In the sky the sun burned a deep red as it approached sunset but the air was heavy, humid, as though it was the middle of the day. Jack could already feel himself start to sweat in his layers of clothes. He shielded his eyes and looked around for any signs of Ianto but there was nothing. There were no signs of civilisation in sight and Jack cursed out loud. Either Ianto had wandered off, or the programme hadn't worked properly. Jack, not ready to give up any time soon, removed his greatcoat and slung it over his shoulder before picking a direction and walking.
* * * * *
Ianto flexed his neck muscles and groaned. He couldn't remember the last time his neck and shoulders didn't ache. He blinked in the glowing sunset reaching through the small window and stretched. Standing, Ianto tried to brush out the creases of his simple outfit. He was dressed in thin brown trousers and a white linen shirt which hung off his body to keep him as cool as possible in the heated climate. He slipped his feet into simple brown sandals which rested next to the hard box he called a bed. There were no sheets and one makeshift pillow which was a bag stuffed with old clothes. Clothes he couldn't remember owning, clothes from a long time ago, from a different life. Ianto found his jug of water and used some of it to splash over his face, removing the final traces of sleep and the dust which accumulates during the day. The rest he drank thirstily.
The general climate of the planet meant that its inhabitants slept during the day and moved about at night. During the hours of sunlight, the temperature rose so high a person could be burnt to death within minutes of stepping outside of the shadows. At night, it was hot but not deadly and so the planet came alive. Ianto worked in a small cafe not far from the enlarged cupboard he called home. He served drinks to the customers, always cold. Hot drinks didn't exist on this planet, there was no call for them. Sometimes Ianto found himself craving a hot drink, but he didn't know what. He had vague memories of a slightly bitter taste, scolding hot, a delight to drink but he didn't know what it is or where it was from. So many memories abandoned him these days. So many years had gone by... he could almost remember tastes and sounds and people... one person in particular but he didn't know who. Sometimes he wanted to remember, the rest, he just wanted to forget completely. Then he could just drift until the end of time.
Ianto shook his head slightly as waves of sadness overcame him. He didn't have time for a nostalgic moment of memories that were nothing more than emotions. He was going to be late. And Kytcha did not like it when he was late. He hurried out of the door, remembering to lock it behind him and made his way down the dark staircase. Outside, the streets were already filling with people rushing to work and shopping. Kids were screaming out, demanding attention from parents who had better things to do. Alien creatures flew overhead, not caring for the humanoids below as long as the humans didn't care about them. Ianto left the building he shared with roughly 100 others and slipped unseen into the stream of people meandering through the streets. The cafe wasn't far away, a five minute walk if that. He pushed his way through the crowds into the lightened room and took up his place behind the counter. There was no uniform or apron to wear. As long as he was on duty, he was behind the counter and everyone knew his job was to serve them drinks. Within seconds, his first customer approached and announced their order. Ianto nodded silently and turned to put the drinks together.
It was just another night on Camgol.
* * * * *
Jack found himself drenched in sweat as he approached the summit of a hill. His clothes were far too thick for the heat of the planet and he longed for a cold shower and a fresh set of clothes, preferably something cooler. At the top of the hill, he paused to catch his breath and gazed at the landscape not far below him. He still hadn't come across another living thing, not even an animal. He had heard the cries of some sort of creature but not seen it.
Not too far away, the flickering lights of a town caught his attention. Jack judged the distance and reckoned he could reach it before the sun was up. If it was this hot during the night, he did not want to stay in the open during the day. He wondered what the chances were of Ianto being in that town and then decided he didn't want to know. It was easier to hope.
Adjusting his coat over his shoulder and wiping the sweat off his forehead, Jack made his way down the hill and towards civilisation. He could only pray that he would find what he was looking for.
* * * * *
Back in Cardiff, Gwen Cooper felt like she was losing control. She had rung U.N.I.T. only to find that Martha Jones was away on a "mission". Whatever it was it was so important Gwen wasn't allowed to know where or when she would be coming back. She tried to speak to the person on the other end of the phone, asking for help with Torchwood but whoever it was wasn't interested in helping Torchwood. Gwen slammed the phone down in frustration and was ready to burst into tears when two strong arms wrapped themselves around her and a friendly kiss planted itself on her neck.
"Well then Mrs Williams," a gentle welsh accent floated into her ears, "what can I do to help?"
"Rhys!" Gwen twisted herself in his arms so he was hugging her close to his chest, "how did you get it?"
"Door was open," he grinned down at her, "you should really think about security more often, considering all those aliens you've got hidden away in the basement."
"Oh Rhys..." Gwen sighed, content for the moment to do nothing but rest her head on his shoulder and savour the feeling of not being alone, "I don't know what to do."
"You'll work it out," Rhys soothed, kissing the top of her head, "you always do." Rhys had taken the next couple of days off work, using his managerial perks to pull some strings so it was feasible. When his wife had called him for the second time in one night, panicked and upset, he had decided it would be for the best. He still wasn't sure what had happened. Gwen's garbled explanation down the phone hadn't made a whole lot of sense. But from looking around the Hub, Jack wasn't around and he suspected that was only the start of the problem. He knew Gwen would explain everything once she had calmed down.
"Coffee?" He asked her when her hug became less desperate. Gwen nodded and sat back in her chair. It was going to be a long night.
