Summary: Chapter 3 – "I forgive him"

Rating: T

Spoiler: Small Worlds

Setting: Small Worlds

Warnings: None

"I forgive him."

They didn't talk to Jack for days, the Hub echoing with stilted sentences to each other and angry footsteps on the metal grating. The heat of held-back tears throbbed in Gwen's eyes, cold disappointment steeled Tosh's gaze. Even Owen, irreverent of life and death, stared blankly when Jack passed by.

Monster. The word hissed in echoing whispers. Ianto could feel the sound of it on his own tongue. He'd said it himself, and meant it, at the time.

A girl was lost so the world could be saved. How was that so different from Lisa?

Ianto heard the sobs, saw the stark eyes even if the others didn't. He saw the regret behind the firmness of purpose. If making the hard decisions made Jack a monster, he would take that burden and live with it.

And as Jack's heart hardened, Ianto's melted just a little.