Chapter Four
Jack looked at the Doctor and shook his head. He looked imploringly at Gwen and Martha. The both nodded slightly. Giving his hand a squeeze, Gwen took a deep breath and began to talk. Whenever she hesitated, Martha would take over.
Deciding to check every room of the Hub to make sure that Ianto wasn't lying injured somewhere, the three of them went on a search. An hour later they all concluded that Ianto and therefore Gray were not in the building. The only ways out of the building where through the main entrance and via the lift and they knew that those hadn't been used.
Making their way to the briefing room, they sat down around the table. At a loss, Gwen looked towards Jack, his leadership had always lead them in the right direction before however this time he looked just as lost as she felt. The three of them sat there silently, all lost in their own thoughts. Finally Martha spoke.
"We need to get the computers back on- line. Without them, we are blind. We need to find out what caused them to malfunction in the first place."
"How? None of us really know what to do to get them working."
"No but U.N.I.T. have a whole computer department. I'll make a few phone calls and see if I can get someone sent over to help us."
Getting up, she quietly made her way back to her desk. Gwen watched her until she turned the corner and then turned back to Jack. He'd been too quiet. She was still concerned about him. He still looked pale. Reaching over she took his hand. He didn't move, it was as if he'd switched himself off. Gently she called his name as she squeezed his hand but she didn't get any response. Trying again, although this time she raised his voice. Still nothing. She had to get through to him. She needed him to start looking forward, trying to figure out what needed to be done. Not to remain stuck in the past.
"DAMN IT JACK!" she shouted, standing up and leaning in towards him. She stood nose to nose, or more accurately, nose to forehead with him. "Are you just going to sit there and lose Ianto? Or are you going to find him and return him to us?"
This seemed to work, Jack's mouth started to move although not a sound escaped.
"Come on Jack, are you prepared to let Gray take your lover from you? I thought Ianto meant more to you than that."
That got a response. He looked directly at her but the pain in his eyes almost made her stop but she needed Jack to be angry.
"Obviously I was wrong. You don't care. You've locked your heart away for so long that nothing can get through to it. Well Captain Harkness, I'm not going to give up. I'm going to do all I can to find Ianto."
Jack stood up quickly. The pain was still there but the anger was stronger. Gwen stepped back and braced herself for the onslaught that she could see coming.
"HOW DARE YOU!! You know how much I care about all of you. What it did to me to lose Owen and Toshiko. I won't lose Ianto, I can't lose him. I love him."
"Welcome back." She said softly.
Jack looked down at her and saw her tears. Smiling slightly he gave her a hug. Turning, they walked out of the briefing room and headed off to find Martha. Neither of them let the other go as they made their way through the corridors. Martha was just hanging up her phone as they reached her desk. Standing up, she gave Jack a quick hug. As she stepped back she gently placed her palm against his cheek.
"We'll find him Jack. We'll bring him home."
"Yes we will. What did you work out?"
"Well I spoke to Major Daniels and explained what we needed. He said that he had just the man."
"When can we expect him?"
"In two days."
"TWO DAYS!! That's not fast enough. We need someone working on the computers now. Why can't we get someone sooner?"
"Because they are all busy elsewhere and Daniels is already pulling Quinn off an existing assignment but he's in Australia. By the time he gets a flight out it'll be Wednesday afternoon before he gets here."
"Do you know this Quinn guy?"
"Not really. I've only heard of him. He started with U.N.I.T. six months ago but from everything I've heard, he's the best that they've got."
"That's all well and good but I don't want to have to wait for two days. I need to do something now."
Gwen thought carefully before she spoke, finally deciding that it was their only option.
"What about Captain John? We could try to reach him if he's still on Earth."
Jack looked at her. Why hadn't he thought of that? Quickly he flipped open his manipulator. After pushing several buttons, he handed the device to Gwen, explaining what he needed her to do. He then moved away and turned to face her. With a nod from Gwen he proceeded to speak.
"John, I need your help. Gray has escaped. Contact me as soon as you get this message."
When he'd finished talking he took the device and pushed the transmit button. Now all they could do was wait. Something Jack was not very good at doing.