Story Summary: Tosh continues to help Roddy recover from the abuse he suffered at Stanton's hands. Jack and Ianto continue to define their relationship and deal with the Rift.

Recommend you read We Worked Together (the story can be accessed through my profile - socalrose) before reading this story because it's a sequel to We worked Together.

This chapter is PG-13.

Characters: Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Roddy (OC), Owen, Gwen, and Martha.

AR: Starts with Reset episode (series 2)


A Pattern of Deaths in South Wales

"When do you expect the UNIT doctor to arrive?" Ianto asked handing Jack his coffee.

"She should arrive in about four hours," Jack replied savoring his sip of coffee. "She's found a pattern of sudden deaths in the UNIT database and wants to compare notes with Torchwood."

"Do you know this doctor from UNIT?" Ianto asked.

"I've worked with her before," Jack replied and then he hesitated momentarily lost in thoughts of the year that never was. A gentle hand on his shoulder brought him back to the present.

"Did you work with her during the time you were gone?" Ianto gently asked. Jack had shared with Ianto information on some of the trauma he had suffered during the time he was gone, but he had not mentioned Dr. Martha Jones by name.

"I did, but Martha wasn't working with UNIT back then; she was traveling with the Doctor when we met," Jack said looking at Ianto. "She helped the Doctor save the world, Ianto."

"You helped the Doctor save the world too, Jack," Ianto said. "We wouldn't be here without your sacrifices, cariad," he added, carding his fingers through Jack's hair before he leaned over and kissed him. Pulling away after a few minutes he asked, "You okay?"

"I think I need another kiss just to be safe," Jack replied. Ianto smiled and leaned in for another kiss.

As they finished their kiss they heard a light knock at Jack's door. "Come in," Jack said.

Tosh opened the door and poked her head in. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting or are you done snogging each other?" she asked with a smile.

Jack laughed; "We're done for now anyway," he replied with a wink. "How did your date go last night?" he asked.

"It was nice for the most part," Tosh replied. "We even got in some good snogging," she added with a smile. "Then I got a little too enthusiastic and Roddy ended up on his back with me on top and,"

"And it triggered a flashback," Jack finished for her.

She sighed and nodded. "Roddy panicked and we backed into separate corners of the couch. I asked him what happened and he confirmed he had a flashback. I was afraid he'd get up and leave, but he stayed all night and we just cuddled and slept."

"So you had some progress last night," Jack said. "Plus you've found a trigger, but you can work around it. How was Roddy when he woke up this morning?" he asked.

"I woke up first and found Roddy snuggled against me; he looked so relaxed and peaceful in his sleep," Tosh said a wistful look on her face. "When he woke up he smiled and said he really enjoyed our date."

"That's great, Tosh," Ianto said happy for them.

"I'm glad things are getting better for you and Roddy," Jack said smiling at her.

"Me too, Jack," Tosh agreed.

He ran through the sliding doors past all the people in the waiting room and stopped at the check-in desk. "Torchwood – gunshot victim?" he managed to blurt out while trying to catch his breath.

"They're in the second floor surgical waiting room," the receptionist replied.

"Thank you," Roddy replied as he ran to the lift. The lift seemed to take forever to reach the second floor. Finally it opened and it took a moment to find the waiting room. His eyes scanned the room – there in the corner sat Gwen, Tosh and Jack. Relief washed through him as he walked towards them. "Tosh?" he said softly. Tosh looked up and saw him; she turned and said something quietly to Jack and Gwen before standing up and walking over to Roddy. He hugged her tightly to his chest. "Gwen called Rhys and told him someone had been shot, but she was crying so much he couldn't understand who was shot and I got over here as fast as I could," his words tumbled out in a rush.

"I'm alright Roddy," Tosh assured him.

"But who was shot?" he asked.

"Let's step out in the hallway," Tosh suggested guiding him out of the waiting room and down the hallway away from everyone. She was holding both his hands in hers. "It's Ianto; he was shot in the chest," she said.

"Oh god – what happened?" Roddy asked.

"A doctor from UNIT, Dr. Martha Jones, came to see Jack about this pattern of unexplained deaths she had discovered. A lot of the deaths happened in South Wales and we started an investigation," Tosh said. "Our investigation pointed to a new drug called Reset which was undergoing clinical trials at a medical facility called the Pharm run by Dr Aaron Copley. We discovered the Reset drug had alien parasites in it and the Pharm was covering it up by murdering the clinical trials subjects. Martha went in undercover as a new trial subject to get the proof we needed. She succeeded but was caught."

"So the team went in to rescue her," Roddy said.

Tosh nodded. "We found all kinds of captured aliens in cells tethered to machines which extracted fluids from their bodies to produce chemicals and drugs. Ianto, Gwen and I prepared the buildings for total shutdown while Jack and Owen went to find Martha. They managed to rescue her from Dr. Copley and we all rendezvoused outside. Jack told me to activate total shutdown and as I did it, Dr. Copley came out of nowhere with a gun and threatened Martha and Owen. Ianto was the only one with a clear shot and he shouted, 'Copley!' Copley turned and they both fired at the same time," Tosh said tears rolling down her face.

Roddy pulled Tosh into his embrace and she laid her head on his shoulder. "Ianto shot Copley right between the eyes; I thought it was all over, and then Ianto sank down to his knees. Jack caught him and that's when we realized he was shot in the chest," she said sobbing quietly.

"When did they take him into surgery?" Roddy asked.

"Over an hour ago; Owen's in there assisting with the surgery," Tosh said pulling away from Roddy enough to wipe the tears from her eyes. "I'm must look a fright."

"Why don't you go freshen up in the ladies' room and I'll go get us all some tea," Roddy suggested. Tosh nodded in agreement and headed down the hall to the ladies' room while Roddy went to get some tea. He took the stairs this time and stopped on the first landing and leaned against the wall. A sob escaped his lips; he felt guilty feeling relieved Tosh was safe when Ianto could be dying on the surgical table as he stood there on the landing. Taking a deep breath Roddy wiped the tears away with the back of his hand and pulled himself together. He had to be strong for Tosh, Jack and Ianto. Pushing himself away from the wall he continued on downstairs to get everyone some tea.

Stand up and pace. Stare down the hallway and look for Owen. Sit down and wait. Jack was in hell not knowing whether Ianto would live or die. He would have gladly taken the bullet to save Ianto, but everything had happened in a blink of an eye. The nightmare replayed in his mind – Copley threatening Martha and Owen with a gun; Ianto shouting Copley's name and both men firing at the same moment. Copley had dropped dead on the spot. Jack had turned to Ianto to see a surprised look on his face before he fell to his knees. He had caught Ianto before he fell all the way down; it was then they'd both realized Ianto had been shot in the chest. The rest was blurry; Owen frantically trying to staunch the flow of blood, the hair-raising ride in the SUV to the hospital, running down the hallway next to the gurney Ianto was laying on, and halting outside the surgery room Owen promising him they'd do everything possible to save him.

Jack was sitting down again leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees, hands hanging freely staring at a blank spot on the wall.

"Here's some tea," a voice said. Jack didn't respond. Roddy crouched in front of him. "Jack, look at me," Roddy said a little louder. Slowly Jack raised his eyes and focused on Roddy's face. "Here's some tea, I want you to drink it." Roddy said slipping the cup into Jack's hand. "Go on, take a few sips; that's it," he added encouragingly.

Jack drank most of the sweet tea and felt the fog lift from his mind. "Thanks, Roddy."

"Anytime Jack," Roddy replied pleased to see the tea had helped a little bit.

"Roddy, did Rhys say when he'd get here?" Gwen asked taking another sip of her tea.

Roddy stood up replying, "Rhys should be here shortly; he waiting for a couple of our drivers to get back and then he has to lock up."

"Let me know the minute you have him settled in his room," Owen's voice preceded his appearance in the waiting room.

"Yes, Dr. Harper," the nurse following him acknowledged. "I'll let you know immediately." She turned and rapidly walked away.

Jack reached Owen with the others right behind him. "Ianto?" Jack asked the one word question unable to say anything else.

"He's alive, Jack," Owen replied as his hand scrubbed over his exhausted face. "He's lost copious amounts of blood, his right lung collapsed and his heart stopped beating twice during the surgery, but he's still with us," he explained. "It'll be touch and go over the next 48 hours, but all we can do is wait and see."