Walking towards the door Ianto paused as a tingling sensation erupted in the back on his mind.

It had started some time during the chaos earlier and he'd put it down to needing to feed. But it was an unusual feeling, not like he normally got when he was hunger and it was steadily getting stronger.

Another impatient knock at broke him from his thoughts as he stepped forward to the front door.

He opened the door and quickly had to step out of the way as Owen and Gwen were shoved ungracefully into the house.

"They're all yours, ungrateful shits," Zenia muttered hand still raised from where she'd pushed them, eyes glittering dangerously.

Ianto's eyes flickered to Ifan who was standing just behind her on her right, a position he knew well, the one he often took when he was with Jack in the company of others.

Ianto quickly cleared his mind from thoughts of his missing mate; it wouldn't do to dwell on that now.

Ifan rolled his eyes at Zenia "Are you gonna be alright with them, Dexter and Arabella have been held up. They pulled over for fuel and the cops got them."

"Dexter's gonna be pissed about it for months," Zenia grinned

"And I supposed you're going to milk it for all it's worth," Ianto smiled

"Damn straight, and don't tell me you're not going to get a couple of shots in at some point."

"I suppose," Ianto agreed.

"How long have you been here?" Ifan asked taking in the damp hair from his shower and changed outfit.

"About 45 minutes I guess, what took you guys so long?" Ianto asked

"Ungrateful and painful passengers," Zenia snorted glaring past Ianto at where Owen and Gwen were standing glaring at the trio by the door.

"I see; you're not staying?" Ianto replied opening the door a little wider in invitation.

"Nah, heading back to London, do a bit of research see if anyone in our area knows what's going on. Andre's already at MI5 headquarters questioning the superiors, I promised I'd head in and back him up." Zenia shrugged

"I'm heading back to the museum, see if any of my 'other' contacts have any info," Ifan replied.

"Good luck, let us know what you find." Ianto nodded

"You know we will," Ifan replied as he turned to head back towards the bikes.

Ianto watched a cheeky smile cross Zenia's face.

"See ya Ianto," She said before following Ifan down the path, once she'd caught up with him she smacked him soundly on the butt making him jump as she trotted away laughing at him.

Ianto smiled at their antics before closing the door and with a deep breath he prepared himself to face the other two, ignoring the tingling in the back of his mind.

Owen was flat out glaring at him and Gwen was looking at him like he would lash out and kill them.

"I'll get you some clean clothes to borrow and you can have a shower and change while we wait for the others." Ianto said stepping towards them then pausing as he tried to ignore Gwen's flinch

"Where's Tosh?" She asked suspiciously

Ianto scowled at them feeling insulted and bitter that Gwen could even think he'd hurt her. "Tosh is upstairs finishing up her shower."

Owen's gaze flickered to his arm, eyes widening in surprise before falling back into a scowl.

"So now we have two immortal oddities in our team... what is it a Torchwood long service gift, survive long enough and we'll make you immortal."

"I'm not immortal, not like Jack. Hard to kill but there's still things that could do it." Ianto practically growled finding it harder and harder to keep his frustration and anger in check.

"Like what?" Owen snorted

"Yeah cause I'm really going to tell you that with the way you're reacting." Ianto snorted making to brush past them so he could head back up stairs.

Owen grabbed his arm and he had to quickly squash the urge to wretch it free.

"Has the hole in your chest healed properly?" Owen asked not looking Ianto in the eyes

Ianto sighed knowing it was a step in the right direction to Owen accepting as well as a hint of an apology from the doctor.

"Yes," Ianto replied

Owen nodded and let go of Ianto's arm.

Ianto continued up the stairs only just noticing Tosh standing at the top watching them, he wasn't sure how long she'd been there but judging by the look she was giving Gwen and Owen, she'd heard enough.

He gave her a smile and she returned it with a wink before they went their separate ways, Tosh down to the others and Ianto into his room to find them some clothes.

---------------------------------------

Ianto took his time getting back down to the others with the clothes allowing himself to calm down before facing them again.

Tosh was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs "I talked to them,"

"You didn't have to," Ianto replied though he was grateful that she'd taken the hard part out of his hands.

"I know," Tosh smiled walking into the lounge where the other two were waiting.

Ianto took a moment to get his thoughts straight before he entered the lounge room.

When he stepped into the doorway he found Tosh admiring Dexter's bookcase full of old novels, Gwen was sitting on the couch lost in thought and Owen could be seen snooping around in the kitchen.

Ianto stood in the doorway for a moment not quite sure what to say.

Gwen was the first one to spot him.

She got up and walked towards him with an odd expression on her face as she paused in front of him.

"Are you still our Ianto?" She whispered

Ianto nodded slowly not breaking eye contact with her as she seemed to search his eyes for something.

A small smile spread across her face and she pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry love," She said and Ianto relaxed dropping the clothes he was holding onto the back of the couch so he could hug her back.

Owen snorted at them as he walked over and Gwen pulled back throwing him a dirty look.

"Shirt off," Owen instructed as he got near

"What? Why?" Ianto asked confused

"So I can make sure you're actually healed properly," Owen said waving a small first aid kit at him that Ianto suspected was the emergency one from under the kitchen sink.

"I'm fine," Ianto insisted

"Yeah well I'm your doctor, shirt off,"

Tosh rolled her eyes at the pair but was smiling none the less, Gwen hovered nearby wanting to see for herself and Owen just looked at him expectantly.

Ianto sighed before pulling his t-shirt over his head and letting Owen examine his arm and chest where the stars had been lodged earlier.

"Not even a scar," Owen grunted glancing at the two women.

Ianto glanced up at them to find Gwen staring at him. "What is it?" he asked

Gwen blushed slightly before answering "Did that come with being a Pirask?"

"What?" Ianto asked honestly confused with what she was talking about.

"I'm sorry, last time I saw you with your shirt off you were much more… 'receptionistly', your suits weren't hiding that much." Gwen blushed and Receptionistly? Is that even a word? Ianto just stared at her not quite sure what to say.

"I have to admit you do look really good standing there in only your jeans." Tosh teased and Ianto easily lobbed a pillow from the couch in her direction.

Gwen and Tosh both giggling as she caught the pillow and threw it back at him.

"Oh for the love of…" Owen muttered

"Jealous Owen?" Ianto smirked glad the tension had been broken for the moment

Owen snorted stepping away and closing up the first aid kit. "So what's with this new attitude of yours? Seems to be more trouble than it's worth if you ask me."

"It's not new," Ianto sighed putting his shirt back on.

"What do you mean; you've never been this… certain of yourself before." Gwen replied

Ianto pinched the bridge on his nose trying to figure out how explain

"This is me, not some new attitude that came with being a Pirask. I gained a bit more confidence and I felt more comfortable with myself around others but it was all there to begin with I just didn't show it." Ianto shrugged

"The 'tea-boy' was a disguise," Tosh spoke up "Whenever we hung out away from work you were yourself,"

"Yes," Ianto nodded

"Why?" Owen asked arms crossed scowl back in place

"At first it was to hide Lisa, then to hide my turning. What better way to hide a secret than to be invisible in plain sight?" Ianto shrugged

"You weren't invisible," Gwen said softly and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence until Owen broke it.

"I need a drink," he said heading for Dexter's bar.

Ianto feeling uncomfortable under Gwen's sympathetic gaze moved over to the window taking in the view of the paddock beyond as it began to rain.

Tosh moved past him towards the couch squeezing his shoulder briefly in comfort and support as she went.

"Holy Fuck!" Owen suddenly blurted from the bar catching all of their attention.

"What is it?" Gwen asked as Ianto groaned realizing what Owen had stumbled across.

Owen held up a couple of blood bags and placed a decanter full of human blood on the bar for the girls to see.

Gwen gasped while Tosh just glanced at Ianto curious for an explanation.

"What the hell is all this blood doing here?" Owen demanded staring at Ianto.

"It's food, the Rask need more blood than our body produces to survive, so we have to feed them... All extraordinary things come with a price." Ianto explained not really seeing a way to avoid telling them.

"You're a fucking vampire?!" Owen demanded

Gwen stared at him in shock while Tosh's eyes flicked between him and the blood, her mind going full speed as she took in the new information.

"I'm not a bloody Vampire. I don't have the teeth you twat." Ianto muttered and whatever reply Owen was about to come up with was cut off as the front door was swung open before being slammed shut loudly.

Dexter stormed into the room swearing in at least four different languages Ianto recognized and several he didn't, followed by a highly amused Arabella.

"Get out of my bar!" he growled grabbing Owen by his shirt and physically moving him out of the way with one hand while the other snatched the blood bags off him.

"Went well then," Ianto smirked only to have one of the blood bags thrown at him.

"Shut up and feed!" Dexter growled

Arabella scooped up the clothes Ianto had dropped on the edge of the couch earlier and looked at them in amusement.

"Owen I can't do much about you, you'll have to wear these they'll just be a bit big, but for you girls I can probably find you something better fitting." Arabella said knowing she had to leave Dexter and Ianto to talk she gestured for the humans to follow her.

With a quick look between Dexter and Ianto the trio gave in and followed Arabella upstairs.

Ianto walked into the kitchen and grabbed two glasses, splitting the blood bag between them leaving Dexter to fume over his own glass at the bar for a few minute.

Entering the room, he placed Arabella's glass on the table, knowing she's be back down soon before turning and studying Dexter.

They drank in silence for a while and as they both finished one glass Dexter poured them another without a word.

The tingling headache Ianto had had most of the morning was still there even after feeding but he figured he must have been more hungry than he thought so he accepted the refill with a smile before finally breaking the silence.

"Are you going to tell me what's really wrong? There's no way you'd be this mad over a speeding ticket that you can pay without even denting your budget."

Dexter looked up but his eyes were on Arabella as she re-entered the room, Ianto picked up the glass and held it out for her.

"We heard some news while we were on our way back home," Arabella explained taking the offered glass from Ianto with a smile.

"While we were running around fending off Saxon's assassins this morning the rest of the votes came in. The bastard is now the Prime Minister of Great Britain." Dexter growled.

Ianto frowned steeping forward to the TV and flicking through the channels until he found the election results.

Saxon had won by 96% impossible odds unless there was some form of foul play involved.

The channel suddenly flickered as a broadcast was placed over the normal programming, hearing movement behind him he glanced back to see the other three enter the room now cleaned up.

He noticed their gazes flicker to the glass in his hand but he didn't bother hiding it, they were going to have to get used to the idea of him drinking blood eventually.

Everyone moved around the TV to listen as Saxon began his broadcast.

When the Toclafane came on he looked to Dexter who shook his head, no he didn't know the species.

"...every medical student,"

Ianto froze as the tingling in the back of his mind suddenly exploded

Confusion, surprise, wonder.

Feelings swelled through him and he felt the glass he was holding in his hand shatter in his grip but he paid it no attention.

Shock, a flash of fear, accusation, anger, worry, pain....

Ianto had no idea how long he'd been there staring into space as emotions pushed through him, but it must have been a while the others were crowded around where he stood worried for him.

Owen's hand on his wrist checking his racing pulse.

Gwen and Tosh hovering to either side of him.

Arabella in front of him, calling his name over and over.

Dexter behind him, strong hands working his shoulders trying to snap him out of it.

None of it mattered.

The only thing that mattered was the connection that had opened again and opened with a vengeance.

"Jack," he whispered and everyone around him froze

The last thing he felt was Dexter's strong arms catching him as he fell unconscious.