4

Jack had woken to the scent of green apples again as India lent in and adjusted the collar of his soiled shirt and he grinned at her, "Hope my tailor hasn't let me down."

"You've lost weight, the collar doesn't fit quite right" she said and then frowned at him, "Never mind. Soon be fixed, won't it."

Jack felt his bowels clench as he heard the warning, after two months the Master was coming back to play and he was glad that at least a death meant a resurrection. It would be at least a day before the starvation would start to haunt him again.

The Master waltzed into the room and this time the prisoner walked confidently beside him, a hand clasped in his like they were on a play date.

Oh god no.

Gwen stood in front of him, lifting her chin defiantly as she looked at him. "Hello Jack."

"Hello Gwen" he replied calmly, watching the Master's glee.

"I … I'm looking for Rhys. Saxon has said that if I can find him, I can keep him" she smiled wanly, "All I have to do it win the golden ticket. One small thing and I can search the length and breadth of this vessel for him. He doesn't think he has him, but I know he has. I know he was brought here and I will save him. You see, I need him Jack."

"Gwen" he sighed sadly, "He's … he's not here."

"Yes he is. He's important to me, I know you don't understand that" she sighed, canting her head as if trying to tell him something important and his gut twisted at her stupidity, knowing she was not the temptress she thought she was, but another toy, "I need him. It's just a little thing. You don't know true love, not the love like ours. Oh Jack, it could have been yours."

"Gwen" Jack tried to warn her but she was on one of her high horses and would not listen as she interrupted him angrily.

"I could have been there for you, you know? I could have been your true love. I would have rocked your world in a way that stupid tea boy never could" she laughed, "Saxon tells me he died horribly here at your feet, tell me where!"

She was walking around and looking over at India like she had some power over her and India canted her head to show she was standing on the spot where Rhys had died and Gwen grinned with glee. She had a gun in her hand and she raised it, pointing it at Jack as she looked nervously at Saxon and India, then back at Jack, suddenly cocky again.

"Just one death. That's what he said. I come here in this filth to see you. One death and I see Rhys again" she started to pull the trigger as she spoke and the gunshot was deafening in the room, then there was silence as Gwen stared at him.

Well.

Most of her.

"Ooops" India chortled as she swung to look at her benefactor, "I think that barrel was jammed sir."

The Master was looking at Gwen with open distaste as she slowly turned to face them, part of her scull missing from the misfire and she gargled as her brain matter slid down her face.

"Quite amazing isn't it, how resilient some are" India said without emotion.

"Hmmmm" the Master grinned, "You are a little imp, you know!"

"Well, you did say one death sir; you think I didn't know whose you wanted?" India snorted and Jack felt like he was watching some weird live stage show, Gwen now facing him again with her mouth opening and shutting.

You should have been fucking me all that time. I deserved to be in your bed, not him!" she choked out, "I was the one who could have loved you."

She dropped to her knees, looking up at him, "I would have pleasured you in ways you would never imagine. I would have saved you by now, not lost like this."

"For goodness sake" India huffed, "Do we have to listen to her whining like that? If I wanted to listen to that I would just go back to the other cells. Even your dear gentile wife would have the sense to shut this trollop up."

"Agreed" the Master nodded and India stepped forward to dispatch her, just as she had poor Rhys. Jack groaned at the thought and India looked over at him, smiling softly as she stepped towards him instead.

"Would you prefer I cut her throat? Feeling a bit … delicate?" she sneered and he snarled back.

"I told you, we had an agreement, I told you where he was always found" she wailed as she fell onto her side, "I told you how to get his team, I want Rhys. Please?"

She was begging, plucking at the Master's trouser cuff and he kicked out with disgust as he stepped back. "India?"

"Don't worry sir" India snarled, "I'll clean this up. Will be a pleasure to fumigate the area of her stench."

"Yeah, well." The Master stepped into Jack's face with a sneer, "She can be with her Rhys now. Showed me a picture didn't she, the idiotic ape. Now I know why you took his death so well."

Jack felt his breath catch as his eyes widened, staring at the Master "She will be with her Rhys soon enough, right India?"

India paused and looked over with a frown, "She told you what? Are you telling me she was keeping something from me?"

"Yes my lovely little barracuda" the Master laughed, "That man in a suit was her beloved Rhys, not Ianto Jones as I thought. Seems he is still at large, sneaking around with his band of misfits causing me annoyance."

India blinked, then dropped Gwen back to the floor, her grunt the only indicator that she was still alive.

"Really?" she asked with wide eyes, "So ... we still have a hunt?"

"Ah, see?" he swung to address his captive audience, "India is the only one who gets me. Like, really gets me!"

"I shall begin immediately" she snarled, then paused and looked back down at Gwen "But first a little bit of pleasure."

She reached for one of the Master's toys as Jack moaned softly, watching Gwen as she crawled towards him across the floor, leaving a trail of blood.

"No need darling" the Master informed his Femme Fatale, "I know where he is. The lovely Ms Cooper told me where their meeting point is, we can pick him off any time we wish."

Jack moaned deep, sagging in the chains and the Master laughed as he skipped off leaving India and Jack with the dying Gwen.

"Please" Jack whispered, "Please, mercy. I'll do anything just … please."

"For her?" India snorted gesturing at the woman on the floor.

"No!" Jack huffed, "Ianto. Please, warn him, save him. Please, not my Ianto."

India blinked as she regarded him, her bloody hands wiping on the front of her tailored outfit, as if she didn't' know what she was doing and she stepped closer to him.

"He means that much to you?"

"He is the worlds" Jack sighed sadly, "He will die, won't he. Oh Gods, we have to succeed. We have to succeed or all is lost."

India blinked and then nodded, "I understand. I know. Martha is still safe, I am doing what I can but this is a perilous time Captain. He has the bit between his teeth and gaining ground, a real thorn in the Master' side. I don't know how much longer we can protect him."

Jack nodded and sobbed as he looked over at Gwen, "Get rid of her. I … I can't bear to look at her, the fucking bitch just signed Ianto's death warrant."

"Only until the reset" India whispered softly, "Have faith. The plan will work, we have to be strong. I will do what I can to warn Ianto, I promise."

Jack looked at her earnest face, so different to the one she wore for Saxon and he nodded. He hoped India was right.

For all their sakes.