Five.
Fumbling to place her coin purse back into her hand bag, Rhiannon raced through the double doors of the entrance to the hospital. She scanned the massive sign listing all the different departments but there was so many. The words on the sign seem to blur as she felt a rush of anxiety making each word impossible to read.
Calming herself, she forced herself to slow down. Right; she needed to go right and follow the red arrows on the floor. She bit her lip. This place was like a maze; now turn left, now, right again.
Ianto should be at home in Manchester. She had received a text saying he had arrived home and had thanked them for a great weekend and to give Mica and David a hug good night. Next thing the police were on the phone, saying it was vital she get to the University Hospital here in Cardiff. She was bewildered and she gulped. He had looked so bad. Had be gotten home and collapsed and been lying there all this time unable to call for help? She fought back tears at the thought of him dying on his own. She found herself moving faster and faster and as she turned a corner she almost tripped over her feet. She grabbed the support rail and swallowed; looking around she realised she was closer that she thought. Pushing open the door she raced up to the desk of the emergency room, her mind whirling.
She felt like her heart was going to explode as she stood in behind three other people queuing up to at the reception desk. 'Bugger this.' She couldn't wait and pushed her way to the front.
"Sorry I don't mean to be rude. Ianto Jones," she took a breath. "The police told me Ianto Jones has been brought in by ambulance." Rhiannon pulled open her hand bag and plunged her hand in. "Sorry I'm Rhiannon Davies, his sister." She pulled out her driver's licence and showed it to the receptionist.
"Is he," she burst out to see a nurse come through more double doors and approach her and she gently pulled her aside.
"Ianto's alive. He was brought in by ambulance about an hour ago. I'll take you through in just a moment. I need you to prepare yourself. Ianto has suffered respiratory failure so he's on a ventilator. He is severely dehydrated and he's had two seizures. He's connected to a lot of equipment. If you need me to explain anything just ask." The nurse pulled back the curtain.
Rhia gasped as she moved to his side. "It's okay, you can take his hand." Rhia didn't hesitate and took his hand in hers. She tracked all the tubes and wires trying to take in the state of him. In the background she could hear a shushing noise that acted in rhythm with the movement of his chest.
"We are waiting to transfer Ianto to Oncology ICU. It's very important that you call everyone who needs to be here to get here as soon as they can."
"I have my husband. He is on his way here," Rhia sniffed and the nurse gave her some tissues.
"It's important to get those who need to be here as soon as you can," she reiterated. "We have no idea how much brain function he still has. He can't breathe on his own." She pointed at the ventilator. Two small lights blinked red with each rotation.'Breathing is an automatic function and it could be an indication that his brain function has been affected because he should be attempting to breathe but he's not." She pointed to the indicators on the ventilator." This measures effort and right now the machine is doing all the work."
"You're saying he's dead and you're just keeping him alive…"
"We don't know. It could be that his body is so exhausted he doesn't have the energy to breathe. Once he's upstairs they can do a brain function test. It's prepare for the worst, pray for the best," Rhia broke into tears.
A few moments passed then she pulled herself up straight and blew her nose. "What happened? I saw him just over twenty-four hours ago; he spent the weekend with us. He was walking, talking. I know he got home because he sent me a text," she said to the nurse who moved past her to check one of the two drips.
"All we know is he collapsed and was resuscitated at the scene then brought in by ambulance."
"Why bring him all the way here? Wouldn't it have been better to take him to the nearest hospital?"
The nurse looked confused. "This was the nearest hospital."
"But this is miles and miles away from where he lives. He was due there this morning he had an appointment at 9 o'clock. Why didn't you take him there?" Rhia continued.
"Where was his appointment?" the nurse who had met Rhia asked.
"Royal Infirmary, Manchester. He was under Doctor Marcus Hussein."
The nurse who was writing on the Ianto's chart noted the information. "He was brought in from around Pentyrch I think."
"But what the hell was he doing there? He was okay just over one day ago. He was starting the second phase of a trial; he left here, yesterday evening and now he's here, not in Manchester but Cardiff, Pentyrch I just don't understand. " Rhia told them stroking the back of Ianto's hand.
One of the male nurses who were checking the ventilator turned to her.
"There was someone who might know. He followed the ambulance in."
"Oh yes, that's right. Handsome sort of bloke," one of the other nurses spoke up. "He's in the waiting room. He's been asking to see him, we told him he had to wait because he was not family. And it sounds like you need answers. If you need to find out now might be the time, because once you go upstairs you most likely won't get another chance."
"I don't want to leave him."
"Maybe this man might be able to help. He might have information that could be useful to why he was here and not at home. We'll call you if his condition changes or if we start to move him."
Rhia blew her nose. Then, taking her hand bag found herself being led back to the reception area.
Jack stood, his back to the wall next to the drinks machine. He fixed his eyes on the double doors that led to the emergency treatment area as if somehow he could use his vision to enable his life force to continue to keep Ianto alive
This was as near as he could get. The staff had thanked him for his efforts in saving Ianto's life and for assisting the paramedics but now it was time for him to stand back and let them do their jobs. He had entreated them but had been politely then firmly refused; he had no clear relationship so please wait. Waiting only broken as Rhiannon had swept past and since then nothing. There was no news, good or bad.
He heard a gasp and found Rhiannon, her eyes wild with distress and grief in front of him.
"Ianto?" he croaked.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded ignoring his question.
"I came in with Ianto, I followed the ambulance."
"Did you? What is god's name was he doing here in Cardiff? He was meant to be in Manchester instead of here. Tell me how my brother, who I saw just over a day ago, is lying in there fighting for his life?" Jacks heart jumped. So he was still alive.
"He drove back Sunday night, it was important..." Jack started to explain.
"What could have been so important that he would come back all the way down here? Monday morning he was meant to start his last chance. His last chance and now you stole that from him. Why would you take his last chance away? Do you hate him so much that you would destroy any possibility he might have to overcome this?"
"That's not it, Rhia."
"You selfish pig. You've taken everything from him…" she stopped to compose herself.
"I didn't know."
"Didn't want to know more like. He was in Manchester, not the bloody moon. Don't tell me you couldn't find him."
"I did find him but he wouldn't speak to me. He refused every opening," Jack struggled to explain.
"Never stopped you before has it, doing whatever you bloody wanted. Now tell me what was so important that he got himself into such a state."
"It's complicated."
"My brother's dying! Is that all you've got to say?" She pulled herself up to full height. "I'll give you complicated you miserable excuse for a human being." She swung at him with her handbag.
"I didn't know," Jack deflected the bag but she hit him again with more force.
"Didn't know? Didn't you look with your eyes? How could you not see? It was as clear as night and day!"
"Please you have to let me see him. I can help. I promise." Jack raised his forearms to deflect her blows.
"What, like you've helped over the past three years? You destroyed him, that's what you've done." Rhia lashed out again." You and that slut broke his heart!" she screamed.
She drew back momentarily to catch her breath. "Then he has this one chance and you drag him back here. Now instead of a few more months or any chance of remission I have to sit in there and hold his hand while he dies," Rhia snarled at him. "That's right, Jack. They're keeping him alive so his family can get here so we can say goodbye and then tomorrow I have to stand by and…" she burst into tears and hit Jack again. "He's not even conscious, he doesn't even know we're here to say goodbye."
"Let me see him please."
"What possible good do you think you can do?"
"I can't explain it but I can help."
"So if you can't explain it means nothing," she spat out.
"I am sorry."
"Don't want that you're fucking sorry. Any sorry you had should have been reserved for him. I know my brother. He would never have returned here for nothing so tell me: why did he come back here?"
"It was my fault. Something from our shared past, something I should have told him."
"If it is your fault then why does he have to pay for your mistakes? You've stolen him from us. I hate you Jack Harkness!"
'What the hell is going on?" Johnny demanded. Rhia turned around and saw him accompanied by two security guards who had been called in to deal the argument that had erupted.
"Him, that's what' going on." Rhiannon pointed at Jack.
Before anyone could react a nurse hurried towards them. "You need to come. They are taking him up now. "
Without a backwards glace Rhia moved towards the door. Jack moved to follow when Rhia spun around and pushed her face into Jack's."Not you! You are going nowhere near him, you murderous bastard."
"You keep away from him, do you hear?" Johnny warned him. Then silently they followed the nurse behind the doors.
The doors flapped shut and Jack felt a wave of desperation. He could keep Ianto alive, if there was even the faintest of embers. He could do it, had done it. Ianto had been dead; the fluttering he had felt through his fingertips just after he had appeared had been the final beat of his heart. An ember, a tiny fragment of life, brought back from the brink. Filled with Jack's life energy it would only dissipate. He had to get close, keep pumping the energy in allowing Ianto time to rebuild his reserves, if nothing else bring him back into consciousness. But how? A hospital worker passed in green pouted and, ignoring the stares of those gathered in the waiting room, he followed.
In the back of the darkest store room he could find, Jack prepared himself. Stripping he replaced his clothes with those that would make him recognisable as one of the hospital's work force. Someone who even if seen would never be questioned. He would transform into an individual so ubiquitous he could slip into any area, or ward. If asked he was on his way to pick up, or deliver. Folding his clothes he looked for a place to hide them. He would be here a while so best be prepared. Looking around he spotted an old fashioned desk with draws...perfect. Closing the draws he smoothed the scrubs down. Now he needed an identity and he picked up the name tag he had put aside earlier. Using his vortex manipulator he changed the name. Now he was David Llewellyn, porter. All he needed was one final thing. He may not be able to use his manipulator as a scanner but it did have one or two core features left over from his days as a Time Agent. One was the reason he had been such a successful spy. He pressed a sequence of buttons and he was ready.
Jack approached the entrance of the Oncology ICU and checked the perception field. The circuits were clearly in need of repair; it couldn't handle any speedy transition as he had found out when he had turned a corner and nearly collided with one of the hospital's many security guards. His disguise had immediately proven its worth. People saw what they wanted. Had he been Captain Jack Harkness creeping about the hospital he would have been escorted out, instead he had continued on like he was part of the building. It wouldn't matter once he was inside the ward, he could press himself into a corner and hide in full view. The door opened he took his chance and slipped inside.
Walking down the corridor he came to a large open ward with eight beds, four of which were filled. It was late evening and the room had an air of quiet deliberate professionalism as a team of nurses attended to each patient. Slipping in between the curtains Jack moved to position himself at the head end of the bed. Ianto was laid out; several bags of fluid covered with various fluorescent labels were being pushed into his body. He was connected to several monitors which were serviced by a bank of smaller screens. Jack let out the breath he was holding onto as he saw Ianto's heart beat was still strong. Now he had to wait for a moment of distraction. He couldn't see Rhiannon or Johnny.
One of the other beds began to sound alarms and several nurses moved in that direction. He looked down, and realised he was going to have to unplug the tube from the ventilator to get access. Moving onto his knees he examined the machine. Somehow he had to get his breath in so it could be pumped into Ianto. His examination of the machine was interrupted as Rhiannon returned and sat down and took Ianto's hand.
"Ianto, it's me, Rhia. I've just been talking to the nurses, they are so lovely. Been taking right good care of you. Johnny's gone for some coffee so he'll be back in awhile. I know how hard it's been over the past couple of years but thank you for staying until Mica was born. I know it was a struggle and I'm so glad you got to hold her. You have to live Ianto or I'm promising I'm going to tell her the most outrageous tales about you. You've been the best brother a sister could ever have had. I wish I could have been a better sister to you. I should have been there for you." She shifted her feet and continued her one-sided conversation.
Next to the wall Jack looked in one of the spare compartments and found what he was looking for, a spare hose. With care he pulled it out. Opening a higher side panel he saw this unit could also be used to give an anaesthetic. Carefully he slotted the hose into the correct slot. It clicked into place; Jack now blew into the end carefully in case it set off any alarms. He waited then tried again, stronger this time. Now he sat back slightly and he used bio control to gather his life essence into a more concentrated form.
He figured one in ten breaths should do it. This way Ianto would be gaining a greater dose which would allow it to diffuse into each cell. He drew breath and blew with force into the pipe. He strained and observed the heart monitor. He waited for a moment then smiled as he saw Ianto's heart beat take on a stronger rhythm.
Rhia woke with a jerk; she pulled back and rubbed the back of her neck. She hadn't meant to fall asleep but she had been exhausted. Night time here was strange, the lights were low but the room bustled with energy as people moved from bed to bed. It looked like organised chaos but as time passed it began to make more sense. It had been her concentration on Ianto's heart beat that had done it, and she had found herself drifting off.
"You look a little better," one of the nurses brushed passed her to check the Foley bag and the volume of the contents, and noted them down
"How's he doing?" The nurse smiled and pointed at the ventilator. The second light now was winking green with every breath.
"You're telling me what I think you're telling me..."
"It's a very good sign. It means every time the machine breathes for him he is now making an effort to assist."
"I can't believe it, when, how?" Rhia stammered as she took several tissues and blew her nose.
"About two hours ago. His stats have made steady improvement, blood pressure's up, and his heart rate."
"I need to call Johnny," Rhia said getting out her mobile.
"Why don't you make your call then, go and make a cup of coffee, and a slice of toast. There's a small staff kitchen just down the hall," the nurse pointed out, smiling.
Rhia stood, then leaned over and kissed Ianto on his forehead. "Don't you move," she told him.
Under the bed Jack stirred. As soon as the nurse moved out the way he removed the hose and returned it to its compartment. With a stealth that surprised even him in his stiffened and achy state he waited until he was down a floor before he stretched and allowed himself to feel a moment of triumph.
Reaching the dark store room he pulled down a blanket and made himself comfortable. It had been one hell of a night. Now he needed to recover and get ready for tonight. Where to go next, once Ianto was out of immediate danger, was the big question. He was meant to be on some kind of trial. If that was his only chance he needed more information. He pulled out his mobile and punched in a long series of numbers.
"Martha, it's Jack. Tell me everything you know about Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia," he said as soon as he heard an answer.