AN: Sorry guys, life just seems to get in the way sometimes. Like I said it will Monday at the earliest for the next chapter unless there is a bit of down time in Nashville. I want to thank those who are reviewing. It does a body good. Keep it up and if you feel the need to critize don't hesitate. As always I don't own anything.
Everyone was sitting in the conference room by the time that Jack got there. Sitting down he crossed his arms and said, "Okay team dazzle me."
Charlie got up first switching the monitors to reflect the CCTV footage he had been going threw earlier, "Well I was able to track the alien using the CCTV and a heat monitoring system. It enters this warehouse about 20 minutes after we left it alone and according to the heat monitor it hasn't moved sense. I think we nicked it. It has stayed pretty stationary."
"Good keep an eye on the warehouse and let us know if it moves," replied Jack waiting for some else to speak up. When no one did he said, "Has anyone else actually done any work?"
"I have been inputting what we know about this species in the species database but so far it has come up with nil. I will add CCTV footage though and see what it says after that," spoke up Ianto as he looked down at the table.
"Maybe this can help. I ran what think must be some type of saliva that I found in two of Marie's wounds. I took the DNA typing and I think that I am running it through a database. Not sure though as I am untrained on any of your systems. I have been looking at Dr. Harper's notes and from what I am seeing this alien is quit similar to that of your known weevils. Almost seems like it's a weevil on steroids," explained Sarah showing her results on the monitors, "I am still doing research though. Don't want the team going in guns blazing without all the info."
"Much appreciated," replied Jack, "Okay the 3 of you keep at it. Gwen and Marie assist when needed. Oh, and you should know Marie is Hub bond. She is not to go out into the field until medically cleared."
The team went back to work and Jack watched from his office. He was putting a lot of trust in Sarah much faster than he should and he knew it but it was not to be helped. The team needed a medic and he had a feeling he might have to let Marie go. She was getting sloppy and they would need another body. He trusted Sarah; it just seemed like the natural thing to do.
It wasn't certainly not the fact that Ianto did, but when he offered her the job (he knew he was going to) it would certainly speed up things. Sarah might have to plans to leave Jack was slowly forming ways to keep her here. He was pretty sure that if he told Ianto it would be a done deal. She had a calming presence that you could easily feel even though she had only been around two days.
"Jack?" called Gwen from the doorway.
Turning towards her he replied, "Yes?"
"Why are we waiting?"
"What do mean?"
"We know where it's at. We need to go take care of it."
Jack looked at her recognizing she was right but he wanted to be prepared he couldn't risk anything. Not after…but clearly all his preparations on previous 'missions' didn't matter. They could plan for everything and someone could still get hurt. "You right."
"I know and I know what you're doing and it's commendable but it's not going to change the unpredictable."
Jack walked to her and yelled out, "Charlie has it moved?"
Charlie looked at the monitor and shook his head no.
"Okay team lets role out. We need to get it before some poor schmuck discovers it by accident. I hate dealing with the local police and that would be sure fire way to get them involved."
Jack moved to grab his coat but Ianto had come from some where and already had it in his hands. Silently slipping it on Jack whispered his thanks. Ianto raised an eyebrow at him. Jack still thought it was one of the cutest things he did. Shaking his head tried to clear it moving towards the SUV.
Getting to the SUV he saw Sarah climbing in, "Where do you think you are going?"
"You are down a person. I thought I would go and help."
"You have had no weapons training, no hand to hand combat training. You'll be a hindrance," said Jack who didn't fail to notice the look shared by Sarah and Ianto.
"I can take her place. Jack's right she shouldn't be out in the field," interrupted Charlie. All heads turned to him but he just shrugged his shoulders.
Sarah smiled. She didn't want a fight and she could stand by Charlie's computer, "I think you need me but I'll stay if you like."
Jack looked at her, she was needed but she really could get hurt. She wasn't trained, "I think…"
Before he could finish Sarah was sliding out of the SUV, "Ianto hooked me up with a comm set I'll monitor from here using Charlie's computer and keep an eye on Marie."
Jack watched her walk away, "Sorry Ianto."
"Don't be. Its better this way and she knows that. She just wants to be useful. Lets get going," he replied slipping into the back of the SUV.
Driving to the warehouse Jack watched Ianto in the rearview mirror. He was trying not to be bothered by the closeness between Sarah and Ianto but he knew he was failing. Shaking his head and focusing on the task at hand he pulled up to the warehouse. The team got out and made there way quietly towards it, "Any change Charlie?"
"No"
"Okay Charlie and Ianto go around Gwen and I will head in here on your word. That way we get it on multiple sides."
Ianto and Charlie nodded and moved around to the other side of the building looking for another way in. Gwen and Jack waited in silence until Ianto's voice came through the comms, "We are in position."
"Okay go," ordered Jack.
They went in slowly and quietly trying not to disturb it so they could catch unawares. Charlie and Ianto reached the room first. Jack had thought that they had been exceptionally quiet but before he and Gwen reached the room he could hear shouting and a scream that vaguely sounded like Ianto.
Jacks mind went on autopilot as he entered the room. He didn't look at the body laying a few inches away from him. He watched and followed as the alien went through the door that Charlie and Ianto had come through. Hollering at Gwen who was hot on his heals they managed to corner it. Pumping it full of bullets, the two didn't stop shooting until they ran out.
Jack watched as it slumped to the ground really seeing it for the first time. Walking up to it he noticed it did look a bit like a weevil. It was grayish in color and was bleeding purple blood. It had walked and ran like a human. Jack was thankful that it could die like one too.
"Jack," said Gwen as she placed a hand on his shoulder. He knew without turning around what she was going to tell him.
Not looking at her he walked purposefully towards the room they had vacated and pushed Charlie aside pulling the Welshman's head into his lap. He felt for a pulse and released the breath he had been holding. "Sarah we are coming in and Ianto's been hurt."
"I know. Charlie told me. The room will be ready. Hurry."
Jack gently picked Ianto up and carried him to the SUV. Gently placing him in the back seat he went around sliding in on the other side and pulled Ianto into his lap. He waited for Charlie and Gwen realizing he had left them to deal with body. He was glad when he heard the boot of the SUV close and Gwen slid into the driver's seat without question.
Ianto's injuries didn't look to bad but it was the first time since the 456 that he had been injured. Jack didn't like it. He also didn't like the fact that Ianto wasn't waking up. His whole body was gripped in fear.
Gwen watched in the rearview mirror afraid for Ianto. Charlie and her had silently cleared everything up. Neither had questioned Jack's total oblivion to everything else. It was the first time since Ianto returned that he had been injured and Gwen was afraid of what it would do to Jack.
Sarah was waiting in the medical bay. She wasn't too worried. She could still feel Ianto. Their connection was still strong. She was prepared. She had everything ready and she knew Ianto was going to be alright.
She wasn't prepared for Jack though. She watched as he gently placed Ianto on the autopsy table not moving from his side. His emotions were strong, uncontrolled and they hit her like a train wreck leaving her slightly dizzy.
Working on autopilot she took the opportunity to enter the immortals mind. His barriers had been weakened by the events.
Keeping a perfect mask on her face she searched the immortals mind learning many of his secrets. It was like how she expected traveling through space would be like. He had planet like thoughts. Areas in his mind divide for each person, time and place. Maybe it was more like a filing system. She was quite surprised. For as messy as the immortal was on the outside his thoughts were very organized. She was getting angry though. Ianto was a predominate thought, blocking everything else and she did not like what the man was thinking. She didn't let it show though. She couldn't.
She finished up, pulled of her gloves and turned to the team, "He's fine. He has few bruises, a couple of lacks and nasty bump to his head. But I don't think he concussed. He will have one heck of headache and it might hurt to breathe a little, but he will be fine."
"Then why hasn't he woken up?" asked Jack.
"I don't know, but it is normal. The last six months of our capture this is how he'd recover. It's his way of dealing with it Jack. I am sure he will perfectly fine. I will keep him hooked up to the monitors until he comes around. If it takes more than hour I will recheck," replied Sarah.
"He is coming to now," groaned Ianto, "Did we get it?"
"Yes, he is dead," replied Gwen.
"Good," said Ianto turning to Jack, "Everything okay sir?"
Jack looked at Ianto who was trying hard not show his pain. He had an eyebrow raised and the urge to kiss him suddenly took hold. Resisting was hard but he managed to move away and run out of the Hub.
Gwen attempted to stop him, calling out. But Jack was stopping for nothing and no one.
Charlie watched as Ianto's face betrayed his feelings for the briefest of moments.
Ianto was trying to get up. He wanted to leave. He had to leave. It wasn't fair that Jack could run and he couldn't.
Sarah leaned down, put a hand on his chest and whispered in his ear, "No Ianto you need to rest for now. We can go later. Lay back and go to sleep."
He felt her send a soothing presence out and soon found he was to relaxed to do much else but sleep.
Sarah waited until she was sure he was out. Walking up to the main level she spoke to Charlie and Gwen before heading out, "He should be fine, but if he wakes up before I am back tell him to wait here."
"Where are you going?" asked Gwen.
"Someone needs a strict talking to."
Gwen watched as Sarah went through the cog wheel door. She had wanted to talk to Jack but in the last three months she hadn't been able to get through to him. She didn't think Sarah would, but something needed to be done. They couldn't keep this up. Moving to the medical bay she phoned Rhys explaining to him what had happened and that she was going to be late. Settling down next to Ianto she picked up his hand and began the wait. She didn't want him to wake up alone.
