Ianto and Madison spent a lot of time together lately. He was her charge after all, but they had become friends. To Madison spending time with Ianto was not a duty, but a joy. She liked him. And for the life of her she couldn't figure out why the drugs were still necessary. The boss had said they had to keep the traumatic memories at bay to protect his psyche. Madison thought he was ready to deal with what had happened that made him take retcon, but the boss had refused to discuss it anymore. Since then she was no longer called to the report meetings and had to give reports over computers. Whenever she saw her boss she was ignored. Madison was pretty sure Ianto had noticed as well, he was very perceptive. The boss's behavior put her on edge, but someone had to say something so she had. For now she would just enjoy Ianto's company and wait. Pulling out her mobile she made her call.
" Hey Ianto, I'm in the garage now. Come down? There's a café on the corner and since you haven't been able to leave this building for almost two weeks now, I figured you might like to. So, it's a treat, on me." Ianto could pretty much hear her smile over the phone.
" Agent Lloyd, how can I refuse such a generous offer." He said with a gentle laugh. Fresh air would be great. Ianto was getting sick of living in a world of white and steel. He couldn't wait to get out of here.
" Well, you do have a pretty nice TV, and I hear…" There was a sudden clutter and Ianto heard Madison swear quietly.
" Madison? Madison!" The last was nearly roared since Ianto had heard what sounded like a guns safety going of. Then the call ended suddenly, and before Ianto even considered what was happening. He started running.
Jack had entered the building thought the doors that lead into the garage. The security would be less here than at the front door. Apparently the rest of the building was crawling with mercenaries. It was still a big place thought, but Owen had been able to dig up the blueprints and was trying to direct him on the comm. Jack missed Tosh though. Owen knew mostly what he was doing, but every direction he gave him was followed by snarky remarks. Jack couldn't really blame him; he knew the doctor was going thought a cranky streak out of worry for Tosh. As he walked inwards he heard a clatter to his left, behind one of the cars. He quietly drew his gun and tried walking slowly around it when a woman bounced up from behind it.
"Freeze Harkness, you're trespassing on private property."
Jack smiled one of his trademark grins, she was quite cute. Shoulder length brownish hair some curls and bound by a loose hair clip at the back of her head. Big innocent blue eyes and she looked rather rattled. Not exactly the prim suspect for a mercenary.
"So you've heard of me. Captain Jack Harkness, and who might you be, gorgeous?"
"Shut it, Harkness. I know all about you. I do mind your playful act." Her voice sounded more sure than she looked. Jack had to wonder; the person behind all of this surrounded him or herself with cold brute mercenaries, how did this girl fit into the picture?
"Act? This is not an act honey, I'm the real deal." As long as Jack didn't move she wasn't going to shoot. This much was obvious. She was probably waiting for backup so they could apprehend him. In the mean time he was trying to spin his head around for ideas. He couldn't just wait here for her friends to appear.
"My ass you are." Madison grumbled angrily. Jack was struggling to come up with ideas. Thinking was hard work, especially with Owen shouting at him in the background.
"A mighty nice ass at that." Flirting was like a second nature to Jack, no thinking required.
"Shut up, drop the gun, now." It would seem like his calm attitude rattled the woman some more. Thankfully he got a little lucky today. At the sudden sound of the alarm and bright red light flaring up around them, Jack took advantage of the distraction to run for cover. It wasn't often the people he was trying to spy on provided the distractions for him. If the alarm had gone then the young ladies friends couldn't be far behind.
Madison shot several bullets after him as he ducked for cover, but he was too quick. Soon it turned into a fire fight, and although she was a good shot, he was better. The alarm had gone, backup would show up soon. She just had to keep him here.
"We'll wait for a bit to see how this plays out, when Ianto gets there you can move."
The chief of security tuned to his boss, trying to keep his mask as blank as possible. Sure, he thought the girl was too soft on Jones, but she wasn't too bad. She could shoot, had a quick enough wit and with experience she might become a good solider.
"Agent Lloyd is not going to make it if we don't get there right now." He spoke in a slightly hesitant way while watching the boss's face for any sign of emotion.
"Back-up was delayed." The boss was perfectly calm; not a single sign of worry or interest. This was the perfect chance to get Harkness and the boss was going to let him slip thought their fingers, because of a silly plan to satisfy some grudge.
"With all due…" He got cut of by a sharp tone and angry glare.
"Are you questioning my orders?" As he was faced with eyes of ice he became certain that this grudge, what ever it was, the boss would kill for.
"No, of course not." The chief replied. I'm not getting paid enough to work for a psychopath. Though, he supposed, Psychopaths needs guards to.
"Good, time for the games to begin for real." The bosses' eyes became vacant as she grew a wicked smile.
Ianto ran so fast he could feel his heart thumping with the same panic he was feeling. When he saw her his heart froze to a halt for a second, his breath stolen. There she was on the floor in a puddle of blood and a bullet hole through her chest. Her eyes were wide open, but lifeless and glazed over. Ianto rushed over and dropped to his knees next to her. A shaky hand reached out to gently touch her arm, still warm. A voice from his left caught his attention.
"Ianto." The careful surprised tone, made Ianto angry. Jack was standing there with a gun in his hand. His posture and face looking uncertain. He had murdered Madison. The rage made Ianto act; he was beginning to see Jack for what he was. The doubt vanished as he grabbed Madison's gun and pointed it straight at Jack. He had fire in his eyes and Jack actually took a step back. His worry for the archivist was being brushed away in favor of slight fear.
"I'm sorry; I didn't know she was with you." He tried gently as Owen was swearing loudly in his ear.
"Oh really sir, that would have made a difference to you? Hardly." The sir was spat out as the fury rose within Ianto. This was the man responsible for Lisa's death and now he had killed Madison as well. A loud voice roared from his back.
"Captain Jack Harkness! Lay down your weapon and this might be a bit easier on you."
Ianto turned around for a moment, a mistake, but it was made. He saw three guards running towards them. When he turned back Jack was by the exit tearing the door open. Ianto fired Madison's gun twice. One miss, but the other hit Jack in the shoulder. Jack kept moving though and was out the door in a flash. Ianto swore loudly before giving chase.
When he came out to the streets he looked around himself sharply before noticing the edge of Jack's coat disappear around a corner leading into an ally. Ianto wasted little time before following. With a half sprint he reached it quickly, but as he entered the ally he spotted Jack out of the corner of his eyes. Blue sparks confused his sight for a moment so he raised his arm by reflex and grabbed on to flesh. When his sight came back to focus Jack was holding a taser a millimetre from his neck. The only thing holding the taser back was the iron grip Ianto had around Jack's Wrist. The bastard had waited for him; probably to drag him back to Torchwood. Well, that's not happening, Ianto thought bitterly. His neck was getting increasingly warm from the near proximity to the taser and it stung as the occasional spark hit his skin. Ianto swung out with the but of his gun hitting Jack in the face making the man stumble back against the brown brick ally wall; dropping the taser in the process. The thing bounced harmlessly to the ground, but Ianto didn't want to waste time and raised the gun, to fire this time. Unfortunately it had taken Jack only a few moments to get back in action. The older man grabbed his gun arm, twisting it painfully and turning Ianto around in one smooth motion. Ianto gave a small shout as the pain flared up along his arm. When Jack gave another tight squeeze, the muscle in Ianto's arm was forced to release the gun. Panic began to stir in Ianto at the thought of being unarmed and Jack proceeded with slamming him face first against the wall. Ianto could feel the older mans warm damp breath against the base of his neck. Jack had a strong grip on him and what little struggling Ianto was capable had little effect. His attempts to free himself was little more than squirming considering all of Jack's bodyweight was holding him firmly against the cold wall.
"Ianto, quit it!" Jack spoke in a rushed voice that came out almost like a growl. Ianto had hoped the bullet from earlier would at least have weakened the man. Seems they really hadn't understated Jack's abilities in the folder from Blackwell's office. Ianto could feel Jacks steady heartbeat against his back, After all this how could it still be steady? A vague recollection entered his mind as a small memory fought through the haze of retcon. He used to enjoy this; the feel of Jack's steady heart, the way warmth would be shared between their bodies and Jack breathing into his neck. Ianto instantly felt the fury from earlier rise within him anew. This was the man who had killed his girlfriend and his friend. Also he tended to man-eating aliens on a daily basis. He had seen what Jack's aliens had done to Blackwell. After Madison told him Torchwood had killed Blackwell, Ianto didn't quite know what to think. There was little remorse for the veteran being gone as far as Ianto was concerned. He spent the day talking Madison into showing him, eventually she showed him pictures. No matter what Ianto thought of the man seeing what they had done to him made him sick. They had torn the man to shreds and partly eaten him and Jack had let them go on with their business. This was Torchwood.
Jack was about to start speaking when they heard army boots closing in on their position; the guards from SCT by the sound of it. Jack swore softly before throwing Ianto to the side and down on the ground. He'd have to come back for him later, when he had decent backup. Frustration build up inside of him; finally finding Ianto just to have to leave again. He began sprinting towards the other end of the ally.
When Ianto got back on his feet after locating and picking up the gun Jack was to far away. Any shots Ianto could make wouldn't hit him now anyway so Ianto simply started running after him. The man was too quick; Ianto could not see him at all once he came to the end of the ally. Maybe he should pick a random direction and start searching, but reason told him it would be pointless. Ianto let his gun arm fall to the side as he ran the other through his hair. He looked around himself with sharp and adrenaline fueled movements. Jack was gone, but Ianto was determined to find him again. He would have to admit defeat today. Tomorrow was a whole new case though.
After spending the day preparing, Ianto was now leaving SCT. In hand he had a big grey metal case. Apparently the boss had okay'ed it. Jack breaking into their base and Ianto was free to ask for heavy weapons. It seemed too easy, but Ianto was way passed caring as the constant reminder of the havoc Jack had caused rested in the back of his mind. The glock he was carrying had been checked and double checked. All that was left was to find a good spot for an ambush and luring down the target. Over the day he'd been constantly busy and hadn't had any time for food or coffee. Headaches and dizziness had followed, although not enough to bother him. On the contrary, he felt clearer than he had in weeks, came up with ideas he wouldn't even have considered yesterday. Like how Torchwood had found Blackwell, SCT couldn't figure it out, but Ianto had an idea. Torchwood tended to use lots of advanced technology, not manpower. Meaning as long as he stayed to areas without technical eyes or ears they might not be able to see him. It was only a theory, but it seemed like the only possibility. Also if he were right the bait should be from an eye-witness in a desolate place. He'd grabbed a sandwich on his way past the SCT mess hall; a snack for later, it would have to do. Right before leaving one of the guards had chased him down to give him combat gear; in the form of black and grey cameo pants and plain shirt. In the pack there had also been a black utility west, Kevlar body armor to put under and a thermos. Ianto had briefly entertain the idea of looking like the rest of the boss's little minions, but decided against it. He would feel awfully displaced without his suit. The neatly tailored suits were his body armor as far as he was concerned. So the combat gear pack got dumped in a trash bin right outside the doors, along with the thermos, probably made in the mess hall. Ianto was pretty sure they made the worst coffee in Cardiff. He went out in his plain black suit and bright red tie; the only thing out-of-place the large metal case. Ianto Jones smiled grimly up towards the setting sun before leaving his strange refuge.
