They had gotten news of a possible weevil sighing through Andy apparently. From the edge of town a call had come to the officer. Some distraught person had called in panic about a strange creature that had attacked and killed someone using claws and fangs. From the general description of horrible misplaced skin, baldness and a wrinkled inhuman face Andy had decided this was Torchwood territory and relayed the message to Gwen. She'd been on her way over when she called Owen and Jack, but they'd decided they couldn't wait and was driving at a high-speed on the highway. Jack watched the white lines on the road ahead with tired eyes. Owen got the honors of driving today as he had decided Jack had no right to be behind a wheel. From one look at their leader he had decided if Jack didn't get some proper sleep soon he'd drug the man into oblivion. At this point he was pretty sure even Gwen wouldn't object too much. He let his eyes drift to Jack one more time and noticed the man deep in thought, of what wasn't hard to figure out.
_~#~_
Jack's eyes might be watching the highway, but his mind was elsewhere entirely. They turned of the road on to a smaller one. Soon they were driving through forest on a gravel road. The most recent block they'd run into spun through Jack's mind as he kept pondering about SCT.
If only Tosh was here she might have been able to break through. She probably already had. Before she called him she had found something, possibly by breaking into their system. Ianto knew a lot about Tosh's system and might have been able to trace back her actions and find a way in, but for the rest of them it was rather hopeless. After their last attempt to get in there were no way they'd get another chance. The situation stunk. They had revealed the evil nest of mercenaries, but couldn't do a thing about it. Torchwood had limited staff lately and had no hope of breaking in, especially not after yesterday's failure. They couldn't get help without evidence, which those people were very good at covering up. With what they had left of their team they couldn't even figure out what SCT were up to. On top of it all the bastards still had Ianto. At least now Jack knew for sure Ianto weren't a hostage, no; he was actually there of his own free will. It seemed he'd also joined the fight against Torchwood and Jack had no idea why. The way Ianto had glared at him; like he was a monster. Jack hadn't seen him so hateful since Lisa. It had actually seemed like Ianto wanted him dead and it can't have been just because of the girl. He must have realised there were a fire fight in the garage. The bullet holes in the cars used for cover made as much obvious. Ianto didn't even bother to question the scene, he just decided Jack was the bad guy and needed to be shot. Jack let out a deep breath he could spin his thoughts around like this forever and be no closer to the truth. What he needed was Ianto, that's where the answers were. Until they could find a way to get to him, Torchwood and SCT was at a standstill. The Torchwood team could track the SCT personnel now after the digging they'd done and would be ready for anything they pulled. All they could do was to wait and Jack hated waiting. Jack was shook out of his thoughts as the SUV came to an abrupt halt. He looked over at Owen, confusion written all over his face.
"There's something in the road." Owen stared right ahead with an expression of disgust. When Jack shifted his gaze ahead he saw the source of their delay. A large animal carcass, most likely a deer, though it was hard to tell from here.
"We'll just have to move it then."
"Or we could drive around and ignore it." Owen stared annoyed at the thing like it was to fault for all their problems. After a quick eye roll Jack got out of the car, grabbing some discarded napkins of the floor. Owen was driving so he could at least move it. The animal deserved the dignity to at least not be driven over again next time someone had to use this road, when ever that might be. The small road was almost completely abandoned; they were technically in the middle of nowhere.
When he got closer the stench of dried blood and decaying flesh entered his nose inducing a slight nausea. Certain smells one could never get used to. There was a blood trail leading from the woods to the animal. Not drops from a wound, but as if the carcass had been dragged onto the road. Jack felt his suspicion rise as he realized this was a trap, but shouldn't it have been sprung by now? What were they waiting for? Damn, he left his earpiece in the car. He was supposed to have put it on during the drive, but forgot. How were he supposed to get the message back to Owen without causing suspicion with who ever set this up. Jack leaned down over the carcass and used the napkins to keep from touching the creature as he grabbed its hind legs and began pulling it of the road. It was cold; the trap makers must have been waiting for a while then. Patient people tended to make the most trouble. When he turned back to the car Owen was staring at Jack and gave an impatient wave with his hand.
On his way beck to the car Jack noticed something in the woods, just far enough away so that ordinary people wouldn't notice. Jack was anything but ordinary; he'd been through both the world wars and certain things he'd learned how to spot. They were waiting for him to get back in. The fiery explosion that would make sure to destroy and kill anything or anyone in the car. He pulled open the door to the SUV and spoke as calmly as he could without getting in.
"Get out of the car and take cover behind the trees. Run!"
Owen shoved the door open and begun sprinting as Jack grabbed his gun. Jack had time to move two steps away from the car before something large and rocket like moved at an extreme speed and hit the car behind him. The blast sent him flying and crashed him into a tree. Three thoughts went thought his head before be blacked out. Hopefully Owen got further away before the explosion, He was sure he heard cracking bones when he hit the three and he shouldn't have bothered wasting time for his gun.
He came too again a lot quicker than he had thought. Pain flared all over his body, he hadn't healed yet meaning he couldn't have been out for more than a few minutes. Jack's head was ringing as he forced himself to scout his surroundings. His vision was blurry and incapable of keeping up with his sharp head movements. Using his arms he pushed himself up until he was sitting on his knees. A sharp pain in his chest made him aware of at least one broken rib. A groan and some shallow breaths later his vision was clearing up. Jack then made a second attempt at looking over the extent of the damage. The SUV was on its head and burning fiercely. Jack didn't dare thinking of the consequences if he hadn't noticed the RPG. Owen was sitting on the ground behind the trunk of a tree. Looking severely dazed, but otherwise unharmed. Jack let out a breath in relief before coughing slightly as thick smoke entered his lungs.
"My mobile was left behind in the car. Yours?" Owen asked and then grunted a little as he got back on his feet.
Jack reached into his right pocket and after a few moments of fumbling around he found his phone. Luck was not with them today. The screen was shattered and black. After a few angry swears, he could hear a loud sigh from Owen as he made his way over.
"Think you can stand, Jack?"
The Immortal frowned, but didn't answer. Damn, his head wouldn't stop ringing. He could feel Owen place one of his arms around Jack's waist. Taking the hint, Jack threw an arm over his shoulder in return and tried to push himself up. His legs wouldn't cooperate, they had no strength. After a light swear from Owen, Jack abandoned the attempt.
"The main road isn't that far away, stop a car there. Call Gwen and I'll probably have healed a bit by the time you come back. At least enough to stand."
Owen gave a swift nod before turning leave. After he had left Jack leaned slightly forward and spat out a mouthful of blood. At times like this he wished he had died. At least then he'd come back fully healed and wouldn't have to deal with the injuries. They should be gone soon enough though. Jack closed his eyes while trying silence the ringing. The sound had dampened a bit. The flames from the SUV crackled loudly and he could hear cars in the distance. Then there were footsteps and Jack's eyes snapped back open. Yet again it took Jack a few moments to focus his eyesight. When he could see the figure ahead of him clearly, he drew in a large breath of air in a sharp gasp. This resulted in a stab of pain in his chest reminding him of his not yet fully healed ribs.
"Ianto? What are you…?" He let his words trail of as he realized Ianto was pointing a gun right at him. The confusion won over the need to talk to him. Jack hadn't even been given a chance to explain last time. It was not like Ianto to jump to conclusions like that. Someone had to be manipulating the situation.
"You killed Lisa, in cold blood, the woman I loved." Ianto's voice was doubtless and accusatory. Jack's eyes narrowed; they had gotten through that and their friendship had been repaired a long time ago. It suddenly hit Jack that his memories might not fully have returned even though they should have. Someone who knew how retcon worked must have manipulated him, only people who had worked in Torchwood should have such Intel. The situation had to be salvaged before it escalated.
"That's all you remembered? Okay, I can explain that, it was necessary…" Before Jack got to finish Ianto sharply cut him of.
"No, it wasn't, she was still herself, she was still Lisa. And you thought what, after the obstacle was gone, that I would be with you? I would never love you, Jack." Ianto spat his name out as you would any disgusting taste. Jack felt like he'd just been punched in the guts. A sensitive nerve had been hit and his head was spinning. All thoughts of conspiracies flew out of Jack's mind as he watched the hurt and anger on Ianto 's face.
"Ianto, listen to me, I never…" Jack weren't allowed to finish speaking this time either. Ianto rolled his eyes, not at all interested in what Jack might have to say at the moment.
"All full of pretty words and endearment, aren't you sir. Well, I'm done being fooled. You're a monster Jack Harkness and I will be the death of you. Again and again and again. "
Ianto emphasized heavily at every 'again' spoken. He then squeezed the trigger and the bullet hit Jack square in the head. Jack welcomed the darkness and the emptiness that followed, problem is just he would have to wake up again. In addition the normal pain of resurrection he would have to face the pain of Ianto's hatred and anger for him.
Meanwhile at SCT their boss where sitting in the meeting room. She was looking over the latest report from her scientist. Normally she'd do this in her office, but she had a meeting in 20 minutes. When her phone rang she absentmindedly looked at her mobile screen then her mind froze. Unknown number. Very few people had the number to this mobile, all of which would have shown up on the display. Carefully she brought it to her ear before answering in as blank and empty voice as she could muster up.
"Yes?" After she had spoken there were a silent pause, the answering voice that eventually came through shocked her. When he spoke her eyes grew wide.
"Hello, I have a dead, though not for long, captain Jack Harkness here." That was the voice of Ianto Jones.
"How did you get this number?" The boss asked carefully.
"Agent Blackwell really should keep a better eye on his phone" After the dry and tired tones of Ianto's voice the female gave a soft laugh; a laugh Ianto could have sworn he had heard before. It was probably just stress; after all he'd had a rather crazy day.
"Really? Well, Mr. Jones, I'm impressed." Compliments were usually appreciated greatly by Ianto, but he had a growing headache. This was not the time for such.
"Do you want him or should I deliver him to the authorities? I'd like to not do that considering his connections; he'll be out again to soon." Ianto asked impatiently.
Her impassive behavior had nothing to do with what she wanted, it simply weren't often she got such surprises. The sudden change in the case was completely unexpected. He was the little coffee boy and she had always looked slightly down on him, not thinking him capable of much. The plan had been for Jack to be forced in to killing Ianto. Instead Ianto had actually captured and killed Jack. She felt like laughing again. Very unexpected indeed, she thought looking out the window with a broad grin on her face.
"Take him back here; my guards will take him of your hands in the garage." Seemed she'd have to cancel that previous meeting as a far more interesting one had just showed up.
