Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales

Ianto Jones listened to the conference call with Dublin and London. Rex hadn't been briefed on abilities, Rift or other, nevertheless the Doves. It made for a tense conversation starting with Eddie Cattrel poisoning fifteen teenagers. Malcolm Dove was the only survivor that didn't have permanently mental and physical problems. It led to a girl with a CN-enhanced ability throwing a tantrum and nearly destroying the local police department with Jack and Gwen trapped inside. Repairing the building had been time consuming but simple enough with maintenance bots. Then Jack and John helped a giant alien reptile rescue a group of captive juveniles. Both were exposed to CN and spend days wandering around the hub high out of their minds.

"Where's Jack?" Gwen wrote on a napkin while the general and Rex talked.

Ianto shrugged. Jack mentioned not feeling well an hour ago. He was supposed to be in his office, but hadn't responded to the call notification. Ianto motioned that he'd look and left the conference room.

It occurred to him as he headed for Jack's office that he could have had another memory problem. Ianto used his hand-held to access GPS information. He wondered if Jack went for coffee or picked up lunch except he was near the water in the opposite direct of the Red Dragon Centre.

Unable to think of any reason Jack would be there, Ianto jogged for the lift. It reached the top between the Millennium Centre and Roald Dahl Plass. It didn't take much to spot Jack's distinctive clothes among the people taking advantage of the nice day.

He stood, leaning on the railing, staring across the Bristol Channel. He looked normal as Ianto made his way across the open area that looked somewhat like a paved park. Except Jack wasn't reacting to anyone around him. When he wanted time alone to think, he found a roof. He'd been known to stand on top of the Millennium Centre. Surrounded by people, he should have been flirting or at least smiling.

"Jack." Ianto approached from an angle.

He looked distracted.

"Jack." Ianto set a hand on Jack's arm.

"Hi." He turned, looking confused.

"Do you know where you are?"

Jack looked back at the water.

Ianto tapped his ear com. "John are you in the hub."

"Yeah."

"I need help getting Jack inside." Ianto wanted to avoid anyone noticing. "He's having another episode."

Jack Harkness realized he was walking. He looked around, recognizing the pier, and wondered how he got there. It took a moment to register that Ianto and John had him by the arms. Another memory glitch was the only explanation that came to mind. The unaccustomed fear felt like hitting a wall.

"What happened?" Jack didn't like the sound of his voice.

Ianto opened the tourist office door. "You wandered off."

John pushed him inside and then followed. Ianto closed the door behind them.

"Where did you find me?"

"Staring at the water." Ianto leaned on the counter. "Those restraints keep Tosh from escaping. They will keep you in the hub."

"Can we have this discussion in the infirmary?" John smiled. "Gives me time to think of bondage jokes." The humor didn't reach his eyes.

Ianto Jones felt torn as they walked knowing he had an ugly decision to make. Jack needed to stay in the hub until they knew what was wrong with his memory. Ianto couldn't care for Jack and Michael. It wasn't safe for his adopted son. He had to entrust one of them to someone else.

"What's wrong?" After John left them in the infirmary to wait for Owen.

A decision Ianto couldn't help but think made him a bad parent. "Michael is going to have to stay with Gwen and Rhys." Anwen would probably be babysitting because her half-brother didn't like her mother and didn't always like their father.

"Why?"

Ianto took a moment to compose himself before turning to face Jack. "You had no idea where you were or what was happening around you. We don't know how bad this will get."

"I won't hurt Michael."

Ianto closes his eyes. "We don't know what you'll do."

Jack grabbed Ianto's hand. "We'll figure it out."

Owen Harper reviewed the scan readings again. They new information was different than previous scans but he had no idea how. With the device in Tosh's head, he couldn't risk showing the information to her. As far as he knew, there wasn't anyone else he could ask. The kid in Nova Scotia had trouble with ideas outside his understanding of science.

The only comparison he had, he didn't want to think about it. The symptoms reminded him of his fiance Katie Russell. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor that resulted in memory problems. Except it wasn't a tumor; it was an alien parasite growing in her brain. The failed surgery attempt was fatal to Katie and her doctors. With that in mind, he checked for everything from alien infestations to a device similar to Tosh's. The tests were negative.

With a growing list of questions, Owen returned to the infirmary. Jack and Ianto sat on the edge of a medical cot. Their relationship still surprised him at times. In his universe, Jack had no concept of commitment. If Ianto hadn't died, Jack would have gotten bored and wandered to the next lover. The idea that they were approaching a two year anniversary, and had a kid, reminded him of the differences.

"I have no idea." It wasn't something Owen liked to admit. "The change appears to be at the quantum level." He shook his head. "Is there someone with a background in advanced physics I can consult?"

Ianto sighed. "I need to contact Idrissa."

"Nigeria?" Owen asked.

"Azrael is Torchwood's expect on quantum energy malfunctions."

"He helped with the retreat near Brighton."

"It's not Azrael." Ianto slid off the cot. "Idrissa doesn't like you."

"Still?"

Ianto offered a smile. "Not everyone loves you."

Restricting Jack to the hub was not something he wanted to suggest. "Jack." Owen hesitated. "We need to keep you from wandering off."

"Computer, activate intercom," Ianto said. "John, the alchemy lab needs to be modified like Tosh's suite."

"Yeah." John paused. "I will have to redesign the entire structure and place alarms on any exposed plumbing. Both the closet and the mini kitchen will have to be removed. The office would be easier." He trailed off.

Jack asked, "What?"

"The secured cell."

"We're not there yet." Jack squeezed Ianto's hand. "Modify the office."