Gwen sat, uncharacteristically quiet, in the booth that Jack had reserved for the team at their favourite bar. She had felt off kilter and out of step with reality for the last two days; ever since she had woken up in the boardroom at the Hub, stiff, sore, the side of her face covered in drool and with a killer headache. She had no memory of the events that had lead to her waking up in that state and Jack and the others claimed to have no idea what she had been up to. She made a tremendous effort and smiled across the table at Gil, in whose honour this night out had been organised. Tosh had reminded her that Gil's people had been in touch and were on their way to take him home when she had asked what made Gil so special that he got a night out arranged for him. Gwen frowned, that sounded like something she should remember, but she didn't; also, she wondered, when exactly had Tosh and Owen become so loved up and couple-y.

'So, Gil, are you excited to be going home' she asked disinterestedly

Gil dragged his eyes away from Jack, who was deep in what appeared to be a highly flirtatious conversation with the barman, 'hmm? Oh, yeah, yeah I guess so. It will be hard to leave...everyone'

Gwen's eyes drifted to where Gil's attention seemed lodged, 'you love him don't you?'

'I've never denied it'

Gwen swallowed, 'I've seen how he looks at you,' she said through gritted teeth, 'I think he is very close to loving you, if you stayed...'

Gil shook his head, 'I don't want to leave but when the time comes I won't have a choice. Jack and I have already said our goodbyes. He was never going to be mine; the universe has other plans for him...and me.'

Even though Gwen still disliked and distrusted the Valerian, the sadness in his eyes constricted her heart, 'Gil, I'm...I...'

Gil laughed, 'don't pretend' he said, 'I know you Gwen Cooper – you would happily see me dead at your feet if you thought it would get Jack into your bed. You do not seriously expect me to believe that you want me to stay, you can't wait to for me to leave; you think it will leave the field open for you, although I suspect that you also hope that if I stayed Jack would leave Torchwood and you could take over. Must be difficult for you with your ambition and your libido in constant opposition like that '

Gwen bristled and opened her mouth to deliver a stinging rebuke but the moment was broken with the arrival of Tosh and Owen who slid into the booth next to Gwen. 'Budge up' grumbled Owen, waving an arm in the air in an effort to attract Jack's attention, 'Oi Captain, the usual over here, mate.'

Jack turned and bestowed a dazzling smile on the new arrivals before turning back to order white wine for Tosh and a pint for Owen. He made eye contact with Gil and his smile softened. Let's just have a good time tonight, he thought, no rift alerts, no dramas and no hissy fits from Ms Cooper. I...we... will miss Gil so we have to give him a good send off. He picked up the loaded tray and headed across the bar to join his friends.

The bar was almost full as Ianto Jones pushed his way through the doors an hour later. He tried to scan the crowd to a glimpse of his friends but the place was so full it quickly became apparent that it would be like finding a couple of needles in a massive haystack. Picking one of the busiest pubs in Cardiff in which to meet, especially on karaoke night, might not have been the best idea they had ever had mused Ianto He spotted a vacant stool at the far end of the bar and pushed his way through the room. Sinking onto the stool Ianto managed to attract the attention of the barman and ordered himself a coke, he had been on nights out with Idris and Anwen before and he knew that pacing himself was important if he wanted to be in a fit state to set off to London in the morning. He gave the barman a fleeting smile as he placed his drink before him and fumbled in his jeans for his phone. He sent a text to Idris and Anwen,

-where are you?-

Almost immediately his phone vibrated, it was Idris,

-Slight crisis, running late. Be with you by 8.30 –

Crap, Ianto knew what that meant; Idris and David had had a minor domestic and were now embarking upon make up sex. Going off past experience Ianto knew he would be lucky if he saw Idris at all that night. He barely had time to finish reading the message when his phone vibrated again, Anwen this time

-Suzie and Kevin both off sick. Stuck at the bar covering for them. Try and join me later –

Great, thought Ianto, stuck here on a night out I don't want, on my own, in a place I don't want to be. He waved his glass at the barman, 'stick a dark rum in this will you mate.'

The noise in the pub was reaching the kind of levels that Jack was certain were associated with brain damage. It seemed as if there was an endless stream of tone deaf shrieking women desperate to expose themselves to the ridicule of their friends and the rest of the pub patrons, in fact he realised with a shock, Gwen was up on the stage murdering, "Don't Leave Me This Way" which Jack felt was at the very least insensitive given that this was supposed to a leaving do for someone who was leaving Torchwood against his will. He turned to Gil with a pained and apologetic look on his face and was taken aback to see Gill smiling at him. Gil grabbed his hand and squeezed it, before indicating the bar with his eyes. Frowning, Jack turned to try to see what it was Gil was trying to show him but nothing jumped out at him and he shrugged. Hesitantly, Gil toughed Jack's forehead with his finger and looked pleadingly at him. Jack knew what he wanted him to do and reluctantly lowered the most superficial of his mental shields, giving a small shudder as Gil slid into his mind.

He is heresaid Gil telepathically

He is?

Right at the very end of the bar, grey chinos, black shirt, red tee-shirt sent Gil

Jack twisted but couldn't get a clear view though the crowded room; in spite of the glares that Gwen was sending his way from the stage as she screeched her way to the end of her chosen song, he stood up on his seat and craned to see. A slim dark haired young man was seated disconsolately on his own sipping at a coke. Jack felt his heart lurch and his breath catch in his throat. He turned to look at Gil and the hope and longing in his eyes almost bought Gil to tears.

Go, talk to him said Gil mentally, he is for you and you are for him so go and claim him. He gave Jack a sad and loving smile, go on, nothing could make having to leave you easy but knowing you are loving and being loved by the man the universe knows is essential to you will help. Although he was trying hard to resist the temptation to explore Jack's mind now that he had finally been allowed in, Gil could not help but pick up on Jack's indecision; he could tell that Jack desperately wanted to go the young man at the bar but was fearful that Gil would be taken by his people if he left him. Gil felt as if his heart was breaking, go on Jack, he sent, he needs you as you do him. I would not have changed my time with you for the world; we have said our farewells but my Ka-va'et is not yet completed and the Universe Sentient will not allow me to leave with my task incomplete, Now, go, GO. With a smile as bright as a million suns, Jack reached out and gently stroked Gil's face and then slid out from the booth with alacrity and began to push his way through the crowd towards the bar.

Ianto drained his glass and sent a brief text to both Anwen and Idris,

-heading home. Will call you from London tomorrow –

A large hand rested on Ianto's wrist, keeping him in his seat and a warm American voice buzzed in his ear,

'Hey gorgeous, can I buy you a drink?'

Ianto turned with a polite refusal on his lips and found himself staring into the bright blue eyes of the man from the park, the man who had featured in every waking fantasy and every wet dream he had experienced for the past few weeks. His smile was so wide he could barely articulate, 'Jack?' He could see that Jack was trying to ask him something but the noise from the Karaoke participants had started up again and this, coupled with the derisive laughter and barracking of the audience, made conversation impossible.

Jack leaned in and virtually screamed in Ianto's ear, 'let's get out of here' Ianto nodded and eagerly followed him toward the door. At some point Ianto noticed that Jack paused and made eye contact with the white haired man that Ianto had always seen him with before, the glance the men exchanged was charged with emotion until the white haired man smiled at Ianto and nodded at Jack before turning back to talk to the pretty Japanese woman Ianto remembered from the park.

The two men stumbled out into the night, Jack holding onto Ianto's hand as if it was the most precious thing in the universe. For his part Ianto could not tear his eyes from the beautiful man who was pulling him along the street with such urgency. At the first opportunity, Jack swerved into a darkened alleyway and pushed Ianto up against the wall.

'Your name' he gasped, leaning in to place a hot kiss on Ianto's throat

Ianto felt as if his brain was melting, all he could concentrate on was the feeling of Jack's lips against his skin, 'whaa...what' he moaned

'your name, what's your name' said Jack

'Ianto'

'Mmm, Ianto.' Jack pressed even closer but before he could say another word Ianto had captured his mouth in a hot and sensual kiss. He could feel Jack's hand fumbling at his clothes and eventually a large warm hand insinuated itself under his tee-shirt and splayed out over his abdomen. The men gasped as a wave of vertigo swept over them both and the gloomy alleyway seemed to tilt and sway; a musical laughter was heard just on the edge of hearing.

Reluctantly Ianto pulled back from the kiss, 'what was that?' he gasped

'Doesn't matter' murmured Jack moving in for another kiss, 'nothing matters now – we have found each other'

Part of Ianto (a very,very tiny part) was curious as to what Jack could possibly mean but all of the rest of him just wanted to get as close to this wonderful man as he possibly could. The two men were so wrapped up in each other and the mutual pleasure they were experiencing that the weevil that suddenly shot into the alleyway and cannoned into them took them both completely by surprise.