A/N:Harkpad is a ninja. I may have mentioned this a couple of times. But seriously. A. NINJA. I send this, went to bed, woke up - BAM in my inbox.
I know I don't update regularly, (sorry about that), but I really won't be updating for a while. This is the last of my pre-written things for this part and I have mock exams starting next week (eeek!) So I'm gonna be gone for a few weeks, but "I'll come back, I always do." (name the episode!).
Also I know I keep saying i'll reply to reviews - but really truly I will this time. You guys keep me smiling, thanks for continuously coming to play in this world. Finally, I'm on twitter. I have no followers on twitter, come follow me and hear my rants, say hello. (BoeSaysYana)

That Awful Sound:

Bang.

The shoving and confusion stopped as a figure crumpled to the ground, wheezing feebly. All their training stopped them from running forward to help their team mate, no matter how much they wanted to. Copley grinned manically and aimed again, this time at Owen.

Bang.

Ianto lowed the gun slowly, breathing heavily. He turned to Owen.

"I aimed for his heart. I aimed for your shoulder. Notice how he's dead and you're still alive."

"Teaboy, I stopped doubting your aim six weeks ago," The doctor replied weakly.

Gwen frowned, "What are two on about?"

"I royally kicked his bony arse in the shooting range," Ianto said smugly. Owen appeared to be the only one who noticed the slight hesitation and the vague look in Ianto's eyes.

"Everyone ok?" Tosh asked shakily, from beside Copley her fingers at his neck. "He's dead," she confirmed.

"So's Jack," Ianto said suddenly realising that the raspy breathing had stopped. "Shit, so's Jack!" He ran over to the older man, sliding behind so that jack was resting in his arms.

What if this is it?

Ianto buried his face in Jack's hair, willing the man to wake up; willing him to stay dead.

He could hear the others moving around, calming the staff that had unfortunately remained; all Ianto cared about was the man lying in his arms.

"Jack, please come back to me,"Ianto whispered, "You owe me that date! Please, I was a proud arsehole, afraid to let you in again, but now I-I can see that it -would be worse to not have you -I" He shook as he tried to hold back the tears, "Come back to me, I'm sorry, I was a prat, Jack -please,"

"Say prat again."

"Prat," Ianto whispered unthinkingly

"Again, it sounds amazing with your accent."

"P-Jack?" He looked down to see the Captain staring back at him with tired eyes and his ever present grin. "Prat!" He gasped, smacking Jack's arm.

"You overreact," The former time agent commented lightly, sitting up with a groan. "Is everyone ok?"

"We're all ok. Copely's dead."

"Clean up?" Jack asked, adjusting his coat, wincing at the hole in the lapel.

"Underway," Owen cut in, holding out a hand to Ianto. He yanked the archivist close, and whispered quickly, "Tosh's gone AWAL. Gwen thinks she's gone to the car but -"

Ianto looked torn, glancing at Jack; Owen noticed his reluctance and assured him, "I'll take care of him."

Ianto nodded gratefully.

Tosh was sitting in the back seat, eyes closed.

"He's alive," Ianto said, leaning against the open door.

"I know," Tosh smiled, turning her head to the side to face him. "It - the adrenaline is wearing off, I think," she chuckled, closing her eyes again, "It's all hitting me at once."

"You were brave," Ianto remarked, crossing his arms.

"I was foolish," She disagreed.

"You seemed to know what you were doing."

"Mmm, Been in situations like that before," Her eyes flashed open, "Frick, I mean -"

"You don't have to explain," Ianto assured her.

Tosh smiled awkwardly, "I -I will, just ...not tonight."

"Whenever you're ready. Budge over. It's cold."

She shifted over and he climbed into the car next to her. She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder and he took her hand in his.

"He asked me out," Toshiko murmured unexpectedly.

"No! Seriously?"

"Yes," she giggled. "He'll probably forget though."

"Then remind him!" He insisted, nudging her. "I've missed this. Us just being."

"Lunch tomorrow?" She asked, curling closer.

"I'd like that," he smiled, kissing her head. "I'd really like that."

"The paperwork for this is going to be a bitch." Owen grumbled, as the team stepped through the cog door.

"Look on the bright side, "Jack grinned as he passed by, "You're alive to help with the reports."

"Oh, joy. Silver lining huh?"

Jack groaned, "I have to play catch up with reports and files I missed. Everyone go home. It can wait till tomorrow."

"Night!" Owen called, rushing to the door.

"You don't wait around!" Gwen laughed, picking up her bag.

"Celebrating a new lease on life and all that. Bye!"

Jack turned to Ianto, "Staying?"

"Best if I don't," Ianto replied hesitantly.

"I know you stayed while he was gone."

Ianto appreciated that Jack seemed to realise that, for him, the two Jacks were different people.

"How do you -"

"I found one of your socks down the bottom of the bed last night," He grinned.

"I was so certain I had taken everything with me!" Ianto sighed, hands on his hips.

"Nothing is certain," Jack said stepping closer.

"You died tonight," Ianto noted, running his hand over the frayed slits in the Captain's coat. "At least twice."

"Yup."

Get dinner ... Go to bed ... Leave him, just go home you fool.

"Hungry?" Jack asked. "Would now be a good time to take you on that da-"

He was interrupted by the rift alarm.

"Damn it!" He growled.

"Two weevils in Bute Park," Ianto called from Tosh's station, and he turned to Jack. "Think you can manage it?" he grinned.

"Excuse me?"

The archivist had a gleam in his eye, "It could be dangerous in the field, should you be out of practise... or out of shape, sir."

"You little, - !" Jack swaggered closer to Ianto, until he was pressed up close against his back. He leaned in until his breath tickled Ianto's ear, "When have you ever known me to be out of practise, Jones, Ianto Jones?"

"We should probably put that to the test. As part of your assessment of course, for your file."

"Of course," Jack nodded solemnly. "Come on, then. Work to do."

"Tosh!"

She spun around to find Owen leaning up against the tourist office wall.

"Hey! You scared me."

"Sorry I -er- Walking home?" He asked, pushing away from the wall.

"Yeah, I gotta stop off and get some bits and bobs, but -"

"I'll walk with you!" He said enthusiastically.

"I thought you were - er - 'Celebrating your second chance' or something?" She frowned as they headed towards the nearest corner shop.

"I am," he said, taking her laptop bag. "I'm gonna do things right, this time."

"We'll see." she murmured, "We'll see."

Gwen arrived uncharacteristically early the next morning, only to be greeted by a series of grunts and muttered curses.

She froze by the door. Two options: hope and pray that wasn't Jack and Ianto and continue on, or leave quickly and swiftly and pretend the past three minutes had never happened.

A loud bump followed by a muttered, "Ow, shit! Ianto can-" She turned on the spot. Option two it was then.

"Morning Gwen!"

She spun around confused. If Ianto was out here, somewhere, then who - or what- was in there?

"Ianto?" Gwen called cautiously, "why does it sound like Janet's been let loose in Jack's office?"

The archivist appeared on the balcony. "Because he's catching up on three months' worth of files and reports," Ianto replied gleefully. "Coffee?"

She nodded, stunned. "Sure. Ok."

"Tosh will be in shortly, I'll get a pot started."

"Ianto!" Jack called, stepping out of his office looking flustered, "Do I have a secret drawer of files you're meant to never ever go near?"

"Yes!" he yelled back

"Do you know where it is?"

"Third on the left!"

"Alright, Jack?" Gwen grinned.

"Never again. Never again am I leaving and not organising things first. I'll ask Tosh to make a programme that does this for me in the event of an emergency. Actually no. I'll just pause the emergency and organise things and then save the world," He ranted, storming into his office.

She followed him, with a knowing smile.

"Is he withholding coffee?"

"Until there's a forty percent improvement." Jack nodded sadly, surrounded by mountains of paper. "I think I've made things worse. Don't let him in" he whispered, looking terrified.