Chapter Ten

Jack touched a finger to his lip, which came away bloody. He frowned at the younger man, but stood his ground. "No! I'm staying."

Ianto balled his fists defiantly and stared down the older man. "I don't want you here! I don't need you here!"

"I'm staying whether you like it or not! So get used to it!"

Ianto spun on his heals and headed for the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Jack sighed, took a handkerchief out of his bottomless greatcoat pocket and wiped at his mouth. Putting it back in his pocket, Jack walked towards the bathroom door, tapping gently on it.

"Can we at least talk about this?"

A few seconds.

"Nothing to talk about. I am fine, Jack! I keep telling you."

Jack leaned against the door jam. "You are not the same Ianto Jones who left here 24 hours ago. I want him back!"

Ianto yanked opened the bathroom door, coming nose to nose with his lover. "What the fuck do you want from me, Jack?"

"Ianto Jones…"

"I am him!"

"No, right now, you're not."

Ianto walked passed Jack into the lounge. "I haven't changed!"

"Yes, you have," said Jack, following after him.

Sitting down on the couch, Ianto put his arms on his knees and leaned forward. "Well, I don't think I'm any different…I know more, that's for sure, but…"

"Perhaps too much," Jack said, sitting beside him.

Ianto frowned. "This from a man who's lived a thousand lifetimes." He laughed.

"And believe me, there are things I've seen that I wish I hadn't, so I can only imagine what you're goin' through right now."

"Are you jealous? You are, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not! Why would I be?"

Ianto laughed softly. "They didn't want your brain. I asked them why. You knew too much, they said." He shook his head. "It's because they took me and not you, isn't it?"

"No!"

"Admit it, Jack. You're jealous of me."

Jack stood up. "That's not true and you know it!"

"Do I, Jack? You're afraid I'll find out about you and all your sordid little secrets, aren't you? Find out who you truly are."

"You wanna know about me, you ask!"

"Huh! Like you'd tell me."

Jack turned his back on the younger man.

"I tell you everything! But you…you're a closed book, Jack."

"I can't believe we're having this conversation."

"Oh, believe it!"

"There is nothing else to tell you. You know about John Hart. About Estelle."

"John Hart, only because he came through, and Estelle…"

"Now who's jealous?"

Ianto was on his feet in a heartbeat. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Jack? Don't you get it? I love you!" He walked a few paces away. "I always have, even before you found out about Lisa. I hated having to deceive you with her." He shook his head. "And what am I to you, eh? A warm body? A quick shag? What?"

Jack grabbed Ianto by the upper arms, bringing him closer. "Oh, you are so much more, Ianto Jones."

"Then why the fuck don't you ever tell me?"

Jack frowned. "Because…"

"Yes?"

"Because…if I didn't say it, if I lost you…if you died, I thought...it-it wouldn't hurt so much."

Ianto pulled away.

"Ianto…I…I do love you."

"Said with feeling, Jack." He ran a trembling hand through his hair.

"It's hard for me. I lose everyone I love!"

"Good come-back."

"Ianto!"

Jack watched as Ianto visibly put up an invisible barrier between them. There was no way he was going to talk the younger man into allowing him to stay.

"I'll be back later. Count on it," Jack said, pushing his hands deep into his trouser pockets before adjusting his clothing.

Ianto stood and watched, as Jack put on his greatcoat. Once this was done, Ianto crossed his arms over his bare chest, trying to stare Jack down again.

"You know where I am if you need me."

Ianto remained silent.

"Ianto?"

"I heard you."

A slight shake of the head. "Good."

"Don't patronize me, Jack."

Jack turned to leave. "Night or day. Just call."

Ianto sighed. "Just go. Please."

Reluctantly, Jack walked to the front door. Ianto watched from the safety of the lounge doorway, arms still crossed protectively over his chest.

Without looking back, Jack said, "You don't have to go through this."

Ianto laughed. "Retcon, you mean? No thanks."

Reaching for the door handle, Jack left, his heart heavy.

After Jack left, Ianto picked up his shirt and went to the bathroom, placing it in the laundry basket, before throwing up in the toilet. He wretched until his insides hurt.

TWTWTW

Once back at the Hub, Owen followed Jack up to his office.

"Well?" asked the medic.

"He all but threw me out!"

Owen frowned. "Was that before or after he hit you?"

Jack touched his lip. "After."

"How was he?"

"Defensive. Obstinate."

"Typical Tea Boy then."

Going back outside the office, Jack called down to Toshiko.

"Monitor all CCTV camera in and around Ianto's flat. I want to see what he's up to."

Tosh nodded.

"You think he'll leave the flat?"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what he'll do. But I want to be ready, just in case." He sat down at his desk. "He could relive Canary Wharf. See things he's never seen before. There's no telling what might happen."

"You shoulda retconned his ass."

Jack shook his head. "The amount he'd need would wipe his entire memory going back years or kill him."

"Shit!"

"Yeah."

"So, what are we going to do, jack?"

"Right now? I really have no idea."

"Well, you better think of something, if it's as bad as you say." Owen moved toward the door. "A human brain can only take so much." Then he was gone.

Jack ran a hand over his face, wincing as he touched his split lip. He thought back to the first time Ianto had struck him in anger. The pain he felt now, wasn't any less than he'd felt then. He loved the Welshman dearly, and would never raise a hand to him. Although he had held a gun to his head. Maybe that's what was needed now. A firm hand.

Sitting at his desk, Jack looked at the pile of paperwork building up before him. He picked up the first sheet, began reading it and then threw it down in disgust. Paperwork could wait. Ianto Jones couldn't.

TWTWTW

Ianto moved from the bathroom back into the lounge. He stood there, arms across his chest, staring into nothingness. He was aware that Jack had gone, but not how long ago. His pupils had dilated and he was crying, though no sounds escaped his lips.

Coloured lights danced around the painting over the fireplace, as Ianto stood motionless. His arms fell to his side and he hung his head. Slowly he moved toward the painting, head still bowed. As he stood before it, he went down on his knees, tilting his head up to look at the lights.

"I want to be with you," he whispered. "Please, come back and get me."

TWTWTW

As the dying brain was removed from the protective bubble, the ghostly figures gathered around it. There were fewer of them now. As every hour passed, one would melt into smoke, never to be seen again. A wire was put into the brain and a current passed through it. Once this was done, the brain was returned to the bubble…for now.

"We will try again."