Alone in the Hub, Ianto thought as he gazed around the abandoned base. Jack ran off with the Doctor and soon after the team was sent by Harold Saxon to investigate an alien presence in the Himalayas. Ianto wanted to go, he just needed to get away from the Hub and Cardiff, but Gwen insisted he stay behind as she had assumed command almost immediately after Jack left. Gwen told him that he couldn't keep up with his legs and that they needed someone to monitor the rift.

The atmosphere in the Hub was incredibly tense after Jack vanished. Ianto sunk into a deep depression and barely spoke to anyone. He took his meals by himself and silently went about his duties. The day before the team left for Nepal, Ianto approached the boardroom to see if they were done with their dinner so he could clean up.

Ianto paused as he heard Gwen talking, "Look, all I'm saying is that it's creepy, him being here all the time. He's probably still upset about Jack; we don't know what he'll do."

"Are you saying he's dangerous?" Tosh questioned.

"I don't know about dangerous but I just don't trust him. I don't think he should be living here anymore."

Owen leaned forward and slammed his fist on the table, "Fuck off, Gwen. You have no right to criticize Ianto. I trust him over you any day."

Gwen stood furiously, "Well I'm in charge and it's my call." She then stormed out of the room not even noticing Ianto standing outside it.

That evening, before she left Gwen approached Ianto and explained why he needed to find a flat. She told him that it's not healthy to sit around thinking about Jack and that he needs an outside life. Ianto sat silently as she went on about Rhys being about to move his things. When she finished she put her hand on Ianto's shoulder, looked into his eyes, and told him, "We all care about you and just want you to be happy."

Ianto stared at her coldly then picked up an envelope and handed it to her, "Here are your passport and airline tickets; you'll be met at the hotel with your equipment and transportation. In case of an emergency, I've included an international mobile with the numbers of UNIT contacts in Nepal and India. Have a good trip."

It was now a week later and Harold Saxon turned out to be a total nutter using aliens as an excuse to kill the American president. The team was arriving back at the Hub exhausted and extremely frustrated at being sent on a wild goose chase. Owen was stomping around complaining about how cold the mountains were and that they were almost killed by an avalanche. Tosh worked on unpacking her equipment while Gwen was on the phone letting her family know that she arrived safely.

Ianto set about making coffee and helping Tosh sort through her equipment. Soon Owen called up from the med bay for Ianto. When he went down, Owen had calmed a bit but was looking nervous, "Look Ianto, about what Gwen said before we left; you don't have to move out. If you feel apprehensive about it I can talk to her. You could even move in with me until you feel comfortable getting your own place."

Owen said the last sentence quieter almost mumbling it. He then looked at the ground and shifted his feet. Ianto was taken aback by the suggestion and Owen's demeanor and was even more surprised that he was actually considering the arrangement. He hated admitting that he was scared being alone outside the Hub and perhaps this might actually help.

"I wouldn't want to be a burden." Ianto replied sheepishly.

Owen looked up hopefully and quickly answered, "No, not a burden at all. I have the extra room so no big deal."

Ianto smiled, "Alright, I'll start packing a few things."

Before Ianto could leave Owen stopped him, "I brought you something. I got it in Nepal."

Owen handed him a dark, wooden cane with intricate engravings down the side. Ianto held it and gently ran his fingers along, "Owen, it's beautiful."

"I know how much you hate that metal one. I thought this was more your style."

Ianto couldn't find words to express his appreciation. After weeks of nothing but loneliness and despair, this one gesture was almost too much. Before he could muster a thank you, Gwen strolled into the room, "It has been a horribly long day so I am heading home to Rhys. Ianto, I need you to prepare a new workstation. Tomorrow UNIT is sending over a new agent for us. See you in the morning!" She then happily bounced toward the cog door.

Ianto turned a shocked face to Owen who sighed deeply, "After UNIT had rescued us from the avalanche, Gwen let slip that Jack was missing. They insisted on sending us a new team member. Come on, I'll help you set up the station."

The girl was crying as the blowfish held his gun to her head taunting the team. What's worse is he knew them all by name, "Oh and where's darling Ianto? Still hiding him in the base? Do you think you can shoot before I do? Will you? Can . . . you?"

The creature slurred his last words as he slumped onto the ground with a small dart sticking out of his neck. Owen ran over to the girl and pushed the unconscious fish off of her while Tosh ran scans on his body. Gwen lowered her gun and looked to the man in the corner, "Good shot, Shawn."

Once back in the Hub, Owen and Shawn hauled the blowfish to the interrogation room and secured him to the chair. They rejoined the team who were meeting in the conference room. Gwen was talking strategy, "We need to figure out how he got our information, how long he's been here, and what he wants."

"Also how he learned to drive stick." Owen interjected.

Ianto entered carrying a tray of coffees. Shawn smiled and stood to help him with the beverages, "Ianto, good call on the dart gun. He went down instantly. I can't wait to work with you in the field when that leg is healed up."

"Ianto's not a field agent." Gwen commented as she sipped her coffee.

"What, you just keep him around to make coffee and clean up after you? What a waste of talent." Shawn winked at Ianto and sat back in his seat.

Owen glowered and Gwen changed the subject, "I've called the Cardiff police to take care of the stolen car in the meantime we need to go through the CCTV and track his movements best we can."

Before they could start, Tosh stopped them, "We have a rift alert. It's an odd energy pattern; I've never seen it before."

Gwen clapped her hands together and enthusiastically commanded, "Tosh you take Owen and Shawn to investigate. I'm going to have a word with our fish friend. Ianto, he was drooling when we brought him in, go and mop that up for us."

The team stood and went about their tasks. After twenty minutes, Ianto was sorting supplies in the med bay when he felt the barrel of the gun pressed to the back of his head, "You humans, so easy to fool."

"Where's Gwen?" Ianto asked as he tried to stand as still as possible.

"Having a nap." The blowfish leaned in close and Ianto almost gagged at the stench.

"Now, pretty boy, you're going to come with me while I get some new wheels."

Before Ianto could say anything there was a loud shot and the room was covered in fish brains, "Damn blowfish, they never can keep a low profile."

In stepped a man dressed in an obnoxious red military coat armed to the teeth. He leered at Ianto as he dragged his eyes up and down his body. Ianto was shaking as his greatest fear had come to life: his abductors had returned to take him away. His head was pounding so hard he couldn't even hear the intruder speaking. Ianto wanted to flee or call for help but he couldn't make his hands or feet move until the man reached out and touched his shoulder causing him to recoil in terror.

"Whoa, you okay boy?" The intruder asked warily having not expected this kind of reaction.

Loudly the cog door alarm sounded and the rest of the team burst into the room. All three had their guns drawn and Owen angrily shouted, "Get the fuck away from him!"

Toshiko joined him yelling, "Hands behind your back! Now!" The man complied as Tosh slapped cuffs on him.

Owen was taking away his weapons as Shawn ran over to Ianto and held him in his arms, "Are you alright, mate? Ianto, look at me. Owen what's wrong with him?"

Owen ran over to Ianto and looked him over, "He's in shock. Ianto, calm down, it's Owen. Don't worry he's not here for you."

Owen sharply kicked the intruder, "Tell him!"

The man hurriedly agreed, "I'm not here for you."

Gradually, Ianto calmed down as Shawn led him to a chair. Toshiko looked around, "Where's Gwen?"

Ianto choked out, "The interrogation room."

Owen took off toward the room to check on her as Toshiko discovered the vortex manipulator on their guest, "Shit. Are you a friend of Jack's?"

"Is that what he's calling himself now? We were partners."

Tosh pressed on, "What kind of partners?"

The man smirked, "All kinds."

"What's your name?"

"Just call me John."

"Fine, John, why are you here?"

"Some canisters of mine fell through your rift. I've come to retrieve them. When I found out Jack had settled here, I thought it would be a fun way to reconnect but it looks like he's moved on."

"Yes, I guess he did, several weeks ago. Are these canisters dangerous?"

"Yeah, radioactive in fact."

Just then Owen entered the room supporting a wobbly Gwen, "Did he just say radioactive?"

John looked over Gwen and laughed, "Did the blowfish spit at you?"

Gwen steadied herself against the wall, "It was disgusting. I passed out within seconds."

"Horrible creatures. The only reason I hire 'em is because they're so good at digging up information."

Owen went over to check on Ianto happy to see that he was almost back to normal albeit covered in fish slime, "Ianto, why don't you go to the showers and clean up."

Ianto nodded and walked slowly out of the room. Tosh filled in Gwen and Owen on her findings as Owen rolled his eyes, "Of course he's Jack's ex. What do we need to do to get you to leave?"

"I just need to pick up three canisters. They provide the location to something valuable. If you help, I can make it worth your while."

Owen groaned, "I don't care; we just want you gone. You've already thrown one bloke off a roof, broken into our base, and made a fucking mess out of my med bay."

John frowned dramatically, "You lot are downers, I can see why Jack left. Will someone tell me who the hunky blond in the corner is? Fishie's report didn't mention him."

"Shawn Rollins. It's my first week." Shawn smiled and offered a handshake to taunt the handcuffed John.

John looked around at each team member suspiciously then asked, "So I'm dying to know: which one of you was Jack's lover?"

John was surprised at the unappreciative silence, "Really? No one? That is shocking."

Then Ianto walked back into the room and John rolled his eyes, "Oh that figures. Of course he picked the youngest and cutest."

Ianto looked around confused until Owen mouthed at him, don't ask.

Gwen who was almost back to normal stood up straight, "Here's what is going to happen. John, you are going to work with Toshiko so she can locate those canisters. Owen will go after the first, Shawn after the second, and I'll take our guest to find the third."

Shawn replied immediately, "Absolutely not. We are removing his wrist strap and locking him in the cells. Or do you want to be drugged twice in one night?"

Gwen looked embarrassed and mumbled, "Fine."

The team set out to find the canisters with Tosh accompanying Owen and Gwen and Shawn on their own. Ianto set about cleaning up the fish remains but couldn't concentrate. He felt he needed to talk to John so he went to visit him in the cells. The man, who Ianto concluded was quite mad, was shouting taunts to Janet the weevil.

"She doesn't like you." Ianto calmly explained as he approached John's cell.

"She just needs to get to know me." John grinned.

"Weevils are sensitive to time disturbances. You've travelled quite a distance haven't you?"

"That's quite a limp you've got. Does that have anything to do with your reaction earlier?"

Ianto didn't answer and instead just looked down dejectedly.

"Hey, look at me. It gets easier . . . with time. I promise."

Ianto looked up surprised to see such sincerity in the man's face.

"So Jack's gone then?" John inquired.

"Yeah, he left . . . with the Doctor." Ianto watched carefully for a reaction.

"The Doctor as in the Timelord Doctor?"

Ianto nodded and John let out a long whistle, "What has he gotten himself into now? Shit, he could be anywhere. I guess I'll probably never find him."

"Why are you looking for him? Does he owe you money?" Ianto quipped.

"Well yes, but that's not it. He just left. After everything we had together he just left without a word. He has this way about him, he makes me feel like . . ." John trailed off trying to find the right words.

"Like you're the most important person in his life." Ianto finished.

"Exactly. Then he just buggers off." Ianto sadly leaned against the wall and the two stood in silence except for Janet's occasional wail.

The team gathered around as John activated the canisters. No one was terribly surprised when the hologram announced that John had murdered her. However, John was beyond shocked when a bomb attached itself to his heart. He looked up with wide eyes begging for help.

Owen laughed, "We have a term for this on Earth: karma."

John looked around desperately and reached for Gwen's arm attaching a set of futuristic handcuffs. He then grinned as he swallowed the key.

Shawn, however, was not impressed, "This is solved easily enough." He then pulled out his pistol and aimed it at John's head.

"Whoa! Don't shoot." John then reached into his mouth and pulled out the key he had pretended to swallow.

John finally fell to his knees, "Please Ianto."

Their eyes connected for several moments and Ianto turned to Owen, "Can you do anything?"

Owen sighed loudly still smiling, "I think I have an idea."

Owen took off for the med bay and after a few minutes returned with a large syringe. He injected it straight into the device and it easily slid off.

Tosh looked on amazed, "What did you do?"

"I keep samples of all of our blood. The multiple DNA strands confused the device and caused it to release."

John sat on the floor exhausted from his panic as he looked up at Ianto and nodded appreciatively.

Gwen went and collected John's weapons and vortex manipulator, "You got what you came for. Now, please leave."

John arranged his accessories and opened his wrist strap to set his coordinates. Before he pressed the button, he reached over and pulled Ianto into a gentle kiss. As he pulled back, he whispered in Ianto's ear, "Be strong, it gets better."

John then stepped back and vanished in a flash of bright blue light.