PART TEN

FALLOUT 1

7pm came much too quickly for Jack. He was distracted from his bedside vigil and dragged back into the business of Torchwood by the arrival of Gwen and Toshiko. Reluctantly he pulled himself away from Ianto who was still under sedation, cocooned in a blanket on the exam couch. Owen had already headed up the stairs and advised the girls to go and wait in the boardroom. Jack really didn't want to face them, but knew that there was no choice, whilst Ianto had been fully prepared to take responsibility for Storm's life; the consequences were most definitely Jack's bag to carry. He gently ran his fingers through Ianto's messed up hair and bent forward, kissing his forehead.

"I'll be back soon." He murmured. It was unlikely that Ianto would hear, Owen had given him enough sedative to stun an elephant. It wasn't that Jack had wanted Ianto sedated, but it had been the only way to calm him down. Owen had insisted, worried that Ianto's heart rate had rocketed as he howled out his distress. Five hours later and Ianto was still asleep and hooked up to Owen's monitors. Sighing Jack stepped away and gathering his resolve he headed up to the board room to face the team.

He sat at his customary place at the head of the table and dredged up a smile from somewhere. Gwen dipped her head and blushed slightly and Tosh just smiled back. Owen was picking at his fingernails. Not surprisingly it was Gwen who spoke first, never content to just wait.

"What's going on Jack? Where's Ianto?"

Jack rested his clasped hands on the table; he hadn't felt this nervous in a long time. Owen looked up at that point and their gazes locked, Jack appreciated the sympathetic look on the medic's face.

"Ianto's is resting under sedation. I made the decision today to have the Sparrow child terminated."

"You did what?" Gwen's eyes widened like saucers. Tosh shot her a glance but spoke much more softly.

"Is Ianto alright?"

Jack smile briefly at her. "Not really. Owen assessed that his medical health was being severely compromised by his attachment to the infant. It too was suffering because I limited Ianto's exposure to it in order to protect him. I had to make a choice. I made it and Ianto reluctantly agreed after Owen and I explained our options."

"Which were?" Gwen was verging venomous.

Jack glared at her. "You don't need the details Gwen....."

"Like hell, how is Ianto more important than an innocent child? How could you make that decision? You have no right!" Her hands bunched into fists.

Jack really wasn't in the mood for this. "My first priority is the safety of this team. There was nothing that could be done to help the Sparrow and Ianto was in serious danger, still is. I made the choice that is the end of the matter."

"Like hell it is. Jack its murder... wait a minute, you've gone and done it already, that's why you sent Tosh and me home." She could not keep the horror out of her voice. "Jesus Jack."

"Shut it Gwen!" Owen snapped and three heads turned toward him.

"You agreed to this?"

Owen nodded. "Actually I'd go so far as to say I recommended it. Keeping the child here with us was killing Ianto and separating them was hurting the child. We had no way to re-home him or send him back through the Rift to where he came from and Jack's help didn't show, get off your sanctimonious horse Cooper."

Gwen gaped for a moment before gathering herself. "I can't believe it, I've seen some horrible things since I started here Jack, but this is.... its just wrong, you killed a child."

"And I would do it again for the greater good Gwen."

"You mean Ianto."

"That's enough!" He slammed his fist down on to the table making Tosh jump. "Ianto has put himself through hell over the last ten days in order to prevent any of us from being exposed. He is grieving as if that thing were his own child. Now I do not want you upsetting him further by trying to discuss the matter with him, he's been through enough."

Gwen glared at him. "You think I would be that cruel Jack? I'm surprised he can stand to look at you."

Jack swallowed down a growl of frustration. "He wanted to protect me Gwen, from the guilt of having to take Storm's life. Ianto understood and accepted my decision; it was he who administered the lethal dose in order to protect me. He said that if he did it himself he'd have no reason to mad with me and Owen so right now all I care about is helping him through this."

"Fine Jack, but don't think for a moment that I am even remotely in agreement with what has been done." Gwen snapped, folding her arms across her chest.

The following awkward silence was broken by Tosh.

"If that's all, I'd like to see Ianto."

Owen got up. "Come on Tosh, he'll be asleep but I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you when he wakes up."

Toshiko followed Owen out of the room closing the door behind her, not really sure what to think about the whole thing and deciding it was best not to make judgement.

Gwen waited for them to leave before speaking again.

"I can't believe you Jack. I thought we were meant to be the good guys." She had gathered herself; there was no accusation in her tone now. Jack gave her a haunted look. "Sometimes hard decisions need to be made and no matter what you say; I stand by what we have done. Ultimately the only victim here is Ianto and that's because he cared too much."

"Surely that child is a victim?"

Jack met her look and Gwen shuddered.

"No. The child was a casualty Gwen, a casualty of the Rift. We did our best and in the end it is all we can do, sometimes it isn't good enough. This is one of those times. I meant what I said, tread carefully with Ianto, he will need us."

Finally she nodded, wondering how sad it was that she could see the truth of what Jack was saying, the terrible helplessness of some situations, she'd seen enough of them when she'd been on the force, this was no different. Gwen wondered how Ianto was going to handle it. But in the end she had to ask.

"Was it right Jack? Can you tell me that what you did was right?"

He looked at her, long and hard amazed at how ridiculously innocent and naive she could still be sometimes.

"Right? Yes. Easy? No. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be with Ianto when he wakes up."

Gwen smiled at him, recognising how much he was hurting. "I think we all do...... I'm sorry Jack."

He stood up feeling a little awkward. "About what?"

"My reaction..... I suppose.... I was shocked."

Jack nodded. "I am glad that you were, it's why you are here Gwen, to keep reminding us."

"I don't think that's going to be much comfort for poor Ianto though is it."

AN: so that was supposed to be the final part, but no there's one more twist in the tale....... duh!