Jack staggered forward, his back still protesting from his fall. He could feel his body striving to heal itself, protesting against the movement. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered as long as Ianto was lying inches from freezing cold water on ice that could break at any moment. If the ice splintered, if Ianto fell into the water with no way of getting warm quickly he would freeze.

Taking a cautious step forward, Jack crouched down on the ice, not daring move too quickly in case the ice was unable to hold his added weight. He crept across the ice, waiting until he was next to the fence before reaching out to Ianto.

His fingers traced the edge of one cuff, curling around Ianto's wrist. Jack leant forward, ducking below the barrier and reaching for Ianto. He had got his hands under Ianto's arms and begun to slide him closer when there was a sharp noise and a hairline crack appeared in the ice beneath Ianto. Jack froze, listening to the ice creaking beneath them and watching the crack slowly lengthen. Then, reinforcing his grip on Ianto, trying not to disturb the ice, he threw himself backwards, landing heavily on his back, Ianto's unconscious body atop him. It hadn't been a moment too soon. The ice cracked, a huge chunk dislodging and bobbing on the water. Jack lay breathing deeply, trying not to imagine how close they had come to plunging into the icy cold depths.

Ignoring his protesting body, Jack rolled Ianto onto his back and knelt beside him. Ianto was still unconscious, the head wound a deep gash. It looked as if he had hit a rock when he had fallen.

"Come on, Ianto, wake up," Jack muttered, brushing the blood away from Ianto's forehead. Ianto would have a nasty headache when he woke, and more than likely a severe concussion. Jack desperately wanted him awake so he could get the cut seen to. Without thinking of the consequences, Jack bent to press his lips against Ianto's, pushing some of his boundless life energy into Ianto, willing it to speed up the healing process.

The feel of Ianto's lips against his was almost too much for Jack. His tongue slid into his mouth, caressing Ianto's. It took him a moment to realise that Ianto had come to, and had stiffened beneath him. When he realised that he jerked back, staring into Ianto's terrified eyes.

Ianto froze as he realised Jack was kissing him. The man's lips were pressed against his, his tongue in his mouth. And after all the protests he had made over not wanting to rape him. Ianto felt his entire body stiffen, tears springing to his eyes as an involuntary moan passed his lips.

Jack pulled away in an instant, scrabbling backwards and to his feet. "Ianto, I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me." He backed away, holding his hands up in defence. "I swear, Ianto, I wasn't trying anything on."

Ianto's breathing calmed now Jack was further away. He raised his hand to his head, wincing when it came away bloody. He turned his gaze back to Jack, eyes wide and fearful as he pulled himself into a sitting position. The kiss was unlike everything he had ever known with his previous Master; those had been harsh and bruising, but Jack's kiss had been gentle without the slightest hint of pain.

Jack held out a hand to help him up. "Would you believe I was giving you the kiss of life?"

Ianto hesitated; Jack had been given many opportunities to rape him. Why would he attempt it in public? Making his decision he reached out, using Jack's hand to help him climb to his feet. He was pleasantly surprised when Jack gave his hand a quick squeeze.

"I'm sorry if I frightened you. That was not my intention."

Jack didn't release Ianto's hand instantly and Ianto was surprised to find that he didn't find it entirely repulsive. There was no cruelty in Jack's touch, just gentleness and a desperate need to be close. Ianto didn't understand it; touch had always equated pain, never the kindness that Jack seemed determined to shower him with.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked, gesturing to Ianto's cut. He still hadn't released Ianto's hand; in fact, his grip seemed to have tightened marginally.

"I'm fine," Ianto replied, and then at Jack's prompting look added, "My head hurts a little,"

Jack frowned. "That's hardly surprising, given that cut – you might have concussion. I'm going to need you to tell me if you feel anything strange. I don't need you blacking out on me, okay?"

Ianto nodded, finally glancing around at the other people who had been in the cars. Some were hurrying around, helping the injured, while others sat staring around in confusion. Glancing back to Jack he found the man staring at him, a strange smile on his face.

"You want to help?" he asked, his smile seeming to grow at Ianto's timid nod. "Go on then, but don't over exert yourself, ok? I'll be over with the Doctor if you need me."

Jack hurried away towards the Doctor, leaving Ianto to pick his way back towards the carnage. It was rough going as Ianto's body ached and the ground was slippery. Eventually, he reached the side of the nearest victim, a middle aged woman in a coat decorated with peacock feathers. She was wincing, pressing at her ankle gingerly. Ianto knelt beside her.

"May I help you, ma'am?"

She gave him a withering look, snapping, "What does it look like, young man. Of course I want some help. I think my ankle is broken."

Ianto flinched at her tone. It was exactly the way his Master had spoken to him: snapped orders or reprimands that never failed to make him feel worthless. Still, they were best not ignored. He pushed the woman's hands aside gently, taking hold of her ankle in his own hands. He was no medical expert but he had been forced to treat many of his own injuries in his time as a slave and knew how to heal small wounds.

The woman cried out in pain as Ianto felt around her ankle, drawing startled looks from several nearby people. Ianto ignored the heated glares, finally glancing back at the woman and smiling faintly. "I don't think it's broken, ma'am, just badly twisted. Try not to move it until we get back to the complex. I'll come back and help you to the carriage when we leave, if you like."

The woman smiled slightly. "That would be kind of you, thank you for your help."

Ianto was surprised by the change of tone but managed to smile at the woman before climbing to his feet and making his way to the next victim. Chancing a glance at Jack, he found the man kneeling beside a young girl, using gentle hands to treat a cut in her leg. As if sensing Ianto watching, Jack looked up and smiled. Ianto looked away instantly, turning his attention to an old man sitting in one of the undamaged carriages.

As he treated the man's injuries, Ianto found his thoughts drifting back to Jack and the kindness he had shown. The longer Jack's kind words and gentle touches continued the more Ianto found himself convinced that they were for real. Doubt still clung to him, refusing to yield its grip and allow Ianto to trust Jack – after all, hadn't he kissed Ianto, despite his promise that he didn't want Ianto in that way?

"Ianto."

The voice startled him out of his thoughts, and turning he found himself looking up at the Doctor.

"I thought you might need some bandages, they've got a first aid kit in every car, I managed to rescue one of them," the Doctor explained, holding out a roll of bandages and some antiseptic. "Me and Jack are going to try and fix up one of these cars. Once we're done I'm taking the more severely injured people back to the complex; you're coming with me." He pointed a finger at Ianto. "Don't argue. Jack told me you'd banged your head."

Ianto nodded. It was hard not to like and respect the Doctor, harder still to believe that he would ever harm him in any way. Ianto had begun to doubt that the Doctor would allow anyone to travel with him who was not completely trustworthy, and yet the niggling doubt remained. Ianto knew there was no reason for him to mistrust Jack – other that the obvious one that he had bought him at auction. He was Jack's slave, even if Jack didn't wish to acknowledge that. Still, there was some niggling feeling at the back of his mind that suggested Jack wasn't being entirely honest with him.

"He still doesn't trust me," Jack sighed, leaning heavily against the car as the Doctor tried to fix it with the help of the sonic screwdriver. "I don't know how I'm ever going to get him back if he doesn't trust me."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow and grinned at Jack. "I think he trusts you more than you realise," he observed, "And I also think you have to give him time. He's been through quite an ordeal – he's not going to recover overnight." He held the sonic screwdriver against another part of the car, tongue protruding from the corner of his mouth as he concentrated. Satisfied, he sat back on his heels and looked up at Jack. "And you shouldn't be so certain that he'll ever be the same. Even if he gets his memories back, he might never fully recover from what he's been through. I hope he will, and from what you've told me I expect he will, but I can't be certain."

Jack ran a hand over his face. "I don't care if it takes a lot of time and patience. I need him back. I need him to trust me – even if it takes a little longer for him to love me again, I can wait; I've done it before."

He would have waited forever for Ianto; he had promised that once before, the night he had returned. He had gone to Ianto, reiterating his promise of a date, and when the Welshman had seemed doubtful had jokingly asked Ianto if he trusted him. 'Always with my life. I'm not so sure about my heart,' Ianto had replied with a small shrug. Jack had sworn he would wait and would gain that trust back bit by bit, but it hadn't been until the night before they had sent Tommy back to his own time that Ianto had fully relinquished his heart to Jack.

Jack was fully aware that even if Ianto were to regain his memories there would be a long wait before he was able to hold Ianto in his arms and make love to him without him becoming fearful, but if that point was ever going to be reached, he was determined that it would be in Ianto's time, not his.

The Doctor let out a cry of elation as the car sprang to life, turning to face Jack. "Right, we'll get the stable carriages attached and I can drive the more seriously injured back to the complex. If I take Ianto with me, would you be happy to stay here? I want someone I can trust to be reliable keeping order."

Jack hesitated. He wasn't pleased about letting Ianto out of his sight; even now he had positioned himself so he could see the Welshman if he turned just a fraction. Even though he knew that Ianto would be safe with the Doctor, and that he needed to get back to the complex rather than stay with Jack. He nodded. "Alright, but I'll want you to keep an eye on him at all times. Promise me nothing will happen to him."

The Doctor met Jack's gaze levelly. "You know I won't let anything happen to him, Jack." He patted the Captain's shoulder reassuringly. "Now, let's get this car sorted out."

Ianto glanced over when he heard the car spring to life. He managed a tiny smile at the prospect of getting back to the complex. His head was starting to pound and although he had promised Jack that he would admit to any pains he didn't want to seem weak or bother Jack with trivialities. Jack had his hands full taking care of the others – he didn't need to be bothered by Ianto as well. Wincing slightly, Ianto looked around in search of his next patient. He had only just started making his way over to a young woman with a bawling child when a heavy hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Well, aren't we a good boy," Talomi's voice hissed close to his ear. "Now, you're going to stay very quiet and come with me. If you do anything to attract attention I will kill you."

Ianto swallowed, glancing around at the alien who only dug his fingers in tighter, sending sparks of pain shooting through his shoulders. Whimpering, Ianto glanced over to Jack, hoping the man would notice his predicament, but both he and the Doctor were wresting one of the carriages into position and neither looked across as Talomi began to lead Ianto away from the carriages, towards the caves.

Ianto knew he could have fought, pulled away or shouted for help, but he didn't doubt that Talomi would not hesitate to kill him. Once death had been longed for, but now Ianto found it an unwelcome idea. He didn't want to die, he realised; he wanted Jack to notice what was going on and come to his aid.

"Please, sir," he begged Talomi. "I was told to stay here and help these people."

He tried to pull away, whimpering when the fingers dug in sharply.

"You'll shut up if you know what's good for you," Talomi hissed. "You can get back to work when I'm done."

Ianto flinched as he realised what Talomi intended. He had thought the movement imperceptible but the snigger from his captor told a different story. "Still scared of me, then?" Talomi mocked. "That's just how it should be."

He shoved Ianto forward, pushing him into the caves. Had Ianto been anything short of terrified, he would have been amazed by the natural beauty of the caverns. The rays of sunlight danced off small crystals set in the rock and the icicles that hung from the roof. There was no time, nor inclination, to admire it as Ianto was shoved backwards against the wall. He cried out as the hard rock dug into his back, tears springing to his eyes as Talomi began to fumble with the button on his jeans.

Jack paused in his task, wiping his hands on his trousers. Glancing over at the other survivors, he searched for Ianto. The young man, however, remained elusive. Jack frowned, scanning the crowd once more before turning to the Doctor.

"Can you see Ianto?"

The Doctor glanced over, shaking his head as he looked around. "No, but I'm sure he's around somewhere."

Jack nodded, but didn't pause in his search for Ianto. There was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that grew with every moment Ianto remained unseen. He turned from person to person, but none were Ianto.

"I'm going to look for him," he called to the Doctor, hurrying over to the crowds of people. The closer he got the more certain he became that Ianto had disappeared. Jack felt himself turn cold, the unease growing with every step.

"Ianto!" he called, stopping in the midst of the survivors. Ianto had vanished; whether it was of his own will or against it, he was gone. Jack scanned the horizon, hoping that Ianto had not fled into the snow. He would surely freeze before he got far. "Ianto!" he called again, adding in an undertone, "Don't do this to me again – I've only just found you. Please, Ianto!"

"If you're looking for the young man you were with, he headed towards the caves with another man not five minutes ago." Jack looked across to the young woman who had spoken. She cuddled a young child close, trying to quieten his cries. She caught Jack's eye. "Your friend didn't look t happy about it, I must say."

Jack paled, not needing to hear anymore. Talomi had been on the second car. He had taken Ianto. Jack tried not to imagine what he was doing to Ianto, but the images came to his mind regardless. He turned on his heel and rushed towards the caves, moving as quickly as he could on the ice.

If Talomi had hurt Ianto, Jack didn't think he had the willpower to stop himself from tearing the man apart with his bare hands.