A/N: I'm really looking forward to the next few chapters and I hope you like them too. Or, at the very least I hope you don't chase me off the internet with pitchforks and torches.

Soundtrack: "More than a Memory" Garth Brooks

Disclaimer: I own the bartender, Everyone else belongs to RTD and the BBC.


Ianto tried his best to hope that Jack was coming back. He didn't sleep in his flat for the first two weeks so that if Jack came back in the middle of the night someone would be there. Eventually Gwen and Tosh managed to convince him to go home, even if it was just to pick up a different suit. He was ok for a couple of days, and then he found one of Jack's shirts in the laundry hamper while he was getting ready to do the wash. He carefully folded it and placed it in the top drawer of his bedside table. Would it ever get used again?

He spent a lot of time at the bar. He would read, or journal, or watch football with the other regulars. The only thing he wouldn't do was play darts. He couldn't bring himself to open the board. More than once he would have too many, stumble up the stairs to his home, and call one of his coworkers.

" Ianto? Is everything ok?"

" He's not coming back Tosh." She sat up in bed and turned on the lamp. It was 11:45 and Ianto had left work at 4. It sounded like he had been drinking straight through. "He's gone, He's not coming back."

" Ianto, don't say that. You know he'll come back when he can." If he can, she thought. Having fallen through time herself she knew getting back was easier said than done. "Jack wouldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"Except he did." Tosh heard a crash over the phone that sounded like Ianto had thrown something against the wall. She couldn't tell what though.

"Why don't you get some sleep, We can grab breakfast tomorrow on the way into work. Would that be good?" They were all taking turns making sure he actually ate and drank something that wasn't coffee or alcohol. Ianto agreed and hung up without saying goodbye. Tosh sighed and set her alarm for an hour earlier than she had it before. It didn't sound like Ianto would be moving quickly in the morning.

After a full month had passed, Ianto had come to his senses and was acting more like his old self. He was still too quiet and was likely to just go to the bar then go to bed than actually be social but no one worried about him anymore. He slept in the bunker on the days he really missed him. He believed if he was there he would be more likely to dream of Jack. It worked sometimes.

After about 6 weeks, Tom couldn't hold it in any more. He had to ask. He checked in on the older folks on the right side of the bar. Once he was sure he wasn`t going to be needed went over to the left side where Ianto was and poured the young man a drink. Ianto tried to pay him but Tom waved him off. Ianto smiled and tried to go back to his book.

"Mr Jones, can I ask you a question?" Ianto looked up and closed the book.

" Of course, and If you are buying me drinks can't you call me Ianto?"

" Mr Jones," Tom started ignoring the invitation. " I can't help but notice the Captain's been gone for some time. You two were working together right?" Ianto stiffened and proceeded with caution.

" He's my boss. I haven't seen him in awhile."

" Ah so he's off on business is he?"

" Something like that" Ianto was saved by a call on his mobile from Gwen telling him he was needed back at the hub. He downed his drink, thanked Tom and headed back to work.

They had settled into a routine. Gwen and Ianto split organization and liaison duties. The fewer people that were answering the phones the better. Especially because they were trying to keep Jack's disappearance quiet for fear of UNIT sweeping in to shut them down. Tosh and Owen stayed in their respective roles, but took on a few of Ianto's chores so he could handle the extra work. Ianto was starting to get more comfortable in the field, he didn't have much of a choice.

The first sign that life was truly starting to move on was when Gwen got engaged. She skipped into the hub and went to Tosh's desk first slamming her hand down on a book of alien proverbs. Tosh squealed in appreciation and gave her a big hug. This was enough to get Ianto's attention so he walked over to give the new fiancée a kiss on the cheek and a sincere congratulations Tosh ran to the kitchen and while there was no champagne, there was a can of cider. She poured it into 4 cups and gathered Owen from Janet cleaning duties.

"To Gwen and Rhys" Owen said " Better people than I for trying the forever thing."

" To Gwen and Rhys!" the team said together as they clinked glasses and drank their cider. They all fell silent, knowing as happy as they were, Jack would have been happier.