"So all of that really happened?" Ianto asked the precise question that Jack was thinking over and over again all morning. But he was talking about something else entirely; instead of questioning the reality of everything that happened the night before, Ianto was referring to all the crazy stories Jack told over breakfast at a café attached to the hotel.
"Swear on a stack of holy books. It's all true."
"I really missed out. Being dead is rather boring compared to all that."
"Well I'm just glad you're here now." Jack was sitting close to Ianto, and his hand stroked up and down the Welshman's cheek lovingly.
They were sitting at a small round table and Jack's chair was not even eight inches from Ianto's. Despite the occasional odd stare from people, no one really cared about the obvious signs of affection that he and Ianto laid on thick while eating breakfast. Normally, before Ianto's death, they would have been slightly more reserved in such a public place. But they were hardly in the frame of mind to abide by social convention; Jack and Ianto were smitten lovers and they didn't give a damn about what other people might think or say.
"I… I have something I have to tell you, Jack." Ianto seemed a little apprehensive, and it made Jack's brow crease with concern.
"What is it?"
"It… kind of seems silly. I guess I should just be happy that I'm alive, right?"
"What are you talking about?" Jack was really getting concerned now.
"Jack I…" Ianto's voice cut off for a second, and he seemed as thought he might choke up. "I can't remember anything."
"What?"
"I mean… I can sort of remember things. But they're not… They're not like memories have ever been for me in the past. It's… I guess it's like when I've read a book; I remember the content, and perhaps feel emotions by placing myself in the character's shoes vicariously, but they're not… my own memories. They're not personal to me; I feel like I haven't lived my own life; the life I'm remembering."
Jack felt like he'd been punched in the gut. This was all because of him. By bringing Ianto back, he took away his identity; all his personal memories.
"So… your mom? Your dad?"
"I know who they are, and what they look like, but I hardly remember anything about them; or my childhood. I can't remember anything about growing up or where I went to school…" Ianto was officially overwhelmed at this point, and Jack could tell. He leaned in close and wrapped his arm around his lover protectively and comfortingly. Ianto accepted the embrace and rested his head against Jack's.
"Let's go home." Jack said after a little while. "We can talk more about it there, okay?"
"Okay." Ianto's voice was still shaky, but he seemed to have calmed down a little bit.
...XoXoXo...
At the Hub, which was currently the closest thing to a real home either of them had, Jack brought Ianto to his new office.
"Well at least there isn't any pink." Ianto said with a bittersweet tone. The shared sentiment made Jack smile. "It looks a lot like the last office, though I noticed the lock on the door handle."
"Gwen's a fast learner."
They shared a small laugh, recalling that one time…
"You do remember that?" Jack double checked.
"Yes, in… graphic detail." Ianto smiled that perfect half-blushing smile. It went away too quickly, giving way to a frown. "But it's confusing… it's almost as if it's your memory, Jack; it's like a story told from your perspective, not mine. I can remember everything we've ever done together; you and me. Other than that… my memories are just facts; little bits and pieces of information with no emotion tied to them at all."
Jack was solemn. He motioned for Ianto to take a seat on the desk, and he didn't say anything until Ianto looked plenty comfortable sitting down.
"Ianto… I have to tell you something. It's about how I brought you back. It's complicated, and I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around it myself, but it has to do with an entity that only existed through memory. His name is Adam. He's a mischievous son-of-a-bitch who we wiped from our memory years ago, and we thought that was the end of his existence. But it wasn't. He eventually hitchhiked on my memories of you; and once I remembered enough, he inserted himself into the memories I had of you. He told me, in a dream, that if I Retconned myself that I would forget you too, not just him. And… Obviously, I couldn't just forget you, Ianto. You're…"
The love of my life? The best thing that has ever happened to me? The only person keeping my humanity intact? Jack really didn't know how to put it to words without sounding frightfully cliché or cheesy.
"You're really important to me." He settled for that. For now. "And I think your memories are really my memories and knowledge of you. It's like the only things that you remember are things that I remember and already know about you.
"So I exist out of your mind? Only your memories?"
"Yes, essentially."
"Well..." Ianto got a little bit of cheeky grin on his face. "It's a real good thing that you know me implicitly, eh? I might be missing some bits otherwise..."
Jack gave a small laugh at that. "Yes I am very glad to see that my memory served me well."
They drew close for a kiss. But Ianto's face seemed to fall more and more solemn the longer the kiss went on. Jack pulled away and looked at his lover, scanning him over to see if he could deduce what was wrong.
"Something wrong?"
"No. I'm just... thinking."
"I'm sorry." Jack didn't really know what exactly he was apologizing for. Everything really; Ianto's loss of memory, his heritage and roots; all of it was gone, and all he knew now was his relationship with Jack, and his job with Torchwood.
"I guess I should be the one who's sorry, Jack. I know I used to make such good coffee, but I honestly don't remember how."
Jack thought about feigning a broken heart over the news,but he knew that Ianto was in a delicate place right now; no place for joking at the moment. "It's alright, Ianto. Even if I never drink another cup of coffee as long as I live, I'll still be the happiest man alive."
"That's good. But I'll try to learn how to do it again. That is at least something I can do. If I can't remember things, at least I can make new memories, right?"
"Right." Jack gave his lover a quick kiss for assurance.
"So this… Adam?" Ianto changed the subject. "He's the reason I'm here? He doesn't sound all that bad I guess…?"
"He manipulated me into remembering him, so he could exist. He used you as leverage. He knew I could never erase memories of you."
"Oh." Ianto nodded in understanding. "I guess this is a new one, eh? Back from the dead, due to a memory-based entity?"
"Well as far as resurrections go, yours is by far the sexiest." Jack smiled, trying to lighten the mood a little.
They were about to kiss, when Jack heard the distinct sound of the Hub door rolling open (yes, Gwen reinstalled the gear door.)
"Jack?" Gwen sounded alarmed; again. This was probably not good.
Jack planted a quick kiss on Ianto's lips before they both headed to the main room to see what Gwen was on about.
"Oi, lovebirds," Gwen greeted in her usual spunky fashion, though her brow was furrowed with worry.
"Did you see the news this morning?" She didn't wait for an answer once she realized just what she was asking. Of course they didn't see the news….
She pulled out her phone and tapped a few things on the screen before turning it so Ianto and Jack could see just what she was so concerned about.
"I got a notice this morning from our censoring software; some bloke is on the news, talking about us!"
The phone played a news video clip. Jack immediately recognized the man on the screen as Adam. He was in a suit. It looked so unfitting for a man of his short stature and informal features to be wearing a suit, and Jack almost laughed at the sight of it.
The digital banner on the bottom of the screen read, "Adam Lange, new leader of Anti Organized Crime Task Force, lists 'Torchwood' as top priority threat."
"Many of you don't know about them, but they've been always been here…" Adam spoke a little too solemnly, and again it almost made Jack laugh. "They've been creeping among the shadows, creating chaos and unleashing all manner of inhuman terrors on our great city of Cardiff. The time has come to bring an end to them, and all of their allies."
Adam then looked directly into the camera, and Jack knew it was a gaze meant specifically for him.
"Time has run out for Torchwood."
