RESIGNED PART 12

It had been another frustrating day with no sign of Ianto. Unfortunately the day-to-day business of torchwood prevented Jack from doing as much as he would have liked in order to search for his missing team member. It had taken the police a further two days to accept that Ianto was in fact missing and that his disappearance warranted their attention. Ianto's sister had not been able to add anything new to the investigation other than berating the police for their lack of interest. Another week had passed by and all of the torchwood team put in extra hours to try and locate their missing friend but had met with failure, even with their exceptional resources and experience. Owen had finally voiced the opinion that Ianto had deliberately disappeared himself and most likely committed suicide, or left the country. Both Gwen and Tosh whilst vocal in their disagreement with this assessment were quietly thinking that Owen was probably correct in his assumption. Jack however, could not bring himself to believe it though there was little he could do at this stage. Weevils, a downed NASA satellite and a delegation of off world visitors had to take priority and Jack was forced to rely on the local police force in the search for Ianto.

Emma had taken it upon herself, in her free time, to drive around many of the drop-in centres and soup kitchens in the South Wales area to see if perhaps Ianto could be found. She knew deep down it was unlikely that he would turn up in such a place but she didn't know what else to do. Emma missed her friend and landlord more than she thought possible. Over the short time that she had known him he had become her confidante, drinking buddy and good friend. On a couple of nights she had been accompanied by Ianto's enigmatic boss his handsome face set in a grim mask of determination and underlying sorrow.

Four weeks after he went missing Ianto suddenly turned up. Toshiko found him standing and looking dazed outside of the tourist office. Ianto was naked and cold but looked otherwise unharmed. She had run along the boards to hug him and he staggered back to get away from her his face drawn in fear and confusion. Toshiko backed away a pace and pulled out her mobile phone, it was 7am so there was no doubt that Jack would be awake by now.

"Jack, get up here with a blanket quickly. I found Ianto, we're right outside the tourist office. But come out gently he seems very afraid." She had to hold the phone away from her ear at his loud exclamation and then she hung up. Ianto was gazing at her his arms tightly wrapped around his naked torso in an effort to keep warm but he clearly had no idea who she was. Tosh smiled gently at him and held out her hands in a placative gesture.

"It's all right Ianto, it's me Toshiko, everything is going to be all right."

He simply gazed at her shivering with cold and then his eyes turned to the door that opened at his back. He watched as a strange handsome man stepped out with what looked like a blanket draped over his arm. There was a concerned frown on his face.

"Ianto, thank God you're all right." The blanket was held out and after shaking it the man gently reached forward to drape it over his shoulders. Jack looked mildly surprised as Ianto took a step back, but he reached out for the blanket snatching it from Jack's grasp and tugging it tightly about his body. He stood there wrapped in the folds, teeth chattering. Jack and Toshiko exchanged worried looks before they both faced Ianto with reassuring smiles on their faces.

"Ianto, let us take you inside in the warm." Toshiko carefully rested her hand against Ianto's arm and she gently nudged him encouraging him to come with her. To her relief he followed and Jack stepped in on his other side placing a hand on the small of Ianto's back to guide him forward.

"It's okay, you don't have to be frightened. We are your friends Ianto." Jack assured him as Ianto seemed hesitant for a moment. The young man allowed himself to be steered into the shelter of the tourist office and the door was closed behind them. A few moments later he was led through a strange round door to the sound of sirens as they stepped into the cavernous space of the hub. Jack and Toshiko were both taken by surprise as Ianto stopped on the threshold and gazed about with trepidation.

"It's all right you're safe here."

Ianto turned to look at Toshiko and cautiously hitched the faintest of smiles. "I know I'm supposed to recognise this place, but I don't remember it." It was said so quietly that they almost missed it. Jack gently rubbed circles over his back.

"It's all right, come on come and sit down over here, you're very cold we need to get you warmed up."

Ianto was compliant as he was led to the ratty couch and sat down. Jack immediately took a place at his side not wanting to let go and he looked up at Tosh who remained standing.

"Call Owen." He instructed.

Toshiko was already pressing her speed dial as she stepped to her desk and began to bring up the CCTV logs on her monitors. As she stepped away she could hear Jack talking soothingly to the man beside him.

Jack was careful to keep a respectable amount of distance so as not to panic the young man who was still gazing about as if he had never seen the hub before.

"Do you know who I am?"

Jack opened his mouth and then closed it again before speaking. "Yes, your name is Ianto Jones, this is where you work."

Ianto nodded. "Okay, I'm sorry I don't remember." He turned his wide blue gaze on Jack and Jack felt his heart painfully swell in his chest.

"What do you remember Ianto?"

Ianto appeared to think about it and then he shrugged. "I don't remember anything, I can't remember. I was just outside and I was cold. Are you sure that you know me because I have no idea who you are, but I know I should. Does that make sense?" He shuddered, still chilly.

"It's all right. We'll sort this out. I want to move you down to our medical bay so that our doctor can check you out when he gets here, is that all right?" Jack was relieved when Ianto nodded his agreement.

"What happened to me?"

Jack grasped a freezing cold hand and squeezed it gently. "I don't know. But try not to worry about that now let's just get you checked over and warmed up."

Ianto looked down at their linked hands feeling a little more comforted by the gesture. "All right, thank you."

"You're welcome."