In the warehouse two Varangi were leaning against the wall, looking bored. One yawned. "This is ridiculous," he mumbled. "We've been up all night."

"Boss said the prisoner's dangerous, needs to be watched," the other mentioned.

The first one pointed at the bound figure slumped in a corner. "He's been in a neural tap all night, people aren't usually dangerous after that." He yawned again. "I could use some sleep." He stood away from the wall and headed for the exit.

"Where are you going?" called his friend.

"Take a leak."

"Better be back quick, then. You know how the boss'll react if he calls and we're not both here."

"Yeah, yeah."

The remaining Varangi wandered aimlessly around the room for a few moments. Then he yelled towards the door, "You fallen asleep or something?" He heard a noise behind him, and started to turn, as something hard struck the side of his head. He fell, stunned, and a second blow knocked him out completely.

Jack dropped the rusted hammer that had been lying unseen in the same dark corner they'd dumped him. "Three mistakes," he whispered. "Your buddy left the room, you turned your back, and you spoke." He swayed, pulling the remains of rope from his wrists, the ends frayed against the rough stones of the building wall. He tried to ignore his excruciating headache and picture the room as he'd seen it. Eventually he turned to the left and walked forward, counting. On the third step he bumped into the table, swept his hands over it, and picked up the wristcomp, fumbling with the straps as he put it back on. He then turned left again, and counted six steps forward, then left again and another four steps. He reached out, praying he'd calculated correctly, and nearly laughed aloud as his hand closed around the lever that opened the goods chute. He crouched down identifying the outlines of the trap door, and stepped onto it, just as he heard footsteps in the corridor.

Jack pulled the lever and fell, hitting the water several seconds later. He heard distant shouting as the current swept him away, and thought he heard the sound of a gun firing. After that he just concentrated on staying afloat. The waterway had never had a particularly fast current, he remembered, so he stayed in the water as long as possible before pain and exhaustion forced him to start swimming for land.

Finally he staggered ashore, estimating by the feel of the sun it was early to mid afternoon, nearly 24 hours since he'd parted from the Doctor. He slumped down on the ground wearily. Now that he had escaped, the appearance of strength he had constructed to prevent the Master from seeing his fear was collapsing like the house of cards it had been all along. His hand shook as he tapped a code into his wristcomp, sending a signal that would be picked up by the TARDIS. He bowed his head, hoping the others would come soon.

In less than a minute he heard the TARDIS materialise, and the doors open. "Where the hell … Jack?" Footsteps crunched over the gravel surface, and hands touched his face, lifting his head. Suddenly the Doctor asked a question that chilled Jack to the bone. "Where's Ianto?"

"Isn't he with you?" Jack croaked, aghast.

"No." The Doctor helped him up and guided him towards the TARDIS.

"But I told him to go back to the TARDIS," Jack continued. "Why … what … we've got to find him!"

"We will," said the Doctor soothingly. "Don't worry." He left Jack for a moment while he moved the TARDIS.

"Where are we?" Jack asked, hearing the TARDIS land.

"Back where we started," said the Doctor, taking Jack's arm again, noting the trembling he could feel.

In the medical unit Jack stripped off his wet clothes and accepted the towels and dry clothes the Doctor brought him. "You don't need to stay," he said. "Go look for Ianto."

"I have a scan for human DNA running," the Doctor said. "The TARDIS will tell me if she finds anything." He took Jack's arm again as he staggered, guiding him to the bed. "Lie down." He made Jack drink some water, and took a medical scanner and ran it over his eyes, sensing from Jack a horror that the other man was trying but failing to suppress. So even as he asked the question he had a feeling he knew what the answer would be. "Who did this to you?" He began to spread a salve over the burns around Jack's eyes.

"Him."

"Him who?" Jack tapped his fingers against the side of the bed, confirming the Doctor's worst fears. "Oh. That him." Physical shock mixed in with an anxiety attack, the Doctor thought as Jack's shaking increased. "The blindness is only temporary," he continued, "as I'm sure you know. At the rate you heal it should be a day or two instead of the weeks it would usually take." As he spoke he went to an electronic device and input some data, finally extracting a hypodermic. "It's brought it all back, hasn't it?" Jack didn't answer, only flinched as the Doctor injected him. "Painkiller and sedative," he explained. "Rest now. I'll keep looking for Ianto." He laid a hand on Jack's forehead. "I'm sorry this happened."

"Did you know he was here?"

The Doctor was silent for a moment. "It's not like a homing signal … I thought he was somewhere on the planet."

"You should have told me."

"I ….didn't want to worry you."

Jack didn't respond to that, but instead said, the agitation in his voice increasing, "Doc, how … how is it still him? I thought he would have regenerated, but he's not. It's still him. You burned him, I saw you, he's toast, how …"

The Doctor stopped him by laying a finger against his lips. "Ssh, I don't know. Go to sleep now."

Jack's eyes closed. "Find Ianto."

"I will."