thanks for everyone who reviewed the latest chapter! Special thanks to doctor-who-fangirl! you know why ;)
This chapter explains things you all wanted to know. Once more, the alien attack is just referred to, it wasn't shown in the story, so don't worry you haven't missed anything :)
"Did Ianto tell you anything?" Tosh inquired of Owen while Ianto was in search of Jack.
"About?" he looked at her.
"About what's going on... Gwen's condition, Jack's death, the alien research..."
"Why would he? No one ever confides in me," he noted sarcastically.
Tosh bit her lips, gazing at the keyboard in contemplation.
"If you ask me anyway, there's something between Gwen and Jack, believe me. And I bet Jack interfered with that, so Rhys killed him," he said confidently, sending a meaningful glance at her. "Rivalry never ends well."
"Rivalry?" Tosh pondered his words." You really think there's something going on between Jack and Gwen?"
"All I'm saying is...," he leaned forward conspiratorially, but he couldn't end the sentence as Jack emerged from the stairs, followed by Ianto.
"Is what?" Jack prompted, looking at Owen grimly.
Turning around, the doctor replied quickly, "That Rhys is in trouble. Big time."
If something was what Jack didn't want to hear, this was it. He didn't want to hurt Gwen even more. Seeing her like that was painful enough, and if there was more, he didn't know how that would end.
"I'm not paying you for bad news," Jack noted sarcastically.
"Don't kill the messenger, Jack," Owen retorted firmly. "I'm just doing my job. Not my fault if it's not only a merry-go-round all the way."
The Captain sighed concededly, "What did you find?"
"The alien that kidnapped Gwen was a Trelix. This species has tentacles like medusas, yet the difference is that their poison doesn't kill that quickly. It has a long term effect, taking over the victim's nervous-system and increases the extraction of adrenaline."
"What does it mean – does Rhys get angrier and more upset?" Ianto wondered loudly, looking at Owen.
"No. He's going insane," Jack stated ruefully, staring into space.
Tosh and Ianto's eyes were focused on him, demanding an explanation.
"That's right," Owen answered their unasked question. "The excessive production of adrenaline unbalances the hormone levels and accelerating aggression leads to destructive behaviour. And when the body can't handle this abnormal process anymore... boom! Nerves, veins and heart explode..."
Tosh covered her mouth, getting sick at the thought of the horror he was talking about. Breaking out in cold sweat, Ianto drew in a deep breath, seeming paler by the vivid images.
"There must be something we can do," Tosh insisted weakly, still struggling with her nausea.
Jack shook his head, still gazing at nothing.
"There's nothing we can do," he said with resignation.
"We must. He's Gwen's-" Ianto protested.
"I know who he is!" Jack snapped, glaring daggers at him. "I bloody do! Yet I can't do anything for him."
"You can't or don't want?" the words slipped out of the other man's mouth quietly, yet loud enough to Jack to hear. Having seen Jack at her bedside, Ianto couldn't help the sneer. Anyway as soon as he uttered them, he had already regretted every syllable.
If Jack's look could have killed, Ianto would have already been dead.
"Owen, go on with the research," Jack ordered without tearing his look away from Ianto. "You, into my office, now!" he hissed, his face just inches from the tea-boy's.