Will hope – and your faith in me – be rewarded? Read on and find out …

Five Go Mad in 1969

Chapter Twenty One

Cardiff remained quiet. Perhaps the Rift had decided to give them a break for once. Whatever the reason, the depleted Torchwood team spent the morning on housekeeping tasks, all the while monitoring progress in London. Sandra passed Martin's medical examination and took over monitoring the search for Jack. There was a spate of sightings which got their hopes up but each was found to be false; a lot of men adopted the military look even on a warm Sunday in July. Martin departed to check on Mac – still doing well and champing at the bit to return to duty – and stayed at the clinic to attend his other patients. Rhys pottered around the Hub doing some of Ianto's tasks in between attempts to deflate the life raft. As lunchtime approached, he found the ingredients for a lasagne and stayed in the kitchen, humming to himself.

Gwen paced back and forward like a caged lion. All the action was in London and she felt left out. Her friends were missing and she wanted to do something to help. As there was nothing she could do she bothered Sandra instead, hovering behind her and pouncing every time a sighting of Jack was reported. When even the placid Sandra told her to go away, Gwen made a quick trip to the flat in Kent Street to pet and feed Myfanwy but also to check Jack had not turned up there. He hadn't. Returning, she shut herself in the office. With her feet on the desk she leant back in the chair. Ianto was being sought and, if he had got away from Canary Wharf, they would track him down eventually. It was Jack who bothered her. Where would he go? There was America, of course, but he'd need a passport to leave the country and she had found that at the flat. This also ruled out other foreign countries. He had to be in the UK. Would he choose a city or the countryside? A city, she decided. Hiding among thousands – millions if he stayed in London – would be pretty easy for someone with his training. With this in mind, she checked all the sightings that had come in from the city, plotting them on a large map. She was busy doing this when the telephone rang.

It was Owen. "Hi. Thought you'd want to know we've whittled the options down to five. Three men in hospital and two in police custody. We're going to check them out."

"This is Ianto?"

"'Course it is!"

"Don't shout at me! I've been working on finding Jack."

"Any joy?"

"No."

"Right. We'll let you know if we find Ianto."

"Good luck."

"Same to you. Talk to you soon."

She carefully replaced the telephone receiver. "Please God you find him," she murmured.

"Something happened?" Rhys stood in the doorway, a tea towel tucked into his belt like an apron.

"They're going to see some possible Iantos."

"That's good. Lunch in ten minutes." He returned to the kitchen and Gwen turned back to the map.

-ooOoo-

Toshiko drove and Owen navigated between police stations and hospitals, the closest first. He knew the area pretty well but as a pedestrian which caused a few arguments as he tried to direct her down pedestrianised alleys and arcades. Their hopes were dashed at Millwall police station; the man found wandering the streets the previous evening was not Ianto. Heading north, they went to a small private medical clinic that had taken in a number of people injured and/or traumatised by the Cybermen. Again, the unidentified man was not Ianto.

Moving on to Poplar Hospital, they found the man they had come to see had been identified by his wife an hour earlier. With only two options left, and moving ever further from Canary Wharf, they headed for Mile End Hospital. And got lost. Tempers boiled over and heated words were exchanged before they finally got on the right side of the one-way system. Both were in a huff and not expecting much as they walked down a long corridor to see 'a Russian or other Eastern European man about thirty years old' who had been found unconscious in Limehouse.

The sister led them to a bed at the end of the ward. "He's severely concussed from the head wound. He's speaking, rambling really, but as he speaks nothing but Russian we're not getting very far with him."

"Why are the curtains drawn?" asked Owen.

"He's quieter with a bit of privacy." The sister pulled the curtain back. "Here he is."

The man lay propped up on many pillows, his head bandaged. The only other visible injury were cuts to his hands. His eyes were open but not focussing and he did not react to their presence. He was saying one word over and over. "Dihangfa. Dihangfa."

Toshiko gasped. "Ianto! Oh, Ianto, it's you." Tears ran down her cheeks as she bent over him, stroking his face. "Everything's fine now, Ianto. Everything's fine."

Owen put a hand on the bed, afraid his knees would give way. He had not quite believed they would find Ianto alive and certainly not in reasonable shape. But they had, miracles did happen. He laughed with happiness.

The sister took the chart from the foot of the bed. With a swipe she crossed out 'unknown' and asked, "What did you say his name was?"

"Jones. Ianto Jones," Toshiko said, not looking up. Her happy gaze fixed on Ianto's face.

"That doesn't sound very Russian."

"Probably because he's Welsh," said Owen. "Let me have a look at that."

The sister held onto the chart possessively. "Not before I get Doctor Wells."

"I'm Ianto's doctor from right now. I want him moved to a private room and I want it done pronto. Understand me?" He pulled the chart from her hands.

-ooOoo-

Mr Sato looked up when Suzie entered the room with two UNIT troopers. He watched as the troopers deposited the crates they were carrying and left. He looked at her enquiringly.

She delved into the crate and pulled out a round green object. "Fostec communicators. Thought they'd be useful."

"How many?"

"Couple of dozen. There's some other bits and pieces too. London always kept the good stuff for themselves."

"And the doors?"

She pulled out a chair and sat down. "Closed. The basement is sealed."

They had agreed it was impractical to salvage the artefacts in the London archives. The spaceships were of no practical use and far too large to move unnoticed. Trying to work out the purpose of the hodgepodge of other items, many hundreds of them, would take too long for their scant resources. All was now locked behind the blast-proof steel doors. As the basement was built of ten foot thick steel, it was impregnable.

"Excellent. The toxin?"

"Released an hour ago. They're dead by now." The cells held few occupants but again it was impractical to move them. In any case, a quick and painless end was preferable to a lifetime's incarceration.

"Regrettable but necessary," he said.

"I know. Some of them were –" She broke off when the telephone rang.

"Excuse me." Mr Sato picked up the receiver. "Hello."

Suzie watched his face and listened to the one-sided conversation. She knew him well enough to know it was good news and that one of the missing men had been found but wasn't sure which one until his last words.

"I leave everything in your hands, Owen." He replaced the receiver.

"They found Ianto?" she asked. Her earlier mistake still preyed on her mind - she had been so stupid.

"Yes. He is in Mile End Hospital. Severe concussion from a head wound."

"Thank God!"

"He cannot be moved so will have to stay in London for the time being." He had hoped to get his team back to Cardiff later that day but that was now impossible. Owen was insisting on staying as might Toshiko. It was a logistical nightmare. "Owen wants Mrs Jones told, and brought to London."

"Which means Gwen's got to be here. They all think she's here already." She laughed wryly. "We're all in the wrong place!"

"Then we must start getting into the correct places."

-ooOoo-

As soon as she heard the happy news Mrs Jones packed a bag and got a train to London. After a day of worry she had to see her son for herself. Rhiannon waved her off and promised to notify everyone who had been aware Ianto was missing as well as look after Michael and the house while her mother was gone. Before the train had reached Newport, a UNIT helicopter brought Mr Sato to Cardiff Airport. Gwen was waiting, a few clothes for herself and Owen in an overnight bag. After a few words, she climbed aboard and was whisked to London. Rhys waved her off and drove Mr Sato to the Hub.

Two and bit hours later Mrs Jones arrived at Paddington station. Gwen was there to meet her. She had been briefed on the agreed story but it was all a bit of a blur. So much had happened in such a short space of time that it felt like a dream. She went over it one last time as the train pulled in and the passengers alighted. Mrs Jones's tall figure in a light coat stood out from the rest and Gwen went to greet her.

"Hello, Mrs Jones. Let me take your bag."

"Gwen, thank you. How is he? Can I see him?"

"We'll go right now. Taxis are this way."

In the taxi, Mrs Jones was too concerned about Ianto to ask many questions. She gripped her handbag and stared out at the London streets seeing little. She listened to Gwen's account but only when Owen was mentioned did she react. "Owen's here?" She had been told he was still at the hospital in Cardiff.

"He came up last night. You see, we thought Ianto was dead. We didn't say anything until we were sure and I'm really glad we didn't because it wasn't him. He's very much alive."

"A head wound, you said. They can be serious."

"The doctors are taking very good care of him. Owen's making sure of that. Ianto's concussed and not with it at the moment but Owen says that's normal and he'll come out of it soon." Gwen didn't mind repeating herself, clearly Mrs Jones was too distracted to take much in.

"I've heard of concussions. Mrs Brown's boy had one. He was all right."

"And Ianto will be too." The taxi drew up before the hospital. Gwen, who had not been there before, was pleased Owen was waiting at the door. "Here we are."

Owen came over as Gwen paid the driver. "Auntie Enid, come here." He hugged her tight. The past twenty-four hours of worry had left their mark on her. "Let's go see Ianto."

He took her arm and led the way, Gwen following behind. The small private room was functional like all of its kind but it did have a view of grass and roses out of the window. Owen placed his aunt in the chair standing ready at the bedside. He stepped back and stood with Gwen near the door. Experience had taught him that relatives didn't hear anything in these first few minutes, they were too busy assessing the patient for themselves.

"Tosh?" asked Gwen quietly.

"Gone to Canary Wharf," he answered as quietly. "She and Suzie are clearing up there. Aim to leave later tonight or early tomorrow."

"And I stay until when?"

He shrugged. "Probably tomorrow. I'll be here with Ianto until he's fit to travel. Did you bring me some clean clothes?" He had been wearing the same ones for two days now, had slept in them, and they were beginning to smell.

"UNIT took them to the hotel."

"Told her about Jack yet?"

"No. She hasn't asked. Can't really take it all in."

"Not surprised." He stepped forward when Mrs Jones looked round. "Okay? I know the bandage looks a bit frightening but it's not serious."

"He's telling me to go away," she said tearfully.

"Is that what it means? He's only just changed to that one." Ianto was mumbling cer ar gerdded over and over. "Don't take any notice, he doesn't mean you. Accident victims relive it over and over. He's telling himself to get away."

"You're sure? I mean, if he doesn't want me here –"

"Nonsense. He needs you more than anyone. Try talking to him and he'll start to calm down, you'll see. Best use Welsh as he's reverted."

Half-listening to the conversation, Gwen moved round to the other side of the bed and got her first close look at Ianto. The bandage covered the blow above the ear that had caused his concussion. According to Owen it was consistent with a fall, which also accounted for the various cuts and bruises to his hands and body. No one would know for sure until Ianto regained his senses and told them. She ran a hand down his arm and held his hand briefly. He was alive. He had made it out of Canary Wharf when so many had not. Her happiness at his survival was tinged with sadness; if only Jack had waited a few more hours.

-ooOoo-

Following Mr Sato's departure, Suzie had her hands full dealing with the hundred and one matters to be resolved before she could follow him. Her priority was the security of the site which necessitated blowing up the building. Getting Major Bisley back, she negotiated for UNIT's services. They would bring in specialists to wire up the explosives in return for most of the large fleet of vehicles in the car park. They would also take on Captain Waites and his crew with the two boats. Very soon the demolition team were assessing the building and the vehicles – all but two vans Suzie was keeping back – were driven away. The next hour was spent in the offices of various senior managers collecting the most sensitive files. She was in the Finance Director's room when Toshiko came looking for her.

"I'm back. What do you need?" Toshiko was still floating on a cloud of happiness from finding Ianto alive and, relatively, well. She had wanted to stay but finally given in to her father's arguments to return to Cardiff as soon as possible, for her mother's sake as much as anything. They had spoken on the telephone but Mrs Sato was worried about her daughter.

"Any good at safe breaking?" The walk-in safe was massive and opened by a combination lock.

"Try 31, 12, 79."

Suzie looked at her quizzically but tried it anyway. The lock clicked and the door opened. "How did you know?"

"The original Torchwood Charter was dated 31 December 1879. Those numbers are used a lot." Toshiko walked round the desk until she could see into the safe. "Oh, my Lord." The safe was stuffed with bundles of money in all denominations and currencies. Seven gold bars were piled on the floor. "How much is in there?"

Suzie had one bundle of £20 notes. It was bound with a paper wrapper that read £5000. There were hundreds more just like it. "A lot."

"Will there be room to take it?" She and Suzie were planning to load all the salvaged material in the two vans and drive to Cardiff overnight.

"No. I'll talk to Bisley. Get him to store it for us."

"Better count it first. Shall I get on with sorting the server?" asked Toshiko.

Suzie turned her back on the safe. "Please. Backup everything you consider of interest before turning it off. We need personnel records and contacts as well as operational stuff and the databases." She checked the clock. "It's four now. UNIT are planning on blowing the place up at ten. You have six hours."

"I'll get cracking."

"Tosh, how's Ianto?"

Toshiko smiled broadly. "Good. Concussed and out of it still but he'll be okay."

"I'm sorry I messed up. If we'd –"

"Suzie, stop it. We found him and he's okay. And we'll find Jack too. Nothing will keep those two apart for long."

"You're right. Better get on." She was relieved Toshiko did not blame her for the mix-up.

The two women worked solidly for the rest of the evening. Toshiko filled 493 floppy disks before pulling the plug on the file server and disconnecting it from the wall housing. Five UNIT troopers carried it to the largest of the two vans parked outside. Wedged in by crates of files, it would be safe on the journey to Cardiff. Suzie, meanwhile, packed the money. It went into heavy bags and then into crates which she sealed. UNIT took charge of all but one crate which went into the smaller van. They stopped for a quick meal around eight, checking with Cardiff and Owen, then went round the offices and storerooms scavenging items small enough to fit in the vans and which would be useful. By the time they had finished both vans were crammed to bursting and riding low on their axles.

At four minutes past ten a series of controlled explosions brought down the building burying the basement and its contents under tons of rubble. Torchwood London was gone forever.

Ianto's alive – yay! Now they just have to find Jack …

By the way, according to an online translator, dihangfa means escape and cer ar gerdded, get away.