8.

Suzie beamed at Jack. "Really?"

He nodded gravely. "Don't get too excited. We're dealing with a serial killer here. I approve the use of the gauntlet on the victims … we could ask them who it was and tell the police."

Suzie forced herself not to react too strongly. For the last month, ever since the Vernae had left through the Rift, she'd tried to get Jack to approve the first experiments on dead people and when he thought that stopping that killing spree was good enough reason, Suzie didn't mind at all. It was she who provided herself with that opportunity after all. Three men had died for her. She would kill a fourth tonight, a man who would finally be a subject for the glove. He wouldn't be able to identify her, though. She would stay away from the line of sight of the dead and let Jack ask the questions. That way, she would be able to practice and maybe … maybe she would be able to keep people alive for longer than a few seconds. Maybe even, with enough practice, forever. What were a few lives in comparison to that?

She let some curiosity show. "But you always say that you don't like the police. Why do them any favors?"

"I don't like them when they get in my way. And I think it would be good if they owed us a favor."

Suzie nodded. "Right."

The alarms sounded and Suzie looked towards the entrance, as did Jack. When a suit-clad figure entered slowly and a bit hesitantly, Suzie looked back at Jack. He was smiling. "Is he supposed to be back at work?"

"Only the mornings." Jack got up from his chair. "Only paperwork and the tourist office." He grinned. "And coffee."

Suzie smiled. "You can tell me, Jack, I won't tell Owen: Did you shag him?" Jack just smiled. Suzie raised her eyebrows. "That's a yes." Jack pouted and shoved his hands in his pockets. Suzie frowned. "That's a no." He went past her and opened the door to his office. He winked at her, then set off towards Ianto. Suzie called after him, "But you would like to!"

He turned back around to her to say, "Who wouldn't like to?"

Suzie laughed.

xxx

Ianto opened the door to Lisa's room. "Hi!" he said with a tender smile.

Lisa gifted him with a smile in return, but it seemed a little strained. "How was work?"

Ianto checked her IV. He'd been back at work for a week now. As soon as he'd been able to leave the hospital, almost four weeks ago, he'd checked on Lisa. He had been supposed to rest at home and aside from visits to Lisa via the entrance through the garage, he did. He was determined not to risk his health that way again. He had to be there for Lisa. She needed him. She'd barely survived the weeks he'd been gone while he'd been in hospital and he had the distinct feeling that she still hadn't quite forgiven him yet for leaving her alone for that long. Something was different about her, she was so cold and demanding sometimes. Maybe the pain and strain were finally really getting to her.

He smiled. "It was okay. I'm off home now."

"Won't you stay?" Lisa asked.

"I'll come back tomorrow." He kissed her forehead. "I can't sleep down here at the moment. Not until Owen gives me the all-clear. I can't risk a set-back."

Lisa looked away. "Of course."

Ianto could tell that she was hurt. He bit his lip and took her hand. "I made contact with Dr. Tanizaki, though." That got him her interest. He smiled. "I'm being careful about what I tell him until I'm sure that he can help you."

"How long?"

"A few more weeks."

"He's our only hope," Lisa said, "so don't make a mistake."

"Of course."

"It's pretty late. What were you doing, working this long?"

Ianto froze.

Jack kissed Ianto deeply and pulled him closer. Ianto lay back on Jack's camp bed and gasped when Jack's mouth found his nipple. His legs wrapped around Jack's waist. He was so used to this now; they'd slept together quite regularly since Ianto had left the hospital – at first in his flat, but since he had returned to work, here in Jack's quarters –, and he enjoyed it way more than he should. His conscience told him that he could stop anytime, but he knew that he wouldn't.

Jack caught his lips again, pecking them repeatedly while he ground his groin against Ianto's. Then he paused and looked into Ianto's eyes, one hand cupping his cheek.

"What is it?" Ianto asked. It felt strange, being the center of Jack's attention, but also wonderful and different from his everyday life where he was barely noticed by the team, barely heard a nice word from Lisa anymore, barely held on to his sanity.

Jack smiled and shook his head. "Nothing." His hand slid down Ianto's chest and curled around his thigh, hitching his leg up higher around Jack's waist, the hand sliding towards …

"Wait," Ianto said. Jack paused. Ianto closed his eyes and turned his head aside. Jack planted a patient kiss on his cheek. Every time they met up after work, Jack tried to be the one on top, but Ianto refused him. It was too intimate, too much to handle. He'd given Jack pretty much everything he had already. He had to keep something back or the betrayal of Lisa would be complete. Even though Ianto's feelings had changed, even though he felt comfortable in Jack's arms by now … too comfortable. It was becoming something more than just a means of distraction, the gaining of Jacks trust or even a few hours of escape from the harsh reality. And he shouldn't allow it to continue and grow further, deeper.

He looked at Jack. "Don't."

Jack's eyes showed disappointment, but he nodded.

Ianto turned them around, pinning Jack to the bed. "Let me take care of you instead," he whispered.

"Ianto!" Lisa said.

Ianto was startled from his thoughts. "What?"

"Did you work with Harkness?"

"Yes," he answered. "Paperwork. Tons of it." He smiled fleetingly.

Lisa looked at him. Then she took his hand. "I love you," she said.

"I love you, too," Ianto answered.

"And I'm sorry."

Ianto looked at her, surprised. "You're sorry? What for?"

"Being such a mess," Lisa answered and bit her lip.

Ianto saw tears in her eyes and shook his head. He caressed her cheek. "You're not a mess."

"Look at me," Lisa said.

Ianto kissed her lips. "You're beautiful," he whispered. "I don't see anything wrong with you."

"But my body-"

"It's just temporary." He smiled reassuringly. "Everything here is just temporary."

She met his eyes, staring as if looking for something. "Everything?"

Ianto swallowed, suspecting something behind that question. He kissed her again, letting it linger. "Yes," he answered. "Everything."

xxx

A few weeks later, the water was turning red from the blood Suzie washed from her hands. Then she took the knife out of the towel she'd used to carry it and ran it under the water as well. The blood caked on it slowly came away. Suzie dried it and wrapped it up in the towel again to put in her bag. Her mobile rang. Suzie answered the call and stepped to her living room window, staring out into the very rainy Cardiff night.

It was Jack. "The killer has done it again."

"Another victim?" Suzie asked and smiled. "How horrible!"

"Ianto has the police cordoning off the area and waiting for us to arrive. I'll pick up Tosh and Owen and then come by your flat. Be ready in ten." He rang off and Suzie snapped her mobile shut. Finally another experiment. It had taken a while for her to find this victim, a young man in his twenties.

Half an hour later, she didn't pay attention to the dark-haired, young PC who watched Torchwood walk by her and her colleagues. She didn't mean anything, none of them did. The only thing that was important was that she would finally get to use the glove again.

END

09/11

Sequels (already in this archive):

The Enemy Within

This Crying Earth

The Golden Boy