In the recesses of Sean's fevered brain a voice said something. It was not a known voice that would send comfort, but a small voice, unknown, yet a familiar pair of blue eyes in a young face appeared.

"Help them, please just help them!" And then the whole thing vanished.

He awoke to hear Jack talking to Helen. Try as he might, he could not figure out what was being said. But he could tell by Jack's worried face that concentrated and hung on every word that Helen said that it wasn't good. It was like how his father looked when the doctor told him that his son was dying.

"I'm sorry, Jack." He kind of managed to speak. But it was more like a murmur then actual words.

Jack's head turned sideways at the noise. Helen was at Sean's side as he tried to sit up.

"Sean don't, just stay where you are, you're very sick." She tried to coax him back to the pillow but he wasn't listening to her.

"I have work to do. I just can't lie here, Helen, I have to go."

Jack just stood there frozen in place. It was happening again. Before the pain could consume Jack, he decided it was time to face it. If it was going to happen, like Helen said, then he could only make Sean feel as loved as possible.

And as if he were aware of what they were both feeling, Sean rebelled. "I'm not dying! No, I won't let you tell me that!" He pushed himself up in a defiant move, showing them that he was not that ill.

Jack was there next to him, helping him. He didn't speak a word. What could he say?

It was Helen who broke the silence. "Sean, we almost lost you for a moment, your body just gave up. I'm not sure if I can figure it out. But it has something to do with your immune system. It isn't there all the time. I believe the drugs you were on, and Dr. Jones has confirmed it were to create a false immune system. Now that you are off the drugs, your body is compromised and prone to infection. We are trying to get you some kind of substitute in the meantime. But if this continues, we are going to have to take you back to Cardiff. At least maybe if we can take you to Paul, he will help."

He shook with laughter, the sound loud and with a hint of insanity to it. "You might as well just put a bullet in my head now. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard." He pushed Jack away as the Immortal tried to calm him. "I'm dead either way at this point. Let me die the way I want. Here away from them, finishing the garden and allowing me to give something back. I have taken so much."

Looking at Sean, Jack had a mental image of a building collapsing, tiny voices crying at once before they are silenced. Only smoke and debris remain as the rest of the building falls in on itself with the weight.

Jack closes his eyes unable to look at his lover for a moment. He knew that all of this had a purpose somewhere. But this was not how he wanted it to be. He wanted to hold his frightened lover in his arms. Make love to him in the fields and listen to that horrid bird sing out the bedroom window as they touched and caressed each other with kisses. So simple a thought and yet far so out of reach at this moment.

"Okay Sean, if that is what you want, we will stay. But you have to promise that until we can build your immune system back up, you have to put thoughts of the garden out of your head. If you want to kill yourself, do it but not in that field and not around me!"

Sean realized his outburst didn't take Jack into consideration. Was that hurt in his voice, on his beautiful Immortal face because he loved Sean? "I'm sorry. I didn't think I was hurting you. Please forgive me." He sank into the pillow.

Jack smiled at the Angel with his self-clipped wings. "You have every right to be mad. I would be too, if I was cheated like this. Sean, it is just that if you refrain from using your ability, there is a good chance that you will have a long life. The amount of energy you use, which Martha determined and Ralph and Helen have backed up, is the equivalent of a small sun. That is for large things you generate. What you did to the soil was very harmful to your body. You burned a lot of your life force to change it. Can you understand?" Jack looked the young man in the eye.

"I know what I do, Jack. I kind of know how I do it. But it is still rather sketchy. Jack, I need a moment with you alone. Helen, is that okay?"

"I'll go see how Ralph is faring." She smoothed the hair out of Sean's eyes and smiled. He seemed so much younger than he was; it pulled at her maternal heartstrings.

Jack sat down on the bed and reached for Sean's hand. It seemed small, for some reason. Sean seemed afraid.

"I'm falling in love with you, Sean. What more can I say? Please, don't do this anymore. I want you alive."

"I love you too, but Jack, you have to let me finish this." Sean grew flushed as he struggled to get up.

"And lose you? No way!" He kissed Sean full on his lips, feeling fear and dread. Jack was telling Sean he couldn't bear to be alone again.

Sean understood. He found Jack looking at him again and with a very soft "I'm sorry," powered up and fazed through time, leaving a very confused Immortal staring at thin air.

*

A scan of the country yielded nothing. Jack began to panic. What if Sean was not even in this time any more? At Ralph's suggestion, he phoned Rodger and asked if some of his trusted friends, who of course were the whole camp, could find Sean. Ralph explained that his name was really Sean and he was a priority one and they should be careful when approaching him. Like everyone else in the camp he was on the run from the government. It was Jack that suggested that Paula, Rita and Phil should look for him, since he liked and trusted them. If he was still in the countryside it was best that he didn't freak out and phase again. People he knew might stop him from running.

Jack and Ralph headed towards the camp. It was decided that the others would check the area by the cottage, they were closer and Helen stayed at the farm in case Sean returned there.

"Jack, it will be okay, we haven't lost him yet. Please, don't worry until we have to. You love him that much; I don't think I've ever seen you like this." Ralph said as he laid a reassuring hand on Jack's knee.

Without missing a beat Jack smiled and said. "And here I thought you only had eyes for Helen." It was a front; both men knew this and laughed anyway. The strain was heard in Jack as he tried not to think of life in this little world without Sean. "Please be okay." He said out loud. Ralph just kept driving, trying not to show weakness for his friend's sake.

*

The bluebird landed on his shoulder. "Hello, Ianto! How are you?" He laughed a little at the chirp he got. "I'm fine, well not really. But I have to do this, my friend. Oh, and the rest of you can come out as well." He found standing a little difficult. Shaking, he found his footing. A brief light showed itself through the air revealing Ianto and Liam. Ianto the bird went to watch from a branch above in a nearby tree.

"Wow, where the hell are we? Sean?" Liam ran to his lover but was stopped by some barrier. "What the hell? Oh that's right, I'm still dead. I can't come through all the way. Sean what are you doing if I may ask, and why did you bring us here?"

"Using the gifts you gave me, Liam. Are you lonely being dead?"

"Oh snap! You are still a spitfire! Yes, I miss you. It is very lonely." He gazed at Sean, who walked a little closer. He was still beautiful but he was looking very stressed.

"I'm dying Liam, well, kind of, so I'm going to finish what I started and I brought you here to watch. I miss you so much."

"But I'm sure Jack is a cure all for that loneliness. I saw how you two are. I know what he feels." Ianto squinted his eyes and pouted at Sean. "Does he talk about me?"

Sean lit up with a smile. He studied the Welshman for a moment before answering. "Yes, all the time. He loves you Ianto."

"I wish that I could hear him say it. I maybe dead, but it is nice to be loved." Huffing, he folded his arms over his chest.

Sean giggled at the reaction. The thought came to him it might be possible to grant Ianto a wish.

"You met someone, Sean? I mean you've been with someone else?" Liam looked green with envy. He was very put out by this news. "Well, since I'm dead I guess you can do what you want."

"Liam," Sean began as he got the seeds together that he took from the garden. "Why did you lie about us being married? You could have told me the truth. I would have understood. And what the fuck is up with Paul?" He began the processes. Raw time energy gathered around him like a moth to a flame, the air simmered with particles. The colors created patterns forming all around the field as he gathered the strength he needed.

"What is he doing?" Ianto asked.

"What I created him to do. Watch, we should be able to catch it because we are dead and time doesn't apply to us any more." Liam grinned and clapped his hands like a kid at Christmas.

With great speed collecting the time streams and the acceleration of his movements, Sean planted the whole field with neat rows and stages sections according to light needed and type of soil for growing. He fine-tuned the rest as he went along.

"Wow, he has grown! Thank god the mind wipe didn't hold. Watch, he is going to accelerate the plants so they can produce soon. Sean, remember to back it down a week for the produce to come to maturity. Honey, you don't want to sour the fruit or the vegetables at all. You always go too fast and over extend yourself." He smiled but suddenly realized that Sean was losing strength. "Sean, what's wrong?" Liam began to panic.

"What, is he okay? He doesn't look it." Ianto became aware of the problem. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going? You're dead." Liam was looking at the Welshman with raised eyebrows.

"I know, but I need to do a little research. I'll be right back." Ianto disappeared.

"Sean, honey, one of us ghosts just disappeared. Is that a problem?"

Sean just painfully smiled as he placed a time loop around the plants so once the produce matured the process from flowering to fruit would repeat. The patterns in the time stream took hold. The power subsided and Sean collapsed. The field was a live again with flora.

Ianto returned with a grin on his face. It was then that Elaine appeared. Ianto began to blink.

"Hello, you are Elaine, right?"

She looked past Ianto and focused at Sean. "I think that Sean is unwell. Liam, what has happened?'

Liam was kneeling at Sean's side feeling very helpless. "Oh god, Sean. Why did you go off your meds? I should have told you not to ever do that. I should have said a lot of things like I love you and we couldn't really marry. Because you don't exist anymore, they own you. But they said that as long as they could use you every now and then, we could have a life together. But it was wiping your memories then restoring them for a job or two that started to affect you and us. Paul and I, well he fed on that and we started to sleep together again. You found out. But you didn't kill me. Paul did. But I think you may have figured that out. I'm so sorry for hurting you. Oh please Sean, don't give into them. Breathe baby, just breathe."

Dead men can cry. They can feel as well. Shedding tears, Liam became aware of how helpless he was at that moment.

"Liam, I'm sure Jack will be here soon."

"I vanished before his eyes, Ianto. He won't be able to find me for a bit." Sean said weakly, sitting there as he stared at Liam. "I still love you, and I don't regret any of our life together."

"But I can't have you dying, you're aging yourself to death!"

"Is dying such a bad thing? You all seem pretty content." He spat that at all of them.

"Sean, when Jack and I were married, it was just a matter of time before I would lose him. He was not that stable. But judging by the way this one acted that night they fought," She pointed at Ianto. "He has changed a bit. I never would think he cared enough to even try to win you back." She smiled at Ianto. "Sean, he seems so taken with you, that if you were to give up now, I think that he would give up again as well. I saw how he was with you here. When I died, he gave up. I just wanted what was best; I just wasn't strong enough to let him give it to me what he could rather than demanding a lot." She looked beyond the young man before her.

Her gaze went to her tombstone. Liam was looking that way also.

"You sense it as well, the portal is closing. We may get stuck here." Liam stated.

"Well, stop him. I don't want to walk here forever." She looked back at the grave in horror.

"What, that we would be stuck here?" Ianto was amused. "Could I rattle chains and scare people away? I could haunt bad coffee establishments in Cardiff or nag the badly dressed until they change their ways in a Dickens-like dream." He was amused by the ideas he had.

"Oh, you are the funny one. I remember that wit from our sessions." Sean laughed.

"Wait, he was you patient and now you're with his lover?" Liam was jumping around. "Sean, do you realize you're like a gravitational pull, bringing all these things together? Amazing, my love. I can't believe this." Liam looked like he was calculating all of it in his head.

"Ianto, Jack should have settled here with you," Elaine said. "This place should have made you happy, instead it brought you pain. Sean, kick Jack in his man parts for me when you see him, then live for me and settle together in the cottage. I think it was more meant for you than me. Sean, the portal is closing." She stared at the youth. He was perfect for Jack and they did suit each other.

She was drawn again to the area by the grave. It was the bright light that wove a scene. She smiled as she remembered, her red hair blowing in the wind and her slim face; pale was a glow with joy. "Oh that was from when we were first married." She watched an image of Jack and herself run through the tall grass in the glen giggling, he was in his birthday suit and she was in a off white dress. "He never could keep his clothes on."

"Don't I know it!" Echoed Ianto and Sean as they looked at each other.

The laughter turned to sounds of pleasure as Jack grabbed Elaine and pulled her down, concealing themselves in the tall grass.

"Oh my!" She blushed.

"Go join the scene Elaine; it's yours to hold onto forever." He weakly smiled.

"I don't know what to say, but thank you!" She held her skirt up and danced down the field.

"Your turn, Liam. It was my mother, right? She set the whole thing up, to get back in with the social elite, right?"

"I never wanted to hurt you Sean, but I was controlled by them, and by her. She used you and your father fell for it. Paul is the real master behind it all. He isn't even human anymore."

"Then we have something in common. But that information is helpful. Thank you for it. But what is he?"

"I don't know. I don't think we will ever know." Liam looked at the light as it started to fade. "Sean, I have to go. But I love you, if Jack makes you happy, fight to stay alive. Be this, like I showed how to be; strong at the beginning, use what I taught you and stay alive here and now." He took a final look at his partner's features before he went through.

"Liam, there is a surprise for you when you get there, maybe we will see each other some day. I love you always. I won't forget you." Sean blew a kiss at Liam as he headed for the portal. It shut as soon as he was through.

Ianto was still there. Sean was aware that this was not good.

"So what is it I can do for you now that I sent all the others to happy fun land, Ianto?"

Sean looked amused at the image of Ianto. The Welshman pouted at doctor. "You think this is funny. I'm only here because you keep opening these portals. They are killing you. But you don't care. You don't care that Jack will cry again over someone he has lost because he can't fix everything. You can by being careful. I wasn't going to say anything, but I did some research while I've been hanging around."

"Wait, your dead, you're from another time, how the hell are you doing research? I'm mad, it's the fever, it's making me delusional and I'm hallucinating. You are a figment of my imagination." Sean began to laugh uncontrollably when Ianto's eyes bulged out of his head at Sean.

"Yes, you are insane, but you opened up the damn portal. So here I am, your worst nightmare, and I do research from beyond." He waved his hands like a creepy magician towards Sean.

"Okay I give, what is this information you trying to give me oh wise and well tailored Ianto?"

It was Ianto's turn to laugh. "Oh, you are good, bet you give Jack a run for his money." There was a lilt of sadness in the Welshman's voice at the mention of his Captain. He quickly recovered and continued. "In the refugee camp is a wise old sage woman. She has earthen herb magic that will heal your pains." He rubbed his hands together. "No, really she was a chemist for a pharmaceutical company. She was finding better natural cures for illnesses than the chemical crap they were selling. They stripped her of everything right after the 456 and she wandered down here. Her name is Dr. Ellen Witken, aka Sun Cat. I think she can help you. Wait, I know she can." He smiled at Sean.

"So, I should go to the camp? Ianto, I'm too tired for that. I'm really feeling very weak." The fever was back. Sean slumped to the ground, exhausted.

Ianto raced to his side but the hand he used to steady Sean went right through him. "It would be easier if you made me solid, Sean. Okay, don't pass out, this isn't good." Ianto was in a state of panic running around trying to think what he could do.

Sean's eyes closed. "Thanks Ianto, you tried to help, so what can I give you?"

"If you live, I want a moment with Jack, a solid moment, let me touch him. Sean, I know you can do this. I know it. But it will cost you. But Dr. Witken, she will be able to help you feel better each time you use your power. Trust me, I know it. Jack will remember her. Wait Sean, don't shut your eyes!"

"You can have more then a moment; I can give your 6 hours. I think that will do. Any more will kill me."

Sean fell forward face first into the dirt. A car headed up into the field. It was Paula and Phil.

Waving his arms back and forth Ianto signaled to them where Sean was. Paula screamed to Phil, "There he is." They ran towards the unconscious form of their friend.

"Good you see me; I was worried that I would be invisible to… Hey you don't have to be rude and walk right through me. Oh you can't see me. Fat lot that does than! How did you see him?" Ianto gave up. The couple didn't hear him. He smiled seeing Sean was okay and spoke before the portal closed. "Remember the promise." He faded away.

"He is still breathing. Good, Paula look at this place. What do you think Sean is?"

"Our friend, and I'm glad that Jack told us the truth, but I wish that Sean had been honest from the beginning. We would have protected him." She wiped the sweat away from the wrinkled brow as Sean began to smile.

"I feel no pain right now!" He spoke in his delirium. He was smiling with a bliss that looked like he was talking to God. "Of course I will do that for you. Thank you! Paula is that you?"

"It's okay, baby, we're going to take you to the camp, Jack is going to met us there.

It's okay, Sean, we know the truth, and lets get you to the car. Phil, a quick hand here?"

"Sorry, I just can't get over this field; there is all kinds of vegetable and fruits growing. He is amazing Paula. Really, bleeding amazing." He carried Sean to the car with ease.

"Hey Paula, you didn't happen to see someone with him did you, like jumping up and down?"

Laying Sean down in the back seat, they seat belted him in the best they could. Paula was half way down the road, when she answered. "Yeah, I did. It must have been a trick of the light."

"Nice try, it was cloudy when we got there!" He began to laugh.

"Well, I just found out that my good friend is not quite human. Now you want me to believe in ghosts? Please Phil, give a girl a chance to process first." She winked at him.

He began to blush. "Sorry, I was trying to make you feel better, get you mind off of things. I know you care for him."

"He reminds me of my brother that died at Canary Warf. I just feel comfortable with him. I can't stand to see him in pain. But he has a lot of people who care about him. Jack loves him, I believe." She stared in the rear view to make sure Sean was okay.

"Yeah that he does. What a sight him running into camp all freaked that Sean was gone. Then just spilling his guts like that. He really must love him, to risk so much. But they are safe, we will see to that, none of us have any love for the type of people that could hurt an innocent boy and use him like they did Sean." He glanced at the restless man and hoped they really could help him.

"Amen Phil, Amen."

End Chapter 26 TBC

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