Penultimate chapter - If I say several of my friends didn't speak to me after reading this you can guess what's coming.
Leaving - Chapter 28
Ianto stayed in the office for the rest of the afternoon and early evening. He had a lot to think about but he'd really known what he would do as soon as Iestyn had asked Jack to bring him to the meeting. He would go as he could do nothing else. He wondered why Iestyn wanted to see Jack but he really knew the answer to that as well. This wasn't really about him it was about Jack and he was just the means. Iestyn had targeted him to get at Jack and Ianto would be at that meeting because he wanted to know why. He wanted to know if that was the only reason why Iestyn had tempted him into being unfaithful. More than anything he hoped that it wasn't.
Jack appeared at the office door. He leaned round and smiled but Ianto wasn't in the mood to reciprocate.
'I'm coming with you Jack. I want to know what this is about. I want to hear what he has to say to you and to me.'
'OK' said Jack 'what do you want to do until then? Will you come back to the flat with me Ianto? I need to spend these couple of hours with you before we go.'
Ianto understood what Jack was asking and he didn't have the heart or the will to refuse him.
Back at the flat you could cut the atmosphere with a knife because neither knew what to say to each other. Jack made the first move as Ianto stood looking out over the Bay. He held Ianto from behind putting his arms around his chest and laying his head on the back of Ianto's neck.
'We've got two hours Jack what do you want to do?'
'Come and sit on the sofa with me Ianto. I'll just put on some music.'
Jack put on his a collection of Cole Porter songs and then sat down next to Ianto. Jack raised his arm inviting Ianto to put his head on his chest. He put his arm around Ianto and stroked his hair with his other hand. Ianto breathed quietly. They stayed like that without speaking.
'Is this it Ianto? Will you go with him?'
'I don't know Jack. Do you want me to stay? I don't even know if he will ask and more to the point I don't know why he would ask.'
'I want you to stay with me Ianto. You know I do but we both need to hear what he has to say.'
His phone rang. Jack got up to answer as it was in his coat thrown over the back of a chair. It was Gwen.
'I don't know Gwen. Soon, we'll be leaving soon. No don't get anyone else there. This is between Iestyn, myself and Ianto. I'll ring you as soon as I can.'
'Time to go Jack.' Ianto was dressed wearing the coat over his suit that he only wore if they were going outside for a while. Jack picked up his coat and then stood in front of Ianto. He reached for him and they kissed. Both knew that this could be the last time. Then they left the flat, the building and got in the BMW. They were silent all the way into Barry. They went along the low road and through central Barry, along Broad Street and down past the Ship and back up to Romilly Park. The boating lake was silent except for the many pairs of swans. Finally they reached the end of the road. There were lights on in the final house but the curtains didn't twitch as Jack pulled up. They sat in the car and waited. Jack wondered if Iestyn would make a special entrance from nowhere but then car lights appeared down the road and finally came to a stop in front of them. Iestyn got out of the car dressed as he had been in the message and looked completely at odds with his surroundings. Jack and Ianto got out as well.
'You both came then' Iestyn said. 'You know why I'm here Jack.' He looked directly at Ianto.
'I came back for you' he said. The exact words Jack had used when he returned from seeing his doctor but then he'd added 'for all of you to the mix' leaving Ianto wondering.
'Why Iestyn? Why me?' Ianto asked. 'This is to hurt Jack isn't it? Someone has paid you to do this, to get me into bed with you, to get me to go with you and break his heart.'
'Yes you're right I am going to be paid if you leave with me tonight but that's not it Ianto. It was when I started but not now and not really since the first time I kissed you. I've been here five long years planning this and I've made my own fortune so I can turn down payment for it and I still want you to go with me.'
'I love Jack.'
'I know you do.' replied Iestyn and held out his hand towards Ianto. Jack simply stood and said nothing.
'Come with me Ianto. I can show you all the wonders of the universe. We can go anywhere in time and space. All those books you have well I can show you the real thing; planets with five suns where the sunsets have every colour you can imagine, where seas are yellow, orange, green and any colour but blue and we can walk along beaches with purple sand. We can meet all sorts of creatures and animals and plants and I can introduce you to them all, not just the blowfish and weevils you get to see; beautiful creatures in such great variety.
I can take you to any time in Earth history, whatever you want to see and hear. We could see real dinosaurs, witness a Viking funeral, see the Armada arrive, watch the first performance of Romeo and Juliet, and see the Wright Brothers fly for the first time not to mention the future.
We can visit any time and any place, see the beginning and ending of worlds and I want to do all this with you. I've never met anyone that has got to me like you have.
It happened so quickly and that doesn't happen to me. I don't want to be on my own anymore Ianto. The most amazing thing has happened to me. I've fallen in love with you. I think I loved you as soon as I saw you. Life just seemed to pour out of you. I love how you make me feel. I love the sparkle in your blue eyes. I love the feel of your touch. I could go wherever I want with whoever I want but the only person I want to be with is you Ianto Jones.
I'm here on this unimportant planet in the twenty first century holding my hand out to you because the only person I really want to be with is you. Please come with me Ianto I don't want to play on my own anymore.'
Ianto looked at Jack who had tears rolling down his face. He wanted Jack to shout out in protest but he just stood there with a complete look of hopelessness on his face.
Jack knew that he'd had his moments both as a time agent and with the Doctor. Ianto was right he would always be second best to the Doctor so what right did he have to stop him. Jack believed that this man loved Ianto and that was enough. He also knew that no matter how long Ianto was away that he would be here whether it was a day or a hundred years. Time was like that.
Jack also knew that Iestyn had played the trump card. Whatever his original motive he loved Ianto and Jack could understand why because he did as well. And if you love someone sometimes as the old cliché said you had to let them go.
Ianto moved towards Jack and stood in front of him. He held Jack's arms in his outstretched hands.
'You know what I have to do Jack. I love you but I want to go with him. I never imagined that anything like this could happen to me. I died Jack and now I really get to live with someone who I really hope loves me because I love him. I can't explain how I can do that and love you too but I suppose I take it for granted that you will always be there. I'm sorry but you know what I'm going to do because you've made that choice yourself.'
'I know' said Jack 'and I understand. I'll always be here if you want to return.'
Ianto hugged Jack and kissed him, felt the dampness on Jack's face and felt the tears on his own. He walked over to Iestyn. As Ianto disappeared Jack saw the pair wrap their arms around each other and then they were gone.
Jack felt his knees going and got to the sea wall. He sat in the dark listening to the tide coming in and out. So much had happened in the last week. He decided to go back to the only place that he really felt at home. He got in the car and headed for the Hub. He would call Gwen when he arrived.
