A few months had passed since the disappearance of Captain John Hart. So much had happened to them all but none of them forgot what Hart had done to Miranda. They all kept it, in the back of their minds. They'd all been worried about her after her relationship with Nora had ended but that was nothing compared to what was happening now. After Nora, Miranda had mostly buried herself in her work and become reclusive and a bit reckless. Now? It was like someone had scooped Miranda out of herself, leaving behind some sort of shell. Even the brief holiday she'd taken hadn't helped much.

Ianto, of all people, recognised the grief. He knew the rats had found residence in someone else's stomach. The entire team felt guilty. They'd all had a hand in nudging Miranda into Hart's arms. They also wanted to cause Hart grievous bodily harm for sodding off in the middle of the fucking night like the cowardly scoundrel he was. Ianto tried his best to be there for her, they all did. She didn't seem to care. He'd noticed her style in the gym had changed. She'd turned ruthless and cold, almost calculating in her moves. The most disturbing information had come from Ianto's Watcher, Shawn Graham. On her scheduled trips to London, Miranda had engaged several challengers… of which she was the aggressor.

The immortal woman could defend herself but she'd never gone looking for fights before. What was more concerning was the fact that Miranda didn't seem to notice her physical condition was slipping. She was losing weight. She still mechanically ate and exercised but she'd become reckless and wanton in the field. The number of deaths she experienced had practically tripled and that taxed her body. She'd drilled it into Ianto's training early on that the Game is survival of the fittest. You take care of your body or you died. He was starting to fear for her safety and that was something he'd never done before. Ianto wasn't sure what to do, if anything.

He was brewing the afternoon pot of coffee. It was only the three immortals in the Hub and he was turning over Miranda's situation in his head. He couldn't go to Miranda, she would just shrug him off. He wasn't concerned enough yet to ring Duncan or Methos, but Ianto felt that he should at least maybe have a chat with Henry about it. He'd ring the Englishman tonight. He looked up. Jack was leaning over the railing by Fish's workstation. As was usual since Hart vanished, he was avoiding Miranda who was in his office, finishing up a call with Downing Street.

There was a bright flash of light and a snapping noise through the Hub. Ianto poked his head into the main Hub to see the familiar red jacketed figure of John Hart. The first emotion he felt was relief. Miranda would be over the moon that her lover had returned. The second emotion he felt was raw anger. Ianto desperately wanted to throw a good solid punch in Hart's direction. He started to walk towards him to do just that… but… Something's... off…

Hart looked completely out of place. He was looking around, panicked as if he'd made some grave error.

"John!" Miranda shouted. She'd just emerged from Jack's office and was running for Hart, a look of joy on her face. Ianto saw what Miranda couldn't, or wouldn't, see.

Hart didn't recognise her.

Ianto's anger immediately evaporated and panic replaced it. He swore under his breath in Welsh and moved to intercept Miranda but Jack got to her first. He'd seen the same exact thing as Ianto and reached out, grabbing her before she could reach Hart.

"NO! DON'T!" Jack shouted at her.

The decision was the correct one. Hart took a few steps back, a look of utter confusion on his face. He had absolutely no idea who Miranda was. Jack had to lift Miranda off the ground gain a measure of control over her, she was struggling so hard.

Jack continued to shout, "STOP! You can't! Look at him! He doesn't know who you are. It's not our version of him!"

"Let me go! Now, Jack!" she snarled.

Hart gave Miranda a curious look that was almost lecherous. Ianto nearly wanted to roll his eyes. This wasn't their version of Hart, at all. The psychotic hedonist hadn't made an appearance on that level in quite some time. Miranda continued to struggle against Jack and Ianto moved forward to help him. Before he could get close enough, Jack put her back onto the ground. He backhanded her across the mouth. The solid crack got her attention.

"Look at him!" he cried, shaking her.

She'd finally stopped struggling and turned with hesitation and dread. The look sent ice down Ianto's back. Ianto knew that look. He'd seen it before, in the alternate reality when Miranda learned that she would lose Toshiko if Ianto put the world to rights. There was despair and grief and so much pleading.

Tears welled up as she choked out, "No…"

Jack drew her close as they spilled down her cheeks. "Ianto? Take her to my office."

Ianto walked over. He wanted to tell Hart something… anything… but he knew that he couldn't. He opened his mouth only to close it again. He quietly took Miranda by the arm and started to lead her away.

"C'mon, Mandy…" he said softly.

She turned and opened her mouth. Ianto had no idea what she was going to shout or say but he couldn't allow it. With cat-like reflexes, he covered her mouth with his hand. With his other arm, he dragged her away. The tears continued, running down her cheeks and over Ianto's hand. Ianto expected her to continue to struggle but halfway to Jack's office, she deflated. Ianto dragged her into Jack's office, kicking the door shut with his foot.

He let go of Miranda slowly, with a great deal of hesitation. She was faster and stronger than him. He'd gotten lucky catching her the first time. He didn't think he'd get lucky like that twice. She'd stopped crying but sank to the floor, hugging her belly. He could hear Jack's muffled voice shouting at Hart.

"You need to leave. Now!"

The rest of the conversation was too low for him to hear. Miranda clamped her hands over her ears, drowning out the sound of Hart's voice. Ianto carefully reached down to pick Miranda up but she shoved him and he stumbled back. Fearing she'd head for the door, Ianto moved to stand between it and her but that wasn't where she was headed. She angrily swept everything off half of Jack's desk. And then, like a bull in a china shop, she stormed off, knocking over everything in her path. Ianto considered his options. He could follow her or leave her be. He knew which option meant possibly dying and reviving. He turned towards the office door to find Jack. He was standing in the middle of the Hub, hands on his hips, staring at the floor.

"He's gone again, I take it?" Ianto asked softly.

The older man nodded wordlessly.

"What version of Hart was it, do you reckon?"

"One that's about to appear in our morgue a few months ago," Jack said softly.

A realisation dawned on Ianto.

"That bastard… he knew… He knew!" he muttered under his breath.

"What are you talking about, Yan?" Jack asked, turning.

"Something he said… something he said before he swanned off," Ianto said. He turned, slamming his hand against the metal rail in frustration. "He said, 'I'm not the one it's going to end in tears for, Eye Candy.'"

Jack put his hands on his hips. "This is all my fault."

"Jack…" Ianto said, reaching out for his husband's arm.

Jack shoved him off and stormed off himself, leaving Ianto standing alone in the middle of the Hub.

To be continued…