36. Forty-Six Deaths In (still)
When Jack crowed and slapped his VM shut, running off like a complete child, Ianto sighed and motioned Gwen to follow him as he contacted Owen and Tosh.
They met at the nightclub and wandered in to do the usual.
This time Tosh crowded close to Owen, not flirting there.
It was Gwen who gushed and Ianto felt his jaw drop as she practically humped Hart's leg.
Jack was forgotten in the broken glass as Hart stroked her face and crooned.
Gwen insisted they help him and they all travelled back to the base with Ianto seething in the back.
He asked for Jack to see him on his own several times, only to have Hart or Gwen cut him off, dragging Jack along for the ride.
Fine!
Ianto stayed at the base, coordinating via comms and told Jack he was about to be pushed off the roof, then sighed as he listened to Jack shout of surprise as he fell.
He almost let Gwen die from the lip gloss but then gave in.
He almost let her die again, wondering if she blew up, would it really matter?
Instead he decided to shoot Hart.
He calmly cut the hand off at the wrist, releasing a horrified Gwen, the wink as he picked up the hand was not taken well.
The surprise as Ianto dragged him towards the vortex, throwing his body in and turning to tell Jack to get down.
Damn.
Gwen? You had a gun the whole time?
Bitch.
.
.
.
47
This time the orb showed Jack and he calmly shot John in the bar, apologizing for the mess as Ianto hefted the body out.
Owen was still in shock as he asked repeatedly who the bloody man had been, the loose description of an unwanted guest was not helpful.
Ianto knew he had prevented something, changed something but couldn't quite put his name on it.
All that mattered was that they were together, all alive and all was good.
All alive.
Oh God.
Gray.
Ianto considered.
Who was this Gray? He was important somehow.
He wondered if he should talk to Jack about it but then …
Beth and the sleepers happened.
Poor woman.
Poor bloody woman.
Ianto was standing at the incinerator, watching her burn when a small voice in the back of his head reminded him that Lisa had wound up here.
Lisa.
A lifetime ago.
Another beautiful woman who was killed for what controlled her.
Ianto walked slowly back up through the levels, melancholy.
He found Gwen seething as she waited for him at the top of the stairs.
"You!" she snarled, "You know that poor woman only wanted help, you just stood there!"
"Gwen. Please …" Ianto tried to push past her as he spoke and she shoved him.
Hard.
He wind-milled his arms as he tried desperately to live.
No, not now.
As he fell he cursed the bitch known as Gwen Cooper.