Hi, this one chapter took me little longer. Hope you enjoy it. Let me know what do you think of it. Thnx to new alert members, glad you like it.

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian (thnx)

Spoiler alert: Captain Jack Harkness


Ianto's ribs had healed, but Jack didn't change his behavior. Ianto wasn't really bothered by that, it was just that he had so many things on his mind, things that involved Jack. But he'd have to get over it; it wasn't like he really cared for the man. He'd gotten into it just because of the pain, to stop thinking of Lisa. It worked; it worked so well that he thought about Jack even now when it was clearly over. He wasn't the one to be petty, so he continued to care for Jack's needs without sign of his inner thoughts. It wasn't weird, it wasn't like they talked a lot, their routine was more action than talk, and he still had some kind of contact with the man. Jack drank his coffee, and Ianto took care of his coat and clothes. It wasn't much, but it was some kind of human contact that confirmed that Jack was ok, that he was not dead, or hurt. It was much better than with Lisa, not that he felt anything for Jack. It was just an attraction, nothing more. It's not like he thought it would last. In fact he didn't think about it a lot, maybe at all, so he wouldn't start now.

For a distraction he concentrated on his clothes, it wasn't a Jack related topic. He recently discovered that a waist coat soothed his reflection in the mirror, and that three-pieced suit made him feel more composed, almost protected, it was like modern armor. It deflected all sign of emotion. He was satisfied with that. Jack's unconscious looks up and down helped with that feeling, not that he would ever show it. When you were on the losing side it's best to look good at it. There's no point in letting the winning side feel good and victorious on your account.

He thought that he composed himself in a well trained blankness, but that was shattered when he saw Jack in that photo from 1941. He looked so lost and confused that he was tempted to follow Owen into his madness, and bring him back at any price, but he knew better than that. Jack wouldn't appreciate the cost of his return. Ianto knew, better than anyone, that Jack would rather die a horrible death then put the world at risk. Ianto had risked the world once for love; he sure isn't going to do that again for some sentiment he had for the man. He wouldn't disappoint Jack once again, the world was more important than his small wishes.

He argued with Owen, but they both knew he didn't have any power over him. The only thing he could hope was that Owen wouldn't find anything. Owen was obnoxious at his best times, now he was just hurtful. Ianto's attempts to connect with him were deflected by smirking and diminishing comments. Like usual, Owen was the center of the universe and no one's pain could compare to his own. He felt love and nothing else mattered.

When Owen found the blueprints he was terrified with the chaos and destruction he could imagine. Small things that came through the Rift were scary enough, something massive sounded much worse. He couldn't bare his own powerlessness, so he grabbed Owen when he tried to pass by him. It was instinctive reaction, but he could take down the little doctor. Of course Owen played dirty like he always did and he hit Ianto in his barely healed ribs with his elbow. As if that wasn't painful enough, he hit him again with his foot while he was on the floor. That kept him down for few moments, but it was enough for Owen to go on with his mad plan.

Ianto got up and took out a gun. He was right, Owen was clouded by his deluded hope that the Rift would give Diane back to him. He was unable to accept that she left of her own will, not like Lisa. This was clearly the ultimate trap. Scraped figures made that crystal clear. Anonymous tips, Bilis that walked through time like it was illusion, the conveniently placed missing piece of their Rift manipulator. It was all too well manipulated to be coincidence and that kind of effort rarely meant something good.

Ianto tried to reason with the doctor one last time.

"You have to let Diane go, like I did with Lisa!"

His attempt was welcomed with loathing.

"Don't compare yourself to me; you're just a Tea boy!" Owen used his mocking one more time, this time without humor.

"I'm much more than that. Jack needs me." Ianto defended himself with all his dignity.

"In your dreams Ianto" Owen's voice was filled with scorn. "Your sad wet dreams when it was part time shag maybe." Ianto's eyes darkened with rage as he stepped forward and triggered his gun. "That Rift took my lover and my captain, so if I die trying to beat it, then it will all be in the line of duty."

Ianto didn't listen anymore, his body stiffened, one with the gun, waiting for the moment, a moment with no return. Of course Owen didn't back down, not for him, he had to shoot, but he didn't have to shoot to kill. He aimed for his shoulder, it was the place with no vital organs, and it should disable his arm in which he held the missing part. Ianto didn't lose his focus after the shot, but there wasn't anything more he could do. Owen put his plan in motion despite the pain. Shooting him again would be pointless. It also seemed that his fears and efforts were pointless. Monitors showed no sign of terrors and horrors. Jack and Tosh came back, but it was an anticlimactic moment. Owen was gloating, and Jack looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

In the next few days it seemed like Jack hadn't come back at all. He was moody and absent, and Ianto could have been made of glass, Jack just looked right through him. Ianto started to wonder why he even bothered with that man at all. It didn't bring him anything but mocking. Owen's three words followed him around. Part-time-shag.