54. Seventy-Seven Deaths in

Ianto considered his options and trusted only Tosh.

They made it through, a little battered and worse for wear, but they made it to the chanting children.

The Doctor had been happy to do TYTNW without Jack, or the damage. He asked Ianto when he was going to let the others have the orb and Ianto had told him that he didn't know. The Dr cryptically told him to do it again, with feeling!

Now came the time to hand the orb to Jack and face the music.

Jack yelled, paced and cried as he saw Ianto's struggles without him.

"I'm sorry" Ianto finally said softly, "I had no choice. Gwen …"

"Gwen" Jack walked over to the window of his office to look down at Gwen, laughing as Owen chucked some innards from a blowfish at her.

He then looked at Tosh and opened his arms, embracing her as he thanks the Gods for her.

"So, I can see you took a bullet for the team … two in fact" Jack frowned as he remembered Ianto's shoulder wound from the Pharm and the other gut shot from Gray that almost killed him.

"No other way" Ianto shrugged, "A reset might of happened with … with the gut shot but it didn't. Did it."

"No! You just suffered terribly for weeks" Jack growled.

"I could see no other way, Jack you saw the many twists and turns, what could I bloody well do!" Ianto shouted, hating the way his voice was so shrill.

"Oh Ianto" Jack slumped as he stepped towards him but Ianto stepped back.

"We don't have time for that" Ianto brushed him off, "The hitchhiker needs collecting."

Tosh scooped up the orb and headed for Owen as they watched, observing the way he slumped against the autopsy table and then embraced Tosh.

They headed off and Ianto watched as Gwen entered the bay, then picked up the orb. She dropped it and rubbed her hands on her thighs as she grimaced.

Owen and Tosh checked in to say they were on their way back and had avoided the Dr.

Johnson arrived at the Tourist entrance and Ianto happily shot her … with the stun gun but it did feel good, thank you very much!

Then, after a quick thought process, Ianto handed Johnson the Orb.

Man was she pissed, like right royally pissed.

Turns out she has a little girl of her own out there.

Good.

Ianto sat as more memories washed over him and he considered sharing with Jack … but hesitated.

This was bad.

Real bad.

There was only one thing to do now, only one way to fix this.

They walked into Thames House and Ianto accepted his fate, the kiss barely felt as the cold seeped into his bones.

Soon my love.

Ianto let go

.

.

.

.

78

Ianto let the radio play as he said his own quiet prayer.

He rose and waited, striding forward to meet Owen, the day, the destiny.

Not he knew where he was going.

He knew what he had to do.

May Jack forgive him.